PTFD 04

“Hey, hey, wait,” Lu Xiyuan hurriedly called out to stop him. “Bring her along too. Let the brothers see just who she is, the girl who made our school’s unattainable campus idol finally step down from the altar after so many people tried and failed to win him over.”

Unfortunately, Shang Zhe Nian had already ended the video call neatly.

Jiang Cheng now had to report everything to Chen Ping Zhou, so after agreeing with Shang Zhe Nian, he messaged Chen Ping Zhou on WeChat about going to the library with him tomorrow.

Chen Ping Zhou was shocked and immediately asked:
“You’re saying Shang Zhe Nian personally invited you to the library???”

Chen Yin replied:
“Uh, yes. But he said his grandfather hopes he takes me out more. It should be his grandfather’s request. After all, we have an engagement, and his grandfather is not in good health, so he couldn’t refuse. That’s why he invited me. His mother also said yesterday that they see me as a younger sister.”

Of course, Chen Ping Zhou knew this young master of the Shang family very well. He would never do anything he didn’t want to do—no one could force him.

This was clearly interest in Jiang Cheng.

This was completely out of his expectations. To avoid exposure, he had fabricated Chen Yin’s background as a girl who was kidnapped and raised in the mountains, only finished middle school, and couldn’t even speak well. In his eyes, such a background should never attract Shang Zhe Nian.

Yet this high-and-mighty young master of the Shang family was not following common logic.

Chen Ping Zhou knew that Jiang Cheng was actually a man, so he had to find a way to stop this.

But if he could gain the support of the Shang family, he would no longer be suppressed by his stepmother and younger stepbrother. He could even crush them completely and drive them out of the Chen family and South City.

Of course, the consequences were also obvious—once Jiang Cheng’s identity was exposed, the Shang family’s retaliation would follow.

But over the years, the old master had become increasingly confused with age, and the stepmother had been whispering in his ear, slowly eroding the power Chen Ping Zhou had built. Even his stepbrother was benefiting from it all. He already hated them to the core.

If he could stomp them into the dirt so they could never recover, so what if he faced the Shang family’s revenge?

The Chen family was large and powerful. Even a dying camel was bigger than letting everything fall into others’ hands.

Chen Ping Zhou quickly weighed the pros and cons and replied:

“Mm, just be careful not to expose your gender. Shang Zhe Nian is a good person, and I heard many girls have pursued him but failed. Him taking you out must be because of his mother and your mother’s friendship. He just sees you as a younger sister.”

After sending it, he confirmed there was no problem.

He didn’t encourage Jiang Cheng to deliberately seduce Shang Zhe Nian. After all, the young master had been pursued by too many girls already; he probably preferred innocent and pure types. It was better to let Shang Zhe Nian think of her as a sister.

If Shang Zhe Nian really fell for him later, he could slowly persuade Jiang Cheng. He knew Jiang Cheng’s situation and what he wanted—it would be easy to control him.

The next day, Shang Zhe Nian indeed drove over to pick Jiang Cheng up for the library.

The stepmother’s side of the Chen family was visibly furious. Old Master Chen, however, was pleased and even gave Jiang Cheng a few instructions before letting him go.

Shang Zhe Nian drove a sports car.

The car’s exterior had a diamond-like woven texture, glowing with a cold silver-blue sheen under the sunlight. Its sleek body looked as if every line was designed for aerodynamics, like a predator ready to pounce even when still.

Jiang Cheng didn’t recognize the brand, but he could tell it was expensive. Someone like him, who could barely afford a cheap electric scooter, felt a deep sense of envy.

Having money is really nice.

If not for pretending to be Chen Yin this time, he probably would never get the chance to sit in such a car in his life.

He was just borrowing someone else’s fortune.

“Get in,” Shang Zhe Nian said, opening the passenger door.

Jiang Cheng carefully sat inside. It was his first time in a convertible sports car, and he didn’t know where to put his hands or feet. He was stiff like a tourist entering a grand palace, even struggling to fasten the seatbelt.

Shang Zhe Nian got in from the other side and noticed his awkwardness. He leaned over.

“It’s okay, I’ll help you.”

He reached over with his long arm, pulled the seatbelt, and helped him buckle it, then explained:

“Like this. Insert it here. To unfasten it, just press here.”

If Lu Xiyuan were here, he would probably be shocked again.

Was this really the same Shang Zhe Nian—the cold and distant guy who once made a girl do a hundred push-ups just for asking to train with him?

With Shang Zhe Nian’s help, Jiang Cheng quickly learned how to use the seatbelt. He felt that Shang Zhe Nian was actually quite a good person and very gentlemanly. He didn’t deliberately get too close, nor did he touch him unnecessarily.

But being in such close proximity, Jiang Cheng still smelled a faint fragrance from him.

Like a forest in winter—clean and refreshing.

Yesterday, Shang Zhe Nian had been dressed casually in a T-shirt and pants, giving off a wild, untamed rich-boy aura that made Jiang Cheng a bit nervous.

Today, he wore a white shirt and work pants. His wildness was toned down, making him look more like a clean, sunny neighbor—less intimidating.

If Jiang Cheng had better observation skills, he would have noticed that Shang Zhe Nian had carefully styled himself from head to toe, like a peacock spreading its feathers.

The engine roared to life like a beast. The vibration seemed to shake the ground slightly, startling Jiang Cheng. Then the sudden acceleration pushed him back into his seat, making him grip the seatbelt tightly.

Shang Zhe Nian noticed and slowed down.

“Scared you?”

Jiang Cheng shook his head, still slightly stiff, pressing his lips together.

He just wasn’t used to it.

Shang Zhe Nian looked at him—like a small rabbit pretending to be brave—and had the sudden urge to pat his head. He restrained himself and slowed down further.

Cute, he thought.

The car slowly arrived at the city library. It had just opened, so there weren’t many people yet.

Jiang Cheng looked around curiously. The place was huge, like a stadium, with several floors. He couldn’t imagine how many books were inside.

While he was distracted, he bumped into something solid and let out a muffled sound, rubbing his forehead. Only then did he realize Shang Zhe Nian had stopped walking, and he had been following too closely behind.

“You’re like a little tail stuck to me,” Shang Zhe Nian said with amusement. “What books do you want? Or are you planning to browse floor by floor?”

Jiang Cheng took out his phone and typed:

“Can I look floor by floor?”

He played the voice message while looking at Shang Zhe Nian with bright, expectant eyes.

With that look, Shang Zhe Nian would have agreed even if he was asked to buy the entire library.

“No whining,” Shang Zhe Nian said with one hand in his pocket. “Let’s go.”

Jiang Cheng: ?

He wasn’t whining at all!!!

The library was large but very quiet. Jiang Cheng was quickly attracted to everything around him.

After a while, he typed again on his phone, but this time didn’t play it out loud, just showed Shang Zhe Nian:

“Is borrowing books here free?”

“Yes,” Shang Zhe Nian said softly. “You need an ID card to borrow them and pay a deposit, but it’s refundable.”

Jiang Cheng widened his eyes.

“Then won’t this library lose money? How do they earn money?”

“Mainly government funding, membership fees, late return fees, and cultural merchandise,” Shang Zhe Nian explained patiently.

Jiang Cheng looked envious.

“My hometown’s biggest bookstore even closed down. There aren’t many books. I can only buy them online.”

Shang Zhe Nian smiled.

“I didn’t know you liked reading that much.”

Jiang Cheng suddenly froze.

He almost forgot—his current identity was only a middle school graduate. Loving books was fine, but buying a lot of them online would be suspicious.

He quickly corrected himself:

“I just read randomly. I didn’t continue studying, so I feel a bit regretful.”

Shang Zhe Nian’s expression shifted slightly.

“You still want to study? Take the college entrance exam?”

Chen Yin and Shang Zhe Nian were the same age—22. It wasn’t too late to go to university.

Jiang Cheng, who had just finished his own exams, immediately panicked at the idea of being forced into tutoring and pretending to know nothing.

He quickly typed:

“I haven’t thought about it. I just want to spend more time with my grandfather for now.”

Shang Zhe Nian didn’t push further.

“Mm. No rush. Think slowly.”

They soon reached the book area.

This library felt more like a fantasy world than a real building.

The ceiling was a soft warm white light like scattered clouds. The wooden shelves were light walnut color, layered upward like a mountain of books with no end in sight.

There were even book-finding robots—just input a title and the book would be delivered automatically.

They browsed floor by floor, then returned to the first floor to borrow books.

Jiang Cheng wanted many books but had to maintain his fake identity, so he only borrowed a few novels he had long wanted to read, including Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami.

When they left, Shang Zhe Nian glanced at his phone and said casually, “It’s almost noon. Let’s have lunch together.”

“No, I’ll go back and eat with my grandfather.”

Jiang Cheng typed: “You already took me to the library, so you can explain to my grandfather. Thank you for today.”

Shang Zhe Nian: “……”

He almost laughed in disbelief.

She really thought this was just an errand for her grandfather!

He smiled faintly.

“One thank you isn’t enough to send me off.”

Jiang Cheng frowned in distress, then suddenly lit up. He quickly typed something and turned the screen to him.

The phone read:

“Thank you thank you thank you thank you ×n, you’re a good person ●°v°●”

Shang Zhe Nian: “…………”

Author’s Note:
New story starts! (*€€·v·) It was supposed to start in January but I kept struggling with it. I hope this book goes smoothly and I can send everyone red envelopes!

Chapter 4

Shang Zhe Nian had his first time inviting a girl to dinner—and he got the “good person card.”

For a moment, he didn’t know whether to laugh or get annoyed.

He gritted his teeth.

Fine. No rush.

There was still plenty of time.

For once, the usually composed Shang Zhe Nian actually didn’t insist. He sent Jiang Cheng back to the Chen family.

Jiang Cheng carried a bag full of books home.

Old Master Chen had just finished an injection and looked energetic. Seeing him return, he smiled kindly:

“You’re back so soon? Why didn’t you have lunch with Xiao Shang?”