After the Young Master’s Death, He was Kissed by His Mortal Enemy! - Chapter 80

Shen Ran nearly passed out from sheer frustration at Chen Xu’s bold lies. He let out a bitter laugh, lifting a hand to his forehead.

Where did Chen Xu even get the nerve? Twisting black into white—who was really the victim here? Who was the one who had actually been ignored and left out?

He tilted his head back, about to snap:
“You’re full of it! Clearly it was you—”

But before he could finish, Shen Xianming cut in sharply.

“Xiao Ran, be quiet. Interrupting others is very rude and improper. Have you forgotten the manners we taught you?”

That commanding tone sent a chill down Shen Ran’s spine.

Right… back then, his oh-so-loving parents had gone to great lengths to drill those manners into him.

Still… Shen Ran really wanted to defend himself.

But Shen Xianming knew interrupting was rude, didn’t he? Then why was he interrupting him?

So unfair. This was literally “rules for thee but not for me.”

Shen Xianming shot him a cold look, then turned back to Chen Xu with a polite smile.
“Please, continue.”

Shen Xianming had always liked polite, well-groomed young men like Chen Xu.

Especially if what Chen Xu was saying turned out to be true…

Chen Xu smirked inwardly, but on the surface kept up his somber, restrained expression.

“Uncle, here’s the thing. I’ve liked Ranran since college. After a long pursuit, he finally agreed to be with me—we were even about to get engaged. But then… a third party showed up.”

At the mention of “third party,” Cheng Yi, the alleged interloper, simply raised an eyebrow and looked calmly back at Chen Xu.

He also allowed himself to meet the quiet scrutiny of Shen Xianming and Fu Sijie head-on.

“Uncle, Auntie, Ranran and I were really close back in college! We were practically inseparable.”

Inseparable?

Shen Ran almost spat blood. During college, he’d spent most of his time with his roommates and barely interacted with Chen Xu outside of casual encounters!

If Chen Xu had truly cared about him, had actually pursued him… then why had he only confessed to him recently?

“You’re totally—!”

Shen Ran tried again to defend himself and Cheng Yi, only to be silenced once more by his father:
“Xiao Ran. What did I just say?”

“…”

It was enough to make someone explode.

Fu Sijie, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up with a thoughtful tone:
“Actually, now that you mention it, I vaguely remember… Last month, Xiao Ran called me sounding overjoyed. He said he had a boyfriend—and I’m pretty sure he said the name was Chen Xu, not Cheng Yi.”

Her doubts began to deepen.

When she had first met Cheng Yi, brought home by Shen Ran, she had paused for a moment in confusion.

But seeing how confident Shen Ran was—and how close they seemed—she’d brushed it off as a misheard name.

She’d assumed she was mistaken.

But now, the real Chen Xu had shown up.

And not only had he shown up, he’d come bearing accusations, calling Cheng Yi the third party.

How could she not start second-guessing everything?

Chen Xu, ever perceptive, noticed the subtle change in Fu Sijie’s expression. He immediately pulled out his phone and tapped open a gallery of photos.

“Auntie, look—these are pictures from when Ranran and I were still in school. I’ve really liked him for a long time. I… I truly love him.”

There were indeed several photos of Chen Xu and Shen Ran.

Although they weren’t standing particularly close, Chen Xu wore a soft smile, and Shen Ran looked cheerful and bright.

To a casual observer, it did seem like they were close. There was an air of familiarity, warmth.

The atmosphere felt oddly… convincing—as if there was both testimony and evidence.

The Shen couple stared at the photos for a long moment. Then, in unison, they turned to Shen Ran.

“Xiao Ran,” Shen Xianming asked calmly, “is Cheng Yi really that kind of person?”

Shen Xianming’s question sounded like he was seeking Shen Ran’s side of the story—but Shen Ran knew better.

He’d already believed about seventy or eighty percent of what Chen Xu said.

…So even when a stranger shows up out of nowhere, he’s more willing to believe them than his own son?

Yeah, no surprise there. What else could you expect from someone you’re “related to by blood”?

Normally, Shen Ran might’ve tried to defuse things with a joke or two, maybe act a little spoiled to smooth it over.

But this time, he saw something he hadn’t seen in a long time—not since his parents had him hypnotized to forget the darkness of his childhood.

A look that was serious. Cold. And worst of all—full of doubt.

Of course, Shen Ran understood that no matter how little they trusted him, they still needed him to play scapegoat when necessary. They wouldn’t really hurt him.

No—the one they were targeting was Cheng Yi.

And just as Shen Ran suspected, that’s exactly what Shen Xianming and Fu Sijie were thinking.

They didn’t care if Shen Ran was in love, or even got married.

He could be with someone successful, or someone like Chen Xu—a good-looking, gentle, ordinary man.

But absolutely not someone who would cause a scandal or stir up trouble.

From the beginning, they had molded Shen Ran’s manners and image with one goal in mind: to make him a presentable, well-bred son they could show off in front of others.

After all, Shen Corporation still held considerable influence in K City. There were too many eyes watching.

And if Cheng Yi was truly shameless enough to force his way into a relationship and be a “third party,” what hidden motives might he have?

If Cheng Yi was a problem, then he needed to be removed—quietly, without a trace, after a little time passed.

Even so, outsiders’ claims couldn’t be taken entirely at face value. Despite their growing doubts, Shen Xianming and Fu Sijie still turned to Shen Ran to confirm: Was it true?

Four pairs of eyes stared him down, and at first, Shen Ran felt a little nervous.

Fu Sijie and Shen Xianming both wore expressions that were serious—and suspicious.

Cheng Yi, on the other hand, looked completely at ease, lounging lazily against the edge of the office desk, lips curled in a casual smirk.

…Seriously? He was still smiling at a time like this?

Should he call that oblivious—or just a sign of how much he trusted Shen Ran?

And then there was Chen Xu, the worst of them all.

Twisting the truth without shame, acting all selfless and gentle—both he and Chen Xu knew the real story.

Yet Chen Xu still sat there, pretending to be worried, brows furrowed, those peach-blossom eyes watching Shen Ran like he was just waiting to say:
“Ranran, you’ve been deceived.”

Shen Ran clenched his fists.

Chen Xu wasn’t just annoying today—he was downright infuriating.

If he’d just come after Shen Ran, that would’ve been one thing. But dragging Cheng Yi down with him?

Slandering him, kicking him while he was down?

Fine. Don’t blame me for not holding back.

“Mom, Dad, don’t listen to Chen Xu’s nonsense. He and I were never together! And the one I’m engaged to isn’t Chen Xu—it’s Cheng Yi!”

“…Really?” Shen Xianming asked, still clearly unconvinced.

Shen Ran pouted, putting on a pitiful face as he scooted closer to his parents—then stretched out his hand:

“Of course it’s real! Look—Cheng Yi proposed to me a long time ago. We’re already wearing matching rings! It’s totally official!”

Support