Chapter 24: Cut It Out, It’s Ridiculous

Chapter 24: Cut It Out, This Is Cringe

Wen Baichuan discussed setting a date for the engagement between Wen Yu and Shen Yubai.

Both families sat across from each other at a table three meters wide, sitting up straight like they were at a corporate board meeting.

Mrs. Shen was in a dark green cheongsam today, with jade earrings the size of her thumbnail dangling from her ears. She nodded slightly as she spoke. "How about a week from now?"

Wen Baichuan glanced at her. "Isn't that cutting it a bit close?"

"It's just an engagement, not the wedding. Let's do the wedding on the eighteenth of next month—that's a lucky day. This way, we can speed up the merger of our two families," Mrs. Shen replied.

Mrs. Shen was a real force to be reckoned with. Ten years ago, when her husband died, she raised her eldest son single-handedly to take over the Shen family, and her second son, thanks to her upbringing, became a military officer in Country S.

If this had been five years ago, before Shen Yubai fully took over, she'd still be the one calling the shots.

If it weren't for Wen Baichuan, she probably wouldn't have bothered dressing up so formally.

Wen Baichuan said in a calm, measured tone. "This still needs the kids' approval. Why don't we ask Yubai?"

Shen Yubai sat to Mrs. Shen's right, in a sharp dark gray suit, looking all refined. "Uncle Wen, I'm fine with it. Maybe you should ask Wen Yu?"

Mrs. Shen paused mid-sip, a thought flickering in her eyes.

"Tell you what—Yubai, go ask Wen Yu yourself. You two are engaged, you should be getting to know each other."

"It's awkward when us old folks have to do the talking. Young people talk better amongst themselves."

Wen Baichuan nodded slightly, smoothly picking up the thread. "True. Yubai, go find Wen Yu. He doesn't have class today."

To Wen Baichuan, Wen Yu's opinion was worth listening to—but only just.

Still, being polite like this kept him from looking like a dad who didn't give a damn about his son.

Once Shen Yubai left, Wen Baichuan even threw in a compliment for Mrs. Shen. "Yubai's mature and steady. I feel good handing Wen Yu over to him."

Mrs. Shen didn't say a word, just narrowed her eyes slightly.

Sly old fox.

There was a lot more greenery on campus now.

..

Wen Yu and Lou Xuemeng had been hanging out a lot.

The whole school was gossiping that they were dating?

That's just ridiculous.

It had even ended up on the school forum.

"MAJOR SCOOP!!!"

"A freshman is this tight with the student council president, and she even pulled strings for this Wen Yu guy!"

People were spilling all kinds of tea.

"I want the school to burn!: My untouchable president, do you know how many guys' hearts you've broken!"

"Dream Time: Give it a rest. Wen Yu's face is like a new Chinese actor's. You've got a pig nose—what 'boys' hearts' are you on about?"

"Love Radish: Weird. Wen Yu's that soft, cute type of guy. The president's into that? I thought she liked muscle dudes?"

"Kissing the one above: Maybe it's a strong woman, soft guy thing? 4i?"

Lou Xuemeng scrolled through these posts, totally speechless. Who the hell took those pictures of her?

......

Wen Yu's already taken, okay?

Lou Xuemeng was walking with Wen Yu when he asked, curious, "Xuemeng, why do you keep staring at your phone?"

Lou Xuemeng awkwardly put her phone away and locked it. "Nothing, hahaha."

Wen Yu looked at her suspiciously, holding his books. "Lately I've noticed my classmates giving me weird looks?"

"Do they think I'm a bad guy? They do it on purpose, and sometimes they keep asking about you."

"And they say you're supposed to be a sophomore, but you're redoing freshman year for some reason?"

Lou Xuemeng was overwhelmed by Wen Yu's rapid-fire questions, and before she could come up with an explanation—

A guy who was 180cm tall came running out of nowhere, dressed like a club model, holding a huge bouquet of roses.

"Xuemeng, can we get back together?" The guy suddenly dropped to his knees in front of Lou Xuemeng, glaring sourly at Wen Yu next to her.

Wen Yu stepped back, hiding behind Lou Xuemeng. "This is your ex?"

Lou Xuemeng was at a loss. Why the hell did this dumbass have to show up?

The guy had some nerve, shoving the flowers at Lou Xuemeng. "For the six months since we split, I haven't stopped thinking about you, Xuemeng. I know you're with this kept man just to piss me off."

"If you're willing, I can let bygones be bygones."

After saying that, the guy shot Wen Yu a contemptuous look.

Wen Yu almost threw up. This guy was way too greasy.

Lou Xuemeng grabbed the flowers and slammed them on the ground, looking down at the guy like he was trash. "Are you crazy? Did you get your head slammed in a door?"

"Do you think I'd throw away my whole life to date you?"

Before she could finish, the guy jumped up, pointing at Wen Yu and yelling at Lou Xuemeng, "Are you into this pretty boy?"

"I heard this guy's a nouveau riche! Who the hell does he think he is? What can he even do for you?"

Wen Yu stood there stunned, pulling at Lou Xuemeng's sleeve. "Xuemeng, why's he trash-talking me?"

Lou Xuemeng said softly, "He's jealous. Jealous that you're paler and better-looking than him."

The guy's veins popped. "You two!"

Seeing himself completely ignored, the guy wasn't done and swung a slap at Wen Yu. Wen Yu closed his eyes and flinched.

Wait, he didn't get hit?

A big hand caught the guy's slap. Behind Wen Yu stood a man in a suit.

Shen Yubai?!

Shen Yubai looked at Wen Yu, "Wen Yu, are you alright?"

Lou Xuemeng's mind went blank, where did this guy even come from?

And coincidentally, that guy was thinking the exact same thing!

"Oh, so that's how it is, Lou Xuemeng! You're actually dating a gay guy? Are you trying to be his beard?"

"What's so good about Wen Yu? He's a bottom, and with that look, does he even deserve to be your boyfriend?"

Lou Xuemeng frowned, her tone impatient, "Who told you Wen Yu and I are a thing?"

The guy stared at Lou Xuemeng, incredulous, "It's all over the forum, don't even try to deny it."

The louder that guy got, the more Shen Yubai and Wen Yu just kept chatting.

"Thank you, Brother Yubai," Wen Yu said.

"It's my responsibility as his fiancé," Shen Yubai then got down to business, "How about we head out to a Chinese restaurant for a bite?"

"You probably haven't eaten yet, have you?"

Wen Yu nodded, then looked at Lou Xuemeng, "But I've got a friend with me."

Shen Yubai said generously, "No problem, bring your friend along."

Wen Yu's eyes lit up, "Okay."

Lou Xuemeng didn't give a damn about that troublemaker. Once she heard the guy next to Wen Yu was his fiancé, she was dead set on tagging along.

Because she didn't trust leaving Wen Yu alone with his fiancé.

The guy looked like a total clown. Lou Xuemeng completely ignored him, and the crowd watched him like he was a joke.

He clenched his fists: Lou Xuemeng! You've embarrassed me in public, you're something else!

One of the spectators burst out laughing, "Hahahaha, isn't this Ji Mushan, the senior from the Finance Department?"

"Hilarious, dressed up like a gigolo!"

"Hey! Ji Mushan! Cut it out, you're a laughingstock!"