After the fake young master left home, he discovered that it wasn't raining at all outside.

"bite--"

As soon as the school bell rang, a series of afterimages flew out of each classroom.

"Hey, why are you running so fast? Are you being chased by a ghost?!" Someone had just finished packing up their books when they looked up and found that their friend had disappeared.

"A new chicken wing rice bowl recently opened in the cafeteria. It's delicious, but it's limited. If you dawdle any longer, you'll be eating dust."

"Then buy one for me too."

"..."

On the other side, Class 1 of Grade 11—

"Brother Yan, want to go to the cafeteria?" Lu Ze had started packing his things a few minutes before get out of class ended, preparing to rush to the cafeteria as soon as the bell rang, but he suddenly remembered that Zhu Yan was back now.

"I'm not going. I'll go straight to the apartment next door." Zhu Yan closed the book on the table, got up, and prepared to leave.

"Huh? What apartment?" Lu Ze immediately followed.

"I don't know, it was arranged by my second brother."

The Zhu family manor was too far from the school, and the daily commute was exhausting. Zhu Mo and the others felt sorry for Zhu Yan, so they asked Zhu Qian to prepare an apartment near the school for Zhu Yan to rest in.

"Can I come over for a free meal?" Lu Ze chuckled, quite curious about the apartment Zhu Yan had mentioned.

"Let's invite Xu Zhiyuan along." Zhu Yan had originally planned to take them with him; if he only took Lu Ze, someone would start making a scene in front of him again.

But Zhu Yan didn't expect that Xu Zhiyuan didn't need him to call out. As soon as he came out of the back door, Xu Zhiyuan was already standing at the door waiting for him. "Little Yan, where are you going? Take me with you."

Xu Zhiyuan blinked and looked at Zhu Yan.

...They're quite self-aware.

Just as Zhu Yan was about to speak, Song Chen appeared in front of her in a flash.

?

Lu Ze was dumbfounded when he saw Song Qian appear so suddenly. "You're exaggerating. The bell just rang, and you teleported?"

Song Qian was from Class 5 downstairs, so it's no wonder Lu Ze was so shocked.

"Then...then don't worry about it. Wherever Brother Zhu is, I'll be there." Song Qian was still panting, with his hands on his hips, bent over, and speaking in fits and starts.

He even complained that it was too late; judging by the looks of it, if he had been any later, the banquet would have ended.

Zhu Yan glanced at Song Qian, who had suddenly appeared in front of him. Without even having to guess, he turned around and glanced back into the classroom.

As expected, Shen Yan and Qin Ci stood not far behind him, gazing at him expectantly.

Zhu Yan sighed, lifted her leg and walked out of the classroom, "Follow me."

Seeing that his shameless approach had worked, Song Chen smiled somewhat embarrassedly, while Shen Yan remained expressionless and simply followed silently.

As expected of Xu Zhiyuan, who was always attentive to Zhu Yan's emotions, he quickly noticed that something was wrong with Zhu Yan's expression.

In the elevator, he pressed the button for the first floor, then turned to Zhu Yan and asked softly, "What's wrong? Are you angry?"

Zhu Yan was pulled back to reality by Xu Zhiyuan's words, "Now you're afraid I'll get angry? Weren't you quite shameless in the classroom just now?"

Although Xu Zhiyuan tried his best to keep his voice down, he was still heard by others in the confined space of the elevator. They immediately looked up and stared at Zhu Yan, somewhat frightened.

Actually, Zhu Yan wasn't angry at all. He was just wondering if Lin Shen had prepared so much food. Otherwise, what if he invited a group of people over, only to have them eat nothing at all?

"I didn't expect I wasn't the only shameless one," Xu Zhiyuan replied, glancing back at the other people who had also come to freeload behind Zhu Yan.

Qin Ci and Song Qian were quite in sync at this moment. They turned their eyes around, avoiding Xu Zhiyuan's gaze, and unconsciously looked up at the ceiling.

Zhu Yan opened her phone, glanced at the time, and then looked at Xu Zhiyuan. "Quite self-aware."

"So-so." Xu Zhiyuan really thought Zhu Yan was praising him.

Lu Ze, who was originally standing a few steps behind Zhu Yan, stepped forward after hearing Xu Zhiyuan's words, "Brother Yan..."

Before he could finish speaking, the elevator doors opened, and Zhu Yan stepped out. "It's alright, let's go."

After observing Zhu Yan for a while, and seeing that he didn't seem angry, the group didn't say anything more and followed him toward the school gate.

Lin Shen was waiting at the door with a group of bodyguards. But he realized that he wasn't the only one waiting for someone.

Beside them were three other people: a middle-aged man, a middle-aged woman, and a young man in his twenties. They all seemed to have gone through a lot of troubles, as they all looked tired and haggard, especially the middle-aged man.

"Young Master." Lin Shen immediately went to greet Zhu Yan after spotting him, but he didn't expect that there was someone else who was even faster than him.

"A-Jang!"

Arjan? What an unfamiliar name; I've never heard of him before.

He ignored the shout, didn't give it a second glance, and walked towards Lin Shen with one hand in his pocket.

"Ah Rang, it was your father's fault. Please come back. For the sake of us raising you for over ten years." The middle-aged man who spoke was Wen Lin.

The Wen family's bankruptcy dealt him a heavy blow, causing him to fall from grace. Those who once flattered him now treated him with cold indifference. He was no longer the aloof figure whom everyone respectfully addressed as "Chairman Wen."

It was at that moment that he truly understood that everything he had gained was thanks to Wen Rang.

Now, it should probably be called a celebratory banquet.

Zhu Yan naturally ignored him. He had said on the day he left that the Wen family could do without anyone, but without him, Zhu Yan, they were just trash.

Besides, he called out to Wen Rang; what does that have to do with his banquet?

"Wen Rang, your father has begged you like this, please don't be so heartless, okay? It's only been a short time and you've already forgotten the kindness of raising you?" Wen Huai's attitude towards Zhu Yan was no different from before, mainly expressing his disapproval.

Zhu Yan stopped and remained silent for a while, head bowed.

Wen Lin thought Zhu Yan had softened, so he pressed his advantage, "A-Rang, Dad really knows he was wrong. Come back, I'll give you whatever you want, okay?"

Oh.

A self-deprecating smile appeared on Zhu Yan's lips.

Arjen...

Countless days and nights ago, he longed for his parents to come to him, with gentle smiles, and softly call his name.

The love I once longed for has finally come true.

Shouldn't he be happy...?

But now he is the host of the banquet, not their son, Wenrang.

"Mr. Wen, your A-Rang died the moment you kicked him out of the house." Zhu Yan didn't look at them again from beginning to end. After speaking, he got into the car.

Zhu Yan could easily have wiped out the Wen family, but he admitted that he was still a little soft-hearted and did not completely destroy them, only bankrupting them.

If they have the ability, it's not impossible for them to make a comeback.

Instead of thinking about how to rebuild their business, they shamelessly begged for his forgiveness.

Indeed, rotten wood cannot be carved.

In some ways, Zhu Yan was lucky to be sold to a relatively wealthy family by human traffickers.

But living in a family where neither father nor mother cares for him is also pathetic.

In short, he had done everything he could for the Wen family.