Xiao Cheng finally found out about this from his father.
Even though he thought it was absurd, his boyfriend was in trouble, and he found out from his own father’s mouth.
That afternoon, he went home to pack his things, and his father suddenly asked him, “How’s your relationship with the Luo family’s child going?”
Xiao Cheng had arranged for a driver to pick up Nian Nian from school, and his father knew about it. He had also secretly investigated Luo Jingshu and confirmed that the child hadn’t done anything bad, so he tacitly approved of the relationship.
Xiao Cheng tightened his grip on his luggage, and for a moment, he thought his father had already discovered that he was dating Nian Nian.
But that shouldn’t be the case.
He shouldn’t have shown any cracks.
Moreover, he wouldn’t have been so calm if his father had really found out.
Xiao Cheng thought about this and sighed relief, trying to keep his expression calm and natural. “Hmm, it’s fine. We’re still in touch. What’s up?”
“He didn’t tell you?” Xiao Yu put down his teacup.
“The Luo family has had several business deals fall through recently, and their funds are tied up in an uncertain project.”
Xiao Cheng’s heart tightened, the Luo family was going through such a big crisis, but Nian Nian had never told him.
If the Luo family’s situation was really like his father said, then Nian Nian’s situation in the Luo family must be even more difficult.
“Dad, you must know more than me.” Xiao Cheng put down his luggage and sat down in front of his father, “Will the Luo family go bankrupt?”
His father looked at him, “It’s hard to say.”
Perhaps it was rare to see such a worried expression on his son’s face, Xiao Yu explained a bit more, “This time, the Luo family might have offended someone.”
“Competition is inevitable in the business world, especially when you’re at the Luo family’s scale. It’s normal to have people targeting you.”
Xiao Yu said, and couldn’t help but sigh softly, “I’ve told you several times before, let you come to the company for an internship after high school, starting from the bottom.”
“You’ve always wanted to pursue your own dreams, and I’ve let you do it.”
He looked at his son’s bewildered expression and patted his shoulder.
“You should think about it carefully, our family’s business will eventually be handed over to you and your sister.”
Xiao Ziyue wasn’t interested in business and didn’t have such big ambitions. She just wanted to take a share of the profits and be supported by her father and brother.
Xiao Cheng hadn’t thought about this. Actually, he had been getting along well with his family during this time, and sometimes, he even felt that they were his real family.
Since he transmigrated into the story, it seemed that he had gradually gained some memories.
Like the last time he knew that Nian Nian didn’t like to eat scallions, in specific scenarios, his mind would also subconsciously recall the preferences of the Xiao family.
But this time, he couldn’t explain it, and he didn’t know what was going on with Nian Nian.
If he couldn’t go back, then he would have to live with the original owner’s identity and take over the Xiao family’s business, which became a necessary thing.
Xiao Cheng wasn’t inexperienced in this, before he transmigrated, his parents had left him a large inheritance, and his relatives had helped manage it until he came of age. After that, the businesses were all handed over to him.
Xiao Cheng was afraid that he would really have to take over the original owner’s identity step by step.
“Cheng Cheng?” Xiao Yu saw his son suddenly spacing out, not knowing what he was thinking, and called out to him with a smile.
“If you’re really not willing, these things can be put off, Dad can still handle it.” He didn’t want his son to enter the adult world too early, even though Xiao Cheng was already an adult.
Perhaps in his parents’ eyes, no matter how old their child got, they were still their little child.
“You can rest assured and pursue your dreams, do what you want to do.” Xiao Yu patted his shoulder, his expression warm and gentle, “The Xiao family will always be your strong backing.”
Xiao Cheng suddenly felt a lump in his throat, and he couldn’t help but turn his head, not wanting Xiao Yu to see his reddening eyes.
“Dad.”
Xiao Cheng took a deep breath, “Thanks.”
Xiao Yu also felt a pang of sadness. He was actually a very meticulous person, and he could sense that Xiao Cheng had been acting unnaturally around them for the past month or so.
He An had talked to him about it several times, and even Xiao Ziyue had hinted to him that her brother seemed less close to her than before.
Although he didn’t know what his child was thinking, or if he was facing some difficulty, since Xiao Cheng didn’t want to tell them, Xiao Yu wouldn’t ask.
He just hoped that Xiao Cheng would think about the fact that he had a family supporting him when he felt wronged.
Xiao Cheng strangely understood Xiao Yu’s thoughts, and a sense of guilt and unease rose up in his heart.
But it was also strange, when he couldn’t see Xiao Yu and He An, Xiao Cheng always felt that calling them “dad” and “mom” was a bit awkward.
But as soon as he saw their faces, those words seemed to come out naturally, as if he had said them countless times before.
Xiao Cheng didn’t know if this was the original owner’s residual emotions at work.
He seemed to have suddenly understood something, took a deep breath, and said to Xiao Yu, “I’ll take care of myself, you don’t have to worry about me.”
Xiao Yu nodded in satisfaction, and then remembered the previous topic.
“By the way, I forgot to tell you, I heard that the Luo family is trying to get in with the Jiang family.”
Xiao Yu’s voice paused, he didn’t know if he should tell his son this.
Xiao Cheng’s heart suddenly had a bad feeling, his fingers unconsciously tightened, and he loosely clenched his fist, “You mean…”
Xiao Yu stopped at the right moment: “I heard that Jiang Ying is very interested in the Luo family’s child.”
Xiao Cheng’s first reaction was “Luo Jingshu”, because he was the protagonist shou and Jiang Ying’s partner. Moreover, the last time he saw “Luo Jingshu” at the library, he had admitted that Jiang Ying was bothering him.
But looking at Xiao Yu’s meaningful expression, Xiao Cheng’s heart skipped a beat again.
Who else could make Xiao Yu mention it and specifically remind him, besides Nian Nian?!
Jiang Ying didn’t take a liking to “Luo Jingshu”, but instead took a liking to Nian Nian?!
Xiao Cheng should have felt absurd, but he felt that this was how it should be.
The thing he had been worried about for a long time had finally come true, Xiao Cheng’s face turned pale, and he felt a surge of anger and despair in his heart.
He had been so careful, but he never thought that Jiang Ying would still take a liking to Nian Nian!
Was Nian Nian’s recent busyness and lack of response to his messages because he was with Jiang Ying?
Xiao Cheng’s heart burned with anger whenever he thought about how Nian Nian might be treated.
Why didn’t Nian Nian ever tell him?
Because he didn’t trust him?
Although he had often told Nian Nian that he could come to him if he needed anything, Nian Nian never told him about his life in the Luo family. Every time he wanted to visit Nian Nian, the boy would find excuses to refuse.
Xiao Cheng couldn’t help but feel that Nian Nian was occasionally perfunctory, but who didn’t have their own little secrets?
His love for Nian Nian was real.
Xiao Cheng always thought that if he loved Nian Nian, he should give Nian Nian enough trust, even if he sometimes found something off, he wouldn’t make a big deal out of it.
Just like he had never told Nian Nian that he was a transmigrated person, Nian Nian could also have secrets from him.
Xiao Cheng just couldn’t bear that the boy he liked didn’t trust him at all.
Not even willing to try to ask for his help.
Xiao Cheng suddenly stood up, “Dad, I have something to do, I’ll leave first.”
Xiao Yu seemed to know what he would do and didn’t stop him, only saying, “If you encounter something you can’t handle, call Dad.”
Xiao Cheng hastily nodded, turned around, and ran out, almost tripping over the sofa leg.
He didn’t even take his luggage and ran while calling Nian Nian.
As expected, the boy still didn’t answer his call.
From the time he transmigrated into the story, Xiao Cheng had never encountered such a situation, so he didn’t continue calling Nian Nian. Instead, he contacted Jiang Ying.
Xiao Cheng couldn’t help but feel grateful that he had added Jiang Ying as a friend the last time they had dinner together, saving him the trouble of asking Jiang Zihe for Jiang Ying’s contact information.
This time, the call finally went through, and after about five or six seconds of ringing, Jiang Ying’s low voice came from the receiver.
“Xiao Cheng?”
Jiang Ying leaned back on the sofa, listening to Xiao Cheng’s urgent breathing. His gaze fell on Luo Jingshu by the window.
After calling out Xiao Cheng’s name, Luo Jingshu suddenly turned his head. His eyes were cold and sinking, and his eyebrows were slightly furrowed.
He wasn’t as calm as he had appeared earlier.
Jiang Ying’s mouth curved into a smile, and he said to Xiao Cheng on the phone, “Do you need something?”
Xiao Cheng had things on his mind, and he was afraid of something happening on the way, so he didn’t drive himself, instead, he had his driver take him to the Luo house.
“Brother Jiang.” Xiao Cheng calmed down his breathing, his fingers tightly gripping the phone, “Is it convenient for you to meet up now?”
Xiao Cheng rarely spoke to him in such a gentle tone, so Jiang Ying was a bit surprised. His gaze met Luo Jingshu’s tightly furrowed eyebrows, and he smiled knowingly.
Just thinking about Xiao Cheng softening his attitude towards him because of Luo Jingshu made him feel uncomfortable.
Jiang Ying deliberately didn’t answer his question, seeing that the person by the window and the person on the phone were both getting impatient, he slowly replied, “Sorry, I have an appointment now, I’m afraid I won’t be able to meet up with you.”
Xiao Cheng looked down. His usually light-colored eyes had a hint of red. His voice was hoarser than usual, and his tone was softer as he asked, “May I ask, who do you have an appointment with?”
That was indeed a bit presumptuous.
Jiang Ying thought that, considering Xiao Cheng’s always dismissive attitude towards him, he was already being kind by answering his call.
“Why are you suddenly so interested in my business?”
Jiang Ying deliberately teased him, who let Xiao Cheng give him the cold shoulder three times, and he didn’t even know when he had offended this young master.
This was the most frustrating part for Jiang Ying.
Xiao Cheng took a deep breath, “Brother Jiang, I apologize for my previous rudeness.”
“I’m sorry.”
He should have apologized to Jiang Ying a long time ago, although he had always felt a strange sense of resistance and disgust toward him. But from Jiang Ying’s perspective, he had no grudges against him, and yet he had been targeted by Xiao Cheng three times. Jiang Ying must have been holding back his anger, right?
Xiao Cheng didn’t know why he felt so wronged, and after saying those words, the tears that had been accumulating in his eyes finally fell.
His eyes were red, and his heart felt like it was stuck, as if saying sorry had made him lose.
Why did he have to apologize to Jiang Ying?
Clearly, it was Jiang Ying who had done something wrong.
Xiao Cheng’s thoughts were suddenly stuck. What had Jiang Ying done wrong? Why couldn’t he finish the sentence?
He vaguely felt that Jiang Ying had done something unforgivable, causing irreparable consequences. But thinking carefully, the plot hadn’t developed to that point yet. Moreover, even if Jiang Ying had done something, it had nothing to do with him.
What was he getting angry about?
Xiao Cheng couldn’t understand.
Jiang Ying heard Xiao Cheng’s apology and finally felt relieved.
He seemed to hear a faint sobbing sound from the receiver, and Jiang Ying couldn’t help but show a surprised expression.
He had never seen Xiao Cheng cry before.
Jiang Ying was a bit expectant, but unfortunately, he didn’t get to see it.
“Are you crying?”
He joked, teasing Xiao Cheng.
After hearing this, Luo Jingshu, who had been quietly paying attention, couldn’t bear it anymore. He walked over, took his phone, and saw that Xiao Cheng had indeed called him many times.
Luo Jingshu looked up and saw Jiang Ying’s smile, which he found a bit dazzling.
Xiao Cheng was crying?
His annoyance grew.
Looking at Jiang Ying, who seemed to be enjoying himself, Luo Jingshu thought that maybe this Jiang Ying should also experience the suffering of his past life.
Luo Jingshu thought, put down his phone, and stretched out his hand to Jiang Ying, nodding his head, indicating that Jiang Ying should hand over the phone.
Jiang Ying didn’t understand, but he subconsciously tightened his grip on the phone and didn’t give it to Luo Jingshu.
The receiver still transmitted Xiao Cheng’s voice: “Brother Jiang, you…”
Before he could finish speaking, Luo Jingshu frowned, and again gestured to Jiang Ying to hand over the phone, mouthing the words “cooperate”.
Jiang Ying reluctantly handed over the phone, and Luo Jingshu put it to his ear, listening to Xiao Cheng trying to probe Jiang Ying’s location.
Luo Jingshu hooked his lips, and suddenly pulled the phone away, looking at Jiang Ying with a meaningful gaze.
Jiang Ying suddenly had a bad feeling, and before he could speak, Luo Jingshu’s voice came from the receiver with a crying tone.
“Brother Jiang, I already have a boyfriend and won’t be forced into anything.”
Jiang Ying: ????
He was shocked, with a confused expression.
Xiao Cheng heard Nian Nian’s voice, and his tone became urgent, “Jiang Ying, you already have Luo Jingshu, don’t hurt Nian Nian.”
Jiang Ying: ????
What are you talking about, I don’t understand.
Luo Jingshu deliberately spoke in a hoarse voice, “I know that the Jiang family owns the Gugujing Hotel, and there are people guarding the floor below. I won’t be able to escape, but I won’t give in easily either. Don’t think about touching me!”
Xiao Cheng became more anxious, “Jiang Ying, you scumbag, Nian Nian is my boyfriend, don’t touch him!”
Luo Jingshu: “I won’t betray Brother Cheng, even if it means going against the Luo family.”
Xiao Cheng: “Nian Nian, can you hear me? Jiang Ying, if you dare to force him, I’ll expose your scumbag behavior and make you go viral!”
Xiao Cheng was frustrated that he couldn’t think of anything to hurt Jiang Ying.
But earlier, he had vaguely heard Nian Nian’s words, and they were at the Gugujing Hotel!
Based on Nian Nian’s description, Xiao Cheng quickly confirmed their location. He told the driver to turn around and head in another direction while he carefully listened to the sounds on the phone.
It seemed like Nian Nian was struggling, and Jiang Ying was too busy to hang up the phone.
“Nian Nian, can you hear me?”
Luo Jingshu took a few steps back, avoiding Jiang Ying’s attempt to grab the phone, and spoke in a pitiful tone, “Brother Cheng, is that you?”
Xiao Cheng heard his voice and finally felt a bit relieved, “It’s me, Nian Nian, are you okay?”
Had Jiang Ying bullied him?
Luo Jingshu didn’t speak again but cried pitifully.
Xiao Cheng’s mind was racing, and he imagined many things. He wished he could rush to Nian Nian’s side, protect him, and tell him not to be afraid.
Damn Jiang Ying!
He shouldn’t have apologized to him earlier.
The two of them were talking back and forth, and Jiang Ying was completely confused.
He looked at Luo Jingshu with a dark expression, only hearing his voice, which seemed to be crying pitifully, but only Jiang Ying knew.
Luo Jingshu was actually expressionless, pretending to cry to Xiao Cheng!
Damn it!
Jiang Ying had lived for almost thirty years, and he rarely felt so wronged.
Just as he was about to clear his name, Luo Jingshu’s finger suddenly tapped on the phone screen, hanging up the call.
Jiang Ying stopped in his tracks, curling up the corner of his mouth. “You’re being a bit unfair, aren’t you?”
Out of nowhere, Luo Jingshu is ruining his image in front of Xiao Cheng.
If he had actually done something, he might not feel so wronged.
The problem is, he didn’t do anything!
Luo Jingshu calmly deleted Xiao Cheng’s contact information from Jiang Ying’s phone. “Brother Jiang, you don’t have anything to be worried about. Brother Cheng never liked you anyway.”
That’s not the same thing!
Besides, Xiao Cheng just apologized to him.
Jiang Ying took back his phone, opened the chat app, and saw that Xiao Cheng’s avatar was gone.
Damn.
“I don’t remember when I offended you.”
To be honest, Jiang Ying had never understood Luo Jingshu.
It’s as if he didn’t know how Luo Jingshu knew so many secrets that couldn’t be told.
“It’s just cooperation.” Luo Jingshu had just put on an act, and his throat felt a bit sore. He sat down on the sofa, slowly pouring himself a glass of water.
“Brother Jiang, you just need to cooperate with me.”
Jiang Ying couldn’t say anything else. Luo Jingshu had already ruined his reputation, and he couldn’t call Xiao Cheng again to say it was all a misunderstanding.
“Luo Jingshu, I’m getting more and more confused about you.”
Jiang Ying had a fire burning in his heart. “You really don’t like Xiao Cheng?”
He didn’t know who it was, but when they heard that Xiao Cheng was crying, they rushed over to grab the phone.
Luo Jingshu’s expression became even colder, and he silently tightened his grip on the glass cup. “I won’t like anyone.”
Love is just a fake and elusive thing.
Luo Jingshu was kidnapped by human traffickers and sold to his adoptive parents.
His adoptive father was a violent and gambling man, weak and useless, but he loved to scold those weaker than him.
He had seen his adoptive mother get beaten countless times, and he himself had grown up being beaten since he was a child.
Luo Jingshu didn’t know he was kidnapped, and he had naively asked his adoptive mother why she didn’t want to divorce.
His adoptive mother said, “If I leave him, where can I go?”
“He used to be good to me, he used to love me.”
Love?
Luo Jingshu didn’t see it.
His weak adoptive mother lived a life holding onto a love that had long disappeared, and because his adoptive father had been injured and lost his fertility, they had bought Luo Jingshu back.
But his adoptive father never went easy on this child who wasn’t his own.
Luo Jingshu was beaten until he was covered in wounds, and when he cried in the corner, he would think, when would this kind of life end?
Later, he realized that people can’t rely on others, and putting hope in others is foolish and useless. Only when he truly becomes strong can he change his life.
Unfortunately, his adoptive mother never understood until she died.
In his past life, Luo Jingshu was also found by the Luo family in his third year of high school. He had some expectations for his biological mother, but unfortunately…
Luo Jingshu wasn’t as decisive as he is now. He always held onto unrealistic hopes, so he repeatedly tested the Luo family and pretended to get along with Jiang Ying.
But none of it made him happy.
Later, he thought, why not just destroy everything? After all, compared to never getting an apology, he would rather see these people’s terrified expressions.
Luo Yuan, Mother Luo, Jiang Ying, and all the people who had bullied him could not escape.
Not even himself.
Oh, and there’s also Xiao Cheng.
Luo Jingshu thought of Xiao Cheng from his past life.
He clearly liked him, but never dared to confess or take him away.
He would only follow Luo Jingshu, watching him for a long time.
In his past life, Luo Jingshu had asked Xiao Cheng if he was willing to take him away.
He still remembered Xiao Cheng’s answer.
That person looked at him painfully: “I can’t do it. You… you and Jiang Ying should be together.”
Should?
What should?
Luo Jingshu thought that was just an excuse for Xiao Cheng’s cowardice.
No one in that world made him happy.
So Luo Jingshu destroyed the Luo family, bankrupted Jiang Ying, and took revenge on all the people who had bullied him. Then, he took sleeping pills and killed himself.
He didn’t expect to wake up and find himself back in his 17-year-old body, and he met a completely different Xiao Cheng.
This Xiao Cheng would never say, “You should be with Jiang Ying.” He would only blush and get close to him, confessing his love.
Luo Jingshu was very satisfied.
He thought that although he wouldn’t fall in love with Xiao Cheng, he was willing to keep him by his side, making him his perfect canary, his own personal treasure.
That was enough as long as Xiao Cheng loved him and didn’t push him towards others.
Jiang Ying looked at Luo Jingshu’s cold expression and suddenly laughed. “You’ll definitely regret this.”
Because your eyes aren’t saying that.
Regret?
Luo Jingshu put down the glass cup. “You’re thinking too much.”
“So, please cooperate with me later, and don’t tell him my name is Luo Jingshu.”
Whatever Luo Jingshu said, Jiang Ying wouldn’t find it strange.
On the contrary, he was looking forward to seeing Luo Jingshu fail.
He almost couldn’t wait to say, “I won’t tell him.”
Luo Jingshu looked at him strangely, not saying anything, probably thinking he was crazy.
Jiang Ying coldly snorted in his heart, thinking that the crazy one wasn’t him.
When Xiao Cheng came to knock on the door, Jiang Ying saw Luo Jingshu open his shirt and pour water on himself, then kneel on the ground, looking up at him with a straight face.
“Go open the door.”
Jiang Ying: …
Jiang Ying: “Okay.”
Xiao Cheng knew Jiang Ying’s room number because he had asked the front desk earlier. The top floor was the hotel owner’s suite, which wasn’t rented out to outsiders.
But when he came up, no one stopped him. Maybe Jiang Ying had instructed them in advance.
Xiao Cheng was about to explode from anger when he knocked on the door, and it sounded like he was catching someone in the act.
When Jiang Ying opened the door, he thought he would get beaten up, and he was prepared to dodge. But Xiao Cheng was calmer than he thought, at least he didn’t hit him.
“Brother Jiang.” Xiao Cheng’s gaze swept past Jiang Ying, looking at something behind him. “I’m here to take my boyfriend home.”
Jiang Ying thought to himself, ‘I’m really professional’, and stretched out his hand to block Xiao Cheng. “Young Master Xiao, what you’re saying doesn’t sound right. When Mother Luo handed her son over to me, she didn’t say he had a boyfriend.”
Xiao Cheng’s eyes were cold and a bit red, as if he had really cried earlier.
“This is a misunderstanding. I’ll apologize first. Whatever benefits you got from Mother Luo, I’ll return them to you. Is that okay?”
Jiang Ying had a mind to tease him, “Those benefits aren’t anything. But the person I got is now being taken away from me. Is that…?”
Before he could finish speaking, a voice came from behind him, “Brother Cheng…?”
“Is that you?”
Damn.
Jiang Ying gritted his teeth, Luo Jingshu was getting impatient and wanted him to hurry up and leave.
When Xiao Cheng heard the voice, his brain went blank. He didn’t care what Jiang Ying thought, so he pushed him aside and rushed into the room.
“Nian Nian!”
“Brother Cheng…”
Jiang Ying: Damn it.
He wanted to smoke a cigarette.
Get out, you dog!
The scene in the room made Xiao Cheng’s legs weak, and he almost couldn’t stand up.
His boyfriend, whom he had held in his hands like a fragile treasure, was now kneeling on the ground, his clothes disheveled, his hair dripping with water, and his clothes soaked.
Nian Nian’s eyes were filled with tears, and his eyes were red from crying. He looked up at Xiao Cheng with a frightened expression, as if he had been wronged.
Xiao Cheng was furious, and he wanted to chop Jiang Ying into a thousand pieces.
This scumbag had really hurt his Nian Nian!
His nightmare had come true.
Xiao Cheng felt his head spinning, and his breathing became difficult.
The scene in front of him seemed to overlap with another scene, and he couldn’t distinguish reality from fantasy.
Was this really happening, or was he dreaming?
Luo Jingshu stretched out his hand to Xiao Cheng, his voice hoarse and pleading. “Brother Cheng, take me away…”
Xiao Cheng shook his head, trying to clear his mind.
He must have been angry and confused because he didn’t immediately comfort Nian Nian.
Xiao Cheng hugged him tightly, his arms wrapped around the boy’s waist, and his palm gently patted his back. His voice was low and hoarse. “Okay, Brother Cheng will take you away.”
“Don’t be afraid Nian Nian.”
