Inferior Sincerity - Chapter 3

Wen Yu followed Uncle Chen through the main entrance of the villa. The interior decor perfectly matched Wen Yu’s imagination of a high-class residence: luxurious yet understated. The space was vast with excellent natural lighting. In short, it was the complete opposite of the Zhou family’s residence.

In the past, Wen Yu had only been allowed in the main hall of the Zhou house to occasionally help wipe the railings. That had been the most magnificent place in his world, but the Fu family home shattered those perceptions. Unlike the Zhou family’s decor, which loudly broadcasted their wealth to every guest, the Fu family possessed the arrogance of the truly elite, projecting an air of complete indifference toward whether others noticed their riches or not.

Standing in the midst of such surroundings with his newly bought clothes and suitcase, Wen Yu felt entirely out of place. Aside from the busy domestic staff on the first floor, no other members of the household were in sight.

“The Chairman and Madam are attending an event in City C and will likely return the day after tomorrow,” Uncle Chen explained. “They asked me to convey their regards and to tell you to ask for anything you might need. From now on, this is your home.”

Home?

Wen Yu glanced around once more. He did not dare entertain such a thought. He had a very clear understanding of his role: he was a “blood bag.” His primary mission was to assist Young Master Fu with his treatment. Once the Young Master recovered, Wen Yu would be expected to leave. The engagement was merely a facade.

“Your room is on the second floor, right next to the Second Young Master’s bedroom,” Uncle Chen said. “I will take you there now.”

Wen Yu had just stepped onto the first stair when he stopped. He saw someone walking down from the second floor. It was Fu Chen.

The Alpha wore a black turtleneck. His face was strikingly handsome, possessing a youthful sharpness rather than a mature, adult look. He was tall and lean, walking down with one hand in his pocket and radiating a piercing aura.

As he descended, the Alpha looked down at Wen Yu with a cold, haughty gaze. When he reached the third step from the bottom, his pace faltered slightly. Wen Yu looked at his sharp features and sensibly lowered his head, stepping off the stairs and moving aside to clear the way.

As the Alpha reached the first floor, he gave Wen Yu a frigid glance.

“Second Young Master,” Uncle Chen said, bowing respectfully.

Fu Chen went to the refrigerator in the kitchen and took out a bottle of water. The packaging was unfamiliar to Wen Yu, who thought to himself that this single bottle of water might be more expensive than his entire outfit.

Fu Chen opened the cap and took a sip. He leaned against the island between the kitchen and the living room, his gaze unceremoniously scanning Wen Yu from head to toe.

“You must be very proud of yourself,” Fu Chen said in a cold voice.

Holding the water, Fu Chen walked over to stand directly in front of Wen Yu. The light was instantly blocked, and Wen Yu was enveloped in his shadow.

“Lift your head,” Fu Chen commanded.

Wen Yu looked up, and their eyes met. The Omega had beautiful features. Perhaps because he was still young and not yet fully matured, his facial contours were soft rather than sharp. His lines were smooth, and with his elegant nose and refined lips, his beauty was almost androgynous.

His face seemed no larger than a pair of hands. His clear, dark eyes were deceptive, making him look innocent and harmless.

Fu Chen admitted that this “fated match” of his indeed possessed some beauty. However, he viewed Wen Yu as nothing more than a low-life with a crooked mind, a beast in human clothing who was wasting such a face. To think he dared to openly scheme against him just to enter the Fu family.

Fu Chen loathed such people and such tactics. His eyes darkened as he poured the remaining water over Wen Yu’s head.

Uncle Chen cried out in shock, “Oh my! Second Young Master, what are you doing?”

This was no way to treat a guest, especially one who was there to help treat the Young Master’s illness. Uncle Chen broke into a cold sweat. If Wen Yu left in a fit of rage, how could he possibly explain it to the Chairman? He hurriedly signaled the servants to bring a towel.

Startled by the sudden flow of water, Wen Yu looked at Fu Chen in bewilderment. Droplets of water cascaded down his hair. Some splashed onto his shoulders, while others trickled down his collarbone and into his loose T-shirt. The wet fabric clung to his body, making his skin faintly visible.

“As expected of an illegitimate child who cannot handle a proper occasion,” Fu Chen said, looking at Wen Yu with freezing contempt. “Filthy.”

Having delivered his double-edged insult, Fu Chen walked past Wen Yu, gave him a final look of disdain, and returned to the second floor. A loud “bang” echoed as he slammed his door. His welcoming ceremony for Wen Yu was over.

Wen Yu sighed. Given the Second Young Master’s attitude, he could already foresee that his life in the Fu household would not be easy.

A servant quickly arrived with a towel. Uncle Chen urged Wen Yu to dry himself. Wen Yu took the towel in silence and wiped away the water.

“The Young Master is not usually like this. I do not know what has come over him today,” Uncle Chen said, offering an awkward smile to cover for him while Wen Yu dried his hair. “Perhaps his illness has flared up recently, affecting his state of mind.”

Wen Yu said nothing. A little water was nothing to him. At the Zhou house, such incidents were merely appetizers. Under the direction of Shen Yazhi, Wen Yu’s life over the years had been “eventful” to say the least.

Uncle Chen led Wen Yu to his bedroom. it was a south-facing room with excellent natural light. It contained a large bed, clean and tidy linens, and a substantial solid wood desk. The room was equipped with a private bathroom and a walk-in closet. Everything was spotless and bright.

Wen Yu immediately thought of the dark room he occupied at the Zhou house. Next to his dilapidated bed was a half-broken fabric wardrobe that held only a few pieces of clothing. The walls and floors were severely damaged. Because the room faced away from the sun, it always smelled of damp mold. No matter how much he cleaned, that musty scent could never be fully removed.

Wen Yu stared blankly at the room, which even featured a scented diffuser. He thought to himself that a rat living in a gutter like him had somehow moved into a place meant for human beings.

Seeing that Wen Yu was silent, Uncle Chen assumed he was dissatisfied. He explained, “Since this was arranged on short notice, it may seem a bit simple. If you have any needs, please let me know, and I will arrange for additions.”

Wen Yu quickly said it was unnecessary. Uncle Chen stood outside the door and told him to rest well before going down to arrange dinner.

After Uncle Chen left, Wen Yu sat on the bed and then lay back. It is so soft, he thought.

He lay there for a while before unpacking. He had very few belongings, so it took him only ten minutes to finish. He then went into the bathroom to shower. Under the showerhead, Wen Yu thought expressionlessly that no matter what, he had to save Cheng Xiaoling. Then, he would take her away from the Zhou family forever. Anywhere would be fine, as long as it was not there.

At dinner time, Uncle Chen came to call him. Wen Yu discovered that Fu Chen had gone out, so he was alone in the dining room.

Uncle Chen briefed him on the Fu family situation. Fu Chengze and Shen Wanjun were often away. Fu Chen and Shen Yuqing were half-brothers. Fu Chengze and Shen Wanjun were in a second marriage; Fu Chen’s mother had died when he was very young.

Wen Yu had heard some rumors about the Fu family. For example, Fu Chengze had saved the daughter of the then-prosperous Lin family, Lin Yiyun. Being young and romantic, Lin Yiyun insisted on marrying him. Her health declined after giving birth to Fu Chen. Later, she allegedly discovered that Fu Chengze had an illegitimate son older than Fu Chen, and she died of a broken heart. Of course, these were just rumors, and Wen Yu did not know if they were true.

Before Shen Yuqing returned to the Fu family, he and his mother lived in a run-down neighborhood. Wen Xiaohui and Wen Yu had lived right next door to them. It was quite a humorous coincidence that two illegitimate sons had been neighbors. Wen Yu had been curious about Shen Yuqing’s father in the past, but he never expected it to be Fu Chengze.

The food at the Fu house was the best Wen Yu had ever eaten. Even someone like him, who had never seen luxury, could easily tell how high-quality and healthy the ingredients were. His appetite was usually small because he had often gone hungry as a child, causing his stomach to shrink. He was normally full after one bowl of rice, but today he actually wanted a second.

After dinner, Wen Yu went upstairs to preview his textbooks for the new semester. Before he knew it, it was 2:00 AM. Feeling thirsty, he decided to go downstairs for water. At the top of the stairs, looking down into the heavy darkness, he realized he had forgotten his phone. His room was a bit far from the stairs, so he was too lazy to go back. Remembering there was a light switch at the bottom, he decided to head down in the dark.

Feeling the handrail, he moved cautiously. After a few steps, he suddenly touched something warm.

What is this?

He touched it twice more. The texture was strange.

“How long do you plan on touching me?” a voice suddenly erupted right next to his ear. Fu Chen turned on his phone’s flashlight and held it under his chin.

Wen Yu jumped, startled by the sudden voice, and let out an involuntary cry. Once he realized it was Fu Chen, he quickly withdrew his hand and stepped back.

“Good evening,” Wen Yu said. He didn’t know what to call him. Calling him “Fu Chen” felt too familiar and strange. Calling him “Second Young Master” like Uncle Chen felt even stranger. “Lord Fu?” That sounded like a cheap television drama. He decided to omit a name entirely.

“What are you doing in the middle of the night?” Fu Chen asked with an unfriendly tone. He narrowed his eyes. “Are you trying to steal something?”

Wen Yu denied it immediately. “No, I was just thirsty and wanted some water.”

Fu Chen sneered. “You had better be.” He then walked straight upstairs.

The world before Wen Yu returned to total darkness.

The next morning, Uncle Chen called Wen Yu for breakfast. Wen Yu had woken up early to memorize vocabulary. He did not require much sleep, usually getting only four or five hours a day.

Uncle Chen tentatively called out to Fu Chen in the adjacent room. Wen Yu heard the sound of something being thrown against the door from inside.

Uncle Chen said to Wen Yu awkwardly, “The Young Master has a bit of a temper when he wakes up.”

That is just “a bit”? Wen Yu thought as he followed Uncle Chen to the dining room.

Breakfast was also delicious. The Fu family’s meals were clearly designed by a professional nutritionist, with a perfect balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fiber. In the past, Wen Yu thought simply having food was enough.

After eating, he helped the domestic staff clear the dishes. They insisted he shouldn’t, but he claimed he was too full and needed to move around to help his digestion. They couldn’t argue with him and let him help.

Wen Yu was no stranger to such tasks. At the Zhou house, Zhou Yuanyang’s attitude toward him was subtle. He allowed Shen Yazhi to torment Wen Yu in various ways, yet he didn’t completely ignore him, allowing him to attend school and visiting him on the rare occasion he remembered his existence.

Wen Yu’s treatment at the Zhou house was worse than that of a servant. With Shen Yazhi’s tacit permission, the servants could bully him at will. If Cheng Xiaoling hadn’t looked after him over the years, Wen Yu might have starved to death or found a place to hang himself long ago.