⌈”Do you have any clean pants?”⌋
By the time Gu Ningqi figured out where that golden needle mushroom came from, he was in a state of immense shock.
The shock was so profound that it plunged him into a bizarre state.
He felt as though his soul had left his body.
He floated above, watching himself calmly from the ceiling.
He looked down at himself staring at the half-eaten golden needle mushroom in his hand.
Both his body and soul were lost in contemplation.
He sat in that not-so-clean stall for quite a while, not even noticing when the boy had left.
Meanwhile, at the banquet.
Shen Xingran was in a corner, listening to the warm inquiries from those around him.
In the past, this type of banquet had always been his stage.
But this time, he quietly stayed in an inconspicuous spot.
The more he did this, the more familiar faces gathered around him.
Before long, this narrow corner was surrounded by a whole crowd of people.
It was even more eye-catching than if he had stood in the center of the venue.
Regardless of what he thought inside, everyone on the outside offered comfort: “Xingran, don’t worry. Even if he comes back, Uncle and Aunt won’t treat you poorly.”
Shen Xingran smiled serenely, saying, “It’s only right that my brother is compensated after suffering so much outside.”
Hearing this, many who knew about his relationship with Lu Ran secretly rolled their eyes.
He sounded so magnanimous.
You’re so generous, yet you’re out here saying that the biological son is a bastard?
What a show!
Amidst the flattery and the unspoken tension, someone curiously asked, “Xingran, this time, Gu Ningqi returned to the country to find you, right?”
Shen Xingran slowly sighed, “What’s the use of him looking for me? The marriage agreement with the Gu family was made with my brother; I should wish them well.”
Though he spoke of wishing others well, he still acknowledged that Gu Ningqi was indeed here to find him, didn’t he?
The surrounding crowd began to subtly shift their attitudes.
Shen Xingran raised his wine glass to cover the curve of his lips.
Even if Lu Ran returned, so what?
With the love of his parents and the marriage agreement with Gu Ningqi and the Gu family, he remained the most favored youngest son of the Shen family.
Those around him were well aware of this point.
After the death of Old Master Shen, the Shen family faltered, relying heavily on the Gu family to prop them up.
Although Shen Xingyu had risen to prominence and the Shen family finally showed signs of gradual improvement, Shen Xingyu was still too young.
His history of ascension, filled with twists and turns that could only be described as bloody, did not apply to the Ji family.
Therefore, the Gu family remained very important to the Shen family.
Gu Ningqi was utterly devoted to Shen Xingran and was also the next heir of the Gu family.
No one wanted to provoke Shen Xingran.
Someone couldn’t help but prod, “Gu Ningqi should be arriving soon, right?”
At this, everyone’s faces lit up with anticipation for the show.
Today, Lu Ran has finally been recognized by the Shen family.
The heir of the Gu family was rushing over for Shen Xingran and it was likely that he would tear up the marriage contract from back then and throw it in Lu Ran’s face.
At the very moment when Lu Ran was being welcomed back into the Shen family, it would be quite a slap in the face from Gu Ningqi.
This move was truly ruthless.
It seemed that even if Lu Ran was officially acknowledged by the Shen family, he wouldn’t have any good days ahead.
As everyone calculated this, some felt a sense of regret while others anticipated the spectacle.
Especially those who had just been ridiculed by Lu Ran for having food stuck in their teeth or for losing their wig.
However, despite waiting, Gu Ningqi’s figure never appeared.
Instead, Lu Ran had already strolled around the banquet several times.
No matter what the guests thought privately, seeing Lu Ran, this child who had been lost for fifteen years, brought warm greetings from everyone.
In this short time, Lu Ran had introduced his dog to nearly all the prominent figures at the banquet.
Some of Shen Xingran’s loyal followers couldn’t help but clench their fists, saying, “Look at him, it’s infuriating!”
Others couldn’t help but murmur, “Why hasn’t Ningqi come yet?”
“Didn’t they say his flight had already landed?”
“Could it be that…”
As time passed, the whispers began to multiply.
The surrounding crowd’s gazes toward Shen Xingran gradually became more suspicious.
Shen Xingran felt a moment of panic, unconsciously squeezing his fingers.
He took out his phone.
He noticed a call from an unfamiliar number.
During this time, Shen Xingran had become quite familiar with such unfamiliar numbers.
Since he had blocked Gu Ningqi’s contact, Gu Ningqi had been frantically trying to reach him with new numbers.
Seeing this call made Shen Xingran feel at ease.
However, Gu Ningqi was late and still hadn’t shown up, making Shen Xingran a bit angry.
He still didn’t answer the call.
After hanging up, Shen Xingran discreetly glanced at the whispering crowd around him.
He internally scoffed, knowing that Gu Ningqi would come over soon, and this group would be in for a reality check.
The biggest topic of conversation at today’s banquet was the marriage alliance between the Gu family and the Shen family.
This was something Shen Xingran had intentionally orchestrated.
Days before, he had deliberately leaked the news of Gu Ningqi’s return to the country, steering public opinion toward this topic.
The purpose was this moment!
Once Gu Ningqi arrived, he would demonstrate to everyone present that even though he, Shen Xingran, was an adopted son, he should not be looked down upon.
Gu Ningqi would publicly embarrass Lu Ran, allowing everyone to see Lu Ran’s position in the Shen family.
It was truly a two-for-one deal.
Shen Xingran smiled, feeling confident of victory.
And just then.
The entrance of the banquet fell silent.
A tall figure slowly stepped in from the entrance.
Shen Xingran felt a rush of joy—he had arrived!
He pretended not to notice, turning his back to the entrance and casually chatting with his friends.
He was just waiting for Gu Ningqi to walk over to him while everyone reminded him excitedly.
Before long.
Shen Xingran noticed that his friends also caught sight of the figure at the entrance.
His friends’ eyes widened.
Their mouths slowly dropped open.
Their jaws nearly hit the floor.
Shen Xingran felt a mix of surprise and satisfaction.
Were these people really that shocked? It seemed Gu Ningqi’s entrance this time was quite extraordinary.
Even seasoned individuals in their circle were showing such expressions!
Shen Xingran couldn’t help but feel a bit excited.
He continued to act as if nothing was happening while waiting for others to remind him.
All for the sake of giving Gu Ningqi a startled and unprepared glance back.
His gaze must shimmer with moisture, just like a fawn in a morning forest, innocent and pure!
And Gu Ningqi would surely grasp his hand eagerly and affectionately!
At that moment, someone would undoubtedly capture the scene of him turning around to lock eyes with Gu Ningqi.
Shen Xingran had rehearsed this in his mind hundreds of times.
But as he waited and waited…
Everyone around him wore expressions of utter shock.
No one had surprised Shen Xingran with a reminder.
Shen Xingran felt anxious, while his curiosity grew stronger about what Gu Ningqi had done to astonish everyone so much.
Finally, someone glanced at the approaching man and then back at Shen Xingran.
Stammering, they reminded him, “Xingran, Ningqi is here… that’s Ningqi, right?”
Shen Xingran naturally made a hurried turn.
Gu Ningqi’s tall and handsome figure immediately came into view.
The man’s thick brows and sharp eyes remained the same—just as familiar to Shen Xingran as ever.
His face bore an inexplicable mixture of panic and urgency, just as Shen Xingran had imagined.
The panic stemmed from the fear of being abandoned.
The urgency came from the desperate desire to see him.
However…
As Shen Xingran took a closer look at Gu Ningqi, he was left dumbfounded.
Gu Ningqi’s hair was half-soaked and his face was still glistening with moisture.
It appeared he hadn’t styled himself at all.
Moreover, he exuded an air of being drenched and disheveled.
What left Shen Xingran even more stunned was Gu Ningqi’s attire.
He wore a crumpled black suit jacket and his tie was nowhere to be found.
The jacket was so wrinkled it looked like it had been through some horrific ordeal.
On the bottom, he wore a pair of finely crafted, stylish dress pants.
But that was all he had on.
It was as if he had torn half of it off from a high-fashion outfit.
The cuffs of his pants were still damp as if he had stepped into a puddle while walking.
In short… he looked utterly disheveled.
Shen Xingran was taken aback.
He had imagined various scenarios—perhaps Gu Ningqi couldn’t come due to some issue, or maybe the Gu family had intervened to stop him from meeting Gu Ningqi.
He even entertained the possibility that Gu Ningqi might be interested in Lu Ran…
He had calculated all possible outcomes.
But he never expected that Gu Ningqi would arrive looking as if he had just fallen into a cesspit…
Under the gaze of everyone, Gu Ningqi made his way to Shen Xingran’s side.
He stared at Shen Xingran, his eyes glistening with tears, his lips trembling slightly as he asked, “Why didn’t you answer my calls?”
The content of this question was exactly what Shen Xingran had imagined.
But paired with Gu Ningqi’s current appearance… it felt increasingly out of place.
Gu Ningqi was truly on the verge of tears.
No one knew what he had gone through.
After pulling off that golden needle mushroom, he had sat alone in the stall for a long while, finally mustering the courage to stand up. He rushed to the sink and frantically washed himself clean.
Once he finished washing, Gu Ningqi realized he was facing a huge problem.
How… was he supposed to go out?
After all that trouble, the exquisite top half of his custom suit was no longer presentable.
Not only was the collar soaked, but it also carried the smell of the restroom.
As for his pants…
They were still hanging loosely around his ankles.
Gu Ningqi thought about calling his assistant.
But he had already sent the assistant who delivered his clothes back.
He had returned to the country today for an important work report.
He had come to the Shen family himself, so he could only hand over the task of reporting his work to his assistant.
At this moment, even if he tried to call, he wouldn’t be able to get through!
But he certainly couldn’t stay in the restroom until the end of time, could he?
Gu Ningqi really didn’t want to stay here for another second.
Suddenly, he thought of Shen Xingran and desperately hoped to call him for a clean set of clothes.
However, that life-saving call was abruptly hung up by Shen Xingran!
Hung up!
Gu Ningqi clenched his teeth and glanced at the suit he had just changed out of.
This was the black suit he had worn when he got off the plane—businesslike and plain.
Although it was already wrinkled, at least it was clean.
Gu Ningqi quickly changed into the jacket.
After putting it on, he couldn’t find the matching pants anywhere.
After a thorough search, he finally realized that the clothes he had hung on the stall door had fallen down.
And, of course, they had landed in the toilet.
With no other options, Gu Ningqi could only pick up that haute couture pair of pants and put them on.
Once he wore them, he noticed they were quite damp.
He had chosen a flashy champagne color for the fabric. Now that it was wet, it darkened in patches, which was extremely obvious.
But there was no way around it.
Gu Ningqi couldn’t go out with no pants on.
He had already thought it through.
He had only told Shen Xingran about his return to the country; outsiders shouldn’t know.
So as long as he was a little careful, no one would notice him.
Right now, the most important thing was to find Shen Xingran inside and ask him for a clean set of clothes!
Gu Ningqi had a solid plan in mind.
He also tried his best to blend in and not draw attention.
But just as he stepped out from the corner restroom of the villa…
He heard someone call out to him, “Gu Ningqi! You really came back to the country!”
Gu Ningqi: “…”
Didn’t they say no one would know?!
With that shout, everyone turned to look at him!
Not only that, but Gu Ningqi also heard people discussing the engagement between the Gu and Shen families.
They talked about him and Shen Xingran.
If it were any other time, Gu Ningqi would have enjoyed being the center of attention.
But now…
He felt as if he were running naked through the villa.
Finally making it to the hall, Gu Ningqi just wanted to find Shen Xingran without drawing any attention.
He finally spotted Shen Xingran, standing in a corner where no one was around, and he waved desperately at him.
But Shen Xingran seemed stuck in place.
He just wouldn’t turn around to look!
Gu Ningqi was almost beside himself with anxiety!
After trying to signal him for a long time, he ultimately had no choice but to weave through the crowd, step by step, toward Shen Xingran.
At this moment, Shen Xingran was still oblivious to Gu Ningqi’s presence.
In his imagination, Gu Ningqi would take his hand and eagerly confess his feelings.
He would announce to everyone that the Gu family’s engagement had nothing to do with Lu Ran, declaring that he had no interest in Lu Ran at all.
He would say that, out of everyone, he only wanted to be engaged to him.
Of course, he wouldn’t agree right away.
He would kindly refuse, insisting that Gu Ningqi go find Lu Ran.
Hearing his rejection would only make Gu Ningqi more persistent.
Shen Xingran planned to create a dramatic tug-of-war with Gu Ningqi in front of all the guests at this banquet prepared for Lu Ran.
And now, Gu Ningqi had taken the first step.
He eagerly grabbed Shen Xingran’s hand.
Then, in a low voice, he asked, “Do you have clean pants?”
Shen Xingran: “…”
Do you have clean pants?
This plain and unremarkable question shattered the romantic scene he had carefully envisioned into a million pieces.