Chapter 114: Having Dinner

He fell silent, then Shi Jin replied: "Final exam, need to review, no time."

"?" The doctor, hearing this, looked confused and disagreed: "You're so busy you don't even have time to eat? Even if you study, you can't neglect your health—you're at the age when your body is growing, nutrition is important, aren't your parents looking after you?"

His parents?

Shi Jin recalled the empty call logs of this period, and remained silent.

The doctor, having seen society, upon seeing Shi Jin's state, what else is there not to understand? Indeed, it's just another irresponsible parent; he sighed helplessly.

At this moment, the homeroom teacher of Class 1 and several students came over.

Shu Lingchen didn't intend to stay longer, was about to leave, but as he turned he couldn't help saying to Shi Jin: "Although I don't know how much water you've got in your head, people are iron, food is steel."

"I once acted foolishly too, neglecting my own situation and feelings because of others, but now I understand: if a person doesn't even care about themselves, then whatever suffering they endure is deserved."

"Shi Jin, your body is your own."

The boy's tone was unfriendly, but Shi Jin sensed it was all goodwill, held his breath, his words sincere, he met Shu Lingchen's gaze: "Thank you, Shu Lingchen."

"Huh——don't look at me like that, it's gross." Shu Lingchen solemnly rubbed his arm, hummed twice, then declared bluntly: "Shi Jin, I'm telling you, I don't like you, you've monopolized... my aunt's time, I haven't settled the score with you yet, so just lie there, next time don't fall on me—if you do, I won't carry you again, hum."

Having said that, he left without hesitation.

Shi Jin stared at the boy's nonchalant departing back, his gaze lingering for a long time.

That day, Shu Shu indeed saw through him.

He was, jealous of Shu Lingchen.

But beneath that jealousy lay nothing but unspoken envy.

Shi Jin couldn't help but admit, he envied Shu Lingchen, envied that someone cared for him, envied that someone would unconditionally stand by his side, think for him…

On the Friday before the weekend break, there was no competition class in the evening, and in the afternoon he could go straight home after school.

During the second-to-last class, Pei Muyin received a message from her father saying he had landed in An Shi.

Pei Du had arranged to have dinner with his daughter.

Pei Muyin naturally wanted to have dinner with her father; she was about to reply, had typed "okay," but didn't send it right away.

If she agreed to have dinner with her father, it would mean she couldn't have dinner with her sister and brother.

In just a few short months, Pei Muyin had become completely accustomed, even reliant, on the lifestyle of always going in and out together with Shu Shu and Shu Lingchen—no matter what they did or where they went, the three were always together.

She had already come to regard her sister and brother as especially important, indivisible family.

On the other end of the phone, Pei Du saw his daughter's status perpetually stuck at "typing…"; as sharp as he was, he instantly grasped her thoughts.

Shortly after, the man's slender fingers typed: "If Muyin is willing, you can invite your friends along; perfect, I also want to thank Muyin's friends for looking after her during this time."

…

"Having dinner?"

Shu Shu's pen-spinning motion paused.

"Having dinner??!!!!" Shu Lingchen sprang from his seat in a second and ran over: "With that human trafficker—I mean, with your dad to have dinner?!"

Pei Muyin nodded: "Mm-hmm, Dad finished work and returned to An Shi."

The girl fidgeted with her fingers, her watery peach-blossom eyes fixed on Shu Shu and Shu Lingchen: "Dad invited me to dinner; I want to invite my sister and brother along, I want to tell Dad I've made really good friends."

After saying that, she added understandingly: "However, it's fine if my sister and brother don't go."

"Go, why wouldn't we go!"

Without waiting for Shu Shu to speak, Shu Lingchen readily agreed; observing the boy closely, one would notice he said this through gritted teeth.

Ha! He certainly wants to go, to meet this bastard who kidnapped his sister—a human trafficker deserving death a thousand times!

(? ▼benefit▼）！！！

Pei Muyin looked toward Shu Shu again.

The daughter's pleading, soft gaze left Shu Shu unable to utter a refusal.

She stroked the daughter's hair, and in the girl's bright eyes she smiled and said: "Then let's go."

Anyway, that person has amnesia.

…

In the last class, Shu Lingchen quietly asked Shu Shu if he could take half a period off to go home, as he had something very important to do.

"?" Shu Shu asked: "What important matter?"

"Aren't we supposed to go eat with that human trafficker later?" the boy said resentfully: "I'm going home to get the rolling pin, then I'll beat that bastard to death!"

"……" Shu Shu said: "If our rolling pin is gone, what will we use to roll dough in the future?"

She tapped her son's forehead: "Don't go crazy, don't scare your sister."

Shu Lingchen covered his head: "Oh."

School's out.

Pei Muyin walked between Shu Shu and Shu Lingchen.

When the three reached the entrance, the girl halted her steps, staring blankly ahead.

Across the street, a man in black clothes and long trousers stood beside the carriage, his features sharp, his skin a sickly pallor; he stood there silently, his aura the kind of imposing aloofness only those in power possess.

Despite his striking appearance, passersby dare not get too close to stare, yet after walking a distance away they still can't help turning back to look.

Many people look at him, he is oblivious, accurately put, he doesn't care.

Pei Muyin hadn't seen such a sight for a very long time.

I remember, when I was under four, leaving the kindergarten gate, my dad always stood there like this, waiting to pick me up after school.

Seeing his daughter's figure, Pei Du's coldly etched emotions deep down melted like ice into gentleness.

He immediately walked over.

"Muyin."

Pei Muyin introduced Shu Shu to her father beside her.

Pei Du heard his daughter call her sister; the man's eyelashes and pupils were pitch black, and his gaze swept over the girl's beautiful peach-blossom eyes.

The daughter didn't know; actually, no introduction was needed—they had already met before this.

Pei Du didn't say anything; his aloof face showed no sign, and he gave Shu Shu a slight nod: "Shu Shu, classmate."

Shu Shu raised an eyebrow, as if it were their first meeting, her tone ordinary: "Hello, Mr. Pei."

Arrived at Shu Lingchen.

This boy hasn't been seen, but Pei Du knows him.

When he investigated and found that Shu Shu was beside his daughter, he naturally also learned of Shu Lingchen.

This boy's information is comparatively mysterious.

No.

More accurately, it's not that he is mysterious, but his family is mysterious.

The information shows that this boy is an orphan, with a mother who died early in an accident.

The reason it's called mysterious is that, going further up, his mother's information is completely blank and cannot be found.