AMBTICBPIB Chapter 36

 

Shen Jin’s smartwatch was different from the one Chu Yi had seen before.

Its design and materials looked nothing like ordinary wristbands. Shen Jin’s wristband felt exceptionally high-quality to the touch.

Chu Yi remembered that ever since he arrived here, Shen Jin had always worn this wristband, almost never taking it off. He figured Shen Jin must really like it.

Seeing such a stylish smartwatch, Chu Yi couldn’t help but feel curious.

Noticing how good the wristband looked on Shen Jin’s wrist, Chu Yi blinked and tried it on his own.

His wrist was thinner than Shen Jin’s, so the wristband fit loosely, but it still looked quite nice. He wanted one for himself.

Of course, Chu Yi was just indulging his curiosity. He planned to return the wristband immediately, worried about what would happen if someone called while he was wearing it.

He hurried to Shen Jin’s room, but in his haste, his right hand slammed against the wall beside the door.

Chu Yi hissed in pain, and as he struck the wall, the bracelet on his wrist suddenly began to vibrate.

Shen Jin emerged just then. “What’s wrong?”

Chu Yi held out his left hand. “Your bracelet is vibrating.”

Following Chu Yi’s gaze, Shen Jin saw the bracelet glowing green.

“Where did you hit yourself?” Shen Jin asked.

“I’m fine,” Chu Yi replied. “You should answer your call first.”

*What time is it?*

Shen Jin was still worried about him hitting himself? His phone was ringing! If someone was calling him at this hour, it must be important.

Shen Jin removed the bracelet, but showed no urgency. Instead, he asked again, “Where did you hit yourself?”

“The back of my hand,” Chu Yi said. “It’s nothing. It’ll stop hurting soon.”

Shen Jin examined the back of Chu Yi’s hand, noticing a slightly reddened patch. He said softly, “Be more careful next time.”

It was strange, but as soon as Chu Yi removed the wristband, it stopped ringing, as if the caller had hung up.

Chu Yi felt a little worried. “Check your phone quickly. Did I interrupt something important?”

Shen Jin smiled. “It’s nothing.”

Seeing that he was more concerned about the injury on Chu Yi’s hand than the phone call, Chu Yi figured it must be the unimportant call Shen Jin had mentioned—probably just spam or something.

Chu Yi gazed at the wristband in Shen Jin’s hand. “Your wristband is really nice.”

Shen Jin’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “This one doesn’t suit you. You shouldn’t wear it.”

Chu Yi didn’t quite understand what Shen Jin meant. Why couldn’t he wear a smartwatch phone?

But he didn’t dwell on the question.

Shen Jin said, “I’ll get you a different smartwatch phone tomorrow.”

Chu Yi’s face lit up. “Okay!”

The next day, Chu Yi received the smartwatch phone from Shen Jin. It was beautiful, and he loved it instantly.

—————————————————————————–

Lanch City’s grandest and most luxurious hotel blazed with lights and buzzed with activity.

Luxury cars pulled up to the entrance one after another, their doors opening to reveal meticulously dressed guests in haute couture gowns.

The Shen Family’s banquet was being held at this very hotel.

Lanch City’s elite had all gathered here; in fact, nearly everyone in the upper echelons of society was attending.

The banquet hall was packed with guests, all eager to catch a glimpse of Shen Jin, the head of the Shen Family.

Many had only heard of Shen Jin by name, but few had ever seen his face.

Beyond curiosity about Shen Jin’s appearance, there was also intense interest in the young man he was betrothed to.

Rumor had it that this was the Chu Family’s long-lost true heir, recently recovered. Now that Shen Jin had seized power, it was widely speculated that his betrothed would soon be cast out of the Shen Family.

Speaking of the Chu Family, many sighed at the twists of fate. Previously, the Chu Family had desperately courted Shen Chunhan, hoping to elevate their status in Lanch City. Who could have imagined that Shen Jin would ultimately become the head of the Shen Family?

Shen Chunhan’s utter defeat had left the Chu Family in ruins, their fortunes intertwined like teeth and lips.

As guests lamented the Chu Family’s downfall, someone spotted Chu Chengxu and Liu Meihan arriving at the banquet.

Chu Chengxu and Liu Meihan entered the banquet hall, both dressed in expensive formal attire. Compared to their former selves, they looked much older and worn, the arrogance that had once burned in their eyes now extinguished.

The couple mingled at the banquet as if nothing had happened. Since Shen Jin had forbidden them from approaching Chu Yi, they simply avoided him.

The Chu couple had assumed they could navigate the banquet as smoothly as before. While those who had previously been close to them nodded and greeted them politely, Chu Chengxu and Liu Meihan could sense a distinct shift in their attitudes.

Everyone at the banquet knew about their situation.

“How dare they even show their faces? If I were them, I’d be too ashamed to come.”

“Who doesn’t know they used to fawn all over Shen Chunhan? Now they’re getting their comeuppance. If I were in their shoes, I’d be sick to my stomach.”

“They must have a thick skin. Otherwise, how could they push their own son into the fire?”

“What kind of ‘son’ is that? There’s no real affection there. To them, he’s just a tool.”

“Shh, be quiet! If Shen Jin hears you, you’ll pay the price.”

Hearing these whispers, Liu Meihan’s face flushed pale, then red. But they had no choice but to endure the banquet. If they didn’t, the Chu Family would lose all standing in this social circle.

Even when met with cold stares and ridicule, they forced themselves to smile.

At the banquet, everyone finally saw Shen Jin in person: tall, handsome, and impeccably refined, yet his gaze was sharp and his presence commanded awe.

He was nothing like the rumors had suggested.

Though Shen Jin was present, his betrothed was nowhere to be seen. Could the rumors be true—that Shen Jin didn’t care for his arranged partner?

While everyone speculated about what Shen Jin’s betrothed might be like, Chu Yi was happily weaving through the banquet hall.

With so many delicious treats on offer, Chu Yi was happily selecting what he wanted to eat, enjoying his foraging.

The occasion was grand, and Chu Yi felt somewhat out of place, uncomfortable facing so many strangers. Shen Jin didn’t insist he stay by his side, allowing him to wander freely and enjoy the banquet.

Shen Jin was busy, so Gu Jin volunteered to look after Chu Yi, assuring him there was no need to worry.

Chu Yi, carrying a small plate of food, was about to find a place to eat when he overheard two people whispering ahead of him.

Their voices were barely audible, yet Chu Yi caught every word.

He had no intention of eavesdropping or prying into their conversation.

Chu Yi stopped in his tracks when he heard the two men mention Shen Jin’s name.

This corner was relatively secluded compared to the bustling banquet hall, rarely visited by anyone. The two men spoke without restraint.

“Look at all the big shots from Lanch City attending the banquet today. The Shen Family’s influence over the entire city is considerable now. Shen Jin has practically reached the point where he can command the wind and summon the rain in Lanch City.”

“Shen Chunhan really had bad luck. He got drunk and fell down the stairs, ending up in a vegetative state for life, bedridden forever. When he wielded immense power, he probably never imagined such an end. What a pity.”

“Actually, there’s another theory about what happened to Shen Chunhan. Have you heard it?”

“How could I not? Some people believe Shen Jin had someone push Shen Chunhan down the stairs.”

“Think about it. Shen Chunhan’s most trusted confidant was his butler, and the butler was the only one with him when the incident occurred. Couldn’t Shen Jin have bribed the butler?”

“That’s entirely possible. Everyone knows how terrible Shen Chunhan’s relationship with Shen Jin was. It wouldn’t be surprising if Shen Jin had someone do it.”

“Exactly! Why did Shen Chunhan drink so much that day? Could the butler have been coaxing him to drink? And those stairs… it would be so easy to put something slippery on them.”

“You know, this kind of thing isn’t uncommon in wealthy families. Hahahaha!”

The two men burst into laughter.

Chu Yi frowned and stepped forward. “You’re here at Shen Jin’s banquet, yet you’re gossiping and spreading baseless rumors behind his back? Have you no shame?”

The two men froze, stunned. Were they being scolded? By a boy who looked so young?

“What did you hear?”

“I heard everything!” Chu Yi retorted angrily. “If you dare say another bad word about Shen Jin, I’ll tell him myself and see if he throws you out of the banquet!”

Facing the men’s fierce glares, Chu Yi widened his eyes and glared back, his gaze even more ferocious than theirs.

Seeing his boldness, the two men assumed he was close to Shen Jin and slunk away, realizing that no one dared to cross Shen Jin yet.

As the men retreated, Chu Yi let out a sigh of relief. They were taller and stronger than him, and he had been genuinely intimidated. But hearing them speak ill of Shen Jin had filled him with fury.

For the first time, Chu Yi realized that when faced with someone’s fierce gaze, he could control his emotions. His eyes didn’t redden, and he could clearly articulate what he wanted to say instead of bottling it up and feeling miserable later. This newfound composure felt incredibly liberating.

All of this was thanks to Shen Jin. With Shen Jin by his side, he felt no fear.

Gu Jin, who had been pulled aside to drink and chat, suddenly appeared beside him, giving him a thumbs-up. “Chu Yi, you’re amazing! You’ve really leveled up.”

He still remembered a similar situation where Chu Yi’s eyes had been red with tears. But now, Chu Yi had single-handedly driven those two away with his fierce demeanor. No matter the situation, Chu Yi always protected Shen Jin. Gu Jin found himself envying Shen Jin more and more.

When Shen Jin came looking for Chu Yi, he caught sight of Chu Yi’s adorably fierce expression and found it strangely endearing.

Chu Yi looked at Shen Jin, a little embarrassed. Shen Jin praised him, “You were great. Keep doing that from now on.”

Chu Yi was still a bit angry. “They came to your banquet and started talking nonsense. What kind of people are they?”

Shen Jin patted his head. “So you stood up for me again.”

Chu Yi replied, “I hate it when people talk about you like that.”

Shen Jin smiled. “Thank you for standing up for me. I’m really happy.”