Lady Lu had someone investigate, and it turned out that Xu Wei was the eldest son of the Xu Family. The Xu Family originally sold tofu. Back then, when the emperor was on a tour and passed by their stall, he caught a fleeting glimpse of the Xu daughter, who then entered the imperial harem. In just fifteen years, through her own efforts, she climbed to the position of imperial consort.
With the Xu Family’s sudden rise, they were granted titles and ranks. However, this consort was unlike ordinary women. It was said she once knelt before the emperor and pleaded that the Xu Family was unworthy of high-ranking positions, accepting only sixth-rank or lower titles. She insisted that if future generations of the Xu Family had talent, they should earn their positions through the imperial examinations.
The emperor was moved, marveling at the depth of her wisdom—something many noblewomen lacked. Her reputation spread throughout the capital.
Thus, the Xu Family remained quietly in Yingchuan City. Due to the consort’s favor, local officials treated them with extra courtesy. In recent years, they’d grown even more audacious, though they still tried to maintain appearances. Rumors circulated that the Xu Family’s young master was dashing and charismatic, uninterested in women—ironically making him a desirable match in the eyes of many noble ladies.
Lady Lu tensed, but seeing no further moves from the Xu Family, she gradually relaxed, assuming they wouldn’t dare cause trouble.
One day, Su Yunzheng fidgeted and glanced at Lu Chao.
“What? Did you get heat rash again?”
It was no surprise Lu Chao asked—the chubby boy, suffering from the summer heat and his own plumpness, had recently developed rashes on his thighs. During lessons, the itching made him squirm uncontrollably.
Lu Chao decided it was time to address Su Yunzheng’s weight and sent a letter home with him.
Grandmother Su was astonished to receive a letter from her grandson.
The envelope read: To Grandmother Su, respectfully from Lu Chao, accompanied by a cheerful little doodle of a smiling face.
My, my—an old woman like me receiving a letter from a child!
“Grandmother, what does Lu Chao’s letter say?” Su Yunzheng asked curiously. He’d inquired earlier, but Lu Chao had insisted it was a secret and made him promise not to peek.
“Let Grandmother read it first. Go have some tea—don’t crowd me. This is a secret between me and Chao Chao.”
Grandmother Su held up the letter and pointed to a tea table several seats away, signaling Su Yunzheng to move.
“I haven’t done anything wrong lately… Chao Chao wouldn’t tattle, right?” Su Yunzheng muttered, taking slow steps while stealing glances at his grandmother’s expression.
Grandmother Su’s initially cheerful face grew serious.
Su Yunzheng’s heart pounded.
What on earth did Chao Chao write?
“Yunzheng, how do you think Chao Chao treats you?” Grandmother Su studied her flustered grandson.
“Chao Chao is wonderful! He never makes fun of me for being fat and stops others from teasing me too. He’s so clever—he teaches us how to play Gomoku and other games. Everyone in class wants to sit with him, but he’s never switched seats.”
Grandmother Su watched her grandson, his cheeks jiggling with each step, and for the first time, she truly reflected on herself.
She’d always believed that since her grandson’s parents weren’t around, she had to spoil him. But beyond that, had she turned him into her trophy?
As a chubby child, Su Yunzheng had always drawn praise.
“Wow! This child is so well-fed!”
“Even without his parents, his grandmother clearly dotes on him.”
“Truly, grandparents love best—she cares for him better than his own mother!”
Grandmother Su would always smile and say, “He’s been with me since he was little. I feared I wouldn’t raise him well, but now I’ve done right by the Su Family.”
But holding the letter that now felt as heavy as lead, Grandmother Su’s eyes reddened. She hadn’t been a proper grandmother at all.
“Yunzheng… do you want to lose weight? To be like Chao Chao?”
Su Yunzheng hesitated, then nodded.
He did. If he weren’t fat, maybe he could stand beside Chao Chao without shame. But… could he really do it?
“Chao Chao says that from now on, you’ll eat whatever he eats. He’ll supervise your weight loss.”
At Grandmother Su’s words, Su Yunzheng’s eyes widened.
“Really?!”
He’d tried cutting back before, but whenever he ate less, his grandmother would fret over whether he was sick. Seeing her white-haired worry, he’d given up—if she wanted him to eat more, he would.
And so, Su Yunzheng began his weight-loss journey.
Within half a month, he’d already shed a few pounds, his eyes brighter than before.
Grateful, he glanced at Lu Chao again.
“If it’s not heat rash, why are you fidgeting?”
“Chao Chao, Tian Changgeng invited me to his family’s estate. Will you come?”
Su Yunzheng looked at Lu Chao hopefully.
“Tian Changgeng?” Lu Chao searched his memory, then glanced toward the back of the classroom.
An ordinary-looking boy—his father was the commander of the city garrison.
Lu Chao found him annoyingly loud and usually avoided him.
“Go if you want, refuse if you don’t. What’s the issue?”
Su Yunzheng bit his lip. “It’s the first time a classmate has invited me out. But if you’re not there… I’m a little scared.”
Lu Chao frowned. Su Yunzheng was too timid—without protection, he’d be bullied.
“Yunzheng, just treat it as a visit. If it’s fun, stay longer. If not, make an excuse and leave early. You’ll be fine.”
Lu Chao had already promised his family he’d join them for a barbecue that weekend, so he couldn’t accompany Su Yunzheng. Still, something felt off—Tian Changgeng had never shown interest in Su Yunzheng before. Why the sudden invitation?
Su Yunzheng steeled himself and decided to go. Grandmother was right—Chao Chao couldn’t always be by his side. He needed to be more independent.
The Tian Family’s estate was on a hill in the outskirts. When Su Yunzheng arrived, he spotted another classmate, Chen Peng—a quiet boy from a poor family who earned pocket money by running errands and copying homework for the wealthier students.
“Brother Lu!”
Delighted to see a familiar face, Su Yunzheng’s eyes lit up.
“Brother Su, Brother Tian asked me to wait here for you. This way, please!”
Chen Peng clasped his hands in greeting.
“Ah? You’re older—just call me Yunzheng. You didn’t have to wait; I could’ve asked the servants.”
Su Yunzheng scratched his head.
Chen Peng’s gaze flickered with envy.
That naïve look… clearly sheltered. Born with everything I’ve ever wanted—some people are just lucky.
