Chapter Forty-Eight: What Should It Be Called?

Yu Chen hadn’t expected Shen Hanyun’s house to be so much fun. Not only was there plenty to eat and drink, but every kind of game controller was available as well.

“You’re really lucky,” Yu Chen said, gazing at the pile of gadgets.

Shen Hanyun scratched his head, embarrassed. “I bought all this because I get bored at home alone. If you like, we can play together in a bit.”

He wasn’t joking, and Yu Chen didn’t feel shy about it, either. So, in the end, the two of them played a round of video games, only to discover afterward that it was already past eleven. Caught up in the game, neither had checked their phones. When Yu Chen finally glanced at his, he saw he’d been bombarded with calls from Wei Yabo.

“Oh no, I’m dead,” Yu Chen muttered, immediately dialing back.

He expected Wei Yabo to answer and scold him, but as soon as the call connected, she hung up. He tried again, but she wouldn’t pick up. The last message on WeChat was from her:

—Don’t bother coming home tonight. No one will open the door for you anyway. Go be wild outside!

In fact, apart from Wei Yabo, Yu Sheng was even more concerned about Yu Chen. After what had happened last time, Yu Sheng feared he’d repeat his mistake.

Yu Chen hurried to reply:

—Mom, I’m sorry. I was studying at a friend’s house and forgot to check my phone. It was on silent.

When Yu Sheng saw his message, she finally relaxed and replied privately:

—Are you at Shen Hanyun’s house?

Yu Chen, still feeling glum, answered:

—Yes, I really didn’t hear the phone.

—Alright, serves you right. But you’re not coming home tonight. Just make do at his place.

—Why? Can’t you secretly let me in?

—Mom said whoever opens the door for you tonight can forget about coming back home themselves. I don’t dare.

Sighing at the message, Yu Chen realized Wei Yabo was truly angry. There was nothing he could do. After sending an “OK” to Yu Sheng, he turned to look at Shen Hanyun, who rubbed his hands apologetically.

“Well, how about you stay at my place tonight? There are plenty of spare rooms.”

“My mom won’t let me come home, so I guess I have no choice. But maybe next time we shouldn’t study here,” Yu Chen said with a wry smile.

“Or next time, I’ll hide all this stuff,” Shen Hanyun suggested, meeting Yu Chen’s eyes. “Or…?”

“Or we might as well just relax and have some proper fun tonight, since we’re already here,” Yu Chen replied.

And with that, the two hit it off. Yu Chen tossed his phone aside and kept playing games with Shen Hanyun.

The next morning, Yu Chen got up early and bought breakfast for Wei Yabo and Yu Sheng on his way home.

Since he’d upset the women at home, he figured he’d better make it up to them. Coming home early was the best way to show Wei Yabo he was truly repentant.

But as he reached the door, Yu Chen realized he didn’t have his keys. He considered knocking but was afraid to wake Wei Yabo and make things worse. He was about to message Yu Sheng to let him in but remembered she probably wasn’t awake yet.

How pitiful, he thought, to have a home but not be able to return to it.

Maybe I should message Brother Gu Yan, just in case?

So Yu Chen sent Gu Yan a quick “Are you there?”

He didn’t expect much, but to his surprise, Gu Yan replied almost instantly.

—What’s wrong? Up so early?

Yu Chen was overjoyed and hurried to the second floor:

—Bro, take me in for a bit. I’m at your door.

Right now, Yu Chen was just like a pitiful little puppy, standing at Gu Yan’s door, staring longingly at the tightly closed entrance.

Gu Yan glanced at the message, confused, and opened the door—only to really see Yu Chen standing there.

“Why aren’t you going home?”

Once inside, Yu Chen quickly explained how he’d been playing games at a friend’s house with his phone on silent, missed all of Wei Yabo’s calls, and ended up worrying everyone.

“I see. Well, you deserved to be locked out,” Gu Yan said bluntly.

“But Bro Gu Yan, I’m surprised you’re up so early,” Yu Chen said between bites of fried dough. “By the way, help yourself to breakfast if you want.”

Gu Yan had just gotten up—it was only a bit past six. “I get up early for a run, to stay fit.”

Ever since that strange email he’d received, Gu Yan felt he couldn’t just sit around, so he started exercising for self-defense and to protect others.

“Running? You’re amazing, Bro. I definitely couldn’t do it,” Yu Chen said, waving dismissively.

Gu Yan chuckled. Seeing Yu Chen reminded him of some rumors he’d overheard at the snack shop.

“Yu Chen, what about Li Bingxia? What’s she like?”

Yu Chen was surprised by the question. “She’s great—class president, smart, pretty. Lots of people in our class like her. Why do you ask?”

“Oh, nothing. What do her parents do?”

“Hm… I’m not sure, but I think they both work out of town. She rents a place across from the school by herself.”

Gu Yan nodded thoughtfully. “Is that so?”

So she didn’t seem at all like the rumors he’d heard recently. Perhaps she wasn’t alone after all.

As Gu Yan prepared to leave, Yu Chen remembered Shen Hanyun’s cousin, Song Jing’an—a truly intriguing character.

“Bro, do you know Song Jing’an?”

Gu Yan paused. “Him? I think he’s in my class.” He searched his memory; the name did ring a bell.

“Really? How are his grades? I heard he was a prodigy in elementary and middle school.”

“Is that so?” Gu Yan thought. Wasn’t he the top student at school? How could someone so outstanding escape his notice?

He opened his phone, where the teacher had sent the latest exam rankings.

“I have the list here. Let’s check.”

Gu Yan found his own name at the top, then scrolled down ten places—no sign of Song Jing’an.

Maybe he didn’t do well this time?

So Gu Yan kept scrolling, eventually finding Song Jing’an’s name near the very bottom. “He’s not doing well. Bottom ten, actually.”

Yu Chen was incredulous. “No way! Are you sure? Shen Hanyun said he was really smart.”

“Shen Hanyun? Song Jing’an is his cousin?” Gu Yan looked at Yu Chen in surprise.

“Yes, but is it really him? Could there be another student with the same name?”

Gu Yan put his phone away. “I checked the whole grade. There’s only one Song Jing’an.”

He opened the door. “I’m heading out for my run. If you go home later, remember to lock up.”

Yu Chen, a fried dough stick dangling from his mouth, nodded.

After seven, Yu Chen heard noise upstairs and rushed to knock on the door. Wei Yabo opened it, rolling her eyes at him, clearly not interested in talking.

“Mom, dearest Mom, I really was just studying at a friend’s house with my phone on silent. I’m sorry, I won’t go to a friend’s house again,” he pleaded, clutching her sleeve. “Look, I even got up early and brought you your favorite pancakes from Dong Ji.”

He shook her arm, acting spoiled.

“Alright, alright, I’ll let it go this time. But if you do this again, don’t even think about coming back. Stay wherever you like.”

Relieved, Yu Chen exhaled.

“Go wake your sister, or breakfast will be lunch by the time she gets up.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Yu Chen dashed to Yu Sheng’s room, flung the door open, and shouted, “Sis! Get up! Breakfast’s ready!”

Startled out of her sleep, Yu Sheng was still groggy as Yu Chen dragged her to the table.

“What is it?” she murmured.

“Eat your pancakes. They’re still hot. You can go back to bed afterward,” Yu Chen said, shoving one into her hand.

The aroma snapped Yu Sheng fully awake, and she started eating without another word.

“You know, I was just at Gu Yan’s house. He’d already been up for a run,” Yu Chen said.

Wei Yabo was quite pleased. “That boy is so disciplined. If only you two were half as diligent.”

“Really?” Yu Sheng mumbled through her pancake. Gu Yan had never told her. If he had, maybe she’d have gotten up to run with him.

“Of course. If you don’t believe me, wait by the building entrance after breakfast,” Yu Chen said, glancing at his watch. “He should be back soon.”

Energized, Yu Sheng finished her pancake in a couple of bites, then went to wash up.

“If you want to exercise, get up early tomorrow and go with Gu Yan. It’s too late today,” Wei Yabo said.

“It’s fine, I just want to see if Yu Chen is lying,” Yu Sheng replied, though it was obvious she was making excuses.

Yeah, right, Yu Chen thought. Who are you kidding? If you’re just checking up on me, why go to the trouble of washing up? You used to run out with a face full of oil.

As Yu Sheng washed up, Yu Chen remembered his earlier question and went to ask her.

“Hey, Sis, is there a Song Jing’an in your class?” He trusted Gu Yan, but his tone earlier hadn’t been all that convincing.

Yu Sheng thought for a moment. “Yeah, why? We’re not close, though.”

“How are his grades? What kind of person is he?” Yu Chen was curious.

“His grades aren’t great. He barely talks to anyone, hardly interacts with classmates, always sits in the very back. He seems kind of gloomy. Why are you asking?”

“Oh, nothing.”

Yu Sheng paused, then added, “I heard some classmates say his family is really rich, but I don’t know if it’s true.”

Yu Chen leaned against the bathroom door. “That part is true. He’s Shen Hanyun’s cousin, and his family owns a company.”

Yu Sheng’s hand froze mid-wash. “No way, really?”

“Yeah. And according to Shen Hanyun, he was top of his class in junior high and even skipped a grade, but something happened and now he’s kind of down and out.”

Yu Sheng was shocked. She never expected the quiet, unnoticed boy in her class to have such a background.

“Do you know what happened?” she asked, genuinely curious—what kind of accident could have changed him so much?

Yu Chen recalled what Shen Hanyun had said. “No idea. I’m really curious, too.”