Vol. 1 - Ch. 149 - Grand spectacle

"I'm back."Han ShuYi pushed open the door. Inside, Han LiTian was sitting on the sofa, reading a newspaper. Hearing ShuYi's greeting, he merely responded with a small nod before falling silent again.

Han ShuYi kept his expression neutral, but deep down, he felt a pang of frustration.

Ever since 'that' incident, the house's atmosphere has dramatically shifted. And it all started with Lee Tian initiating a video call at that moment.

He hadn't expected his parents to witness the moment he made a move against HuMing.

Although they hadn't said much, he could sense the subtle change in their attitudes toward him.

The saying was true---living people would never garner as much sympathy as the dead.

"Any updates on HuMing, Dad?"

At the mention of HuMing, Han LiTian paused and put down the newspaper.

"There's still no sign of HuMing's body. Same with Lee Tian."

After HuMing fell off the cliff, Han LiTian organized a search party to look for him. Unfortunately, even now, no traces of HuMing's body were found.

While they all wanted to believe he might still be alive, their hopes were dwindling.

HuMing had been injured before the fall. Plunging into the sea unconscious made survival almost impossible. Searching for a body in such a vast ocean was a daunting task.

Han LiTian's eyes darkened at the thought.

He truly wished their family could return to how it once was. If only he had been more attentive back then...

Seeing his father fall silent, Han ShuYi chose not to say more. He headed straight back to his room, letting out a long sigh as he closed the door.

Suppressing the fury bubbling within him, he pulled out his phone from a drawer and dialed a number.

The call was quickly answered.

"Han ShuYi, any results?"

"It's been a long time now, and there's still no sign of HuMing's body. With his injuries and the conditions he faced, survival is out of the question."

"Are you so certain? But you haven't found him yet, have you?" The voice on the other end was laced with mockery. Han ShuYi ignored the tone and pressed on.

"If you don't believe me, you can search for him yourself."

"There's no need. I've already searched as well. Since HuMing is dead, our deal is done. Consider this number gone. Best wishes for the rest of your days, Young Master Han."

The person chuckled softly and ended the call abruptly.

Han ShuYi set his phone down and leaned back in his chair.

Finally, it was all over. That person was gone. HuMing was gone. Now, it was time for him to take center stage.

For the first time, the air felt crisp and refreshing. It was as if he'd been handed the perfect beginning.

---

"Principal, this is..."

The vice principal stood beside the principal, astonished.

The boy before them was the spitting image of someone they had seen before. However, this young man exuded an air of confidence, and more surprisingly, his test scores were astonishing---matching the levels of Ye QiuXue herself!

The principal, though apprehensive when notified of the boy's arrival, couldn't help but marvel upon seeing him in person.

"Excuse me, HuMing, but... have you lost your memory?"

"Lost my memory? Principal, what do you mean by that? Here's my ID and proof of address. I recently moved here after my grandfather passed away."

HuMing's voice was polite yet brimming with confidence---qualities completely absent in the Han HuMing they once knew.

"My apologies. It's just that we once had a student here who looked exactly like you. He went missing later. His name was Han HuMing."

"Exactly like me?" HuMing's eyes flickered briefly before he smiled.

"If you don't believe me, feel free to verify."

His poise and courtesy erased much of their suspicion. Even so, the principal knew this matter had to be reported to Han LiTian.

Extending his hand, the principal said,

"Congratulations on becoming a part of our school."

HuMing nodded with a smile. Turning to look at the school that felt so familiar, a faint sense of joy stirred within him.

He couldn't help but anticipate the moment Han ShuYi would see him again.

After settling into a rented apartment nearby, HuMing arranged his belongings.

Conveniently located above a small eatery and with excellent transportation options, the place made his daily routines much easier.

He took out his brand-new phone, with few contacts saved on it.

His old phone was no longer usable, but it was just fine. He had already severed ties with his past.

As for Ye QiuXue, he'd wait until she returned before reaching out to her.

After organizing his room, a sudden knock came from the door. HuMing approached and opened it to find a striking figure standing before him.

"May I come in?"

The girl's voice was calm, lacking the deference it once held. Oddly enough, this was exactly what HuMing wanted to see.

After some time apart, Kang Xin appeared even more confident, and her carefully styled appearance only amplified her beauty, making it hard to look away.

"Beautiful, barging into a single man's apartment might not be the safest idea."

"Would you try anything?"

Kang Xin's gaze bore into him as if demanding an answer.

Caught off guard, HuMing rubbed his nose awkwardly before chuckling.

"That's the attitude! Looks like you've grown a lot during this time."

"You're the one who told me to act this way." seaʀᴄh thё Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Kang Xin no longer addressed him as "Young Master." While a bit jarring initially, it also ensured she wouldn't slip up at school.

The two of them sat on the sofa, the remnants of HuMing's earlier takeout still sitting on the table.

Kang Xin narrowed her eyes at the sight and asked, "Is this how you eat at home? Just takeout?"

"Whatever's convenient works. No need to fuss over the details. Now, tell me what's been happening lately."

Without hesitation, Kang Xin recounted everything that had transpired at school, from Han ShuYi becoming the student council president to Xia XiaoXi transferring in.

HuMing stroked his chin thoughtfully, but before long, a smile broke across his face.

"Alright, tomorrow we'll give them a little surprise. Let's see how they react when they see me."

"Okay."

Kang Xin looked at HuMing and calmly remarked,

"You've lost weight."

"Well, I've been busy getting back here and haven't been eating properly."

"If you get the chance, try cooking for yourself. If you can't manage, I could come by every day to cook for you."

Her blunt, straightforward nature hadn't changed at all.

HuMing shook his head and smiled. "If you do that, they'll start speculating about our relationship."

He turned his gaze to the window.

The setting sun bathed the streets in golden light, and one by one, the streetlamps flickered on, as if heralding the arrival of a grand spectacle to come.