Chapter 37: Cutting Ties with the Cen Family
“But I don’t have a kitty,” Cen Miao softly objected, his clear eyes wide and innocent.
The corner of Qin Zelin’s lips stiffened for a moment.
“Mm. They… probably misunderstood and thought you had a cat.”
“Oh, all right. Then next time, I’ll tell them I don’t have a kitty. I only have a little lamb.”
Qin Zelin: “…”
“From now on, show me these comments before replying. Don’t answer them on your own, understand? I’m… worried you won’t understand what they mean and respond incorrectly.”
“Okay. I understand.”
Qin Zelin was about to return the phone when he noticed a new WeChat message at the top of the screen. His expression instantly darkened.
[Mom] Cen Miao, tomorrow Cen Ning will bring you the agreement terminating our adoptive relationship…
The rest of the message was cut off, but Qin Zelin could guess the general contents without reading it.
An unfamiliar ache rose in his chest.
The little monster had never told him that the Cen family intended to sever their relationship with him.
He must have secretly hidden somewhere and cried.
No wonder he had developed PTSD and cognitive impairment.
Qin Zelin couldn’t return Cen Miao’s feelings, so he would simply give him even more care.
During the break between classes on Monday morning, Cen Ning walked directly toward Cen Miao’s seat with an agreement and an ink pad in his hands.
“Brother, Mom asked me to bring you this.”
The moment he finished speaking, he dramatically covered his mouth.
“Ah, I called you the wrong thing. You won’t be my brother anymore after this.”
Cen Miao stared at the densely written agreement for a long while.
It felt exactly like studying bird language. Not a single word entered his head.
Seeing him stare blankly at the document, Cen Ning assumed he was unwilling to sign and wanted to delay.
He impatiently urged, “Hurry up and sign it. Mom and Dad will never change their minds.”
“Cen Ning, what is that?” Xu Xinyu walked over from nearby and glanced at the agreement.
He immediately sneered.
“Wow. You’re not refusing to sign because you’re still coveting the Cen family’s money, are you?”
“You’re not even their biological child, yet you’re constantly thinking about their family’s property.”
He deliberately raised his voice, causing the surrounding students to turn and look one after another.
“I don’t want their money. I can earn my own! Where do I sign?”
Cen Miao disliked all those stares and frowned irritably.
Cen Ning glanced at the seated person.
He assumed Xu Xinyu had exposed Cen Miao’s true intentions and embarrassed him, so he pointed to the corner.
“Sign your name here and press your fingerprint beside it.”
The moment he finished speaking, Cen Miao signed his name.
Cen Ning felt a surge of secret delight, followed by confusion.
Why had he signed so readily?
He hadn’t even tried to negotiate with their parents or demand a sum of money.
His gaze shifted and unconsciously landed on Cen Miao’s coat.
Only then did he notice that the fabric felt different from what Cen Miao had worn before.
Looking him over from head to toe, Cen Ning realized that his clothes and shoes were either the latest releases from well-known brands or made from high-quality materials without visible labels.
Did Cen Miao still have money?
Holding the signed agreement, Cen Ning and Xu Xinyu were about to return to their seats when Chengcheng’s voice rang out.
He had just returned with a cup of water. Seeing the two people surrounding Cen Miao, he instinctively knew nothing good was happening.
“What are you two doing? Trying to bully him again?”
“Are you insane? Who bullied him?” Xu Xinyu said contemptuously. “You carry that fake young master around like a treasure every day.”
“Oh, I almost forgot. He isn’t even a fake young master anymore. The Cen family doesn’t want him.”
“Who cares about that family?” Chengcheng set down his cup and rolled his eyes. “You spend all day barking for your master like a loyal dog. Aren’t you only afraid their company won’t let your family run the cafeteria next year?”
“You fucking—”
“You’re not allowed to bully him!”
Cen Miao shot to his feet and shielded Chengcheng behind him.
“…?”
Chengcheng stared at the person standing in front of him, his eyes widening into circles.
His little pushover, who had only ever known how to be bullied, had finally grown up!
“Forget it. Why lower ourselves by arguing with people like them?” Cen Ning grabbed Xu Xinyu, a contemptuous smile curving his lips and disdain filling his eyes.
After the two left, Li Jing, who sat to Cen Miao’s right, quietly touched his arm.
Her voice was soft and gentle.
“Cen Miao, are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” Cen Miao shook his head.
The girl’s ears turned red.
“Oh, okay. That’s good. Just ignore them.”
“By the way, you mentioned wanting to apply for a dormitory before. A bed has just become available. Do you still want to apply?”
Cen Miao scratched his head.
A fragment of the original owner’s memories surfaced. When he had first been driven out, he had wanted to move into the dormitory.
“No, thank you.”
“Y-You’re welcome.”
Li Jing abruptly lowered her head, her face gradually turning red.
“Miaomiao, you did so well! You even know how to protect me now!” Chengcheng reached out and kneaded Cen Miao’s cheeks.
“Mmph… I have to protect my best friend!” Cen Miao’s cheeks puffed out, making his words indistinct.
Chengcheng suddenly leaned closer and whispered beside his ear.
“By the way, Miaomiao, tomorrow is Christmas Eve. What gift are you preparing for your husband?”
“Tomorrow is Christmas Eve?”
Cen Miao’s eyes widened.
He suddenly remembered that on Christmas Eve, his caretaker daddy used to place gifts inside his stocking.
Would this human give him a present too?
Did that mean he should also prepare a gift for the human?
“Of course! Don’t tell me you haven’t prepared anything?” Chengcheng thought for a moment. “You could make some extra cookies during the baking club class tomorrow and give them to him as a present.”
As long as you give it to him, that domineering CEO will absolutely love it~
“Okay!”
During their afternoon major class, Cen Miao and Chengcheng were organizing their paints when the classroom door suddenly opened.
Several students who happened to look up sucked in sharp breaths when they saw the person entering behind the teacher.
Hearing them, everyone else raised their heads, and the classroom instantly erupted.
After all, Huang Sui was the person every art student in the country dreamed of becoming.
A genius who had won a national gold medal at seventeen.
Chengcheng grabbed Cen Miao’s arm, his voice trembling with excitement.
“Ahhh, Miaomiao! It’s Teacher Huang Sui! He couldn’t be here to teach our class, could he?!!!”
Cen Miao stared blankly for a long while before finding the relevant memory left by the body’s original owner.
This human was someone the original owner deeply admired and desperately wanted to become.
“All right, everyone, quiet down.”
Only after the classroom fell silent again did Teacher Wang continue.
“I’m sure Teacher Huang Sui needs no introduction, right?”
“No!!!”
“Mm. Teacher Huang will be holding an exhibition after the New Year. To give young artists an opportunity, he’ll select six students from the four years of our university’s fine arts department. Each selected student will have the chance to exhibit one painting.”
“Ahhhhhhh!!!”
The classroom exploded.
After all, having the opportunity to display their work in an exhibition like that was every student’s dream.
“All right, all right. I know everyone is excited.” Teacher Wang smiled and lowered his hands reassuringly. “We’ll still have class as usual today, so don’t be nervous.”
“Mm. Just think of me as Teacher Wang’s assistant,” Huang Sui said with a smile. “Relax and show me what you can do.”
“Okay!”
Halfway through the lesson, Huang Sui stepped down from beside the podium with a smile.
His gaze passed over painting after painting, but his steps never stopped.
Only when he reached the back half of the classroom did he suddenly pause.
“Hmm?”
