The Return of the God Level Assassin Chapter 1306: I WON'T LET IT

After Luo Yan finished his explanation, silence filled the room for several seconds. Luo Ren massaged his temples as if a headache was starting to build. Luo Jin reclined against the sofa, crossing his arms with a clenched jaw. Bai Ze simply shook his head in a slow manner.

"So that took place a month back," Luo Ren remarked at last. "And there hasn't been any follow-up since then?"

Shen Ji Yun shook his head. "Nothing at all. Nobody has contacted my uncle regarding it. No phone calls, no drop-ins. It's as if the incident never occurred."

Luo Jin's scowl grew more intense while he absorbed the details. For one thing, he felt eased knowing this cousin seemed to have stayed silent. Such a long stretch without noise was positive. Yet anxiety continued to eat away inside him.

"He may not have spoken up so far," he commented, his tone reflective yet tinged with worry. "But that doesn't guarantee he won't in the future. Suppose he's merely biding his time? Choosing the perfect instant? Then what? How do you intend to handle it if he springs this on your relatives unexpectedly?"

Shen Ji Yun gave a shrug. "To be frank? It doesn't bother me much. Apart from my uncle and grandmother, the other Shen relatives have never favored me. So learning I'm gay wouldn't alter a thing. They already act as if I don't fit in. Discovering my orientation wouldn't worsen their attitude toward me."

Luo Jin's eyes opened a bit wider. He struggled to grasp Shen Ji Yun's reasoning. Could his relatives truly be so harsh? Or perhaps they were? The notion of kin despising one another baffled him completely. In his world, family signified affection. Backing. Empathy. Even in the tough times when he'd been rebellious, starting arguments left and right, his loved ones never withdrew their care. They remained constant. Imagining a childhood in a household lacking that, where close blood ties regarded you with chill rather than kindness, disturbed him deeply.

That realization made him feel somewhat innocent all of a sudden. Intellectually, he understood that families varied widely. It was simple knowledge. Thus, Shen Ji Yun's statement ought not to have surprised him. Yet it managed to. Likely since Shen Ji Yun had become more than a mere acquaintance to him now.

"I can confirm that," Bai Ze affirmed, agreeing with Shen Ji Yun's statement. "The majority of the Shen clan fails the vibe test. Particularly the cousins from the side branch. They're jerks, all of them. And not ordinary jerks—they're brainless jerks too. Shen Xin remains a jerk, no doubt about it. But he ranks below those fellows. Mostly since he views himself as superior to them. Even so, it's impossible to predict if he'll hold onto what he witnessed or let it slip out eventually."

Luo Ren arched a brow, a hint of unease flashing over his features. He regarded Shen Ji Yun with fresh insight. In contrast to Luo Jin, he possessed some familiarity with the Shen household. They formed a prominent political dynasty, involved in politics for many years. The family head had stepped back, yet his oldest son occupied a position. The top grandson was being prepared for a similar career. That summed up his knowledge, however. Only the outer layer. Zero insight into their private dealings.

Listening to Shen Ji Yun's account, combined with Bai Ze's input, allowed Luo Ren to assemble an image of the Shen family's interactions. Particularly their approach to Shen Ji Yun. He considered Shen Ji Yun's mixed heritage. That struck him as the sole explanation for their poor treatment.

He shook his head. Such antiquated notions. This was the modern era. Who clung to prejudices like those anymore? Acting like a purist today was a deliberate stance. The Shens weren't nobility or anything close.

Luo Ren eyed Shen Ji Yun. The young man's visage remained largely neutral. However, a clear shift appeared when his gaze turned to Luo Yan. Warmth filled his eyes. A faint smile tugged at his lips. It was understated yet evident. Hmm. He obviously valued Luo Yan deeply. Perhaps his home life heightened his gratitude for his bond with Luo Yan. This benefited Luo Yan. It reduced the risk of pain. And Luo Ren's main concern was just that.

"The key issue here is if this impacts Yan Yan at all," Luo Ren stated. He locked eyes with Shen Ji Yun. "Will it?"

Shen Ji Yun met his stare without flinching. "I won't allow it."

Luo Ren examined Shen Ji Yun's face briefly. The look he detected appeared reassuring enough. He nodded sharply. "Good."

"Hold on—no reason for this abrupt intensity," Luo Yan interrupted. "That Shen Xin fellow doesn't even recognize me. Thus, should he go blabbing to the entire Shen clan about it all, I wouldn't face any real fallout." He faced Shen Ji Yun and stretched upward, giving his cheek a gentle squeeze. "You're the one who'd truly suffer the consequences. What's with 'I won't let it'? Look after your own situation before others."

Shen Ji Yun blinked, followed by a soft laugh. He pressed closer to Luo Yan's hand, placing his cheek there. "Keeping you safe comes first."

Luo Yan laughed, a mix of incredulity and resignation. He squeezed Shen Ji Yun's cheek with more force. "You..."

Luo Jin rolled his eyes at the display unfolding before him. "Could you two tone down the affection while we're here?"

Catching the revulsion in his sibling's tone on the word 'affection', Luo Yan smiled broadly. He encircled Shen Ji Yun's waist with his arms and poked his tongue out toward Luo Jin. "Folks who are single and tangled in unclear romance have no right to gripe."