TRWSB – Chapter 257 Familiar People at the Banquet

“Ah Hao, you’re finally back. Welcome home!” Shen Yuan greeted enthusiastically.

“I heard you’ve become the acting head of the Shen family and taken over a lot of the business. That’s impressive,” Zhuang Hao said.

Shen Yuan smiled and replied, “My business is nothing compared to the Qingcheng Cosmetics Store.”

Looking at Zhuang Yun, who barely reached Zhuang Hao’s knee, Shen Yuan asked, “This is your and Qi Shao’s son, right? He’s very handsome! In a few years, he’ll definitely be a heartthrob.”

Zhuang Yun looked up and examined Shen Yuan for a few seconds, then asked, “Dad, is this the idiot you said went to break off the engagement for you?”

Shen Yuan: “…”
It’s been five years! Times have changed. He had thought such an embarrassing episode would be forgotten by now. But clearly… it’s going to haunt him for life.

Zhuang Hao nodded, “Yes, that’s him.”

Zhuang Yun looked at Shen Yuan and said, “This guy really does look dumb. No wonder he’d do something that stupid.”

Shen Yuan: “…”

He frowned, thinking: This kid looks like Zhuang Hao, but that sharp tongue is definitely inherited from Qi Shaorong!

“This is your Uncle Shen. Call him uncle,” Zhuang Hao said.

Zhuang Yun shrugged and muttered, “Uncle.” Then paused and asked, “Uncle, do you have a wife?”

Shen Yuan smiled awkwardly, “Not yet.”
Over the years, many had tried to matchmake for him, but Shen Yuan had been focused on business and never settled down.

“Is it because everyone knows you’re dumb, so no one wants to marry you?” Zhuang Yun tilted his head and asked.

Shen Yuan took a deep breath and asked, “Who told you I’m dumb?”

Zhuang Yun rolled his eyes, “Lots of people! Uncle Yi Fan often says you’re the dumbest person he’s ever met.”

Shen Yuan: “…”
Yi Fan, that guy… what a jerk.

“Welcome back,” Qi Shaokang raised his glass to Qi Shaorong.

“Thanks, Second Brother. And congratulations on becoming the heir to the Qi family,” Qi Shaorong smiled.

Qi Shaokang smiled back and said, “Thank you. But you know, if you ever wanted to return to the Qi family, I’d step aside any time.”

“Your and Zhuang Shao’s son is very adorable,” he added.

“Thank you.”

Yi Ming, munching on a chicken leg, strutted over to Zhuang Yun and said haughtily, “Hey kid, have you started school yet?”

“Not yet,” Zhuang Yun replied.

“You’re already that old and not in school yet? That’s not good—being uneducated like that. I’ve already started,” Yi Ming said proudly.

Zhuang Yun glanced at him and said, “You’re dumb, so you need to start school earlier and learn more. I’m naturally gifted, so I don’t need to start so soon. Besides, I’ll let you have a head start.”

Yi Ming clenched his fists in frustration, “What did you say, kid? Do you know I beat everyone in class on my first day and became the boss?”

Zhuang Yun looked at him and said, “Then enjoy it while it lasts. Once I’m there, you’ll have to be number two.”

Yi Ming: “…”

He clenched his hands like chicken claws and let out an angry roar at Zhuang Yun.

Zhuang Yun calmly turned his back on him, hands behind his back.

Yi Ming tried to charge at Zhuang Yun, but was held back by Mu Tingxuan.

“Enough already,” Mu Tingxuan said.

Yi Ming pouted, “Zhuang Yun called me dumb. I’m not dumb!”

“Yes, yes, Ah Ming isn’t dumb,” Mu Tingxuan said, looking at the energetic Yi Ming, feeling a bit speechless. He and Yi Fan were both reserved people, but their child turned out to be so hyperactive—he really didn’t know who he took after.

Zhuang Yun tugged at Zhuang Hao’s pants and said, “Dad, I want to go to Tianlan.”

Zhuang Hao looked confused, “Why?”

“Because it seems like Tianlan doesn’t have many talents—how else could a fool like Yi Ming become the boss? I need to show him that I should be the boss. Even being number two would be a stretch for him,” Zhuang Yun said seriously.

Zhuang Hao: “…”

Mu Tingxuan looked at the furious Yi Ming and tried to soothe him, “Don’t be mad. Eat more.”

Yi Ming grabbed a big prawn, shoved it into his mouth, and bit down hard. “Zhuang Yun is such a jerk.”

Mu Tingxuan chuckled, “Yes, yes, he’s a jerk.”

Mu Tingxuan glanced toward Luo Jia’s direction—Luo Jia was surrounded by several beautiful women. When Yi Fan told Luo Jia they were going back, Luo Jia thought it over and decided that staying in the Godforsaken Land was uncomfortable anyway, so he followed Yi Fan back.

Yi Ming blinked and muttered, “Uncle Luo Jia is really popular!”

Shen Yuan had invited a lot of beautiful women over, but since Zhuang Hao and the others were already taken, Luo Jia stood out among the crowd as a handsome bachelor.

Many of the women were very interested in the red-eyed handsome man. Luo Jia, a bit embarrassed, was sipping his wine awkwardly.

Only after some effort did he finally escape from the encirclement.

Yi Fan patted Luo Jia on the shoulder and said, “Not bad, you’re quite the popular one. Anyone catch your eye? If someone did, I can help set you up.”

Luo Jia blushed and quickly said, “No need.”

He scratched his head. Back in the Godforsaken Land, the females usually avoided him. He didn’t expect the women here to be so bold. But the fact that they weren’t afraid of him here somehow felt even scarier.

“Your face is really red,” Yi Fan said.

Luo Jia awkwardly replied, “Is it?”

Luo Jia lowered his head. Just now, one of the women had asked if he wanted to “relax outside.” Luo Jia wasn’t sure if that was one of those legendary one-night-stand invitations.

Yi Fan nodded. “Yeah! One woman seems very interested in you. Did you accept?”

Luo Jia quickly shook his head. “No.”

“Turning down such a great offer—you’ve got self-control,” Yi Fan commented.

Luo Jia: “……”

……

Mu Tingxuan walked over to Yi Fan and asked, “What are you doing?”

“Luo Jia seemed nervous, so I was just comforting him,” Yi Fan said.

Mu Tingxuan eyed him skeptically, “You sure it’s comforting and not teasing?”

Yi Fan chuckled. “Mostly comforting… with a little teasing on the side. That guy’s huge, but he seems super shy!”

“You’ve got no right to talk. Weren’t you shy too, back then?” Mu Tingxuan said.

Yi Fan froze. “Was I?”

Mu Tingxuan nodded. “Yeah. Every time you saw me, your face would turn bright red. I just thought you had naturally flushed cheeks.”

Yi Fan: “……”

Qi Shaorong walked over and asked, “What are you two talking about?”

Yi Fan smiled, “Nothing much.”

“Zhuang Shao is pretty popular, huh?”

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Yeah. I heard a lot of people in the capital were saying Zhuang Hao died. Now that he’s suddenly reappeared, it’s only natural people want to talk to him.”

Yi Fan: “……”

Suddenly, a stir rippled through the hall. Qi Shaorong looked toward the door and saw Hu Feng and Lu Ming entering.

“The two principals have arrived,” Yi Fan said. “They really have a strange kind of coordination—arriving together. Have you decided which school Zhuang Yun will attend?”

Qi Shaorong shook his head. “Not yet. I’m letting Zhuang Hao decide.”

No matter whether Zhuang Yun went to Tianlan or Shenghuang Academy, it would offend one side. So it was better to let Zhuang Hao handle that problem.

Yi Fan: “……”

As Hu Feng and Lu Ming entered, many guests turned their eyes toward them. Quite a few even subtly moved away, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire if a fight broke out.

Hu Feng and Lu Ming chatted and laughed like old friends, but the cold light in their eyes betrayed their real relationship.

……

Xinduolei sat off to one side with a huge bowl of meat, eating ravenously.

A stack of empty plates sat beside him, and the waitstaff who came to collect them gave him strange looks.

Luo Jia finally broke away from the crowd and sat next to Xinduolei.

Maybe it was because of how intensely Xinduolei was eating, but an empty space had formed around him like a vacuum.

Xinduolei smiled and said, “You’re really popular, huh?”

Luo Jia gave an embarrassed smile. “Not really. There’s just a lot of roasted meat.”

Xinduolei nodded excitedly. “I asked the waiters—they said you can eat as much as you want, but whatever you take, you have to finish. This place is great! Back where we’re from, you never get this kind of deal.”

Luo Jia nodded. “Yeah, true.”

He looked over toward Zhuang Hao. Knowing Zhuang Hao and the others came from another world, Luo Jia had assumed his status must have been high over there. Still, he hadn’t expected Zhuang Hao to be so noble in this world as well—it exceeded his imagination.

……

“Fourth Brother.” Qi Shaoru walked up and called out.

Qi Shaorong looked at her, a bit surprised. Their relationship had always been just average, so he didn’t expect her to approach him so proactively.

Qi Shaoru looked thinner than before.

“Something you need?” Qi Shaorong asked.

“Fourth Brother, you have to stand up for me!” Qi Shaoru said.

Qi Shaorong blinked. “If you’ve been wronged, you’d be better off asking Father or Second Brother to help.”

“I already did. They won’t care,” she said indignantly.

Qi Shaorong said helplessly, “If even they can’t help, I’m afraid I won’t be able to either.”

“Fourth Brother, we’re siblings! Are you really just going to watch me be bullied?” she said, unhappy.

Qi Shaorong took a deep breath. “That depends on whether you’ve truly been bullied or not.”

“What do you mean by that?” she asked, displeased.

Qi Shaorong replied helplessly, “I just think the chances of someone bullying you are low. It’s more likely that you’re the one bullying someone else.”

Qi Shaoru looked wronged. “How can you think that way? I was engaged to someone, and he broke off the engagement. You should understand how that feels, right?”

Qi Shaorong blinked. “Ah, I kind of get it. When Shen Yuan came to break off our engagement, I thought—I’ve lost a tree, but gained a whole forest. The world just opened up. Shaoru, you really should try to see the bright side.”

Zhuang Hao walked over and added, “Miss Qi, your situation is nothing like Shaorong’s. Since you made a choice, you also have to bear the consequences of that choice.”