Chapter 58: A Pair of Cold Hands Gently Covered…
After entering the classroom, Lu Ji could feel the classmates’ gazes quietly falling on him.
His expression didn’t change as he walked straight to his seat.
“Congratulations,” Ye Chen said with a grin. “Second Young Master of the Lu family. Now it’s completely yours at last.”
Lu Ji pulled out his chair and sat down, glancing at him calmly. “It was mine to begin with.”
Ye Chen couldn’t help laughing. “How did I never realize you were this interesting before? I thought you were just a dull gourd.”
“I didn’t expect you to actually beat Lu Ran and kick him out.” Ye Chen leaned closer. “But you don’t seriously think that’s the end of it, do you?”
“I don’t know what tricks you used, but those two in the Lu family are notoriously muddle-headed. Who knows, maybe one day they’ll soften up again.”
At that, Ye Chen raised his voice. “Class monitor, Lu Ran hasn’t withdrawn from school, right?”
He Ming’an was writing with his head lowered. He didn’t look up, and his pen never paused. “Of course not. Little Lu’s tuition has already been paid. The school won’t expel him because of family matters.”
Ye Chen winked at Lu Ji.
Lu Ji’s brows furrowed slightly. He could tell Ye Chen was enjoying the chaos and trying to use him as a pawn.
“If he’s shameless enough to still come to class, wouldn’t that just disgust you? Might as well press the advantage—strike while he’s down and finish him off…”
Bang—
A stack of books slammed onto the teacher’s desk. Ye Chen instinctively turned around. Cheng Zishi was staring at him coldly.
“Oh? The big star finally comes back to school and still has to do manual labor?” Ye Chen teased with a smile.
“Doing more work is better than not being able to control your tongue, don’t you think?” Cheng Zishi sneered as he began handing out the printed notes.
Ye Chen leaned back, pretending not to understand the barb. He reached out to take the papers, but Cheng Zishi clearly didn’t even want to touch him—he simply dropped them onto his desk.
When handing Lu Ji his copy, Cheng Zishi exchanged a look with him.
Lu Ji’s eyes shifted slightly. He still remembered their temporary alliance.
Was that look a signal that he’d take over from here?
“By the way, big star,” Ye Chen kept talking, “now that Lu Ran’s fallen, you must be pretty happy too. After all, you two had a feud.”
He’d been at Qi Ming’s celebration banquet that day as well.
“I was loyal, though. I didn’t tell Lu Ran a single word. If that kid had known he offended you, maybe he’d have just gone all in and taken you out first.”
“Ye Chen.” Cheng Zishi cut him off mercilessly. “Is it because Gu Yang isn’t in class today that you dare to talk so recklessly?”
The remark struck right at Ye Chen’s weak spot. His face changed instantly as he scrutinized Cheng Zishi, trying to detect something from his expression.
Cheng Zishi curled his lips coldly. He had long suspected Ye Chen was hiding something—whenever Gu Yang was around, he’d tuck his tail and stay silent.
Since Gu Yang began revealing his abilities, all the people Cheng Zishi had disliked—Shen Mingjun, Nie Ying, Lu Ran—had each received their own retribution. It was as if the class had turned into a demon-suppressing tower.
“Enough,” He Ming’an finally stepped in to restore order. “Xiao Cheng, thanks for fetching the handouts. Everyone take a look first; the homeroom teacher will explain later.”
“No problem. It was on the way.”
Though it was clearly smoothing things over, Cheng Zishi was willing to give He Ming’an face. He snorted and ignored Ye Chen, returning to his seat.
“Why did Gu Yang take leave today?” Yu Bai asked curiously. “Sick?”
Although Gu Yang looked unhealthy, he was actually in good health—he rarely even caught a cold all year.
“No. Just taking a day off,” He Ming’an replied with a somewhat helpless smile.
Yu Bai clicked his tongue knowingly. “He wouldn’t still be asleep, would he?”
He Ming’an blinked and placed a finger to his lips in a shushing gesture.
—
Gu Yang sneezed lightly.
He had just gotten out of bed and changed clothes, fastening the buttons one by one at an unhurried pace.
Xiao Huang, following Uncle Huang upstairs, couldn’t help muttering, “Second Young Master, you’re not catching a cold, are you?”
“How could I?” Gu Yang said solemnly. “Someone must be talking about me behind my back.”
At such a childish explanation, Xiao Huang smiled faintly.
Seeing Gu Yang nearly ready, Uncle Huang signaled for a servant to bring over the pressed suit.
It was smoke-gray, paired with a pure white shirt.
To prevent wrinkles, he wore shirt stays clipped to his legs.
After studying himself in the mirror for a while, Gu Yang felt the outfit looked a bit plain. He took out a pair of sapphire cufflinks from the jewelry box and put them on.
“How is it?” he asked casually.
“Absolutely perfect, Second Young Master,” Uncle Huang replied warmly.
Gu Yang knew asking him was pointless. Turning around, his gaze fell on the cat cradled in Xiao Huang’s arms.
He reached out to pick it up but hesitated, afraid cat hair would cling to his clothes. In the end, he only gently rubbed the cat’s head.
“The car is ready. We can leave anytime.”
The birthday gift for Old Master Nie had already been sent ahead in another vehicle. Gu Yang clearly didn’t care much about that. For him, simply showing up was already rare.
Recently, he had attended an unusually high number of banquets—almost enough to equal his yearly quota.
When he arrived at the venue, he was relatively early.
The Gu family’s gift was a jade carving: resting on a sandalwood base, the natural colors of the jade had been used to sculpt a reclining Maitreya Buddha in the mountains.
Since his two sons gradually took on major roles in the group, Old Master Nie had loosened his grip on power and begun stepping back. In his spare time, he developed a fondness for collecting antiques, so guests mostly catered to that interest.
But none of that concerned Gu Yang. He wasn’t close to Old Master Nie, and his relationship with Nie Ying was even more complicated.
“What, you’re actually this early?” Xie Wu, who had come with his older brother, spotted Gu Yang from afar. “Did you take leave just to come?”
Gu Yang’s face was expressionless. As if he’d be that bored.
When not in one of his episodes, Xie Kai was fairly normal. He exchanged pleasantries with Gu Yang before sending his younger brother off to “play.”
“I was supposed to come with He Ming’an,” Xie Wu said, dragging Gu Yang to the buffet and grabbing some pastries. “But he said he had to pick someone up, so I came first. No idea who he’s bringing.”
“I know you don’t like crowded places. These banquets aren’t really for us anyway. Let’s just stay aside and kill time… Ugh, this cake’s way too sweet.”
Xie Wu chattered cheerfully, not needing much response.
Suddenly, some commotion arose nearby.
A woman stumbled into Xie Kai’s arms with a soft “Oh.” He hurriedly steadied her.
She stepped back gracefully, brushing her hair aside before slowly lifting her head to look at him with gentle almond eyes.
She wasn’t young, but she was impeccably maintained. Time had left no obvious traces, and she carried a soft, mature elegance.
Xie Kai’s eyes went straight.
Xie Wu’s did too.
The only difference was that Xie Kai was staring at the woman, while Xie Wu was staring at his unfortunate brother.
His brother’s expression was tender—his tone noticeably softened.
“Zhou Qinqin?” Xie Wu stammered in horror. “What’s she doing here? Shouldn’t Ying Jiayi have already—”
But after Ying Jiayi kicked out her live-in husband father and the second-generation freeloader clinging to her, it was only natural that the freeloader and his mother Zhou Qinqin had nowhere to go.
So now they’d latched onto his brother as their next target.
The logic made perfect sense.
After thinking it through, Xie Wu suddenly laughed in resignation.
What kind of cosmic grievance was this?
Meanwhile, Zhou Qinqin received a call from her son and turned to answer it.
“Hello? A-Zhou? Mommy’s still out handling something. Just heat up what’s in the fridge and eat first.”
“Yes, the items in the fresh compartment. Just use the microwave…”
Xie Kai’s gaze deepened, fixed on her slender back and delicate neck.
She even had a child.
To be honest, that was exactly his type.
Knowing his brother as he did, Xie Wu was numb. He didn’t dare look at his brother’s expression.
The worst part was that Gu Yang, standing beside him, coldly recited a scene of how the brothers would lose all their wealth and wander through a snowy night without even a down jacket.
After finishing, Gu Yang leaned close and murmured, “I think your brother’s about to encounter a peach blossom calamity. That woman.”
The warning was inexplicable, but Xie Wu, knowing the background, felt oddly touched.
Was Gu Yang… concerned about him?
But seeing that if he didn’t intervene, his brother might already be naming their future children, he rushed forward without hesitation.
“What’s with Xiao Xie? In such a hurry?” He Ming’an asked as he arrived belatedly at Gu Yang’s side.
Gu Yang hadn’t expected Xie Wu to take his words so seriously. He shook his head.
He Ming’an glanced over and roughly understood the situation, choosing not to ask further. Instead, he smiled. “Guess who I brought.”
Gu Yang turned and was surprised to see Song Yinxing.
He clearly hadn’t expected him here; surprise flickered across his face.
He Ming’an patted his shoulder. “I need to greet Old Master Nie. You two enjoy yourselves.”
After He Ming’an left, Song Yinxing felt slightly awkward being alone with Gu Yang. Yesterday’s image of Gu Yang’s flustered retreat was still vivid.
“How did you end up here?” Gu Yang asked.
“He Ming’an invited me. Said since we’re classmates, I could come support a classmate’s grandfather’s birthday.”
Even Song Yinxing felt it sounded absurd. For anyone else it might be fine—but this was Nie Ying.
He didn’t know what He Ming’an’s deeper intention was, but as someone who could influence the fate of the Nie father and son, perhaps this was an opportunity.
Besides, Gu Yang was here.
His life experience was far beyond eighteen. Faced with this, his instinct was how to make amends.
Meanwhile, Xie Wu had already charged in and shoved his brother three meters away, instantly killing the budding atmosphere.
Xie Kai’s thick brows twitched. He wanted to flare up but swallowed it upon seeing it was his brother. His interest had largely dissipated.
Zhou Qinqin looked embarrassed. She knew there’d be no opportunity today.
“It’s noisy here. Let’s go somewhere else,” Gu Yang tugged lightly at Song Yinxing’s sleeve.
He led the way out of the hall, down a corridor, into a quiet room.
Song Yinxing watched Gu Yang’s back, feeling as if he’d forgotten what happened the other day.
Gu Yang dropped onto the sofa, bonelessly leaning back.
Just as Song Yinxing was about to sit beside him, noisy voices sounded outside.
He instantly recognized one as Nie Ying’s.
He frowned, clearly unwilling to confront him here.
“Is there another exit?” he whispered.
Gu Yang didn’t know. He had only asked a waiter for a resting place earlier.
Hearing Nie Ying’s voice too, he glanced around, opened a cabinet behind them, crouched, and pulled Song Yinxing inside before shutting the door.
Song Yinxing hadn’t meant to hide like this, but seeing the faint light filtering through the crack, he noticed the slight upward curve of Gu Yang’s lips.
Like a child who’d found the perfect hiding spot in a game of hide-and-seek.
Realizing Gu Yang’s mischievous streak had kicked in, he resigned himself to playing along.
The door outside was kicked open.
Nie Ying entered in a foul mood. His followers tried to cheer him up, with limited success.
After being harshly reprimanded by his grandfather over school bullying—and seeing his father stripped of position—he was already frustrated. At the banquet, watching guests flatter his uncle’s family only worsened it.
Still, he didn’t dare complain openly.
“By the way, I think I just saw Song Yinxing from Class Ten. He Ming’an brought him in,” one sharp-eyed lackey said, offering him a vent.
Nie Ying sneered. “What kind of riffraff is he bringing here? What does He Ming’an think this place is?”
“Exactly. That poor loser Song Yinxing—what right does he have to step in here? Lowers the class.”
“Got lucky getting into our school and thinks he’s on our level? With that gambling addict dad and that short-lived sick mom, what future does he have?”
Song Yinxing listened calmly. He’d heard worse countless times.
But then—
A pair of cold hands gently covered his ears.
Gu Yang was blocking the sound for him.
In the dim room, he couldn’t see clearly—only the faint outline traced by the thin beam of light.
Gu Yang covered his ears, eyes fixed ahead.
His heartbeat quickened.
After venting about Song Yinxing, Nie Ying wasn’t satisfied. He dragged Gu Yang into it.
“And Gu Yang—acting arrogant in front of me all day. What gives him the confidence? Isn’t he just some bastard who can’t even figure out who his real father is?”
The instant those words were spoken, before his mind could process them—
Song Yinxing’s hand instinctively covered Gu Yang’s ears.
