Chapter 44: The Cause
After Bai Zhouyun was confined at home, he eagerly waited day after day until his parents finally returned. But when they did, he discovered that it made no difference.
The couple only comforted him, brought him some nice things, and tried to persuade him not to go against his grandfather.
What a joke. How would he dare go against his grandfather?
Besides, no matter how much they talked, neither of them had the courage to plead with the old man on his behalf.
Because they themselves were afraid too.
“Dad, Mom, can I really not go out? I really can't? I want to go out for a walk.”
“Oh, stop making your grandfather angry. Don't you know that he rarely gets angry, but once he does, what he says is final?”
Bai Zhouyun's shoulders slumped, and he looked completely dispirited.
“Then what am I supposed to do now?”
“You silly child, didn't your grandfather already say it? As long as Xiao Yu comes looking for you and invites you out to play, you'll be allowed to go out. During this time, communicate with him properly. You're so handsome and outstanding, and he likes you so much. He'll definitely listen to you.”
Even now, Bai Zhouyun had yet to realize that Nan Yu's attitude toward him had changed.
It wasn't that Nan Yu had hidden it especially well. Many people had already noticed, including his two older brothers.
Even Old Master Bai had vaguely sensed it.
Only Bai Zhouyun and his parents remained blissfully optimistic.
Bai Zhouyun was used to freedom. Being locked up at home left him restless.
After learning that Nan Yu could take him out, he no longer cared about pride or dignity and immediately prepared to call Nan Yu.
But his parents stopped him.
“Son, listen to Mom first.”
Bai Zhouyun paused.
“Fine, but hurry up. I want to get out immediately!”
Normally staying home wasn't a problem, but being forcibly confined made it unbearable.
“When you contact Nan Yu later, remember to apologize first. Explain clearly that those rumors are false and that they were malicious slanders spread by people who couldn't stand the two of you being together. Make Nan Yu believe you first, and only then discuss other things, understand?”
“You still haven't cleared up the previous misunderstanding, and he's already angry. Add this incident on top of it, and he's definitely furious. Try to make yourself sound pitiful. Given how much he loves you, he'll definitely stand up for you.”
Bai Zhouyun stroked his chin and thought carefully.
“Mom, you're right. I'll listen to you.”
Earlier, he had panicked and hadn't thought of something so simple.
But now that someone had pointed it out, if he still didn't understand, then he would truly be an idiot.
Thus, Bai Zhouyun placed a call to Nan Yu.
His parents even moved farther away so they wouldn't interfere with their conversation.
But none of the three had expected that everything they had discussed would be useless.
Because Nan Yu simply didn't answer.
Impossible.
In theory, this was impossible.
Everyone wore their optical computers on their wrists. Whenever a call or message arrived, the AI assistant would automatically notify them.
Unless Nan Yu was deliberately ignoring him, he should definitely answer.
But would Nan Yu ignore his calls?
“Mom, why isn't he answering?”
“Maybe he's sleeping? After all, he just returned to Capital Star. He might still be resting these past couple of days.”
Bai Zhouyun thought about it.
“That actually makes sense.”
They all knew that Nan Yu's two older brothers were extreme little-brother fanatics.
“So I can only wait?”
“All right, don't be anxious. Hasn't that child always followed behind you? This time you're the one asking him for help. I bet he's delighted inside. Rest well today and contact him again tomorrow.”
Bai Zhouyun nodded.
“I understand.”
Clearly, he agreed with what his mother had just said.
Only after soothing him did the couple finally relax.
They stood quietly in a corner of the living room, looking out at the courtyard.
After a while, his mother spoke.
“Husband, don't you think things have been going rather badly lately?”
Mentioning that made both of them angry.
“Come to think of it, the root of all these problems is that child Nan Yu. Why is he being so unreasonable? Doesn't he like our Zhouyun? Then he should just keep liking him.”
“That child has been spoiled by us since he was young. What would it hurt Nan Yu to give in a little?”
“Who knows what he's thinking? But Nan Yu's feelings for Zhouyun are indeed deep. He's only angry for the moment. After some time, everything will be fine.”
Even now, the two of them were deceiving themselves.
They had completely ignored the months Nan Yu had spent away from Capital Star.
If things would get better after some time, then several months had already passed.
Had Nan Yu still not calmed down?
Anyone with a little intelligence who had seen how Nan Yu used to treat Bai Zhouyun and compared it with his current attitude could figure out what it meant.
Nan Yu probably no longer liked Bai Zhouyun the way he once had.
Unfortunately, even if their guesses were correct, it didn't matter.
The marriage contract between Bai Zhouyun and Nan Yu still existed.
But that didn't stop people from secretly seizing this weakness and spreading exaggerated stories everywhere.
Now, practically everyone on Capital Star who knew of the Bai family also knew about the scandal.
This was exactly what angered Old Master Bai the most.
If Bai Zhouyun embarrassed himself, so be it.
But he had dragged the entire Bai family down with him!
Now, whenever people mentioned the Bai family, the first thing they thought of was this scandal.
“Master?”
Old Master Bai frowned angrily.
But after thinking of something, he waved his hand.
“Forget it. Leave him alone. Anyway...”
He didn't finish his sentence.
It was as though the unspoken words contained some kind of taboo.
Even though only the two of them knew about it, he still didn't say it aloud.
He would wait until everything was settled before revealing it. Only then would he have greater confidence.
As for whether Nan Yu knew about the wildly spreading rumors—
Of course he knew.
Nan Yun and Nan Zhen practically wished Bai Zhouyun would create even more scandals.
So as soon as they heard about it, they immediately found Nan Yu and shared the news with him.
After hearing the last few rumors, the corners of Nan Yu's mouth twitched.
“Seriously?”
Nan Yun wished the rumors were true, but...
“They're probably fake. Even though the stories sound convincing, anyone with a brain knows they're false. This time, people simply grabbed onto a weakness of his, and everyone on Capital Star who dislikes him secretly added fuel to the fire.”
Nan Yu blinked.
“Does Bai Zhouyun really have such terrible popularity?”
If his reputation was truly that bad, then in his previous life, when Bai Zhouyun had gathered followers with a single call and united them against him, had that all been his own delusion?
Nan Yun rubbed his head.
“Little Brother, do you have any idea how attractive you are?”
Nan Yu naturally understood what he meant and immediately slapped his hand away.
“Big Brother, stop joking!”
“I'm not joking. Every unmarried Ability User on Capital Star, even those over a hundred years old, covets you. Whether they're outstanding or not, at the very least they're all better than Bai Zhouyun.”
Nan Yu understood perfectly well.
In their eyes, if trash like Bai Zhouyun could be with him, then why couldn't they?
Many of them were superior to Bai Zhouyun in family background, and some surpassed him in potential, strength, and overall evaluations by several streets.
Of course they were dissatisfied.
Previously they had no opportunity.
Now that they had caught hold of a weakness, it was entirely possible that they were venting their frustrations without restraint.
Nan Yu smiled faintly.
“It looks like Bai Zhouyun won't be getting rid of this scandal anytime soon.”