Chapter 35: Yaoxing Academy 35 Part 1

On a calm and windless afternoon, Lu Zhou finally met Xiao Ting.

Three years seemed to have changed everything, yet nothing at all. Xiao Ting was still the little girl who clung to her brother, hugging Lu Zhou tightly and refusing to let go as she cried her heart out.

Lu Zhou patiently cooed to her softly, but the more he did, the more choked up she became.

Finally, Xun Qian couldn’t stand it anymore. He sat on the sofa and tapped the table to make his stance clear.

“Enough. You’ll have plenty of time to cry later. But let’s make this clear: Xiao Ting must stay with the Xun Family from now on.”

Xun Ji sneaked a glance at his brother, thinking that after raising the child for three years, his brother’s former domineering CEO aura had faded quite a bit.

Lu Zhou frowned slightly but quickly smoothed it out. He sincerely thanked Xun Qian.

“Thank you, President Xun, for saving Xiao Ting and taking care of her. This kindness is impossible to repay. But Xiao Ting is my sister, and now that I’m back, she naturally belongs with me.”

Xun Qian sneered coldly. “Lu Zhou, what do you take the Xun Family for? You abandoned the child here for three years without a care, and now you think you can just take her away?”

Xun Ji cleared his throat lightly and tried to smooth things over. “Everyone’s doing this for Xiao Ting’s sake. Why don’t we let her choose?”

Xiao Ting sniffled and wiped her tears with a tissue, looking left and right.

“Xiao Ting can’t be without Brother.” She tugged at Lu Zhou’s sleeve pitifully.

Xun Qian’s face darkened.

Xiao Ting’s eyes darted around, and she quickly ran to Xun Qian, climbing onto his lap and sitting obediently.

“But Glasses Uncle has been so, so good to Xiao Ting. Xiao Ting doesn’t want to leave him.”

Xun Qian’s face darkened even more. “How many times have I told you not to call me that?”

Xiao Ting pointed at Xun Ji. “And Blond Brother just woke up. Xiao Ting needs to take care of him. He can’t be without Xiao Ting.”

Xun Ji couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, I can’t be without Xiao Ting.”

Xiao Ting nodded solemnly. “So Xiao Ting wants to be with everyone!”

Xun Qian pinched her cheek. “You’re quite greedy. But your brother doesn’t have the surname Xun, so he can’t stay with us.”

“It’s not impossible.” Xun Ji stroked his chin. “Bro, didn’t I tell you? Lu Zhou is my boyfriend now.”

The air fell silent for a moment.

“Blond Brother, did you marry Brother?” Xiao Ting’s eyes widened. “Do I have to call you Sister-in-Law Brother from now on?”

“Ahem,” Xun Ji laughed helplessly. “Not yet. You don’t need to change how you address me for now.”

Xun Qian’s expression shifted from bewilderment to shock to anger in a spectacular display. He gritted his teeth and spat out two words: “Lu. Zhou.”

Lu Zhou seemed to snap out of his shock as well. He shot to his feet, bending his body into a rigid 90-degree bow, and said respectfully, “I originally planned to make proper preparations before formally visiting to report this to you… It was my oversight. Please forgive me, Big Brother!”

The final address rang out clear and resounding.

Xun Qian was so exasperated he almost laughed. He picked up Xiao Ting and tossed her onto the nearby sofa, then turned to storm off.

“Wait, Big…” Under Xun Qian’s murderous gaze, Lu Zhou barely swallowed the word. “President Xun, please wait. There’s something I must tell you. It’s about… the Xue Family.”

The nanny led Xiao Ting away. Xun Qian now found everything about Lu Zhou displeasing, and his words carried barbs. “What does your Xue Family business have to do with me?”

Lu Zhou’s gaze darkened. “I’m not from the Xue Family. Our relationship was just one of mutual benefit.”

Xun Ji asked, “Three years ago, after you left, didn’t you go looking for Xiao Ting? Why did you end up going abroad with the Xue Family?” He had always been curious about this.

Recalling those days, a flicker of pain involuntarily flashed in Lu Zhou’s eyes. He took a deep breath and briefly recounted his experiences over the three years.

“At the time, I thought Xiao Ting had been trafficked out of the area. I followed the only clue I had to Province X and searched for a long time, but found nothing.”

Of course—that was because Xiao Ting had already been rescued by Xun Qian, and the traffickers had been dealt with thoroughly.

“The Xue Family’s main business in the country back then was in Province X. Although most of it later moved abroad, a small branch remained. I accidentally saved Old Master Xue of the Xue Family in Province X. He learned about my situation and offered to help. He promised to deploy manpower and resources to continue searching for her in Province X, while I would accept the Xue Family’s sponsorship to study abroad and work for them in the future.”

“So the Xue Family really was your Noble Person.” Xun Qian’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “You should hurry off to sell your life to them instead of freeloading at the Xun Family. Right, Xun Ji?”

Of course not. If the Protagonist didn’t stick by his side, how could he complete his task?

But he couldn’t say that out loud, and he definitely couldn’t offend his brother. Faced with this sudden death question, Xun Ji blinked innocently and coughed weakly twice.

Lu Zhou’s expression tensed instantly. He hurried over in a few steps, squatted by his side, took his hand, and felt it.

“Your hand is a bit cold. Are you uncomfortable from sitting too long? Shall I carry you back to rest?”

Seeing his brother’s face grow even uglier, Xun Ji very cooperatively shoved Lu Zhou away and said arrogantly, “I’m not that delicate. If I’m uncomfortable, I’ll tell my brother. What does it have to do with you?”

At that, Xun Qian’s anger eased somewhat. He snorted and said, “You know he can’t sit for long, so hurry up and finish what you have to say.”

Lu Zhou didn’t mind Xun Ji’s attitude. He took a small blanket from the sofa, draped it over his legs, and then continued.

“Does President Xun still remember? During Xun Ji’s first-year school festival at Yaoxing Academy, a student died.”

Xun Qian’s expression changed. “Why bring that up suddenly?”

The original novel didn’t mention it, but three years ago, Xun Ji had already learned about it from Principal Kong. The original host had organized the Hunting Shadow Game, which drove a student to suicide by jumping off the building due to overwhelming pressure.