Chapter 33: What On Earth Are You Thinking About? …
The Lu couple exchanged awkward glances. Afraid that stimulating him further might trigger another asthma attack, Mrs. Lu quickly softened her tone and began coaxing him gently.
Lu Ran’s overly intense reaction made Lu Ji glance at him again.
He knew this person had always rejected him.
But just now, something felt off.
It wasn’t simple disgust. It felt more like… fear.
Why would Lu Ran be afraid? Afraid that after Lu Ji transferred into Class Eleven, he would take back what originally belonged to him?
That shouldn’t warrant that level of panic.
Or was it that there was something in Class Eleven… or rather, someone… whom Lu Ran didn’t want him to come into contact with?
Lu Ji lowered his eyes, concealing the darkness within them.
Lu Ran found him an eyesore, but he found Lu Ran even more so.
This was supposed to be his life. His family. Lu Ran had taken it for eighteen years—was that still not enough?
If you have any sense, then leave.
Lu Ji’s nails dug deep into his palm.
But in the days since arriving, he had clearly seen Lu Ran’s status in the Lu household.
He didn’t want to make his mother sad—the gentle mother who treated him with such warmth.
It was the first time in his life he had felt what family meant.
So even though he disliked Lu Ran, he had tried to maintain peace and coexistence.
For now, Class Eleven seemed to be the breakthrough point.
He needed to figure out the real reason behind Lu Ran’s sudden outburst—preferably find leverage.
Not wanting to continue watching this performance of family harmony, Lu Ji made an excuse and left.
The moment he stepped out, he ran into someone he didn’t want to see.
“I saw you earlier,” Lin Chunmei stared at him. The corners of her mouth naturally drooped, giving her a perpetually bitter look. “Looks like you’re living pretty well with your new family.”
Lu Ji frowned in disgust and tried to walk past her.
But Lin Chunmei blocked him again, her gaze fixed on him.
“Got a new mom and forgot the old one? Ungrateful thing. I raised you all those years. You can’t even call me ‘Mom’ when we meet?”
There was no escaping. Lu Ji stopped and looked coldly at the woman he had called “Mom” for over a decade.
“I’m just concerned about you. Why are you giving me that face?” Lin Chunmei softened her tone and forced out a smile. “How are things with that family?”
“That woman insisted on taking you but wouldn’t return her own child to me. If she’s so reluctant, your life there can’t be that good, right?”
“How I’m doing has nothing to do with you,” Lu Ji replied coldly. “Your biological son is inside. Why don’t you go see him?”
“I—I’m not here to see him.” Lin Chunmei glanced at his expression. “After all, he wasn’t raised by my side. There’s always something lacking. My own flesh and blood too—no conscience at all. Won’t even come see me.”
“Don’t despise us for being poor. No matter what, I raised you for years. We’re the only ones on your side. Those rich people must be hard to deal with. Who knows how they mock you behind your back for being uncultured.”
“But it doesn’t matter if there’s no affection. The important thing is whether you can get some benefits. How much allowance do they give you every month?”
By this point, Lu Ji understood why she came.
“There’s no point thinking about it,” he said flatly. “I won’t give you another cent.”
Lin Chunmei’s eyes widened. “You—”
She looked ready to curse but restrained herself.
“You can’t prosper and just abandon your original family!”
“Even if you don’t care about us old bones, what about your brother? Can you really bear to see him remain a mute for life, unable to find a wife? When we’re gone, who will take care of him, huh?”
The more she spoke, the more agitated she became, even shoving him.
Lu Ji gripped her arm tightly, suppressing the sorrow and bitterness rising inside him.
He had once hoped.
That was why he had shielded her when that man went mad demanding money, even when he was beaten black and blue.
That was why, even when she favored his brother endlessly, he comforted himself—a disabled child does need more care.
…He had been deceiving himself.
No mother could remain completely indifferent while her child stood in front of her being beaten.
No matter how much attention a disabled child required, it didn’t justify forcing the other one—still in school—to work and earn medical fees.
Lin Chunmei had always harbored a faint malice toward him. Mildly, it was suppression. At worst, she simply couldn’t tolerate him doing well.
After his high school entrance exams, he received a call from the admissions office of Guanli Middle School.
He had thought it was a chance to change his fate.
Guanli offered school scholarships and numerous corporate awards. If he studied hard, he could improve his family’s situation.
On the day of the online interview, he specifically asked for quiet.
Even his foolish older brother understood.
But Lin Chunmei kept knocking, asking trivial questions, speaking loudly outside, and eventually walked in and sat beside him silently.
What should have been a formality ended with him losing the qualification.
He hadn’t understood then.
But the day he learned of his true background, he suddenly suspected something.
Staring at her, he asked slowly, “You knew about this long ago, didn’t you?”
“…Or was it you who switched us back then?”
Lin Chunmei’s face changed drastically. She shook off his hand.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
After saying that, she eyed him suspiciously.
“Where did you hear that from?”
If the Lu couple knew, she’d be finished.
Lu Ji didn’t answer.
Let her guess.
She didn’t dare stay any longer, afraid someone from the room would come out. As she hurried away, she nearly stumbled.
From her reaction alone, Lu Ji was almost certain.
He placed his hand back on the door handle and hesitated for a long time before letting go.
He couldn’t tell the Lu couple yet.
It was still speculation. Without evidence, she would deny everything.
And… his relationship with them wasn’t close enough yet.
He didn’t know how to bring it up. Nor dared to imagine how they would react.
Slowly.
Lu Ji closed his eyes.
Things will get better.
They have to.
“Senior Song—” Zheng Ying leaned against the window, dragging out her voice plaintively. “Why isn’t Senior Xia here again today?”
Song Yinxing snapped back to attention and looked at the girl.
It took him a moment to remember who “Senior Xia” was.
“You’re here again?” his deskmate teased. “Following a girl around every day—what’s that about?”
“Mind your own business,” Zheng Ying huffed. “Senior Xia is pretty and smart. If I don’t pursue someone that outstanding, should I pursue you?”
“Outstanding?” His deskmate laughed. “Isn’t her ranking always mid-tier? Don’t let your filter get too thick.”
“She’s a special-admission student! She must’ve had a strong foundation. She’s busy with part-time jobs now.”
“If she needs money, why not focus on studying for scholarships? Since when did our school become a finishing school for influencers?”
“I’m telling you—!”
“Alright, alright, drop it.” He raised his hands. “Hey, did you hear about the Lu family?”
“The Lu family? The real-and-fake young master thing?”
“So it’s true?” He grinned. “Your family’s close to them. Must be real.”
“Don’t spread rumors. I just heard it from others.”
“What real-and-fake young master?” Song Yinxing asked.
“Oh wow, our top student who ignores outside gossip is suddenly interested?”
His deskmate explained, “The Lu family runs an entertainment company. Lots of famous artists under them. That super-popular Cheng Zishi is theirs.”
“They recently brought back a child, claiming he’s the twin brother of the second young master. But turns out the new one is the real son. The previous ‘second young master’ was switched at birth.”
Different again.
Song Yinxing thought.
“Where did you hear that?”
“From Class Eleven. Their own classmates. Makes sense they’d know something.”
Class Eleven.
Gu Yang was there.
After school, Song Yinxing went to find him.
Through the glass, he watched the slender figure inside.
Someone called Gu Yang. He turned slightly. That pale, beautiful profile paused mid-sentence, lips curved in a faint, thorny smile. The person opposite looked instantly embarrassed.
In his previous life, Song Yinxing had only seen him once.
At a KTV.
He had been working part-time when Nie Ying deliberately knocked over a bottle and ordered him to kneel and pick up the glass shards with his bare hands.
Someone shouted that the wine was expensive—he should lick it clean.
The jeering grew louder.
The manager didn’t dare offend the guests.
Then the door opened.
“Did you bring me to an S&M club?”
The voice was lazy, but the words explosive.
Silence.
The lackey grabbing his hair froze.
Song Yinxing looked up.
A strikingly beautiful young man leaned against the doorframe in a wide-collared coat, posture languid.
Beside him stood Gu Qingxu, his usually arrogant face oddly stiff.
“Just killing time,” Nie Ying said calmly.
The youth laughed lightly, cold even in amusement.
“Of course. A filthy person sees filth everywhere, Nie Ying.”
He never saw what happened next. The manager signaled him to leave.
It was the first time he saw someone speak to Nie Ying like that.
Not from confidence.
But from indifference.
In the present, Gu Yang noticed him and walked out.
“What do you need?”
Compared to his fully matured appearance years later, the current Gu Yang still carried a trace of youthfulness.
“I said before,” Song Yinxing looked at him, “I wanted to thank you for helping me.”
Gu Yang’s interest rose instantly.
Song Yinxing was poor. Whatever he could offer wouldn’t be money.
That made it more intriguing.
After leaving school, Song Yinxing brought him to a building.
Inside, Gu Yang looked around.
“What is this? An immersive role-play hotel?”
Song Yinxing nearly dropped the access card.
He stared at Gu Yang blankly.
“…It’s a 24-hour self-study room.”
It was Gu Yang’s first time in such a place.
Song Yinxing pulled out a chair for him, then sat beside him.
Gu Yang’s curiosity peaked.
Song Yinxing opened his bag, took out a book, and placed it in front of him.
On the cover were bold characters:
Five Years of College Entrance Exams, Three Years of Mock Tests.
