Chapter 2: The Arrogant and Domineering Fake Young Master 02 Part 2

Gu Yu… probably still didn’t know what Xu Zhaochen had done.

Gu Yu, however, didn’t notice the subtle shift in Shen Ji’s expression. She sat down beside him openly.

Gu Yu’s interest in Shen Ji wasn’t romantic—she simply admired him as a person. After all, someone from Shen Ji’s background who could test into S University on his own merit and achieve what he had was clearly a rare talent.

And though Shen Ji came from poverty, his old clothes were always clean and neat. He might seem a bit cold, but every time she asked him a question, he answered earnestly and patiently. His ability and character were both exceptional.

Nothing like that trust-fund brat Xu Zhaochen. The Xu Family had donated a building to the school and pulled all sorts of strings just to squeeze him in—uneducated, idle, and good for nothing. Last month she’d been forced into a blind date with him… Ugh, thinking about that miserable business again.

In any case, Gu Yu was straightforward and clear-cut in her likes and dislikes. If she disliked someone, she rejected them outright; if she admired someone, she actively befriended them. She’d even thought about recruiting Shen Ji into her family’s company after graduation—she wasn’t about to let talent like that slip away.

Gu Yu smiled directly. “Shen Ji, do you have time on the 21st of this month? Would you come to my birthday party?”

Shen Ji was silent.

He didn’t care for events like that in the first place. And if Xu Zhaochen found out… It wasn’t that Shen Ji was afraid. He just didn’t like trouble—especially unnecessary trouble.

Gu Yu saw his hesitation and clapped him on the shoulder. “If you don’t come, you’re not treating me as a friend.”

Shen Ji: “…”

He didn’t know when he and Gu Yu had gotten so close.

As he was thinking about how to decline politely, he suddenly heard Gu Yu gasp. “What happened to you? Were you beaten up?”

When Shen Ji had turned his head earlier, Gu Yu had caught sight of the bruise around his eye and the bandage hidden beneath his bangs—he clearly looked like he’d taken a beating. Gu Yu was instantly indignant. Who had bullied Shen Ji?

Shen Ji pressed his lips together and said nothing.

If he told Gu Yu about this, with her personality she’d definitely confront Xu Zhaochen. Xu Zhaochen wouldn’t dare do anything to Gu Yu, but he’d certainly come after Shen Ji again—and Gu Yu couldn’t protect him around the clock…

Most importantly, since he had no feelings for Gu Yu, there was no reason to get dragged into the romantic entanglements of wealthy young masters and misses. It offered him no benefit. He just wanted to finish his studies in peace, find a decent job after graduation, and give himself and his mother a good life.

Shen Ji thought for only a moment before quickly weighing his options. He spoke, his voice cool and slightly hoarse: “No.”

Gu Yu thought, This is obviously a beating, but seeing Shen Ji’s cold, dismissive posture, she had no choice but to say, “Alright. If you ever need help, just tell me.”

Shen Ji lowered his eyes and said nothing more. Just then the professor arrived, and the two of them were silent for the rest of the class.

Shen Ji resolved to stay far away from these conflicts.

But Gu Yu was distracted the entire class. What had happened to Shen Ji? He was so disciplined—either in class or working part-time. She’d never heard of him provoking anyone.

Gu Yu privately decided to do some digging. If Shen Ji really was in trouble, she’d help him out—consider it building good karma.

Gu Yu was friendly and had many friends. She pulled out her phone and started messaging them, asking them to investigate Shen Ji’s situation. Her friends readily agreed, promising to tell her the moment they had news.

The morning passed quickly.

When class ended, Shen Ji silently gathered his books and left—so fast that Gu Yu didn’t even have time to say goodbye. Watching his distant, indifferent back, Gu Yu couldn’t shake the feeling that Shen Ji seemed to be avoiding her today… But why would he avoid her?

Gu Yu laughed at herself and shook her head. She was overthinking it. Shen Ji was always like this.

She returned her textbook to the dorm first, then went to the cafeteria with her roommates. She still had two classes in the afternoon.

…

By the time afternoon classes were almost over, Gu Yu received a message from Gu Baichong saying he’d finished some business and happened to be passing by S University. He’d come to pick her up and take her back to the Main Residence.

Gu Yu had always been close with her Third Uncle. She replied with an “OK” sticker.

Just as she sent the message, her friend’s reply popped up: Shen Ji might have seen Xu Zhaochen last night.

Gu Yu frowned.

Xu Zhaochen.

Who in the second-generation circle didn’t know what kind of person Xu Zhaochen was? An arrogant playboy scion. Anyone with any ambition avoided associating with him. If Xu Zhaochen was looking for Shen Ji, it couldn’t be anything good—and Shen Ji’s appearance made that clear enough.

But she couldn’t figure out why Xu Zhaochen would go after Shen Ji.

The two of them had absolutely no connection.

Gu Yu was utterly baffled. This was more baffling than any problem in her advanced math class. So even as class ended, she was still mulling it over as she walked…

Because she was so distracted, when a half-meter-tall pink teddy bear suddenly appeared right in front of her face, Gu Yu nearly toppled over backward in fright. Which blind idiot was blocking her path!

Gu Yu looked up furiously—and when she saw who it was, her anger went from abstract to concrete.

Xu Zhaochen again!

The young man wore a casual black hoodie, washed jeans, and white sneakers. He stood there lazily, arms wrapped around a pink preserved-flower teddy bear, an unruly smile on his lips. He had a bit of a slacker vibe. He raised an eyebrow at her. “Surprise.”

In that moment, Gu Yu felt that maintaining her composure was already a remarkable display of self-restraint.

This wasn’t a surprise—it was a scare.

Gu Yu said coldly, “I told you, stop sending me flowers.”

Half of Li Ye’s face was hidden behind the pink bear, revealing only a smooth forehead and a pair of beautiful eyes. At her words, a hurt expression appeared—even the strands of his hair seemed to droop.

Looking at him like this, Gu Yu couldn’t help but think of a pitiful, aggrieved little puppy. A rare twinge of guilt surfaced—had she been too heartless in rejecting him…

Wait, what are you thinking? This is Xu Zhaochen!

Don’t be fooled!

Gu Yu pulled herself together.

Since she couldn’t figure out that question on her own, and now the person in question had delivered himself to her door, she might as well just ask.

Gu Yu frowned. “Did you make things difficult for Shen Ji?”

Li Ye’s expression shifted slightly. A shadow of malice flickered in his dark eyes, and his tone turned abruptly cold. “Did he come crying to you?”

Gu Yu: ???

She and Shen Ji were just ordinary classmates. What would Shen Ji come crying to her about?

But Li Ye seemed convinced of something. His expression darkening, he continued, “Is it because of him that you rejected me?”

Don’t be ridiculous!

Gu Yu thought this person was simply unreasonable. She’d been possessed for a moment earlier to feel that twinge of guilt. Now she only blamed herself for not being heartless enough—that was why Xu Zhaochen kept pestering her.

Gu Yu laughed in anger. “I rejected you not because of anyone—but because I don’t like you. And if I find out you’ve been making things difficult for Shen Ji again, don’t blame me for being impolite.”

Li Ye’s face turned ugly in an instant. He ground out through clenched teeth, word by word: “You’re determined to protect him?”

Gu Yu didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

With that, she couldn’t be bothered with Xu Zhaochen anymore and walked right past him. She’d only taken a few steps when she heard a muffled thud behind her. She turned to look.

The young man, in a fit of humiliated rage, had thrown the bear to the ground and was stomping on it viciously. Pink petals scattered across the ground.

Under the shade of a nearby tree sat a black Maybach, its window rolled halfway down.

Gu Baichong set down his phone.

He’d come to pick Gu Yu up and take her home, but he’d accidentally caught this little drama. Gu Baichong smiled noncommittally. Seeing Gu Yu about to come over, he was about to look away when…

The young man ahead suddenly turned back and gave him a faint, ambiguous smile.

It was a young, exquisite, beautiful face—like fine porcelain displayed in a cabinet. His dark eyes seemed to hold a faint smile. There was clearly no malice, yet it was like a hook in the darkness—one careless moment, and you’d be dragged into the abyss.

Gu Baichong instinctively held his breath. He wanted a closer look, but the young man had already turned and left, leaving only a furious retreating figure—as if that moment had been his imagination.

So much so that he wasn’t quite sure.

Whether the other had smiled at him just now, or whether he’d even been looking at him at all…

Just then, Gu Yu opened the car door and got in.

Gu Baichong smoothed his expression and said casually, “Was that a new suitor of yours?”

Gu Yu, unhappy at being caught in an embarrassing moment, pursed her lips. “What suitor? That’s Xu Zhaochen.”

Gu Baichong was a little surprised. His eyebrows lifted slightly. “Oh? The one you’ve been going on blind dates with recently?”

Gu Yu’s irritation flared at the mention. She said gloomily, “I had no choice. Auntie Zhou went to my mom, so I had to go along with it. Who knew he’d be like this? I don’t like him at all.”

Gu Baichong teased, “Well, you’re evenly matched. Why not give it a try?”

“Third Uncle!” Gu Yu couldn’t help but glare at him. “If you keep this up, I’m not going home today!”

Gu Baichong shrugged. “Alright, alright, I’ll stop.”

…

The moment Li Ye turned around, the smile vanished from his face. He hadn’t expected to run into Gu Baichong.

Gu Baichong and Xu Zhaochen—one wicked, one foolish—were quite the matched pair in this book. After all, they’d be partners in crime in the future. Li Ye had given him a friendly greeting.

While Li Ye was performing earlier, 009 hadn’t dared make a sound, afraid of disrupting the Host’s performance. Now it came out to shower him with praise: “Host, your acting just now was absolutely superb!”

The image of unreasonable, relentless pestering had been brought vividly to life.

Li Ye’s expression was indifferent. He merely asked, “Where is Shen Ji now?”

009 answered instantly: “In his dorm.”

Li Ye nodded. “Good.”

He pulled out his phone and messaged Wang Shao, telling him to bring some men to Shen Ji’s dorm right now.

009 spoke tentatively: “Host, are you going to find Shen Ji now?”

Li Ye chuckled softly. “Of course.”

Given Xu Zhaochen’s vindictive nature, having just been thwarted by Gu Yu, he’d naturally need someone to take his anger out on. Xu Zhaochen wouldn’t just let this go—on the contrary, the more Gu Yu acted like this, the more he’d resent Shen Ji.

009 was deeply moved. As a Villain System, this was the first time in its career things had been so effortless. It didn’t have to say or do anything—the Host arranged everything perfectly, and the Plot progressed smoothly… Except, looking at the Host’s smile, 009 felt an inexplicable chill.

It was suddenly a little worried about the Child of the Plane.

But then 009 reconsidered—it was being paranoid. That was the Child of the Plane, after all!

No matter how well the Host played the Villain, in the end he was just a stepping stone for the protagonist. What was there to worry about?