HBWMA -Chapter 270 Pre-Match Preparations

The early morning of early October was already turning chilly.

After finally managing to wake up early, Jiang Huashan spent the entire morning idly teasing her turtle and sketching.

At noon, Shen Zhuang had everyone gather in the main hall for lunch. During the meal, only Shen Mianzhi was present—Shen Garden’s “Three Idiots” were nowhere to be seen.

Biting into a crystal-clear braised pork trotter, Jiang Huashan looked around. “Where are they?”

Shen Mianzhi replied softly, “I heard there’s an exam tomorrow. Brother Lanxi and the others are all in their rooms revising.”

Jiang Huashan gave a vague “oh.”

“What exam? They’re even revising in advance?”

Shen Mianzhi shook her head and glanced cautiously at Shen Zhuang. “I don’t know, but it definitely isn’t an ordinary test. I heard the winner this time gets to go to Country S with Grandpa.”

A visit to Country S? Jiang Huashan fell into thought. She clearly remembered there had been no such plotline in her previous life.

Shen Mianzhi asked, “I’m going to the hospital this afternoon to see Sui’er. Are you coming?”

Jiang Huashan shook her head. Every time she went to visit Fu Sui’er, the girl would drag her into endless conversation. The doctors had already issued her a “ban notice,” saying she must not disturb the patient’s rest.

After lunch, Jiang Huashan took her little turtle to the courtyard to sunbathe. She wandered casually and ended up at the entrance of the Bamboo Garden. A thought struck her.

Shen Guiling still owed her a hundred requests. Better to act than wait—today was as good a day as any to go “collect debts.”

“Bang bang bang—”

“Shen Guiling!”

After a moment, the gate opened a crack barely the width of a thumb. Lei Xing looked at her warily.

“Miss Jiang, what brings you here?”

Jiang Huashan lifted the turtle’s string. “I’m looking for Shen Guiling. Open the door.”

“Bang—”

Without another word, Lei Xing shut the door again.

“Miss Jiang, you should head back. My young master is not seeing visitors today.”

This rejection came so suddenly that Jiang Huashan froze for a moment. Then she snapped back and started knocking again.

Had Shen Guiling gone back on his word? That wouldn’t do—she still had plenty of questions for him.

“Lei Xing! Open the door! Tell your young master to come out and speak to me!”

“Click—”

The response was the sound of the wooden bolt being locked.

“Miss Jiang, don’t make this difficult for me. The young master specifically said not to be disturbed unless it’s important.”

Jiang Huashan refused to give up. “How am I not important? I’m his benefactor!”

Lei Xing replied, deadpan, “The young master said—especially not you.”

“What?! He really went back on his word!” Jiang Huashan’s face darkened instantly. She kicked the door in frustration.

Fine, Shen Guiling. Now that you’ve risen back to power as the council leader, you’re already putting on airs. The older you get, the blacker your heart becomes.

Not wanting to waste any more effort, Jiang Huashan turned and left.

Just as she entered the corridor, she bumped into Gu He carrying a pile of items.

“Steward Gu.”

Gu He’s face twisted in horror the moment he saw her. Without a word, he leapt over the railing and sprinted back to Plum Garden.

“….”

Jiang Huashan almost laughed in anger. Ever since the “hand cream incident,” Shen Qingyu had been ignoring her. She had even wanted to ease things between them—after all, she had taken his ten million. But now it seemed she had been overthinking.

“Miss Jiang~”

Someone called out to her.

She stopped and turned her head.

Gao Zhi, wearing sunglasses, leaned against the doorframe and waved at her.

“Come on, come on—take a look at our courtyard~”

Jiang Huashan: “……”

—

Meanwhile, Gu He slammed the door shut, causing quite a commotion.

Shen Qingyu walked out of the main hall with his hands in his pockets. “Why are you running so fast? Got a dog chasing you?”

Gu He, still shaken, patted his chest. “It wasn’t a dog—it was Miss Jiang. Young master, I was afraid she’d misunderstand what I was holding, so…”

Shen Qingyu paused slightly, then touched his ear while looking up lazily.

After returning from the Qin Garden last night, he had specifically instructed Gu He to prepare some “revision materials.” He hadn’t expected such a coincidence.

He cleared his throat awkwardly. “What did you bring? Let me see.”

Gu He proudly presented a stack of materials. “Young master, don’t worry. I did my research. These are all top-tier goods—apparently even money can’t buy them.”

“Is that so?” Shen Qingyu glanced at him skeptically and picked one up at random.

Doraemon vs. Dynamic Superman.

His brow lifted slightly.

Gu He quickly explained, “This is just camouflage! Contrast effect—the real essence is inside!”

Shen Qingyu flipped it open casually. His eyelid twitched.

Gu He looked expectant. “So? Young master, this is all the best—”

Before he could finish, a Doraemon cover slapped him in the face. The book fell to the ground, and a page exposed contained content so explicit it would require censorship.

Shen Qingyu grabbed Gu He by the collar, tilting his head lazily. “Gu He, tell me honestly—who sent you? If you confess now, I might leave you an intact corpse.”

Gu He’s expression changed. He quickly cupped his hands in protest. “Young master, I’m absolutely loyal! I swear to heaven and earth! I worked so hard to get these materials!”

Seeing Shen Qingyu’s expression darken further, Gu He suddenly realized something.

“Young master… is it not to your taste? Tell me what you like, I’ll get them to act according to your preferences—guaranteed…”

“Shut up!” Shen Qingyu pushed him away. “You don’t need to handle this anymore.”

Then, as if remembering something, his eyes narrowed slightly.

“That little maniac… did she see any of this?”

Gu He shook his head quickly. “No! Absolutely not!”

Shen Qingyu curled his lips into a faint smile and patted Gu He’s shoulder. “Remember this. If any of this leaks out, I’ll pack you up and send you back to the Gu family.”

Gu He nodded vigorously. “Yes, young master!”

Shen Qingyu kicked the Doraemon book aside and turned back toward the hall.

Gu He looked at the scattered booklets on the grass, still confused. Where did things go wrong?

At that moment, his phone suddenly vibrated. He glanced at it and quickly straightened up.

“Old Madam.”

After a brief conversation, Gu He stepped into a corner and lowered his voice. “Old Madam, the young master is angry. He said I was tricking him with picture books. If you don’t think of something, he’s going to send me back to the Gu family.”

One minute later, Shen Qingyu’s phone rang.

He was lying on the sofa listening to the Great Compassion Mantra. He originally didn’t want to answer, but seeing the caller ID, he immediately turned off the speaker and picked up.

“Grandma.”

“Qingyu, you haven’t come to see Grandma in a long time. Come over for dinner tonight?”

His gaze shifted slightly. He walked onto the balcony, where Gu He was squatting on the lawn clearing debris.

After thinking for a moment, he agreed.

“Alright. I’ll come later tonight.”