Chapter 22: Yaoxing Academy 22 Part 5

“There’s one more thing I should apologize for as well.” Xun Qian said, “I heard that Xun Ji kept a pet at school and played too roughly, injuring someone at the Winter Sports Meet.”

The color drained slowly from Lu Zhou’s face.

“Although he tried to clean it up afterward, it was still his fault. I apologize to you on his behalf.”

He pulled a Property Deed from his suit pocket and handed it to Lu Zhou.

“I came to his room to give him this, but since you’re here, I can give it to you directly.”

Lu Zhou recognized it—it was the one his grandparents had wanted to give him that day, only for Lu Jianming to snatch it away.

His face turned ashen. It took him a long while to ask, “How did it end up with you?”

“I had someone take it back from your father. I also cleared his gambling debts while I was at it,” Xun Qian replied, ever courteous.

“…Why did you do this?” Redness welled in Lu Zhou’s eyes. “Why?!”

Xun Qian seemed surprised by his reaction. “Don’t you want your father’s debts cleared?”

Of course Lu Zhou wanted that—he dreamed of it.

But why Xun Qian? Why the Xun Family? He had finally almost paid back what he owed Xun Ji. Finally, he could speak to Xun Ji as an equal.

A favor as heavy as a mountain. As heavy as a mountain.

Lu Zhou let out a hoarse laugh, tears staining the corners of his eyes.

With this immense favor weighing down on him, what was he supposed to do? What about him and Xun Ji?

“Thank you, President Xun,” he took the Property Deed and said to the man. “President Xun, whatever you require, just say it.”

But Xun Qian shook his head.

“I helped you for two reasons: first, to compensate for Xun Ji injuring you; second, so the person he keeps by his side doesn’t get dragged into trouble. Lu Zhou, since he’s interested in you right now, as long as you behave yourself and don’t harm him, I won’t make any demands of you.”

The person he keeps by his side.

Lu Zhou couldn’t stop laughing. What Xun Qian meant was the dog he kept by his side, wasn’t it?

And he wasn’t wrong. Lu Zhou was the Little Young Master’s dog—a fawning, tail-wagging mutt.

He maintained his dignity on the surface, but deep down, he secretly begged for the Little Young Master’s pity. With that pity, he buried his mother; with that pity, he protected his sister; with that pity, he gained the chance to get close to the Little Young Master, something others couldn’t.

After his mother fell ill, his world plunged into chaos. But Xun Ji appeared—he was the sun splitting the world open, the only safe harbor.

Lu Zhou had warned himself countless times, but every time the sun shone on him, he sank again. He humbly, cautiously exposed his wounds, using them as chips to beg for his Master’s mercy.

But he forgot—it was Xun Ji.

The Little Young Master of the Xun Conglomerate, a cloud in the high skies, precious as gold and jade. What was he, Lu Zhou? A straw dog from the lowly earth, cheap as dirt.

He had always known this deep down, which was why he deliberately buried the Winter Sports Meet incident in an impenetrable corner, deceiving himself with a facade of peace. Even recalling his past with Xun Ji, he didn’t dare touch that heart-wrenching month of silent vigil in the hospital room.

He didn’t dare ask Xun Ji why he had set up that trap just to hurt him. He feared the answer.

He feared that to Xun Ji, he wasn’t even worth pity—just a novel, amusing toy.

He feared Xun Ji would tire of him at any moment and discard him.

“Young Master, slow down!” Brother Wang’s voice came from downstairs. Soon, accompanied by cheerful footsteps, Xun Ji appeared at the room door.

“Bro, why are you in my room?”

Xun Ji looked like he had run all the way, a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead. He had casually pushed up his golden bangs, revealing a smooth brow. The light shirt clung damply to his body, outlining perfect lines. The vintage, luxurious suit hung wrinkled on his shoulder, about to slip off.

The very picture of a pampered, debonair Little Young Master.

“Running so frantically—what mischief did you get into out there?” Xun Qian took the pitiful suit and fetched a hanger from the closet to hang it up.

Xun Ji seemed in high spirits, grinning. “I went to do a good deed.”

Brother Wang finally caught up, panting, and handed Xun Ji a bright red certificate.

“Make sure to keep this certificate safe, Young Master.”

Xun Ji opened it and showed it off to Xun Qian and Lu Zhou. “Look, my good guy certificate!”

The certificate was ornate, with embossed gold letters reading “Goodwill Ambassador of XX City.”

It was just a souvenir from donations at the charity gala, but he treated it like treasure. Xun Qian found it amusing. “You like this?”

“Like it? More than like.” Brother Wang couldn’t help but chime in. “The Young Master was so excited he stood by the roadside for half an hour, helping five old ladies cross the street!”

Xun Ji touched his nose sheepishly. No helping it—his good deed addiction had flared up.

“Foolishness.” Xun Qian laughed and ruffled his sweat-damp hair, a bit disdainfully. “Go take a shower quickly.”

“Oh, right.” He remembered something and turned to Lu Zhou. “Say those words to him after he showers. He’s sweaty—don’t want him catching a cold.”

“It’s fine.” But Xun Ji strode over to Lu Zhou in a few steps, leaned down slightly, and asked, “You’ve been waiting for me, right? Whatever you have to say, tell me now.”

From the moment Xun Ji entered, Lu Zhou’s gaze hadn’t left him. His eyes were dark yet pure. Clearly still the same Lu Zhou, yet Xun Ji inexplicably felt he was different from the one before he left.

Lu Zhou’s hand slowly rose toward his ear, as if to touch the earring, but it paused and dropped.

“Young Master Xun, thank you for taking care of me,” Lu Zhou said. “I should go.”