Chapter 41: We’re Now Sharing the Same Bed!

“Actually, when I was very young, my parents passed away too.…”

There was no rise or fall in his voice, nor any feigned emotion.

Su Ze simply spoke in a very ordinary tone as he told his story.

That approach worked quite well and felt sincere, at least enough to immediately capture everyone’s attention.

Even Chen Keqing, who was still sniffling, blinked her tear-blurred eyes and looked at Su Ze.

“More heartbreaking than losing my parents was realizing that afterward there was nothing left behind… no house, no inheritance, only some debts; fortunately, the creditors took pity on me for being so young and said that debts are wiped clean when one dies, so they let it go…”

As Su Ze continued to speak in this engaging manner, the word “tragic” kept popping into everyone’s minds.

“So, ever since I first entered elementary school, I bounced around at relatives’ homes, and none of them really liked me because I was a burden…”

“I was also often bullied; in third grade at the relatives’ house where I was staying, a girl a few years older than me, whom everyone called Sister, scolded me and hit me every day, and then there was fifth grade…”

“Luckily, when I reached middle school, my life began to change; although I was still staying with relatives, I started earning money on my own, using both legal and illegal means to make my first pot of gold, and once I had a small fund of my own, everything slowly improved…”

As Su Ze’s story deepened,

Chen Keqing unconsciously stopped sniffling.

Because in her heart she now felt that Su Ze was the one who had truly suffered.

Compared to him, she was relatively fortunate; although her parents had died in an accident, they had left behind a considerable inheritance.

The other two girls felt the same way.

Not only did they think Su Ze’s past was tragic, but they were also struck by how impressive he was for having started earning money in middle school… no wonder he’d driven a multi-million-dollar luxury car when he brought them to the park.

“Alright, that brings the story to a close,” Su Ze said with a smile as he finished his tale and asked, “So, how is it? Isn’t my life of fewer than twenty years exciting enough?”

The three girls nodded like little chicks pecking at grain.

Chen Keqing looked at Su Ze with misty eyes, wishing she could give him a hug right then and there.

It was partly because they shared similar grief and partly because she thought Su Ze was just too cool and amazingly capable.

Su Ze himself also felt that his experiences were quite extraordinary.

The only flaw in the story was… that apart from his parents’ deaths, everything else he had just told them was made up.

“So stop crying… don’t I still have you by my side?”

Su Ze raised his hand and gently wiped away the unshed tears on Chen Keqing’s face.

The girl’s skin was like mutton-fat jade: fair, delicate, and unbelievably soft.

“Mm…” Chen Keqing hurriedly wiped her own tears and returned to her previous composure, saying, “I just couldn’t hold it back before, but I’m fine now.”

She said she was fine, but in reality, what had happened could not be undone.

Although Chen Keqing’s two classmates were very sensible and repeatedly promised to keep the secret, it was of little use once any classmates knew, because the secret no longer felt the same.

That was exactly how things were in that moment.

It would no longer be possible to fly kites carefreely as they had just done.

Her two classmates would be constantly looking out for Chen Keqing’s feelings, something she did not want.

Su Ze, of course, did not mind at all.

He thought to himself that there was no need for everyone to be so solemn… after all, a few days later, they might all be orphans, and then they’d all be in the same boat.

……….

Later that evening,

Su Ze drove the girls home.

He first dropped off the two classmates and then took Chen Keqing.

But as the car reached the entrance of the apartment complex’s parking garage, Su Ze suddenly pulled over by the roadside…

“While your classmates were here, I didn’t mention something very important and serious,” Su Ze said, resting one hand on the steering wheel as he turned to Chen Keqing.

“…What important thing?” Chen Keqing asked softly from the passenger seat.

“I need to apologize because I think I’ve dragged you into trouble,” Su Ze said with mock seriousness.

“What kind of trouble?” Chen Keqing swallowed hard as she was startled by his solemn tone.

“Do you know who the man was who spoke to you earlier in the park? He is a young master from a prominent family with whom I have become enemies, and he may now want to kill me, and since he believes you are my girlfriend, he may send people after you too…”

Su Ze described the situation vividly.

Chen Keqing swallowed again in fear.

『Is it really true…?』

『This is so terrifying…』

『No wonder that person knew about my family’s affairs…』

“So do you understand what I mean? We’re both in danger now,” Su Ze continued.

“C-Can we call the police?” Chen Keqing asked earnestly.

Su Ze sneered and said, “Think about it: a man like him who controls everything, would calling the police help? Even if the Vice Director came, he would still have to toast this guy… do you really think he could help us?”

“Then what should we do…” Chen Keqing asked, shrinking back.

To be honest, she still had doubts.

She had always been quite vigilant.

Although she had some feelings for Su Ze, she was not impulsive.

She would not believe whatever Su Ze said without question.

But Su Ze had come prepared.

He took out his phone and opened the video that Qin Yushi had shown him.

“This is the surveillance footage from last night when he sent people to attack me… take a look…”

Chen Keqing watched the video carefully as Su Ze stood by and explained everything again, including the whole series of events, his relationship with Qin Yushi, and the details of the young master’s misunderstanding.

『It really is last night’s footage…』

『I think I’ve seen this complex before… oh, it’s the villa district where Lei Lei lives…』

『My goodness, so everything Su Ze said was true?』

『Su Ze looks so amazing in this footage, like something out of a movie…』

When he felt the moment was right,

Su Ze finally said, “Now do you understand? We are already people in the same boat.”

Chen Keqing nodded in a daze.

However, there was not much fear in her eyes.

Perhaps because the danger had not yet appeared before her, she could not feel a real sense of terror.

“Over the next few days, you have to stay with me so that I can protect your safety at all times, and as you have seen, I’m very capable in a fight.”

At that point, the hidden dagger was revealed.

By then, Chen Keqing had temporarily accepted Su Ze’s explanation, and she asked obediently, “So, are you going to my house to stay?”

“No, you’re coming to my place… that way I’m more familiar with the surroundings,” Su Ze seized the moment and said, “Go back now to get some change of clothes, then let your aunt know you’re staying at a friend’s house for a few days, and I’ll send you the address right away.”

After Chen Keqing’s parents died, her aunt had come to care for her for a while, but her aunt was away recently on business…

“…Okay, okay, I’ll go get them,” Chen Keqing said, sniffling and looking adorably foolish.

Su Ze nodded, drove into the garage, and once they reached the ground floor, Chen Keqing opened the car door and climbed down from the passenger seat.

Suddenly,

Su Ze called after her, “Hey, wait…”

Chen Keqing turned around and asked sweetly, “What is it?”

Su Ze said gravely, “Also bring your homework with you.”

Chen Keqing: “…”