My Underachieving Seatmate Doesn't Need Any Comforting

Because of this, Qiao Shao had a more favorable impression of this young master of the Xie Family. He said, “Isn’t this amazing? Why would it be abnormal?”

Qiao Zongmin said, “I’m sure I didn’t see wrong. That child is full of hate.”

Qiao Shao frowned. “Hate for whom?”

Qiao Zongmin said, “Everyone.”

You might as well have said he hated the whole world! Qiao Shao dwelled on the topic. “Dad, by now, he’s already past puberty. He must be all grown up.”

Qiao Zongmin didn’t explain anymore, he simply said, “Okay, you should stay away from him anyway.”

It didn’t matter to Qiao Shao. “En, I’ll say my greetings and then ignore him.”

Qiao Zongmin nodded and said no more.

That child from the Xie Family had left a deep impression on him. Although he had only seen him a few times, he made him apprehensive every time.

He had an understanding of the Xie Family’s situation. Xie Yongyi’s thinking was stale and outworn. All he wanted was for his business empire to continue. His son, Xie Chengyu, was a good-for-nothing, so he put all his hope onto his only grandson.

This child was truly outstanding. He learns everything quickly, and was terribly smart. It would have been a good thing if this kind of genius had been born to an ordinary family. But to be born to the Xie Family, it was simply a sin.

Xie Yongyi has a truly, truly strong desire to control. He turned his disappointment in his son into redoubled expectation on his grandson. He had demands on him so harsh they were to the point of being inhumane. Growing up in such an environment, he knew this child’s mentality couldn’t be healthy.

Particularly since Xie Chengyu was exceedingly irresponsible. He had heard that he maltreated his first wife ... When all these multitudes were added up together, how could this overly bright child not feel resentful?

Qiao Shao returned home, and He Shen also returned to Xie Family’s house.

Xie Qing held the guest list in her hand and said, “You’ve invited quite a lot of people. You want to announce your return with great fanfare I see.”

“Isn’t this what you were hoping for?” He Shen dipped the top grade brush into the expensive Huizhou ink, and wrote on to the invitation powerful and elegant scripts. He was personally writing the invitations to be given to “family and friends” who will attend his grandfather’s birthday feast.

Xie Qing glanced at him from out the corner of her eyes. There was a trace of regret in her heart. Did she really fling open the doors to her house and let the evil wolf in? Could a 17-year-old boy to have this kind of temperament? This kind of forbearance? This kind of thorough understanding of how to handle matters?

Since He Shen came back, Xie Yongyi’s spirit got better and better. He clearly knew what his grandfather likes, how to please him, and what he can do to make him more “awake”.

Before, Xie Yongyi used to control Xie Shen’s life, but now Xie Shen was fiddling with Xie Yongyi’s lifeline.

And the scary thing was that no one could stop it.

Xie Jing tightened her hold on the guest list. She consoled herself: at least it could be said that there was no grievances and enmity between her and him. Even if he really wanted to retaliate, it will never be her turn. As long as Xie Shen doesn’t destroy the entire Xie Family, everything else doesn’t matter.

Besides, Xie Shen couldn’t possibly ruin the Xie Family. No one but a lunatic would abandon such monstrous wealth. So long as the Xie Family doesn’t fall, she can enjoy lifelong privilege and wealth.

“Qiao Zongmin?” Xie Qing was surprised to see the name. “Will he come?”

He Shen: “It’s President Qiao’s decision whether to come or not. To invite him is our courtesy.”

Xie Qing sneered. “You’re just deliberately humiliating your dad. Qiao Zongmin cursed him in public just a while ago.”

Before, there had been an important summit in China. Qiao Zongmin scolded Xie Chengyu to his face. Xie Chengyu was a coward. Aside from womanizing he didn’t know sh*t. He was already being scolded but he didn’t even have to ability to answer back. He could only come back home in a terrible rage.

He Shen corrected her. “President Qiao hadn’t uttered even half an obscene word. How could that be consider cursing him?”

Xie Qing was stumped for words. She said, “It’s useless to invite him. Qiao Zongmin won’t come!”

He Shen just happened to write these three words — Qiao Zongmin. Who knows what he was thinking but his lips curved into a smile.

Xie Qing, who had been staring at him, felt a chill down her back. She had never seen Xie Shen really smile, so that when she saw it, she thought it was fake.

She couldn’t see through He Shen at all, and the fear in her heart rose more and more—just what the hell was this monster planning!

Watching as the invitations were written, Xie Qing suddenly thought of something. “Zhuang Xinyi, that b*tch, has been pretty quiet lately.”

Zhuang Xinyi was Xie Chengyu’s wife who he married five years ago, and she was the thorn in Xie Qing’s side.

He Shen didn’t particularly care. “I guess she’s looking for something to be used against me.”

Seeing him so relaxed, Xie Qing didn’t think much about it either and asked off hand, “Do you even have anything that she can use against you?”

He Shen said, “I sure do.”

For a moment, Xie Qing was dumbfounded. She raised her voice: “What do you mean!” She had completely sided with He Shen. If he falls, she will definitely be torn apart by Zhuang Xinyi!

He Shen calmly threw a bomb. “I like men.”

Xie Qing was completely dazed.

He Shen didn’t bat an eyelid. “They probably have a lot of photos in their hands. Maybe they want to release it at the birthday feast.”

Xie Qing looked at him like he’d gone crazy. “Do you understand what you’re saying!”

He Shen ignored her. He exercised his wrist, and continued to write invitations.

Xie Qing was going crazy. She barely held herself back from pointing at his nose and cursing him. “Xie Shen, explain yourself. What do you mean, you like men? What do you mean that they have photos in their hands? I am helping you with this banquet so that you can properly announce your return home, not for you to have your reputation swept away!”

He Shen didn’t even raise his head. He sneered, “Do you think Xie Yongyi cares about my sexual orientation?”

Xie Qing was dumbfounded.

He Shen’s wrist was very steady, and every word was written neatly and beautifully. He continued: “It doesn’t matter if I like men or women.”

He didn’t go on, but Xie Qing understood. The important thing was that he came back, and Xie Yongyi had no other choice.

Xie Qing was still uneasy. She opened her mouth and asked, “You’re just going to let her make a scene at the birthday banquet?”

Does he simply not care? Does he not care if his sexual orientation is exposed like this!

What she didn’t know was that ever since He Shen came back, he had never thought about hiding.

If he was just going to hide Qiao Shao in some dark corner, what was the point in him coming back?

But He Shen wouldn’t explain to her, he said, “If she makes a scene while Xie Yongyi is lucid, all the better.”

Xie Qing didn’t understand it at first, and then she understood. Immediately, it was like there was a poisonous viper wandering up her spine, she couldn’t move at all.

Indeed......

Recently, Xie Yongyi was more sober, capable of thinking and reflecting. And he could tell who was out to “harm” Xie Shen. If Zhuang Xinyi caused trouble at the birthday banquet, she would be looking for her own death. Just as He Shen said, his sexual orientation was never a problem. Given Xie Chengyu’s long history of previous sins, Xie Yongyi couldn’t care less about He Shen’s inclinations. Instead, he would hate those who exposed it.

Xie Yongyi was running out of time, he couldn’t wait for another “Xie Shen”.

*

When Qiao Zongmin received the Xie Family’s invitation, Qiao Shao had already returned to school.

This invitation with its crimson background and black borders was designed with great care. It not only highlighted the grandness and joyousness of the birthday feast, but also highlighted its style and elegance. It was a rare piece of art.

Qiao Zongmin opened the invitation, and the pleasant fragrance of ink wafted out. He also saw the beautiful small script. The handwriting was well-rounded and robust, and the lines were strong and powerful. It was obvious that this level of writing skill could only be attained with years of practice.

Qiao Zongmin chuckled and threw the invitation to Chen Hao. “This Xie kid is really remarkable.”

Chen Hao saw the signature. “Xie Shen?”

Qiao Zongmin said, “Shao Shao’s seatmate is called He Shen. Why are all these scheming ghosts named ‘Shen’?”

Chen Hao could not properly assess this matter. He said tactfully, “Xiao Shao’s seatmate is a good kid.”

Qiao Zongmin didn’t feel at ease. He waved his hand and changed the topic. “How is Shao Shao’s suit for the party?”

Chen Hao said, “They are rushing the order.”

Qiao Zongmin calculated the time and said, “Well, they’ll need to hurry up.”

It stands to reason that a suit for such occasions must be customized at least half a year in advance, but because of Qiao Shao’s last minute decision to go, they could only make do.

But it when it came right down to it, this didn’t really matter. As Qiao Zongmin’s only son, the only young master of the Shen Hai Group, even if he had worn some garb bought from a street stall to the feast, people would still have no choice but to look up to him.

The Xie Family’s birthday banquet was on Friday. Qiao Shao went to Old Tang to ask for leave in advance. What surprised him was-

“You’re not coming to school on Friday?” Qiao Shao asked He Shen.

He Shen was also quite surprised and asked him, “Is there something the matter at home?”

How could Qiao Shao explain? He said vaguely, “En, there’s something.”

He Shen worriedly asked, “Is it something urgent?”

Qiao Shao quickly said, “Nothing like that, I just have to ask for leave.”

He Shen didn’t ask much. He only said, “Tell me if there’s anything important.”

Qiao Shao nodded and asked him why he had asked for leave.

He Shen didn’t hide it from him, and said directly, “My grandfather’s birthday is on Friday.”

Qiao Shao was surprised, and said inwardly, ‘What a coincidence!’

But he didn’t think much of it. There were countless grandfathers who had birthdays on the same day. He said, “Then please send to him my birthday wishes!”

He Shen gave a sound of assent.

Qiao Shao remembered another thing and wondered, “Speaking of ... Can you be absent from school for your grandfather’s birthday? Old Tang agreed your request for leave?” It was difficult for High school students to ask for leave. Being allowed to be absent from school for your grandfather’s birthday was...a little farfetched.

He Shen explained, “He just recovered from a serious illness and wanted me to go back.”

Qiao Shao was surprised once again. Didn’t the Xie Family’s old master also just recover from an illness and so they wanted to celebrate?

What a coincidence! Were all the grandfathers in the entire world recovering from an illness and celebrate their birthday together? Never in Qiao Shao’s wildest musings, could he ever imagine that He Shen was actually named Xie Shen.

“I see,” Qiao Shao said warmly, “Then you should accompany him well.”

He Shen smiled a little, and changed the subject. “Can’t we meet again this weekend?”

This time it was a big break. They were also on leave on Friday, leaving the weekend unresolved.

Qiao Shao thought for a while and said, “Let’s keep in touch on WeChat. If there’s nothing, I’ll go to you.”