HBWMA -Chapter 170 Right Now!

No one was allowed to come in—so how was Xiao Lanlan supposed to run naked?

Jiang Huashan was a little annoyed. She glanced sideways at the elegant and refined Leng Yue in front of her. Did this dog-like thing just enjoy going against her from birth?

The scene in front of them could only be described as tragic. Two young ladies of the Shen family—one barely covered, the other in tattered clothing—and the remaining two were also in miserable condition.

Shen Lanxi’s brows were slightly furrowed, his gaze cold. “What happened?”

The two girls who had been causing trouble trembled and looked toward Xiao Lanlan. They had been so bold only because they believed Xiao Lanlan would cover for them.

Xiao Lanlan hugged her knees tightly. Although Shen Lanxi was her cousin, he was still a man. Her current state made her not even dare to lift her head.

“What happened?” Jiang Huashan seized the opportunity, jumping up instantly and pointing at Xiao Lanlan.

“All thanks to Shen Lanxi changing dance partners at the last minute. Xiao Lanlan couldn’t swallow it and sent people to teach me a lesson. She wanted me to strip and swim naked in that pool. I refused, so they all bullied me together.”

Shen Lanxi’s eyelid twitched.

When Jiang Huashan jumped up, she looked like a human-shaped white jade dumpling. Though still unpolished, true jade would never be buried in dust. Her words about having no chest, no hips, and no shame were probably the biggest misunderstanding she had about herself.

“Shen Lanxi! You—”

Before she could finish, something covered Jiang Huashan’s head. The next second, a cold, calm scent of snow-covered pine rushed toward her—familiar yet distant, like ice and snow beginning to melt.

She froze for a moment, then pulled down the black suit jacket covering her head, her expression complicated.

Shen Lanxi said flatly, “Put your clothes on. If you dare to undress casually in public again, I will ask Grandpa to properly teach you manners.”

“…”

Jiang Huashan almost laughed in anger and turned her face away, refusing to look at him.

Shen Lanxi was the strictest kind of rule-follower. He was rigid to the point of being inflexible in certain matters. He valued the Shen family’s honor above everything. With him here, it would be nearly impossible to make Xiao Lanlan run naked.

“Brother Lanxi, don’t listen to Jiang Huashan’s nonsense! I was just chatting with her. She suddenly went crazy. Brother, can you get me some clothes? If others see me like this, it’ll embarrass both the Xiao family and the Shen family.”

Seeing that Shen Lanxi had actually taken off his jacket to cover Jiang Huashan, Xiao Lanlan panicked. To prevent Jiang Huashan from sowing discord, she deliberately brought up the Xiao and Shen families.

“Gao Zhi, call a few tight-lipped maids over.”

Shen Lanxi had long seen through her intentions. He simply didn’t want to pursue the matter for now because of the bigger picture.

Fu Sui’er was furious and rushed forward to argue. “Brother Lanxi, you’re actually helping Xiao Lanlan?!”

Shen Lanxi replied indifferently, “We’ll deal with this after the banquet ends. Everyone go calm down first.”

Fu Sui’er snapped, “Calm down my ass! If you let her go now, she’ll recover and definitely find a way to bite us back later. We should handle it now—otherwise it’s unfair!”

Shen Lanxi’s eyes darkened slightly as he looked at her expressionlessly.

Fu Sui’er didn’t dare challenge him and quickly lowered her head. “Sorry, Brother Lanxi… I didn’t mean you were an ass. I’m just too anxious.”

Shen Lanxi then turned his gaze toward Jiang Huashan.

But Jiang Huashan still turned her head away, refusing to look at him. From this angle, the red mark on her neck looked especially striking.

“…”

His gaze darkened.

He then looked at the two girls. Under normal circumstances, a single glance from the Shen family’s heir would have made them ecstatic. But now, they wished they could disappear entirely. When his eyes landed on them, they trembled uncontrollably.

In the side hall’s tea room.

Brown tea leaves swirled along the surface of the tea, forming a perfect circular ripple that expanded more and more slowly, until it nearly came to a stop.

Shen Qingyu stared at the teacup in his hand, his expression unreadable.

He finally looked up and, gathering his courage, asked, “Grandpa, why did you choose Brother Lanxi as the family head? Why can’t it be me?”

A faint light flickered in Shen Zhuang’s eyes, but it vanished before it could be fully seen.

He shook his head. “Yes. It can’t be you.”

Shen Qingyu’s eyes sharpened. “Where exactly am I worse than Shen Lanxi?”

Shen Zhuang let out a soft laugh. “Not choosing you isn’t because you’re worse than Lanxi. It’s simply because he is more suitable. That’s all.”

Shen Qingyu didn’t understand.

Shen Zhuang said, “Qingyu, do you understand what it means to be the head of a family? Lanxi left home at eight and stayed at Qingxu Temple for seven years. The hardships and suffering involved are far beyond what ordinary people can imagine. Lanxi is indifferent and self-possessed, able to remain objective and calm at all times—he is a natural-born strategist. But you are different. You are clear about love and hate, passionate like the blazing sun. If you were forced to betray your beliefs for the family, it would hurt you more than death. That’s why you are more suited to building your own empire—to become the Shen family’s shield.”

The sharp edge in Shen Qingyu’s eyes was shattered in an instant.

Shen Zhuang continued, “Qingyu, in my eyes, all of you are irreplaceable. Only when each of you performs your own role and fulfills your responsibilities can the glory of the Shen family continue.”

Shen Qingyu lowered his gaze and finished the warm tea in one gulp.

“I understand, Grandpa.”

He set down the cup and took the gold card from Shen Zhuang’s hand. “Then I’ll establish my own business empire. There, I make the rules.”

That bastard Shen Lanxi could forget about trying to subdue him. The one he would serve was the Shen family that Grandpa had carefully protected.

“Knock, knock—”

“Grandpa.”

Just as the grandfather and grandson’s atmosphere began to ease, Shen Guiling’s voice came from outside the door.

Shen Zhuang looked slightly surprised. “Come in.”

With that, Shen Guiling pushed the door open and entered.

Taking advantage of those few steps, Shen Qingyu quickly slipped the card into the inside lining of his suit.

Shen Zhuang gestured to the armchair on the right, smiling. “A-Ling? Why are you here?”

Shen Guiling said, “I felt something wasn’t quite right, so I came to discuss it with you, Grandpa.”

Shen Zhuang glanced at Shen Qingyu, still puzzled. “What doesn’t seem right?”

Shen Guiling hesitated. “Earlier, when I passed by the lotus pond in the back courtyard, I heard Shanshan shouting that… that Cousin Xiao was going to do a nude run. When I got closer, I saw Gao Zhi sealing off all entrances to the lotus pond, and I… I heard arguing inside. It sounded quite intense.”

“What?!” Shen Zhuang’s smile vanished instantly.

Shen Guiling looked troubled. “Grandpa, originally Brother Lanxi was handling it, so I didn’t want to interfere. But when I avoided the area, I happened to see a girl crawling out of the pond. I asked a few questions and felt the situation was rather severe, so…”

“Severe?”

That word carried a loaded implication. Shen Zhuang’s expression darkened completely.

“Brother Lanxi, I’m so cold. Can we go back first, please?”

They had already agreed to deal with things after returning, but Shen Lanxi suddenly said nothing further. Afraid the situation might change, Xiao Lanlan began to sob pitifully.

“Brother Lanxi, if people see me like this, how am I supposed to face anyone in the future? Brother Lanxi!”

Shen Lanxi was silent for a moment, then turned slightly. “Before the banquet ends, all of you stay in your own courtyards. No one is allowed to leave.”

A flash of relief appeared in Xiao Lanlan’s eyes. As long as she could get through this crisis, she could slowly settle the score later.

Shen Lanxi glanced at Jiang Huashan one more time. Seeing that she still ignored him, he said nothing more and turned to leave the lotus pond.

“Lanxi young master.”

Shen Lanxi stopped.

Outside the lotus pond, behind a low shrub, Shen Lanxi immediately saw that the aunt who had rushed over to help was being blocked by Shen Zhi at the corridor.

His expression remained calm. One glance was enough for him to understand—it was the old master’s order.

Shen Zhi stepped forward and lowered his voice. “Young Master Lanxi, the old master requests that you bring the two young ladies to the side hall.”

Shen Lanxi frowned. “Now?”

He didn’t understand. Even if Grandfather had found out, there was no reason to handle it right now. The banquet wasn’t over yet, and several high-ranking church priests were scheduled to visit later in the second half. Dealing with this situation now was clearly not the wise choice.

Shen Zhi nodded, his tone leaving no room for refusal.

“Yes. The old master’s instructions are—now.”