"Come on, let’s continue with this question."
Shen You’an hung up the phone and walked over from the balcony, picking up a pen to continue the previous calculations.
The desk lamp cast a dim, yellowish glow as Luo Qian lifted his eyes to steal a glance at her.
At that moment, she raised her gaze, their eyes meeting squarely.
Feeling guilty, Luo Qian lowered his head.
"Tired? Let’s call it a day for now."
Shen You’an closed the textbook. "Get some rest early."
Luo Qian pressed his lips together. "Sis, thank you."
Shen You’an smiled and patted his head. "I know, little brother."
Luo Qian shook his head, then lifted it again, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
"I’ll work hard from now on and never cause trouble again."
"How can standing up for justice be trouble? Your big sister is proud of you."
Luo Qian froze abruptly, surprised. "How... how did you know?"
Chen Zun doesn’t need a reason to pick on someone. Everyone tends to think it’s just bad luck or something that provoked him. To punks like Chen Zun, avoiding confrontation is always best.
The incident on the bus was something Luo Qian hadn’t told anyone, including Xue Qingfang, who was directly involved. Naturally, Chen Zun wouldn’t have spread the word.
Shen You’an blinked. "Next time something like that happens, don’t back down. Fight right back."
She looked him up and down. "Hmm, you’re just a bit too weak physically. I’ve signed you up for a self-defense class. You can start practicing on weekends. Being Shen You’an’s brother means you can’t afford to be frail."
Patting Luo Qian’s shoulder with a laugh, Shen You’an then walked out of the room.
Luo Qian’s mind was successfully sidetracked by Shen You’an’s words. He glanced down at his hands and clenched them tightly into fists.
What his sister said was right—he was indeed too weak. He had to learn martial arts well and make sure he wouldn’t embarrass her.
Lanya High School auditorium.
All the teachers and students in the school were gathered, while on the dazzlingly lit stage, an elegantly dressed lady was delivering a speech.
Her composed face bore a kind and gentle smile, her tone equally warm, making her seem highly approachable.
Exclamations of admiration rippled through the audience below.
"I finally got to see Mrs. Liu in person. She’s so graceful and kind."
"Of course! How could she not be? I mean, she raised someone like God Liu, a true genius. And Mrs. Liu has been involved in charity work for years, helping countless families in need. She’s truly a remarkable philanthropist."
"I heard this scholarship project she’s working on is huge. If it succeeds, it’ll be a tremendous act of goodwill. I really admire women like Mrs. Liu—compassionate and independent."
The front row of the audience was reserved for school leaders and senior teachers; even Lan Man, the current president of Lanya Group, was unmistakably present.
Sitting in the center of the second row was Liu Runxi, whose lowered gaze made him seem inattentive.
Students around him couldn’t help but steal glances at him. The woman on stage, admired by everyone, was his biological mother.
Mother and son—they were naturally born to attract attention, stealing the spotlight wherever they went.
Shen You’an sat in a corner of the second row, yawning out of boredom, propping her head up with one hand as her eyes grew drowsy.
She had to admit—Mrs. Liu’s voice was surprisingly sleep-inducing.
While Shen You’an was nodding off, she couldn’t have imagined she’d be called out unexpectedly.
That’s right—Helian Yu on stage had singled her out. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel•fire.net
"Student Shen You’an? May I know who Shen You’an is? Please stand up."
Beside her, Gao Yuyue gave her a nudge, lowering her voice. "Stop sleeping. Trouble’s coming."
Shen You’an leisurely opened her eyes and stood up.
In an instant, countless pairs of eyes fixed themselves on her. Anyone else in her position would probably have buckled at the knees.
Sitting nearby, Liu Runxi’s hands clenched tightly against his knees as he suddenly turned his head toward Shen You’an’s direction, his expression demonstrating clear concern.
On the stage, the elegant lady holding the microphone smiled warmly, directing her gaze toward Shen You’an. "So this is Shen You’an? Pleased to meet you."
Her tone was polite and courteous.
But she remained on the elevated stage while Shen You’an was down below among the spectators.
One high, one low—the power dynamics clear as day.
From those seemingly warm and smiling eyes—through the blazing stage lights and rows upon rows of people—there flickered a trace of malice, hidden so expertly it disappeared almost immediately as if it had never been there.
Shen You’an, trained to perceive subtleties, wasn’t going to miss that fleeting look.
She raised a brow. At that moment, a figure stooped beside her and handed her a microphone.
Taking the microphone, Shen You’an’s languid voice echoed through every corner of the auditorium.
"I’m Shen You’an. Is there something Mrs. Liu wishes to advise me about?"