Chapter 38: Anyway, No One Gets to Have It Easy…
The math teacher broke the tense silence.
“Student Lu, take the seat in the middle of the second row.”
He meant to smooth things over, but to his surprise, the new student stood there as if he hadn’t heard a word.
The teacher cautiously followed the direction of the new student’s gaze.
And saw Gu Yang—radiating low pressure, looking half-dead as usual.
!
The math teacher was instantly alarmed. Countless traumatic memories began attacking him again.
No, absolutely not. That one cannot be provoked!
He quickly cleared his throat, signaling again for Lu Ji to go take his seat.
Only then did Lu Ji snap out of it. As he stepped forward, he nearly moved with the same hand and foot. When stepping off the platform, he even stumbled slightly.
A boy in the first row steadied him and smiled. “Careful.”
Lu Ji’s gaze was still somewhat stiff, but Ye Chen didn’t mind being ignored.
After sitting down, Lu Ji finally regained some composure.
He couldn’t help glancing back again.
That voice had come from there just now. He remembered it now.
He remembered the name of that person—Gu Yang.
But why was it that he could clearly hear the voice, yet couldn’t see any lips moving?
Was he… the only one who could hear it?
And was that even human language?
He and Lu Ran? A couple?
Lu Ji’s brows lowered. His features were sharp—thick brows and deep-set eyes. When his expression darkened, he carried a faint air of hostility.
Ye Chen nudged Yu Bai beside him with a pen, gesturing for him to look behind.
“So fierce,” he muttered, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
Yu Bai gave an awkward smile.
Sometimes he really admired Ye Chen. His own mess wasn’t even cleaned up, yet he still had the mood to laugh at others.
Meanwhile, the person being stared at seemed completely unaware, lazily poking the paper on his desk with a pen.
Lu Ji’s brows furrowed deeper. Before he could figure anything out, He Ming’an, sitting in front of him, turned sideways and blocked his line of sight, smiling at him.
Lu Ji’s heart tightened. The invitation to transfer into Class Eleven had come out of nowhere. It definitely wasn’t arranged by the Lu family.
Was it this person’s doing?
“I suggest you don’t stare so obviously,” the boy in front leaned over and spoke in a low voice. “If you keep looking like that, even someone slow would notice.”
“Let’s get acquainted. I’m Ye Chen. We’re classmates now.”
Lu Ji looked coldly at the hand extended toward him and did not take it.
He could sense the frivolity and malice in this person.
Ye Chen casually withdrew his hand and continued, “It’s normal you don’t know on your first day. But if you provoke Gu Yang, who knows how he’ll spin things about you in his head. If he digs up some embarrassing dirt and broadcasts it publicly, that’d be awkward.”
“You can hear it too?” Lu Ji blurted out, his expression shifting. “You all can hear it?”
He realized he might have just uncovered something huge.
Ye Chen curled his lips in a smile, stopping there and letting Lu Ji figure out the rest himself.
Now this was getting interesting. With Lu Ji joining the class, Lu Ran’s days ahead probably wouldn’t be easy.
Lu Ji began thinking.
If everyone in this class could hear it, then that meant Lu Ran could hear it too.
Wait.
Was this the reason Lu Ran didn’t want him in Class Eleven?
Lu Ji felt like he understood something.
But he still didn’t understand why Gu Yang had said he and Lu Ran were… a couple.
He needed to find a chance to talk to Gu Yang privately.
After class, he didn’t act immediately. Instead, he stayed seated and observed.
A few classmates came over to chat.
But their words were clearly probing.
After all, everyone was extremely interested in this “real vs. fake young master” plot playing out in real life.
They were also curious what kind of person the true young master raised in the slums actually was.
“A transfer student halfway through the semester—gave me a real scare. I was wondering what deity had descended,” Xie Wu joked.
“Yeah. Speaking of which, Lu Ran’s not very loyal,” Ye Chen grinned. “His own twin brother joins the class and he doesn’t even give us a heads-up to prepare a welcome.”
“Twin brother? Didn’t you just say—” Xu Qingfeng said blankly, not keeping up.
Ye Chen practically wanted to thank him for the assist. Pretending to just remember, he said, “Oh right, if you hadn’t reminded me, I almost forgot…”
His malice was completely undisguised. “Turns out the counterfeit fears meeting the genuine article.”
Lu Ran’s face changed drastically.
Lu Ji watched the scene with subtle complexity.
He hadn’t expected Lu Ran’s treatment in this class to be far worse than he’d imagined.
He’d originally worried Lu Ran would rally people against him like he did at the Lu household.
It didn’t seem that bad.
But then again, what was with this class atmosphere?
He’d just arrived and already there was drama.
Their dispute finally drew Gu Yang’s attention. He lifted his head and looked over.
A chill swept through the area instantly.
Xie Wu quickly looked away. Lu Ran stiffly sat back down. Ye Chen obediently shut his mouth.
He even slightly regretted running it that far.
What if he attracted that ancestor’s attention?
Fortunately, someone came from outside to find Gu Yang.
As Gu Yang left, Ye Chen secretly let out a breath of relief.
The near-erupting tension dissipated. Everyone lowered their heads and busied themselves, afraid Gu Yang might return suddenly and publicly roast whichever idiot stood out.
Lu Ji remained silent. From the corner of his eye, he noticed He Ming’an had taken a call and left after class, still not back.
He stood and followed out.
Gu Yang’s figure had just disappeared around the corner of the hallway. Lu Ji hurried after him.
“Was it really necessary to walk this far?” Gu Yang stopped, his brows languid. “We’re about to leave school. So your issue is dragging me into skipping class?”
He spoke vaguely. He shouldn’t have come out.
The two boys who’d come to fetch him exchanged looks.
One of them said, “Actually… there’s a girl in our class who has a bit of a crush on you.”
“She’s shy, so she wants to confess at the dessert shop outside school.”
Gu Yang looked at him expressionlessly. “I don’t date early.”
He turned to leave.
The boy hurriedly blocked him, nearly kneeling. “Please! She likes you so much she hasn’t been eating or sleeping properly—she’s lost a ton of weight. If this continues, she’ll die! Just reject her in person—consider it saving a life!”
He spoke rapidly, pouring everything out. His companion kept signaling that he was overdoing it.
But when Gu Yang heard that, he lowered his eyes.
His long lashes trembled slightly. His expression was distant and quiet. No one knew what he was thinking. In the end, he simply nodded faintly.
The two boys were greatly relieved.
After leaving campus and heading toward the dessert shop, their pace gradually slowed—until they stopped completely.
Before Gu Yang could react, several hooligans gathered around with clear intent.
The leader, a yellow-haired guy, casually tapped an iron rod against his palm.
The boy who’d brought Gu Yang trembled out a “sorry” and ran.
“A young master, huh?” the yellow-haired one sneered. “Someone asked us to teach you a lesson. Mind your own business less in the future.”
“You look so delicate though. Probably can’t take much.”
He smirked like a cat toying with a mouse.
They had the numbers advantage. This pampered-looking rich kid probably had never even peeled an apple.
Gu Yang, however, was staring at the yellow hair fluttering in the wind.
Black roots were already showing.
His OCD was flaring up.
The leader was annoyed he didn’t see panic.
He’d dropped out of middle school and had always had a bit of resentment toward the rich. Students from elite schools irritated him on sight.
He decided to give this young master a lifelong trauma.
Grinning, he gestured behind him. “Brothers, go have some fun.”
One henchman stepped forward first, grinning viciously.
As he reached out, Gu Yang looked at his filthy fingernails in disgust and stepped back.
Just then, a hand shot out from behind and grabbed the thug’s arm.
The thug turned furiously—
Only to be met with a fist smashing into his face.
He screamed, clutching his bleeding nose.
Lu Ji stood cold-faced between them, shielding Gu Yang.
“Hey! Who the hell are you? Mind your own damn business?” another thug shouted.
Lu Ji grabbed his collar and punched him flat.
The remaining men hesitated.
The yellow-haired leader didn’t move immediately.
The job was for one target only.
This would cost extra.
But before they could decide, Lu Ji charged forward.
They could tell he wasn’t easy prey—but now they had no choice.
Lu Ji fought without technique, just raw, reckless ferocity. Blood appeared quickly.
Even the yellow-haired leader was unsettled.
He signaled someone to deal with Gu Yang first.
They had to finish the job.
Lu Ji had just knocked someone down and slammed another into a wall—
When he turned and saw Gu Yang rolling up his sleeves and efficiently taking down the thug who’d approached him.
He saw clearly.
That slender frame, no visible muscle—only veins standing out with effort—
Yet he subdued the thug effortlessly.
…Not scientific at all.
In his moment of distraction, the yellow-haired leader personally swung the iron rod at Gu Yang from behind.
Lu Ji’s heart dropped.
He rushed forward and took the hit squarely on his shoulder before kicking the leader away.
“You okay?” Lu Ji asked, face pale.
“Shouldn’t you be the one with the problem?” Gu Yang replied, looking at his shoulder.
“We’re not that close. Why block that for me?”
Lu Ji choked.
He’d followed, witnessed it—he couldn’t just stand by.
“You shouldn’t you thank me first?” he gritted out.
“Oh. Right.” Gu Yang seemed to realize belatedly.
He smiled faintly.
His misty eyes held no warmth.
“Thanks,” he said lightly.
Lu Ji felt like punching cotton.
Through the dessert shop window, it was empty.
“I came because I heard someone wanted to confess,” Gu Yang said lightly. “Apparently serious enough to stop eating.”
“That was obviously bait,” Lu Ji said incredulously. “You believed that?”
“Just in case,” Gu Yang replied calmly. “Might as well save someone.”
Lu Ji realized his first impression might’ve been wrong.
People really couldn’t be judged by appearance.
Gu Yang changed topics abruptly. “How’s your shoulder?”
Lu Ji rotated it. “Should be fine. A few days’ rest.”
“Let me check.”
Though phrased as a question, Gu Yang’s hand was already there.
Lu Ji froze.
It didn’t hurt.
He was surprised—Gu Yang’s technique seemed almost professional.
“Are your parents doctors?”
“No.” Gu Yang examined him calmly. “I was lively as a kid. Fell a lot. Watched the family doctor enough to remember a few things.”
Lively?
Lu Ji couldn’t imagine it.
Still, the atmosphere felt decent.
He thought about asking—about him and Lu Ran—
Before he could phrase it, Gu Yang’s voice echoed again.
[His fighting ability’s decent. How did he end up with that kind of fate?]
The voice sounded. His mouth didn’t move.
Lu Ji’s eyes widened.
[Can’t blame Lu Ji though. Lu Ran’s mom drove a car to hit him. Didn’t realize her biological son was inside too.]
[Lu Ji was fine. Lu Ran lost a kidney. His mom, before dying, blamed Lu Ji.]
[Over a hundred chapters of angst. In the end, under pressure, Lu Ji donates a kidney and promises lifelong care. Semi-open ending.]
Lu Ji stood stunned.
Was this about him?
Gu Yang continued thinking.
[Lu Ji’s too nice to those idiots.]
[The Lu family only cares about face and profit. He shouldn’t have hidden the real-vs-fake secret.]
[Print the DNA report. Scatter it at a huge banquet.]
[If Lu Ran acts up with asthma, jump off a building in public. Let people see how the Lu family drives their biological son to death.]
[Lu Ran’s mom’s broke later. Bought off to target him.]
[Lu Ji could blackmail her gambling addict husband when he’s in debt—make him testify it was Lu Ran’s mom who switched the kids. He doesn’t care about his wife anyway.]
[Once the Lu family learns they’ve been tricked by a business rival into raising someone else’s kid, their attitude toward Lu Ran will flip completely.]
[After paying him, charge him with extortion and send him to prison.]
[Anyway, no one gets to have it easy.]
With each thought, Lu Ji’s once cold eyes grew clearer.
By the end, he felt enlightened.
So… it could be done like that?
