Chapter 6: A Mix-Up

Chapter 6: The Big Mix-Up

Yuan Wu walked to the door, shoving his way through the cluster of Chen Shuoan and the others, gasping for air: "Hey, fellas, can you move it? I'm trying to get dinner here."

Chen Shuoan, Zheng Yuanzhi, Qin Zhonglian, and the rest of the crew: "..."

At that, the crowd quickly fell into two neat rows led by Zheng Yuanzhi and Qin Zhonglian, lined up like a professional welcome crew.

"Safe travels, Your Highness the Third Prince!"

Yuan Wu was speechless, huffed and flung his sleeve, then stormed off in a huff, leaving them with a view of his furious back.

After watching Yuan Wu leave, Zheng Yuanzhi grabbed Chen Shuoan by the wrist and made for the door.

Before Chen Shuoan's foot could even touch the ground outside, someone yanked him back with force.

"I'm gonna teach you a lesson today!" Qin Zhonglian was completely unreasonable, reached out and grabbed the back of Chen Shuoan's collar, almost lifting him off the ground like a chicken.

Chen Shuoan struggled violently, hissing through gritted teeth: "I don't wanna see it, let go of me!"

This is bullying! I swear, I'm calling the cops on you!

"Why do you keep going after Junior Brother Chen? What grudge is so big you can't let it go?" Zheng Yuanzhi saw that Qin Zhonglian really intended to fight, was startled, rushed over and grabbed Qin Zhonglian's arm to pull him off, playing peacemaker.

"Why don't you ask him what he did first?!" Qin Zhonglian's eyes were red with rage, shaking Zheng Yuanzhi off and roaring.

Chen Shuoan silently wiped his face. Bro, I get that you care about Su Qingwan, but you're spitting all over my face.

"The Sixth Prince is coming." Zheng Yuanzhi spotted Yuan Rang approaching and stepped back half a step to warn the others.

"Ow!" Zhang San, who got his foot stepped on, let out a weak groan, an innocent bystander, "I've got an ingrown toenail..."

They quickly fell back into two neat rows, and they let go of Chen Shuoan's collar, him ducking behind Zheng Yuanzhi.

Before he could even get the word "Six" out, Yuan Rang waved his hand to cut him off.

Yuan Rang turned to look at Chen Shuoan, who looked utterly wronged. His eyes were all watery, like a little deer's—he didn't seem like the type to do anything bad, and even if he had, it didn't seem like a big deal.

He decided to help, a glint of amusement in his dark eyes, and motioned to Chen Shuoan. "Come here."

Chen Shuoan had been praying for Yuan Rang to come save him. Hearing this, he stopped cowering and straightened up like he had a steel rod in his spine.

He pushed through the crowd with a fake smile: "Sorry, folks. See you tomorrow."

With that, he followed Yuan Rang out of that human hellhole without a backward glance.

...

"So what exactly was Qin Zhonglian talking about?"

"I dunno, you?"

"I dunno either, you?"

...

————

The spring sun was warm and pleasant, and Chen Shuoan suddenly got a strong urge to see the rolling mountains.

He thought, what he'd see here would be totally authentic, with zero modern influence.

So he looked up.

All he could see were the eaves of the towering palace.

He stood on his tiptoes and looked again.

Still only the eaves.

...Ugh, so unlucky.

"What are you up to?" Yuan Rang had noticed all his little movements and asked.

Chen Shuoan turned to look at Yuan Rang bathed in sunlight. The light and shadow played across Yuan Rang's sharply defined profile, forming a distinct line of light on his face, making him exceptionally handsome.

"Reporting to Your Highness. This official has been longing for a spring outing lately." Chen Shuoan met Yuan Rang's gaze, cleared his throat, and spoke loudly.

Yuan Rang raised an eyebrow in surprise and let out a muffled laugh: "As you wish. A spring hunt will be held in half a month. Given that past hunting results have been less than satisfactory, His Majesty has specially decreed that nobles and sons of prestigious families cannot be absent without reason."

He seemed to deliberately tease Chen Shuoan, pausing for a long while before saying: "Unless they are young women or children, all must walk to the hunting grounds on foot. To demonstrate the vibrant spirit of Da Rong."

"Huh?" Chen Shuoan's eyes were clear and foolish, unable to believe what he had just heard.

"Hmm? Reader Chen looks quite eager?"

Seeing that Chen Shuoan's face indeed showed an expression of "What nonsense are you talking about," Yuan Rang couldn't help but chuckle softly and continued to tease: "Since Reader Chen has such enthusiasm, surely you won't find it too tiring."

After hearing this, Chen Shuoan turned around wanting to cry.

How is this any different from forcing college students to participate in a sports meet?

Oh, there is a difference. It doesn't count for credits.

Chen Shuoan gnashed his teeth.

And so he passed more than ten days peacefully, during which Qin Zhonglian didn't come looking for trouble again.

After all, he'd already been beaten once; it wouldn't be polite to hit him again, Little Qin.

However, one thing troubled Chen Shuoan: people kept asking him what kind of shady deed he'd done to make Qin Zhonglian so angry—whether he'd forced someone to kiss him.

Damn it, I never thought I'd be the subject of a dirty rumor involving another guy.

Chen Shuoan thought expressionlessly.

No way I'm telling them. The fact that the original owner teamed up with street thugs to bully an underage girl would land him in jail in modern times. Even if all his teeth fell out and one foot was in the grave, he'd never say it. If word got out, where would his face go!

"Nonsense! There's nothing between me and Qin Zhonglian! What purity is there to take? Who's taking whose purity? Say one more word and I'll take your head!" Chen Shuoan walked into the study and heard an R-rated story about himself and Qin Zhonglian. Enough was enough—his face flushed red as a tomato as he charged in and started ranting.

Chen Shuoan was truly furious, completely forgetting the oath he'd sworn yesterday, and blurted out the truth without thinking: "I'm scum! I bullied a young girl with other scum, but I absolutely did not do anything with Qin Zhonglian!"

"..."

The whole room fell silent.

"Oh, I see." The classmates instantly lost interest. "I was kind of shipping you two."

...

Chen Shuoan gave a death smile. Ships can be niche, but they can't be cursed.

He'd let it slide this time, but next time it really wouldn't be allowed.