Ch 23: After My Mother Returned to the Rich Family

The main driving forces behind revising the English club’s script were three people: Ruan Cha, Hua Zhonghao, and a black-haired, long-haired girl named Sun Feng.

Now, they also had Fu Chen onboard.

Ruan Cha leaned lazily on the desk, pointing at the last blank space on the script marked with red, blue, and black notes after Fu Chen’s revisions. “Dripping water wears away stone? That reaction generates calcium bicarbonate.”

“Otherwise, oxidation works too.”

“Dripping water wears away stone,” Fu Chen said, almost writing it down as he spoke. He immediately matched it with the preceding line, penning a complementary phrase onto the script. Then, he looked up at Hua Zhonghao and Sun Feng. “Do either of you have other suggestions?”

Hua Zhonghao: “Nope.”

Sun Feng: “Really, none.”

After responding, the two exchanged glances and leaned toward each other to whisper.

Sun Feng: “I feel like I can’t get a word in edgewise.”

Hua Zhonghao shook his head. “No, it’s just that their brains are working way too fast. When Fu Chen asked me earlier, my mind blanked. I almost blurted out: hydrogen, helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, neon.”

Although they weren’t bad students and had no fear of exams, applying knowledge like this in everyday contexts sometimes required a bit more thought.

“And—” Hua Zhonghao sneaked a glance at the two on the opposite side, engrossed in discussing lines. “Think about the script we’ve reworked and the theme we’ve created. What do they look like now?”

Sun Feng cast a meaningful look at them and sighed. “Parents discussing how to educate their child.”

Hua Zhonghao & Sun Feng: “…”

The truth comes out unexpectedly!

The two shook their heads and dove back into the script, reminding themselves that with six roles, everyone needed to contribute.

“Fu Chen, are you free this weekend? Yesterday, I tried shooting hoops at home and couldn’t sink a single one in half an hour. That last outing with you was wasted—you didn’t teach me anything.”

Tang Ruobing leaned her chin on her hand and smiled as she spoke to Fu Chen. Her demeanor was refreshingly straightforward, lacking any shyness, and with her chin-length haircut, she fully lived up to her classmates’ nickname for her as the “tomboy.”

“I taught you?” Fu Chen spun his black ballpoint pen skillfully between his fingers, his expression puzzled as he glanced at Tang Ruobing for confirmation. “When did I teach you basketball?”

Tang Ruobing paused, startled. “Last month, when we all hung out—you gave me some tips.”

Fu Chen frowned deeply, thought for a moment, then shook his head with certainty. “Impossible. That must have been Ji Feiyang. You’re mistaken—I don’t teach people basketball.”

The only thing he remembered from last month was that Tang Ruobing and Ji Feiyang had been there together. As for what happened afterward… nothing significant enough to remember.

Mentioning Ji Feiyang, Fu Chen tapped the desk lightly, his eyes darkening. The materials Ji Feiyang had could pose a huge problem—especially in situations like what Ruan Cha encountered last week in the alley.

If someone from another school wanted to target Second High students, blocking their usual routes after school, the results could be catastrophic. Not everyone carried a self-defense baton in their bag, and random acts of crime weren’t something most people expected.

In hindsight, Fu Chen realized he had been too lax with Ji Feiyang. Tomorrow, he would confiscate and shred all the data booklets Ji Feiyang had compiled to prevent them from being used against Second High students in the future.

Fu Chen had already confiscated such booklets two or three times, but Ji Feiyang’s obsession with playing the information dealer was as relentless as wild grass—burn it, and it would grow back.

Last week, Fu Chen confiscated one book. By next week, another would emerge. Sometimes, Fu Chen wondered if Ji Feiyang had been related to the matchmaker god Yue Lao in his past life, given how a seventeen-year-old boy was so fixated on tracking relationships and teenage crushes.

With the incident involving Ruan Cha fresh in his mind, Fu Chen felt this was the perfect opportunity to seriously address the issue. If such data ever fell into the wrong hands, the consequences could be irreversible.

Although Fu Chen repeatedly and firmly denied Tang Ruobing’s statements, she showed no hint of frustration. Instead, she cheerfully admitted, “Ah? Then I must’ve remembered wrong. I hang out with you guys so often that the memories must’ve gotten jumbled.”

She then turned to Ruan Cha with a bright smile. “Ruan Cha, I love playing basketball with Fu Chen and the others. If you ever want to join, we’ll take you along. Even if they’re busy, I can teach you.”

Before Ruan Cha could respond, Fu Chen spoke up first. His tone was gentle but unmistakably direct. “Didn’t you just say you couldn’t sink a basket in half an hour? And you’re teaching Ruan Cha?”

Tang Ruobing: “…”

It was factual, but painfully blunt.

Fu Chen’s tone was no different from his usual calm demeanor, and there was no trace of sarcasm in his words. In truth, he had no intention of being condescending. However, the interaction left Tang Ruobing speechless.

Tang Ruobing had grown up in the same villa community as Ji Feiyang. They had been in the same kindergarten and elementary school, and according to Ji Feiyang, they were practically siblings who grew up playing together. On weekends, Fu Chen, Ji Feiyang, and a few friends would often meet up to play basketball, and Tang Ruobing sometimes joined them.

But with Ji Feiyang’s constant chatter and Fu Chen’s reserved nature, Tang Ruobing had never managed to have a private conversation with Fu Chen. Even in their class, she couldn’t find the opportunity, so she joined the English club, thinking it might help. Yet, to her dismay, Fu Chen rarely showed up to club activities—three appearances out of dozens of sessions were already a stretch.

Today, Tang Ruobing finally understood why Ji Feiyang always warned her not to mess with Fu Chen. According to Ji Feiyang, Fu Chen rarely resorted to physical confrontation, but his words could cut sharper than a knife.

Previously, Tang Ruobing dismissed Ji Feiyang’s warnings as jealousy over her interest in Fu Chen. Now, she wasn’t so sure. While Ji Feiyang’s jealousy remained unconfirmed, his words seemed about 90% accurate.

Seeing Tang Ruobing fall silent under Fu Chen’s response, Ruan Cha smiled lightly. “Thank you, but there’s no need. I usually stay home most of the time—I’m not much of an outdoor person.”

The last time she had played basketball was two years ago during a small-town match. Back then, a group of uncles and older cousins had practically handed her the win with deliberate mistakes.

For a homebody like Ruan Cha, nothing compared to the comfort of staying indoors—eating popsicles in an air-conditioned room during the summer, or curling up under a blanket near a fireplace during the winter.

Thinking of fireplaces, Ruan Cha felt a twinge of longing. Her grandfather’s house, though several times larger than her own, lacked a fireplace. Winters just didn’t feel the same without one. Sitting by the fire with family, eating hotpot, and occasionally glancing at the snow outside—it was the epitome of coziness.

“Being too reclusive isn’t good for your health,” Fu Chen said as he continued revising the script. Compared to his tone with Tang Ruobing, his words now carried a clear note of familiarity. “There’s an indoor basketball court at Grandfather Liang’s house. If you’re free, I can teach you.”

The bond between the two families, intertwined for forty years, couldn’t be severed overnight. Although Grandfather Liang had told Fu Chen he could still call him “Grandfather” as before, Fu Chen had chosen to address him as “Grandfather Liang” instead, respecting the reality of their now-separate lives.

Tang Ruobing, Hua Zhonghao, and Sun Feng: “…”

What a glaring double standard!

Ruan Cha’s focus was clearly different from everyone else’s. She turned her head to look at Fu Chen, her expression full of shock. “Didn’t you just say you don’t teach people?”

She emphasized the word “people” quite deliberately.

Fu Chen: “…”

For the first time, he found himself at a loss for words to explain a slip of the tongue.

“Alright, I get it,” Ruan Cha said, patting Fu Chen on the shoulder. Then she flicked her ponytail in a deliberately showy manner, her expression smug. “After hiding it for so long, you finally figured it out. I’m a fairy who came down from the heavens. Honestly, it’s a bit embarrassing.”

Hua Zhonghao, still reeling from Ruan Cha’s earlier antics with the “bird”: ???

Ruan Cha, seriously, when it comes to being over-the-top, no one can compete with you.

Fu Chen, too, was momentarily stunned by Ruan Cha’s declaration. Then, suddenly, a chuckle escaped him.

It was true that he disliked teaching others basketball—it felt like a waste of effort. But Ruan Cha was different. In Fu Chen’s mind, she was family.

Teaching family wasn’t a chore; it was only natural.

Besides, given that Ruan Cha’s mother had suffered for over forty years due to the mix-up between the Liang and Wei families, Fu Chen felt a certain responsibility to look after Ruan Cha on behalf of his late mother.

He had plenty of reasons to justify his actions, but after hearing Ruan Cha’s words, Fu Chen chose not to argue. Instead, his lips curved into a faint smile, and his eyes carried a hint of laughter. “Hmm, a fairy.”

The rest of the classroom: … Fine.

It’s not scary when someone is flamboyant. What’s scary is when someone plays along.

Hua Zhonghao couldn’t bear to watch anymore. As he averted his eyes, his gaze landed on the updated program list. Recognizing a name, his chubby body swayed, and his eyes widened like copper bells. His voice echoed across the floor, “Fu Chen! You’re in the program?!”

Due to its focus on international education, Second High held numerous events, big and small, throughout the year. Yet, Fu Chen had never participated in any of them. Over time, people stopped expecting his involvement.

Last year, during the campus festival, Hua Zhonghao had asked Fu Chen with a sliver of hope, only to receive the predictable answer: no.

Hearing Hua Zhonghao, Tang Ruobing immediately flipped through the program list. Seeing Fu Chen’s name, she felt a twinge of regret. If only she hadn’t agreed to perform in her class program so early—then she could have shared the stage with him.

Fu Chen acknowledged Hua Zhonghao’s question with a simple “Yes.”

Then, as everyone speculated about what role he would play, Fu Chen calmly added, “I’m playing the saxophone as accompaniment for Ruan Cha.”

The room fell silent: ???

Wait. If they remembered correctly, Ruan Cha was playing the erhu and suona, right?

Adding a saxophone to that ensemble… Should they prepare to sell earplugs at the festival? It could be a profitable side gig.

Sitting nearby, Tang Ruobing frowned in displeasure, clearly unable to understand why Fu Chen would agree to this. They weren’t even biological siblings. Even if they were, was it really worth joining her on stage just to embarrass themselves?

Meanwhile, Ruan Cha enthusiastically nodded, clenching her fists in excitement. “With my suona and your saxophone, we’ll make sure the judges’ ears get pregnant!”

Although she only had basic skills in both instruments, there was still time to practice. Now that Fu Chen was joining her, Ruan Cha’s confidence had doubled.

Seeing the look of utter determination on her face—like she was ready to charge into battle with a cannon—Hua Zhonghao swallowed nervously.

Pregnant ears?

No, no, they were more likely to have a miscarriage…