Chapter 60: The Vicious Fake Young Master of a Wealthy Family · 60

520 had not seen Villain Value skyrocket this much in a long time.

The last time was… well, the last time.

Carried by Shen Yi, Su Wenyu hung his wooden tag at a high spot on the Christmas tree. After confirming the knot was tied tightly and wouldn’t fall, he patted Shen Yi’s shoulder and said, leaning down, “Okay, you can put me down now.”

Shen Yi pretended not to hear the first time. Only when Su Wenyu reminded him a second time did Shen Yi carefully set him down.

The December weather had already turned to deep winter. Su Wenyu was wearing a dark, thick wool coat, a cream-white scarf wrapped around his neck. After landing, he tilted his head back to look at the wooden tag hanging at the highest point. The lower half of his face, hidden by the scarf, peeked out. The star-shaped lights wrapped around the Christmas tree shone upon his face, and in his eyes was an emotion Zhou Xu and the others couldn’t quite read.

The surge of jealousy in Zhou Xu’s heart paused when he saw the expression on Su Wenyu’s face.

Zhou Xu was tall. Even though Su Wenyu had tied the wooden tag quite high, his eyesight was good, so he could clearly see the wish Su Wenyu had written above.

Live healthily and safely to one hundred years old.

At first glance, compared to wishes for wealth or riches, it seemed like a very ordinary, common desire.

But Zhou Xu could distinctly see a trace of some indescribable emotion in Su Wenyu’s eyes.

As if, for him, being healthy and safe was actually a very difficult thing.

Because of this, Zhou Xu uncharacteristically refrained from immediately grabbing Su Wenyu and asking why he hadn’t let him carry him. On the way back, he simply slowed his pace to stay by Su Wenyu’s side.

Near the dormitory area, there was also a street of shops.

Su Wenyu spotted someone who had set up a table outside selling Peace Fruits. His steps turned in that direction.

Xia Yehang followed at his side and asked, “Want to buy some apples?”

Su Wenyu nodded. “Let’s go take a look.”

Zhou Xu, Shen Yi, and Xia Yehang generally had little interest in celebrating Christmas Eve or Christmas. Having seen earlier that Su Wenyu also didn’t seem too interested in the holiday, they hadn’t thought of buying him a Peace Fruit.

But now, watching Su Wenyu walk over, the three inwardly wondered if they were too dense. Even if Su Wenyu didn’t celebrate the holiday, they should still buy him one.

Unaware of their thoughts, Su Wenyu reached the stand selling Peace Fruits and began browsing.

He didn’t celebrate, but he could still enjoy a bit of the festive atmosphere. He’d already hung a wish tag on the Christmas tree. Buying a few Peace Fruits wouldn’t cost much either.

‘Peace’ and ‘Safety’—it was just about seeking an auspicious omen.

After all, his final ending in this small world was fated to be unpleasant. A bit of psychological comfort wouldn’t hurt.

Also, he’d done so many things… he really felt quite apologetic towards Zhou Xu and the others. Even though his relations with Shen Yi and Xia Yehang were just exploitation, aimed solely at pushing Zhou Xu to extract Villain Value from him…

Su Wenyu’s inherent nature wasn’t bad. He still hoped that on the day he met his unpleasant end, these three people could continue living peacefully and healthily in this world.

There were quite a few people at the stall selling Peace Fruits. It was the time right after afternoon classes had ended, and the sky darkened early. Many people came over after dinner to soak in a bit of the holiday atmosphere.

Standing before the stall, Su Wenyu found his eyes a bit dazzled for a moment.

The Peace Fruits were just ordinary apples, or perhaps redder, prettier Red Delicious apples. The apples themselves looked unremarkable. But the various packaging boxes on the outside had clearly taken a lot of thought.

There were heart-shaped pink boxes, square boxes printed with Santa Claus, and plush-doll-shaped ones where only the belly area was transparent, showing a large, perfectly round Peace Fruit inside.

Su Wenyu bent over to pick out Peace Fruits. The three men trailing behind him, seeing this, also started picking.

Su Wenyu had his eye on the plush doll packaging because it was cute.

However, they were a bit pricey—one apple cost two to three times the usual price. But Su Wenyu still picked out three dolls with similar appearances, only the colors of their little outfits being different.

After buying the three plush doll Peace Fruits, Su Wenyu didn’t let the shop assistant wrap them. He directly carried the three Peace Fruits and found Zhou Xu and the others. That was when he saw they too had somehow bought Peace Fruits.

Su Wenyu laughed. “I was just about to give you three each one, and you guys are already giving me return gifts?”

Xia Yehang chuckled, handed him his apple, and said, “Merry Christmas Eve.”

Su Wenyu accepted the Peace Fruit and gave him the plush doll wearing a red outfit.

Shen Yi and Zhou Xu also gave him Peace Fruits one after another, wishing him a “Merry Christmas Eve.” Su Wenyu gave them the dolls in blue and black outfits respectively.

In the end, Su Wenyu carried the three differently packaged Peace Fruits given to him back to the dorm. He placed them beside the computer on his desk—immediately visible with a single glance.

The other three also placed their Peace Fruits at the most conspicuous spots on their own desks.

After all, this was the first gift Su Wenyu had ever given them. They needed to preserve them well and see them every day.

No one brought up the idea of eating their Peace Fruit. They just stayed there, on display.

The next day, Christmas Day, the weather forecast had predicted snow. But after their whole morning of classes, they didn’t see a single flake. Su Wenyu felt a bit regretful.

The place in the real world where he lived was like perpetual spring. He’d only ever seen snow on TV. He had actually really wanted to see it.

But if it didn’t snow today, there would be opportunities in the following days. So Su Wenyu’s regret only lasted a little while before he quickly adjusted his mood.

After lunch, Su Wenyu and Zhou Xu simply packed their bags, ready to head home for a visit after their afternoon classes ended.

Xia Yehang was chewing on a stick of sugarcane. Hearing this, he felt incredibly reluctant to see them go.

Firstly, he hated parting with Su Wenyu, even for just two days.

Secondly, he hated that Su Wenyu was going home with Zhou Xu. How lucky for Zhou Xu to have that ‘brother’ status, getting such easy proximity.

“Next week is the New Year’s holiday. Why not wait until then to go home?” Xia Yehang nibbled his sugarcane, watching Su Wenyu with a reluctant expression.

Su Wenyu had long gotten used to the burning intensity of Xia Yehang’s gaze on him. He wrapped his scarf securely and explained, “I have something to do over New Year’s, so we have to go home this week.”

Xia Yehang immediately shot a wary glance at Zhou Xu. “You’re not going off to have fun without us, are you?”

Su Wenyu laughed. “I am going out with my brother. But it’s to go see my biological parents. It’s not that I’m deliberately excluding you.”

Hearing this, with his mouth still full of sugarcane, Xia Yehang couldn’t say a word.

Everyone in the dorm knew the relationship between Su Wenyu and Zhou Xu.

Xia Yehang was naturally also clear that the ‘biological parents’ Su Wenyu mentioned were the adoptive parents who had raised Zhou Xu.

If it was for this matter… they really couldn’t intrude. Despite his thick skin, Xia Yehang knew when to be tactful. He didn’t blurt out any nonsense about wanting to tag along to that place.

It was just that after classes ended in the afternoon and Xia Yehang returned to the dorm to find only himself and Shen Yi left, he still felt a bit miserable. He was completely listless.

Shen Yi noticed his low mood but didn’t pay him any attention.

Xia Yehang was the type who couldn’t hold things in. Back in the dorm, he finished off the rest of his sugarcane. Only when his jaw ached from chewing did he stop and ask Shen Yi, “Do you think we still have a chance?”

Shen Yi didn’t even need to use his brain to know what he was referring to.

“You think you have no chance, so you’re just going to stop liking him?” Shen Yi’s fingers flew across his laptop keyboard as he typed, not even turning his head.

Xia Yehang: “…It’s not that. I just feel Wenyu treats Zhou Xu differently than he treats us.”

Shen Yi nodded. He acknowledged that too. “After all, they have that layer of ‘brothers’ between them.”

Xia Yehang sighed. “Sometimes I really envy Zhou Xu. Even during breaks, he gets to see Wenyu at home. But I can’t tell if Su Wenyu actually likes him or not. What do you think?”

The incident where Su Wenyu had crawled into Zhou Xu’s bed, insisting on sleeping with him—both Xia Yehang and Shen Yi were well aware of it.

At the time, they’d both thought Su Wenyu actually liked Zhou Xu. But after that incident, over such a long period since then, Su Wenyu’s attitude towards Zhou Xu had instead become ambiguous and hard to read.

Shen Yi’s typing paused momentarily. He said, “I don’t know either.”

No one knew what Su Wenyu was truly thinking, except Su Wenyu himself.

But regardless, even if Su Wenyu really did like Zhou Xu and would end up with him in the future… at least for now, that hadn’t happened. And Shen Yi wouldn’t give up easily.

Liking someone was one’s own business. As long as it didn’t affect Su Wenyu’s life, they were free to like him however they wanted.

Xia Yehang understood this logic as well. It was just that a guy with a one-sided crush could occasionally be sensitive and fragile. He just needed Su Wenyu to return to campus on Sunday afternoon, and Xia Yehang would instantly be able to cheer himself up.

“Earlier, you mentioned taking legal action against those people who spread rumors about Wenyu. How’s that progressing?” Xia Yehang remembered a serious matter.

“It’s going through the process. When Wenyu comes back this week, I’ll inform him about it too. After all, it involves him; his own opinion is needed,” Shen Yi said.

Xia Yehang nodded and made a wish. “I hope all those rumor-mongers get exactly what they deserve.”

Shen Yi agreed with a slight nod.

—

The highway on Friday afternoon was slightly congested. By the time Su Wenyu and Zhou Xu arrived home, it was already past six in the evening.

Winter in S City meant night fell early. The sky had started darkening around 5 PM, and by 6 PM, it was pitch black.

Shi Pei was lounging on the sofa in the living room of the main residence, having a maid skilled in massage work on her shoulders. Only when Su Wenyu’s cheerful call of “Mom!” drifted in from outside did Shi Pei smile and rise to greet them.

“You’re back? Is it cold outside? Quick, come in and warm up.” Shi Pei hurriedly ushered Su Wenyu and Zhou Xu inside, where they changed shoes and shed their coats.

The Su residence had central heating. A wave of warmth hit them as soon as they entered, causing Su Wenyu to shiver slightly as he adjusted.

“It’s fine, not cold. I’m wearing layers.” Su Wenyu unwound his scarf and handed his thick coat to a nearby servant, slipping into his fluffy cotton slippers as he walked in. “The classroom had heating. We got into the car as soon as we left the academic building. Didn’t freeze at all.”

Shi Pei smiled and patted him. After Zhou Xu had also taken off his coat and entered, she quickly ushered the two of them to dinner.

Su Wenyu was already starving. “Where’s Dad? He’s not back yet?”

Shi Pei personally ladled a bowl of hot soup for each of Su Wenyu and Zhou Xu, placing them in front of them. “He’s away on a business trip. Won’t be back until tomorrow afternoon.”

Su Wenyu took a small sip of the hot soup, his slightly cold little hands cupping the bowl. He instantly felt warm and comfortable all over.

Shi Pei ate very little for dinner. After picking at a few bites, she watched the two brothers with a smiling face and probed cautiously, “When New Year’s comes, how about you two go back home together for a visit?”

This ‘home,’ naturally, meant Su Wenyu’s biological parents’ home.

The original ‘Su Wenyu’ had always been afraid Shi Pei would send him away, so he’d never been enthusiastic about the topic of his biological parents. But Shi Pei knew the other family also missed their son. She had brought it up tentatively a few times over this period, testing Su Wenyu’s stance.

Su Wenyu nodded without much hesitation, swallowed his food, and said, “I know. For New Year’s, I’ll go back with brother. Don’t worry.”

Receiving his affirmative answer, Shi Pei felt completely at ease.

As for why Su Wenyu no longer resisted seeing his biological parents… Shi Pei didn’t dwell on it.