Chapter 27: This Is a Well-Known Secret…
Ye Chen’s fingers tapped against the desk again and again. Under everyone’s gaze, he suddenly let out a relieved smile.
“Why are you all looking at me like that? Oh right—do you still not know about this?” He raised an eyebrow. “The second young master the Lu family just brought back isn’t some illegitimate child. He’s actually born to Mr. and Mrs. Lu—the full biological younger brother of Lu Zheng.”
“And as for Lu Ran…” When he said this, his tone carried undisguised malice. “He was just accidentally swapped at the hospital back then. He has no blood relation to the Lu family at all. The Lu family hasn’t publicly announced this secret yet.”
“So that’s how it is! We really didn’t know!” Yu Bai sucked in a sharp breath and covered his mouth in shock. “Is that true?”
You really just stated a well-known secret.
The other classmates also cooperatively expressed surprise.
Their acting was slightly exaggerated—but more than enough to fool Gu Yang.
Gu Yang remembered that in the original novel, the truth about the Lu family twins wasn’t revealed until much later.
But so many things had already changed—Ying Jiayi’s situation, Nie Ying’s biological mother being a housekeeper…
He didn’t dwell on it too much.
After finishing that performance, Ye Chen diligently continued patching up the story.
“Of course it’s true. Their paternity test was even done at my family’s hospital.”
Yu Bai: ?
Bro, why are you just making things up now?
There was no way Ye Chen had known this beforehand. With his personality, if he’d known, he would’ve tagged Lu Ran in the group chat and confronted him directly.
But this way, they could openly gossip about it.
“Class monitor, when you sent him over, did the real Lu family young master go too?” Xie Wu asked curiously.
“He did.”
Xie Wu leaned forward. “What was he like? What type?”
“It was chaotic at the time. I didn’t pay close attention,” He Ming’an replied, unwilling to elaborate.
“The real young master was supposed to transfer into Class Eleven, right? Since he switched to Class Ten, the Lu family must’ve taken him to visit your place. There’s no way you have zero impression,” Ye Chen said with a grin. “Probably not presentable enough. The class monitor’s too nice to say it.”
He Ming’an ignored him.
Xie Wu added, “Ye Chen, didn’t you always dislike Lu Ran? Now there’s a ready-made thorn to poke at him with, and you’re not happy?”
Ye Chen curled his lips. “Please. The newcomer’s not necessarily a good person either. After having his place stolen for so many years, he’s definitely full of resentment. It’ll be entertaining later.”
“Wasn’t he originally supposed to enter Class Eleven? Now suddenly he’s in Class Ten. Lu Ran’s quite capable.”
“Of course,” Ye Chen said. “After raising him for so many years, even if it were a dog, they’d develop feelings.”
“Alright. We’re all classmates. Let’s stop talking about this,” He Ming’an finally cut in.
The topic was finally dropped.
But Ye Chen still looked restless. He circled around the desks and stopped in front of Gu Yang. Their seats were far apart, so everyone turned to see what he was about to do.
Meeting He Ming’an’s warning gaze, Ye Chen smiled innocently.
“Didn’t you send me a medical record last time and ask me to help find a reliable doctor?”
He bent down, resting his elbow on Gu Yang’s shoulder. “I asked around for you. Basically, there’s no saving it.”
“It’s been delayed too long. The best treatment window’s already passed. Who is that person to you? How did their family take care of them?”
“Why not transfer them to my family’s hospital? Since it’s already like this, at least they can be more comfortable. We can even invite specialists.”
“They don’t have the money.”
With just that sentence, Ye Chen already had his answer. Curiosity filled his face.
“Let me guess—is this related to that special-admission student in Class Ten?”
Before Gu Yang could respond, Yu Bai suddenly had a flash of inspiration. “Could it be Song Yinxing’s mom? You even visited her in the hospital that day.”
He Ming’an couldn’t help glancing at Gu Yang.
“You’ve already met the parents?” Xie Wu was shocked. “That fast?”
They hadn’t forgotten what they’d overheard a few days ago.
“Yeah, yeah.”
Gu Yang brushed them off while thinking silently—
[So it really is incurable.]
[This setting basically exists to tie Song Yinxing down, leaving him with nowhere to retreat.]
W-What do you mean “of course”?
What is Gu Yang planning to use to tie Song Yinxing down? What does he mean by leaving him with nowhere to retreat?
What exactly is he plotting?
That sounds… unhealthy.
Everyone fell silent.
Ye Chen continued, “Anyway, I’ve done what you asked. I even consulted top specialists. How are you going to thank me?”
“What do you want?”
“How about you treat me to dinner? Tonight.” Ye Chen smiled triumphantly. “Friend discount. Others wouldn’t get it this cheap.”
Gu Yang didn’t object. He hadn’t wanted to go home early anyway—now he had an excuse.
After school, Ye Chen went straight to find Gu Yang without even taking his books.
Yu Bai observed from behind.
Gu Yang and Ye Chen together gave off an extremely strange vibe.
He couldn’t even imagine how they would interact.
He hesitated and looked at He Ming’an. “Class monitor…”
A boy approached quietly. “The Guanyin statue you asked for has arrived. Send me your address and I’ll have it delivered.”
“It’s here already? Thanks for the trouble.” He Ming’an smiled. “I’ll go pick it up myself. Shows sincerity.”
“Didn’t expect you to believe in that,” Yu Bai said curiously.
“It’s for my mom,” He Ming’an explained. “She’s been devout for years—vegetarian meals and chanting daily.”
“My mom’s the same,” Xu Qingfeng complained. “Don’t know if it’s age. She even donated a huge sum to rebuild a temple.”
Despite sounding skeptical, he wore multiple loops of prayer beads on his wrist.
“Want to go now?” Xu Qingfeng asked.
He Ming’an hesitated slightly, glancing toward Gu Yang.
Ye Chen caught it and winked.
He Ming’an withdrew his gaze. After a few seconds, he smiled again. “Alright. I’ll tidy up and go with you.”
Gu Yang chose a nearby members-only restaurant he’d registered at before. They were led into a private room.
After ordering, Ye Chen handed the menu back. “This might be our first time going out alone.”
Their relationship wasn’t close. They barely spoke in class.
He didn’t actually need this dinner. Gu Yang’s favor could’ve been kept for later.
But there was something he desperately wanted to know.
“I don’t think I’ve ever told you—my mom died early too,” Ye Chen said bluntly. “Same situation as you.”
A waiter placing cold dishes trembled slightly, the plate making a soft sound against the table.
“Is that so? What a coincidence,” Gu Yang replied expressionlessly.
The waiter glanced at them quickly before retreating.
“You know our family business is in the medical field—private hospitals especially,” Ye Chen continued. “People we’re close with usually come to my dad directly for treatment.”
“I was treated at our own hospital growing up. Minor illnesses weren’t a big deal. For serious ones, we’d invite specialists.”
“Back then the Lu family was close to us. Lu Ran’s asthma started when he was little. He was sent over constantly.”
“My mom pitied him. Such a small child suffering like that. She cared about him more than me sometimes. I wasn’t happy about that.” His expression drifted slightly.
Gu Yang chewed some jellyfish and swallowed. “Why are you suddenly telling me this? Are we that close?”
Ye Chen: “……”
Maybe this is karma.
“Maybe you just look like someone people want to confide in. Just the two of us tonight—I got carried away,” he lied smoothly.
Gu Yang looked surprised. No one had complimented him that way before.
To avoid interruption, Ye Chen sped up.
“My mom really liked him. She had heart problems herself—multiple stent surgeries. But whenever Lu Ran was hospitalized, she’d visit.”
“One time Lu Ran ran into the storage warehouse while playing. My mom followed him in. I still remember—the medicinal storage room was kept very cold.”
“They didn’t come out for a long time. When the staff returned from lunch, they found my mom collapsed on the floor.”
“Lu Ran was fine. He just developed a fever afterward.”
“But my mom didn’t make it.”
“There were only two people in that warehouse. When Lu Ran was found, he was hiding in a corner, cold as ice.”
He kept his head turned away, voice flat.
“For years, I’ve wondered something.”
“My mom couldn’t have not called for help. She must have struggled before collapsing. So as the only other person present…”
“What was Lu Ran doing?”
At that, he finally turned to look directly into Gu Yang’s gray eyes.
He was waiting.
Waiting for Gu Yang’s inner voice to sound.
To give a final verdict to the knot that had tied his heart for so many years.
