MCFEM C25

Chapter 25 – (500 Nutrient Solution Bonus Two-in-One)

Ah, so the newly returned young master of the Lu family wasn’t actually an illegitimate child.

When this piece of gossip first came out, everyone was rather shocked.

After all, the Lu family’s explanation to the public had been deliberately vague. They only said that Lu Ran’s twin brother, due to poor health, had been raised outside all these years.

But the thing was, everyone knew very well that Lu Ran didn’t actually have a twin brother. This was nothing more than fabricating a person out of thin air.

Why would the Lu family go to such lengths to do this? Wasn’t it precisely because this new young master’s origins were improper?

That was a perfectly logical line of thought. So even though the Lu family held a welcoming banquet that day to officially present their newly returned second young master, no one truly held him in regard in their hearts.

What’s more, at that banquet, the new young master failed to seize the opportunity, didn’t even manage a proper appearance, which made his status even more awkward.

A pheasant is still a pheasant; even if it flies up to a branch, it will never become a phoenix.

In their hearts, everyone had already written off this Second Young Master Lu, shutting him out from their social circles.

But who could have expected—that the real pheasant was someone else entirely.

At once, their subtle and amused gazes fell upon Lu Ran.

So then… as the one who had been enjoying the benefits, did Lu Ran actually know about this?

The Lu family’s pampered young master, who had always looked down his nose at others, suddenly went pale as a sheet.

Shock, anger, humiliation, and the frantic attempt to cover it all up with a façade of composure.

So he knew, after all.

Someone in the crowd gave a mocking laugh.

Lu Ran immediately shot over a fierce glare.

Xie Wu didn’t bother humoring him.

He had never thought much of Lu Ran.

The Lu family was a wealthy clan with deep roots. As the youngest son, Lu Ran was never expected to inherit the group, so the family had few demands on him. From childhood, whatever he wanted, he got. Raised in the palm of their hands, spoiled beyond reason.

But it was obvious they had spoiled him rotten. Among the social circle of Jiang City’s youth, no one else acted out quite like Lu Ran.

Well, except Nie Ying—that one was simply an overpowered genetic anomaly.

“Lu Ran, that twin brother of yours—you said he was going to transfer into our class, right? Why isn’t he here with you today?” Ye Chen asked with exaggerated curiosity.

Lu Ran instinctively wanted to sneer, but thinking back to what had just happened, his face twisted, ugly and stiff.

“Lu Ji won’t be coming to our class. He’s transferring to Class Ten,” He Ming’an spoke up, breaking the frozen silence. “His grades are quite good. Class Ten suits him well.”

“Why not here? Does he not want to join us?” Ye Chen pressed on.

“What’s it to you whether he comes or not? Ye Chen, are you sick in the head?”

“True, it’s none of my business. It’s yours.” Ye Chen spread his hands innocently.

“You—” Lu Ran choked, glaring venomously at him.

【The real young master has had it rough. His father’s a drunken gambler who, whenever he’s drunk, goes mad and beats people. He’s suffered plenty since he was a kid.】

【Before he was switched, that family already had a child. But when the boy was two or three, he came down with a high fever. His drunkard father was passed out, and his mother, working as a hospital orderly, failed to lower the fever in time. The boy was left deaf and mute, with below-average intelligence.】

【So they named the swapped child “Ji” (Silent), hoping he would share some of his brother’s pain.】

Lu Ran bit his lip hard, eyes locked on Gu Yang, pupils trembling.

What was happening? He—he clearly wasn’t saying anything out loud!

“Sounds miserable enough. That’s seriously unlucky,” Yu Bai typed quietly into the group chat.

“This is a total nightmare start. With a family like that, what kind of person can he turn out to be? Looks like this real young master might not amount to much either. If the Lu family still wants Lu Ran, it won’t be easy for the real one to fight back, especially with all these years of built-up affection.”

“You can’t say that. The Lu family’s main shares are bound to go to their eldest, Lu Zheng. Dividends won’t change either. Raising one or two kids makes no difference.”

“How is there no difference? Just having someone standing in front of you reminding you of what was stolen is aggravating enough. Imagine someone stole your young master’s life, enjoyed your luxuries for years, while you were suffering endlessly in their place. Now you’re brought back and told to share your life with the one who stole it? What are you, a saint reborn?”

“Look at our big star getting all worked up. Too bad you’re not at school to see it—Lu Ran’s face right now is priceless, hahaha.”

【When the Lu family finally found their real son, he was locked in a room with a broken leg, the wound festering with pus.】

【Why? Because his parents wanted him to quit school after graduating high school, to work and save money for his deaf brother’s treatment. And when he refused, they broke his leg.】

【The Lu family brought him to the hospital. While he recovered, they discussed how to reveal the truth to Lu Ran in a way that wouldn’t make him so resistant.】

Yu Bai: …

Wow.

As expected, behind every pair of rival “real and fake” young masters, there’s always a pair of clueless parents.

Seriously, your real son suffered all those years by mistake, and your first thought is whether your fake son can handle the truth?

Real young master, you’re so pitiful.

【The Lu family was remarkably magnanimous. Even knowing their son had been abused in his birth family, they didn’t blame Lu Ran, nor could they bear to send him back. They decided to raise them both.】

【But if they knew it was actually Lu Ran’s biological mother who orchestrated the switch, and that they’d been raising their enemy’s child all these years—would they still have done the same?】

At that, Lu Ran instinctively clutched his chest.

【That family used to run a business, but they went bankrupt because of the Lu family, fell into debt, and never recovered. The father picked up gambling.

Lu Ran’s mother happened to give birth in the same hospital as Madam Lu, and she secretly swapped the babies—partly for revenge, partly so her own son could have a better life.】

Wow, how utterly cliché.

“Gu Yang…”

Gu Yang, who had just randomly picked someone to show concern to, lifted his head.

Lu Ran’s face was deathly pale, his hand gripping his chest like he could faint at any moment.

“Are you alright?”

“What did I ever do to you?” Lu Ran forced a twisted smile. “How could you—how could you do this to me…”

His voice came out in a wheeze.

Lu Ran had severe asthma. He never went anywhere without his inhaler, something everyone in Class Eleven knew.

So even when he acted so obnoxious it made others want to hit him, they usually held back.

The Lu family’s precious youngest was treated like a treasure. If anything happened to him, things would become very awkward between the families.

“Are you still holding a grudge over that auction where I outbid you?” Lu Ran asked, on the verge of breaking down.

Just because Gu Yang brushed past him once without saying hello, he had deliberately bid half a million more on an antique brooch to provoke him.

How could someone be so petty! To torment him over something so trivial…

Lu Ran’s breathing grew more labored. His trembling hands fumbled through his bag for his inhaler.

Class Eleven: No, no, no.

He wasn’t targeting you. Gu Yang just sprayed fire indiscriminately at everyone.

It left them both amused and terrified, watching the drama unfold while dreading that they might be next.

Gu Yang propped his chin in his hand, recalling which auction it had been.

He wasn’t swapped by mistake—he had been switched on purpose.

If his father, mother, and older brother found out, would they still keep him in the family?

A gambling addict for a father, a caretaker for a mother, a deaf brother…

Was that his real family?

No, he refused to believe it.

“Oh, what’s the use of holding grudges? What’s meant to be yours will be, what’s not meant to be, forcing it won’t help,” Ye Chen said with a plastered-on smile.

It sounded like he was talking about the auction, but Lu Ran caught the undertone.

It was mockery.

And Ye Chen could hear it too.

Lu Ran swayed, looking around at everyone.

They could all hear it.

“Lu, where’s your inhaler?” He Ming’an quickly noticed something was wrong, jumping up to search through Lu Ran’s bag.

Xie Wu’s expression darkened as he stepped forward to steady him.

But Lu Ran’s vision went black, and he collapsed forward.

Xie Wu shot Ye Chen a furious glare.

Ye Chen’s smile vanished instantly. Turning away, he clicked his tongue softly.

—At the hospital.

With the smell of disinfectant and the hum of machines, Lu Ran slowly opened his eyes.

He looked around blankly, his vision gradually focusing, until he saw his parents and brother standing at his bedside.

No—that wasn’t right anymore.

The moment that thought struck, his chest clenched again.

“Ranran, what’s wrong, Ranran? Don’t scare your mother,” Madam Lu cried in panic.

“I’m fine,” Lu Ran rasped, forcing a smile at her.

But those words only made her eyes redden instantly.

When had her pampered son of over ten years ever spoken to her with such careful restraint?

“Your mother, your big brother, and I all dropped what we were doing as soon as we heard you were hospitalized,” Mr. Lu sighed. “You’re not a child anymore. Why can’t you take better care of your health?”

The moment Lu Ran heard “second brother,” he snapped, screaming.

“I don’t have a second brother! I only have one brother!”

At the foot of the bed, the boy who had been silent and cold finally lifted his head.

“What nonsense are you saying?” Madam Lu instinctively glanced at him. “Didn’t we already agree? From now on, Xiao Ji is also your brother. We’re all one family.”

“I don’t want him! I don’t have this brother! Make him get out—”

A nurse came in, her face stern. “Patient in bed sixteen and family members, please keep quiet. Other patients need to rest.”

Lu Zheng nodded apologetically.

The boy finally spoke, his face blank. “I’ll wait outside.”

Madam Lu opened her mouth, but in the end, no words of persuasion came out.

Once he left, the tension in the room eased slightly.

Madam Lu silently breathed a sigh of relief. She signaled her husband to raise the bed, then hugged Lu Ran tenderly.

She hadn’t dared be too affectionate just now while Lu Ji was there.

“Didn’t you promise me before school started that you wouldn’t dwell on this too much?” Madam Lu whispered sadly. “If I’d known you’d have an attack on your first day back, I would’ve kept you home a few more days no matter what.”

Lying in her familiar warm embrace, Lu Ran’s nose stung. He had once longed for this comfort more than anything, but why had everything changed in just a few days?

“Didn’t we just check your health? The doctor said you were fine. Why this sudden relapse?” Mr. Lu asked.

“Ranran, did someone at school say something to upset you?” Lu Zheng tried gently. He didn’t want to provoke his volatile little brother.

They had kept the secret well. Unless something extraordinary happened, no ninth person should have known.

But Lu Ran couldn’t tell them it had already leaked everywhere.

Not only did Gu Yang know, but he had some sorcery that seemed to let the whole class hear.

Everyone knew he was a fake.

“Ranran, I’ve always said this: you are my son, Lu Zhenxing’s son. That will never change. No matter what others say, you can always stand tall and say you are a child of the Lu family.” Mr. Lu declared firmly.

“That’s right, Ranran,” Madam Lu added. “To your father, mother, and brothers, you’ve always been our son. But now you’re distant with us, and that breaks my heart.”

“And remember when you were little, you begged us for a brother because your big brother was always too busy? We told you then, silly child, we could only give you a younger brother, not an older one, and you finally let it go.”

“Well, now you really do have another brother to dote on you.” Madam Lu patiently reasoned with him, trying to ease his resistance. “Xiao Ji isn’t here to tear us apart. He’s here to join our family.”

Lu Ran said nothing.

Compared to his tears and tantrums from days before, this at least looked like he was listening.

His parents exchanged glances of relief.

Ranran really was growing up, becoming sensible.

But as he looked at them—at Madam Lu hugging him, at Mr. Lu and Lu Zheng by his bedside—Lu Ran suddenly felt a sense of strangeness.

Since learning he wasn’t their real son, it was as if something had been torn out of him.

The confidence he’d always leaned on was gone.

Fear shadowed him everywhere—at the dining table, on the sofa, even in his room.

The first time, he’d locked himself in his room for three days.

They had only managed to placate him by forcing the “twin brother” story on him.

The second time, he’d stopped taking his asthma medication out of spite and ended up in the ER.

At least they’d made sure that person wouldn’t be in his class, so he wouldn’t have to see him every day.

That had worked.

But if—if it was really like Gu Yang said, that he’d been switched out of revenge, that his real brother had suffered deliberately all these years…

Would his parents still love him the same?

Once more, fear took root.

Lu Zheng saw that Ranran’s condition had stabilized, and it was already past one in the afternoon. Since Madam Lu had stomach trouble and needed her meal on time, he suggested they go out to eat.

But when they started to leave, Lu Ran clutched Madam Lu’s hand tightly.

Lu Zheng, who had been calling a restaurant, glanced at his brother.

Seeing his mother sit back down and his father fuss over him, Lu Zheng seemed about to speak.

But what he said was, “It’s troublesome to eat out. I’ll have my assistant send food here instead.”

Ranran, who didn’t want them to leave, nodded eagerly.

He knew they would have taken that other person with them.

Just picturing them eating together happily stabbed him with pain.

He now understood clearly—between the Lu sons, there was only room for one.

Otherwise, his fear would never end.

—If he stayed inside any longer, he wouldn’t be able to breathe.

Lu Ji leaned against the door as he stepped out, finally releasing the tightness in his chest.

His leg ached again.

The doctor had told him to rest—after all, bones take a hundred days to heal.

The people who claimed to be his real parents had immediately given him a private room and insisted he recuperate well.

A private hospital, one he’d never set foot in before.

He couldn’t even imagine how much it cost just to stay here a day.

Was heaven finally showing pity on him after so much misfortune?

That gentle, beautiful woman had held him and cried the moment she saw him.

Her tears fell on his clothes like the best painkiller, easing even the throbbing in his infected leg.

It felt good—for the first time in his life, someone had cried for him.

At the side stood a refined-looking man in elegant clothes, and a bright, clever youth.

The perfect contrast to the hell he’d come from, so good it felt like a dream.

It had to be a dream.

Lu Ji gave a self-deprecating smile as he closed the door on the family inside.

“Isn’t this Lu Ji?” a voice came from nearby. He swept a cold gaze over.

It was a boy his age in a school uniform.

He’d seen him once before.

When the Lu family wanted him to transfer schools, they had taken him to pay a visit to another household.

Back then, when Lu Zhenxing introduced him, he had sensed that boy’s gaze—a strange, appraising look beneath a mask of civility.

Lu Ji was sensitive to others’ eyes. He’d felt the distance, the scrutiny.

But now, for some reason, the boy’s attitude seemed suddenly closer.

Lu Ji had no interest in others’ inner workings. He only nodded stiffly.

“It’s been over a week since then. Did you get your student registration sorted?” He Ming’an asked warmly.

“It’s done,” Lu Ji replied bluntly.

“Then you can start this week. Class Ten has a strong academic atmosphere. It should suit you well. From now on, we’ll be classmates. If you need anything, you can come to me.” He Ming’an smiled, then naturally introduced the boy beside him.

“This is Gu Yang, also from Class Eleven.” As he spoke, he tapped Gu Yang’s phone to pause his game, signaling him to look up.

Gu Yang gave a perfunctory nod.

“This is Lu Ji,” He Ming’an repeated.

Gu Yang’s lazy gaze sharpened at once.

Lu Ji’s expression shifted too.

Because he had no choice but to endure the boy’s unabashed, head-to-toe inspection.

At last, he couldn’t hold back. “Had enough staring?”

So this was Lu Ji.

In this melodramatic novel, Lu Ji was second only to Song Yinxing as the ultimate victim and scapegoat.

Given that the protagonist couple still managed to set aside their blood-deep enmities to reach a happily-ever-after, it was clear what the novel’s core

tone was.

Yes—forced reconciliation.

In melodrama, there were two kinds of happy endings.

One was the beloved kind: after endless hardship, countless separations and reunions, everyone finally had a beautiful ending.

The other was this: after tearing each other apart, after endless humiliation and conflicts, the main characters forced reconciliation, smiled it all away, and called it a happy ending—audience feelings be damned.

This novel was clearly the latter.

Gu Yang thoughtfully eyed Lu Ji’s waist.

He’d already checked Song Yinxing, confirmed all his parts were intact for now.

But if nothing changed, Lu Ji would be down a kidney in the near future.

An icy shiver swept through Lu Ji. He frowned, glancing uneasily at Gu Yang.

What was with this guy…

It felt like he was being attacked by the damp, shadowy aura around him.

Before he could spiral further, the ward door opened.

Madam Lu peeked out, her voice gentle. “Xiao Ji, we’re ordering food in and then sitting with your brother. Why don’t you check your brother’s phone and tell him what you’d like?”

Lu Ji stiffened.

That feeling again.

No matter how warmly they acted, it all only highlighted—he was an outsider.

Because only outsiders needed “acceptance.”

He no longer wanted to stay.

He couldn’t stand eating while watching that family bask in happiness.

“I just remembered I have something to do. I won’t stay. Order whatever—you don’t need to ask me.” Lu Ji’s face was taut.

He truly didn’t know how to deal with this gentle but subtly alien woman.

Relieved, Madam Lu said, “Then I’ll have Cao Zhu deliver food and bring you home later. Don’t leave yet, Xiao Ji, you don’t have a house key…”

But Lu Ji didn’t stop. His steps were unsteady, but firm, leaving without a backward glance.

Madam Lu, embarrassed, smiled at the two boys. “Ranran’s sudden attack… thank you for bringing him here and waiting. He just woke up. Would you like to come in and say a few words?”

“As long as he’s awake and fine, we’re relieved,” He Ming’an said warmly. “It’s late. We should get back to school.”

“Don’t rush. We’re about to eat anyway—stay and join us,” Mr. Lu urged.

But He Ming’an only shook his head politely.

“As long as he’s alright, that’s enough for us. Let’s go eat—do you want something on the way, or the school cafeteria?”

Gu Yang wanted to say, “Can I just skip?” but knew He Ming’an would object, so he muttered that the cafeteria was fine.

They were about to hail a cab when they ran into someone, halting in their tracks.

A middle-aged man, reeking of alcohol, spoke in a thick dialect at the nurses’ station, asking which bed Fang Lan was in.

One nurse asked, “And you are?”

The man gave a cold laugh. “I’m her man! Which bed is Fang Lan in? I’ve got business with her!”

The nurses exchanged wary looks. This didn’t sound like a husband—more like trouble.

The accent was heavy, but between the name “Fang Lan” and his bloated features, there was no mistaking it.

Gu Yang recognized him.

What a coincidence.

Wasn’t this Song Yinxing’s drunkard, gambling-addict father?