PTCQT Chapter 10

“This Mid-Autumn Festival, I’m not going back either. I want to go to the self-study room, but I can’t find a suitable classroom. President, do you want to go together?” Xu Ze asked tentatively.

He knew that Xie Baiyuan was very diligent. It was said that every time the library closed during the holidays, he would spend his time in the self-study room, hence the question.

Xie Baiyuan glanced at him and said, “I have something to do during the holidays, so I won’t go for now.”

He wasn’t annoyed by Xu Ze, but since he didn’t have that intention, he didn’t want to give the other person any hope.

After all, generally, even if guys express concern, they wouldn’t give gifts like that. Instead, they would be straightforward, like Shen Chun, making it impossible for him to think too much.

“Oh, I see,” Xu Ze took a deep breath and said, “Is Senior going to the library now?”

“I’m going to the Student Council to arrange things for the Mid-Autumn Festival. You can go first if you have something to do,” Xie Baiyuan said coldly.

“I’ll go first then, President, goodbye.” Xu Ze’s work in the Organization Department wasn’t available every day, and there was no reason to stay. He could only bid farewell and leave.

Xie Baiyuan was always so dismissive, and he didn’t take this matter to heart either. He turned around and went to the Student Council as he had said before.

…

When Shen Chun returned home, he received a warm welcome from his mother. She hugged him enthusiastically and exclaimed, “It’s been a few days, and my son looks even more handsome!”

“Oh yes, yes, your son does nothing all day and yet manages to get more handsome,” Shen Chun laughed. “It’s all thanks to the good genes you gave me, Mom.”

Mother Shen burst into laughter instantly. Indeed, she had a good appearance, wearing a long dress that made her look particularly youthful. Even walking down the street with Shen Chun, people would believe she was his sister. With good genetics like hers, Shen Chun’s words were not an exaggeration.

“You’ve really grown up, and your words are so sweet,” Mother Shen chuckled. “What are you holding in your hands? Didn’t I say we don’t need mooncakes?”

“It’s not mooncakes, it’s a bag, newly released. I thought you might like it, so I bought it,” Shen Chun handed over the gift.

Mother Shen took the gift, and even before opening it, she began to praise, “My son has such good taste. I’ve been wanting this style for a long time. Today, I’ll carry it with me to show it off to them.”

“Quickly come in, don’t loiter at the door,” Father Shen, sitting on the sofa, remarked coldly, though the atmosphere inside seemed harmonious.

Shen Chun chuckled and took out another box from the bag, walking over to place it on the coffee table. “Dad, this is for you.”

Father Shen had a tall stature. Even sitting on the sofa, his well-fitted shirt and trousers highlighted his excellent physique. As a man in his forties, he had no beer belly whatsoever, and there were hardly any wrinkles on his face, displaying only the stability and maturity characteristic of an adult male.

The wealth and status of the Shen family today are inseparable from Father Shen’s business acumen. The air of long-term dominance was only restrained within the confines of their home.

However, due to his past busyness, Shen Chun’s original upbringing was neglected. The father and son had barely seen each other for years, and when they did, it was often with cold glances. Shen Chun would frequently make mistakes, leading to him being scolded by his father, and then making the same mistakes again, resulting in more scolding.

It wasn’t until a year ago, when the seventeen-year-old boy was street racing late at night. He encountered a car turning onto the road at a junction and, in a panic, swerved, crashing through the guardrail and colliding with a nearby tree. The impact was so severe that the car was severely damaged, let alone the fragile human body.

Several ribs were broken, bones fractured in various places, and there was extensive head trauma. By the time of the emergency treatment, life had already slipped away. It wasn’t until Shen Chun arrived due to a transaction with the system, and with the help of recovery potions, he was able to get out of bed after two months, only to immediately prepare for the college entrance examination.

Having just arrived in a state of near-death, Shen Chun, as someone who had previously entered missions unscathed, felt sympathy for his colleagues in the Fate Severance Group and then realized he had become one of them.

However, experiencing a brush with death made Shen Chun realize the value of life, both his own and others’. The missions of the Fate Severance Group were not only aimed at the mission targets but also at the hosts themselves.

Shen Chun didn’t dislike this change. In fact, he was curious to see what kind of transformation such missions could bring to him.

In the original host’s memories, it seemed that both Father Shen and Mother Shen didn’t love him. However, when Shen Chun woke up, the memory of his model-like mother, who always loved beauty, was in tears without any semblance of composure. His father, who was always cold and formal, was now disheveled like grass, emitting an indescribable scent.

They had been waiting there, watching over their child.

It’s hard to determine whose fault it was in this matter. When the truth came out, even Shen Chun couldn’t help but sigh with regret. The original owner kept causing trouble, hoping to get more attention from his parents, while Father Shen, in turn, thought his son disliked him as a father.

But no matter how regrettable it was, the deceased had passed away, and there was no chance for reconciliation. Both parties agreed voluntarily. Shen Chun, using this body, would have to live out a lifetime and naturally had to fulfill the obligations of the original host. At least he didn’t have a hobby of causing trouble and getting punished for it.

“Dad knows you have money, but having money doesn’t mean you should spend it recklessly,” Father Shen remarked as he took the box. His expression remained as cold and stern as ever upon seeing the tie inside.

If it were the original owner here, the father and son would likely exchange cold glances again. However, Shen Chun didn’t react the same way. Instead, he smiled and said, “Dad, if that’s how you feel, I’ll only give gifts to Mom next time, not to you.”

Father Shen’s expression stiffened for a moment.

Mother Shen smiled and walked over to take the box. She retrieved the tie from inside and said, “Son, it’s nice that you’re giving your father a gift. Come, try it on.”

Although Father Shen didn’t seem pleased, he stood up and lowered his head to let Shen’s mother put the tie on him. After it was on, he adjusted it somewhat uncomfortably and remarked, “It’s okay.”

Mother Shen chuckled. “Your father really likes it.”

Father Shen’s face tightened even more, but Shen Chun smiled and said, “As long as you like it, that’s what matters. I’m doing fine financially now, Dad, you don’t need to worry about me overspending. If I ever do face losses, I know I can rely on you to help me out.”

“Hmm,” Father Shen nodded, agreeing without mentioning his earlier reluctance about his son giving gifts.

Since recovering a year ago, Shen Chun had been diligently preparing for the college entrance examination. For him, it was relatively straightforward, but appearances still needed to be maintained. After a year of being a good child, when the exam results came out and proved satisfactory, it completely put Father Shen and Mother Shen at ease. They just saw it as their son having a close brush with death and finally coming to his senses.

As a result, Shen Chun’s status at home skyrocketed. During this holiday visit, he was cared for attentively, even accompanying his mother for morning exercises, which earned him heaps of praise from her.

“Have you found a suitable partner at school this time? Started a relationship or something?” Mother Shen asked, her curiosity piqued.

“Well, there is someone, but I’m still pursuing him. Haven’t won him over yet,” Shen Chun replied.

“My son is so handsome and still hasn’t won her over? That must mean she’s really exceptional. Do you have a photo? Show it to me,” Mother Shen’s interest grew even more.

“Nope,” Shen Chun chuckled.

“Stingy,” Mother Shen’s temperament hadn’t matured with age, which was both her strength and weakness. In the past, her immaturity meant she didn’t show enough care to the original owner. But Shen Chun didn’t want to judge the right or wrong of how the original owner interacted with his mother.

Everyone has their own difficulties, and even parents find it hard to set aside everything for their children.

Mother Shen’s curiosity wasn’t satisfied and she was a bit unwilling, “Just show it to me, I won’t do anything.”

She didn’t believe her son didn’t have a photo at all!

“I’m mainly afraid that you guys will object. If Dad starts scolding me again, I won’t be able to handle it,” Shen Chun said, looking troubled.

“No matter what kind of partner you find, we won’t object. Looks aren’t the most important thing; character is what matters. Our family isn’t after the other person’s wealth, but your values should align. Otherwise, there will be endless arguments in the future,” Mother Shen nudged his arm. “Show me.”

“You’re grown up and still acting like a child,” Father Shen, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

He used to be rarely at home, but now that Shen Chun was there, he would spend his free time at home, even though he often remained silent.

“How old am I?” Mother Shen retorted.

With that remark, Father Shen was left speechless. Mother Shen snorted and muttered to Shen Chun, “See, this is what happens when values don’t align. I haven’t complained about him being old, but he’s already complaining about me…”

Father Shen took a deep breath. “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that as an elder…”

Mother Shen glared at him. “As an elder, how?”

[Host, this is what they call dancing in a minefield, right?]

[Smart.] Shen Chun praised.

Having witnessed something from the data records, combined with real-life experience, and being praised by the host, 521 felt a bit dizzy but elated: [It’s nothing.]

Father Shen fell silent and stood up. “I’m going upstairs.”

He shouldn’t be downstairs; he should be on the rooftop.

“You see your father, every time he annoys me, he doesn’t know how to make it up to me, he just knows how to avoid responsibility,” Mother Shen sighed with grievance.

Father Shen was momentarily caught in a dilemma, not knowing whether to leave or stay.

However, Shen Chun felt that his father didn’t avoid comforting her because he didn’t want to, but rather because he feared that trying to comfort her would only upset her more. In his opinion, it was better not to say anything at all.

Mother Shen seemed to interpret Father Shen’s attitude towards Shen Chun clearly, but when it came to herself, she became confused.

Shen Chun smiled and spoke up, “Mom, do you still want to see the photo?”

“Yes, yes, I want to see it,” Mother Shen’s attention was immediately diverted. Father Shen let out a sigh of relief and sat back down, but his focus wasn’t on financial reports anymore; it was on the phone that Shen Chun had taken out.

 

 

 

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