CH 055

TL: Moonlit

“Wan Li Shuang, this is between him and me, it’s none of your business,” Zhou Yuntang said with resentment.

At this point, there were no tears in his eyes anymore.

Zhou Yuntang knew very well that his tears were the most potent weapon against others, but Wan Li Shuang was completely immune to it. Even if he fainted from crying, Wan Li Shuang would remain indifferent and might even applaud.

“You guys?” Wan Li Shuang’s gaze shifted between Lin Hanchuan and Zhou Yuntang, scrutinizing them with a hint of suspicion.

Zhou Yuntang’s heart skipped a beat, afraid that Wan Li Shuang might discover something.

Having grown up competing with Wan Li Shuang since childhood, Zhou Yuntang had won more times than not. If his fake identity as the young master was exposed, Wan Li Shuang would definitely mock him ruthlessly and vent years of suppressed frustration.

Wan Li Shuang was just puzzled as Zhou Yuntang was different from Jiang Tian in terms of academic performance, family background, and personality. They were as different as night and day. He initially thought that Zhou Yuntang had found another plaything to perform his “kindness” and “compassion.”

Seeing Zhou Yuntang showing a hint of nervousness, Wan Li Shuang’s eyes flickered with contemplation.

It is said that only an opponent truly understands their rival, and this saying couldn’t be more fitting for Wan Li Shuang.

In everyone else’s eyes, Zhou Yuntang was the embodiment of goodness, but only Wan Li Shuang could see the cunning hidden beneath his gentle and harmless appearance.

While Wan Li Shuang and Zhou Yuntang engaged in a mental duel, Lin Hanchuan had already returned to his seat and was intently reading his book, flipping the pages at an unusually fast pace.

As Wan Li Shuang and Zhou Yuntang’s gazes fell on him, Lin Hanchuan remained unmoved, becoming the only student in the classroom who genuinely focused on the morning self-study.

This blatant disregard felt like an insult to Zhou Yuntang, who had never been treated this way by anyone, not even Wan Li Shuang, who had always opposed him.

This was the biggest defeat he had suffered at the hands of Lin Hanchuan, and it happened right in front of Wan Li Shuang, leaving Zhou Yuntang feeling embarrassed with his ears burning red.

Why did it have to be him, the true young master of the Zhou family? Countless times, Zhou Yuntang complained in his heart, trying to figure out how to capture Lin Hanchuan’s attention.

Suddenly, a bright idea flashed in his mind. In the dream, before this true young master recognized the Zhou family, his life was quite challenging, and he had a gambling-addicted father.

“Jiang Tian, I know your family is facing difficulties. If you need it, I can support you,” Zhou Yuntang cleared his throat and gently said, “If you’re willing, you can come to my house and live with me at the Zhou family…”

Living in the Zhou family would make it easier to gain favorability points. If he eats and lives with me, he won’t be so indifferent to me anymore. Zhou Yuntang thought this idea was fantastic, wondering why he hadn’t thought of it before.

In Zhou Yuntang’s imagination, someone living such a difficult life would undoubtedly be overjoyed at the prospect of living in a big house, free from worries about food and drink. He assumed that offering such help would naturally earn the person’s deep gratitude.

As expected, when Zhou Yuntang made the suggestion, Lin Hanchuan looked up from his book, but there was no hint of joy in his expression, only icy disdain.

Injured by this piercing gaze, Zhou Yuntang took a small step back and swallowed nervously. “I heard that your father is a gambler and often mistreats you. Will it be better if you move out?”

“Damn it!” Before Lin Hanchuan could speak, someone couldn’t bear it any longer.

“Zhou Yuntang, what’s wrong with you?” Wan Li Shuang strode forward, pushing Zhou Yuntang away with a palm. “This is someone else’s private matter, and you’re blabbering about it in front of everyone, acting all proud. Do you think you’re so kind-hearted?”

“You’re being hypocritical!”

Zhou Yuntang stumbled a step backward, nearly falling to the ground in a sorry state. He wanted to curse, but with so many classmates around, he endured and endured until his eyes turned red.

“I just wanted to help him,” Zhou Yuntang defended himself, trying to look as if he had the purest intentions for Lin Hanchuan, with no ulterior motives. “I didn’t even mind when he tore my books. I just wanted to help him.”

“He’s the top student in our year. When the college entrance exam comes, he’ll definitely get a great score and win a substantial reward. With that prize money, he can go to the best university and work at the top company after graduation. What use is your kindness here?” Wan Li Shuang sneered, bluntly exposing Zhou Yuntang’s hypocrisy. “Based on your terrible grades? Or your lack of ambition to only be a parasite at the Zhou family after graduation?”

Zhou Yuntang was stunned. “What reward money?”

There was no such thing in the dream.

“It’s not surprising you don’t know with your grades,” Wan Li Shuang said as he stood in front of Lin Hanchuan’s desk, seemingly taking up a protective stance. “The top scorer in the province gets one million yuan, the top ten gets five hundred thousand, and the top twenty gets three hundred thousand. It’s something only good students like him would know, so it’s normal that you don’t know.”

Indeed, Zhou Yuntang had no idea. He had been spoiled by everyone, and even though his grades were terrible, no one had ever talked seriously to him about academics. To him, several hundred thousand in scholarships was inconsequential compared to the wealthy young masters.

The realization hit him. With the true young master being so outstanding, would they still spoil a fake young master like him at home? Zhou Yuntang’s heart skipped a beat. Even though he had no concept of academic performance, he knew that someone who could become the top scorer in the province must have exceptionally outstanding grades.

Before, Zhou Yuntang only wanted to gain a little favorability before the true young master returned home. Now, the dark thoughts suppressed in his heart emerged: he didn’t want the true young master to return to the Zhou family; he wanted to be the legitimate young master of the Zhou family!

Perhaps Zhou Yuntang’s expression was too pitiful, and someone felt sorry for him and spoke up, “Wan Li Shuang, say a little less.”

Someone taking his side made Zhou Yuntang’s eyes immediately fill with tears.

“It’s such a waste that you’re not an actor,” even after witnessing it countless times, Wan Li Shuang was still amazed by Zhou Yuntang’s ability to cry on command. One moment his eyes were empty, and the next, tears would start falling in large drops, a remarkable skill indeed.

Hearing this, Zhou Yuntang felt embarrassed and uncertain whether to let the tears fall or not.

Lin Hanchuan didn’t expect that in this world where the protagonist received the favor and love from everyone, and seemed to have a “plot armor” of lowered intelligence, there would still be normal people, even if this normal person was labeled as a so-called malicious supporting character.

In the original story, this scene had also taken place.

In a small alley, Zhou Yuntang pretended to call the police and scared away some delinquents. He even put a band-aid on the injured Jiang Tian. As a result, Jiang Tian’s attitude towards Zhou Yuntang softened slightly.

The next day, in front of the whole class, Zhou Yuntang spilled the beans about Jiang Tian’s family situation and warmly invited him to his home.

No one wants their embarrassment to be known to all, especially when it is revealed by someone unrelated and inexplicably connected. Jiang Tian’s face immediately turned dark.

Since then, the once revered top student, Jiang Tian, fell into a situation of isolation and bullying. People no longer thought about how good his grades were, but rather how poor his family was and how he had a gambling addict for a father.

Lin Hanchuan’s expression seemed to have frozen.

Zhou Yuntang appeared gentle and harmless, and even if he unintentionally did something wrong, everyone was willing to forgive him. As long as Zhou Yuntang’s eyes turned red, anyone who made him cry would be condemned, as if they had committed some heinous crime.

Even when Zhou Yuntang took Jiang Tian out to play without considering Jiang Tian’s studies, everyone saw it as him being generous and kind, while Jiang Tian’s refusal was considered ungratefulness. When Zhou Yuntang personally cooked for Jiang Tian, causing him to have stomach problems for several days, his brothers only felt jealous of their little brother’s first time cooking for someone else, and Jiang Tian was unappreciative.

With tearful eyes, Zhou Yuntang told his brothers that Jiang Tian was their little brother, and they should treat him better. After hearing this, Jiang Tian secretly received warnings from his four brothers, telling him to be more self-aware and not desire things he shouldn’t have.

All of this was done with “good intentions.”

As Zhou Yuntang still pretended to be pitiful with teary eyes, Lin Hanchuan suddenly smiled. Jiang Tian was not the type to smile often; he was usually silent and had an air of gloominess around him. Even though he was tall and handsome, he was not likable.

Now, as Lin Hanchuan smiled, everyone suddenly realized that he was actually quite good-looking. His features were strong, exuding a rugged handsomeness.

“Are you sure it’s my gambling addict father?” Lin Hanchuan asked Zhou Yuntang casually, emphasizing the word “my,” his tone filled with meaning.

In that instant, the color drained from Zhou Yuntang’s face.

Did he find out the truth? No, that’s impossible, how could he know the truth… No, that can’t be my father. My father’s surname is Zhou; he’s not a lousy gambler… Is his bad attitude towards me because he knows? Zhou Yuntang’s mind was in chaos, and he couldn’t even hear his friends’ concerns.

The secret deep in his heart was revealed by a single sentence. He felt a sense of fear he couldn’t express, even considering hiding back in the Zhou family, seeking refuge under the wings of his parents and brothers.

Others didn’t know why that sentence caused Zhou Yuntang’s face to change in an instant, but he quieted down with the presence of Zhou Yuntang as the leader. With Wan Li Shuang standing beside Lin Hanchuan, no one dared to target him anymore. They buried their heads in their books, curious in their hearts but afraid to ask further.

Both the Zhou family and the Wan family were not ones to offend.

Lin Hanchuan’s lips curled into a mocking smile. From just now until now, Zhou Yuntang clearly knew the truth, yet he still maintained a superior attitude, trying to save and help the true young master of the Zhou family.

Everything he have originally belonged to the real young master, but he used this gesture of giving, leaking insignificant benefits from between his fingers, attempting to buy favor with the inexperienced real young master.

Even his biological father, he casually referred to as “your father,” as if he were Jiang Tian’s father and not his own.

Originally, Lin Hanchuan only wanted to help the original host fulfill his dream, but now he had changed his mind.

Things that belonged to him, he could do without, but they couldn’t be stolen by others.

While pondering, Lin Hanchuan felt someone sitting down beside him. Then, a furry head leaned in close, and a voice said, “Jiang Tian, out of everyone, I have known Zhou Yuntang the longest, and you are the first person to see through his true nature.”

Lin Hanchuan pushed the yellow head away with his hand.

Wan Li Shuang didn’t mind Lin Hanchuan’s coldness and smiled, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll cover for you from now on. Let’s form an alliance to counter the ‘white lotus flower’ front. You are my only ally.”

Lin Hanchuan didn’t hear clearly what Wan Li Shuang said. He was gazing into Wan Li Shuang’s eyes, suddenly lost in thought.

Wan Li Shuang had distinct features, and his facial features were somewhat immature. His temperament was clean and clear, and his eyes sparkled. He was only a seventeen-year-old boy, but one could imagine how exquisite and handsome he would become as he grew older.

Despite the unfamiliar face, Lin Hanchuan could see a familiar cunning and brilliance in Wan Li Shuang’s eyes.