Chapter 25

In the billiard room, Lu Zhen leaned forward, staring at the cue ball. With a “bang,” the cue ball sank into the pocket, causing the entire billiard table to shake.

It was obvious that there was anger in the corner of his eyes.

“Who is it, to have been able to get someone from the industrial and commercial department to personally come to the school and clear his name?”

Qin Hao said, unwilling, “We finally won a round, and now it’s all tied up again.”

Lu Zhen straightened up, resting his cue stick. “The report didn’t take him down this time, but there will be next time, and the time after that. Everyone makes mistakes eventually.”

“Shen Kuo carries himself with integrity and is hard to incriminate. It’s not easy to get something on him,” Liang Ting said, sitting by the table with his hand on his nose, thinking. “Shen Kuo holds grudges. If we report him to the industrial and commercial department, he will retaliate.”

“Let him come! Do I look scared of him?” Lu Zhen rolled his eyes. “Right now, I just want to deal with the person who helped him.”

Lu Yan, sitting by the table, trembled a bit as she held her Coca-Cola.

Lu Zhen looked at her. “Do you know who it is?”

“How would I know about that kind of ^[1]“person who eats at one table and stabs people in the back” refers to someone who pretends to be friendly, loyal, or cooperative while secretly betraying or undermining others.person who eats at one table and stabs people in the back?” Lu Yan waved her hand, smiling sheepishly.

Liang Ting suddenly looked at Lu Yan. “Eating at one table and stabbing in the back? That’s an interesting phrase. How do you know that person is doing that?”

Lu Yan almost cried, giving Liang Ting a pitiful look. Her eyes were clearly pleading with him—

Uncle, spare me.

Liang Ting smiled and, before Lu Zhen could catch on, changed the subject to the arcade business.

When it came to this topic, Lu Zhen grew frustrated. His grand ambition of opening an arcade had ultimately failed due to a lack of funds.

Liang Ting said, “It’s fine, we can’t open an arcade, but we can still do something else. There are countless opportunities in life. Shen Kuo made so much selling discs. We’re three Zhuge Liangs, can’t we do better than Shen Kuo?”

“You mean we should sell discs too?”

“Selling discs is just one idea. Look, even our girl can make money by playing the piano and singing at the People’s Park. There are so many ways to make money in this world.”

“That’s true…”

Lu Yan stared at them, speechless. “Dad, can’t you listen to Grandpa and study hard? You could just inherit the company obediently in the future.”

Lu Zhen pouted. “That would be so embarrassing!”

“…”

Liang Ting turned on the TV in the billiard room with the remote, and a live snooker match was playing.

Lu Yan recognized the player on the screen—Yang Feng, once the most promising snooker talent.

Lu Zhen was a snooker enthusiast and had collected many photos and memorabilia of snooker stars at home, so Lu Yan also knew who Yang Feng was.

“This game is over, Yang Feng is definitely going to win!”

“George is no match for him.”

Lu Yan calmly said, “He’ll lose.”

“What are you talking about, little girl?” Lu Zhen tugged at her braid. “Stop saying nonsense.”

“I remember the score was 18:9. Yang Feng made a mistake.”

The boys didn’t pay much attention to Lu Yan’s words, but soon, Yang Feng’s lead over George quickly disappeared, and the smiles on the boys’ faces slowly faded.

In the end, the score was just as Lu Yan had predicted, 18:9. The reason Lu Yan remembered it was because of the regret that Lu Zhen still often sighed about in his middle age.

The game ended, and the room fell completely silent.

Lu Zhen turned around in disbelief and looked at Lu Yan. “You… how did you know? Was it just a wild guess?”

Lu Yan looked at him calmly and said, “There’s something worse. A week from now, he’ll make the front page of the newspaper for a drug scandal.”

Yang Feng, in the early 2000s, won multiple international championships and was at his peak, but just when he was at the height of his fame, a tabloid caught photos of him using drugs. The news shocked the world, and from that moment on, his name vanished from the snooker scene.

“Yang Feng, using drugs? What are you talking about?”

“I’m not making things up. You’ll see when the time comes.”

The boys absolutely didn’t believe Lu Yan. Yang Feng was their snooker idol!

Until a week later, the TV news broke the story about Yang Feng using drugs. Amidst the public’s sorrow and condemnation, Lu Zhen couldn’t focus on being shocked by Yang Feng’s scandal because what truly shocked him was…

Lu Yan really could foresee the future!

In the empty classroom, Lu Zhen placed the little girl on the desk, and the three boys surrounded her, examining her as if she were a national treasure panda. They scrutinized her from every angle.

“Are you… really from the future?”

Lu Yan shrugged. “SARS in 2003, the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the Wenchuan earthquake, the financial crisis… time will prove all of this.”

Qin Hao interrupted her and asked sharply, “What are the next lottery numbers?!”

Lu Yan: …

How am I supposed to remember something like that?!

Qin Hao and Liang Ting asked Lu Yan many things, and she told them everything she could remember.

Throughout it all, Lu Zhen was unexpectedly quiet, staring at Lu Yan without looking away.

Lu Yan began to feel uneasy under his gaze and asked, “What are you looking at?”

After a long pause, Lu Zhen finally sighed lightly.

“Why are you sighing? Are you disappointed to see your daughter?”

Liang Ting laughed and said to Lu Yan, “What man doesn’t want a gentle, graceful, and considerate little darling? You might have just shattered his dream a bit.”

Lu Yan: …………..

In PE class, Lu Yan’s Class 2 and Shen Kuo’s Class 10 happened to have the same period. As Lu Yan passed by the basketball court, she spotted Shen Kuo playing basketball alone.

Unlike the other boys who wore sports jerseys, he only had a faded black T-shirt as his makeshift sportswear, looking like a lone little black ant fighting on his own.

The other half of the court was filled with boys laughing and playing, freely sweating, while Shen Kuo was alone, occupying half the court.

No one was playing basketball with him.

Shen Kuo had long since gotten used to this kind of loneliness. For most of his life, he had been on his own, never sharing his feelings, burying his emotions deep inside.

Lu Yan felt a bit upset in her heart.

Just then, a basketball floated over, missing the rim completely, hitting the pole, and bouncing back into the grass.

Shen Kuo turned around and saw a little girl in a white skirt, her cheeks flushed, giving him a sweet smile.

She had her hair in two pigtails, and the braids hung over her shoulders, accentuating her pale, beautiful collarbones.

Shen Kuo squinted slightly under the sunlight—

“What’s up?”

“Right!” Lu Yan picked up the basketball and said to him, “I want to challenge you to a battle. Are you brave enough to accept?”

Shen Kuo raised an eyebrow, casually took the ball from her hands, and with three swift steps, made a smooth layup.

He was so cool.

“Can you dribble?”

“Wow, you really underestimate me.” Lu Yan picked up the ball and awkwardly dribbled it. “This is no big deal.”

Shen Kuo gave a faint smile. “Come on, try to stop me from making the layup.”

He made a fake move, and Lu Yan reacted quickly, chasing after him and grabbing the corner of his shirt, pulling him down to prevent him from jumping.

“You fouled,” Shen Kuo said helplessly, looking down. “No one plays basketball and grabs someone’s clothes.”

“Well, I just did!”

Lu Yan reached for the ball in his hands. Shen Kuo spun around and had the little girl completely surrounded by his waist.

She seemed completely unaware of it. After letting go of him, she quickly slipped in front of him, dragging the ball away to prevent him from scoring.

This game, if it could be called a battle, was more like Shen Kuo teasing her the entire time.

He had been controlling his strength, trying to avoid hurting her.

The delicate little girl wanted to play one-on-one basketball with him, so he had to restrain himself. If he accidentally bumped into her, he couldn’t bear it.

However, after missing several times, Lu Yan actually started to get stubborn and insisted on taking the ball from his hands.

So, at the moment when Shen Kuo jumped for a shot, Lu Yan reached out to grab the ball. But her foot slipped, and she fell straight into Shen Kuo’s arms.

Her instinctive reaction was to tightly grip the man’s solid neck.

Shen Kuo steadied her, his large hand holding her slender waist, which was small enough to fit in one hand.

The two of them were only inches apart, gazing at each other.

Shen Kuo’s deep brown eyes seemed even more translucent under the sunlight, and Lu Yan saw her own flushed face reflected in his pupils.

Their breath intermingled, and both of their hearts began to race.

Up close, Shen Kuo didn’t seem as cold and aloof as he usually appeared. His features softened, and there was a gentle look in his eyes.

“Shen Kuo, you… let go of me,” the girl’s voice was barely a whisper.

Shen Kuo didn’t release her. His gaze was deep, like a swirling whirlpool, as though he might pull her in.

Lu Yan started to feel uneasy. She turned her head to look around and released her grip on his neck. “Shen…”

Before she could finish saying his name, Shen Kuo suddenly let go of her.

Through the thin fabric of her clothes, she could still feel the warmth of his hand on her waist, now replaced by a cold emptiness.

He picked up the basketball from the ground, gave it a light bounce, and said to Lu Yan, “I understand now.”

“Understand what?”

“You’re not playing basketball with me.” He gave a faint smile, the corner of his mouth lifting. “You’re just being playful.”

Lu Yan: ……

“No, no!”

Her voice was shaky, and her face turned as red as a tomato. “I… I don’t act cute!”

Saying that… didn’t seem to have much conviction, especially since she had been spoiled by her dad ever since she was little.

The two of them were having so much fun that many boys watching from around the area… felt strangely uncomfortable.

Ever since Lu Yan stood out in the New Star Cup talent show, she had become almost a school-wide goddess. At least in the minds of the boys, there was no other girl in the school who could stir the same teenage excitement that Lu Yan brought them.

She was naturally beautiful, but didn’t realize it, and her every word and action exuded innocence and cuteness, completely capturing the hearts of all the pure-hearted boys in the school.

But now, the goddess in their eyes was playing basketball with Shen Kuo, a guy who had been branded with a “shameful” stigma.

Their eyes filled with resentment and jealousy…

At this moment, a few boys from the other half of the court walked toward them, clearly with ill intentions.

The boy in the red jersey leading the group was Pan Mingyuan, the president of the student council from Beicheng No. 3 Middle School.

The student council in high school isn’t like in college, it’s basically just a figurehead. However, this student council president, Pan Mingyuan, usually carries himself with an air of authority, exuding leadership and prestige. Wherever he goes, he’s always surrounded by a group of male followers.

In this respect, he’s similar to Shu Mengfei.

Pan Mingyuan walked over and said to Shen Kuo, “We’re going to play full court, so move aside.”

His tone was arrogant and uncomfortable.

Shen Kuo turned to Lu Yan and asked, “Do you still want to play?”

Lu Yan nodded. She didn’t want to play basketball, but she wanted to stay with Shen Kuo.

Shen Kuo passed the ball to Lu Yan and walked under the basket. “Come, I’ll teach you how to shoot.”

“Okay!”

The boys, seeing that they were being ignored, angrily shouted, “Can’t you understand what we’re saying? We’re going to play full court, Shen Kuo, get out of the way…”

Before they could finish speaking, a basketball came flying and hit the boy who had spoken right in the chest.

He let out a grunt, stumbling backward several steps.

Shen Kuo coldly said, “Watch your mouth.”

Pan Mingyuan stepped forward and shouted at Shen Kuo, “Is your hearing bad? I said we’re playing full court.”

Shen Kuo, expressionless, didn’t even look at him as he replied, “Seems like your hearing’s a bit off too. My friend said she still wants to play.”

The boys suddenly burst into laughter, laughing so hard they almost fell over.

“Did you hear what he said?”

“Shen Kuo, have you looked in the mirror? With someone like you, you think you can be friends with Miss Lu? Who do you think you are?”

Lu Yan frowned, feeling these guys were overstepping their bounds.

Before she could say anything, Shen Kuo suddenly threw the ball and walked toward Pan Mingyuan.

The boys seemed to be intimidated by him and backed off several steps, afraid that they might provoke him into doing something terrible.

Shen Kuo looked at them coldly and said in a deep voice, each word deliberate, “Whether I’m worthy or not, I decide.”

Lu Yan looked at Shen Kuo in surprise. He was usually so low-key, and it was rare to see him show such a sharp edge.

The boys were stunned by Shen Kuo’s presence and didn’t dare to provoke him. Seeing that he refused to give up the court, they reluctantly backed down.

In reality, Pan Mingyuan and his group hadn’t come to force Shen Kuo off the court, they just couldn’t stand seeing him play basketball with Lu Yan.

At school, there wasn’t a single boy who didn’t want to be friends with Lu Yan. Unfortunately, she was polite but distant toward them.

But she had chosen Shen Kuo as a friend.

How could these boys accept that?

Shen Kuo was the kind of person who cared more about money than his life, full of worldly and thug-like vibes, which made him despised by others.

Pan Mingyuan said to Lu Yan, “Lu Yan, I advise you to stay away from him. He’s not a good person.”

Lu Yan really didn’t understand what unforgivable crimes Shen Kuo had committed, or why everyone was warning her to stay away from him.

She actually felt quite resentful. This was an era where people were generally too afraid to acknowledge themselves, and an era full of hypocrisy.

Shen Kuo’s so-called “unforgivable sins” were simply because he wanted whatever he desired, and he was honest about it. He lived more authentically than anyone else.

Listening to Pan Mingyuan’s self-righteous tone, Lu Yan’s temper flared up, and her “princess” attitude resurfaced.

“Student Pan Mingyuan,” she said, “Why don’t you explain how Shen Kuo is such a bad person? If you can’t give me a reasonable explanation, I’ll just assume you, the president of the student council, are maliciously slandering him.”

Pan Mingyuan didn’t expect Lu Yan to suddenly question him. If he had to list Shen Kuo’s “crimes,” he really… couldn’t come up with any.

Shen Kuo hadn’t done anything overtly bad. Even regarding the recent CD incident, the business authorities came to the school to defend and clarify that he was innocent.

“If you can’t explain, you’ll have to apologize to Shen Kuo.”

Pan Mingyuan abruptly looked up. “Apologize?”

How could he apologize to Shen Kuo? If word got out, it would ruin his reputation as the student council president!

Lu Yan coldly stared at him. “You don’t have to apologize, but tomorrow morning during the campus broadcast, I’ll tell everyone exactly what happened today. Who’s right and who’s wrong will be decided by public opinion.”

Although most students didn’t like Shen Kuo, people like Pan Mingyuan, who were overly concerned with their image, definitely wouldn’t want this incident to be aired on the campus broadcast.

Lu Yan was serious and kept her gaze fixed on him.

He clenched his teeth, unwillingly turning to Shen Kuo and saying, “Sorry.”

Shen Kuo, holding the basketball, didn’t even look at him.

Lu Yan, determined to push him further, said, “You need to speak louder, I can’t hear you! Shen Kuo, did you hear that?”

Shen Kuo casually replied, “My hearing isn’t very good.”

Pan Mingyuan finally shouted loudly, “Sorry!”

Half the people on the field turned to look at him curiously, and the boys who had been looking for trouble turned bright red, wishing they could sink into the ground.

Once they left, Lu Yan smiled at Shen Kuo and said, “Victory! Come on, give me five!”

Shen Kuo looked at the small hand the girl extended to high-five him—

It was fair and delicate, with nails shining like jade and the palm etched with fine, subtle lines.

It must be so soft.

He blinked, extended his large palm, and wrapped it around her small hand, gripping it tightly.

Lu Yan: “Uh…”

Hello… can’t you high-five?

After Lu Yan revealed that she had been reborn, in the following days, Lu Zhen deliberately avoided her, and whenever he saw her, he would occasionally blush, looking quite embarrassed.

Several times on the playground, Lu Yan called out to him when she saw him, and Lu Zhen would throw the basketball and run away, scrambling as if he had seen a ghost.

Liang Ting said to Lu Yan: “After all, my brother Lu became a father at a young age. It’s normal for him to feel a bit shy. Give him some time to adjust.”

Lu Yan understood, as it was hard for anyone to accept something like that.

That afternoon, Lu Yan unexpectedly ran into Zhong Kai at the school gate. He was buying candied hawthorn and fried rice balls.

“Little girl, come over here.” He waved at Lu Yan and handed her a skewer of candied hawthorn. “Here, have some.”

“Thanks, Zhong Kai.” Lu Yan took the candied hawthorn, took a bite, and laughed. “Zhong Kai, your business ventures are quite diverse.”

“Of course, a businessman is like all-purpose oil, able to sell anything.”

“Not everything can be sold. Don’t forget what happened last time.”

Zhong Kai smiled awkwardly. “Don’t tease me. Last time was my fault. I lost everything, but I won’t get involved in illegal activities again.”

“Well, doing honest business will bring success too.”

“Thanks for the good wishes. Here, have another skewer.”

Lu Yan knew that Zhong Kai would indeed succeed, because he was a brother who had come up with Shen Kuo, and Shen Kuo’s real estate empire definitely had a crucial place for him.

Zhong Kai scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. “I’m selling candied hawthorn as a transition for now. Wait a few days until Shen Kuo finishes his withdrawal process, then we’ll be doing some other business…”

Lu Yan froze. “Shen Kuo is quitting school?”

“He didn’t tell you? He’s going to quit after this semester and join me in business.”

“Why is he dropping out?”

Zhong Kai laughed. “Why else? He wants to earn money as soon as possible.”

“But… he can’t just quit school.”

“Hey, little girl, you don’t get it. When a man cuts off all his retreat options and risks everything to prove himself, there can only be one reason.”

“What reason?”

“Heh, I’m not telling you.”

Lu Yan’s mood dropped immediately, and her smile disappeared completely. “No matter what, he can’t quit school.”

In this era, compared to Lu Yan’s time, dropping out of school was very common. Many people dropped out of middle or high school to seek other paths.

“Exactly. I don’t want Shen Kuo to quit school either. It’s such a waste. He’s really good with his studies. He could even become a scientist one day.”

“He won’t become a scientist.”

Lu Yan said that gloomily, and then left, looking somewhat lost and heartbroken.

On the way home, Lu Yan felt a heavy, oppressive sensation in her chest, as if a cloud of frustration had settled there and refused to leave.

Even though he worked part-time at a stall every day after school, only managing to get a little time to study late at night, Shen Kuo’s grades were still among the best.

Not only did he work hard, but he was also a genius.

He wouldn’t become a scientist, but he would change the way humans communicate and even live. During this turbulent time of social transformation, he would become a man who created history.

In the coming decade, Shen Kuo would become a rising star in the internet industry, even becoming one of the most prominent figures in the field.

However, Lu Yan clearly remembered that in her past life, Shen Kuo hadn’t dropped out of school.

Not only that, but he was admitted to one of the top universities in the country, majoring in a field related to the internet, and began working on his entrepreneurial ventures during his college years.

Lu Yan had read his biography. At that time, he had no resources, no connections, and no money… He built his own Shen family empire with nothing but unparalleled talent and a bit of opportunity.

But now, things seemed to be veering off course.

If Shen Kuo really dropped out at this stage to go into business, perhaps he would eventually succeed and become very wealthy.

But he would never become the internet magnate whom the entire upper class of Beicheng would revere as “Master Shen.”

Lu Yan felt as though the crossroads of fate had quietly arrived…

If she did nothing at this moment and allowed Shen Kuo to drop out and leave school, perhaps the future where Lu Zhen goes bankrupt… would be changed.

But could she really do nothing?