Chapter 11

Ruan Zhen was the type who held grudges.

He appeared slow and lazy, never initiating anything, and seemed to be the kind of person who wouldn’t fight for anything. This made others think he was easy to deal with and manipulate.

“Don’t bully Ruan Zhen, or you’ll face the consequences.”

At the start of the school year, the class monitor couldn’t stand the childish behavior of his classmates and spoke up for Ruan Zhen.

The classroom was filled with laughter and chatter, while outside in the corridor, Ruan Zhen, carrying a stack of homework books taller than his head, slowly made his way through the crowd to the teacher’s office.

“Ruan Zhen has a good temper,” someone joked with a smile. “He doesn’t hold grudges against us.”

Not hold grudges?

The class monitor looked at the speaker, speechless.

Ruan Zhen held grudges more than anyone.

The class monitor clearly remembered an incident last month when he and Ruan Zhen were buying stationery outside the school. A beautiful white kitten was lying on the ground, meowing and rubbing against them.

Both of them couldn’t resist and squatted down to play with it.

The white kitten was very cooperative, rubbing against the class monitor’s hand.

But just as Ruan Zhen was about to touch the kitten, it suddenly got up and walked away with a dignified and aloof air.

Leaving Ruan Zhen frozen in place.

The class monitor laughed and patted his shoulder. “Hahaha, you’ve been rejected, huh?”

Ruan Zhen silently withdrew his hand.

It was just a small incident.

But the class monitor didn’t expect that for the next half-week, Ruan Zhen would be on the lookout. Finally, on a sunny afternoon, he saw a group of cats basking in the sun.

He darted over and, in front of the white kitten, petted all the other cats fiercely.

One by one.

He stroked their heads and praised them, saying how obedient and beautiful they were.

His voice was high and sweet.

He completely ignored the white kitten.

Then, under its silent gaze, he calmly left.

Satisfied.

So, for Ruan Zhen, it was just a matter of not saying it out loud.

In the following days, a few of the more mischievous classmates in the class started to have bad luck. The class monitor pretended not to notice and even gave them a little push.

They got what they deserved.

At graduation, he leaned on the corridor railing and turned his head to look at Ruan Zhen.

The wind blew Ruan Zhen’s bangs away, revealing his beautiful eyes as he watched his classmates throw paper airplanes on the playground.

“Those who were caught smoking, you led them there, right?”

“Yep.”

“And the one who tried to steal the test papers but got locked in the principal’s office,” the class monitor couldn’t help but smile. “That was really embarrassing. You said… the lock broke at just the right time.”

The wind billowed Ruan Zhen’s white shirt, and the sound of cicadas filled the air.

The class monitor laughed.

“Have you filled out your college applications? Everything should be fine, right?”

“Everything’s fine,” Ruan Zhen looked up, and a paper airplane soared across the blue sky, leaving a long, white trail. “I’m staying in the province, so it’s convenient for me to come back.”

“The chances of getting a direct admission to graduate school in this major are pretty high, I remember.”

“Right.”

Ruan Zhen turned to look at him, his eyes bright. “You know my family situation, so I have to consider employment… everything’s fine.”

The class monitor knew Ruan Zhen had a very old grandfather and that he had grown up running around like a wild child in that small alley.

“Good luck.”

The class monitor extended his hand. “You’ll have a bright future.”

That summer was hot, and the leaves of the sycamore trees cast a cool shade on the long path. Sitting under the trees, one could smell the faint fragrance of flowers.

Ruan Zhen liked this scent.

Not the artificial perfume.

But now, even with beautiful flowers placed indoors, Ruan Zhen only saw them as decorations.

He stared at the lifeless roses in the vase.

“Stepmother?”

The same deliberately elongated voice.

Ruan Zhen finally came to his senses.

His gaze moved up, first to the crossed legs, then to the intertwined fingers with gemstone rings, the neatly tied tie, and the well-groomed hair.

The men of the Song family seemed to be particularly concerned with their appearance.

“I would like to apologize on behalf of my brothers,” Song Chunfeng stood up, slightly bowed, and said.

He had just taken a shower and changed clothes, looking elegant and refined, with no sign of the slap he had received.

“I also need to apologize,” Song Xiaoyu said with a sincere smile, rubbing his hands. “I’m sorry, Stepmother.”

Song Dongbai, standing farthest away, didn’t respond. He glanced coldly and then lowered his head, aimlessly scrolling through his phone.

“You know the situation at home,” Song Chunfeng said softly. “Although Father is gone, we are still a family… I’ve already contacted Aunt Jing. In a few days, she will bring Xiao Zao and the others over for a family dinner.”

The Song family had seven sons, not all from the same mother.

The complicated relationships were almost forgotten by Ruan Zhen, but he remembered one thing clearly: the remaining three young masters were from the same mother.

Fifth Young Master was in high school, named Song Xiaozao. Sixth Young Master and Seventh Young Master were twins, named Song Xiaowu and Song Xiaowan, respectively, and they were still in elementary school.

The minors were left out of the conversation, and Ruan Zhen had no interest. He sat quietly on the sofa, watching Song Chunfeng’s insincere performance.

One moment, he talked about how sudden Father’s passing was and how much they were suffering.

The next moment, he swore to take good care of Ruan Zhen and not let him suffer at all.

He was being overly filial.

Ruan Zhen really didn’t want to continue this nonsense, or he would have slapped him again.

His irritation was noticed by Song Chunfeng.

But even after talking until his mouth was dry, he saw no significant reaction from Ruan Zhen.

Why?

Song Chunfeng didn’t understand.

This wasn’t fun at all.

Shouldn’t Ruan Zhen be curious or angry and ask what his true intentions were?

Then he could smile and answer.

Of course, it was to take good care of Father’s “legacy”—

The thought of Ruan Zhen’s pale face made Song Chunfeng shudder with excitement.

But Ruan Zhen didn’t ask.

Instead, he sat on the sofa, watching Song Chunfeng’s performance with interest.

While eating strawberries, grapes, and melons from the fruit platter.

Chew, chew, chew.

Seeming quite satisfied with the taste.

The only time he spoke was to the servant standing by.

“Auntie,”

Ruan Zhen smiled sweetly. “Could you bring me more strawberries?”

Song Chunfeng couldn’t hold back any longer. He plopped back onto the sofa and gave Song Xiaoyu a meaningful look.

“Stepmother,” Song Xiaoyu said with a sincere expression. “Is there anything you want to tell us? We will do it.”

“Yes,”

Ruan Zhen thought seriously. “If I move in, I’ll stay on the third floor. To avoid any misunderstandings, you are not allowed to come up unless necessary. Also, is the family currently negotiating for a plot of land in the northern suburbs? When signing the contract, remember to show it to me for review.”

Song Chunfeng and Song Dongbai stood up simultaneously, their expressions shocked.

“By the way, there’s no need for daily greetings,”

Ruan Zhen picked up a strawberry and bit into it slowly. “We are not a feudal family, and daily greetings to elders are too troublesome. Once a week is enough. Chunfeng, what’s wrong?”

Why did you suddenly stop smiling?

“The third floor has Father’s study and important documents. It might not be appropriate for you to see them,” Song Xiaoyu said with a sincere expression, gently interjecting. “And the daily greetings… Stepmother, are you testing us?”

He raised his hand. “I promise, we brothers are all…”

Before he could finish, Ruan Zhen rudely interrupted.

“What’s inappropriate? Didn’t you say you were bringing me in and treating me as family?”

The juice from the strawberry stained his fingertips, carrying a sweet and sour scent.

Ruan Zhen sneered inwardly.

He stood up boldly and walked up the stairs in front of everyone.

Enjoy giving people hope and then destroying it, do you?

Enjoy cornering the weak and watching them struggle, right?

Find it amusing and think it’s all harmless, without considering the consequences?

If so, it’s only natural for Ruan Zhen, who has returned, to quietly go a little crazy.

He leaned on the railing, looking down from above, his features clear and beautiful. But his eyes reflected not the innocent paper airplanes and carefree smiles.

His long fingers stretched out and drew a circle in the air.

Song Chunfeng shuddered.

He thought, “Oh no, he’s pointing at me, targeting me!”

But Ruan Zhen’s hand quickly pointed at Song Xiaoyu and the stunned Song Dongbai.

Finally, it stopped in the center of the villa.

“Stepmother,” Song Chunfeng hesitated. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing,”

Ruan Zhen smiled, his eyes forming small crescents. “Since we are family, you shouldn’t be idle.”

He calmly retracted his hand.

“Go and cook me a couple of dishes first.”