Chapter 41

The Lu family was raising a pig.
The whole situation was bizarrely hilarious.
The Lu family, a top-tier financial conglomerate. The Lu family mansion occupied the most valuable piece of land in the entire city. Their garden had been personally designed by a renowned international master.
Currently, a happy pig was frolicking across the lush flower beds and lawns.
Lu Zhen watched silently, his expression giving no hint of what the young master was thinking.
He had just fed the pig, washed his hands, and searched online: Do mini pigs grow bigger?
The first result on the webpage was a single, massive character: , "Yes."
Lu Zhen: "..."
He walked back into the garden, gazed at the lively, cheerful little pig, and fell into deep thought.
Old Master Lu, leaning on his cane, came over and watched alongside his grandson for a while before clearing his throat. "If you like it, keep it. Even if it gets fat... or big, it's fine. We have plenty of space at home."
"..." Lu Zhen wanted to explain but thought better of it. "Alright."
For a moment, grandfather and grandson stood in silence, side by side, admiring the pig in the gentle spring sunlight.
After a while, Old Master Lu seemed to remember something and glanced at Lu Zhen. "Last time... did you see your mother?"
Lu Zhen lowered his eyes slightly. "Yes, I did."
Old Master Lu let out a long sigh. "So many years have passed in the blink of an eye..."
Lu Zhen's mother, Su Yumin, came from a humble background and was considered an unsuitable match for the eldest son of the Lu family back in the day. However, Su Yumin was a stunning beauty who had captivated many. Lu Zhen's father had spent a fortune to win her over and, defying his family's objections, married her.
In Lu Zhen's memory, his mother was indeed extraordinarily beautiful. Throughout his father's short life, he often lost his composure due to jealousy and possessiveness. Lu Zhen didn't know if their family was normal compared to others, because it fell apart all too quickly.
A car accident took his father's life, and his mother suffered a mental breakdown, remaining in recovery to this day.
What pained him was that she had grown resistant to her own son. Whenever Lu Zhen approached, she would become anxious and uneasy, trying to keep her distance.
Lu Zhen had never told anyone, but he often visited her alone.
However, because of Su Yumin's condition, he rarely got close. He would just watch from outside her hospital room and, when she wasn't there, replace the flower in the vase by her bed.
The day he went with Lu Linyuan to see her, he had actually visited not long before.
But for certain reasons, Lu Zhen kept that to himself.
"How can a birth mother not recognize her own son? Lu Zhen, if you have time, visit her more often. An old man like me isn't in a position to go, and she doesn't welcome me anyway. I still have to trouble Linyuan to run errands..."
Lu Zhen's tone was very light: "No need to trouble Uncle from now on, I'll go myself."
"Hmm, Linyuan's status isn't quite appropriate either..." Old Master Lu said, then suddenly started coughing, "Cough, cough!"
Lu Zhen quickly supported him, his brow slightly furrowed: "I'll have Dr. Liu come check on you later."
Old Master Lu waved his hand dismissively. Just then, a gentle, concerned voice came from behind: "Dad, why are you coughing again?"
Lu Linyuan walked over quickly and patted Old Master Lu's back: "Are you taking the medicine I prescribed last time? Don't forget to take it three times a day."
Old Master Lu caught his breath, "Alright now! Don't worry about this old man, you all go attend to your busy schedules."
After Lu Zhen left, Lu Linyuan stayed with Old Master Lu for a while longer. Only after the old man had rested did Lu Linyuan leave the Lu family mansion. Passing through the garden, he happened to see the little pot-bellied pig strolling leisurely.
He glanced back, and a servant immediately stepped forward to explain: "The young master bought it."
"Oh?" A smile appeared in Lu Linyuan's eyes as he asked with interest: "Did the young master buy it for himself? Or, for someone else?"
The servant shook his head: "The young master didn't say, but it seems he has no plans to give it away for now."
Lu Linyuan made a noncommittal sound, then walked out the main gate with a faint smile and got into the waiting car.
His assistant handed him a document. Lu Linyuan took it and skimmed through it casually before suddenly asking: "How is the young master doing at school? Anything noteworthy?"
The assistant replied: "The young master played a piano piece at the school arts festival and was very well-received."
Lu Linyuan raised an eyebrow, then asked with a smile: "What about that classmate of his? Chu, Yin?"
The assistant seemed puzzled by the question about this person. After thinking for a moment, he responded: "This girl is also quite popular at school, but she doesn't really interact with the young master."
"Is that so..."
Lu Linyuan smiled, then waved his hand, signaling the driver to leave the mansion.
"Keep an eye on this child."
"Yes, sir."
…
Since forcibly giving that pig to Lu Zhen that day, Chu Yin indeed hadn't received any gifts from the dog man afterward.
But she secretly observed Lu Zhen for a few days.
If that dog man really had any inappropriate thoughts, she needed to nip them in the bud.
However, Lu Zhen was typically hard to read. Even after raising the pig for several days, he remained composed and unfazed, neither pleased nor bothered by the pig, which was quite misleading.
Chu Yin pondered for a while but couldn't figure it out. Why did Lu Zhen give a gift this time? The previous times had all had some basis.
For example, the solid gold Buddha statue was because she had terrible luck in the draw, and the expensive pen was in return for her cookies, so why give a gift this time?
Could it be that he was also impressed by her handsome male disguise at the arts festival?
In her previous life, she hadn't noticed, did that dog man have such preferences...?
Chu Yin began to wonder if helping Lu Zhen and Liang Yueqi write their romantic storyline was still the wrong direction. If she sent Lu Zhen a passionate, devastatingly handsome man instead, would it have a different effect?
...It seemed she still needed to use her imagination.
But as soon as she got to school, Chu Yin felt a headache coming on when she saw the passionate young man blocking her path.
That first-year junior was named Hao Diao, and his name really was something else.
To be fair, this junior wasn't bad-looking, he was a fair-skinned, clean-cut younger guy. But in the April weather, he was wearing an outrageously flashy sleeveless tank top, revealing two bare, pale arms.
Chu Yin really couldn't bring herself to look at him.
If she had to describe it, he was like a peacock spreading its tail, but with its feathers plucked, exposing its rear, that kind of vibe.
Hao Diao stood in front of her, still acting coy: "Senior Chu, I wonder how your thoughts have been these past few days."
Chu Yin: "? Thoughts about what."
She had been considering whether to take economics or a minor language for her elective this semester.
Hao Diao batted his big, doll-like eyes: "About me being the top."
"..." Chu Yin paused for a second. "Sorry, that's not within my considerations."
Hao Diao looked on the verge of tears: "It must be because I'm not good enough, so Senior doesn't want me..."
Chu Yin was utterly merciless: "Glad you know."
Hao Diao: "..." Couldn't keep up the act.
Am I not charming enough to earn even a shred of your pity?! I don't believe it!!
Hao Diao was about to continue his performance when suddenly someone bumped into him from the side. He wobbled like a wave and was flung aside, letting out a shriek: "What are you doing?!"
Han Chuying silently stepped in front of Chu Yin, righteous and stern: "Stinky man! Don't touch my sister!"
With that, she took Chu Yin's arm and walked away.
Hao Diao stomped his feet three times in anger, Where did this little bitch come from?! Trying to steal my woman!
As Han Chuying walked into the academic building with Chu Yin, she gave her a quick rundown: "Hao Diao is pretty popular among the local gays because he's decent-looking, but don't think he's some rare gem! After all, you know how it is these days, bottoms are everywhere."
Chu Yin: "...I don't know."
Comrade Xiao Han really knew a lot. Chu Yin sometimes even suspected she was a genius, otherwise, how could she know so much random stuff every day and still rank second in exams??
"Anyway, quite a few people at school have been 'gayed' by them. This time, because you're so handsome, they actually went straight for you."
Chu Yin: "Should I be touched?"
"No need!" Han Chuying escorted her to the door of Class 5, looking serious. "Sis, you must stay beautifully single and not get lured away by these stinky men, oh, and some sisters too."
Chu Yin nodded: "Okay." She really had no such plans.
Dealing with one dog of a man was already enough.
Han Chuying continued: ", That way, your beauty remains public property! Everyone can appreciate it!"
Just then, a few girls from other classes happened to pass by. Hearing that resolute declaration, they nodded in agreement.
"Yes, yes!"
"If my sister doesn’t love me, she shouldn’t love anyone else either!"
Chu Yin: ...Excuse me.
…
Now that spring had arrived and flowers were blooming, Quiwen’s curriculum for the semester had become much more diverse than the previous one.
Physical education classes, which were usually held in temperature-controlled gyms with occasional swimming sessions, now offered a wide range of options this semester. Basically, Quiwen had hired specialized instructors for nearly every sport found in athletic competitions, making the selection of PE classes the hottest topic among students.
"Sister Yin, Sister Yin, which class are you picking?" Song Zhaolin asked.
Many in the class were curious, and quite a few wanted to sign up for the same class as Chu Yin. Zhao Yuxiong and the others subtly turned their ears in her direction.
Chu Yin’s attitude toward PE was very traditional, slack off whenever possible, and if slacking wasn’t an option, find a way to make it happen. That way, she could secretly study!
So, she had no intention of taking a class with a large group, it would seriously interfere with her slacking plans.
"Don’t ask." Chu Yin pushed Song Zhaolin’s head aside.
Zhao Yuxiong and the others immediately turned back, disappointed.
Song Zhaolin: "Let me give you some recommendations, fencing has the most handsome guys, tennis has the most beauties, oh, and then there’s basketball. Basketball has the most blockheads, you know, the kind of big, dumb jocks."
Zhao Yuxiong, who had been quietly listening, felt personally attacked: "Zhaolin, you’re talking nonsense!"
Song Zhaolin stuck out his tongue and made a face.
Chu Yin, scrolling through the course selection system on her phone, sighed: "Linlin, the fact that you’ve survived this long without being beaten to death is truly a miracle of humanity."
Song Zhaolin: "Well, I guess I have to thank my brother for sparing my life."
The system allowed her to see the number of students enrolled in each class. As Song Zhaolin had said, fencing and tennis were popular courses, nearly full already. Chu Yin skipped over those and instead set her sights on the class with only eight people enrolled,
Sanda (Chinese kickboxing).
Song Zhaolin sneakily peeked at the course Chu Yin selected and almost choked,
That’s his Sister Yin for you!!
After the confirmation prompt popped up on her phone screen, Chu Yin felt assured that her PE class quality for the upcoming semester was secured and was quite satisfied.
The course selection system closed that same day, and the very next day, they had their first PE class.
Song Zhaolin, ever the show-off, had chosen the tennis class with the most beauties. Jiang Yan picked table tennis. No one in the class had chosen the same course as Chu Yin. Just to be safe, Chu Yin also checked the script and confirmed that Lu Zhen hadn’t chosen Sanda either. Everything was perfectly satisfactory.
Until she saw Hao Diao in front of the Sanda training hall.
Chu Yin: "..."
System, get out here right now.
Study System: Squeak.
"Why wasn’t Hao Diao written into the script?? Are you looking down on cannon fodder characters?"
Study System: "You’re really putting me in a tough spot here."
Chu Yin: "..."
Hao Diao hadn’t actually inquired about Chu Yin’s course selection. He had chosen Sanda purely because he thought there would be more tough guys here. The moment he saw Chu Yin, he even felt a bit like he’d been caught cheating.
But then, his heart fluttered again: "Oh my god, Senior is so cool! Ahhhh!"
Chu Yin: "..."
The majority of students in the Sanda class were boys, with only a few girls who had been reassigned there after failing to sign up on time. They all recognized Chu Yin and were surprised to see her here.
But considering his academic performance, it was easy to understand, he was probably just here to slack off.
Even Hao Diao, who had finished warming up and wanted to flirt with her, was moved by Chu Yin’s ability to remain focused and solve problems amid the noise. He actually felt too embarrassed to bother her.
It wasn’t until after class that Hao Diao managed to stop Chu Yin, who had already packed up her workbook and was about to leave.
"Senior, you didn’t practice properly during the teacher’s lesson," Hao Diao said, showing off his pale, toned arms with a teasing look. "Want to give it a try with me?"
Chu Yin: "..." Try? She might just beat his head in.
Hao Diao noticed the rejection and a subtle hint of danger in her eyes, so he quickly averted his gaze. Coincidentally, he caught sight of the fencing class outside the window, which had just ended.
"Oh my god, I see Lu Zhen!" Hao Diao shrieked. "He’s still so handsome!"
Chu Yin looked at him with an encouraging, expectant expression. "Then hurry and go find him! Go on!"
Hao Diao sighed as he admired the school heartthrob’s face. "No way, he’s seriously impossible to get close to. Completely unapproachable. Sigh."
As soon as he finished speaking, Hao Diao felt a deathly glare on him.
Chu Yin smiled at him. "Are you implying that I’m easier to handle than Lu Zhen?"
Hao Diao: "N-No, that’s not it."
Chu Yin patted his shoulder, a smirk curling her lips. "Alright then, little brother. Let’s give it a try."
Let’s see who’s the boss around Quiwen Private High School School’s ten blocks.
Outside the sanda hall, Song Zhaolin was darting around with a racket when he spotted Lu Zhen.
"Brother Zhen, Brother Zhen, come on, let’s go watch Sister Yin practice sanda!""
Lu Zhen raised an eyebrow.
Song Zhaolin’s shout immediately attracted a crowd. Chu Yin’s popularity at school was incredibly high now, and there was no telling how many of the passersby had a crush on her.
In the end, a whole group of people swarmed outside the sanda hall, pressing against the door to watch.
Inside the hall, there were actually two people squaring off, Chu Yin and a freshman boy.
The onlookers instantly erupted!
"What perfect timing!"
"Ahhh! Chu Yin is going to fight! Chu Yin is going to fight!"
Lu Zhen and Song Zhaolin entered the hall and took seats in an inconspicuous corner.
Song Zhaolin whispered, "That’s the guy who’s been hitting on Sister Yin."
Lu Zhen frowned slightly, sizing up the boy opposite Chu Yin.
Hao Diao was currently striking poses, feeling that Chu Yin accepting his invitation to spar was a milestone victory! After all, in close-combat sports like this, physical contact was unavoidable. It meant Chu Yin had already opened up to him a little!
As for strength, although he’d heard that Senior Chu could take on three opponents at once at No. 1 High School, those three were all girls. He might not be the manliest guy, but at least he was a 1.8-meter-tall boy, and Chu Yin couldn’t have professionally trained in sanda, right?
Hao Diao felt this was all just a bit of fun.
He put on his gloves, shook his hair, and with a hint of flirtation in his expression, said, “Come on, Senior!”
Chu Yin tightened the Velcro strap on her wrist and nodded. “Break time is short, so let’s make this quick.”
Hao Diao was still mouthing off: “Wah wah wah, I don’t like it fast!”
Chu Yin: “…Then I’m coming.”
“Ahhhh! It’s starting, it’s starting!”
“They’re about to fight!”
Song Zhaolin was also super excited: “Go for it!!!”
The distance between the two closed instantly. With a light tap of her back foot, Chu Yin shifted her body’s center of gravity forward, using her shoulder to drive her fist. Before Hao Diao’s hand could even touch her clothes, she delivered a clean, sharp rear-hand straight punch, landing squarely on his abdomen!
“Thump!”
Hao Diao flew backward.
This move was taught to her by Lu Zhen in her past life, it really was effective.
Chu Yin retracted her fist. “Being fast isn’t so bad, silly little brother.”
Only then did the onlookers realize it was already over!
The whole thing took less than ten seconds, so fast you couldn’t even get your pants off (not really).
By the time Song Zhaolin snapped out of it, the venue was filled with screams, some of the loudest were his own.
Lu Zhen sat to the side, clapping with a smile.
He was almost certain Chu Yin had learned from someone. And she was clever enough to know she might not overpower her opponent with strength, so she relied on speed to secure a one-hit victory.
She walked away without a second glance, impossibly cool.
A girl like this, she didn’t like anyone, Lu Zhen knew.
But…
He raised a hand to his chest, feeling his heart beating fast, out of control.
Beside him, Song Zhaolin cackled gleefully. “After this, I bet none of those little brothers will dare bother her again!”
Lu Zhen curled his lips. “Mm.”
Song Zhaolin continued proudly, “Then I’m the guy with the best relationship with Sister Yin!”
As soon as he said that, the air suddenly turned cold.
Song Zhaolin shivered, then heard Lu Zhen ask softly, “What kind of relationship?”
For some reason, he felt scared. Trembling, a sudden inspiration struck him: “So-Socialist father-son bond!”
Lu Zhen was silent for two seconds, then suddenly laughed.
Song Zhaolin: “Wh-what’s so funny?!”
Lu Zhen looked at him, a smile in his eyes. “Then, do you need a male mommy?”
Song Zhaolin: “Huh?”
Huh??????
…
That night, 12:00 a.m.
Song Zhaolin played on his phone late into the night, reluctantly set it aside, pulled up his blanket, and peacefully closed his eyes.
Time to sleep, time to sleep.
The room was completely quiet.
2:00 a.m.
Male mommy!
Those two words exploded in his mind. Song Zhaolin’s eyes snapped open.
What does that mean, what does that mean, what does that mean???
Song Zhaolin stared at the ceiling, pondering for a long time, when suddenly it hit him,
Could it be?!
Brother Zhen?? Likes Sister Yin??
Is that what it means?! Thinking back carefully! There were signs before, he’d always suspected something was going on!
Song Zhaolin’s heart pounded: Oh my god! What an earth-shattering secret!
If this got out, how many people’s worlds would collapse?!
If these two forces collided, Quiwen Private High School would probably experience an 8.0 magnitude earthquake!!!
Song Zhaolin couldn’t sleep at all after that.
He bit the blanket, wrestling with the thought: Should I tell Sister Yin or not?!
…
Ever since that day he had lain on the ground, Hao Diao had indeed behaved himself for quite a few days.
This was probably because Chu Yin had shattered his maiden heart with one punch and manually restored his wavering sexual orientation.
From then on, Chu Yin’s image as a violent beauty was finally deeply ingrained in everyone’s minds, and the number of people coming to deliver love letters and small gifts finally began to decrease day by day.
While solving problems, Chu Yin thought, This is great!
Aside from Song Zhaolin’s occasional expression of wanting to say something but hesitating, her peaceful campus life had finally returned!
That day, after Song Zhaolin had been fidgeting restlessly and looking like he wanted to speak but couldn’t many times, Chu Yin finally turned her gaze toward him.
Song Zhaolin: “!”
Should I say it, should I say it, should I say it?!
Chu Yin sighed: “Linlin.”
Song Zhaolin: “What’s up?!”
Did Sister Yin notice something???
Chu Yin’s eyes were full of pity, her tone gentle: “Nine out of ten people have hemorrhoids; don’t be afraid if you have them. Remember to apply the medicine every day.”
After saying this, to protect his male dignity, Chu Yin considerately walked away.
It took Song Zhaolin a while to snap out of it.
??? No!
I don’t have hemorrhoids!!
Forget it, forget it, he didn’t dare meddle in this matter. Better let Brother Zhen handle it himself!
…
When the weekend arrived, Chu Yin was dragged by Chu Shi to take a walk in the neighborhood.
Because Chu Yin was even more hardworking than him, a senior high school student, shutting herself in her room to study every day, Chu Shi was afraid she would wear herself out.
There was a small garden in the center of the villa area, where the wealthy ladies from the neighborhood usually walked their dogs and chatted.
When Chu Shi brought her over, many of the ladies recognized Chu Shi and greeted him with smiles. They were less familiar with Chu Yin, as she didn’t show her face often and wasn’t fond of socializing.
Chu Shi knew she didn’t feel like dealing with these interactions, so he patted her hand and told her to go play.
Chu Yin wandered off to the side and saw a super well-behaved big dog lying on the ground, fluffy and panting with its tongue out as it looked at her. Unable to resist, Chu Yin crouched down and gave it a good pet.
The soft, fluffy big dog panted happily and rubbed against her hand.
Chu Yin instantly melted, letting out an inner squeal as she hugged the dog and gave it a thorough petting.
Just then, another one came trotting up from behind.
Out of the corner of her eye, Chu Yin noticed it was quite large, seemingly another big dog.
She gave the dog one last scratch under the chin, then stood up to greet the next one.
But as soon as she turned around, she heard a crisp, unmistakable oink.
"Oink!"
A plump, round, silly-looking, and energetically trotting piglet, weighing several dozen pounds, happily charged toward her.
Chu Yin: "……??"
The piglet oinked its way to her leg, bumped into her with a soft "thump," and then flopped onto its back on the ground.
It exposed its pink belly to her and lay there motionless.
Chu Yin: …Scam? Is this a scam??
Behind the pig, a black-haired boy in a casual hoodie slowly walked over.
Chu Yin pointed at the pig, then at herself, waving her hands. "It wasn’t me."
What was this? Karma? She never imagined the pig she’d given Lu Zhen would reappear in her life like this.
Lu Zhen was laughing. "Chu Yin, you knocked her over."
Chu Yin retorted, "She fell on her own, okay!"
Lu Zhen’s dark eyes gleamed as he looked at her, a smile playing on his lips. "You have to take responsibility for the little piggy."
Chu Yin was stunned.
Lu Zhen??
You sly, manipulative bastard?!
You have no shame!!