MCFEM C16

Chapter 16: Two Inherited Supermales…

The moment those words left his mouth, the room fell into an awkward silence.

Shen Shan stared at his son in shock, not understanding what madness had seized him.

Even Gu Qingxu could no longer laugh—he looked incredulously at Gu Yang, who sat beside him.

Gu Yang simply looked back at Shen Mingjun without saying a word.

Suddenly, a sharp crack split the silence. Shen Shan had slapped his son so hard his head snapped to the side.

And it didn’t end there—Shen Shan immediately raised his other hand and delivered a second blow, completing the symmetry.

“Well, Mr. Shen, you really do put righteousness above family,” Gu Qingxu sneered from the side, fanning the flames.

“My son was momentarily unwell. I’ve embarrassed you both,” Shen Shan said evenly. “The first time it happens, it’s my failure as a father for not teaching him well. If it happens again, then it’s truly inexcusable.”

He went on calmly, “I had originally come to pay my respects to President Gu, but since he’s not here, this matter can’t be discussed for the moment. Today I only wished to deliver my sincerity. When President Gu returns, I would appreciate it if you could pass along my words, so I may apologize to him in person.”

Pulling along his dazed, thoroughly slapped son, Shen Shan excused himself and departed.

Once the house was quiet again, Gu Qingxu turned sideways toward Gu Yang.

“Talk.”

“Talk about what?” Gu Yang asked lazily, leaning back against the sofa armrest.

“Talk about what?” Gu Qingxu gave a cold laugh. “About you lowering yourself to chase after that special-admission student. And he’s a guy, no less?”

His tone sharpened, his face twisting with disdain. “Gu Yang, you actually like men?”

Gu Yang had already been silently reviewing in his mind what exactly he had done to make Shen Mingjun think he liked Song Yinxing.

Hadn’t he just helped the guy out of a tight spot, run into him once at a hotel, and visited his sick mother in the hospital?

If that was enough to count as “liking,” then wasn’t the whole world already surrounded by gays?

And how did Shen Mingjun know so much about his business in the first place?

“Not talking, are you?” Gu Qingxu drew in a sharp breath, then nodded with a snort, throwing down his words like a gauntlet: “Fine, wait and see what my father has to say about this.”

With that, he flung his hand dismissively and stormed upstairs.

—

“That’s how it went.”

Gu Yang finished recounting everything, then hugged a cushion to his chest and asked, “So tell me, how did Shen Mingjun jump to the conclusion that I like Song Yinxing?”

Yu Bai: “…”

Bro, seriously? After that whole fiasco where Shen Mingjun basically bought himself a massive scandal against you, you’re not even fazed, and instead you’re hung up on this kind of bizarre detail?

“I really don’t think that’s the important part here,” Yu Bai said with utter sincerity. “But if you want, I’ll happily help you curse out that bastard Shen Mingjun.”

As for answering your actual question… sorry, can’t do it.

After all, you were the one who thought it in your head in the first place, and the rest of us just happened to hear it.

“Forget it,” Yu Bai waved his hand, afraid Gu Yang would press the issue and keep asking. He switched the subject, “Anyway, what did you guys prepare for Nie Ying’s gift?”

“Honestly, if the class monitor hadn’t suggested our whole class go to celebrate what’s supposed to be the most important moment in Nie Ying’s life, I wouldn’t have bothered. People like me don’t exactly get into doors like that.”

“I’m not expecting him to tear up when he sees my gift, so I just bought a watch. What about you guys?”

“I bought a watch,” Gu Yang replied.

“I bought a watch,” said He Ming’an.

Human beings, at their core, are walking repeat machines.

“…Good grief,” Yu Bai muttered. “Here I thought you two would at least get him some limited-edition sneakers or something. He looks like the type who’d love a gift like that.”

“How was I supposed to know his shoe size?”

“What about jewelry you designed yourself?” Yu Bai asked.

Gu Yang looked puzzled. “He deserves that?”

He Ming’an smirked faintly. “Enough. It’s just a formality anyway.”

“Wow. First time I’ve ever seen even the monitor not bothering to be diplomatic. Guess Nie Ying really has pissed off everyone under the sun,” Yu Bai marveled.

He hadn’t wanted to go either—who in their right mind would go willingly pick a fight with Nie Ying?

But since Gu Yang’s inner voice had already predicted this would turn into a spectacle…

Eat melon, live melon—Yu Bai decided to throw himself in and see it firsthand.

Besides, even if something did happen, with Gu Yang and He Ming’an there, surely his little life would be safe… right?

It was a pity that Ying Jiayi couldn’t make it.

Still, she seemed in much better spirits lately, and when Yu Bai messaged her, she’d even replied telling him to livestream the play-by-play for her.

When they arrived, they got out of the car.

“Yang,” He Ming’an asked softly, “did you pierce another ear?”

“Mm.”

On his left ear cartilage was a new piercing, still swollen, with a transparent stud.

He Ming’an’s gaze lingered, his hand half-reaching to touch it, then drawing back for fear of hurting him. Instead he asked meaninglessly, “Doesn’t it hurt?”

“Not really. I barely feel it.” Gu Yang brushed it off. As they approached the door, they ran into Xie Wu.

Yu Bai gaped. “We came, fine, but why are you here, Old Xie? Didn’t you just get into a fight with Nie Ying? His mom even made him apologize to you. Doesn’t this feel awkward?”

“Awkward? For what? He hit me, not the other way around. If he wants to make a scene, let him—it’s his house he’s wrecking, not mine,” Xie Wu said nonchalantly. But under He Ming’an’s steady gaze, he forced a laugh and added stiffly, “Besides, we’re all classmates. No such thing as a grudge you can’t sleep off.”

Yu Bai admired his “broad-mindedness,” then noticed what he was carrying and couldn’t resist teasing: “So what gift did you bring? Don’t tell me it’s a watch like ours.”

“Heh. Of course not,” Xie Wu chuckled. “I brought a clock.”

Yu Bai: “…”

Just admit it—you came to wreck the party.

“Anyway, the gifts don’t matter. We’re really here to watch the show, aren’t we?”

Xie Wu slung an arm around Yu Bai’s shoulder, dragging him inside, and urged the other two to hurry up.

Nie Ying’s coming-of-age banquet was held at his house, with assistants stationed at the entrance to check invitations.

It was Yu Bai’s first time seeing anything like it. The men in tailcoats and white gloves inspected the invitations carefully from top to bottom, then pulled out ultraviolet lamps to check the watermarks.

“What are they doing, checking banknotes?” Yu Bai muttered under his breath.

Xie Wu shook his head.

“There really are people who try to sneak in. At the last one I went to, some guy spent the whole time pushing his company’s products. When security tried to drag him out, he screamed while still giving his pitch—and he actually closed a deal in the end.”

“Insane,” Yu Bai marveled. After that, they passed inspection.

The banquet was outdoors. Nie’s father stood in the garden chatting with someone, and when he saw them, he greeted them amiably.

“What a rare sight. You boys finally decided to give our Ying some face and come to his birthday.”

Though clearly teasing, He Ming’an smiled warmly and answered seriously, “The past couple of years, every time Nie invited us, we were unfortunately busy. Everyone felt bad, so this time we decided to come as a class to celebrate with him.”

That answer pleased Nie’s father greatly. Just a few days ago, he’d been fuming about Nie Ying’s antics at school, and word had spread in their circle that his son was hot-tempered. He Ming’an’s words and presence here were the perfect counter.

“Then I won’t intrude on you youngsters. Ying is over there—enjoy yourselves. If you want anything to eat, just have the kitchen make it.”

【I hadn’t paid much attention before, but Nie Runhua really puts on the face of a good man. Who would have thought, behind closed doors, when his wife couldn’t conceive, he subjected her to constant marital cold violence. More than once, drunk, he even raised his hand to her.】

【Truly, like father, like son. Two inherited supermales.】