That Stupid, Pretentious Young Master Deserves To Be Punished - Chapter 20

He really could not figure out how Si Xuan, a computer science major, had become entangled with Shen Jia Yu from the art department. How could an ordinary person like Si Xuan provoke the Second Young Master Shen? Moreover, the Second Young Master seemed to bear a genuine grudge against him.

Si Xuan said nothing, his pitch-black eyes gazing quietly out the window. His gaze was deep, as if he were lost in thought. “To be honest, I do not know either.” Possibly, it was because he was mistaken for throwing a ball at Jia Yu on the playground last week. Shen Jia Yu could not be that petty, could he? Si Xuan wondered aimlessly, the Second Young Master’s captivating, narrow phoenix eyes once again appearing in his mind.

Ye Hao looked at Si Xuan’s profile with concern. Si Xuan’s face was extremely chiseled; from this angle, one could see his clear, sharp jawline, and his eyes, which seemed to be tempered by the night, were incredibly profound. His gaze shifted slightly, and he lowered his voice. “Should we call the police?”

“No need. I will handle my own affairs; I do not want to trouble you.” He was already numb with pain, unable to distinguish whether his stomach hurt more or his hand did. Feeling the corner of the box in his pocket, he let out a silent laugh, whispering affectionately, “Second Young Master, look forward to it.”

It was past eleven o’clock at night when he returned to the Shen family mansion. The old butler was already waiting outside. As Jia Yu approached, the butler bowed respectfully. “Young Master, you are back. Would you like a late-night snack? The small kitchen has prepared something.”

“Go back to rest; I do not need anything.”

The butler bowed again. “Young Master, the Eldest Young Master is waiting for you in the study.”

Shen Jia Yu frowned. He detested the fact that Shen Youlin required him to report to the study every single night. He felt like a workhorse that never got a break, forced to summarize and reflect daily. How could there be so many insights to ponder? It was simply ridiculous.

“I know.”

He pushed open the door at the end of the corridor, and a soft, warm orange light spilled out. Shen Youlin was, as always, severe and rigid; he looked flawlessly meticulous at any time of day. Before Shen Jia Yu even entered, his voice preceded him.

“What do you want?”

Shen Youlin saw his brother’s jade-like face wearing unconcealed impatience; his hair was slightly messy, and he smelled of alcohol and the lingering cold of the outdoors. Only Shen Jia Yu dared to show such an expression in front of him.

He set down his fountain pen and looked at his troublesome brother with a scrutinizing gaze. “What did you do at Wansheng tonight?”

Shen Jia Yu’s expression tightened. “You had someone follow me again!”

“Do I need to send someone to follow you? Is the commotion you made not enough? The young master of the Shen family is so majestic, making a whole table of people smile for you.” Shen Youlin stared at Shen Jia Yu with a sharp, intimidating gaze that required no anger to command authority, his every word pressing closer.

But Shen Jia Yu, who had grown up under this pressure, ignored the man whom everyone else feared, turning a deaf ear.

“Since you already know, why ask me?”

“Take your hands out.” Shen Youlin pulled a pitch-black ebony ruler from his drawer and stood up, his expression solemn.

Shen Jia Yu extended his left hand without a word, his eyelids drooping as if looking at the ground. Internally, however, he was cursing: Hit me, then. Just beat me to death.

Snap! Snap! Snap!

The black ruler whistled through the air, landing mercilessly on Shen Jia Yu’s palm. Several red welts instantly appeared on those snowy-white palms. Shen Youlin always did things by the book, never showing mercy even to his own brother.

Shen Jia Yu retracted his hand, not sparing Shen Youlin a single glance, and walked directly toward the door. Behind him came Shen Youlin’s cold voice: “Do not forget the family gathering the weekend after next.”

His only answer was the silence of his retreating back.

After setting down his car keys and lying on the bed for less than two seconds, his door was knocked on again. A gravelly voice sounded from outside: “Young Master, the Eldest Young Master asked me to bring you this medicine.”

Shen Jia Yu opened the door, and the old butler bowed and handed over the ointment. After taking the medicine, he casually tossed the tube into the air; it performed a graceful arc before landing perfectly in the trash can. “Tell him I used it.”

The old butler looked as if he wanted to say more, but the door was shut in the next second. He sighed. When the young master was little, he was so obedient and cute, always clinging to the Eldest Young Master; how had they become so at odds? As a butler, he dared not interfere in his master’s affairs.

He knocked on the study door. “Eldest Young Master, the Young Master threw the medicine away again.”

There was a moment of silence inside. “You may go.”

“Yes, Eldest Young Master.” The butler bowed and withdrew.

Shen Youlin rubbed his temples. On his desk lay a document bearing a name: Si Xuan. He felt troubled. My brother truly cannot hold his temper. Because a few contracts were snatched, he took action in front of others. With that thought, he made a phone call.

The call connected. “Zhang Yi, tomorrow, transfer the order intended for Situ to Tianji, and arrange several more contracts worth around one million for them.”

A deep, pleasant male voice came through the receiver: “Understood, President Shen.”

It was nearly midnight by the time Shen Jia Yu finished his bath and came out. He opened his phone, saw 99+ notifications, scrolled for a while, and opened a chat box.

[Wang Yue: Second Young Master, are you going car racing next Sunday? Hongshan is organizing a challenge race, and they have invited a few professional teams.]

Jia Yu felt this was interesting.

[Shen Jia Yu: Which team?] [Wang Yue: I guarantee the Second Young Master will be satisfied. It is the Devil’s Claw team that just won an award at the Sears Rally.] [Shen Jia Yu: Going.] [Wang Yue: Alright, Second Young Master, I will arrange it.] [Wang Yue: By the way, there is a pool party that night. Is the Second Young Master interested?] [Shen Jia Yu: Not going.] [Wang Yue: Are you really not going, Second Young Master? I heard the film queen Wang is going to be there.] [Shen Jia Yu: Who?] [Wang Yue: Second Young Master, you really do not watch any entertainment gossip at all, do you? The one who has a scandal with your brother. Everyone in the circle says she is going to marry into a wealthy family. Maybe she will really become your sister-in-law.] [Shen Jia Yu: Not interested. Whoever Shen Youlin marries is none of my business.] [Wang Yue: Haha, Second Young Master probably hopes Eldest Young Master marries and has kids soon so he stops managing you.] [Shen Jia Yu: Yes.] [Wang Yue: You are always so direct, Second Young Master.]

Shen Jia Yu also received a message from Ye Jin, asking to meet on Wednesday night. After replying, he dimmed the screen. He truly wished Shen Youlin would marry and have a team of kids soon so he could manage them to his heart’s content. With that thought, he drifted into a hazy sleep.

He had a bizarre dream. In the dream, the sky was blood-red, and blood-red petals were floating everywhere; when they fell into his palm, they turned into tiny insects. “Come back… come back…” A ethereal female voice came from the sky. Shen Jia Yu turned to look and saw a towering shadow standing behind him, with the faint outline of a rotating disk behind her. He wanted to walk closer to get a better look, but then he woke up.

Shen Jia Yu reflected on the dream; it seemed to be a giant goddess sitting cross-legged.

Why had he dreamt of this? He had not watched any sci-fi movies lately.

At that moment, his door was knocked on, and the housekeeper’s voice sounded: “Young Master, are you awake?”

He opened the door, and the maids saw the sleepy-eyed Second Young Master. It felt like an arrow had struck their hearts, their eyes glazing over. The housekeeper coughed with displeasure, and the other maids suddenly came to their senses, lowering their heads and not daring to look a second time.

“Young Master, these are the new clothes delivered this season. This set is for the family banquet.”

Hanging at the very front was a moon-white robe, with silver dark patterns embroidered on the chest and cuffs. It looked fluid like water, with a delicate texture that looked expensive and exquisite.

Shen Jia Yu could not help but smile. Shen Youlin’s aesthetic truly never changed—always that aristocratic elegance and classicism. “Put them inside.”

The maid pushed the rack and hung the clothes one by one in the walk-in closet. Shen Jia Yu’s closet was surprisingly large; the hundred-square-meter space was packed full, and the display cabinet in the center held a row of watches, any one of which could buy a house.

The maids worked diligently, eyes downcast, not daring to look around, and soon finished and closed the door as they left.

Shen Jia Yu checked the time, got up, changed his clothes, and drove to school.

In the past few days, Si Xuan had been exceptionally busy. After spending a night in the hospital, he rushed to class the next day and had to run business errands in the evening, working nearly all night to code. Qinghe was currently expanding and had solicited several investments, but none had come through; only one had shown a clear inclination—Zero-Point Investment’s Zhang Sheng.

Si Xuan had been in contact with him for nearly a whole month, having arranged several wine meetings and golf games. After testing him in every way, Zhang Sheng still had not committed. Only recently, through acquaintances, did Si Xuan learn that Zhang Sheng loved skiing, racing, and parachuting—everything involving extreme sports.

So, Si Xuan sent Zhang Sheng a message.

[Si Xuan: President Zhang, I heard there is a car race at Hongshan next Sunday. The scale is quite large and many people have been invited. Will you be going?]

After a few hours, Zhang Sheng replied.

[Zero-Point Zhang Sheng: President Si is interested too? I did not think a tech-focused person like you would like racing.] [Si Xuan: To be honest with you, President Zhang, I am indeed quite interested.] [Zero-Point Zhang Sheng: Then I would be honored to go with you, President Si. Are you going on the track? I am planning to go for a couple of laps myself.]

Si Xuan pondered for a moment and quickly typed a few words.

[Si Xuan: I have the same intention. Looking forward to meeting you on Sunday, President Zhang.] [Zero-Point Zhang Sheng: Very well, see you on Sunday then.]

Si Xuan clicked on Ye Hao’s avatar.

[Si Xuan: Do you have a racing car? I need to borrow one.] [Ye Hao: Why do you suddenly need a racing car? Will a sports car not do?] [Si Xuan: It is like this, I have an appointment with President Zhang from Zero-Point Investment to go to Hongshan for a few laps.] [Ye Hao: Ah, President Zhang has that hobby too? Fine, I will go ask around and see who has one.]

Closing his phone, Si Xuan wrote code on his computer while the professor on the podium rambled on. He had to get Zero-Point’s investment secured quickly.

The bell rang. Si Xuan closed his computer, put it in his backpack, and stood up to head to the Wensi Building. The next class was “Ideological and Moral Cultivation,” a required major course that was sometimes shared with other departments.

He hurried, having only 15 minutes between classes to travel from one building to another; time was very tight. The surrounding students were chattering about gossip, but Si Xuan, deep in thought about how to write his program, was completely immersed in his own world and paid no attention.

As a result, he collided with someone at the corner of the stairs. Si Xuan subconsciously reached out to steady them.