After saying goodbye to Li Huanhuan, Shen Fanyun realized it had been so ti since he last visited his parents. He decided to make a trip back ho.
On the drive, Shen Fanyun unexpectedly spotted an old acquaintance: his forr classmate, Zhao Jian. They had seen each other at a class reunion so ti ago, but back in their school days, they had been quite close. After finishing a late-night al with Li Ruoshui and Zhao Jian that evening, everyone had gone their separate ways. Thinking back, it had been a while since they’d last t.
Zhao Jian was crouched by a fruit stand on a street corner, looking dazed. When the occasional person asked about prices, he answered absentmindedly.
Shen Fanyun furrowed his brow. What’s going on? Zhao Jian’s family isn’t poor, and he’s a university graduate—a top student, no less. Why is he running a stall on the street? Is the young master trying to ’experience life’? Since when did Zhao Jian develop a hobby like this?
Shen Fanyun found a nearby parking spot, turned off the engine, and walked over. Zhao Jian was squatting by the roadside with his chin in his hands. If not for his occasional blinking, one might have mistaken him for a statue.
Shen Fanyun approached and squatted down beside him, mirroring his posture as he watched the passersby hurry along. Zhao Jian didn’t notice him until Shen Fanyun offered him a cigarette. He looked up in surprise.
"Brother Yun." Zhao Jian finally managed a hint of a smile as he accepted the cigarette and lit it with a snap. He didn’t rush to smoke it; instead, he held the cigarette and watched intently as it slowly burned down.
"Sothing on your mind?" Shen Fanyun could see that Zhao Jian was heavily burdened and lacked the energy to even hold a proper conversation.
"No, nothing," Zhao Jian denied, shaking his head.
Not much ti had passed since their last eting, but Zhao Jian seed like a completely different person. If it weren’t for his familiar face, Shen Fanyun would have thought he’d mistaken him for soone else.
"What are you up to these days? ’Experiencing life,’ young master?" Shen Fanyun asked, gesturing toward the fruit stand behind Zhao Jian.
Zhao Jian gave an awkward smile and scratched his head, unsure how to explain.
"If you’re in trouble, just tell . We’re old classmates, after all," Shen Fanyun said. "Back in school, we swore an oath to share good tis and bad. So, spit it out. What’s going on?"
Zhao Jian hesitated, tucking his hands between his knees. After a long silence, he still shook his head. "Forget it, Brother Yun."
"I don’t want to get into it. It’s humiliating, and it’s not like I can get any satisfaction from it anyway. Let’s just drop it."
So, it has sothing to do with a woman?
"Have you eaten?" Shen Fanyun changed the subject.
Zhao Jian responded listlessly, his spirits low. "I haven’t had much of an appetite. I just had so stead buns for lunch to get by. Besides... I have to go to the hospital later."
"The hospital?" Shen Fanyun was puzzled. "Who’s hospitalized?"
"My mother."
Aunt Yu?
Zhao Jian’s mother was Yu Lan. Back in their student days, Shen Fanyun had often gone over to their house with Zhao Jian for food and drinks. Aunt Yu was an incredibly refined and gentle woman. Every ti Shen Fanyun visited, she would prepare a lavish feast. Now that he thought about it, it had been over ten years since he’d last seen her.
Shen Fanyun grabbed Zhao Jian by the arm. "Let’s go. We’ll go visit Aunt Yu."
Zhao Jian looked conflicted, glancing back at his stall. "But... I still have things to do here."
"To hell with that! If the sky falls, I’ll be here to prop it up," Shen Fanyun said. "I want to see who’s been bullying you this badly."
Shen Fanyun half-dragged, half-kicked Zhao Jian into his minivan, then sped off toward Hangcheng City’s top-ranked hospital.
Throughout the entire drive, Zhao Jian remained silent. His pent-up frustration made Shen Fanyun’s teeth itch with irritation. He just wasn’t used to seeing the normally chatty and lively Zhao Jian so withdrawn.
They arrived at the inpatient departnt on the third floor. Shen Fanyun was about to marvel at the sight of a woman with strikingly long legs when he noticed her. Dressed in black stockings and high heels, she stood out like a crane among chickens. Her silhouette alone was enough to send a man’s imagination running wild.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Jian shot forward like a madman and bellowed, "Chen Su, what are you doing here?!" His shout was laced with deep anger and resentnt.
He knows her? And it seems like there’s bad blood between them. Zhao Jian’s hands were clenched into fists, as if he could barely restrain himself from punching the woman nad Chen Su in the face. However, she was flanked by three to five bodyguards; if Zhao Jian made a move, he’d only be asking for a beating.
The woman, Chen Su, turned around slowly, staring down at Zhao Jian with a condescending sneer. "Heh... Why am I here? I’m here to see if Aunt Yu is dead yet, of course. Why else?" She covered her mouth in a mock giggle, her eyes blinking tauntingly at him.
"You... you bitch!" Zhao Jian roared, raising his fist to strike her, but her n intercepted him.
Shen Fanyun frowned. The woman was beautiful, but her words and actions were utterly despicable.
’Here to see if Aunt Yu is dead yet?’ Even Shen Fanyun felt a surge of anger at her words.
"Chen Su, you’re disgusting! I’ve never t a woman with such a venomous heart!" Zhao Jian seethed, looking as if he wanted to take her down with him.
Chen Su just shrugged indifferently. "Well, now you have!" she taunted. "And I have even more vicious plans for you and your parents. Just you wait."
So brazen. She wasn’t ashad at all—in fact, she seed proud of it!
Shen Fanyun stepped forward and put a hand on Zhao Jian’s shoulder. "Don’t be reckless."
"Brother..." Zhao Jian’s clenched fists were trembling, a clear sign of his extre rage.
"Let’s go see Aunt Yu first," Shen Fanyun said.
"Okay." Zhao Jian slowly unclenched his fists, refusing to let his gaze linger on Chen Su for even a second longer. The woman disgusted him to his core. Looking at her for another mont would be a stain on his eyes.
He could only bla himself for being so foolishly infatuated, for mistaking her for the woman of his dreams, soone worth protecting for a lifeti. And now? This cruel-hearted woman’s sches were tearing his entire family apart.
Just as they were about to leave, Shen Fanyun suddenly turned back and addressed Chen Su. "Hello, my na is Shen Fanyun."
Chen Su was puzzled. This is Zhao Jian’s friend, so he should hate too. But he’s actually greeting politely? Interesting... She couldn’t help but admit the man before her was incredibly handso.
Chen Su gave a slight smile but didn’t extend her hand. She simply pursed her lips, studying the man who stood a good half a head taller than her.
"In the future, that’s a na that will be seared into your mory," Shen Fanyun said, his tone detached, as if he were discussing sothing of no earthly importance. Then, he turned and entered the hospital room.
Chen Su was left speechless.
What an arrogant bastard. Shen Fanyun? Who is this nobody? I’ve never heard of him.
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