Translator - Vivi from dummytranslations
Editor - Chubby Drago
Scheming white lotus(1): He seems to have a crow’s beak

Shen Ze’s gaze lingered on Xiang Han’s body for less than a second before moving away. The moment his eyes had swept over him, Xiang Han felt an unspeakable chill slither down his spine.

Nanny Xue Ling had just placed the breakfast on the table. Seeing Shen Ze come downstairs, she immediately went forward to help him button up his shirt. Her movements were extremely smooth and filled with familiarity, but the moment she stretched her arms, before she even had the chance to touch his sleeves, he impatiently brushed her off.

Xue Ling laughed with helplessness as indulgence flashed in her eyes.

Shen Zheng Duo sat at the head of the dining table, reading his newspaper. He looked up, frowning in dissatisfaction when he saw this scene, “Sister Ling, he’s not a child anymore. You don’t have to constantly spoil him.”

The smile on her face stiffened but she quickly nodded, “Understood.”

Shen Ze directly avoided her and ignored Shen Zheng Duo, directly heading out.

Xue Ling quickly carried a cup of milk and chased after him. She said warmly, “Ah Ze, why don’t you eat breakfast? Or, at least have some milk.”

The veins on Shen Zheng Duo’s forehead throbbed. Turning around, he saw Xiang Han still standing by the stairs before softening his attitude and forcing out a laugh, “Xiao Han, sit down and eat, your mother will come down in a while.”

“Thank you, Uncle Shen,” Xiang Han smiled shyly.

Shen Zheng Duo and the original host’s mother had just gotten married not long ago and the original host was yet to get used to changing the way he addressed the other person.

Once Xiang Han sat down, he took a bite out of a sandwich with a complicated expression.

The things Xue Ling made were really...one of a kind. According to the system, Shen Ze was only six years old when Xue Ling began to take care of him. Xiang Han, whose taste buds had been honed by Luo Bai’s cuisine, couldn’t help but feel deep sympathy for him.

Xue Ling returned soon after with an empty cup.

Shen Zheng Duo saw this and his forehead tensed for one moment before relaxing. No one could tell what he was thinking.

The truth was, Shen Zheng Duo disliked the way nanny Xue Ling took care of Shen Ze. He felt like it was extreme pampering.  However, he had himself already neglected Shen Ze for too long because of his company’s affairs. By the time his busy schedule lightened, he realised that their father and son relationship had already drifted too far apart to be mended.

Shen Ze had an introverted personality. In Junior High, he went through a rebellious phase; skipping school, fighting, and even dying his hair blonde. Shen Zheng Duo wanted to step in but Shen Ze’s attitude towards his critique had always been of ‘from one ear inside to other ear out.’ Sometimes, he would even refute him, angering him to the point where his liver hurt.

Thus, even though he held qualms about the way Xue Ling spoilt him, he still gave in after seeing how Shen Ze would at least listen to her words sometimes.

Soon, Zhu Jing Yi came downstairs and saw the two of them. Surprise flickered through her eyes but she kept silent.

When she first got together with Shen Zheng Duo, she had attempted to rope Shen Ze in. However, he did not reciprocate and constantly stared at her like she was an unavoidable enemy, causing her to quickly give up on the idea. In the end, as his step mother, she believed the more she said, the more mistakes she would make. So, she might as well not say anything.

Xiang Han received Zhu Jing Yi’s concern for a while as he struggled to finish the hearty breakfast before getting his chaufer to bring him to school.

The mission this time was for him to correct Shen Ze’s way of life and prevent him from becoming a murderer.

Xiang Han couldn’t help asking, [Little Nine, since this is a case in a mystery novel, wouldn’t the storyline collapse without a case?]

System, [It won’t. This is only a filler episode for the protagonist to proceed to the next case.]

Big A, [Mr. Xiang, actually, even if the storyline collapse, it’s no big deal. The point is to establish a resonance.]

Xiang Han, [...I feel that resonance will be very difficult to achieve in this world.]

[It’s going to be arduous just to develop good relations even between brothers, not to mention lovers.] He added another line.

Big A, [You...just try to do your best. In the end, if it comes down to it, we can just move on to the next world.]

[...How about, we just try going with brotherly love route? I feel it will still be easier than trying to develop romantic love.] Xiang Han rested a palm on the window and began to ponder bitterly on this matter.

Xue Ling was the main culprit behind Shen Ze’s twisted nature. From the looks of it, he had to find a way to drive her out of the Shen Family’s house. Luckily, Shen Zheng Duo did not seem to particularly like her either; so this matter shouldn’t be too difficult.

Xiang Han was still earnestly thinking of a solution when he glanced out of the window and coincidentally saw Shen Ze.

Unlike the original host who appeared to be an obedient darling, Shen Ze never took the car and instead rode around in a Harley Davidson motorcycle. However, he had a collision with another car just the previous month and Shen Zheng Duo confiscated it. Currently, he could only ride a bicycle.

Xiang Han saw him cycling way too fast and as the bend, he nearly kissed the road. He was somewhat amazed, “He wouldn’t fall, right?”

Just as he said this, the bicycle going around the corner hit a curb and he instantly fell to the ground.

Xiang Han, “...”

System, [That...the original host seem to have a crow’s beak[1], but it’s not too serious.]

Xiang Han quickly replied, [This ability is rather good. Can it be even more powerful?]

System, [Mr. Xiang, if it’s too powerful, I’m afraid it might even affect normal conversations. Moreover, having a crow’s beak is usually the protagonist’s ability. For the original host, who is nothing more than a cannon fodder awaiting death from the moment he appears, having it is already not bad.]

[Fine, I won’t force it.]

Xiang Han called out to his chauffeur to stop and appeared before Shen Ze. He reached out a hand and asked, “Are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital?”

Before Xiang Han arrived, the original host had already used his innocent white lotus expression to secretly dig a pit for Zhao Ze several times.

Seeing the hand extended towards him, Shen Ze simply glanced at him coldly before disregarding him and struggled to get up.

Xiang Han saw that even his pants had been torn and his white shirt was stained with blood. When he stood up shakily, he couldn’t help but warn him, “Be careful, don’t fall.”

Once he said this, Shen Ze stumbled and in the next moment, fell down.

Xiang Han instinctively covered his mouth. Seeing Shen Ze turn to look at him in fury, he swiftly lowered his hands in a seemingly mocking manner.

He really hadn’t intended for this. Didn’t the system say it wasn’t serious?

He thought about the resonance, thought about their brotherly love before deciding to follow the limping Shen Ze. He hesitantly asked, “Er...elder brother, your injuries aren’t light. I think it’s better to go to the hospital for a check up.”

Shen Ze abruptly halted and narrowed his eyes towards him. His voice was cold, “Who’s your brother?”

Xiang Han was instantly terrified by the iciness in his eyes, but then thought back to how he had been an Emperor and even a big BOSS before. How could he be frightened by a fourteen-year-old brat?

Therefore, he stuck out his chest and glared murderously at the other person.

Shen Ze saw him lifting his chin up with a haughty expression and coldly snorted, “Mental case.”

Saying this, he got on his bicycle and shakily rode off.

Xiang Han was left frozen on the spot and could only watch helplessly in anger. He angrily told his system, [If this was two worlds before, I would have already taught him a lesson.]

But thinking of Shen Ze’s sick fetish of cutting his victims, he relented, [Forget it. He’s so pitiful, I won’t quarrel with him.]

System, [...]

Because he had tarried on the way, Xiang Han was almost late for school and managed to reach right at the moment the bell rang.

The original host and Shen Ze went to the same school and they were also classmates in year 3 class 1. Xiang Han relied on the original host’s memories to find his seat. Glancing at Shen Ze’s seat, he wasn’t surprised to see that he had not reached yet.

Xiang Han was a little appeased and he took out his language book, pretending to recite it.

By the time Shen Ze arrived, it was already noon. At that time, the physics teacher was banging on the blackboard and emphasising the formula f(liquid) = p(density of liquid) x v(volume) x g(gravity) when he pushed the door open and strutted in. His earphones were still stuck in his ears, his appearance, extremely rebellious.

The physics teacher instantly stopped what he was doing and stared at him until he walked to his seat. Before Shen Ze could sit down, he waved a hand towards him and said, “Come, come. This student, come over here for a bit.”

And so, Shen Ze was called to his office and lectured for the entire class. When he returned, he coldly glanced at Xiang Han.

Xiang Han could not understand and really wanted to ask him, are your eyes made from ice? And do they have auto navigation that constantly locks onto him?

However, he hadn’t yet asked this question when the other person already stood up and moved his desk containing only a few books to where he was. He directly walked and stood  in front of him and expressionlessly said, “Move.”

Xiang Han was stunned before he saw the teacher in charge standing by the doorway waving to him. He didn’t have time to ask Shen Ze and hurried over.

The form teacher was a middle-aged woman with a kind smile, “Zhao Han, ah. I’ve heard that you and Shen Ze are brothers and even live together?”

“I guess you could say that,” Xiang Han appeared to be in a dilemma. Zhao Han was the host’s original name but because he had just changed his name, his teachers and classmates had not yet adapted.

Hearing this, the form teacher’s expression grew even warmer, “It’s like this. You also know about Shen Ze’s situation and since you have good grades and are even his brother, it should be simple. Thus, I arranged for the two of you to sit together. Please teach him a little whenever you are free. Hopefully, it will help him raise his grades.”

Xiang Han, “...” It really isn’t that simple, ah, teacher.

She continued, “Of course, you don’t need to think too much. It’s almost midterm and your focus should still be on your studies. Shen Ze isn’t very receptive but if he affects you, just let me know and this teacher will teach him.”

Xiang Han, “...” Tell you? I’m afraid I would have long been chopped into pieces.

However, if he looked at it from another perspective, being deskmates would provide him with more opportunities to deepen their relationship and develop their brotherly love. It didn’t seem that bad and so, although Xiang Han looked reluctant, he quickly agreed.

Xiang Han’s seat was facing the walkway, but when he returned, he discovered that his table had been pushed inwards. Shen Ze sat where he used to sit, sprawled on the table and taking a nap.

Xiang Han silently gritted his teeth. He walked forward and knocked on the table, his voice cold, “Move.”

Shen Ze didn’t move.

“Bam bam!” Xiang Han directly slammed the table on the table and raised his voice, “Mo-”

Shen Ze abruptly raised his head, a dense storm brewing in his eyes, looking extremely gloomy.

“-ve”. Xiang Han’s vigor wilted and his voice instantly died down a little.

After a few seconds of locking eyes, Xiang Han weakly murmured, “Elder brother....”

Shen Ze’s face was dark and he suppressed his annoyance, “Walk in from the other side. Don’t call me brother.”

Each row had four tables and two entrances but if he were to enter by the other side, it would cause two other people to stand up. Most importantly, the seat Shen Ze was at was originally his.

Xiang Han couldn’t help gnashing his teeth. Even if they were brothers, he couldn’t let himself be bullied, right?

Thinking this, he directly lifted a leg and stepped on Shen Ze’s desk. Then, under the other person’s astounded gaze, he used his other leg to step inside.

Safely returning to his seat, he did not forget to throw a challenging look to Shen Ze.

This Emperor will not yield, did you think Zhen is a Eunuch?!

***
T/n: have a happy new year~ our translation group is having the most cursed new year ever, half of the group is down~

[1]Crow's beak: referring to someone who has a tendency to say unlucky things, and in this case, come true.
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