Chapter 98: Seven Orifices Emit Smoke

"Wow, so handsome!"

"Is that the famous Sixth Young Master Shi?"

"No wonder so many women are said to be infatuated with him. Look at his handsome face; even I can't help but feel a pang of affection."

"Really? I don't think he's as handsome as the legends say. Young Master Xie at the academy isn't any worse than him."

"Hmph, don't even mention that scumbag. How can that scumbag compare to Young Master Shi?"

A group of passing female students, recognizing his identity, all looked utterly smitten.

"Heh, women," Zu An thought with disdain.

At that moment, Shi Kun was accompanied by many people, most of whom Zu An didn't recognize. However, there were a few old acquaintances.

For example, Yuan Wendong, who previously exuded arrogance and looked down on everyone, now showed no trace of that pride. He walked slightly behind Shi Kun, whispering something with a fawning smile on his face.

Ye Chenliang was even worse; his smile was almost obsequious.

"Sure enough, no matter the world, it's always this realistic."

Zu An couldn't help but sigh; such scenes were commonplace in his previous life.

Chu Huanzhao, standing beside him, glanced at Shi Kun and couldn't help but mutter, "I thought he'd be much handsomer. He looks about the same as Brother-in-law."

Zu An's face darkened. Was this girl complimenting him or insulting him?

Seeing Shi Kun approaching with a relaxed smile, Chu Chuyan's eyebrows furrowed. Just as she was about to speak, Shi Kun preempted her, "Miss Chu, you called me an outsider on the street, and that was fine. But now we're at the academy, and I'm also a student of Brightmoon Academy. Strictly speaking, we are now classmates, so I shouldn't be considered an outsider, right?"

As the saying goes, one doesn't strike a smiling face. Since his attitude was so polite, Chu Chuyan found it difficult to refuse. She nodded slightly, acknowledging him: "Young Master Shi."

Gazing at the woman before him, dressed in white, with an ethereal grace, Shi Kun couldn't help but praise her inwardly. He had met countless beauties over the years, and with his good family background and handsome looks, women often threw themselves at him. Yet, none could compare to Chu Chuyan. Her exquisite beauty and her cold, aloof demeanor made her seem almost otherworldly.

"I must have her!"

This thought grew stronger in his mind.

Shi Kun smiled, his perfect smile once again setting many nearby female students' hearts aflutter: "Miss Chu, this isn't actually our first meeting."

"Oh?" Chu Chuyan seemed surprised. "Forgive my ignorance, but I truly can't recall where I might have met you, Young Master."

Shi Kun chuckled and said, "About six or seven years ago, Miss Chu visited the capital. Coincidentally, I had a gathering nearby at the time. I saw you across a lake and was absolutely captivated, as if by a goddess. Unfortunately, by the time I arrived, Miss Chu had vanished without a trace. It has been a lifelong regret. For years, I've been searching for the whereabouts of that fairy, but there was never any news. To think I would encounter Miss Chu again here—it seems Heaven has taken pity on my sincerity and granted me this fate."

"Wow, I never knew Young Master Shi was so devoted!"

"If he said something like that to me, I'd probably faint from happiness on the spot."

"Right! I thought since he's so handsome, he'd be a playboy like Xie Xiu. I never expected him to be such a romantic."

Zu An's anger flared upon hearing this. These infatuated girls, so easily excited by a few casual words from him? Do they think even his excrement smells like roses?

Seeing Shi Kun completely ignore him and continuously express his adoration for his wife, what man could tolerate that?

Zu An stepped forward directly, blocking Chu Chuyan, and said loudly, "Brother Rib, I find your words a bit strange."

"Brother Rib?" Shi Kun was momentarily stunned. It took him a while to realize that Zu An had split his name. His face darkened as he corrected, "It's Kun!"

[Anger value from Shi Kun +315!]

"Alright, Brother Rib," Zu An said directly. "According to what you just said, you saw her six or seven years ago, then tried to find out about her but couldn't, and now you've coincidentally met her here, calling it fate?"

"Who are you? Why should I answer your question?" Shi Kun snorted. He naturally knew who Zu An was, but in his position, ignoring the man was the best way to undermine him.

"Ah, you don't know who I am? Then let me introduce myself," Zu An said, pulling Chu Chuyan's hand. "I am the husband of the goddess you constantly dream of, the one who occupies your thoughts day and night. While you have to rely on fantasy, I don't need that trouble. Your dream girl sleeps in the same bed with me every single day. How about that? Do you know now?"

When he suddenly took her hand, Chu Chuyan's body trembled. She instinctively wanted to pull away, but then she remembered that doing so in front of so many people would publicly embarrass him.

Moreover, her marriage to Zu An was originally meant to cut off the ambitions of the royal family and Prince Qi's faction. If she now demonstrated that they weren't intimate, wouldn't all their efforts be in vain?

Thinking this, she remained silent, allowing him to hold her hand.

Zu An had clearly anticipated this, which was why he dared to take her hand.

However, Chu Chuyan hadn't expected him to be so verbally aggressive, uttering such outrageous words. Even with her normally cold demeanor, she blushed. He must have been certain she wouldn't refute him, deliberately taking advantage of the situation.

At this moment, the entire crowd erupted in a clamor. Although many had known that Chu Chuyan was married to Zu An, they had consoled themselves with the thought that the two were vastly different, and Miss Chu must have had other reasons for marrying such a good-for-nothing. They likely believed Zu An hadn't truly taken advantage of her, probably not even entering the bridal chamber.

But now, Zu An's words ruthlessly shattered all those illusions. Crucially, Miss Chu looked flustered and didn't deny it. "Oh my god, I'm going crazy!"

Imagining the most beautiful woman in Brightmoon City indulging Zu An, many were consumed by jealousy and fury.

[Anger value from Gao Ren +444!][Anger value from He Buyu +444!][Anger value from Wu Zhenjian +444!]... (Cameo by fellow reader Liufeng Huixue wes)

Seeing this wave of anger values in the backend, Zu An felt a surge of satisfaction. Indeed, just like in the novels he read in his previous life, beautiful women often attract mockery, but they also easily generate anger values.

"It seems I need to work more in this direction in the future, finding more pretty girls. Hmm, I'm not lusting after their bodies; it's purely for anger values."

At this point, Shi Kun's gaze fell on their tightly clasped hands. His face twitched involuntarily a few times, becoming as dark as water. He had always considered Chu Chuyan his exclusive possession, and now she had been touched by another man. Even just holding hands filled him with infuriating rage.

[Anger value from Shi Kun +520!]

"Zu An, don't try to flatter yourself. As far as I know, your and Miss Chu's rooms are separate. You can't even get into her door, yet you're boasting about sleeping in the same bed. It's laughable." Shi Kun snorted coldly, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

Zu An cursed inwardly. How did he know they slept in separate beds? The Chu family had kept that strictly confidential. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he said, "I think I only introduced myself as Chuyan's husband just now, not my name. How did you know my name is Zu An? Did you perhaps send a spy to infiltrate our Chu family? We recently had a traitor named Xue'er in our household; could she have been sent by you?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Chuyan's eyes became tinged with suspicion as she looked at Shi Kun. Given the power of a Duke's residence, the person behind Xue'er had remained untraceable, indicating immense influence. This Shi Kun certainly fit all the criteria.

"Nonsense! I know nothing of any Xue'er or Dong'er. Don't go slandering me." A flicker of unease crossed Shi Kun's face. This fellow was surprisingly perceptive. "As for knowing your name is Zu An, it's widely known that Miss Chu got married, so it's not strange for me to know your name."

Zu An snorted, "If you knew me, why did you pretend not to just now? Although you have a handsome appearance, almost as good as mine, you are truly hypocritical at heart."

Shi Kun: "..."

[Anger value from Shi Kun +300!]

Zu An continued, "And weren't you quite aloof just now? It seemed like speaking a few extra words was costing you money. If you were truly wronged, wouldn't your previous demeanor lead you to scoff and ignore me? Why are you so patiently explaining to someone you look down on like me? Isn't that just showing a guilty conscience?"

The surrounding people subtly nodded upon hearing this. Although Zu An was somewhat annoying, there was a point to what he said. This indeed didn't align with Young Master Shi's previous persona. Could he really have a guilty conscience?

Shi Kun hadn't expected Zu An to dig such a large pit for him to fall into. He finally understood how Mei Chaofeng and Xue'er must have felt before.

Thinking this, he increasingly blamed that girl Xue'er for not getting rid of this obnoxious fellow sooner!

He took a deep breath to calm himself, then ignored Zu An and turned to Chu Chuyan: "Miss Chu, please don't let his one-sided words affect the friendship between the Shi and Chu families. I truly know nothing about what happened at your residence, and it has no connection to the Shi family."

Chu Chuyan had already formed her own judgment. She said plainly, "I hope so. Although our Chu family may be a small household, we are not someone anyone can bully."

Shi Kun gave an awkward laugh: "Miss Chu, you jest. The Chu family is a dignified Duke's residence; how could it be a small household? Moreover, I have admired you for a long time and would never do anything to harm you."

Before Chu Chuyan could answer, Zu An spoke up: "You know, I almost forgot about what you said earlier. You claimed to have seen my wife once six or seven years ago, and since then, she's been on your mind, sought after but unattainable. Now, you coincidentally meet her at Brightmoon Academy and believe it's a destiny arranged by heaven, right?"

"Precisely," Shi Kun snorted. "Miss Chu wasn't married to you six or seven years ago, was she? A gentle and graceful lady is a good match for a gentleman. What's wrong with me admiring her? Over the years, my affection for her has become a habit. Although I know she's married, I've still fallen deeply, almost subconsciously. I hope Miss Chu doesn't mind."

"Playing the 'deeply devoted' card?" Zu An thought, remembering all the scumbag tutorials from his past life, and the various PUA courses sold online. As a qualified keyboard warrior, how could he not know such tactics?

"This is strange, then. As far as I know, the Shi family in the capital is a top aristocratic clan, capable of mobilizing immense power. And Chuyan isn't just any girl from a small family; she's the eldest daughter of the Chu family! Simply asking some people who were present at the time would surely reveal her identity. Yet you claim you couldn't find her for years, and then you pretend to 'coincidentally' meet her here, calling it fate. Should I say you have ulterior motives, or that your intelligence is simply low?"