Chapter 1586: The Fake Young Master Will Be Spoiled by the Real Young Master 16

After beating Zhou An and warning the seemingly low‑key student council president, Zhu Suisheng's pent‑up frustration eased a little. He pointed a finger at Zhou An out of nowhere, saying, 'If you can't behave yourself again, it won't be as simple as just getting beaten.'

Zhu Suisheng glanced at the puzzled Jiang Wen, then told the silent student‑council members behind him, 'Can you help tidy up that room?'

Even as a request, it was delivered with such confidence that it was hard to refuse, and it sounded like he was blaming them for barging into the room.

'Sure, sure!' they nodded repeatedly, afraid that Young Master Zhu's slap might land on their faces.

Yu Xing locked his door behind him, gave them a wary glance, didn't want to linger, and hurried after Zhu Suisheng.

Jiang Wen frowned tightly, glanced at the disheveled Zhou An, and asked, 'What on earth is going on? You said it was Jin Chen who stole the jade pendant, didn't you?'

'Am I also part of your plan?'

I...

Zhou An panicked a bit, instinctively grabbed Jiang Wen's hand; the split at the corner of his mouth made his words come out grimacing, 'I'm just scared, afraid you won't like me, really!'

'Senior, Brother Wen… you have to help me; if Jin Chen is recognized back, I'll have no chance to turn things around.'

Jiang Wen didn't pull his hand away, but he felt a bit of a headache.

Moreover, after Zhou An himself admitted he wasn't a true son of the Zhu family, he was shocked to find his protagonist aura fading away.

〖System, can you give me an explanation? 〗

〖……〗The Strategy System was lagging a bit, the mechanical voice cut out for a while.

〖Please wait, Host, while we run a check on Jin Chen. 〗

【Hey?!】

Ling Gun Gun jerked upright from his sickbed!

【Host! There's another system signal interfering!】

Jin Chen was startled enough to almost lose his cultivation, but he stayed calm, lowered his gaze, pressed his temples, and looked through the door crack that Zhu Suisheng had left open when he came out.

【Whose body is it on?】

【Let me have a look…】 Ling Gun Gun scanned around, and happened to collide with the other system's detection signal, completely disrupting its magnetic field.

〖……〗A burst of chaotic static.

Jiang Wen felt his scalp go numb from the shock, almost losing his balance, 〔What's going on? 〕

The system had never encountered such a situation; Jiang Wen didn't have time to deal with the definitely‑not‑protagonist Zhou An, slowly sat down on the sofa, propping his head with his hand, and also looked toward the door.

〖Detection failed…… investigating cause…… system permissions too low to investigate. 〗

It stalled for a while, then finally gave the answer: 〔Confirmed Jin Chen is the original novel's protagonist; automatically switched the Host's mission target. 〕

Jiang Wen: '……' 'Why didn't you wait until this world ends to say that?'

【Alas, it doesn't seem to be some cheap system on the protagonist's body.】 Ling Gun Gun gave a thoughtful hum, blocked the signal back, 【This signal feels like it's from the Strategy Department.】

Thus the master and pet both realized—no wonder the protagonist's love interest wasn't chasing him anymore; turns out they'd taken on a strategy mission.

【I didn't expose your identity, after all—but the Strategy Department's systems are all clueless, so they might not even know.】

Ling Gun Gun didn't forget to throw shade, 【Not everyone's as smart as the Pixiu elder!】

【…… Keep an eye on it.】 Jin Chen had already cultivated a calm indifference to smarmy behavior.

Yu Xing and Yu Xing got into the elevator a step ahead of them; Yu Xing didn't want to share the elevator with Zhu Suisheng at all and hurriedly pressed the button.

Thus Jin Chen and Zhu Suisheng could only take another elevator.

Inside the confined space.

Zhu Suisheng turned to face Jin Chen and asked, 'What do you want to ask?'

He knew how to explain it to Jin Chen; Jin Chen's comprehension was still strong, so he wasn't as dense as before.

So Zhu Suisheng wasn't worried about not being clear.

Before Jin Chen could voice his question, the elevator stopped and opened its doors, so the two continued talking as they walked out.

When they reached the dormitory building's main gate, Jin Chen didn't forget to re‑fasten the cufflinks Zhu Suisheng had undone for convenience in fighting.

Zhu Suisheng let him fuss, then tilted his head and bent down to see the downcast expression, puzzled, 'You don't have anything to ask?'

'I guessed as much.' Jin Chen said, walking side‑by‑side with him toward the cold winter street, his breath fogging in the air.

'Zhou An was recognized by the Zhu family using a counterfeit of my jade pendant.'

Zhu Suisheng shook his head. 'Not only that—he also stole a few strands of your hair from your bed; otherwise a genetic test wouldn't work.'

He briefly explained what had happened during this period, naturally concealing that he himself was aware of it—and even complicit.

Because he noticed Jin Chen was different from others, he also didn't want Jin Chen to learn about his other side—for now.

... although quite a bit had already been exposed.

Having finished speaking, Zhu Suisheng stopped, stepped in front of Jin Chen, lifted his face, and asked, 'And you—what do you think?'

Jin Chen didn't answer right away; he pulled his hand from his coat pocket, rested it on Zhu Suisheng's shoulder, and said, 'Before that, I need to confirm one thing.'

Zhu Suisheng tilted his head to indicate he could speak.

'If I want to be recognized as family, will you treat me the way you treated Zhou An?'

Zhu Suisheng: '……' 'That's indeed a question worth thinking about.'

Speaking frankly, the subconscious answer that rose in his heart was 'no,' but then he thought of the days Zhou An lived in the Zhu household—he simply couldn't rein in his inner darkness.

But normally he could keep it under control; he had never lost it like that before.

So for this question, Zhu Suisheng temporarily couldn't answer Jin Chen, because he himself didn't know the answer.

So he shook his head again, 'I don't know, but… I'll try to restrain myself.'

'For my sake?' Jin Chen pressed.

A cold wind blew; Zhu Suisheng squinted into the wind, his gaze on Jin Chen somewhat blurry, yet he could still feel the intensity of Jin Chen's look upon him—more earnest than anyone's.

Zhu Suisheng gave a soft, amused hum and said, 'For you.'

Then Jin Chen bent down and gave him a light hug, 'I understand, thank you.'

Zhu Suisheng froze, and the moment he was enveloped in a warm agarwood scent, his whole body went stiff—but the feeling was unexpectedly pleasant.

He blinked, and when Jin Chen stood up straight, his cheek lightly brushed against his shoulder; the feel of the wool coat was very comfortable, and also somewhat wonderful.

A faint blush rose behind Zhu Suisheng's ears, and he bade Jin Chen farewell and headed home.

Only after he got into the heated car did Zhu Suisheng realize something.

When it comes to interacting with others, Jin Chen… seems never to have been dense.

He's just a bit careless—he doesn't even notice Zhou An's little tricks, and he'll surely never be able to outdo himself.

Zhu Suisheng pressed his lips together in a small smile, pulled a hazelnut candy from his pocket, tore it open, and popped it into his mouth.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +3, total 35!】

Before heading to the library, Jin Chen, holding the newly written sheet music, first went to a certain place.