“What do you mean someone staged a play to kick you out?”
Shu Lingchen was baffled. He had rushed over as soon as he saw the message.
“Mrs. Chu, what are you talking about? Who kicked you out?”
Chu Lian’s mother shot back:
“Wasn’t it you?!”
“I? I didn’t do that!”
Chu Lian saw Shu Lingchen’s innocent, clueless expression—he truly had no idea about what had happened.
Her voice softened as she explained:
“Xiao Chen, just now a man claiming to be the owner of 1701 came with a property certificate under his name and brought people to kick us out.”
“What?!” Shu Lingchen exclaimed.
“The house is mine! How could anyone else have the certificate? Must be a scammer, right?!”
Chu Lian shook her head:
“No, Mom called the police, and even they confirmed the certificate is genuine.”
“That’s impossible!” Shu Lingchen said firmly.
“Then he must be a highly skilled con artist. Is he still at 1701?!”
“Yes.”
“Xiao Chen, it was terrifying. That man brought a lot of people—big, tall guys. Mom and I were scared out of our minds.”
Chu Lian stood in the wind, her white dress fluttering, eyes red with fear. Her vulnerable appearance naturally stirred the instinct to protect her.
“Don’t worry, Chu Chu,” Shu Lingchen said, eyes blazing as he clenched his fists.
“How dare someone try to con me! Mrs. Chu, Chu Chu, come with me. I’ll handle this.”
Both mother and daughter exchanged a relieved glance, reassured by his words.
Chu Lian said, “Xiao Chen, the man said his name was Liu Tong.”
“Who?”
“Liu Tong—Tong, as in communication.”
Shu Lingchen paused.
The name sounded familiar.
Chu Lian, meanwhile, was already thinking ahead about how to explain today’s events.
What terrible luck—this had to happen on the day she invited classmates over.
Once back at 1701, she would need to clarify it was all a misunderstanding.
Her heiress persona must not collapse.
The three arrived at Yu Jing Yuan’s gate.
Shu Lingchen swiped his card.
The Chu mother and daughter followed, but were stopped by the security guard.
“You cannot enter.”
Chu Lian’s mother was shocked:
“Why?!”
The guard, in a crisp uniform and hat, glanced at them:
“You are not owners.”
Shu Lingchen frowned, defiant:
“I am the owner. I’m bringing them in.”
The guard’s expression remained cold:
“Sorry. Instructions from above state that even if you bring these two in, you are not allowed inside.”
Shu Lingchen: “???”
Chu Lian and her mother paled.
Were they blacklisted by Yu Jing Yuan?
Shu Lingchen:
“Above? Who’s above?”
The guard said nothing.
Shu Lingchen:
“Fine, I’ll go in alone!”
He wanted to see who was behind this.
He turned to the mother and daughter:
“Mrs. Chu, Chu Chu, wait here. I’ll come back to get you.”
Chu Lian bit her lip:
“Okay, Xiao Chen. Be careful—they have many people.”
Shu Lingchen felt a warmth in his chest and nodded appreciatively.
As expected, only Shu Lingchen entering allowed the guard to relent.
Once Shu Lingchen walked away, Chu Lian’s mother spat at the guard:
“You snobbish piece of trash! When I get back, the first thing I do is file a complaint and make sure you pack up and leave immediately!”
The guard, expressionless, pressed the call button on his shoulder device:
“Team A, escort these two loiterers away from the gate.”
Chu Lian’s mother fumed:
“You—!!”
…
Shu Lingchen stormed toward his building like a furious little lion.
At the unit entrance stood a middle-aged man, waiting deliberately.
Shu Lingchen approached.
The man called out:
“Lingchen.”
“Who are you—?” Shu Lingchen stopped, studying the man carefully, then recognized him:
“You’re Uncle Liu Tong?”
“Yes.”
Shu Lingchen immediately recalled—
F1701 was indeed his property, but the certificate wasn’t in his name.
After Shu Shu “passed away,” the house would naturally be inherited by Shu Lingchen, but the property certificate wouldn’t be updated until he turned eighteen.
Until then, it would be under a professional manager’s name.
This was to protect the assets of a minor inheritor.
Around the time Shu Lingchen was ten or so, this manager, Liu Tong, had explained this to him.
Shu Lingchen never mentioned this to the Chu family.
When Chu Lian mentioned Liu Tong just now, it didn’t immediately ring a bell.
Shu Lingchen asked with a frown:
“Uncle Liu Tong, why did you kick Mrs. Chu and Chu Chu out?”
Liu Tong replied:
“Come upstairs first.”
Inside the elevator, Shu Lingchen noticed Liu Tong pressed the 16th-floor button:
“Wrong floor?”
“No, the 16th floor.”
Shu Lingchen guessed Liu Tong was taking him to meet the “above” person the guard mentioned.
Exiting the elevator, the penthouse door was open.
Shu Lingchen was stunned by the luxurious interior—far more extravagant than his own upstairs home.
Liu Tong led him cautiously, Shu Lingchen alert.
The next second, he widened his eyes, stunned:
“Mom—?!”
On the sofa, Shu Shu was leisurely sipping coconut juice and scrolling her phone. Upon hearing him, she looked up and smiled brightly:
“Hi, son.”
“How are you here?!”
Shu Lingchen had never imagined it would be Shu Shu.
“This is my house. If I’m not here, where should I be?”
He glanced around the lavish living room in disbelief:
“This is your house?! How did you afford it?”
It was outrageously luxurious.
“Did you win the lottery with the money I gave you?” he wondered.
Shu Shu:
“Oh, just held up a bank these past two days.”
Shu Lingchen:
“…………”
Standing next to Shu Shu, Liu Tong had a copy of the property certificate on the coffee table. Nearby, boxes held game consoles, figurines, and Maotai liquor.
Shu Lingchen realized:
“Mom, you were the one who kicked Mrs. Chu and Chu Chu out…?”
Shu Shu:
“Mm-hmm.”
“What? Why? Where will they live now?”
“Let them live wherever they want.”
Shu Shu explained:
“They freeloaded in my house for so long. I never charged them rent, utilities, property fees, or for damages. I just want them out—Paris Cathedral itself would have to call me to take charge if they stayed any longer.”
“Do they really expect to live in 1701 forever?”
Shu Lingchen:
“Mrs. Chu and Chu Chu didn’t intend to. They were just temporarily staying…”
Shu Shu:
“Oh, temporarily for six or seven years? And you even had to move out?”
Shu Lingchen weakly clarified:
“…I offered to move out myself.”
Shu Shu:
“Then 1701 is my house. Whether I reclaim it, decide who lives there, or handle it however I wish—that’s my right.”
Her words left Shu Lingchen speechless.
She was right.
The house originally belonged to Mom, and now Mom had returned—it naturally should be hers.
Yet Shu Lingchen felt conflicted—how could he explain this to Mrs. Chu and Chu Chu?
Seemingly sensing her son’s hesitation, Shu Shu smiled and beckoned:
“Do you want me to teach you?”