Chapter 2
No one in the private box understood how things had taken this turn.
Even Song Wangzhuo’s expression faltered slightly. He couldn’t help but wonder inwardly, what kind of tactic is this?
At the academy, with no background to speak of, he was merely entertainment for these high-and-mighty rich kids. Song Wangzhuo had long developed skills to deal with them.
But he couldn’t figure out the angle of the person in front of him.
Shen Yuqing lifted his chin. “Go turn on the lights.”
The lighting around the sofa was dim; looking at people was like seeing them through a blurred filter, let alone reading questions on a page.
Once Shen Yuqing spoke, the others finally reacted.
The person closest to the switch turned all the lights on. Instantly, the box was as bright as day. Shen Yuqing squinted against the stinging glare. After adjusting for a few seconds, he looked back at Song Wangzhuo, who was sitting beside him.
Song Wangzhuo maintained his previous posture, but there was now a scrutinizing look in his eyes as he regarded Shen Yuqing.
Shen Yuqing snapped, “Not writing yet? Do you need me to beg you?”
Song Wangzhuo moved his lips. His body still felt a bit hot, but he could feel strength slowly returning to his limbs. His well-defined fingers grasped the stack of papers in his lap.
Seeing that Song Wangzhuo remained silent, Lin Sui said impatiently, “Are you deaf?”
Now is not the time for conflict, Song Wangzhuo thought. His face remained expressionless, though the flush of heat hadn’t fully faded. He said in a hoarse voice, “No pen.”
Shen Yuqing looked into his bag again. This stack of papers was something the original host had prepared to take home to pretend he was being a good student in front of his brother, all to get his allowance restored. If you’re going to fake it, do it properly! Bringing papers but no pen?
Shen Yuqing lifted his chin toward Lin Sui. Lin Sui said, “Give him a pen.”
The others searched around and finally found a working pen.
Song Wangzhuo was anxious to leave. After receiving the pen, he lowered his head and began writing rapidly.
The papers were from the Mecha Department curriculum. He had just done a similar set before school ended that afternoon, so he wrote with flying speed.
Shen Yuqing listened to the rustling sound of the paper and thought to himself, As expected of the protagonist, his brain really works fast.
Beside him, Lin Sui noticed Shen Yuqing staring at Song Wangzhuo and couldn’t help but ask, “I went to great lengths to get him here for you, and you’re just making him take a test?”
How is this any different from taking off your pants expecting a super exciting website, only to find an episode of ‘In the Night Garden’ playing?!
It wasn’t just Lin Sui asking; even the System was dumbfounded by this operation. It stuttered in Shen Yuqing’s brain for a long time before asking: [Host, what are you doing?]
Wasn’t he supposed to take Song Wangzhuo out and do the do?
What is with the exam papers!
The System felt like screaming.
Shen Yuqing replied leisurely in his mind: [You don’t understand. I have my own rhythm.]
Saying that, he ignored the System and turned to Lin Sui. “Not in the mood.”
Lin Sui understood. His body relaxed a bit. “I knew you weren’t in the mood, that’s why I found some entertainment for you.”
Shen Yuqing ignored him. He sank back into the sofa. Before he could fully relax, the door to the box was pushed open again.
This time, it was the manager of the private club. He was holding a phone. Shen Yuqing looked over, his eyelid twitching. He had a bad premonition.
Sure enough, the manager walked straight toward him. When he arrived in front of him, he said, “Young Master Shen, a call from President Shen.”
President Shen?
Shen Yuqing took the phone. He had just uttered a “Hello” when he heard a young man’s voice on the other end, shouting in anger: “Shen Yuqing! What have you done?!”
Damn, it’s the original host’s brother!
Shen Yuqing didn’t know why, but hearing Shen Zhen’s voice made his scalp go numb. He said tremblingly, “Brother…”
Shen Zhen was truly furious. “You actually dared to drug someone in public? Do you have any idea…”
He paused, seeming to have reservations about saying more, and then gritted his teeth. “Get your ass back here immediately!”
With that, Shen Zhen angrily hung up. Shen Yuqing handed the phone back to the manager, who smiled and left.
Shen Yuqing shivered. He couldn’t help asking: [Didn’t you say the original host was very spoiled? Why is he so afraid of Shen Zhen?]
Although he wasn’t personally afraid of Shen Zhen, hearing that voice made him involuntarily shudder.
The System explained: [Because Shen Zhen cuts off the original host’s financial sources. Although, most of the time, he just threatens to.]
Understood. He who holds the money is the boss.
Beside him, Song Wangzhuo’s pen tip paused. Shen Yuqing hadn’t stepped away to take the call, so in the noisy environment, Song Wangzhuo had heard the voice on the other end clearly.
His eyes grew a few degrees colder.
Shen Yuqing hadn’t even recovered from figuring out how to deal with Shen Zhen when he heard a ding notification. Looking at the data, Song Wangzhuo’s favorability had dropped another five points.
…
Seriously? Shen Yuqing looked at that -35 and wanted to gasp. Forget it, forget it. As long as the Blackening Value didn’t go up.
Lin Sui asked, “What’s wrong? Why is your face so ugly?”
Shen Yuqing naturally told the truth. “My brother found out. About the drug you used. I’m taking the blame.”
Lin Sui choked, seemingly not expecting this either. Looking at Shen Yuqing’s grim face, he said, “How did Brother Zhen find out? Damn it, there’s a mole!”
Shen Yuqing didn’t care how he found out. This actually gave him an opportunity, as he had been wondering how to let Song Wangzhuo leave.
He said, “Party’s over. Going home.”
Lin Sui didn’t want to provoke Shen Yuqing while he was in a bad mood. He had called people out to have fun, but it ended up worse. “Brother Qing, don’t be angry. I’ll call Brother Zhen later and explain…”
“Do you think it’s not messy enough?” Shen Yuqing frowned. “Go cool off somewhere else.”
He then glanced at Song Wangzhuo. “Stop writing. You go back too.”
Shen Yuqing reached out and stuffed the papers Song Wangzhuo had placed aside messily back into his bag.
Song Wangzhuo hadn’t expected Shen Yuqing to let him go so easily. He frowned, looking up slightly at Shen Yuqing.
Shen Yuqing happened to be looking at him too.
Then he heard the other say, “Not leaving? Planning to spend the night here?”
Song Wangzhuo stood up abruptly from the sofa. Only then did he realize that due to his earlier struggles, his shirt was loose and hanging off him, leaving him somewhat exposed.
He took a deep breath. Ignoring everything else, he walked quickly toward the door.
He turned a deaf ear to the jeering of the others.
Shen Yuqing followed closely behind, grabbing his jacket in one hand and carrying his bag in the other. The two left the box one after the other.
Shen Yuqing was only a few steps behind Song Wangzhuo, but by the time he got out, the guy was nowhere to be seen. It seemed he really wanted to escape.
He walked leisurely to the main entrance. Glancing casually out of the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar figure.
Song Wangzhuo was standing by the roadside, seemingly waiting for a car. His coattails were blown by the night wind. A passerby, drunk and staggering, saw him and whistled.
Shen Yuqing pursued his lips. He walked up to the security guard at the door and handed him the jacket. “Excuse me, please give this to that man standing by the road.”
The security guard agreed immediately and ran non-stop with Shen Yuqing’s jacket to find Song Wangzhuo.
Shen Yuqing, following the System’s guidance, found the Shen family driver, got in the car, and went home.
Song Wangzhuo clutched his old, battered phone, looking down at the message from the manager of his part-time job. It said that because he left his post without permission, he was fired.
They had also transferred his wages for the past few days.
Left without permission?
The chill surrounding Song Wangzhuo deepened. They were just afraid I would go back and report them, weren’t they?
“Hello.”
Someone interrupted his thoughts. Song Wangzhuo turned to look. A security guard handed him a neatly folded jacket. “A gentleman asked me to give this to you.”
Song Wangzhuo asked warily, “Who?”
The security guard looked back toward the entrance, then said, “That gentleman has already left.”
After handing the clothes to Song Wangzhuo, he went back.
Song Wangzhuo looked down at the jacket in his hands. It looked expensive. The night air was a bit cold, and he was dressed thinly.
He looked around. Aside from the security guard, there was no one. Probably just someone who saw I was pitiful and helped me out on a whim.
Song Wangzhuo pursed his lips. Eventually, he put on the jacket.
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