After the Young Master’s Death, He was Kissed by His Mortal Enemy! (BL) - Chapter 8

Shen Ran didn’t look back, just waved a hand dismissively.
“Yeah, yeah, I know—I owe you a favor. I’ll treat you to a meal sometime, happy now?”

He did owe Cheng Yi a favor.
In fact, it was a huge one.

Taking the elevator back up, Shen Ran stood in front of his apartment door, staring blankly at the fingerprint lock, unable to bring himself to go inside.

Everything felt too familiar.

That day, he had returned here with Chen Xu, only to be ambushed by debt collectors.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that once he opened the door, he’d find those menacing figures waiting in the living room, watching him with cold, ruthless eyes.

That horrifying sensation—a blade slashing his throat, the desperate struggle for air—surged back all at once.

Shen Ran’s face turned pale. He closed his eyes briefly, then muttered as he opened the door:
“…I should really start looking for a new place.”

After all, with memories like that, this place was no longer fit for living.

He could already imagine himself lying in bed here, plagued by nightmares.

Just a few more days. Once he had time to find a new place, he’d move immediately.

With his nerves braced, Shen Ran pushed open the door.

Everything was different now.
This wasn’t that moment in time. Of course, the apartment was empty and quiet—no one but him.

Even the furniture layout felt slightly off from what he remembered.

Carefully avoiding the sofa that had caused him such deep trauma, Shen Ran walked to the desk by the window and picked up a small desk calendar.

It was from Cheng Yi’s company, which handed them out every year. Shen Ran always grabbed two.

The calendar’s year was clear—one year before the bankruptcy.

Setting it down, Shen Ran rubbed his chin thoughtfully, striking a detective Conan-style pose.

“So… right now, I still have a full year before my family goes bankrupt. That means…”

Could he actually change his fate?

Like, maybe stash away some private savings before the collapse, so even when everything hit the fan, he could still live comfortably?

—No, no, that’s not the point!
The top priority is staying alive!
For starters, he needed to cut ties with Chen Xu ASAP—
That fake, selfish bastard who only seemed gentle on the outside!

As his thoughts raced wildly, his phone rang in his pocket, making him jump in fright.

Someone was calling.

Staring at the glowing screen, Shen Ran’s expression froze.

It took him a while to murmur the caller’s name.
“…Dad.”

The ringtone kept going, but Shen Ran’s mind was already a chaotic mess.

The debt collector’s words echoed in his ears:

“Young Master Shen, you were never the Shen family’s real son. You’re just an orphan they adopted from an orphanage.”

Shen Ran didn’t want to believe it.
He’d grown up with the Shen family, always believing they were his real family.

If he’d never been abused or neglected, why would he ever suspect otherwise?

But now, he couldn’t bring himself to answer.
His heart was wavering.

When the Shen family went bankrupt, his parents hadn’t told him right away.

And when he was held captive, forced to call them for help, they didn’t pick up.

They must’ve known what would happen if they ignored the call.

But they still didn’t answer.

He’d been discarded. Someone irrelevant. Suddenly, the idea that he was adopted—once absurd—now felt all too plausible.

Doubts swirled in his mind.

If he truly was adopted, why didn’t he know?
When had it happened?
What orphanage had he come from?
Why didn’t he remember anything?

Before he realized it, the ringtone stopped.

A moment later, his father called again.

This time, Shen Ran took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself, and finally picked up.

“…Dad.”

He’d never struggled so hard to say that word.

On the other end, his father Shen Xianming didn’t sense anything unusual.
“You brat, what the hell are you doing? I’ve called you a bunch of times and you didn’t answer!”

“N-nothing.” Shen Ran swallowed hard. “Dad, what’s up?”

“What’s up?” Shen Xianming snapped. “Did you forget what you said last week?
You said you’ve got a boyfriend and you’re bringing him home to meet us.
Did you forget that already?”

Wait, what?!

Shen Ran blinked, stunned.
Then it came back to him—
After Chen Xu confessed to him, Shen Ran had excitedly called home to share the news.

Thinking back, it had happened around this time, last year.

He’d even brought Chen Xu home, had dinner with the family, everyone smiling and laughing.

But now…

Now that Shen Ran knew the truth about Chen Xu and his parents, there was absolutely no way he would bring that man back to a place that was never really his home to begin with.

He opened his mouth, ready to come up with an excuse to dodge the visit—
When suddenly, a spark of realization hit him.

Wait—he had to go back. He must go back!

He had no memory of ever being adopted, but if he had been taken in through official channels, there would have to be records. Paperwork. Something tangible.

This was his chance to look for those adoption documents—if they existed at all.

So, just as the excuse was about to leave his lips, he swerved mid-sentence, forcing himself to say:

“Dad, of course I remember! I’ll be bringing my boyfriend over in a bit—so you and Mom get ready for dinner with your brilliant, amazing, incredibly talented son!”

Shen Ran kept his tone as light and cheerful as possible.

He was mimicking the way he used to talk with his parents, making sure he didn’t betray any hint of doubt.

Shen Xianming didn’t suspect a thing.
“Alright, alright—stop tooting your own horn. Just hurry up and bring that boyfriend home already. Your mom and I are waiting.”

As the call ended, Shen Ran let out a long, heavy sigh, his entire body drained.
Leaning against the desk, he raised a hand to cover his face.

“…Damn it. I’ve come back to life, but why doesn’t it feel any easier this time?”

His origins, his fate—everything was a mystery, a haze of uncertainty that left him uneasy.

He had no idea what tomorrow would bring.

But suddenly, Shen Ran’s head snapped up.
He’d just realized—he’d made a huge mistake.

He said he was bringing his boyfriend home!
But there was no way in hell he could call Chen Xu.

He didn’t trust himself not to punch Chen Xu into orbit the moment he saw him.

Out of options, backed into a corner, Shen Ran could only…
dial a certain someone’s number.

The call connected.
A lazy, drawling voice came through.
“What now?”

“Haha, so, um…” Shen Ran gave a dry laugh. “Remember how I said I owed you a favor and would treat you to dinner sometime?”

“What, trying to weasel out of it already?”

“No! I mean… Are you free right now?”