Although in his previous life Xiao Cheng’s acting wasn’t this good, back then, Luo Jingshu was still the young master of the Luo family. Despite his actual difficult circumstances, at least on the surface, he maintained an air of dignity.
Maybe he was too disheveled this time, and Xiao Cheng had mistaken his identity.
Luo Jingshu licked his lips, his gaze lingering meaningfully on Xiao Cheng like a sharp hunter evaluating his prey.
He would strip away Xiao Cheng’s pretense until the man revealed his ugly desires in front of him again.
Once Luo Jingshu finished changing, Xiao Cheng finally relaxed a little. He stared into the young man’s eyes. “We’re friends now, right?”
Luo Jingshu gave a soft hum. To Xiao Cheng, he seemed like a freshly weaned kitten—his gaze was soft and dewy, both scared and curious about the world, sometimes distant and sometimes adorably innocent.
“Why not exchange contact information?”
Luo Jingshu didn’t refuse, and the two smoothly added each other on WeChat.
“You’re in your last year of high school, right?” Xiao Cheng asked, recalling that Nian Nian and Luo Jingshu were about the same age.
“Mm,” Luo Jingshu quietly responded, his peach-blossom eyes appearing soft under the light, as if slightly intoxicated. His expression seemed increasingly gentle and harmless.
Xiao Cheng asked, “Are you and Luo Jingshu in the same class?”
Nian Nian’s situation might be even worse if that was the case.
Luo Jingshu heard his own name from Xiao Cheng’s lips, but his expression didn’t change. He forced a faint smile, giving off an air of deep sadness.
“Mm,” he answered again.
Xiao Cheng felt that Nian Nian was incredibly gentle. Though he didn’t speak much, he always responded to whatever question was asked.
He finally couldn’t resist and reached out to pat the young man’s head.
It was then that Xiao Cheng noticed the boy was nearly his height.
“Don’t worry. If anyone bullies you, don’t be afraid,” Xiao Cheng said gently.
Luo Jingshu looked at him momentarily before quietly asking, “What if Luo Jingshu is the one bullying me?”
Xiao Cheng thought for a second. He hadn’t interacted with Luo Jingshu before, but based on the plot of the novel, he guessed Luo Jingshu wasn’t a ruthless person.
Luo Jingshu was portrayed as the ultimate martyr, enduring endless abuse from Jiang Ying while remaining loyal despite the degradation.
But then again, Xiao Cheng had just seen “Luo Jingshu” by the pool, and Nian Nian had been sitting there drenched.
“If it’s him, you can confront him directly,” Xiao Cheng advised. His fingers still carried the soft feeling of the young man’s hair, and his eyes held a gentle smile. “If it’s not him, you’ll need to find the real culprit. But if it turns out he did bully you, you can come to me.”
“I’ll help you.”
Luo Jingshu’s lips curved slightly. “You seem convinced he’s not a bad person.”
Xiao Cheng wasn’t sure how to explain. He couldn’t say he knew this was all part of a novel’s setup.
After thinking for a moment, he reassured him, “Luo Jingshu was abducted when he was young. He should’ve had a happy and carefree life, but instead, his reality has been incredibly tragic. Life has been unfair to him.”
“It’s understandable for him to want the Luo family’s compensation and to feel bitterness about his misfortune.”
Seeing Nian Nian’s smile fade, Xiao Cheng quickly added, “But you’re wonderful, too. They shouldn’t take out their frustrations on you.”
“Luo Jingshu is innocent, and so are you.”
The real blame lay with the person who had kidnapped Luo Jingshu and with the Luo family for knowing for years that Nian Nian wasn’t their biological child. After all those years of love and care, why did they discard Nian Nian as soon as they found their real son?
Luo Jingshu’s gaze darkened. Xiao Cheng suddenly sensed that the young man had transformed from a soft kitten into a wolf cub. He narrowed his eyes slightly, trying to catch a clearer glimpse of Luo Jingshu’s expression.
Was he imagining things?
For a moment, Xiao Cheng doubted his own vision.
Nian Nian still appeared as that gentle, pitiful figure. How could he have such a fierce look?
“I thought you’d be on my side,” Luo Jingshu said softly.
Xiao Cheng realized his words might have seemed like he was defending Luo Jingshu, but he had spoken honestly.
Neither the protagonist shou nor Nian Nian was at fault in this identity issue.
If the protagonist shou were to use it as a reason to bully Nian Nian, then the protagonist shou would be in the wrong.
“I’m speaking from my heart,” Xiao Cheng said, his tone serious. “Nian Nian, I don’t want you to be consumed by hatred. But the unfairness you’ve faced is real, and they owe you an apology.”
That didn’t necessarily mean the protagonist was to blame.
If possible, Xiao Cheng wanted to protect the young man under his own wings.
For some reason, Xiao Cheng felt certain that Nian Nian was inherently good, though he didn’t fully understand what was happening.
Even if he was unsure of the details, he wanted to believe in the young man’s purity and kindness.
Maybe it was just the effect of that face.
After all, beauty is justice.
Luo Jingshu remained silent. In his previous life, everyone had criticized him.
At first, some people might have sympathized with him, but gradually, Luo Yuan would always play the victim in front of everyone. Over time, the way people looked at Luo Jingshu changed to condemnation.
“You should give in to him. You already have the status of the eldest young master.”
“After all, you haven’t been around for years. The Luo family has been grooming Luo Yuan as the heir. What right do you have to compete with him?”
Every instance of unfairness Luo Jingshu faced deepened his path to darkness.
That’s why he manipulated everyone in his palm and aimed for a mutually destructive outcome.
Luo Jingshu didn’t believe anyone would always stand by his side. Even if someone initially sympathized with him, they would eventually leave.
Did Xiao Cheng really think Luo Yuan was a good person?
Luo Jingshu sneered. Even though Luo Yuan standing in front of Xiao Cheng was him himself, he still found the pretense of kindness insincere.
Since Luo Yuan had won people’s favor by pretending to be pitiful before, why couldn’t he do the same to make Xiao Cheng feel pity for him?
It could prove his own charm and see Xiao Cheng’s shocked and desperate reaction.
It was a win-win situation.
Xiao Cheng wondered if his previous words had been mistaken. Perhaps he shouldn’t have spoken so favorably about the protagonist in front of Nian Nian. Maybe that wasn’t what Nian Nian wanted to hear.
Sigh, it was his fault for speaking without thinking earlier.
“Nian Nian, I…”
Before Xiao Cheng could finish his sentence, the door was knocked again, this time more urgently.
Luo Jingshu flashed a smile, still looking gentle and harmless. “It seems someone is knocking on the door.”
He probably didn’t want to hear Xiao Cheng’s explanation now.
Xiao Cheng understood, so he didn’t continue what he was about to say. He stood up and followed Luo Jingshu to the door.
Outside stood the butler, who appeared visibly impatient. However, upon seeing Xiao Cheng, his expression shifted to one of surprise.
He might not have expected Xiao Cheng to still be here.
“Master Xiao, you’re here as well.”
Xiao Cheng repressed his smile. “Mm.”
The butler seemed to regard Nian Nian with some disdain, which Xiao Cheng had clearly noticed. Nian Nian’s reaction indicated he was used to such treatment.
Could the protagonist’s return have worsened Nian Nian’s situation with the Luo family?
This was…
Perhaps Xiao Cheng’s serious and cold expression made the butler unsure of his thoughts. The butler’s attitude towards Luo Jingshu also became more respectful.
“Young master, the madam is waiting for you downstairs.”
Luo Jingshu smiled silently, his peach-blossom eyes filled with deep mockery.
Even “young master” was used now.
He had never been treated this courteously before.
“Is it appropriate for me to go in this situation?”
Hearing this, Xiao Cheng couldn’t help but click his tongue, clearly supporting Luo Jingshu.
The butler didn’t know when Luo Jingshu had met Xiao Cheng, but with the two distinguished guests, Mr. Jiang and Young Master Xiao, tonight, the Luo family couldn’t afford to offend either.
He had to persuade Luo Jingshu gently:
“You…”
The butler seemed about to say that Luo Jingshu was the main guest of the day and should make an appearance.
Luo Jingshu didn’t give him a chance to finish. If the butler spoke those words, his identity would be exposed.
“Well, if I’m not needed, I won’t go.”
But…
That wouldn’t do.
The butler’s face showed a look of difficulty. Although he addressed Luo Jingshu as “young master,” he wasn’t truly respectful.
Xiao Cheng reached out from behind and put his arm around Luo Jingshu’s shoulders, pulling him close. His pale eyes showed clear coldness.
“Nian Nian can stay here with me and not go down.”
After all, there was already a protagonist shou downstairs. If Nian Nian went down, he might face more unpleasantness. It was better he stayed.
When Luo Jingshu said it, the butler’s expression was full of difficulty, but once Xiao Cheng spoke, the butler immediately nodded.
“Then young master and Young Master Xiao should enjoy yourselves. If you need anything, just let me know.”
After the butler left, Luo Jingshu sighed softly. “It seems your words carry more weight than mine.”
Xiao Cheng’s arm remained around the young man’s shoulders. He gently squeezed. “What I said before was true.”
“Nian Nian, if you ever need anything, feel free to come to me.”
Luo Jingshu didn’t respond, leaning against him with his eyes lowered.
Xiao Cheng’s voice was warm and gentle, close to the young man’s ear. “By the way, I’m older than you. It wouldn’t be too much to call me ‘brother,’ right?”
Luo Jingshu pressed his lips together, suddenly looking up at Xiao Cheng with a sweet smile. “Brother Cheng.”
Xiao Cheng felt a rush of warmth in his chest, almost losing his composure. He swallowed hard. “Mm.”
Seeing the young man’s smile, Xiao Cheng suddenly thought of something. He leaned in closer and whispered, “There’s one more person you should avoid if you can.”
“He’s not a good person.”
Luo Jingshu’s eyelashes fluttered. With them so close, he could even feel the warmth of Xiao Cheng’s breath.
Xiao Cheng’s eyes, lighter than most people’s, seemed clean and pure when focused on him.
Luo Jingshu scoffed inwardly. This seemed different from the person he had known in his previous life.
Had Xiao Cheng’s eyes been this color before? Did he really have this gentle and pure gaze?
Luo Jingshu slowly clenched his fists, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush, seemingly uncomfortable with the current proximity.
“Who is this person you’re talking about?”
Xiao Cheng, closely observing the young man’s flushed face, tightened his grip on Luo Jingshu’s shoulder. In a soft voice, he said:
“Jiang Ying.”
