novelraw Chapter 267: "Why Are You So Concerned About Him?
Chapter 267: "Why Are You So Concerned About Him?
Xu Su froze, stammering, too embarrassed to know what to say.
Zhou Mochen’s aunt also looked at her with a scrutinizing, doubtful gaze.
"What is all this nonsense you’re spouting!"
Zhou Mochen’s face darkened, and he immediately told them to leave. "You’ve met her. You should head back now."
His sudden rebuke startled Li Xin, who had been about to say something else. She was left completely at a loss, and even Shen Chen, who was being pestered on the couch, glanced over.
"I’m not spouting nonsense!" Li Xin felt she had lost face, her own turning pale as she raised her voice. "It’s no secret that Xu Su, the school beauty of First High School, was dating Xi Zirong, the top student in their grade. Brother, is it possible she’s fooled you?"
"Don’t call me brother. Stop parading your shallow little schemes around." Zhou Mochen pointed to the door. "Get out, all of you, while I’m still willing to be civil."
Despite being so thoroughly disrespected by someone younger, Zhou Mochen’s aunt didn’t dare show any anger. She shot her younger daughter a harsh glare before forcing a stiff smile. "Right, it is getting late. We’ll head back then."
As she spoke, she patted the back of Xu Su’s hand, muttered a few curses at her own daughter, and then turned to Xu Su with a friendly expression. "Come and visit us often."
Xu Su hummed in agreement. "Okay."
The aunt praised Xu Su a few more times before reluctantly getting up. She seemed a bit afraid of Zhou Mochen, offered an awkward greeting, and was about to call her two daughters to leave.
But when she turned, she saw her older daughter with Shen Chen over on the couch, whispering about something.
Her eyes lit up. "Young Master Shen, when did you arrive in Chang City? Silly me, I didn’t even see you. It’s a good thing our Yi Yi has sharp eyes. Why haven’t you come to visit now that you’re in Chang City? My father still mentions you often."
Her eager, sycophantic expression was even more pronounced than it had been with Xu Su.
"I landed not long ago." Shen Chen glanced at the aunt and nodded respectfully.
Seeing her chance, Li Yi, who was standing by the couch, blushed and reached for Shen Chen’s arm. "Brother Chen, would you like to come over to my place? You could visit my grandfather."
"..." Xu Su instantly perked up, sitting up straight to watch the drama unfold.
Unfortunately, this little drama was over in a flash.
Shen Chen raised his hand, dodging Li Yi’s advance, his expression immediately turning grim. "Miss Li, let me be clear about one thing: I have no interest in you whatsoever. Please stop harassing me."
He was so direct, but Shen Chen, worried she still wouldn’t get it, quickly added, "And don’t call me again. You’re Brother Zhou’s cousin, so I’m sparing your dignity this one last time."
Publicly shot down by the man she was interested in, Li Yi’s face went deathly pale, and tears immediately welled in her eyes. She was about to say something more, but her mother half-coaxed, half-dragged her away.
The truth was, Zhou Mochen had already called for the bodyguards. Getting thrown out by them would be the ultimate humiliation.
After they left, Xu Su was still trying to make sense of it all. ’How could Zhou Mochen’s aunt and cousins act like that? It’s so petty...’
’It’s like they’re afraid people *can’t* tell what they’re thinking...’
Shen Chen walked over, the cold demeanor from before completely gone. He looked Xu Su up and down, a smirk playing on his lips. "School beauty, huh? Quite the charmer, aren’t you? I thought you went to a top-tier school. Shouldn’t you be studying hard instead of having time for these little games?"
"...You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask? But my charms are nothing compared to yours, Young Master Shen. You come to Chang City a few times and already have Zhou Mochen’s cousin falling for you."
Xu Su couldn’t stand it when he got sarcastic like this. Remembering the scene from earlier, she immediately mimicked Li Yi’s voice, putting on a high-pitched, whiny tone to call out, "Brother Chen~~"
It was a drawn-out, melodramatic cry.
After she said it, she couldn’t even stand it herself. She rubbed her arms vigorously. "Ugh, that was so cringey!"
"Speak properly." A hand landed on her head, and Zhou Mochen thoroughly messed up her hair. His tone was even.
"Oh." Xu Su tugged on his sleeve. "You’re not mad, are you? Don’t believe your cousin. Xi Zirong and I broke up ages ago. I don’t know why their information is so out of date that they’re still talking about it..."
’Everyone at First High School knew about it. Was the news really suppressed that effectively after the school administration strictly forbade anyone from talking about it?’
’Or did Li Xin just bring it up on purpose...?’
Zhou Mochen lowered his eyes, meeting her gaze for a few seconds, before suddenly leaning down to give her a kiss. "I’m not mad. I already got over being mad about that a long time ago. Just try not to make me mad from now on."
"....." Images of that night on the rooftop flashed through her mind. Feeling a pang of guilt, Xu Su squeezed his hand. "I get it."
Nearby, Shen Chen suddenly let out a low chuckle.
"What are you laughing at?"
"It’s nothing..." He chuckled and waved his hand before letting out a sigh. "I just feel like our Brother Zhou has it tough. He gets saddled with a little menace like you, watches over you for two long years, and then someone else beats him to the punch. If it were me, I’d probably die of frustration."
"You’re the menace!" Xu Su glared, her eyes wide. "Shen Chen, stop trying to stir things up!"
’They had finally moved past that topic, and this guy just had to bring it up again!’
Zhou Mochen didn’t seem to react. He glanced at Shen Chen. "It’s the middle of the New Year holiday. What brings you over here again?"
"Well, I heard our dear Xu got hurt, and that the trouble was caused by the gift I sent. I would’ve felt terrible if I didn’t come see for myself." Shen Chen stared at the cut on Xu Su’s face. "And you’re just going to let that slide?"
"Shen Chen!" Xu Su shouted. "Why do you always have to start something! You just love to sit back and watch the chaos, don’t you? The bigger the mess, the better!"
’She’d worked so hard to get Zhou Mochen to promise no knives, no bloodshed. What if Shen Chen’s question stirred up his lingering anger?!’
"You’re mistaken." Shen Chen looked at her, a strange smile on his face. "I’m not that interested in watching the chaos. It’s actually more fun to get my own hands dirty."
"....!" ’This guy must be a maniac!’
Xu Su was racking her brain for a comeback when a gaming console was suddenly pushed into her hands.
Zhou Mochen switched it to the Tetris screen and said coaxingly, "Ah Chen and I need to talk for a bit. You stay here and be good, okay? If you get bored, you can play some Tetris. Your hand is hurt, so don’t play anything that requires complex controls. Got it?"
’Is he treating me like a kid?’ Xu Su nodded in resignation. "I know. And you’d better remember what you promised me."
’She was genuinely worried the two of them were going off to plan how to deal with the Xu Family...’
Zhou Mochen just smiled and walked out with Shen Chen.
Zhou Mochen didn’t come back until Xu Su had reached level nineteen in Tetris.
The blocks on the gaming console’s screen were dropping faster and faster. Xu Su was so engrossed in the game that she didn’t even notice him come back. It wasn’t until the "Game Over" screen appeared that she looked up and saw the man standing beside her.
Xu Su blinked and glanced around. "Where’s Shen Chen?" she asked, curious.
"He had to leave for something." Zhou Mochen’s brow furrowed. "Why are you so concerned about him?"
"I’m not! Don’t be ridiculous!" Xu Su replied, horrified.