“What is going on here?”
The crowd ahead parted, and a highly noticeable figure approached through the bustling throng. Everyone greeted him as he walked forward.
“What is everyone gathered for?” The young man who emerged looked at Su Rong with a bright, open smile that drew women’s eyes.
He was tall, not very old, yet gave off a mature air. From the moment he appeared, every woman’s gaze fixed on him.
“Brother Bowen.” Su Rong smiled faintly when she saw him, a trace of shyness in her expression.
“Why are you hiding here? Will you not join us? It has been a while, and you grow more beautiful every time. I heard you were hosting a gathering today and came uninvited. You will not blame me, I hope.” Chen Bowen laughed heartily, his laughter brimming with confidence. His gaze rested naturally on Su Rong. From the instant he arrived, he became the centre of attention in the entire academy.
“How could I ever blame Brother Bowen for coming? I would welcome it.” Su Rong smiled. “I had meant to invite you, but knowing how busy you are with cultivation, I dared not disturb you.”
Chen Bowen chuckled. “The state preceptors have said that if you truly devoted yourself to cultivation, you would surpass me. Yet you do not focus on it, so I took the lead.”
As he spoke, Chen Bowen turned to Ye Chu and smiled. “You must be Ye Chu. I heard you defeated Ding Kaiwei. Heh, that surprised me. I have heard much about you and am glad to meet you. I hope we can be friends in future.”
Ye Chu studied the open, generous young man before him. There was none of the contempt he saw in others’ eyes. He seemed genuinely free and easy.
“Become friends with me? Are you not afraid others will call you scum and scum too?” Ye Chu smiled at Chen Bowen, though inwardly he wondered who this person was.
“If you will not grant me that honour, then forget it.” Chen Bowen laughed. “Perhaps I am not worthy of being your friend.”
The words made Ye Chu’s heart skip. He looked at Chen Bowen with amused interest.
Sure enough, a chorus of protests rose around them. “Do you think Brother Bowen truly wants to befriend you? A mere degenerate is not fit to speak a single word to our Brother Bowen.”
“Brother Bowen, we know you are kind, but you must choose the right people. Why be so polite to Yao City’s degenerate?”
“Brother Bowen, it is he who is unworthy of your friendship. You are too good, too accommodating, always putting yourself down first.”
“…”
Hearing the barrage of abuse, the playful curve of Ye Chu’s mouth deepened. His gaze settled on Chen Bowen, who shifted uncomfortably and avoided his eyes.
Amid the angry shouts, Liang Shan whispered to Ye Chu, “He is the son of General Chen of the kingdom, publicly acknowledged as the foremost of Yao City’s younger generation. Do not clash with him, or the spit from everyone’s mouth could drown you.”
“The foremost of Yao City’s younger generation?” Ye Chu could not help glancing at him again. To surpass even his elder brother from the Marquis of Wei Yuan’s household was indeed impressive.
He looked at the women around. Their eyes held smiles when fixed on Chen Bowen. Even Su Rong’s gaze softened towards him more than usual.
“Brother Bowen, you must teach Ye Chu a harsh lesson. He is talking nonsense here.” A woman drew close to Chen Bowen, cheeks flushed, glaring indignantly at Ye Chu.
“Is that so?” Chen Bowen smiled and turned to Su Rong, waiting for her reply.
“Ah, it is nothing.” Su Rong shook her head. She did not yet want Chen Bowen to know about the palace incident. Glancing at Ye Chu, seeing no intention to confess, she finally gave up and said to Chen Bowen, “Brother Bowen, let us go. With all your cultivation, have you neglected your studies?”
Watching Su Rong’s bright, charming smile, the crowd sighed in disappointment. Even Liang Shan could not help sighing. They had truly believed Su Rong felt something for Ye Chu, but now it was clear they had misunderstood. Seeing Chen Bowen standing beside Su Rong, Liang Shan felt only helplessness.
Chen Bowen and Su Rong were indeed well-matched. One the king’s adopted daughter, a peerless beauty; the other the son of a fierce general, an outstanding genius. Their families were equal, and they were respectively the foremost young master and young lady of Yao City. A match made in heaven.
Moreover, Su Rong’s manner towards Chen Bowen was clearly different from towards other men.
“You have no chance.” Liang Shan shook his head and looked at Ye Chu. “When Su Rong invited you, I really thought you had pulled off an upset.”
Ye Chu laughed at that. Liang Shan still believed he harboured a secret crush on Su Rong, but he could hardly explain otherwise.
Watching Su Rong laugh and chat with Chen Bowen, Ye Chu smiled too. Su Rong might not love Chen Bowen, but she certainly held goodwill towards him.
That was understandable. Who would not wish to associate with an outstanding member of the opposite sex? Handsome, talented, powerful, and from a great family. He was every woman’s prince.
Many men looked at Ye Chu with envy and hatred, but towards Chen Bowen they felt only defeat. He surpassed them in every way. How could they not feel inferior?
“Su Rong and Brother Bowen are truly a pair made by heaven.” Someone could not help sighing. Any lingering hope vanished. The women felt the same. If Su Rong liked Chen Bowen too, they would have no chance at all.
“I will go find the child’s father first. I will leave now.” Ye Chu smiled at Su Rong. He knew she was almost certain it was him. His only option was to insist he knew nothing. She could hardly do anything about it.
“You cannot escape this.” Though not one hundred percent sure, Su Rong felt it was too much coincidence. Ye Chu had asked her about the Red Evil solitary copy. Pang Shao had acted strangely that night. She had learned Pang Shao brought Ye Chu into the palace yet never appeared. All signs pointed to Ye Chu.
“Fine. When the child is born, if it looks like me, I will take responsibility.” Ye Chu waved and said to Su Rong.
“…” His words drew furious glares from a group of women once more.
“Ye Chu, you cannot be so roguish towards women.” Chen Bowen looked at Ye Chu and smiled.
Ye Chu turned to him and smiled back. “Then what do you think I should do?”
“A gentleman takes responsibility for his actions, especially before women. Though I do not know what you spoke of, when Su Rong asks you something, should you not tell her the truth?” Chen Bowen’s lips curved slightly as he looked down at Ye Chu with faint superiority.
“A gentleman does indeed take responsibility. Unfortunately, I surpassed the realm of gentleman long ago. If I must be placed somewhere now, I would say I am at the sage stage.” Ye Chu sighed. “Asking a sage to follow the rules of a lower realm is too insulting.”
“…” Liang Shan felt it wise to distance himself from Ye Chu now, or he might drown in spit.
Chen Bowen laughed. “You are certainly skilled with words, but insulting sages will only make the world despise you more. You do not understand what a true man is.”
Ye Chu laughed too. “Nonsense. No one understands better than I. A man is one who can make a woman pregnant.”
Seeing Chen Bowen silent, Ye Chu continued with a smile. “You disagree? Very well. If you disagree, then you consider me not a man, which naturally makes me a woman. Tonight, may I visit your residence and sleep with your sister or the like? Women sleeping together is perfectly normal, and everyone can accept it.”
“…” Silence fell over everyone. Women’s faces flushed crimson. Many men only now realised shamelessness could be displayed like this.
