October’s weather already brought cold winds.
The winds at the hutong entrance felt even stronger.
As the wind blew, the empty sleeve fluttered wildly.
Jian Yi shifted his left arm in front of him.
It didn’t block the wind, but at least it wasn’t so obvious.
“What are you doing back here?”
Jian Yi’s tone was sharp: “Didn’t I tell you to stay at your own home?”
“Did they really kick you out?”
“No.”
Shen Ju shook his head and refuted softly: “I told you I wanted to come back and see you guys.”
“What’s there to see?”
Jian Yi tsked, grabbed the bag, and strode forward: “You think we can’t survive without you?”
Shen Ju jogged to catch up: “No, no, I just missed you, bro.”
“Go miss your family!”
Jian Yi halted abruptly and turned: “Shen Chirp… Do you even know who your real family is?! The Guan Family didn’t say anything about you running back? Does Guan Mulin know?”
Shen Ju pressed his lips together and said nothing.
After a long pause: “I just wanted to come back and see you all once.”
Jian Yi frowned, staring intently at Shen Ju: “Did something happen to you? What are you avoiding?”
“Are the Guan Family people treating you badly…”
“They’re good!”
Shen Ju spoke up immediately, earnestly: “They’re all really good.”
Just… too good.
“Then what’s the problem?”
Shen Ju scuffed his toe on the ground.
“Shen Chirp!”
“Aw, bro, let me carry that stuff back for you!”
Shen Ju still snatched the things from Jian Yi’s hand, spun around, and bolted off.
But he didn’t get far—the place was just ahead.
They entered a large courtyard gate, and to the right was where he’d lived for the past thirteen years.
Thirty-five square meters total—not big at all.
Even so, they’d squeezed in two rooms and a living room.
Shen Ju had always shared a room with Jian Yi—bunk beds, with Shen Ju on top.
The pathway in the room was so narrow you had to sidle through.
A small desk propped on the bed was where Shen Ju did his homework.
Outside, the living-dining area combined with a tiny kitchen and bathroom—small sparrow, but fully equipped.
Shen Ju had always been content with this life.
He’d never imagined one day becoming the child of a wealthy family—and a very wealthy one at that.
The day the luxury car arrived, he hadn’t even gotten home from school yet.
Then came binding to the System 996, and life suddenly turned “magical,” utterly unreal.
Those days, Shen Ju felt like he was treading water.
He couldn’t swim, just pushed along by the current.
Until today, when he returned here.
Shen Ju’s run slowed to a walk, then dragged his feet to the familiar door.
A hand reached from behind, holding keys.
“Snatched the stuff and now blocking the door?”
Shen Ju stepped aside.
“Bro, Auntie’s home, right?”
Jian Yi paused with the key: “What do you think?”
“She must be, it’s Golden Week—elementary school’s on break too…”
Click.
Before Jian Yi could insert the key, the door swung open from inside.
“Yi, what are you chatting about out there, why not come in…”
Xu Ru stood inside. Seeing Shen Ju, her words cut off.
Shen Ju smiled at Xu Ru: “Auntie.”
Several seconds later, Xu Ru spoke: “Don’t flatter me like that. You know we have no blood ties—I’m not your real aunt.”
Shen Ju’s little face paled instantly.
“Auntie…”
“Alright, Mom, let me and Shen Chirp in first.”
At “Shen Chirp,” Xu Ru’s lips twitched, but she said no more, stepping aside to let Shen Ju and Jian Yi enter.
The room hadn’t changed much.
But it felt so different…
His slippers were put away—had to dig them out again.
No big deal; the shoe cabinet was tiny. Storing his freed up space for another pair.
The dining table by the wall in the living room had one less chair.
No issue—that chair blocked the path to the kitchen anyway. Removing it made things roomier.
The space was just that small.
Shen Ju glanced up and saw the open bedroom door.
Peering through, everything inside was in plain view.
The top bunk was piled high with stuff, crammed full, no space left.
Jian Yi stood silently beside Shen Ju, then murmured: “So why’d you come back, Shen Ju? Can’t you just enjoy your fancy life now? Why bother returning? If anyone’s coming back, it should be Guan Mulin. Haven’t you had enough of these past ten-plus years here?”
“But if I don’t come back…”
“If I don’t, then you and Auntie would be…”
Jian Yi lowered his voice again, but growled: “You think the two of us can’t get by without you?!”
Shen Ju pressed his lips shut, silent.
The clatter from the kitchen faded as Xu Ru emerged. Her eyes landed on the backpack Shen Ju carried, emblazoned with “Qichen International High School” in small letters.
Xu Ru halted: “You transferred to Qichen International High School?”
Shen Ju brightened at her speaking to him: “Yeah, Auntie.”
Xu Ru stared blankly at Shen Ju: “If I’d known you could get into Qichen International High School now, I never would’ve let Jian Yi pick Yude.”
“What?” Shen Ju blinked.
Jian Yi’s face changed: “Mom…”
“If you couldn’t get into Qichen International, why would I have let Jian Yi go to Yude?”
“Mom!”
Jian Yi wanted her to stop.
But Xu Ru kept looking at Shen Ju:
“And now you’ve gotten into Qichen International.”
Jian Yi drew a deep breath, chest heaving: “Mom, enough. Back then, you picked Yude over Qichen for me so Shen Ju could look after me, right?”
“What’s the point of saying this now…”
“That was only because he couldn’t get into Qichen that I sent you to Yude!”
Xu Ru cut Jian Yi off loudly: “But now he’s at Qichen while you’re still stuck at Yude!”
“What does it matter!” Jian Yi growled.
“How doesn’t it?!”
Xu Ru blurted out: “Can your arm manage without someone?! And he has a duty to take care of you…”
“Enough!!”
The room fell deathly silent.
Only Jian Yi’s heavy breathing remained.
“I remember we forgot something—I need to buy it. Let’s go out.”
Jian Yi said, grabbing Shen Ju and heading out.
After a while, the room echoed with stifled sobs.
“Specifically driving around here? Is it really necessary?”
In the car, Pei Yan crossed his arms, frowning at the market ahead: “Can’t drive in. If you wanna go, go yourself.”
“How could I let you?”
Gao Chuanbai rubbed his hands: “Just wait in the car. I’ve been craving the pancake-wrapped pork head meat from in there forever—you don’t know, I’ve eaten it since I was a kid!”
At “pancake-wrapped pork head meat,” Pei Yan wrinkled his nose again, face full of incomprehension and distaste.
“Tch.”
Seeing Pei Yan’s expression, Gao Chuanbai defended it: “It’s seriously good! Famous around here—sometimes there’s a line!”
“Want me to grab one for you, reluctantly?”
Pei Yan looked queasy: “Pass.”
Gao Chuanbai “tch”ed, knowing a young master like Pei Yan had never set foot in a place like this, let alone bought street food. No point pushing, so: “Fine, fine, I’ll go buy it. This time of day, no line—don’t worry, quick in, quick out…”
[Host, you just found out, so it’s not your fault. But if you feel guilty about your bro, why not just beg the Guan Family to transfer him to Qichen too?]
[Perfect chance—if they refuse, throw a tantrum. Great for playing the role!]
The familiar voice echoed in his mind. Pei Yan arched a brow.
“No rush. Take your time.” He told Gao Chuanbai, then glanced out the window.
No sign of anyone.
But they were definitely here.
Likely same spot, since he could hear the voice.
Yesterday, after leaving the banquet, Pei Yan hadn’t heard the mind voice again.
Gao Chuanbai “huh?”ed, thinking he’d misheard.
“You want me to what?”
“Take your time queuing, eat well.” Pei Yan said kindly.
“…”
What drug did he take?
Gao Chuanbai got out, baffled.
Whatever—his pancake mattered more.
Once Gao Chuanbai left, Pei Yan exited too.
He leaned against the car door, listening to the two voices.
Who was “bro”?
Guilt over what?
Guilt enough to beg the Guan Family for a transfer?
Pei Yan chuckled softly.
Begging like that—if done wrong—earned resentment.
But if it was what Shen Ju and this System wanted…
[No.]
Pei Yan was surprised.
[I can’t do that. I don’t want to…]
Shen Ju’s low voice: [If I did, bro wouldn’t be happy.]
[He wouldn’t like me doing that.]
[I can throw a tantrum and suffer the consequences myself, but I can’t hurt others with my nonsense.]
[996 bro, we agreed—I’ll play the ‘vicious true young master,’ but end up hurting no one. You promised.]
996: [Okay, okay, just a suggestion.]
[Anyway, not talking about that. Gonna buy some fruit to take back.]
[Why not buy stuff from the start?]
After a pause, Shen Ju’s voice:
[I thought about it.]
[But if I came back with gifts right away… wouldn’t that make me a guest?]
