After the fake young master left home, he discovered that it wasn't raining at all outside.

Zhu Yan leaned against the wall, waiting obediently. Soon, Zhu Chengfeng arrived, looking travel-worn.

"Brother," Zhu Yan called out obediently.

Zhu Cheng frowned as he looked at the scars on Zhu Yan's face and arms.

"Does it hurt?" Zhu Cheng's eyes were brimming with heartache.

"It's alright..." Zhu Yan glanced at Zhu Cheng, observing his reaction.

Zhu Cheng stared at Zhu Yan for a while, sighed helplessly, casually took off his suit jacket and tossed it to Lin Shen beside him, then turned his back to Zhu Yan, bent over, and hunched over.

"Come up."

"Huh?" Zhu Yan didn't expect Zhu Cheng to actually do it. "Can you not recite it?"

"Carry me on your back or hug me, choose one." Zhu Cheng's tone left no room for refusal.

Banquet:…

I'll choose to carry it then.

So Zhu Yan was carried steadily on Zhu Cheng's back, heading towards the school gate.

The students from Shangjing Middle School were exceptionally good at watching a spectacle. The entrance was still completely blocked, so the sight of Zhu Cheng carrying Zhu Yan out of the teaching building, followed by a group of bodyguards, caused quite a stir among them.

"My goodness, who is the president carrying on his back???"

"He looks familiar... Oh my god! Isn't that Zhu Yan, the fake young master whom the Wen family kicked out?!"

"It really is! Wait, what's their relationship? They seem so ambiguous." "Don't you guys think they're both incredibly good-looking? They're such a perfect match!"

"Can we ship them? They're so sweet!!!"

"What are you all arguing about? Don't you think they look alike? And think about our president's last name—they're clearly brothers!"

Not only were the crowd stunned, but Wen Lin, Wen Chen, and Gu Ye were also dumbfounded.

What's going on?

Aren't his biological parents from the slums? How come they're so close to such important people?

Besides, the president's eyes look like he wants to kill someone!

Zhu Cheng carried Zhu Yan on his back and walked slowly toward Wen Lin and the others. Every step he took felt like stepping on Wen Lin's heart, creating a strong sense of pressure.

"You raised Ayan for eighteen years, so you are indebted to him. But don't forget how you got to where you are today. The benefits Ayan brought you far exceed the money you spent on him and the tiny bit of affection you received. So, Ayan owes you nothing."

Zhu Cheng took a few more steps forward. "However, the suffering and tears that Ayan endured in your Wen family will be made to pay the price by our Zhu family."

Wen Lin was more than twenty years older than Zhu Cheng, but now he was so frightened by Zhu Cheng that he was sweating profusely.

On one hand, it was Zhu Cheng's powerful aura; on the other hand, it was because Zhu Cheng truly possessed the ability.

After that, Zhu Cheng ignored him and went straight to the Rolls-Royce parked at the intersection. Lin Shen opened the back door, and Zhu Cheng gently placed Zhu Yan on the back seat. He did not get into the car, but instead half-squatted at the car door and held Zhu Yan's injured right foot.

"Brother!" Zhu Yan tried to stop him.

"Let my brother see."

"There are too many people here." Zhu Yan didn't want Zhu Cheng to humiliate his image in front of so many people.

Who is Zhu Cheng? The president of Country H, who wields immense power, is now kneeling before everyone to massage his feet?

But that was exactly Zhu Cheng's purpose. He wanted to tell these people that Zhu Yan was not an unwanted child; Zhu Yan was his precious treasure, and to harm him was to become his enemy.

Despite Zhu Cheng's insistence, Zhu Yan eventually gave in.

Zhu Yan's dusty white sneakers were stepping on Zhu Cheng's bespoke suit. Zhu Cheng rolled up Zhu Yan's trouser legs, revealing a red and swollen patch on Zhu Yan's fair ankle.

"You're so badly injured, why are you still hiding it?" Zhu Cheng took an ice pack from the side and applied it to Zhu Yan's wound.

"You'll get used to it, it'll be alright."

"Are you used to it?" Zhu Cheng's expression visibly turned cold. "Are you frequently injured?"

Oh no, I said the wrong thing again.

"No, just... occasionally." Zhu Yan became increasingly guilty as she spoke.

Zhu Yan lowered his head, and Zhu Cheng just stared at him, only able to sigh helplessly.

"Brother, let's go back first." Zhu Yan felt extremely uncomfortable under the shocked and incredulous gazes of everyone and just wanted to escape as soon as possible.

Zhu Cheng had no choice but to stand up, straighten his clothes, and get into the car.

The group of onlookers from Shangjing Middle School spared no effort in watching the convoy depart.

"Good heavens! I thought this fake young master of the Wen family was really pitiful, but it turns out I'm the one who should be pitying myself."

ಥ_ಥ

"Honestly, just by looking at Zhu Yan's demeanor, you can tell he's destined to be no ordinary person."

The topic began to shift, with many people offering compliments and congratulatory remarks, while others were both shocked and envious.

"Hey, hey, hey, you guys change your tune again without me, huh?"

"Exactly, exactly. I said before that Zhu Yan was a good person with high moral character, and you guys said my mom flew away."

(ー`´ー)

"Oh dear, look at the mess this has made! I've brought Mom back, haven't I?"

(◕ᴗ◕✿)

……

The talk about the celebratory banquet is unlikely to dissipate anytime soon.

Inside the car—

Zhu Yan's feet were still resting on Zhu Cheng's knees, and Zhu Cheng continued to apply ice packs. Zhu Yan, instead of lounging in the seat as usual when traveling alone, sat up straight and didn't dare to say a word.

"Still putting on airs in front of me?" Zhu Cheng couldn't help but find it amusing to look at Zhu Yan sitting so upright.

"I'm not putting on airs..." Zhu Yan's eyes darted around, and she stole a glance at Zhu Cheng.

There was nothing he could do; for some reason, he felt a deep-seated fear of this older brother. It was as if his older brother was born with an aura of coldness and oppression.

"Don't be shy in front of me, sit however you feel comfortable."

"I'm quite comfortable like this," Zhu Yan said with a slight smile.

"Ayan, can you tell me why you're afraid of me?" Zhu Cheng was at a loss. He felt he had been gentle enough with Zhu Yan, so why did Zhu Yan still seem so afraid of him?

"No, brother, how could I possibly be afraid of you?" Zhu Yan would never admit it, no matter what.

Zhu Cheng didn't stop his hands, but his eyes were fixed on Zhu Yan, though Zhu Yan didn't dare to meet his gaze.

It was obvious to everyone that Zhu Yan's attitude towards Zhu Qian and Zhu Yu wasn't like that. At least, back then, Zhu Yan's smile was genuine.

As the person involved, Zhu Cheng was naturally even more aware of the situation and couldn't understand it at all. It seemed that no matter how well he did, Zhu Yan was never close to him.

Sure enough, he's a failed older brother. He was when he lost the banquet back then, and he is now.

Zhu Cheng withdrew his gaze, remained silent, lowered his eyes, and quietly fiddled with the ice pack.

Zhu Yan noticed the dejection on Zhu Cheng's face out of the corner of her eye, and felt that tears were about to flow from his eyes at any moment.

Zhu Yan panicked a little. Had he gone too far?

His older brother kindly came to pick him up and cared so much about him, even running over to carry him on his back. Wasn't he being a little too heartless?

Zhu Yan savored the moment, nestled against Zhu Cheng's warm back, feeling very happy.

He was especially handsome when he defended himself in front of everyone.

At that moment, he admitted that it was the first time in more than ten years that he felt that having an older brother was truly wonderful.

Looking at it this way, Zhu Cheng isn't actually that scary.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yan suddenly looked at Zhu Cheng and said, "Brother, thank you for what you just said."

Zhu Cheng's eyes immediately lit up. He looked up, a hint of doubt in his eyes, "Thank me?"

Zhu Yan bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Mmm."

Zhu Cheng was stunned for a moment, even stopping the movement of his hands, but he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.

"It's alright, Ayan, it's what I should do." Zhu Cheng withdrew his gaze, a smile he couldn't hide on his lips, as if he was savoring Zhu Yan's words just now.

It was the first time Zhu Yan had said something so heartfelt, and he felt a little awkward. But it was also the first time he had seen Zhu Cheng smile so happily, and he suddenly realized... his older brother was actually quite easy to please.

The eldest brother has been dealt with; now he should think about how the Zhu family will deal with him.

On the way back to the manor, Zhu Yan imagined countless scenarios, but ultimately rejected them all.

So he decided to take the initiative.