Guardian Chapter 1: Return

 

Chapter 1 Return

The summer in City W was as sweltering as ever. Yu Shulin, clutching his examination envelope, trailed behind the stream of candidates, waiting for the school gates to open.

This year's secondary school entrance examination papers proved more challenging than any previous year. After two gruelling days of testing, the candidates all looked utterly dejected. No matter how fiercely the scorching sun beat down overhead, it could not warm the icy chill in their hearts after finishing the exams.

As classmates gathered to compare answers, Yu Shulin shook his head silently, staring down at his admission ticket inside the transparent envelope with a complex expression.

This was the examination admission ticket, bearing the candidate's personal details and examination room number. In the top right corner, a blue-background ID photograph was crookedly affixed. The photograph showed a youth with fair skin and delicate features. His beautiful eyes sparkled with joy, his lips turned up in a confident, almost defiant smile.

This was Yu Shulin at fifteen. Back then, he hadn't yet lost his beloved mother, nor had he been ground down by reality into a dazed existence. None of that had happened yet; the future was still full of promise.

Fifteen... such a vibrant age.

He lifted his gaze, the complexity in his eyes vanishing, leaving only serenity.

Returning from twenty-five to fifteen, standing once more at this crossroads of life, he chose not to dwell on how such a bizarre occurrence had transpired. In any case, he had gained.

The bell signalling the end of the exam rang out. The school gates opened. He lowered his head and followed the stream of students outwards, carefully piecing together the events that had unfolded after the secondary school entrance exams.

In his previous life, his mother’s sudden passing had left him emotionally unstable. His exam results were nothing short of disastrous. By the time he’d recovered from the shock of losing his loved one, the summer holidays had long passed. Panic seized him. He frantically phoned his former form tutor to ask which secondary school he’d been allocated to. The answer was disheartening: he’d missed the cut-off mark. Worse still, because he’d been unreachable, he’d regrettably missed the supplementary placement opportunity his tutor had fought hard to secure for him.

Though the form tutor was frustrated by his apparent disregard for his academic future, she also felt for the young lad who'd lost his mother at such a tender age. After talking it through, she gently suggested he repeat the year. He agreed, but his guardian at the time, his uncle Yu Xiu, rejected the proposal outright, claiming he'd already arranged a school for him and that he could start anytime.

Raised solely by his mother and never having known his father, his uncle became his closest relative after her death. Under his uncle's persuasion and guidance, he politely declined the form tutor's suggestion and enrolled in the secondary school arranged by his uncle.

After that, his life began hurtling towards tragedy. A life controlled by others, hollow and insincere familial bonds, an inheritance schemed and seized away, and... a wretched death.

In truth, the moment he agreed to hand over guardianship to Yu Xiu, his fate was sealed.

At this thought, he couldn't help but frown. At fifteen, he certainly couldn't manage without a guardian, yet his only remaining relatives were his uncle's family...

Was he truly destined to remain under his uncle's family's control for the rest of his life?

“Shulin, over here!”

The familiar voice snapped him out of his thoughts. His grip on the exam bag tightened. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to look up calmly, turning towards the source of the call.

Yu Xiu, not yet forty, appeared barely over thirty thanks to meticulous grooming. His immaculate shirt and trousers complemented his refined, gentle features, while the gleaming luxury car behind him radiated the ostentatious air of a nouveau riche dandy.

Yu Shulin tugged at the corner of his mouth, shuffling slowly over to stand before the vehicle. His gaze drifted blankly over the gleaming emblem on the luxury car—his sister had just passed away, and here was her brother spending her accident compensation on a new car. Well, that was... truly touching family devotion.

“Feeling warm? How did the exam go? Honestly, it doesn't matter if you didn't do well. Don't put too much pressure on yourself,” Yu Xiu said softly, his eyes brimming with genuine concern.

He shook his head, remaining silent. As a vulnerable teenager who'd just lost his mother, he had every right to wallow in melancholy. Besides, he couldn't be bothered to speak to this insincere man standing before him.

Yu Xiu paid no heed to his silence, opening the car door himself and smiling. “Hungry? Your auntie's booked us a table at Baiwei Xuan. Let's have a proper meal to celebrate the end of your exams. I've already spoken to your teacher. Shall we go?”

“The car.” He didn't enter the vehicle, instead lifting his gaze to meet Yu Xiu's eyes, searching for even a flicker of remorse.

“What?” Yu Xiu looked at him in confusion.

“Where did this car come from? That make... it's rather expensive, isn't it?” He tilted his head, using the sharp corner of his exam bag to scratch at the door. “Did you borrow it just to pick me up? Uncle really is kind to me.”

“Oi, stop that.” The mask-like gentle smile on Yu Xiu's face finally cracked. He hurriedly reached out to block the scratching motion, cleared his throat, and forced a mild tone. “It's Uncle's new car. Right, right. Your aunt and the others must be getting impatient. Let's go.”

After being pushed into the car and seated, Yu Shulin scrutinised Yu Xiu's expression. Sure enough, as he rounded the front to open the driver's door, he caught a fleeting flash of impatience and displeasure. He lowered his eyes obediently, staring straight ahead, inwardly snorting.

Second chances for the heartless—still heartless as ever.

The car started and gradually pulled away from the school gates, still besieged by parents.

Once on the main road, Yu Xiu suddenly spoke up. “Shulin, after we've eaten, I'll take you to the solicitors' office. Don't worry, it's just to sign some papers.”

Yu Shulin whipped his head round, gripping the seatbelt tightly as he stared at him. “Sign? Sign what?”

Yu Xiu, thinking he'd forgotten, hurriedly explained, “I know it's a bit sudden, but you're starting secondary school soon. It's best to settle the guardianship matter early. We can use this opportunity to reprocess your school registration and household registration too, making things easier for your studies later. Don't worry, Shulin. Your aunt is a teacher and has experience with these matters. All you need to do is sign.”

So the guardianship had been arranged this early? Yu Shulin's emotions surged violently. He quickly turned his gaze forward, took a deep breath to suppress the rising irritation, and lowered his eyelids.

In his previous life, the blow of his mother’s death had left him so deeply shaken that he’d done whatever his uncle told him to, his mind a foggy mess. He couldn’t even recall when he’d gone to the solicitor’s office to sign the papers. So it had been after the secondary school entrance exams?

Hmph. They certainly couldn’t wait.

Seeing his silence, Yu Xiu assumed consent. Adjusting his tone, he resumed the daily indoctrination routine: ‘Your uncle is your only blood relative,’ ‘He will cherish you like his own son,’ ‘Everything he does is for your own good.’ His manner was affable, his words gentle, adopting the concerned posture of a benevolent elder.

Yu Shulin’s face remained calm and compliant, though his heart churned with disgust. He could barely restrain himself from hurling the exam envelope at his uncle’s face. Such smooth talk—no wonder he’s in education. He spouts platitudes without batting an eyelid, manipulating a fifteen-year-old who’s just lost his mother. Doesn’t he fear retribution?

He gazed out the window, trying to ignore Yu Xiu's chatter, his brow furrowed—there was no way he could sign those papers today. He had to find a way out.

The street scenes gradually became familiar; Baiwei Xuan was approaching.

“Shulin, don't be afraid of those nasty people trying to take your guardianship. Uncle will help chase them away. All you need to do is relax and enjoy your holiday.” Yu Xiu spoke with gentle assurance, reaching out to ruffle Yu Shulin’s hair.

The villains trying to seize custody?

Yu Shulin snapped back to reality at those words, a hazy memory surfacing. He stiffened as Yu Xiu’s hand approached, yet didn’t pull away. Instead, he murmured, “Someone’s trying to take custody?”

Yu Xiu was thoroughly pleased with his nephew's recent docility and obedience. His tone grew even gentler as he began to smear his opponents without batting an eyelid, not forgetting to show off his own prowess: “It's people from your father's side. Don't be afraid. They're just a bunch of despicable scoundrels coveting your mother's inheritance. Uncle will sort them out. They won't get near you.”

Yu Shulin's brow furrowed deeper. After a moment's thought, he dimly recalled such an incident from his previous life. Back then, however, he'd been naive and utterly trusting of Yu Xiu. Taking his word for it, he'd believed him. Later, foolishly brainwashed by Yu Xiu, he'd forgotten the matter entirely.

He twisted his mouth into a wry smile, covering his face with his hand. How ridiculous it all was—his mother had barely passed away before this father he'd never met came snatching custody rights, and now this uncle, a wolf in sheep's clothing... Ah, it was laughable enough to bring tears to his eyes.

 

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