The dark circles beneath Wen Rui's eyes scared the driver when Wen Rui trudged out of the dorms the next morning.
"Young Master Wen," he said worriedly. "Is everything okay? Would you like to head to the hospital instead?" He didn't come right out and say 'you don't look too well' but Wen Rui caught the hidden message anyway.
He gave the driver a wan smile.
"I'm fine, Uncle Su," he reassured. "Just tired."
Of course, he was tired. The adrenaline from this new scandal had only died out at sunrise and Wen Rui had spent the entire night tossing and turning in bed. Worst still, it wasn't even because of his besmirched name. He'd alternated between staring at Zhou Ye's WeChat messages and Chen2000Er's post.
Now that he was forcing himself to think more objectively, he realised he had overlooked Zhou Ye's concern for him in the past. Many instances of it, in fact.
Even small things that Wen Rui had previously thought was Zhou Ye picking on him. Like that one summer, which had been excruciatingly hot. Wen Rui's seat had always been next to the window and he liked it that way, enjoyed basking lazily in its rays as he absorbed knowledge like a sponge. But that day, the sun had been so scorching that Wen Rui had felt like he was being baked alive. His face had already taken on an unnatural flush and he'd drunk three litres of water to try and stave off a heatstroke.
He'd already been feeling uncomfortable and ill, drowsy in his overheated stupor, but he hadn't wanted to interrupt the class. Besides, others in the same row had also been sitting in the sun, it'd felt too delicate to have to admit that he was about to faint because of it.
Zhou Ye had suddenly raised his hands, stood up, and insisted on exchanging seats with Wen Rui. And for what ridiculous reason?
He'd said that he was vitamin D deficient and had forgotten to take his supplements that morning.
The whole class had roared with laughter. Wen Rui had seethed, thinking that Zhou Ye had been mocking him. He'd even given Zhou Ye a cold smile, thinking to himself inwardly that Zhou Ye would regret swapping if he only knew that Wen Rui was secretly benefiting from it.
…thinking back on this, Wen Rui had been too childish. Someone like Zhou Ye, who was constantly running outside in the basketball courts, couldn't possibly have been vitamin D deficient unless he had some sort of serious disease. And given how healthy Zhou Ye was, it was clear now that he'd just spouted a load of nonsense to change seats.
Zhou Ye sure had a funny way of showing that he cared. He'd ignored Wen Rui to his face the first time they'd met, what was Wen Rui supposed to think? Why would a rude, arrogant guy like that show him concern? They weren't even friends!
But if other people in school had noticed it, such as his classmates, then could it be that Wen Rui had been too thickheaded back then? Had his jealousy of Zhou Ye made him miss an opportunity to befriend him?
The sinking feeling in Wen Rui's gut told him that he was more disappointed by this possibility than he wanted to be.
"Young Master?"
Wen Rui blinked. He'd dozed off during the journey back to his father's house and had dreamt of…of high school. And Zhou Ye.
Why was he still thinking about Zhou Ye? Seriously, he needed to get a grip, if those shippers that Chen2000Er had referred to caught wind of this, Wen Rui would never live it down.
And besides, he had important business to deal with now. He'd texted Uncle Su earlier to tell him that he wanted a lift back to his old home, just to scope out the situation. He'd learnt what Wen Guoyan had done from the mouths of others but it only felt right to see for himself.
Uncle Su's brows were still furrowed. They were parked outside the lavish gates of a manor, security eyeing them beadily even though their limousine was worth more than any other car within the property.
"Thanks, Uncle Su." Wen Rui shook his head gently to clear it of its grogginess. He was going to go in there, confront whoever was at home, and then go back to the apartment for a nice long nap, after switching his phone off because social media really was the bane of good sleep.
The guards seemed to recognise Wen Rui once he stepped out of the car. Perhaps it was because Wen Rui was dressed like the elegant young master he was once again, instead of the grungy street hoodlum he'd like to pretend to be after entering the industry. He wore a simple pair of slacks again, paired with a white oxford shirt, the Gucci snake running around its collar. The sweater he'd chosen to hang loosely around his shoulders was a plain Prussian blue with no obvious brand. It was of superior make though, and he'd fallen in love with it at first sight, snatching it out of the closet and taking it to the dorms with him.
The only flaw in its design was that it was a bit too baggy. He wasn't sure if this was because he'd been in some sort of phase where he'd only wanted oversized clothes when he'd bought them. But at least for now, Wen Rui preferred outfits that were tailored to flaunt his frame. He considered sending it for an alternation.
"Young Master Wen," the guards greeted. They let him through into the house, although Wen Rui didn't miss the surprised looks they exchanged with each other.
It seemed like it had been a long time since he'd last returned.
There was a rather long walk up the driveway to the front of the manor but Wen Rui chose to appreciate it slowly instead of asking security to let Uncle Su in. To be able to afford such property in SH City, which was short of land, was a sure sign of Wen Guoyan's wealth. But Wen Rui had heard that the main house of the Zhou Family was even grander. He wondered if he'd ever visited in the capacity of Zhou Ye's spouse.
…stop right there.
Stop thinking about Zhou Ye.
Wen Rui sighed. It was only because he wasn't used to Zhou Ye becoming such an integral part of his life overnight. Once things settled and Zhou Ye divorced him, he was confident that he would be able to stop dwelling on their high school past together.
By the time he reached the front door, an elderly gentleman was already waiting for him. This was the family butler, Uncle Peng, and the wrinkles on his face were so deep when he looked at Wen Rui in undisguised fretfulness.
"Young Master," he said, bowing politely to Wen Rui, but his fingers were twisted tightly into his sleeves, which was an unprofessional mistake that the experienced Uncle Peng wouldn't make unless he lost his cool.
Things were worst than Wen Rui thought.
"Uncle Peng," he said, voice thick with emotions. This butler had been hired by the family decades ago and Wen Rui had known his kindness since birth. In Wen Rui's memory, Uncle Peng didn't look so old yet. His hair wasn't completely white and his frown lines weren't so deep.
Uncle Peng sighed. "It's good to have you back," he said, words tinged with sorrow. "But Young Master, it's not a good time today, your father isn't home and the—"
"And the madam has just woken up."
A cutting, malicious voice interrupted Uncle Peng. Wen Rui looked up and saw a matronly woman that he didn't recognise. He raised an eyebrow at Uncle Peng questioningly, who returned his confusion with an equally flummoxed expression.
"Young Master…doesn't remember Housekeeper Lu?" he asked tentatively. "She's a distant relative of the Madam's."
Oh, no wonder this Housekeeper Lu spoke the words of a house-helper but with the tone of an owner. She had blood relations going for her.
Wen Rui nodded to Uncle Peng before brushing past Housekeeper Lu like she wasn't there. It felt strange to be that rude but it was also a familiar gesture like he'd done this multiple times before.
Perhaps it wasn't a bad thing to take a leaf out of his older self's book, once in a while.
"Auntie, who is it?" a voice drawled from the top of the stairs.
Wen Rui looked up. The woman yawning as she descended slowly in an extravagant morning robe was strikingly vivacious. She had the glamour of a superstar, the sort that would look right at home in an SH City 1930s period film, with a bright cheongsam, rough lips, and coiffed curls. Her beauty was the antithesis of Wen Rui's mother's, which had been youthful and vibrant, soft and refreshing like a spring breeze.
He might be biased but he knew which one he preferred.
"Oh, it's you," she said, her lips twitching into a languid smile. "Finally remembered you have a family?"
Wen Rui returned her smile with one that didn't reach his eyes. "Do I?" he asked.
"Well, what is it that you want now? Finally sick of being poor? You're back to beg your father to unlock your cards?"
That thought hadn't even occurred to Wen Rui. Truthfully, he made this trip because he wanted to see just what his father had ruined Wen Rui's family life for. Whether his father thought that it was worth it.
And now Wen Rui knew. His father wasn't worth it.