Age of Legends

Chapter 232 Undercurrent
"Not afraid."

With her head held high in a rather stubborn manner, Zhang Chen looked quite striking from this angle. Her eyebrows were strikingly handsome, and her phoenix eyes held a firm and cold expression, giving her the air of a headstrong woman.

Then she added, "Zhang Chen, thank you for today."

“This is what I should do.” Zhang Chen was taken aback. He didn’t like Shen Nuoyi’s politeness, as it made him seem distant. “Besides, if I hadn’t stepped in, there would probably have been other solutions. For example, you could have talked to Pei Yan privately instead of making such a scene.”

Shen Nuo glanced at him and said, "He's already caused quite a stir outside the door. Everyone from the Foreign Languages ​​School will know tomorrow. If I take him away separately, it won't be clear how it will be explained. This way, it's more straightforward."

"This whole mess was caused by me, and now we're both involved. It shouldn't have involved you at all. So, thank you for standing by me today."

Zhang Chen understood that she didn't take Zhang Chen's status or what he did for her for granted. She could see all the efforts Zhang Chen made for her.

At this point, it's natural to say something ambiguous, such as, "As your boyfriend, this is a given, so you don't need to be so polite in the future," etc.

But then he heard Shen Nuoyi turn her head, and her clear voice leaped out into the darkness.

"Then you'll have to take responsibility for me from now on."

Slightly stunned, Zhang Chen opened his eyes wide as if his heart had been scratched by a cat. He saw Shen Nuoyi's slender figure walking forward, aiming at the cracks in the paving stones, taking a single step like a little girl. Her long legs looked pleasing to the eye at that moment.

She walked towards the gate of her residential compound, waving casually behind his back, "I'm going home. You should go home early too! If you really can't, just take a taxi!"

This appearance seemed to fit her chivalrous and dashing demeanor, giving off an air of "thank you for your help, fellow Daoist, we'll meet again." However, Zhang Chen could clearly see from behind that her ears were completely red under the night light.

Zhang Chen felt a little regretful that he hadn't seen Shen Nuoyi acting like a timid wife at this moment. That would have been quite different from the decisive and straightforward female warrior, and would have had a unique charm.

Shen Nuoyi indeed lost the courage to face Zhang Chen after saying his last words, while Zhang Chen's selfless act today was truly radiant.

She took out her key, inserted it into the lock, turned the key, and entered the room. The room was filled with a warm atmosphere. Her mother, Ning Wenjing, had peeled a bowl of pomegranate seeds, each seed distinct. Seeing her enter, she smiled and said, "You're back! I peeled some fruit for you, your favorite pomegranate. Come and eat!"

Shen Nuoyi obediently stepped forward and picked up a spoon to scoop the pomegranate from the glass bowl.

Ning Wenjing asked about the school's situation that day; this was practically the only time the mother and daughter could get together for a daily chat. Shen Nuoyi always responded that everything was fine.

Ning Wenjing didn't say anything more and went to help her organize the laundry. Her daughter was so well-behaved now, and her grades were consistently good. Her husband's career was also stable; she was quite happy.

Mr. Shen had not returned yet. He was usually out entertaining clients at this time, but he would not come home later than midnight, because he was afraid of disturbing his daughter's studies if he came home too late.

After finishing her fruit, Shen Nuo went to her room, washed up, and read a book before going to bed. Not long after, she heard Shen Mingbo returning home.

When Shen Mingbo learned that his daughter was still awake, he came over to greet Shen Nuoyi, still smelling of alcohol, and said in a drunken voice, "My daughter is so good... and her grades are so good, sweetie! Do you have any money? Do you have any money to spend... Daddy will give you some money..." Just as he was about to take out his wallet, Ning Wenjing snatched it away and pushed him out of Shen Nuoyi's room.

"Go wash up right now, you reek of alcohol!"

"Sigh, it's all for the sake of your good life, mother and son... for the family's social obligations! Sigh, why isn't Nuoyi rushing to take the money today? Something's not right..."

"All you do is give them money. They just want your company and care. I've heated up the water for you! Go now!"

Shen Nuoyi was looking at the book in her hand in the room. When she heard Shen Mingbo's voice, she looked up and saw the night view of Rongcheng outside the window.

She did something very bold today, something unlike anything she'd ever done—rushing into other classes to cause trouble for soccer players who bullied teachers, or anything she'd ever done for her best friends. It was probably the most rebellious thing she'd ever done in her life.

Everything is peaceful at home now, but you never know when rumors might spread, especially about Pei Yan. Who knows what will happen when the news finally reaches his parents...

She remembered Shen Mingbo's words about his connection with Taixun Group and his gratitude for Pei Yan's mother's help with the family business. She felt a pang of guilt towards Shen Mingbo, who was currently vomiting in the bathroom.

Will a storm descend upon us in the future?
……

When Zhang Chen got home, he opened QQ, and before long, someone in the class group couldn't help but chime in with a message.

In reality, the QQ class group is just like offline classes. Those who don't talk much are basically lurking and invisible all year round, only occasionally saying a word or two. In addition, computers are still very expensive at this time, not every family has one, and the penetration rate is not that high. It's also the senior year of high school, so many people, even if they have computers at home, just let them gather dust, or only have a chance to use them on weekends. Only a few people are active in chatting. And these few people can't help but feel restless.

"Can anyone tell me what happened during evening self-study tonight? My god, I'm stunned! I can't believe it! Zhang Chen and Shen Nuoyi did a great job keeping it a secret! @ZhangChen @ShenNuoyi"

This is a girl who usually loves to chat, and at this moment she finally couldn't help but come out and be sarcastic.

"There might have been signs of it all along. Zhang Chen wrote a cheering speech for Shen Nuoyi at the sports meet! Not long ago, the two of them were eating alone at the entrance! Why didn't we think about that back then?"

"Isn't that obvious? Who would dare to say that Zhang Chen and Shen Nuoyi are a couple right now? Nobody would ever have thought of that!"

Peng Xin: What could be unexpected? Love arises without warning and deepens with time!

"Wow, Uncle Peng, you're online too! Aren't you going to sleep yet?"

Peng Xin: I can't sleep. I'm worried that you guys will make dirty jokes about my brother Chen. I'm here to help you out!

"Uncle Peng is loyal... but, but, that's Pei Yan!"

Peng Xin: So what if Pei Yan? Little does he know that "there is a jade plate that holds the cold dew, but no one rises to admire it in the moonlight!"

"Damn, no wonder he's Uncle Peng, what does this poem mean?"

Peng Xin: This poem also includes the first two lines, "The wealthy and powerful of Chang'an cherish the fading spring, vying to admire the purple peonies on the west side of the street." Taken together, it means that everyone is enthusiastically pursuing the purple peony, unaware that there is also a beautiful and aloof flower like the white peony, possessing a beauty that transcends the purple peony! Just like Pei Yan, who is handsome, from a wealthy family, and a provincial champion in the competition, everyone adores him. So, it seems that the rumor that Shen Nuoyi likes him doesn't know how it started. Is it just because they had a good relationship in the past? So, since so many people like Pei Yan, Shen Nuoyi has to like him too? However, Shen Nuoyi doesn't like the purple peony that everyone admires, but instead sees the white peony that is ignored but stands alone in the world!

"Damn, Uncle Peng, how much do you love Zhang Chen? You're praising him like this! Shouldn't Zhang Chen come out and kowtow to Uncle Peng?"

Peng Xin: Tch, how could you possibly understand the feelings of people like Zhang Chen and me, who yearn for nothing more than to eat the bright moon and drink the gentle breeze? There's a reason why Shen Nuoyi took a liking to us!

"Damn! Uncle Peng, so you're actually praising yourself after all this time!"

Watching Peng Xin show off his skills in the group chat, Zhang Chen thought to himself that there was a reason why this guy got the highest score in Chinese in the whole school in the college entrance examination!

The way writers praise others is truly like a gentle breeze!
Zhang Chen continued to play dead, logging off and shutting down his computer.

Huang Huifen and Zhang Zhonghua were both home today, but they still thought it was just an ordinary day.

Zhang Chen originally wanted to be honest with them, but after opening his mouth, he gave up.

I thought to myself, "I'll tell you when the truth can't be hidden anymore."

Otherwise, if he told Huang Huifen the truth about what happened today, Zhang Chen was worried that she wouldn't be able to sleep all night.

Their son had now ruined the life of Shen Nuoyi, the goddess of the Third and Fourth Affiliated Hospitals, a name known throughout the district since childhood. Although Huang Huifen and Zhang Zhonghua hadn't explicitly told them, when Shen Nuoyi was mentioned, they both assumed that because her mother was a big shot at the TV station and her father was a successful businessman who had gone into business early on, Shen Nuoyi was a pampered princess from a privileged family. So when Zhang Chen broke things during a visit to their home, and Zheng Xue reported it, Huang Huifen even hit him.

Afterwards, he even cautiously asked the other party if they needed compensation.

As a result, Director Ning, Shen Nuoyi's mother, was very generous and said that it was just a small matter and there was no need to pay compensation.

That said, Shen Nuoyi's mother, Ning Wenjing, is also a celebrity in the Three Departments and Four Courts, holding a high position and respected by everyone.

Huang Huifen always remembered the look of relief she had when she saw Ning Wenjing. Ning Wenjing probably knew that she was just an ordinary employee and was worried about damaging valuable items and wasting money, so she treated her kindly and told her not to worry about it.

Zhang Chen still remembers Huang Huifen repeatedly saying when she got home, "Luckily, they didn't pursue the matter. That crystal ornament was bought back from Hong Kong by Shen Nuoyi's father; it cost over a thousand yuan!"

That was the first communication between the two women of the household.

Looking back, it seems a bit dramatic.

(End of this chapter)