Chapter 92
At this moment, Xie Qing regretted it.
She regretted bringing He Shen back. That b*tch woman was indeed detestable, but the teenager in front of her gave her a profound kind of fear.
No … Xie Shen had to come back. As long as he’s here, at least the Xie family won’t decline. So long as the Xie Family doesn’t fall, nothing else mattered to her.
With just a few words, He Shen managed to coax the crazed old man. Because of his gentleness, Xie Yongyi’s murky eyes suddenly burst with astonishing radiance. He held He Shen’s hand and said, “Xiao Shen, is it grandpa’s Xiao Shen?”
He Shen held back the disgust in his heart and said softly, “I’m here.”
Xie Yongyi said anxiously, “Where have you been? Have you read all the books I arranged for you. Have you read the contract, and the company’s regulations …”
He Shen said, “Please rest a.s.sured. I have finished reading everything.”
Xie Yongyi immediately said, “Have you memorized everything? Did you understand? I’ll test you …”
For a time, his confused mind couldn’t think of what he wanted to test him on. He Shen already followed up with what he liked to hear, “I compared the original English version of the book on management information systems, and I think there are still a lot of parts in the Chinese translation where they misunderstood the original.”
Despite his confusion, hearing something familiar invigorated Xie Yongyi. “Good boy, it is best you read the original version of this book. The translation distorted many of Lawton’s ideas. Have you also memorized this book?”
He Shen smiled. “Would you like to listen to it?”
Xie Yongyi said, “Come, recite it to me.”
It was a book that was as dry as dust, enough to drive young people mad but He Shen recited it in fluent English.
Inside the sickroom, except Xie Yongyi who was delighted, everyone else had the jitters, a chill running down their back.
Was this something a high schooler would be able to recite?
Is this something a child would be able to know?
What was this madman asking of him?
Even more frightening was that He Shen did it all. Despite such strict requirements, such inhuman training, and such unreasonable control, he handed in a perfect performance.
Xie Qing has seen it before.
More than ten years ago, she already knew that her family had borne a genius.
And Xie Yongyi forced him to become a monster.
The doctor and nurses in the bedroom did not dare make a sound. Outside the window evening has fallen. The sun hid behind the horizon, looking both on the verge of collapse and as though it was slowly rising.
Like the old man and the youth inside the room — a sunset and a sunrise.
He Shen recites for half an hour until Xie Yongyi went to sleep.
Confirming that he was fast asleep, He Shen’s voice came to an abrupt halt.
No one dared to look up at him, because everyone knew that his docile mask had been removed, and it was inevitably replaced with coldness and disgust.
He Shen could easily coax Xie Yongyi even if he has been away from home for so long.
The news of the young master being back soon spread in the Xie family.
When Xie Chengyu went to see his son, He Shen didn’t even didn’t even call out ‘father’.
Xie Chengyu was born with an extraordinary appearance. Despite being 45, he still looked like he was just past 30. He still appeared young and handsome.
When he didn’t speak, he could easily deceive people. Once he opened his mouth, his frivolous tone of voice and his weakness brought upon by the ravages of wine, exposed him.
He brought out his father’s arrogance and said, “Now that you’re back, you should behave yourself. Don’t do anything to make your grandfather angry.”
He Shen walked past him without a word. Xie Chengyu angrily rebuked him. “What the f*ck is with you arrogant att.i.tude? Laozi is your father, you …”
He Shen turned his head, and his sharp eyes locked onto him.
Xie Chengyu’s heart constricted and he cursed again. “Even if that old fool hands over the family properties to you, I’ll still be your father! Don’t you even think of trying to get rid of me.”
He Shen looked at him coldly. “Are you sure you want to stay with me here?”
Xie Chengyu forced out his arrogant bearing and said, “Why? Not as though, you’d be able to kill me.”
He Shen bent his lips into a smile, but there was no trace of a smile on his eyes. “It’s only been five years, have you completely forgotten about my mother?”
For a while, Xie Chengyu was at a loss for words.
He Shen lowered his eyes and calmly said, “Mental illness can be pa.s.sed on. Grandfather has already gone mad. You should look after your health, father.”
Xie Chengyu’s pupils shrank. When he recovered, He Shen was already gone.
He still yelled abuse at his retreating back. “You maggot! Killing your mother wasn’t enough for you. Now, you also want to shut me up as a mental case? Sooner or later, you will receive your retribution!”
He Shen left the Xie Family’s old house without looking back.
The old house was far away from the city. It takes more than an hour to get there by car.
But He Shen would rather spend two hours in a car for a round trip journey, than stay the night there. He had decided to go back and clean up this mess, but he wasn’t going to let himself be dragged into h.e.l.l.
Xie Chengyu’s words suddenly penetrated his ears. He Shen gritted his teeth and pressed his trembling fingertip against his phone to light up the screen.
As though he were psychic, he received a WeChat message–
Qiao Shao: “Are you asleep?”
Three very ordinary words that made up a very common statement, made He Shen’s cold chest immediately fill with warmth.
He forgot all about Xie Chengyu and Xie Yongyi. All thoughts of that tomb-like house was thrown to the back his mind. The only thing he could see now was the sweet and gentle Qiao Shao.
He Shen typed back. “I want to eat sweets.”
Qiao Shao quickly replied, “What time is it now? Are you looking for teeth cavities!”
He Shen stubbornly sent a reply. “I want to eat something sweet.” Finally, he also attached an aggrieved looking emoticon.
Was this guy throwing a tantrum? After taking a shower and drying his hair, Qiao Shao was lying on his bed. His eyes were filled with smiles. “I’ll bring you some tomorrow. You’re not allowed to eat any tonight.”
He Shen said, “I want some now.”
Qiao Shao was destined to fail as a strict father. Just this and he was already starting to give in. “Then … You’ll need to brush your teeth again after eating.”
He Shen sent a sighing expression and added a postscript. “But I don’t have any to eat.”
Qiao Shao was puzzled. “Did you finish off that jar of sweets on your desk? You can’t do that. He Shen Shen, your body won’t be able to stand eating that much sugar!”
He Shen said, “I don’t want to eat those.”
Qiao Shao was dazed.
Sure enough, this guy’s next sentence was, “I want to eat the sweet called Qiao Shao.”
Qiao Shao: “………………………………”
Looking at WeChat, Qiao Shao’s entire face turned red. He felt that he really was beyond saving.
“Go to sleep!” Qiao Shao wasn’t dealing with him anymore.
He Shen really wanted to see him, but thinking about the ride home; it would probably be half-past eleven by the time he got back. The child really should have fallen asleep by then.
He can only regretfully say, “Good night.”
Who knew that Qiao Shao would actually send, “Want to video call?”
He Shen breathed out lightly and said, “It’s so late now. Go to sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Qiao Shao’s mouth hung open. He sent back, “See you tomorrow!” Putting down his phone, he said to himself, if he doesn’t want to video chat then forget it. He was too lazy to run to the utility room anyway!
Despite thinking this way, he couldn’t help but hold onto his phone, just in case he Shen regretted his decision …
He Shen really did regret it, but it was really inconvenient for him to open a video chat in the hired car. What he sent instead was, “Take a picture so I can see you.”
Qiao Shao answered with three big question marks.
He Shen said, “Any picture would do. Just take one.”
Qiao Shao said: “No, why would I take a picture for no reason?”
He Shen also felt that his request was kind of inexplicable, so he said. “Just forget it. Rest early.”
Qiao Shao did not reply to him. He set aside his mobile phone and prepared to sleep.
But he tossed and turned for a long time … He sat up. While putting on his slippers and leaving through the door, he was cursing himself in his heart: Qiao Shao you’ve really fallen through and through!
As soon as he arrived home, He Shen received a new WeChat message.
He thought it was work-related and he click on it carelessly. After seeing it clearly … with a bang, fireworks exploded in his heart.
The teenager on the screen was obviously ill at ease. He didn’t even look straight at the camera, and he hadn’t used any filters or ‘beautify’ on the picture, but even then his skin was as white as warm jade, his features were exquisite and lovable, his slightly furled lips concealed his shyness.
He Shen just wanted to see him immediately, and he sent him a video call request.
Qiao Shao had just ran back to the bedroom, how could he possibly accept the call? So, he immediately hung up!
He Shen didn’t dare make excessive demands. He only said, “Thank you.”
Qiao Shao didn’t know what he was thanking him for. He said, “What’s up with you tonight? You’re acting a little odd.”
He Shen couldn’t explain it, but the haze that haunted him all day long vanished. He felt that his body was full of limitless power. At this moment, he could scale a mountain of swords and plunge into a sea of flames for him. It turns out that with care, living life could be this meaningful.
On the day when school started up again, there were naturally cries of howling and grief.
Silly Husky Song started howling from the moment he entered the cla.s.sroom. “Summer vacation, my dear summer vacation, why did you leave me!”
Jie Kai also howled: “My pesticides, just when I became king!”
Song Erha looked back sadly, “Laozi is only a diamond!”
Jie Kai chuckled and said, “Well, who told you to keep losing?”
Qiao Shao didn’t know much about games, but he liked the atmosphere in the cla.s.sroom: young high school students were always noisy, lively and energetic. How good.
When He Shen came, the cla.s.sroom was already full of people.
As soon as he came in, the cla.s.sroom went quiet for a second or two, and then…the girls in the cla.s.s exploded–
“Two months without seeing him and He Shen looks even more handsome!”
“Every time I think this man can’t be any more handsome, he proves me wrong.”
“Our school’s new school uniform is poisonous. The fat kid next door looks even fatter and rounder, but the G.o.d of learning looks even more like Mr. Perfect -- tall, rich and handsome!”
“Wait, is our G.o.d of learning rich?”
“The G.o.d of learning’s CP is rich! School tyrant Lou is a through and through rich second generation!”
“Sisters, this is all wrong. The CP of our G.o.d of learning is clearly Cutie Qiao.”
“????? Don’t tell me two male G.o.ds aren’t absolutely yummy together! Why the h.e.l.l are you being unfaithful!”
“Our Qiao Qiao is only a late-bloomer. Wait a few years and he’s also gonna be a proper male G.o.d, alright!”
Afterwards, there was no way to continue that conversation. Since ancient times, these has never been any resolution when it comes to talk about CPs.
Suddenly seeing him at school after having clearly spent the entire summer together, Qiao Shao unexpectedly felt a bit awkward.
A single glance at He Shen and Qiao Shao suddenly looked away. As soon as He Shen sat down, he reached out and held Qiao Shao’s hand.
Qiao Shao was startled.
He Shen put their hands into the table drawer, and while people weren’t paying attention, Qiao Shao lowered his voice, “Let go.”
He Shen whispered back, “No one can see.”
Qiao Shao was dying from nervousness, “In case …”
He Shen stared straight ahead, “Old Tang is here.”
Qiao Shao: “!”
He pulled hard, but unfortunately his strength was no match for He Shen’s and he couldn’t pull out his hand!
He Shen deliberately said, “If you move too much, we might be found out.”
Qiao Shao: “…………”
He didn’t dare move at all!
Old Tang stood on the podium and said with a smile, “Good news, this time, there will temporarily be no cla.s.s shuffling.”
Everyone had known for a long time but they still gave out a cheer.
Old Tang pushed his gla.s.ses and let out some big news. “Although there won’t be any cla.s.s shuffling, the seats will have to be changed.”
Qiao Shao was shocked.
At this time, Old Tang’s eyes shifted and said, “A lot of cla.s.smates’ seats are unsuitable right now and this happens to be the perfect time for a change.”
Qiao Shao panicked, before he had been desperately trying to pull out his hand. This time he grasped He Shen’s hand tightly.
He Shen couldn’t hold back and he let out a chuckle.