Chapter 7

Everyone standing outside felt a chill run through them.

They couldn’t understand why. They were all roughly the same age, and whether they had met Chen Mo in person or merely heard stories about him, the Chen Mo they had imagined should never have been someone who could frighten everyone into stopping in their tracks with just a single sentence.

“Chen Mo, what exactly are you trying to do?” Yang Shule’s hand gripped the doorframe so tightly that his knuckles had turned pale.

He could no longer hide the tremor in his voice.

He was furious, but he also felt utterly humiliated.

Those blatant stares felt like countless slaps across his face.

Just then—

“What’s all this commotion?” a voice suddenly came from behind them.

It was Yang Zhi.

As soon as the Yang family’s eldest son, who hadn’t been home earlier, appeared, the crowd naturally parted to either side. Only then did everyone realize that he seemed to have been back for a while already. It was just that Xi Siyan was standing beside him, and the two appeared to know each other well. Their casual conversation had only just been interrupted by this farce.

Despite the several years between them in age, the two standing together looked perfectly natural.

One had his brows knitted tightly together, while the other seemed entirely unconcerned, his expression calm and indifferent.

“Brother,” Yang Shule called softly.

His gaze fell on the other person standing beside Yang Zhi. Suppressing his resentment, he explained, “My classmates want to go into the pool and play, but the household servants insist on refusing to let them in.”

He never mentioned Chen Mo by name, but anyone with eyes could tell who was refusing to let them enter.

Seeing Yang Shule trying so hard to hold himself together, his eyes even reddening, Yang Zhi’s gaze shifted toward Chen Mo with displeasure. He was about to say something when he looked up and saw the figure in the distance. For some reason, that figure seemed almost too cold and detached.

When their eyes met, he discovered that Chen Mo’s gaze held neither emotion nor the slightest ripple.

Yang Zhi had never felt much toward Chen Mo, his so-called younger brother by blood. From the very first moment he had seen him in the countryside, he had known that there were certain things deep within them that were remarkably similar. Yet, in his mind, his younger brother, the one who belonged to the Yang family, should be a child like Shule—clever enough, bold enough to get away with anything at home, adored by everyone outside, and always polite and considerate toward others.

Shule’s cleverness could be used to compete for their parents’ affection or to show off his older brother to outsiders through little schemes. He was talented enough to be the Yang family’s shining youngest son, and thoughtful enough toward his family.

But he would never use his intelligence to fight for power and profit or to challenge the authority of a powerful family.

Chen Mo was different.

During that scene that had changed everything for everyone, with the rain pouring down in torrents, Yang Zhi had clearly seen the shock and confusion in his younger brother’s eyes, followed by anger mixed with unwillingness to accept his fate.

Therefore, Chen Mo was never destined to receive the same treatment as Shule.

Yet, for reasons Yang Zhi couldn’t quite identify, something had gone wrong. Ever since Chen Mo had stayed out all night that Friday, certain things had been quietly changing, slipping away and disappearing.

The company had been extremely busy today. There were countless matters waiting for him, the future successor of the Yang family, to handle.

Even so, he had still taken some time to come home during his lunch break.

When his assistant asked about it, he had simply said that Shule was hosting a class gathering today, and he was worried Shule might not be able to handle it alone. At the time, he had genuinely believed that was the case.

But for some reason, when he entered the house, he had instinctively looked for the other person living there.

When he heard the commotion, he had ignored the faint sense of relief hidden beneath his outward displeasure, as though he had finally let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. He had thought to himself that this was exactly what his younger brother was like. If Chen Mo didn’t cause some trouble and embarrass everyone on an occasion like this, then he wouldn’t be Chen Mo.

But when their eyes met, the scene before him was somewhat different from what he had imagined.

Yang Zhi still maintained the authority befitting the eldest son of the Yang family. His brows were furrowed, and his displeasure was obvious. Unfortunately, before he could deliver his reprimand, Qi Li, who was standing beside Yang Shule, jumped in first.

Standing where Yang Zhi could see him clearly, Qi Li’s face filled with mockery.

“Chen Mo, don’t you think you’re being a little too domineering? Shule specifically invited so many classmates over today, and you’re going this far? Isn’t that excessive? It’s one thing for you to target Shule all the time, but just because he isn’t as aggressive as you, knows more than you, and gets along better with his classmates, you keep picking on him. There are so many classmates watching today, and your older brother is here too. Don’t think you can keep pushing your luck!…”

While Qi Li was loudly denouncing Chen Mo with righteous indignation, everyone watched as the person inside the pool area did several things.

Without paying anyone the slightest attention, he shook out the bathrobe draped over a chair and put it around his shoulders.

He shook the water from his hair, then casually wiped it a few times with a towel.

After that, he turned back toward the pool, reached out, and pulled up a familiar-looking guy who was already completely dumbfounded.

He didn’t say a word.

The mockery had reached its peak.

The boy named Qi Li had gone from being smug and self-satisfied to gradually lowering his voice. Two patches of red spread across his cheeks from his overwhelming emotional agitation, until he was left thoroughly embarrassed.

“Let’s go.” Chen Mo tossed Gou Yiyang another towel. “Come back next time after they’ve changed the water.”

Gou Yiyang admired him so much that he was practically ready to worship him.

He leaned close to Chen Mo’s ear and whispered, “Fuck! This is the first time I’ve been naked in front of so many people. My innocence is ruined!”

Chen Mo glanced down at him. “Naked?”

“Dude, please don’t make this a criminal offense!”

Chen Mo chuckled and said nothing more.

Whether he stayed or left today didn’t matter much to him. But with Gou Yiyang here, he had no intention of dragging him into this mess.

He led Gou toward the entrance. Just as they were about to pass through the crowd, Qi Li, who had just been humiliated, suddenly turned his fire on Old Gou.

“Gou Yiyang, what the hell is your problem?!”

Gou Yiyang was taken aback, then let out a mocking laugh.

“Qi Li, can you stop embarrassing our experimental class? You were the one who said there were so many classmates here today. If people didn’t know better, they’d think everyone in our class was like you.”

Qi Li was so furious he nearly lost his mind. He shrieked, “What kind of person am I?!”

“Someone who runs his mouth constantly, squawking like a hen that’s had its feathers ruffled. The filth that comes out of your mouth is so disgusting even I can’t stand listening to it. Do you want me to keep going?”

Chen Mo stood off to the side with his arms folded, waiting.

He had never doubted Gou Yiyang’s fighting ability. There had been several disputes between doctors and patients in the past, and the scenes had been nothing short of a verbal battle against an entire crowd of scholars.

Qi Li was breathing heavily. He thought that he had only wanted to help Yang Shule, yet somehow, at this point, he seemed to have become the real culprit. He looked at Yang Shule, only to see the other boy deliberately avert his gaze.

He couldn’t let things end like this today. Otherwise, how would he be able to show his face at school in the future?

So he finally let out a cold laugh and said, “Gou Yiyang, even though your surname is Gou, I didn’t realize you’d actually become a biting dog at Chen Mo’s side…”

“Ah!”

Everyone else only caught a blur of movement.

In the next instant, they saw Chen Mo kick Qi Li in the shin with his bare foot. The sharp crack that followed made their own nerves ache in sympathy. Before Qi Li’s scream could fully escape his throat, Chen Mo grabbed him by the hair and slammed his head against the nearby door with a loud bang.

By the time Qi Li let out a weak, pained cry, he was already sliding down the door.

Chen Mo straightened up and kindly reassured him, “Don’t worry, you won’t die. I just thought that since you’re a guest in someone else’s home, you ought to learn some basic manners. I’m doing you a favor by teaching you. Remember the pain you felt today. If I hear you say one more word like that, I’ll have an ambulance take you home.”

After finishing, Chen Mo shot a cold glance at Yang Shule beside him.

Under the other boy’s wide-eyed stare, which now contained a genuine trace of fear, Chen Mo turned and walked toward Yang Zhi.

They stood face-to-face.

Yang Zhi recalled how decisively Chen Mo had struck just moments ago. In the end, all he said was, “You went too far.”

“No need for you to worry about me, Big Brother.”

Chen Mo was still holding a sheet of paper he had casually picked up on his way over. He wiped his fingers with it, as though he had just touched something filthy.

The veins at Yang Zhi’s temples throbbed.

The Chen family had made Chen Mo into someone violent and ruthless, someone who simply couldn’t stand to suffer even the slightest loss.

He was just about to speak when the person in front of him suddenly turned his gaze to the side.

“Class Monitor.”

Chen Mo tugged at the corner of his mouth. There was no warmth in his smile.

“I doubt you’re interested in hearing the sordid private affairs of someone else’s family, are you?”

It was a clear dismissal.

Yang Zhi’s expression stiffened. “Chen Mo…”

“It’s fine.” Xi Siyan interrupted him. His eyes remained on Chen Mo, and there was a faint smile at the corners of his lips. Unlike Chen Mo’s, it seemed quite genuine.

“What happened today didn’t take place on campus, so I won’t report it to the homeroom teacher as a case of fighting. However, Chen Mo, if the other party decides to bring this matter to the school, I’ll have to report exactly what I witnessed. You don’t have a problem with that, do you?”

“Of course not. That’s your responsibility as class monitor.”

Xi Siyan handed the folder in his hand to Yang Zhi and smiled.

“Big Brother, please give this to Shule and have him bring it to school on Monday. I’ve arranged to meet some people for a competition, so I’ll be leaving first.”

“What competition?” Yang Zhi tried to persuade him to stay. “At least have a meal before you go.”

Xi Siyan didn’t answer directly. He only said, “Next time, for sure.”

Chen Mo watched as Xi Siyan turned, waved to someone, and headed out with several people who had apparently arranged to meet him.

One of the boys asked, “Brother Yan, can we really get into that venue?”

“Yeah.”

“Fuck! We’re definitely going to crush those two bastards today!”

…

Their voices gradually faded into the distance. Before long, Yang Shule squeezed through the crowd and hurried after them.

Yang Zhi withdrew his gaze and looked around. His expression was displeased as he lowered his voice.

“Do you have any idea how important our business dealings with the Xi family are? You spoke to him so rudely. If you offend him, you’ll face consequences you can’t afford, even without me having to lecture you about it!”

Chen Mo showed no intention of responding.

Yang Zhi’s tone suddenly softened a little before he continued, “You don’t know who he is, so I’ll let it go this time.”

Chen Mo gave a faint, mocking smile. How could he not know?

He even knew that, in the future, there was a good chance the two families might actually become one.

Unfortunately, Chen Mo had no intention of continuing this topic.

He suddenly said, “Starting next week, I’m moving into the school dorms.”

“Living at school?” Yang Zhi frowned. “What’s so good about living in the dorms? We have drivers who take you to school at fixed times every day. Isn’t that better than the conditions at school?”

Chen Mo gave him a half-smile.

“Moving into the dorms is already the greatest goodwill I’m willing to show you, Yang Zhi.”

He didn’t even call him Big Brother.

Yang Zhi’s expression had only just begun to darken when Chen Mo continued, “If you don’t want me to expose how the Chen family switched the babies at birth, and how you all concealed the truth from the public for the sake of your own interests and Yang Shule, then we’d better leave each other alone and live in peace. I want a normal, peaceful life. You want to maintain the illusion of a harmonious family in front of the public. We each get what we need. As for my moving into the dorms, I’ll leave it to you to inform Dad and Mom.”

Chen Mo couldn’t be bothered to look at Yang Zhi’s expression. He simply turned and walked away on his own.

After what had just happened, everyone who remained at the scene looked at Chen Mo with fear in their eyes.