Actually, Pei Haochuan hadn’t harbored any hostility toward Shen Ju at first.
But he had watched Guan Mulin extend goodwill to Shen Ju time and again, only for it to go unreciprocated. He always felt indignant on Guan Mulin’s behalf, thinking Shen Ju was ungrateful.
People’s hearts are biased, after all.
He had known Guan Mulin first. Even knowing that Guan Shen Ju was also a victim in this whole swapped-at-birth mix-up, Pei Haochuan couldn’t help siding with Guan Mulin. He felt sorry for him, felt the injustice on his behalf. Moreover, in Pei Haochuan’s eyes, Guan Shen Ju truly hadn’t been friendly toward Mulin. If the two were fated never to get along peacefully, then Pei Haochuan would definitely back Guan Mulin.
“Little Uncle, you’re really going to tutor Guan Shen Ju?”
If it was just to teach him a lesson, did it have to go this far?
Pei Haochuan couldn’t wrap his head around it.
Pei Yan: “If you want tutoring, I can teach you too.”
Pei Haochuan: “……”
Fine, fine. Pretend he never asked.
“If I wanted tutoring, Mulin would teach me,” Pei Haochuan muttered under his breath.
Pei Yan held back, thinking that maybe, probably, he had misjudged. What big deal could Pei Haochuan be anyway? Even as a lackey, he’d probably just be a gofer.
The banquet was drawing to a close. Shen Ju changed clothes, steadied his mood, and emerged, sensing no real changes anywhere.
He didn’t spot Pei Yan again; word was he’d left early for something.
As for that group brawl in the corridor earlier, Han Chengfeng and the others hadn’t expected things to blow up so big. After spectating a ridiculous pondside brawl, they sneaked off in a hurry.
The Guan Family couldn’t say much about it either, since Guan Mulin had been involved in the fight.
And compared to fisticuffs—a minor thing—there were more pressing concerns.
Guan Jianshan looked toward this grandson they’d only recently recognized. At first, he’d seemed a bit “timid,” looking just like his daughter-in-law—clearly blood-related. He was probably intimidated by him. Aside from calling “Grandpa” every time they spoke, the conversation died after a few exchanges. He seemed terribly reserved.
Keeping his distance, not drawing close.
At his age, Guan Jianshan didn’t want to force anything. Once the baby-swap chaos settled and the dust had cleared, he’d simply returned to He Yuan.
Old age brought perspective on everything.
But Guan Jianshan never imagined that at his age, he’d witness something so eye-opening.
He didn’t fully grasp the technical jargon.
But one thing he knew…
His grandson’s outward facade might not be the truth. Here, it wasn’t “seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving”—it was the reverse: “hearing is believing, seeing is deceiving.”
Truly wondrous, singular.
Guan Jianshan beckoned Shen Ju to his side.
Qin Soxi glanced at Guan Lifeng: What is Dad up to? Didn’t we agree not to spook him?
Guan Lifeng’s expression was grave: Probably testing the waters.
Guan Mulin and Guan Muya exchanged looks, both waiting to see just how Grandpa would probe.
Shen Ju felt tense too.
He hadn’t spent much time with Qin Soxi and the others yet, let alone Guan Jianshan, who’d long since returned to He Yuan.
Right now, he was truly uneasy.
And with the “persona” he had to stick to in mind, he thought: I just got dinged by the System once. This time, I have to “perform” properly.
Decision made!
No matter what Grandpa said, he’d “make a fuss”!
If scolded for the fight or dragging others in, he’d say it wasn’t on purpose!
Even if it was on purpose, so what? No big deal.
Yeah, gotta be unreasonably fussy…
Guan Jianshan pondered a moment, then finally spoke: “Your grades really that bad?”
Plop…
Bullseye.
Shen Ju deflated instantly, shoulders slumping, his budding rebellious streak crushed under the weight of academics.
“I… I’m bad at it…”
Was he really going to need a tutor now?
Even a little downer delinquent couldn’t muster the will to rebel anymore.
Grades were that throat of fate—gripped tight in an instant.
Shen Ju hung his head, lips twitching a few more times: “I’ve been studying hard…”
It was true.
Shen Ju had never been one to hate studying.
His original grades were decent—mid-to-upper tier. With luck, he could even crack the top ranks.
But that was at Yude High School.
Yude High School was public; Qichen International High School was private, a “noble academy” built on money. Unavoidably, its faculty, facilities, everything was superior, drawing top parents and students vying for spots. Elite of the elite, so overall performance was naturally higher.
Thus, Shen Ju’s formerly passable scores looked downright inadequate at Qichen International High School.
He didn’t consider himself especially bright, and switching schools abruptly—unadjusted to the teaching style—his first exam after transfer was predictably poor. …Plummeting to dead last in class was something even his thick skin couldn’t shrug off.
Guan Jianshan hadn’t expected one sentence to hit the kid so hard.
He opened his mouth to say something…
【Host, Guan Mulin excels at studies—not just class topper, but grade topper too.】
Here it came again.
The Guan Family perked up their ears.
Mentioning Guan Mulin’s stellar grades now—wasn’t that psychologically devastating?
…One, the biological son mistakenly raised outside; the other, the usurper who’d nested in his place, enjoying luxury for over a decade—not only that, but even in personal merits like grades, far superior, excelling in so many ways.
Pointing that out—how could it not sting?
Even Guan Mulin instinctively frowned.
Who knew what Shen Ju would think.
Even if some of Shen Ju’s actions and words were puppeteered by this “996” System, hearing it repeatedly could breed real resentment.
Like with grades.
After Guan Jianshan brought it up, anyone could see Shen Ju felt “ashamed” about it. Rubbing that in now…
【Ah, I know.】
Shen Ju’s voice rang out the next second, laced with obvious envy: 【He’s so good at studying, super smart.】
Pure admiration in his tone, not a trace of jealousy—not even a sour note.
…Nothing but envy and genuine praise.
He truly thought Guan Mulin was great at studies.
No rage from humiliation, no resentment from envy.
Guan Jianshan’s gaze softened. He reached to pat Shen Ju’s head, but the System chimed in again…
【…You’re not supposed to praise the protagonist, Host!】
【Your grandpa brought up your grades—this is when you spit sour grapes about Guan Mulin outscoring you, get jealous, and redirect the blame at him. Got it?】
The Guan Family: “……” Tch.
【Oh, oh, like that.】
Shen Ju paused, glancing at Guan Mulin.
Guan Mulin blinked.
What would Shen Ju do?
…Shen Ju took a deep breath, seemingly unwilling to take the heat alone, and continued: “But Grandpa, I’m bad at studies, but I didn’t cause trouble…”
Here it came—the report on Guan Mulin’s corridor fight.
Guan Mulin knew the reason beforehand, so he was prepared, heart steady.
Shen Ju pressed on: “…Didn’t get a chance to cause trouble. Those classmates I don’t know well cursed us as fatherless bastards, talking real ugly…Ended up getting beat. I didn’t join in, even tried to break it up. Guan Mulin…went to back up Pei Haochuan, took a few hits himself, didn’t even get justice. Deserved to feel hard done by.”
He stressed “deserved,” like that was the point.
But only Guan Mulin caught it: the “fatherless bastard” curses were aimed at him; Han Chengfeng and crew’s ugliness was at him. As the one there, he knew exactly how it went—not at all like Shen Ju’s vague retelling, which looped him in and painted him as the aggrieved one.
Guan Mulin’s emotions stirred; he hadn’t expected Shen Ju to frame it this way.
Shen Ju finished his “little report,” awaiting the Guan Family’s reaction.
Especially Guan Mulin’s…
Called “deserved”—surely that’d piss him off?
Shen Ju fidgeted with his fingers, bracing for…
“Yeah, right.”
Guan Mulin nodded: “No winner in the end, no justice for me. I deserved to feel hard done by.”
Huh?
The rest of the Guan Family nodded in agreement too.
Um…
Guan Jianshan: “What’re the names of those kids involved?”
Huh…
“You lot are too prominent to step in, but as an elder, I can have a chat with their parents.”
Guan Jianshan huffed lightly: “This old bag of bones might still carry some weight.”
Eh?
Shen Ju itched to scratch his head.
How’d a few words flip this onto those poorly behaved classmates?
Whatever.
They deserved more lessons anyway.
Shen Ju silently mourned them a bit while nodding fiercely inside.
Then Guan Jianshan spoke again: “As for grades…No rush. Holidays are for fun—your parents’ll give you pocket money. Relax plenty over break.”
Shen Ju’s mouth fell open. How’d it veer to pocket money?
996 wanted to gape too…
Pocket money from where?
But…
【Ah, right! Pocket money!】
996 clenched its nonexistent fist, thrilled: 【Haunted house staple…Money!】
【Can’t dodge this topic!】
【Host, this concerns your interests!】
