The next day, Shen Yuan didn't go to school early and followed Mu Chen's usual schedule instead. It was a slow, leisurely morning, and for once, he could enjoy a cup of freshly brewed tea after breakfast.
All kinds of beverages had gone scarce after the invasion. Only the rich could afford them. Not like he didn't have the money to buy them, but he had more important things to buy. The only time he could enjoy this kind of luxury was when the mission he was assigned to involved blending in with the upper class. His favorite type of mission.
Not only he got to enjoy all sorts of things during the mission and his money would get reimbursed, he could also keep all the gifts he received. He sold the useless ones for double their price and kept the rest.
"Do you like tea?" Mu Chen asked.
"I prefer it more than coffee." Shen Yuan emptied his cup and sighed in satisfaction. "I particularly don't like strong aftertastes. Even for tea, I prefer white ones to black, specifically osmanthus and chrysanthemum."
"Your tongue has strong tastebuds, doesn't it?"
"I guess so."
A maid stepped forward and refilled Shen Yuan's cup only for her fingers to slip. Hot water splashed on Shen Yuan's pants, and he pushed his chair back to avoid more in reflex.
The maid turned white as a sheet and hurriedly put down the teapot to take out a wiping cloth from her apron. "I'm truly sorry, Young Master!"
"It's alright. I'll do it myself." Shen Yuan stopped her from touching him and took the cloth from her.
"That will leave a stain if you don't clean it quickly," Mu Chen said. "I have my old uniform in my wardrobe. It should be the same size as yours."
Shen Yuan nodded and got up from his chair. "I'll be quick."
"No need to hurry. We still have plenty of time." Mu Chen reassured and turned to a servant standing by near the door. "Go help him."
"Yes, Young Master." The servant lowered his head and escorted Shen Yuan out.
The door shut close in their leave and plunged the room into a freezing silence. The servants and maids left inside buried their chin down, not daring to lift the slightest bit of their gaze.
Mu Chen had been in his best mood since yesterday, and they knew the consequences of ruining that.
By the time Shen Yuan returned, the mess was already cleaned but the maid was nowhere to be seen. He eyed the remaining servants sweating cold and shaking like leaves and guessed Mu Chen did something to her.
"Where did that maid go?" he deliberately asked.
"She's not feeling well, so I told her to rest for the day." Mu Chen stood up from his seat. "If you're ready, should we go?"
"Yeah, let's go."
Shen Yuan headed out the front door with Mu Chen where the chauffeur was already on standby with the car. Checking the time, it was currently half past seven. By the time they reached school, Zhou Yi would've long finished tending the garden.
As the car drove out of the gate, he spoke up, "Now that I think about it, I heard the gate open earlier in the morning. When I went to look, I saw someone wearing our school uniform leaving your place."
"What's with that? You must be half asleep." Mu Chen laughed. "Or maybe you saw a ghost?"
"I thought so as well. Our uniform is basically all white after all." Shen Yuan didn't push it.
Still, he took a glimpse at Mu Chen to see displeasure on his face and hid his smile. Since he couldn't get any information from this person, it would be a waste if he didn't at least stimulate him.
Even if Zhou Yi raised a spark against him, there wouldn't be fire without any fuel. The more the fuel the bigger the flame.
***
With Shen Yuan arriving at school with Mu Chen, unsurprisingly, his classmates asked what it was about. He simply said he got into some trouble on the road and Mu Chen offered him a ride.
During lunch break, Shen Yuan picked the courtyard to eat his meal. As he expected, the fish took the bait. He looked up at the boy shrouding him in his shadow, his expression taut with consternation.
"Senior, can we talk?"
"Are you not mad at me anymore?" Shen Yuan teased.
"I was never mad at you." Zhou Yi shook his head. "Let's talk in the chemistry lab. I'll wait for you there."
Shen Yuan watched him leave but didn't immediately follow and took his time finishing his meal instead. He checked on Mu Chen's location only to sense the pulse coming from above. Turning on his seat, he looked up and found the other watching from the third-floor window.
He gave him a small wave before he propped himself up and left.
Reaching the chemistry lab, he glanced at the corner at the end of the hallway and stepped inside. He slid the door close, but not until it fit back into its frame. "What do you want to talk about, Zhou Yi?"
"Yesterday—" Zhou Yi paused for a second and changed his words. "I saw you arriving at school with the student council president earlier. Did you…stay in his place?"
"I jokingly asked, but he surprisingly agreed."
Zhou Yi clenched his fists. "You said you don't want anything to do with him. Let alone owing him a favor."
"I misunderstood him. He's actually a pretty chill person," Shen Yuan calmly said. "You know, I think he can help deal with the delinquents. How about I—"
"Don't." Zhou Yi grabbed Shen Yuan's shoulders. "He's deceiving you, Senior. Don't trust any words he said. Don't believe anything he showed. You don't know what's hidden behind them."
"What are you on about? Even if you don't like someone, that's a bit paranoid."
"I'm serious." Zhou Yi stared straight into Shen Yuan, his eyes glowered with revulsion.
Shen Yuan stared at Zhou Yi for a long minute. "You do know him, don't you? Who is he to you?"
"…"
"It's fine if you don't want to tell me anything." Shen Yuan pushed Zhou Yi's hands off him and turned to leave. "But between another person's vague words and my own judgment, I'm more inclined to believe myself."
He had just taken two steps when Zhou Yi caught his arm and pulled him back. Indignance weighed his voice as he spoke, "He's my uncle."
"Uncle?" Shen Yuan raised his eyebrows. He had thought of the possibility that they were related, but he didn't think they were uncle and nephew.
"He's my grandmother's youngest sister's child. She conceived late in her age because of her weak constitution and passed away after giving birth to him." Zhou Yi lowered his gaze. "2 years ago, my family got into an accident and I'm the only survivor. Master Mu, Mu Chen's father, took me in under the condition that I become Mu Chen's assistant later in the company."
"I see." Shen Yuan crossed his arms. "That doesn't sound like a bad deal."
"It's not. I owe Master Mu my life and I'm forever grateful to him." Zhou Yi's face twisted as if he was swallowing a lump of mud. "That's why I can't go against Mu Chen. I can't make trouble for Master Mu."
"I don't get it. Mu Chen doesn't seem like an unreasonable person to work with."
"…'Mu Chen' maybe not. But 'Young Master Mu' is a different monster entirely."
"Monster, you say…" Shen Yuan sighed. "You're too emotional right now. I can't tell how much of your words are objective."
"I'm very calm right now, Senior." Zhou Yi tightened his hold. "You have to believe me and stay away from Mu Chen. Those delinquents are under his order. Don't say anything to him or you'll put yourself in danger. I can't predict what he'll do to you."
The school bell rang across the building, indicating the end of lunch break. Once it was over, Shen Yuan gave his answer. "I get it. I won't say anything. Go back to class for now. Let's meet here again after school."
"…" Zhou Yi finally let Shen Yuan go.
"Don't look at me like that." Shen Yuan brushed through Zhou Yi's hair, setting aside his fringes to see his eyes clearer, and helplessly smiled. "I'll listen to you. It's just that your emotion muddles your words and confuses me right now. Take your time to arrange your thoughts, alright?"
Zhou Yi's gaze stirred, and he leaned to Shen Yuan's warm touch. "Alright."
"Good." Shen Yuan rubbed Zhou Yi's head a little more before retrieving his hand. "See you later."
"Mn."
Shen Yuan walked out of the lab and turned his head to see Mu Chen walking down the hallway toward him. He inwardly chuckled.
How cute.
"Shen Yuan? What are you doing in the chemistry lab?" Mu Chen calmly asked.
"Oh, Mu Chen." Shen Yuan greeted back, not a hint of panic or guilt in his eyes. "Nothing, really. Just checking things out. You're going to class?"
"Yes."
"Let's go together, then."
Mu Chen nodded and followed behind Shen Yuan, his eyes drowning his figure in red.