Chapter 97
Zhuang Xinyi was very surprised. Her people had told her that He Shen had taken a teenager upstairs. She hadn’t expected He Shen to bring his little lover here.
She was actually going to see him face to face! He was making this too easy on her. As expected, Xie Shen was still nothing more than a young and reckless boy. He thought no one had found out. Was he going to take advantage of the chaotic setting, with all these numerous guests around to give his little boyfriend a tour of his old house? Did he think this was his house? To do with what he wanted?
It was time she swept out that garbage of a boy!
Zhuang Xinyi had focused only on Qiao Shao’s face and so she hadn’t noticed Qiao Shao’s custom-made hand-sewn suit. Actually, it wouldn’t have mattered even if she had seen. She would have thought He Shen had prepared it for him.
He Shen asked, “What are you talking about?”
Zhuang Xinyi sneered in her heart, You’re using honorifics now that I know? Well, too late!
“There’s no use hiding it.” Zhuang Xinyi took out a few photos from his handbag and shook them. “If you don’t want to bring shame and ruin upon yourself, then leave the Xie Family!”
Although the photos overlapped and obscured those behind it, it was enough just to look at the first one.
It was a picture of two people kissing while enveloped in each other’s arms. It could be seen from the side profile who they were.
Qiao Shao was shocked.
He Shen held Qiao Shao’s hand tightly and said to Zhuang Xinyi, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Zhuang Xinyi stared at their tightly clasped hands, her heart filled with disgust at two guys being together. “Don’t pretend. Not only do I have photos but I also have videos. If you don’t leave now, don’t blame me for exposing you at the banquet!”
Videos too? Qiao Shao was even more shocked! Although he didn’t know who this woman was, he could clearly feel her deep maliciousness, an intense hatred that was just itching to cut He Shen into innumerable little pieces.
No matter who she was, she was clearly not a good person!
He Shen was calm and unhurried, as though he hadn’t heard what Zhuang Xinyi had said. He said, “Ah, yes. Let me introduce you.”
Zhuang Xinyi laughed out loud. “Introduce what? I have no interest in him!” A slut who seduced men? She was afraid of sullying her ears.
He Shen ignored her and said to Qiao Shao, “This is Zhuang Xinyi, Xie Chengyu’s wife.”
Qiao Shao knew who Xie Chengyu was. Da Qiao had lectured him so many times. He was Xie Shen’s father. So this young woman was He Shen’s stepmother?
With such a rotten hearted stepmother, no wonder he left home!
He Shen turned back to Zhuang Xinyi and slowly said, “This is Qiao Shao …”
Zhuang Xinyi said impatiently, “Xie Shen, no need to waste your breath. You dug your own grave this time. I don’t want to make an ugly scene. If you’ve got the least bit of sense, you’ll get the hell awa-…”
Before she finished, she heard He Shen calmly say, “He is Qiao Zongmin’s only son.”
Zhuang Xinyi froze.
Qiao Shao loathed this woman, but he still maintained a fitting demeanor. He said: “Hello, Auntie. I didn’t see you in the hall just now. My dad is downstairs. Should we go down and greet him together?”
Zhuang Xinyi looked as though she had seen a ghost.
He Shen said to Qiao Shao, “It’s almost time, let’s go down.”
Qiao Shao said, “En.”
When they passed Zhuang Xinyi, He Shen stopped once again.
Zhuang Xinyi was extremely uneasy, her carefully polished nails were forced into the lambskin of her handbag.
He Shen lowered his voice and said, “He’s definitely my boyfriend.”
Zhuang Xinyi couldn’t even breathe.
He Shen continued, “You can release all the photos and videos you have. I was the one who prepared the birthday banquet. I don’t mind turning it into an engagement banquet.
Zhuang Xinyi turned pale, she grit her teeth and said, “You’re both men!”
He Shen said, “So what?”
Zhuang Xinyi said, “Qiao Zongmin would never approve!”
He Shen said, “You can try it.”
Zhuang Xinyi said furiously, “You took his son. Qiao Zongmin won’t let you go!”
He Shen reminded her, “He’d be even less forgiving towards the people who exposed the matter.”
Zhuang Xinyi felt her heart freeze over.
He Shen needn’t say anything more and he took Qiao Shao to the banquet hall.
Zhuang Xinyi stood rooted on the spot and didn’t recover her senses until her phone rang.
Her confidant asked her, “The videos are ready. When the banquet officially begins …”
Zhuang Xinyi’s voice almost cracked. “Destroy it! Destroy it all!”
All photos and videos must be destroyed immediately! Once it broke out, Qiao Zongmin would definitely investigate. When that time comes, it would be hard to say whether Xie Shen would get out alive, but she most definitely would be done for!
Who doesn’t know that Qiao Zongmin treasured his son to the utmost? Who doesn’t know what had happened to Qiao Yi?
If Qiao Zongmin found out that someone had been trailing his son, how could he let the matter go?
No wonder Xie Shen dared to come back to Xie Family. No wonder Xie Shen was so fearless. He has actually reached this level of unscrupulousness.
On the way down, Qiao Shao said softly to He Shen, “Your stepmother is too much.”
He Shen was very ashamed. “Sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing? You’re the victim here!” Qiao Shao felt very sorry for him, “If I weren’t Da Qiao’s son, she would have killed you!”
It was too sinister. If she exposed those photos and videos in this sort of occasion, what should He Shen do?
He Shen paused and said, “I knew she took the pictures and I also knew she would make them public today.”
Qiao Shao was stunned. “Ah?”
He Shen said lightly, “I don’t care if she exposes me. I thought your life was so far removed from mine. Even if it were made public, no one would pay any attention to you.”
If Qiao Shao were just an ordinary child, it wouldn’t matter even it had been made public. Under Zhaung Xinyi’s guidance, all the arrows would point to He Shen and only his reputation would be tarnished. He Shen didn’t care. He would happily accompany the Xie Family in the blackening of their name.
As for the impact on him, it would actually be far less than Zhuang Xinyi thought.
So what if he likes men? He’d be able to coax Xie Yongyi easily. In this family, let alone Zhuang Xinyi, even Xie Chengyu had no say.
He Shen left home before not to run away but purely out of disgust. What’s more, he knew very well that if he left, the Xie Family would collapse sooner or later.
His efforts to earn 10 million was just a way for him to draw a line between them psychologically.
But now that he has Qiao Shao, he now has something he was concerned about. He wasn’t all alone in this world anymore. He didn’t want to give them any chance to bully Qiao Shao and so he came back; came back to crush all obstacles, and to give himself and Qiao Shao a more stable future.
Who could have ever thought…
He Shen’s mood was complicated. “You really are Qiao Zongmin’s son.”
Qiao Shao was rather embarrassed. “I didn’t deliberately hide it from you …”
It was only in his presence that He Shen had that sort of childishness befitting his age. “Qiao Guai Guai, later, you will have to explain it well to me.”
Qiao Shao suddenly felt that he was waiting to settle the score … wait … He said indignantly, “You also tricked me!”
He Shen said, “I never pretended to be poor.”
Qiao Shao was too surprised to utter a word. He then said, “I didn’t want to pretend to be poor. I want to be an ordinary student.” Who knew that he would choose the wrong reference object and regard the poor and impoverished Chen Su Tongxue as an average student!
“Speaking of,” He Shen tried to keep from smiling, “The weather’s turning cold, and Wei Jiayu said that he’d bring you the clothes that he’d bought but hadn’t worn from last autumn.”
Qiao Shao: “…”
He Shen: “He didn’t tell you? He said he was going to surprise you.”
Qiao Shao: “…………”
He Shen couldn’t help from smiling now. “If he knew you were…”
Young Master Qiao said remorsefully, “I’ve been so unfair to him!”
Once they returned to the banquet hall, the smile in He Shen’s eyes gradually disappeared.
Qiao Shao returned to his father’s side. Qiao Zongmin looked at him and Qiao Shao said, “I’m alright now.”
Qiao Zongmin lowered his voice and asked him, “Xie Shen didn’t bully you?”
Your prejudice is too deep! Qiao Shao said, “He looked after me really well!”
Qiao Zongmin reminded him, “Don’t be fooled by his superficial gentleness. It’s obvious this person’s mind runs deep. He wouldn’t hold anyone in his heart.”
No, he holds your son in his heart!
Unfortunately, Qiao Shao couldn’t say that. He agreed perfunctorily, “I know.”
It couldn’t be helped that Qiao Zongmin felt uneasy. He simply couldn’t trust this young master of the Xie Family with his airtight courteous manner.
That was a lone wolf, but his baobei was a little sheep. These two becoming friends would be a sheep entering into the wolf’s mouth. How can he not worry!
Xie Chengyu couldn’t keep hiding from Qiao Zongmin. When the birthday banquet was about to begin, he went to greet Qiao Zongmin.
Qiao Zongmin had already come all this way. He wasn’t about to make things difficult for the other and acted in a courteous manner.
Naturally, Zhuang Xinyi accompanied Xie Chengyu by his side. Despite fixing the makeup on her face, the embarrassment she felt couldn’t be concealed. She didn’t dare to look at Qiao Shao.
Qiao Shao had a sudden thought. “Aunt Zhuang, see? I really am not a thief.”
As soon as he said this, all three were stunned.
Qiao Shao said in a joking tone, “When I went to the second floor to rest, Aunt Zhuang didn’t recognize me and thought I was a thief. She wanted to drive me out.”
Qiao Zongmin’s face immediately darkened.
Zhuang Xinyi panicked, unable to think of a way to explain this matter.
Xie Chengyu loathed Qiao Zongmin to death, but he didn’t dare to offend him. He immediately turned to Zhuang Xinyi and said angrily, “What’s the matter with you? How can you treat our guests as thieves!”
Zhuang Xinyi gritted her teeth and then said, “I … I …”
Qiao Zongmin said expressionlessly, “Since Mrs. Xie doesn’t welcome our presence, then we’ll leave.”
Everyone knew that Qiao Zongmin was here. If he leaves after just a few minutes, what would they think? If the old man looks into it later on, he’ll explode! Then, what would they do!
Xie Chengyu stared fiercely at Zhuang Xinyi.
Zhuang Xinyi hurriedly said, “I’m sorry, it was my fault. I was confused, President Qiao …… En, Qiao Shao, please don’t be offended.”
Qiao Shao didn’t want to listen to her apology. He said, “Aunt Zhuang doesn’t need to apologize. It’s not your fault. I do look too much like a thief.”
Zhuang Xinyi stood stiff, her fingernails piercing her palm.
Qiao Zongmin looked even colder.
Xie Chengyu noticed that the people were starting to take surreptitious glances. He scolded his wife, “If you weren’t feeling well, you should have just gone and rested. Go rest and don’t come down tonight!”
Zhuang Xinyi’s face had gone deathly pale and felt that she had lost all face. However, she didn’t dare even utter the word ‘no’.
When they parted ways, Qiao Zongmin immediately asked his son, “What’s going on?”
Qiao Shao changed some of the details but told him the essence of what had happened on the second floor. “… She went too far. You can just imagine how pitiful Xie Shen must normally be at home.” Qiao Xiao Shao worked very hard and tried every means to speak up for his boyfriend.
Who knew Qiao Zongmin would say, “That’s why I told you to stay far away from Xie Shen.”
Qiao Shao: “Ah?”
Qiao Zongmin said, “See? He already used you!”
Qiao Shao’s mind was full of question marks.
Qiao Zongmin anxiously said, “He’s deliberately using you to suppress his stepmother and you really did obediently let him use you as a hatchet man.”
Qiao Shao: “………………………………”
Qiao Zongmin analyzed the situation for him. “Why do you think he took you upstairs to rest? He set up his stepmother. Do you think Zhuang Xinyi would be so stupid as to mistake you for a thief? It must have been Xie Shen who misled her and forced her to fall in the pit. ”
Qiao Shao was agape and tongue-tied. No … this … that …
Qiao Zongmin said, “That’s why I told you to stay far away from him. Because of his scheming! If he sells you out, you’ll probably even count the money for him!”
“………”
Fine! Let it be! Qiao Shao gives up!
He now understood. Since ancient times, the “mother-in-law” has been difficult to get along with.
Qiao Shao silently listened to his father berating his boyfriend for a very long time. He was in a very bad mood.
Then, a big boy ran over. “Qiao Shao?”
Qiao Shao turned his head and saw someone familiar. “Zhao Puyu.”
Zhao Puyu was 1.85 meters tall, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He was tall, rugged and burly. His features were elegant and unrestrained. If he didn’t have this kind of good looks, he wouldn’t have the qualifications to be a slag man.
Zhao Puyu greeted Qiao Zongmin. Qiao Zongmin had a very favorable opinion of him and said, “You two play, I’ll just be over there.”
Before leaving, he gave Qiao Shao a meaningful glance. The general message was: This kind of idiot is the kind of person worth making friends with.
He just can’t climb out of this hole! His father was making Qiao Shao worry to death!
Zhao Puyu was really happy to see Qiao Shao. He looked him up and down, sizing him up. “Did you grow taller?”
Qiao Shao was very amiable towards him. “I’ve been eating and sleeping well recently.”
Zhao Puyu said, puzzled, “Is your lousy little high school really that good?”
Qiao Shao said, “Very good, especially good, incomparably good!”
Zhao Puyu: “I don’t believe it.”
Qiao Shao was still worried about his mother and daughter-in-law relationship. He said perfunctorily, “If you don’t believe me then let’s just drop it.”
Zhao Puyu was glad. “You’ve really gotten a lot better.”
Qiao Shao looked at him. “En?”
Zhao Puyu said, “You never used to take me seriously before.”
Qiao Shao: “………” His dad’s hint was spot on. This blockhead wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed.
Probably, he had regained his good feelings towards him from their childhood, Zhao Puyu felt a lot closer to Qiao Shao and asked him, “You’re still a little thin though. How heavy are you now?”
His weight was a sore spot for Qiao Shao. He said, “It doesn’t matter. In any case, I’m a lot heavier now.”
Zhao Puyu said, “Heavy? I bet I can lift you up.”
Qiao Shao was unhappy. “Less bragging please.”
Zhao Puyu smiled. “It’s just this little physique for yours…” Saying so, he unexpectedly reached out with his hand. Qiao Shao didn’t dodge, letting him squeeze his waist.
Zhao Puyu was shocked. “Your waist is so thin, thinner than my ex-girlfriend’s …”
Qiao Shao got angry! “Let go!”
Zhao Puyu unexpectedly really did lift him up …
Qiao Shao blew his top. “Zhao Puyu!”
He struggled, wanting to get down. Zhao Puyu was afraid of dropping him and took him squarely in his arms.
The silly big man added, “Qiao Shao, you’re so soft.”
Qiao Shao: “…”
As if he wasn’t mortified enough, he heard He Shen’s voice. “Is there anything I can help you with?”
The tone was calm, but the sour note in it quickly broke through the roof and soared straight into the sky.