บท 16: 1.16 Sneak Photo

Ren Zexi spent some alone time with Lu Yizhou in the infirmary until the time for the one-on-one meeting with Teacher Shu arrived. There was no suspense in it as the woman was full of praise for Ren Zexi. The point was, he could choose whatever university and major he wanted and they would certainly welcome him with open arms.

Lu Yizhou scanned the form as he walked down the hallway, pondering.

"Uncle Lu, will you be going now?" Ren Zexi asked beside him, secretly hinting at something.

"Yes, I still have some work to do."

Of course, Ren Zexi sighed in dejection. What did he expect? That Lu Yizhou would take the day off and wait outside until he was done with the class? Wake up, Ren Zexi!

"Oh." He said glumly. "Then I will send you out."

"Come to think of it," The man halted in his tracks. "I have never asked what you want to be. All these times, you have always been going along with my arrangements. This time, it's your own decision, Zexi. Have you thought about it?"

Turning to stand face to face with him, Ren Zexi let out a laugh, eyes curving into crescents. "What's there to think about? From the start, I have always wanted to help you in the company, Uncle Lu. I can even start working as soon as I graduate so that you won't have to be so busy anymore." Pausing, he added softly after a short consideration. "I don't want to be the one who's always protected, Uncle Lu. I also want to share the burden with you. I thought you already knew about it."

Lu Yizhou seemed taken aback as if not expecting to receive this kind of answer. Then, the man's stoic face melted into a smile, one that was different from the business smiles or distant polite smiles he always showed to others. It was the smile that only Ren Zexi could see. "I see… I have always thought of you as a child but it turns out that you have really matured." His palm landed on Ren Zexi's head, caressing softly.

In an instant, flush spread across his cheek and his heart thundered so loudly that it echoed within his ears. "What child?! I'm not a child anymore! I have even—" confessed to you. Ren Zexi choked on his words, too angry to continue. He turned his head with a harrumph and stormed away.

Behind him, Lu Yizhou helplessly followed. "Angry again?"

"No!" He shouted back like a hedgehog in full defense.

[What? Is this the puberty period? Is he angry because I said he's a child?]

[666: It's good that you know it, Host! Why did you still provoke him?!]

***

"Thank you, Teacher Shu. I will go back first." Jing Xuehao closed the door behind him and clenched his fists, unreconciled. It was true. Ren Zexi's english composition was remarkable — the content, the ideas he pointed out, the fault in the system and his choice of words... Everything was perfect, there was nothing for him to nitpick on.

When he put both their essays side by side, the discrepancy was even more painful to see. Compared to Ren Zexi, he could only be considered mediocre and dull.

Why? He shouldn't be worse than that rich young master! He had worked so hard only for this day, but in the end, he was beaten only by 5 points of difference.

It was all because of Ren Zexi! His uncle, Lu Yizhou, was rich so he must be able to receive the best tutors of outstanding qualities from a young age. Whereas Jing Xuehao? He… He had to study all by himself, scanning through books and dictionaries in the spare time between his part time jobs.

In the end, everything was only because Ren Zexi had something that he didn't! And that was—

"Jing Xuehao!" Guang Li's voice broke through the gloom in his mind and he lifted his head to see the bespectacled teenager dashing toward him with an anxious yet giddy expression, his breath uneven. "J—Jing Xuehao, oh my God—"

"What's wrong?" Jing Xuehao frowned. He wasn't exactly in a very good mood, thus he didn't have the patience to go along with Guang Li.

"You—" Guang Li looked around and realized that they were very close to the teacher's office. Without a word, he pulled Jing Xuehao away to a place desolate of people.

"What do you want?" Jing Xuehao yanked his arms off, irritation written across his face. "Look, if you're going to talk about those Special students again—"

"Look at this!" Guang Li shoved his phone in front of Jing Xuehao's face, his eyes gleaming with thrill and excitement. "Did you know that the window of the last infirmary room can be seen from the fourth floor of the building opposite it? I was just passing by when I suddenly saw this shocking scene! Can you imagine how surprised I was?!"

Jing Xuehao could no longer hear Guang Li's blabber. He grabbed the phone from the latter's hands and scrutinized the screen closer. It was a photo of two people he had known too well before — even though only a glimpse of their upper body could be seen from the gaps between the curtain.

Lu Yizhou had Ren Zexi caged underneath him while the beautiful teenager's arms were hooked tightly around the man's neck. Both of their positions were exceedingly provocative and from the angle of this photo, it was obvious that they were in the middle of a passionate kiss.

"It's insane!" Guang Li inhaled deeply, yet still couldn't calm his tremble. "Young Master Ren and CEO Lu, aren't they uncle and nephew?! Their relationship—"

Jing Xuehao suddenly clamped his mouth shut. His eyes darted around in alert and a sigh of relief escaped his lips when he saw no one around. In a small voice, he spat out. "Are you crazy? Do you want to announce it to the whole world?!"

Guang Li's eyes widened. "Mmm—!!"

"Lower your voice!"

He nodded, flustered. Only then did Jing Xuehao let him go. As soon as he did, Guang Li continued in a whisper. "I can't believe that they're in such a relationship! These wealthy people and two men at that—" He shuddered and rubbed his arms. "Ugh it's so disgusting! What do you think, Jing Xuehao? If I sell this photo to the reporter, will I get a lot of money?!"

"Are you stupid?!" Jing Xuehao glared. "Don't you know how powerful Lu Yizhou is? Those giant newspaper and magazine companies won't dare to cross him in the slightest, okay?! The most you can do is to sell it to some dubious gossip tabloid. However, how long can this scandal last? Lu Yizhou can even sue you for fabrication and defamation!"

Guang Li gaped. "But—"

"No buts." In a smooth movement, Jing Xuehao sent the photo to his own phone and deleted it from Guang Li's device.

"What are you doing?!"

"Sssh," Jing Xuehao grinned, a flash of slyness gleaming in his eyes. His heart thumped in anticipation from the excellent plans he conjured up in a split second. "Don't worry and leave it to me. I know of a better way."