Back to High School: The Undercurrents of the Lu Family

Lu Xiao's childhood and adolescence were far from smooth. As the second son of Lu Zhendong, his birth destined him to struggle for survival within the swirling vortex of family power dynamics. Lu Zhendong, the founder of Jiangbei Group, was an iron-fisted figure whose complicated and contentious marriages shaped the family's hierarchy. Lu Xiao's mother was Lu Zhendong's second wife, while Lu Chen, the eldest son born to his first wife, was regarded as the "legitimate" heir. Ten years Lu Xiao's senior, Lu Chen had suppressed him since childhood—not just as the eldest son, but because he mastered the art of leveraging family resources to solidify his own position.

Lu Chen was a cunning and calculating individual. On the surface, he treated Lu Xiao with politeness, occasionally feigning brotherly concern, but behind closed doors, he seized every opportunity to undermine Lu Xiao's influence. In high school, Lu Xiao excelled academically and cut a striking figure, earning him a reputation as a prominent student. Yet he lived perpetually in Lu Chen's shadow. Once, in front of Lu Zhendong, Lu Chen mocked him: "No matter how smart you are, what does it matter? Jiangbei Group's future is mine. You're just the second wife's son." Though framed as a jest, the words sliced into Lu Xiao like a knife. He understood that in this family, lineage and birth order dictated everything.

Worse still, Lu Chen discovered Lu Xiao's secret—he liked Shen Mo, a boy from an ordinary background. It happened one afternoon when sunlight flooded the classroom. In the physics lab, Lu Xiao stole glances at Shen Mo, his eyes betraying a tenderness he hadn't yet recognized himself. Lu Chen caught the moment by chance. He didn't confront Lu Xiao then and there; instead, he tucked the secret away, a ticking time bomb ready to detonate at his whim.

"You like him?" One evening in the Lu family study, Lu Chen asked with a half-smile, twirling a pen in his hand. "He's good-looking, sure, but he's got no background. Why not bring him home for Dad to see? Let him know his prized son is…" He paused deliberately, his tone dripping with provocation.

Lu Xiao's face drained of color. He clenched his fists, wanting to retort, but he knew he was powerless. Too young to counter Lu Chen's hold over the family's resources, he opted for silence, burying his feelings for Shen Mo deep within, only stealing distant glances at that slender figure when no one was watching.

But Lu Chen didn't let it rest. He began spreading rumors about Lu Xiao to Lu Zhendong, insinuating that his "mind wasn't right" and even fabricating evidence of collusion with outsiders to destabilize Lu Xiao's standing in the family. Though Lu Zhendong held high hopes for Lu Xiao, he favored his eldest son and grew increasingly distant, reducing Lu Xiao's involvement in the family business.

The tension erupted during a family meeting. That night, Lu Chen proposed removing Lu Xiao from core family projects, claiming he "wasn't fit for responsibility." Unable to endure it any longer, Lu Xiao shot back, furious: "What gives you the right to say I'm not capable? You only got ahead because of your birth!" Lu Chen sneered, tossing out a stack of forged documents, alleging they proved Lu Xiao's dealings with outsiders. Lu Zhendong exploded in anger, ordering Lu Xiao to shut up.

The argument escalated, and in a fit of rage, Lu Xiao shoved Lu Chen. In the chaos, Lu Chen pretended to stumble, pushing Lu Xiao down the stairs. Time seemed to freeze—Lu Xiao only remembered his mother's scream piercing the air before darkness swallowed him whole.

He remained unconscious for three days, waking in a foreign hospital. The doctors said he'd suffered a severe head injury, risking memory loss. Lu Zhendong sent him abroad, ostensibly for treatment, but also to quell the family's internal strife. Lu Chen seized the opportunity to cement his control over Jiangbei Group.

Lu Xiao's time abroad was grueling. He lost fragments of his memory, including Shen Mo's face, left only with a vague silhouette that haunted his sleepless nights. It took five years to regain his health—and in those years, he began reevaluating his past. Piece by piece, he unraveled the truth of the family's power struggles: Lu Chen's schemes, his father's favoritism, and his mother's negligible status. He realized that to reclaim what was his, he had to become stronger than Lu Chen.

Upon returning to China, Lu Xiao didn't immediately challenge Lu Chen head-on. He kept a low profile, quietly rallying shareholders and building his own influence in secret. He knew Lu Chen's greatest weakness was his arrogance—a flaw that could prove fatal. Meanwhile, he took over marginal sectors of Jiangbei Group's operations, using his remarkable talent to expand them and gradually earning a voice on the board.

But when he saw Shen Mo again at a banquet in the Guomao Hotel, all his suppressed emotions surged like a tidal wave. He remembered that boy—the shadow that had stirred his heart. He finally understood that his feelings for Shen Mo had never faded; they'd only deepened with time. Lu Chen's presence, like a thorn, reminded him of past humiliations.

As his collaboration with Shen Mo grew, Lu Xiao's standing within Jiangbei Group solidified. Sensing the threat, Lu Chen reverted to old tactics. He had Shen Mo's background investigated, searching for leverage to use against Lu Xiao. One day, he strode into Lu Xiao's office, a familiar sneer on his face. "I hear you've gotten close to Nebula Tech's Mr. Shen. Is he your little lover from back then?"

Lu Xiao's gaze turned icy, but he didn't respond immediately, studying Lu Chen in silence. Years of experience had taught him to mask his emotions. With a faint smile, he countered, "Lu Chen, you're so fixated on me. Are you afraid I'll take your place?"

Lu Chen's expression shifted, though he quickly regained his composure. "Lu Xiao, don't forget—Jiangbei Group is mine. No matter how hard you fight, you're still just the second wife's bastard."

Those words ignited Lu Xiao's fury. He shot to his feet, palms slamming onto the desk, his voice low and menacing. "Lu Chen, you'd better pray you never slip up. Because the moment you do, I'll make sure you lose everything."

Lu Chen snorted and turned to leave, but a flicker of unease flashed in his eyes. He knew Lu Xiao was no longer the boy he once was—now, he was a rival capable of matching him blow for blow.

From that day forward, the struggle within the Lu family reached a boiling point. Lu Xiao threw himself into advancing his collaboration with Shen Mo while secretly gathering evidence of Lu Chen's years of illicit dealings within the company. He knew this battle wasn't just about power—it was about proving himself, proving he wasn't the "bastard" Lu Chen labeled him as, but a man capable of seizing control of everything.

Shen Mo, meanwhile, became both his softest vulnerability and his strongest pillar in this fight. Lu Xiao didn't want to drag Shen Mo into the family's turmoil, yet every time he gazed into those clear eyes, he couldn't stop himself from pulling him closer. He understood that this affection might be his weakness, but it could also be the strength that ultimately led him to victory.

As the project progressed, the relationship between Shen Mo and Lu Xiao grew clearer amid their tug-of-war. Though Shen Mo still resisted Lu Xiao's dominance, he couldn't deny the stirrings in his heart. Lu Xiao, growing bolder, would quietly take Shen Mo's hand during a break in a meeting or whisper long-buried confessions when they were alone. Each touch chipped away at Shen Mo's defenses, leaving them teetering on the edge of collapse.

But this secretive, fragile bond didn't escape Lu Chen's notice. He had long sensed something unusual in Lu Xiao's attachment to Shen Mo. To him, Shen Mo wasn't just Lu Xiao's Achilles' heel—he was the perfect weapon to wield against him. Lu Chen resolved to act, determined to make Lu Xiao taste loss once more, just as he had when he pushed him down the stairs years ago, shattering his hopes completely.

One evening, Shen Mo was working late at the company, the glow of his computer screen casting a pallor over his face. His phone buzzed with an incoming call from an unknown number. Hesitating, he picked up.

"Mr. Shen?" A low, unfamiliar voice came through, tinged with amusement. "This is Lu Chen, Lu Xiao's older brother."

Shen Mo froze, his grip tightening on the phone. "Mr. Lu? What do you want?"

Lu Chen chuckled, his tone warm yet edged with menace. "I hear you and Lu Xiao are working closely together. I was curious and thought we should meet. I'd like to discuss the future of Nebula Tech."

Shen Mo frowned, a vague unease settling in, but he couldn't find a reason to refuse. "Alright. You set the time."

After hanging up, Shen Mo leaned back in his chair, his mind drifting to the family conflicts Lu Xiao had mentioned. He knew Lu Chen and Lu Xiao were at odds, but he'd never imagined himself being drawn into their feud.

The next day, Lu Chen met Shen Mo at an upscale café. Dressed in a dark suit, Lu Chen exuded a cold, commanding aura—different from Lu Xiao's sharp intensity, his eyes carried a sinister glint. He ordered two black coffees, his gaze settling on Shen Mo with a scrutinizing air.

"Mr. Shen," Lu Chen cut straight to the point, "you're so close to Lu Xiao. You must know what kind of person he is, right?"

Shen Mo's fingers paused, and he replied quietly, "What do you mean, Mr. Lu?"

Lu Chen smiled, sipping his coffee. "Lu Xiao's a madman. When he wants something, he'll stop at nothing to get it. Do you think he genuinely likes you, or are you just a tool to him?"

Shen Mo's expression faltered, Lu Chen's words piercing his heart like a needle. He stayed silent for a moment before responding softly, "Mr. Lu, Lu Xiao and I are just business partners."

"Business partners?" Lu Chen's smile widened. He pulled a stack of photos from his briefcase and slid them across the table. "Then how do you explain these?"

Shen Mo glanced down and felt his heart sink. The photos captured moments between him and Lu Xiao—Lu Xiao helping him out of a car, leaning close to whisper in a meeting, even a blurry shot of Lu Xiao walking him home that night. He looked up at Lu Chen, voice tight. "You've been spying on me?"

Lu Chen shrugged, his tone casual. "I'm just keeping an eye on my little brother's life. You're smart, Mr. Shen. You should know Lu Xiao's feelings are never pure. He's good to you now because you're useful to him."

Shen Mo clenched his jaw, gripping the photos so tightly his knuckles whitened. He wanted to argue back but found himself grasping for solid ground. Lu Chen's words were like poison, seeping into the cracks of his already wavering resolve.

"Mr. Shen," Lu Chen leaned closer, his voice low and enticing, "why let Lu Xiao toy with you? Work with me instead. I can offer you more—far more than Lu Xiao ever could."

Shen Mo shot to his feet, his voice trembling but firm. "Mr. Lu, I don't need your help. Please don't contact me again."

Lu Chen didn't stop him, merely reclining in his chair, watching Shen Mo leave with a cold gaze. The café's glass window reflected the smirk curling his lips as he muttered to himself, "Shen Mo, you'll regret this."

Back at the company, Shen Mo was a mess. Lu Chen's photos and words clung to him like a shadow, sowing seeds of doubt about Lu Xiao's sincerity. He didn't tell Lu Xiao about the meeting, instead quietly pulling back from their interactions. But Lu Chen wasn't done—he began inserting himself into Shen Mo's life with increasing frequency.