Translator: Vivi from dummytranslations
Editor: Drago
Scheming white lotus(3): I have something important to tell you
Chapter 4.03

Being stared at by Shen Ze, Xiang Han instinctively trembled in fright. His widened eyes look extremely aggrieved and fearful, as though he had done something terrible.

However, he was unaware of his own facial expression and only saw Shen Zheng Duo look towards Shen Ze grimly. Meanwhile, Shen Ze’s face cooled while a ferocious glint flashed through Xue Ling’s eyes.

Zhu Jing Yi came down the stairs and coincidentally saw Xiang Han’s ‘wanting to cry but cannot cry’ expression and her heart tightened. She hurried over and asked with concern, “Xiao Han, what happened? Did someone bully you at school?”

Xiang Han was stunned when he heard this, but quickly shook his head, “No.”

Saying this, he also did not know why but he instinctively looked towards Shen Ze.

“...” Shen Ze’s face was somewhat dark.

Zhu Jing Yi followed Xiang Han’s gaze and instantly understood in her heart. It was clear to see that Shen Ze had disliked Xiao Han and her right from when they had arrived. There were often conflicts between the brothers but as the step-mother, there wasn’t much she could say in this situation apart from comforting her son.

Zhu Jing Yi coaxed Xiang Han a little before he awkwardly replied, “Mum, I’m alright. It’s just that elder brother came back a little late and Nanny Ling asked me some questions…”

The word “questions” were not completely out when he had the sudden urge to slap himself. Why had he spoken the last two sentences out loud?

Indeed, Shen Ze’s expression grew even darker and he turned to look at him.

However, from other’s point of view, this scene was plainly Shen Ze looking at Xiang Han threateningly, rendering him frightened out of his wits.

Zhu Jing Yi then understood. It was definitely Shen Ze who had been scolded by Old Shen a little, that’s why he had lashed out at Xiao Han.

She looked at Shen Zheng Duo unhappily, hating steel for not becoming iron as she pulled Xiang Han away. Once they were in the next room, she poked Xiang Han’s head and said, “How many times have I told you? Don’t get involved with matters regarding Shen Ze.”

She had seen Shen Ze’s gang before, huddled together smoking and skipping classes. Just one look had made it clear they were bad news.

Xiang Han scratched the back of his head and said helplessly, “I didn’t say anything. It was Nanny Ling who asked why elder brother hadn’t come home and I only said it was because he fell and injured himself.”

It was only because his expression was too innocent like a white lotus and easily misunderstood.

“Xue Ling?” Zhu Jing Yi frowned.

When she first came to the Shens’ Family house, she had already felt that this nanny was excessively concerned with Shen Ze. There was once when his shoes had fallen off and Xue Ling had, without a word, bent down to help him put it back on. She had also heard that back when Shen Ze was in Junior High, Xue Ling was still helping him to dress and was even chided by Shen Zheng Duo. To put things bluntly, this wasn’t something even a biological mother would do.

Before they got married, Zhu Jing Yi had told Shen Zheng Duo once. At that time, she had still been trying to coddle up to Shen Ze but Shen Ze did not think it was strange since Xue Ling was older than him by a few years and had been taking care of him since he was six. It was merely spoiling him a little.

Shen Zheng Duo felt it was normal and Zhu Jing Yi as a step-mother wasn’t in any position to interfere either. Moreover, after she discovered that Shen Ze would often hang around a bunch of colourful-haired gangsters, she no longer wished to care.

Xiang Han could see Zhu Jing Yi’s dislike for the nanny and hurriedly said, “Mum, I feel that Nanny Ling is a little weird. Can you fire her?”

Zhu Jing Yi regained her wits and asked puzzedly, “What’s wrong with her?” Could it be that she hadn’t been mistaken and Xiao Han had also discovered something?

Xiang Han thought for a moment, “I feel like she’s a little crazy and does things suspiciously. She often spies on people and gives me chills. Oh right, there was once when I accidentally angered Shen Ze, the gaze she used to look at me was...especially frightening.”

Afraid that Zhu Jing Yi would not believe him, he emphasised his words, “As if she wanted to swallow me alive.”

At first, Zhu Jing Yi was still sombre but hearing the last part, she couldn’t help rebuking him, “Isn’t it your own fault, why do you always have to provoke Shen Ze?”

She sighed helplessly, “Xiao Han, Xue Ling has been taking care of your brother since he was six years old and their feelings are very deep. It’s normal for her to want to protect him. Your Uncle Shen still feels guilty for not being able to regularly come back home last year and thus, allows Xue Ling to indulge him. If you don’t like her, just pretend to keep quiet and wait until you are in high school. When you elder brother is a little older, I’ll talk to Uncle Shen again.”

Until high school?

Xiang Han’s brows furrowed. According to the storyline, Shen Ze wasn’t even in high school when Xue Ling was already chopped into pieces. It seemed, this mother wasn’t very reliable and this matter needed to start from Shen Zheng Duo’s side.

In the living room. When Xiang Han was taken away, Shen Ze retracted his gaze and headed back to his room.

Shen Zheng Duo felt awkward after Zhu Jing Yi gave him a look. Seeing Shen Ze’s intention to leave without a word, he felt an inexplicable anger and raised his voice, “Who allowed you to leave?”

Shen Ze immediately stopped but did not turn around.

Shen Zheng Duo turned back unhappily, “XIang Han hadn’t even said anything yet, what are you losing your temper for? Apologise to him later.”

“I didn’t lose my temper.” Shen Ze didn’t even turn his head back and continued up the stairs.

“You!” Shen Zheng Duo choked in anger, “Get back here.”

Xue Ling hurriedly spoke up, “Ah, forget it. Ah Ze is still injured.”

His anger had made him forget this matter and once Xue Ling reminded him, he finally remembered. He suppressed his fury, “Forget it. Sister Ling, you...go and take a look at his injury. If it’s serious, then call Doctor Lin over.”

“Oh.” Xue Ling’s eyes lit up as she hurried up the stairs.

After pushing Zhu Jing Yi out of his room, he took a bath and changed to a new set of clothes before coming downstairs.

Seeing him come down, Shen Zheng Duo called him over to ask about his studies and comforted him, “Xiao Han, you know that Shen Ze’s temper can be quite bad. Uncle has already scolded him, so don’t hold it against him…”

Xiang Han sat at the dining table and smiled innocently, “Uncle Shen, I won’t”

The moment he said this, a voice filled with enmity snorted coldly.

Xiang Han instinctively turned around and saw Shen Ze coming down the stairs with long steps. Thinking of his injuries, he quickly showed ‘concern’, “Elder brother, you are still hurt, be careful not to…”

He hadn’t spoken finished when Shen Ze abruptly halted and stared warningly at him.

Xiang Han, “Er…”

Seeing that he didn’t continue speaking and he also didn’t fall, Shen Ze continued to walk down the stairs. However, he suddenly changed the way he walked, taking one step at a time and even holding onto the railings at the side.

Xiang Han, “...”

Having guessed the reason for this, Xiang Han couldn’t help laughing and ended up receiving a stink eye.

Shen Zheng Duo coincidentally saw it and asked unhappily, “What are you glaring at him for?”

But he still remembered Shen Ze’s injuries and thus, warmed his tone to ask, “How’s your injuries? Are they serious?”

Shen Ze ignored him and simply took a seat to start eating.

Shen Zheng Duo was annoyed, didn’t he hear him talking? Moreover, not everyone was here yet he had already started eating, completely lacking in manners. This was all because of Xue Ling; she had spoilt him too much.

Since he could still walk and eat, it looked like his injuries weren’t too bad.  Shen Zheng Duo was relieved and started to lecture, “I have told you many times before to take the car to school. But you always refuse to listen to me. Look, now you’ve even fallen. Riding as if your bicycles have wings, are you heading for reincarnation? Take the car with Xiao Han tomorrow, I’m confiscating your bicycle.”

At some point in time, Xue Ling appeared, but her expression wasn’t pretty. Having heard what he said, she looked towards Shen Ze and then tried to intervene, “Mister Shen, Ah Ze doesn’t like getting close to others. How about...we hire another driver for him since there are other cars in the garage.”

Shen Zheng Duo’s face turned cold, “How arrogant? Is he so big like an elephant that he can’t even fit inside with another person? Do I have to buy an aircraft carrier to fetch him?”

Xue Ling instantly became meek. Shen Ze swiftly finished his food and calmly wiped his mouth before saying, “First of all, you must be able to afford it.”

Shen Zheng Duo choked and glared at him furiously.

Meanwhile, Xiang Han was suppressing his laughter when he unthinkingly looked up and accidentally found Shen Ze was staring at him expressionlessly.

Xiang Han stiffened. Thankfully Zhu Jing Yi arrived at the table by this time and interrupted his line of sight.

Xiang Han bitterly focused on his food and Zhu Jing Yi saw him scarfing down his food. She pushed a bowl of soup over and frowned, “No one is fighting with you, slow down.”

Seeing all of this, Shen Ze snorted coldly and left.

Shen Zheng Duo was angered once more and turned around to shout, “What kind of attitude is that? Come back here…”

Shen Ze completely ignored him. In the end, it was Zhu Jing Yi who found him too noisy and coaxed Shen Zheng Duo.

Finishing his dinner, Xiang Han quickly returned to his room and let System take control of his right hand to finish his homework. He pondered deeply while spinning his pen.

Shen Ze already knew how to threaten others with a knife at such a young age and adding on to how smooth his actions had been, he was evidently very well-practised. He was only a junior high student, how could he yield the knife so professionally?

Xiang Han thought for a long time and at last felt thirsty. Therefore, he left his room but just as he pushed his door open, he coincidentally saw Xue Ling holding a stack of newly-folded clothes while heading towards Shen Ze’s room. He unconsciously shrunk back and hid behind the door to watch her.

Afterwards, he saw a scene which completely left him stunned. Xue Ling reached out to touch the underwear at the top of the pile and gently touched it a few times, her expression strange.

Xiang Han was overcome with disgust. When Xue Ling finally left, he stood outside Shen Ze’s room feeling extremely torn.

Should he or should he not tell him? If he said, would Shen Ze blacken earlier? But if he didn’t say it, it would be too...

Xiang Han broke out in goosebumps and after a moment of hesitation, he saw the door abruptly open and froze in his spot.

Shen Ze stood by the door. Seeing that it was Xiang Han, he expressionlessly asked, “What is it?”

“Uh…” Xiang Han glanced at their surroundings before speaking, “Can we go in and talk?”

“No.” Shen Ze directly shut the door.

Xiang Han hurriedly reached out to block and confessed, “I have something important to tell you.”

Shen Ze observed him for a moment before he suddenly releasing his hands. He turned around and went inside.

Xiang Han hurriedly followed after and glanced around his room, looking at the design and furnishing.

It was rather clean and tidy unlike Shen Ze’s unruly image. He didn’t know who cleaned it up.

He couldn’t help glancing at the cupboard a couple more times until Shen Ze turned around and blocked his line of sight impatiently, “What is it that you want?”


T/n: I have a new teaser up, link in chat box (do check it out) And more characters will come in soon, let me know if you guys need a character list like the one in arc 3~

Also, become a patreon and gain access to up to 7 advanced chapters for 'The Target Always Thinks that I like him'. All donations go towards my patreon goal which I will chug out double release for this series for a month when met. ^O^ ~


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