BDBE 24

Chapter 24 Cookies

That day after school, Shen Wanchao and Zhou Mingchen had just walked out of the school gate when they saw Tao Yan standing across the street. 

Despite being a high-income earner, Tao Yan still wore the same brand of cheap plaid shirts in different colors for years, with heavy, high-prescription glasses perched on his nose. His most expensive possessions were his designer backpack and the computer inside. 

Today, his plaid shirt was wrinkled, and a thin layer of stubble had appeared on his chin, making him look ten years older than his actual age. 

Shen Wanchao hadn’t expected Tao Yan to come looking for him. 

He told Zhou Mingchen to go back first, and then went to meet Tao Yan. 

Zhou Mingchen felt Tao Yan looked familiar and wanted to ask him a few more questions, but Shen Wanchao, as if his feet were greased, slipped across the street in an instant. 

“Why are you here?” Shen Wanchao noticed Read onhis fatigue. “Working overtime again?” 

“I couldn’t message you beforehand while you were in class, so I thought I’d just wait for you at the school gate.” Tao Yan smiled, his face showing the dark circles from years of working overtime and staying up late. 

Tao Yan said he had something to tell Shen Wanchao, but it couldn’t be explained in a short time, so the two found a coffee shop near the school and sat down. 

After school, many students were having light meals and doing homework in the coffee shop, and a few girls were taking photos with their coffee. 

Shen Wanchao and Tao Yan chose a quiet spot in the corner and sat facing each other. 

As soon as they sat down, Tao Yan went straight to the point: “Lu Yingtang is back in China.” 

Shen Wanchao’s hand, which was about to scan the QR code to order, paused. He looked up at Tao Yan with an inscrutable expression, as if the news meant nothing to him. 

Tao Yan continued, “He went to the First Research Institute in Jingjiang City. He’s been messaging us old classmates lately, saying he wants to organize a class reunion.” 

“I haven’t received any messages.” Shen Wanchao finished ordering his drink [stolen content]and handed his phone to Tao Yan. 

“An Americano with an extra shot is fine. I have to go back to the company to work overtime later.” Tao Yan didn’t take the phone. “What do you think?” 

Shen Wanchao smiled and shrugged. “What can I think? In my current state, it’s impossible for me to go to a class reunion.” 

His tone was relaxed, but Tao Yan couldn’t smile. He sighed, “That’s true. It’s best if you don’t go.” 

“You came just to tell me about Lu Yingtang’s return to China?” Shen Wanchao asked. 

Of course not. A phone call would have sufficed, there was no need to come in person. 

But thinking about what he was about to say, Tao Yan felt a little embarrassed and hesitated. 

Shen Wanchao was patient and didn’t rush him; he nodded to the waiter who brought the food. 

Finally, Tao Yan stopped hesitating. Holding his iced Americano, he said, “Recently, someone else has been staying at my place, unauthorized copy so I came to see you and check if you’re alright…” 

Shen Wanchao understood and smiled, “You mean to tell me it’s inconvenient for me to stay here anymore, right?” 

“No.” Tao Yan’s face flushed slightly for some reason. “You’re welcome to stay anytime, as long as you let me know in advance, I’ll make that person get lost.” 

Shen Wanchao thought of the Alpha at Tao Yan’s house last time. 

After a moment, he patted Tao Yan’s hand on the table, reassuring him, “You don’t need to worry about me anymore. Zhou Hui already knows who I am. That’s my home anyway, I’ll be fine.” 

“Ah.” Tao Yan was surprised, “You already told him?” 

Shen Wanchao nodded. 

“That’s good, then I’m relieved.” Tao Yan breathed a sigh of relief. 

The two chatted about various trivial matters in their lives. 

Tao Yan worked more than ten hours a day, work occupied most of his time, so his conversations mostly revolved around work. 

Shen Wanchao heard him say that there was another big project coming up, and the entire R&D department was working overtime like crazy to get it online before the end of the second quarter. He hadn’t been home for three days, and slept in the company’s break room. 

He had squeezed in a moment to see Shen Wanchao, and would have to rush back to the company afterward. 

Shen Wanchao felt exhausted for him. 

Although Shen Wanchao himself was a workaholic, he did what he loved, and he was happy even when he was busy. 

Unlike him, Tao Yan hadn’t started this job out of love. Even though he was capable and had been promoted to middle management after so many years, Shen Wanchao still occasionally heard Tao Yan admit that he wasn’t happy. 

Shen Wanchao thought this conversation would also end with Tao Yan saying, “Sorry for complaining so much, but life goes on, I need this job to support my family, I will just bear with it.” 

Unexpectedly, Tao Yan suddenly asked, 

“Xiao Wan, do you think I should quit my job?” 

Shen Wanchao looked up in surprise; he even forgot to spit out the straw in his mouth. It took him a while to react, and he used the tip of his tongue to push the straw out, “Have you made up your mind?” 

Tao Yan looked troubled, as if he had changed his mind again, and shifted the topic, “Never mind, I haven’t thought about it yet. I actually wanted to ask you…” 

“Didn’t you say at the beginning that you would never tell Zhou Hui about becoming younger?” Tao Yan asked, “What made you change your mind?” 

Shen Wanchao was a little taken aback by his sudden change of topic, and after a moment of hesitation, he said, “Uh, actually I really didn’t plan to tell him.” 

“Then why…?” 

“That guy guessed it,” Shen Wanchao sighed helplessly. “He recognized me the moment he saw me, but he insisted on pretending he knew nothing. I could tell he already knew, and at first I thought about struggling to keep it a secret for a while longer. But in the end, I gave up. It’s more convenient for him to know, at least I don’t have to pretend in front of him. You don’t know, pretending to be young in front of him makes me feel awkward and exhausted. Zhou Mingchen alone has already given me a headache, and then there’s Zhou Hui…” 

Shen Wanchao suddenly realized something and stopped: “Sorry, stolen contentI’ve been complaining so much.” 

“It’s okay, you always listen to my complaints, that’s what friends should do. Besides, your words have given me a lot of inspiration.” Tao Yan’s smile was less burdened. 

Inspiration? 

Shen Wanchao didn’t understand what he meant. 

After sitting for a while, Tao Yan stood up: “It’s about time, I should go back to the company. I won’t keep you from going home, let’s call it a day.” 

Shen Wanchao stood up as well, not arguing with Tao Yan about paying the bill, and the two walked out of the coffee shop together. 

Tao Yan hailed a taxi. Before getting in, he said to Shen Wanchao, “Thank you for today. Go find Zhou Hui quickly, don’t keep him waiting.” 

Tao Yan pointed across the street to a black Maybach parked there. 

He didn’t know when it had arrived, but it had been waiting. 

Inside the Maybach, Zhou Hui was wearing earphones and talking on the phone. 

On the other end of the line was Qi Xiao. 

The DNA test results came out today, and Qi Xiao had immediately sent the report to Zhou Hui. He even called to explain it to him.

He’d never been so attentive and considerate before. 

“Did you see the document I sent you? The test results ruled out the possibility that they’re direct blood relatives. Is there anything else you don’t understand? Ask quickly, or you’ll miss this opportunity.” 

Qi Xiao’s voice was lazy. 

Zhou Hui smiled, a playful and relaxed smile, without a trace of seriousness. 

Unfortunately, Qi Xiao couldn’t see it, otherwise he would have been furious. 

“Really?” Zhou Hui asked deliberately, “Could your equipment be malfunctioning?” 

Qi Xiao retorted angrily, “Even if you malfunction, the equipment won’t. It’s worth millions!” 

“Okay, I’ll take a closer look when I get back. I’m picking up my child from school now. Talk to you later.” 

“No, I won’t. I’ve already mailed the paper report; it should arrive at your house tomorrow. That’s all, bye.” 

As soon as the call ended, Shen Wanchao opened the car door and got into the back seat. 

“Sorry to keep you waiting.” Shen Wanchao asked casually, “Who were you talking to?” 

His tone was so natural, as if it was his duty to ask. Zhou Hui didn’t notice anything amiss and replied, “Nobody, just some company stuff.” 

“Why did you decide to pick us up today?” 

“I finished things early, so I left work early and came over.” 

“…Do you have anything to eat?” 

“Hungry?” 

“Of course.” 

“Here, some cookies, just to tide you over.” 

“Oh… crunch crunch…” 

Only Zhou Mingchen, who seemed to be playing on his phone, raised his eyelids; his gaze sweeped back and forth between the two of them several times. 

It was this subtle detail that made him feel uneasy. 

It was hard to explain in words; it was perfectly normal at first glance, but anyone in the situation would notice something was off. It was really intriguing… 

Zhou Mingchen narrowed his eyes. 

…. 

A week after the first monthly exam, the sky was clear and blue. 

Qiongya School welcomed its annual spring sports meet. 

The sports meet started this Thursday and lasted for two days, seamlessly connecting Saturday and Sunday, essentially a four-day holiday. The students were already bursting with excitement a week in advance. 

The person under the most pressure these two days was Ms. Yang Liu, the homeroom teacher of Class 1. 

Class 1 was a humanities class; everyone was usually well-behaved and only knew how to sit in the classroom ​visit our site​and memorize, with very few students skilled in sports. 

Therefore, when it came to signing up for the sports meet, everyone tacitly avoided the sidelines for fear of being selected. 

The class’s only remaining hope rested on three students with athletic talents, including Fang Chi. Regardless of their usual training, each of them was responsible for at least three events, a heavy responsibility. 

However, the situation wasn’t completely hopeless, because Class 1 also had Shen Chao and Zhou Mingchen. 

Yang Liu thanked heaven and earth, thanked the principal for giving her Shen Chao, a transfer student who was both academically and athletically gifted. 

Following the call of the outstanding students, other students enthusiastically signed up. 

In the end, Class 1 successfully filled up the registration forms, with no events left unattended, unlike Class 2, which reportedly had no one registered for the 1500-meter race. 

After the participants were finalized, Yang Liu meticulously prepared all the necessary supplies, including bottled water, energy drinks, glucose, towels, and sun umbrellas… determined to ensure that the students of Class 1 were the most carefree participants in the sports meet. 

Zhou Mingchen, one of the students, was helping to carry bottled water to the playground. 

Huo Tingsong sneaked over from Class 13’s area and waved to Zhou Mingchen. 

Zhou Mingchen put down his water and walked over: “Did you stole something? Why are you acting all sneaky?” 

“Do you remember what you promised me at the resort?” Huo Tingsong asked. 

Zhou Mingchen, of course, remembered and found it quite amusing, “What do you want me to do for you?” 

“Ahem.” Huo Tingsong cleared his throat, his ears slightly red, “It’s nothing much. Well, I have a high jump event later, and if all goes well, I’ll get first place. Remember to bring Shen Chao to watch.” 

Zhou Mingchen had never seen him like this before, and he was overjoyed. He shook Huo Tingsong’s shoulder and readily agreed, “Okay, I’ll bring him to see your heroic victory, Young Master Huo.” 

“Stop being silly.” Huo Tingsong rolled his eyes at him, “When you meet someone you like in the future, you might be even less successful than me.” 

“I won’t, I have no interest in dating.” Zhou Mingchen scoffed.