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

Lu Ze was among the top 100 students in the school and was not eligible for an elevator card before, but Zhu Yan gave her card to Lu Ze before asking for leave.

But who would have thought that this kid, who clearly has two cards, doesn't carry either of them?

Faced with Lu Ze's awkward laugh, Zhu Yan could only remain silent. Eighty-two pounds, sixth floor, three people... that should be enough to carry it up, right?

There's no need for that; it's better to wait for the others to come back.

At this moment, Xu Zhiyuan seemed to have found an opportunity to show himself.

"Lu Ze, I'm not trying to be mean, but how many reliable things have you actually done? Why would A Yan keep you by her side?" Xu Zhiyuan was annoyed by Lu Ze's behavior today.

"I left in too much of a hurry and forgot to bring it..." After today's ordeal, Lu Ze felt incredibly stupid without anyone saying it to him; he hadn't done anything right.

"Forget it, I can't count on you, Xiao Yanyan, then you'll have to rely on me."

On the surface, Xu Zhiyuan seemed to dislike Lu Ze, but in reality, he was indirectly helping him out of a difficult situation. Of course, his ultimate goal wasn't that; he wanted to show Zhu Yan the results of his years of training, and helping him out was just a side effect.

"Don't move it, just leave it there and wait for someone to come." Zhu Yan stopped Xu Zhiyuan from moving.

"No need, this is nothing, I can easily take it all." Xu Zhiyuan ignored Zhu Yan's advice and insisted on showing off his muscles. "Little Yan, just watch."

Okay, I'll just have to endure it even if it's not worth it.

So Zhu Yan silently watched Xu Zhiyuan's performance, watching him carry two buckets of water from the handcart up a few steps and place them in front of Zhu Yan.

"Keep going, don't stop, just keep going all the way up." Seeing him stop, Zhu Yan even gave him a few words of "encouragement".

It was heavy, but Xu Zhiyuan could handle it. However, he forgot that these were two buckets of water, not a backpack. He had one in each hand, and the handles of the buckets were slippery and small. They soon fell off, and he couldn't walk down them in one go.

Xu Zhiyuan scratched his head awkwardly and looked down silently at the two buckets of water on the ground.

Damn it, I've really lost face. I was hoping to make a good impression on Ayan.

╥﹏╥…

"This bucket has a design flaw; it's unreasonable. Wait a minute, I'm definitely going to make trouble for him. Does he even know how to design something?"

Xu Zhiyuan didn't engage in internal strife at all, because he pushed all the problems onto others.

Zhu Yan chuckled softly, having already anticipated this outcome.

Don't ask him how he knew; the answer is... he just secretly tried it himself. Carrying a bucket on his shoulder at once is possible, but that seems... bad for his image.

Just as Xu Zhiyuan was criticizing the designer of the bucket, Shen Yan, Song Qian, and Qin Ci finally arrived.

Just then, the three men rushed over to deliver the card.

"Master." Shen Yan was the first to come over and nod to Zhu Yan.

"Didn't I tell you not to call me that?" Zhu Yan felt a bit overwhelmed.

"Then how should I address you?" Shen Yan asked in return.

Regardless, for the sake of his family, he was determined to follow Zhu Yan.

……

Never mind, Zhu Yan stopped dwelling on the issue of address. Instead, she remembered the blow Shen Yan had received that day and asked with concern, "Is your head injury alright?"

"It's nothing," Shen Yan replied quickly.

"Your ability to talk nonsense has gotten stronger. What's wrong with you? You're all..." Qin Ci couldn't stand it anymore when he heard Shen Yan lying so seriously. He wanted to tell the truth for him, but after being warned by Shen Yan's eyes, he stopped talking abruptly.

Zhu Yan noticed something was off between the two and realized Shen Yan was probably lying. Her tone turned cold as she said, "Do you know the consequences of lying to me?"

Clearly, Shen Yanzhen was intimidated by Zhu Yan's cold tone. "It's really nothing, just a mild concussion. I'll be almost fully recovered after a few days of rest."

"That's all?" Zhu Yan raised an eyebrow at Shen Yan, hearing his nonchalant tone.

"Hmm..." Shen Yan's tone became noticeably weaker.

Although Shen Yan's injury wasn't directly caused by him, it was ultimately because Shen Yan came to help him, so he felt he had some responsibility.

"If you don't know how to fight, stay away next time. Don't rush in headfirst. Has your brain been ruined by watching TV dramas? You always think about using your body to block everything."

Zhu Yan thought his behavior was quite foolish. Their relationship wasn't that good yet, was it? He rushed in without any regard for his own safety. If Zhu Yan hadn't discovered him in time, that blow would probably have made Shen Yan a fool.

"Oh." Shen Yan pursed his lips, seemingly unconvinced by Zhu Yan's words. "I'll do it again next time."

Banquet:…

Shen Yan ignored Zhu Yan's grand principles. He had risked his life to save Zhu Yan because he was worried about his safety. As a subordinate, one should have the awareness of a subordinate. If he didn't understand this, he believed that the Zhu family would not trust him, let alone let him follow Zhu Yan anymore.

Xu Zhiyuan gleaned quite a bit of information from this conversation. The seemingly aloof boy in front of him must have taken a blow for Zhu Yan, and then... he started clinging to Zhu Yan?

Do not understand.

If he had been there, he would have prevented the banquet from being harmed in any way.

This group of people is no good; they can't guarantee Xiao Yanyan's safety at all. I'll have to keep a closer eye on her from now on.

Xu Zhiyuan silently labeled them as "unreliable" in his mind.

"Brother Zhu, Brother Zhu, how's your injury?" Song Zhen finally managed to get a word in edgewise.

"People with concussions don't say anything, so what's this to me?" Zhu Yan glanced at Shen Yan as she spoke.

Shen Yan: Oh, Master has chosen me again.

When everyone finally decided to return to the classroom, Shen Yan walked up to Zhu Yan, bent down, and even offered to fetch water.

It's good that you have something on your mind.

But... can't the patient have some awareness of being a patient?

"Get out of the way, let them carry it." Zhu Yan said, and without caring who carried it, walked straight into the teaching building.

Who carried it? It certainly couldn't be him.

Zhu Yan took a few steps, then remembered something, stopped and turned around, "Remember to return the car."

Xu Zhiyuan patted Shen Yan on the shoulder, waved to him, and gestured for him to move aside and not block his way.

Shen Yan faced the stranger in front of him, who was taller than him but whom he had never met before, without any politeness. "No need, I can manage."

Wow, you've got quite a stubborn temper, you don't respect anyone.

Xu Zhiyuan glanced at Shen Yan with great interest.

"Who cares if you can do it or not? Don't you know what kind of person Ayan hates the most?" Xu Zhiyuan snatched the bucket from his hands. "Of course, it's someone like you who doesn't listen to reason."

Before leaving, Xu Zhiyuan gave Shen Yan a provocative smile.

Just kidding. If Ayan sees you disobeying her and carrying water, she'll make an example of me.

Don't even think about harming me.

Shen Yan sensed a strange hostility from Xu Zhiyuan. He was certain he had never known him before, much less offended him, so he couldn't understand what this man meant.

"Who is he?" Shen Yan asked Lu Ze.

"Yan Ge's childhood friend." After saying that, Lu Ze felt that his description was not quite accurate.

"Oh no, I should say... Brother Yan's lapdog."

"Huh? A simp? You're not saying that to him..."

Qin Ci was enjoying the show when Xu Zhiyuan suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked at Lu Ze. "Come on, stand in front of me and say it again. I'll beat you to death."

Haha, they heard us.

╮(. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)╭

"Oh, you all know what I mean." Lu Ze carried a bucket of water and followed after them. Before leaving, he gave Shen Yan, Qin Ci, and Song Qian a piece of advice: "Just take good care of Brother Yan. Don't be afraid of him. He's completely obedient to Brother Yan."

The three of them nodded thoughtfully.

It's very simple, in short, just five words:

Serve the banquet well.