A few days later, Ye Ming went to school as usual. On his way to school, he suddenly found that there was something not quite right with how others looked at him.
When he reached the classroom, he found that Hu Lei was also staring at him with a complicated look. He finally couldn’t help but ask, “What’s with you?”
Hu Lei sized up Ye Ming and said, “Take a look at the school’s forum.”
Ye Ming immediately opened the school’s forum. The hottest post was: Shocking! Rich child’s low profile school life!
He clicked the link and saw his picture on the top, followed by his biography. Although he was not from the Lu Family, he was brought up in the Lu Family. Moreover, Lu Xiuwen does not have any other younger generation; thus it was very likely for him to be the heir to the Lu Family.
There were also pictures of Ye Ming going to school in a private car. The insider made a detailed summary, reporting that the car looked very low profile. It wasn’t a very expensive ride but it definitely wasn’t something that ordinary people could afford.
All sorts of evidence added up to prove that Ye Ming was indeed the child from a super rich family and that he was from a different world from ordinary people.
In the comment section below, there were all kinds of comments expressing their shock that such a person existed right beside them! There were comments of wishing to be kept, to cling on to such a rich family, and there were also some who were envious. The comments were piling up as high as a few storeys high.
Hu Lei was in doubt. He asked Ye Ming, “Are you really the young master of the Lu Family?”
The reason why Ye Ming was unwilling to let anyone know about his identity was because he didn’t want to be looked at like this wherever he went. He had never thought about being the heir to the Lu Family, thus he never mingled with those wealthy children. He went to an ordinary school, made some ordinary friends, because he wasn’t a Lu Family’s member…But he didn’t expect that eventually it would be exposed. He hesitated for a while but eventually nodded.
Hu Lei said, “Atta boy! You actually hide it so well and didn’t even let us know!” As he spoke, he almost patted Ye Ming’s shoulder as usual but he withdrew his hand halfway as he still couldn’t really accept that there was such a huge change to the difference in their statuses.
Although it was as if he had unintentionally clung to a rich and influential figure, this gap was too big. It was the difference between heaven and earth…Could they really still be friends?
Ye Ming was a bit awkward. “Sorry…”
Hu Lei smiled awkwardly. “It’s alright…” Before he had thought that Ye Ming was good looking, but he didn’t think that he was not even comparable to him in terms of status.
Ye Ming felt complicated throughout the lesson. He couldn’t focus at all, as he kept feeling that everyone was pointing at him. He finally made it through to the end of the school day and he found that the car that had always waited for him outside the school drove inside the school. Two bodyguards and the driver stood there and waited for him. When they saw him, they greeted him respectfully, “Young Master Gu.”
Ye Ming’s expression finally changed and he said in a bad manner, “Why did you come inside?”
The driver explained respectfully, “The school had informed the master that your identity was exposed. He was worried about your safety and asked us to come inside to fetch you.” After all, everyone knew that Ye Ming was of high importance to Lu Xiuwen. It wouldn’t be nice if Ye Ming came across danger or was kidnapped.
Ye Ming tried to resist. “I’m alright, there’s no need to do this.”
But the driver remained unmoved. He examined Hu Lei who was standing beside Ye Ming, as if trying to see if there was any problem with him. Hu Lei immediately took a step back and his legs went weak. He was not used to such an attitude.
Judging by the situation, Ye Ming knew that he was unable to stay at school today. He had no choice but to get inside the car and go home.
By the time he reached home, Lu Xiuwen was not home yet. Ye Ming didn’t go to sleep, but he waited outside until Lu Xiuwen came back late at night.
Ye Ming was displeased. “Uncle, did you instruct the driver to come inside to fetch me?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Lu Xiuwen calmly nodded. “I heard that someone exposed your identity in the school forum, and now everyone knows who you are. I’m worried about your safety so I asked the security to do this. I will arrange for security to escort you from now on.”
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Ye Ming was suddenly speechless.
Lu Xiuwen looked at him in concern. “It’s just a few bodyguards. It’s not going to affect your studies. How could I be at ease if I don’t send someone to protect you?”
Ye Ming still wanted to resist. “But the school is really safe…”
Lu Xiuwen sighed but his tone remained firm. “There is no room for negotiation.”
Ye Ming immediately drooped his head, feeling dejected. This was one of the reasons why he was reluctant to expose his identity. He just wanted a normal life…Lu Xiuwen didn’t make an unreasonable request; it was just a few bodyguards which was a common practise among those wealthy families…but he still felt that his life had been disrupted.
Ye Ming was unable to reject Lu Xiuwen’s arrangement, so he could only accept his new lifestyle.
But ever since that day, he always felt that something had changed unknowingly. The way students talked to him, the way teachers looked at him, and all sorts of other things…were a little different from before.
It was as if there was a layer separating him from everyone else.
Very quickly, An Xiaoqi asked someone to return Ye Ming’s notes. Her attitude toward him was cold, and she didn’t raise the topic of treating him to lunch or even get close to him anymore…Ye Ming couldn’t understand why. He was actually fond of An Xiaoqi, but was it because of the fact that his identity was exposed that An Xiaoqi didn’t like him anymore?
In fact, it was not only An Xiaoqi. Other girls who had expressed their fondness toward Ye Ming had all alienated themselves from him.
Eventually, Hu Lei’s attitude toward Ye Ming was also not close like before. He no longer helped Ye Ming to reserve a seat and when he met Ye Ming, he greeted him modestly with a strange tone, “Young Master Gu is here.”
Initially, Hu Lei had wanted to continue to be friends with Ye Ming. But every time he saw those bodyguards beside Ye Ming looking at him emotionless as if staring at those who harboured evil intentions, he gradually didn’t want to hang out with Ye Ming anymore as he felt it was meaningless. Although his family was not very wealthy, he was not someone who seeked wealth, okay? When he first met Ye Ming, he hadn’t even known his identity.
On the contrary, with these friends distancing themselves from him, a new batch of people started to worm their way into being friends with Ye Ming. There were even a lot of girls indirectly asking Ye Ming about Lu Xiuwen.
Everything was undergoing secret changes.
It was not obvious in a day or two, but after a month, Ye Ming suddenly realized that everything had changed since his identity was exposed…Although teachers and classmates seemed as warm toward him as before—in fact, they were even warmer to him than before—others were careful and flattering when talking to him. He didn’t want all this, and he was unable to seek that comfortable and contented feeling that he felt before anymore.
He understood that this wasn’t their problem, it was him who couldn’t adapt to the changes. After all, his status was different now, and the things that he needed to bear would be very different. But he really liked how things were before, and not being watched by others wherever he went now, like a celebrity. Everybody was discussing him and people often took pictures of him with their cellphones. Every little thing about him would be posted on the forum and social media.
Besides those who envied him, there were also those who wanted to smear his name, exposing all the ugliness of a human’s heart…Ye Ming was not a true family member of the Lu Family, yet he was being pampered and raised by Lu Xiuwen, thus all kinds of offensive rumours surfaced and there was no limit to it. Someone even made a detailed analysis suggesting that Ye Ming’s relationship with Lu Xiuwen was not pure.
He really enjoyed the relaxing environment of the school before, but now, he suddenly disliked crowded places.
Aside from school, he would be home. Basically he would not hang out at school anymore. He was also home during the weekends. It’d been a long time since he last hung out with his classmates. He looked moody and gradually became a bit anti-social.
[Ye Ming: Uncle is really a control freak. He is using this method to limit my personal space and put his label on me. I have nowhere to run besides staying around him.]
[888: Who told you to hang around school everyday and even wanting to have a girlfriend?]
[Ye Ming: …]
[Ye Ming: Great! This time there’s finally no need for me to get a girlfriend. Everytime I am around girls, I tend to have that sisterhood feeling. I’ve suspected that An Xiaoqi broke up with me previously because she sensed it too! The sixth sense of a woman is indeed scary!]
[888: …]
[Ye Ming: Actually, I quite enjoy the celebrity treatment of being sweet-talked and focused on. It is so challenging for me to pretend that I am not used to it. Let me live up to the solitude of the well-known. I am a born actor. Let me become one of the most searched users on Weibo! QAQ]
888: He didn’t want to say anything. He was even too lazy to type an ellipsis.
Ye Ming spent most of his time at home if he was not at school. Sometimes if he was not in a good mood, he would even skip classes. The teachers would not criticize him and wouldn’t even point out his name. Ye Ming was even more not used to it. He was disappointed as he felt that he had been labelled as one of those upper class students with special privileges.
Even if he didn’t take the exams, was it possible that he might not even get into trouble? As he was thinking about this…he suddenly felt that his university life was meaningless.
Lu Xiuwen pretended that he didn’t know anything, like a hunter monitoring his prey who had no place to run to but eventually returning to his side.
It was another weekend. Ye Ming finished his meal and was ready to take a rest in his bedroom. Lu Xiuwen saw that it was about the right timing, and he took Ye Ming’s hand and asked gently, “Xiao Ran, are you unhappy lately?”
Ye Ming forced a smile. “No.”
Lu Xiuwen looked disbelieving and asked in concern, “Are you having difficulties getting along with your classmates?”
Ye Ming shook his head. He had no issue getting along with his classmate, it was just that it was not like before…
Lu Xiuwen sighed. He stared at Ye Ming’s eyes and said seriously, “If your friends changed their opinions toward you because of your change in status and neglect the fact of your actual personality, then that is their problem and not yours.”
Ye Ming eyes reddened. These words had triggered all the disappointments and grievances that he had bottled up all this while to burst out in an instant. He actually understood that this is not a big deal but merely just the changes that occured when his identity was exposed. It was possible that all those public figures had always lived like that…But he was still very upset over the fact that he had lost his friends and peaceful life.
He just hasn’t adapted to it yet, he needed more time to reconfigure himself.
Lu Xiuwen pitied him and hugged Ye Ming’s shoulders. His voice was low and gentle, “Since there’s nothing to do this weekend, I’ll bring you out for a stroll.”
Ye Ming nooded since he had no friends now and had nothing going on.
Lu Xiuwen took Ye Ming to the camp in an off-road car. Since Ye Ming graduated from high school, he’d spent most of his time hanging out with his friends, and it’d been a long while since he went out with Lu Xiuwen. After all, boys at his age didn’t really hang out with their parents, they had their own lives.
But what Lu Xiuwen wanted was not to be Ye Ming’s elder, he wanted to be his lover.
Throughout the journey, Lu Xiuwen saw that Ye Ming’s mood was down and he was quiet. His eyes darken and he turned around and said to Ye Ming, “Xiao Ran, I think you will have new friends very soon.”
Ye Ming still lowered his head, dispirited.
Lu Xiuwen didn’t say anything and focused on driving. Soon, they were in the woods. Lu Xiuwen parked the car beside the mountain road and set up the tent. He then went into the woods with Ye Ming.
Because it was an outdoor activity, Lu Xiuwen was not in his usual formal attire but was dressed in casual attire. However, with his tall build and handsome features, he looked great in anything.
Initially, Ye Ming was indeed not in a good mood, but after being with Lu Xiuwen and chatting casually with Lu Xiuwen on the road, he slowly put down those unhappy things. Compared to being with others, he didn’t feel uneasy when he was around Lu Xiuwen, and Lu Xiuwen would not look at him like those others. This made Ye Ming relaxed.
Before, he always felt uneasy around Lu Xiuwen because of what happened the other night. But now, it seems that he was most comfortable when around Lu Xiuwen.
However, the weather was not favorable today, and it suddenly rained. The both of them decided to head back. Lu Xiuwen turned around to look at Ye Ming’s profile, his expression gloomy. It’d been a long time since he got intimate with Ye Ming; after all, he couldn’t repeat the tactic he used when he was drunk as it would raise Ye Ming’s suspicions.
By the time they returned to the tent, they were both wet. Summer was already over and the weather was gradually turning cold. It was even cooler on the hill. The rain kept pouring and they were unable to start a fire. Ye Ming shivered and said, “Uncle, should we go home?”
Lu Xiuwen nodded and said, “Alright.”
They packed up their stuff and got in the car. However, when Lu Xiuwen wanted to start the engine, he found that he was unable to start the car. He turned around and looked at Ye Ming in apology. “I think the car broke down, we are unable to leave now. I’ll get someone to come fetch us but they might not reach here until tomorrow morning.”
Ye Ming didn’t expect for them to be so unlucky, but it wasn’t a big deal. He obediently said okay and sneezed after he finished his words.
Lu Xiuwen frowned. “Your shirt is wet. Take it off, otherwise you will catch a cold.”
Ye Ming also agreed with him, so he took off his shirt and curled in the backseat with his arms around him. He didn’t expect it to be so cold on the mountain. Just as Ye Ming was shivering from the cold, Lu Xiuwen suddenly strode to the backseat. He took off his shirt and drew Ye Ming into his arms.
Ye Ming’s body went stiff and he was startled. “Uncle.”
Lu Xiuwen hugged him from behind and lowered his head to whisper beside his ear with a smile, “It’ll be better like this.”
Ye Ming felt the warmth of Lu Xiuwen’s body. His face turned scarlet red. He’d said that, but they were both men; wasn’t it strange to be like this? Moreover…was he really overthinking? He kept feeling that Uncle was a bit…
Hold it, hold it! I must be overthinking! It’s not like that!
Ye Ming clenched his teeth and said, “I…I’m alright, there’s no need for this.” With that said, he wanted to break away from Lu Xiuwen’s embrace.
Lu Xiuwen didn’t hold a strong grip over him, and Ming broke away very easily. But he remained unmoved and only looked at Ye Ming with a hurt expression. A complicated emotion showed in his eyes, and he said, “Is it because you think that I liked men that you are unwilling to let me get close to you?”
Ye Ming opened his mouth. He wanted to tell him it wasn’t like that. He didn’t want Lu Xiuwen to feel sad. But was it really not the case? That incident did affect him because he tended to overthink and feel uneasy…But how could he bring himself to tell Lu Xiuwen that he sensed that Lu Xiuwen had feelings toward him? How embarrassing was that!
Seeing that Ye Ming didn’t say anything, Lu Xiuwen let out a bitter laugh and he opened the door and was about to get out.
It was pouring heavily at that time, so Lu Xiuwen would be drenched if he went out. Ye Ming couldn’t bear to let Lu Xiuwen go out like that and he realized that he’d gone overboard just now. He anxiously held onto Lu Xiuwen’s waist from behind and stammered, “I…That’s not what I meant! Don’t go!”
The author has something to say: Uncle Lu: I just wanted to ask the author, when can I confess? 🙂
Author: In the next chapter? Hehe
This crafty old fox 🦊! 😏
urgggh ngl this leaves a bad taste in my mouth… out of all the gongs i dislike this one the most
… This is so fucked up, but since I just came from the latest update of SCTSG, I’m so desensitized to the manipulation and horrible controlling abusive relationships that I’m numb 🙂
+1 😂
Oh dear god your pfp made me laugh so fuckin hard
…same
I just KNEW the author can’t give us unproblematic sweetness 🙃
Bruh the ML here is so shitty. Bleh you won’t end up with our MC in this world anyway! GIVE THAT GUY DOG BLOOD YE MING!!!
THANK U FOR THE CHAPTER
The first time I’m looking forward to YM leaving bc this sh/t is unhealthy bro