At ten in the morning, Xiao Cheng woke up in bed, reeking of alcohol. The smell had even seeped into his sheets and duvet.
He rubbed his throbbing head and felt a heavy blockage in his nose when he breathed—it seemed like he had caught a cold last night.
After getting drunk the night before, he had dozed off in a daze on the carpet. He woke up in the middle of the night from the cold, his hands and feet numb from the chill.
It took all his strength to drag himself back to the bedroom and bury himself under the covers. He hadn’t had the energy to consider whether or not he had showered. He collapsed into bed and slept until now.
Stuffing the foul-smelling sheets and duvet into the washing machine, Xiao Cheng quickly took a shower, finally clearing the fog in his mind.
His swollen eyes appeared faintly visible in the mirror, misted over from the steam. He rubbed his puffy eyelids. “I can’t even look at this…”
When he spoke, he startled himself.
His throat was dry and sore, his voice raspy like it had been scrubbed with sandpaper. And there was a buzzing sensation in his nose when he talked.
Great. He really had caught a cold.
Xiao Cheng splashed water on his face, his wet eyes accentuating their redness. He didn’t look much different from when he’d cried last night.
He cursed himself under his breath.
Pathetic.
Who hasn’t fallen for a few jerks?
He took a deep breath and, with a heavy heart, pulled himself together.
No matter how tough the situation, it had to be faced. Avoiding it would only bring temporary comfort but would never solve the problem.
Breaking up with Luo Jingshu was inevitable.
Xiao Cheng loved him, but he wasn’t a fool.
He had been willing to lower himself in the past, thinking they both had mutual feelings, so he didn’t mind compromising for his boyfriend.
Now Luo Jingshu had admitted it outright—he was playing around, and when he got tired of it, he’d end it.
There was no reason for Xiao Cheng to put up with that anymore.
But before breaking up, he still wanted to clarify a few things to avoid an unclear, unresolved separation.
Xiao Cheng arranged a meeting with Luo Jingshu’s mother.
They agreed to meet at a serene café. Today, there was a rare burst of sunshine, and the warm rays on his skin made Xiao Cheng feel like the chill that had been clinging to him all morning had finally begun to dissipate.
He sat by the window, and the sunlight filtering through the glass made him squint slightly.
A small pot of Cyclamen flowers sat on the round table, which was covered with a checkered cloth. The fuchsia petals unfurled delicately, releasing a faint fragrance in the winter sunshine.
Xiao Cheng absentmindedly toyed with the petals, lost in thought.
A moment later, the sound of high heels clicking approached. Xiao Cheng looked up to see Mother Luo walking toward him.
She wasn’t actually old. On the contrary, she looked especially young, like a woman in her late twenties. From certain angles, she did resemble Luo Jingshu quite a bit.
Or rather, Luo Jingshu resembled her.
Her name was Ji Lan. She was the eldest daughter of the Ji family, and she was once a renowned beauty, as famous as any celebrity before her marriage. But after getting married, Ji Lan kept a low profile, especially after the Ji family went bankrupt. She has rarely appeared in the media since.
Ji Lan’s features were delicate and alluring, and Luo Jingshu had inherited his flirtatious eyes from her.
However, after years of navigating the business world, her face now carried traces of shrewdness.
Ji Lan put down her bag. Though she seemed to be trying to please Xiao Cheng, she was still his elder, so she didn’t speak before he did.
Xiao Cheng offered a polite smile. His eyes, still slightly red, no longer looked as swollen as they had when he woke up. He looked more like someone who hadn’t slept well.
“Hello, Mother Luo.”
Ji Lan took a sip of her coffee. “Young Master Xiao, you didn’t ask me out just for coffee, did you?”
Xiao Cheng sat up straighter, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, his posture relaxed, though the muscles in his legs were tense. “Of course not. I want to talk to you about your son.”
Ji Lan slowly set down her coffee cup. Xiao Cheng liked Luo Jingshu, and as Luo Jingshu’s guardian, she knew Xiao Cheng would be respectful toward her.
“You mean Jingshu?”
Xiao Cheng’s smile vanished. “I’ll be direct; no need to beat around the bush.”
“You knew Jingshu was my boyfriend, so why did you still sell him off to Jiang Ying?”
Though it was framed as making Luo Jingshu friends with Jiang Ying, it was no different from selling him off.
When Ji Lan decided to offer Luo Jingshu to Jiang Ying, she knew this confrontation would come sooner or later.
To be honest, if the Luo family hadn’t been in such dire straits, Ji Lan wouldn’t have wanted to offend Xiao Cheng.
Jiang Ying had wealth and power but had no real feelings for Luo Jingshu. He was just interested in his looks and would quickly tire of him.
Xiao Cheng was different. Though he hadn’t yet inherited control, the Xiao family’s assets would eventually fall into his hands. He was utterly devoted to Luo Jingshu, and once he gained power, wouldn’t the Xiao family be at Luo Jingshu’s command?
It was like choosing between short-term and long-term investments, each with its pros and cons.
The Luo family urgently needed a large sum of money to patch up their financial holes. Ji Lan was willing to wait, but the Luo family couldn’t afford the luxury of time. Still, she wasn’t entirely willing to let go of Xiao Cheng, the “foolish” benefactor, so when she discussed the matter with Luo Jingshu, she made sure to have a backup plan.
Xiao Cheng was here to demand answers.
Ji Lan looked at Xiao Cheng with a smile. “Now, that’s not quite right. Jingshu has never mentioned anything about the two of you to me. I always thought you and Jingshu were just friends.”
She pretended to complain, “That child, really! I don’t oppose early relationships. Why would he be embarrassed to tell me?”
She said this to deflect some of the blame from herself, but she didn’t realize she had just hit Xiao Cheng’s sore spot.
Wasn’t that exactly what Luo Jingshu had said?
He didn’t want their pure relationship to get tangled up in material interests, so he refused to let their friends know about their relationship.
In reality, he was preparing for a breakup at any moment.
Xiao Cheng’s face darkened, his voice low and hoarse from the cold. “Even if we weren’t in a relationship, sending your underage son to a business partner—is that the right thing to do?”
Ji Lan unhurriedly took her phone from her bag, tapping on the screen calmly and confidently.
Xiao Cheng’s heart sank. Even though he had approached Mother Luo with a plan to probe for information, the closer he got to the truth, the more his chest tightened.
Especially seeing the assured look on her face—it made his heart clench, as if his worst suspicions were about to be confirmed.
At first, there was static noise from the phone. Then, Ji Lan’s voice came through the speaker.
“Jingshu, Mommy had no other choice.”
“You don’t want to see the Luo family go bankrupt, right?”
“Just think of it as making friends with President Jiang. Help Mommy out, okay?”
Xiao Cheng held his breath, afraid of missing Luo Jingshu’s response.
After what felt like an eternity, though it might have only been a few seconds, Xiao Cheng finally heard another voice.
“Sure.”
“I’d be happy to.”
Xiao Cheng’s face reflected confusion, as if he were utterly lost after an intense bout of anxiety. It was also a look of sorrow, long-expected but still painful.
He remembered the last time he saw Nian Nian at the hotel—how wretched and dejected he had appeared.
Was that all just an act as well?
Ji Lan put away her phone, her smile growing even brighter. “I recorded that conversation because I was worried someone might spread rumors.”
“Xiao Cheng, you can’t put all the blame on me. After all, Jingshu didn’t refuse, did he?”
She dared to shift all the blame onto Luo Jingshu because she was certain Xiao Cheng loved him. He would eventually forgive him even if he was angry for a while.
As long as Luo Jingshu kept a firm hold on Xiao Cheng, they wouldn’t have to worry about gaining access to the Xiao family’s wealth in the future.
She was Luo Jingshu’s biological mother, and he always listened to her.
Ji Lan was thrilled at the thought of eventually bringing the Xiao family’s fortune into her grasp.
“Jingshu was just anxious about the family situation at the time,” Ji Lan softened her tone, offering a few kind words on his behalf. “Don’t be too hard on him. He didn’t mean to hide it from you.”
Xiao Cheng scoffed internally, his expression growing colder. He looked deeply at Ji Lan and said, “I understand.”
Thinking she had successfully placated him, Ji Lan was overjoyed, and a smile of delight spread across her face.
“So, when do you plan for us to have a meal with your parents?” She already saw Xiao Cheng as her son-in-law, and her words carried a hint of unconscious command. “You and Jingshu are bound to get married eventually. Let’s get things settled.”
Marriage?
Xiao Cheng sneered inwardly.
“There’s no rush,” he replied vaguely, deliberately leaving his words ambiguous, which gave Ji Lan the impression that this day was bound to come eventually.
“I’m just making a suggestion. Of course, it’s all up to you two,” Ji Lan said, grinning from ear to ear, unaware of the subtle downturn in Xiao Cheng’s lips.
“There’s no need to stand in ceremony. Consider the Luo family your own, and feel free to visit anytime.”
Xiao Cheng didn’t say much else. He stood up and said, “It’s getting late today. Let’s meet again some other time.”
Ji Lan also stood up. “Sure.”
“Is Jingshu staying at your place now?”
Speaking of which, Xiao Cheng hadn’t returned to the apartment last night, deliberately avoiding seeing Luo Jingshu.
He wasn’t sure if Luo Jingshu had gone back home or not. Most likely, he hadn’t—Luo Jingshu was probably still mad at him.
Xiao Cheng let out a faint chuckle, though his face remained expressionless.
Ji Lan finally sensed that something was off. Her smile faded, and her brows furrowed. “What’s the matter?”
Xiao Cheng looked at her. “I just remembered a joke.”
Wasn’t he the punchline of that joke?
Xiao Cheng clenched his jaw, the muscles in his face tightening. His expression became even colder and more distant.
A sudden sense of unease flashed across Ji Lan’s mind. Could it be that Xiao Cheng and Luo Jingshu had fought?
She wanted to ask a few more questions, but Xiao Cheng quickly bid her farewell and strode out of the café.
Ji Lan stood by the round table for a moment, replaying Xiao Cheng’s expression in her mind as he left. His slightly downcast eyes clearly held an undeniable chill.
Xiao Cheng was in a very bad mood.
Ji Lan came to this conclusion.
She furrowed her brow and dialed Luo Jingshu’s number, wanting to ask what was going on, but the call went unanswered for a long time.
Frustrated, Ji Lan slammed her phone onto the table, causing the begonia plant by the window to tremble slightly.
Luo Jingshu had truly grown defiant—he even dared not to answer her calls now!
—
The phone hidden in the desk drawer suddenly lit up, vibrating slightly.
The classroom was noisy and lively, as the teacher wasn’t present, so the faint sound of the phone was barely noticeable.
Yet somehow, Luo Jingshu heard it. He withdrew his distant gaze, frowning slightly as he dug his phone out from the pile of books.
“Jingshu, who is it?”
Jiang Yi perked up. Could it be Xiao Cheng calling?
Last night, he spent half an hour with Luo Jingshu in the cold, nearly catching a cold himself. Thankfully, his naturally strong constitution helped him fend it off.
But today, Luo Jingshu seemed a bit down. Normally, he would at least do some homework, but today, all he did was sleep or zone out, as if he had lost his soul.
Jiang Yi had tried probing earlier in the morning, and it seemed that Xiao Cheng hadn’t messaged Luo Jingshu at all the previous night. Xiao Cheng hadn’t even gone home.
Jiang Yi could already imagine what Luo Jingshu’s expression must have been like when he went home to a dark and quiet apartment.
At least he didn’t have to face that terrifying side of Luo Jingshu.
Jiang Yi still didn’t know why they had argued and didn’t dare suggest that Luo Jingshu reach out to Xiao Cheng again like he had the day before.
Luo Jingshu wasn’t in a rational mood today. What would he do if he got too angry and took it out on him?
His slight frame definitely couldn’t withstand a beating.
The young man’s peach blossom eyes drooped slightly, quietly staring at the string of numbers on the screen. His lips, which had curved up slightly when the phone rang, straightened, and a cold glint appeared in his dark eyes.
Jiang Yi leaned in for a look and saw that there was no contact name saved. “Who’s that?”
Luo Jingshu couldn’t be so heartless that he wouldn’t even save Xiao Cheng’s number, could he?
“Some salesperson selling supplements,” Luo Jingshu replied casually, stuffing the phone back into the desk drawer. He then lazily slumped down onto the desk, his expression growing more dejected and cold.
A palpable sense of irritation radiated from him, and Jiang Yi wisely curbed his curiosity, not daring to ask further.
It wasn’t until after school that Jiang Yi noticed Luo Jingshu suddenly perk up while packing up his homework. Luo Jingshu stuffed his phone into his pocket, leaned on the desk, and swung his long legs over the chair as he headed out.
“Jingshu, wait for me,” Jiang Yi called, grabbing a few books and rushing after him. “Why are you walking so fast?”
Luo Jingshu answered curtly, “Going home.”
Jiang Yi thought he detected a hint of a smile on Luo Jingshu’s face and realized, “Did Xiao Cheng message you?”
Luo Jingshu didn’t respond, but his expression noticeably softened, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. His delicate profile seemed to glow in the sunlight.
Jiang Yi sighed in relief. “Since he’s willing to talk things through, don’t be stubborn. If both sides make concessions, things will blow over, right?”
Luo Jingshu glanced at him, tempted to say he wasn’t in the wrong, but remembering how he had shown a more genuine side of himself to Xiao Cheng, he swallowed the words.
Could Xiao Cheng be avoiding him because of that?
Didn’t Xiao Cheng say he loved him? Was he already scared off after a little confrontation?
“I’ll be waiting for your good news,” Jiang Yi said, patting Luo Jingshu on the shoulder as they parted ways at the school gate.
Xiao Cheng hadn’t come to pick Luo Jingshu up, and the Xiao family driver wasn’t there either. Although Luo Jingshu briefly wondered about this, he quickly let it go, especially since Xiao Cheng had taken the initiative to reconcile. He didn’t care about such small matters anymore.
When Luo Jingshu arrived at the apartment, Xiao Cheng was brewing tea.
There was a soft sound from the doorway, followed by the young man’s voice filling the air. “Brother Cheng.”
Xiao Cheng instantly tightened his grip on the teacup, only relaxing his hand after a few seconds.
“You’re here,” he said without looking up, calmly pouring two cups of tea and setting one across from him. “Sit down.”
The smile on Luo Jingshu’s face slowly faded. He silently observed Xiao Cheng for a while before complying, sitting down across from him as instructed.
The two sat on the carpet, facing each other with legs crossed. The faint aroma of tea filled the air, and Xiao Cheng’s gaze landed on the cup in front of Luo Jingshu.
“Brother Cheng, what are you doing?” Luo Jingshu asked, staring intently at him. He noticed the faint redness around Xiao Cheng’s eyes and couldn’t help but feel a twinge of confusion.
“Are you… scared?”
Could it be that his behavior last night had truly frightened Xiao Cheng?
Luo Jingshu couldn’t help but pursed his lips, his gaze lingering on the corners of Xiao Cheng’s eyes and brows.
Xiao Cheng closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, he finally locked eyes with Luo Jingshu.
“I’m offering you tea.”
Luo Jingshu’s lips curved slightly, but his eyes remained calm and indifferent. “This doesn’t feel like you’re just offering me tea.”
Xiao Cheng nodded. “I also have something I want to ask you.”
Luo Jingshu’s fingers twitched slightly, slowly clenching into a fist as he stared into Xiao Cheng’s eyes. “What does Brother Cheng want to ask?”
Xiao Cheng looked at the alluring face in front of him, his eyes sore and stinging to the point where even blinking hurt. He quietly gazed at Luo Jingshu for a long time.
Luo Jingshu’s brows furrowed tighter. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Xiao Cheng’s strange behavior was making Luo Jingshu feel uneasy, like something he didn’t want to face was about to happen.
Xiao Cheng blinked hard, and his dry eyes finally produced some moisture to ease the pain.
“Luo Jingshu.”
Those three words struck Luo Jingshu’s ears, and his expression turned blank for a moment before his face completely hardened. His fists clenched tightly on his knees, skin stretching taut over the veins on his hands.
“So, you know?”
No wonder Xiao Cheng was acting this way.
Seeing Luo Jingshu’s calm demeanor without a trace of panic, Xiao Cheng felt a bitter laugh rise inside him. The more he laughed internally, the deeper the sadness.
“When did you plan to tell me?” He tried to keep his voice calm, but it came out hoarse and shaky.
Luo Jingshu thought back over the past few days, wondering when Xiao Cheng had found out—or perhaps someone told him?
Luo Yuan, Jiang Ying, or Xie Zhao?
Or maybe someone else?
“I didn’t plan to hide it from you forever.” But it wasn’t supposed to be now.
Luo Jingshu’s gaze remained indifferent as he looked at Xiao Cheng, completely unflustered. “I can explain.”
Before Xiao Cheng could respond, Luo Jingshu quickly added, “I admit, at first I deliberately didn’t tell you.”
His voice carried a subtle urgency, and his words came faster than usual.
Xiao Cheng listened silently, only speaking softly when Luo Jingshu finished. “So you’re saying, it’s all just a misunderstanding?”
“Luo Jingshu, does that mean you working with Jiang Ying was a misunderstanding too?”
Luo Jingshu’s face froze. Xiao Cheng didn’t wait for him to answer and continued, “Crying to me about Jiang Ying bullying you at the hotel—was that also a misunderstanding?”
Luo Jingshu hadn’t expected Xiao Cheng to know even that. His mind raced for a solution, and by the time Xiao Cheng had finished speaking, his eyes were already red.
“Brother Cheng, I didn’t mean to deceive you,” Luo Jingshu choked out, his voice thick with unspoken grievance. “You know how hard things are for me in the Luo family. I don’t trust people easily.”
As he continued, his words flowed more naturally. His reddened eyes never left Xiao Cheng’s face, and tears even began to well up at the corners.
“Brother Cheng, I was scared you didn’t really love me. I was afraid you only liked my face,” Luo Jingshu blinked, and his tears began to fall.
“So I tested you on purpose. I just wanted to know if your feelings for me were real.”
By the end, his voice was thick with emotion.
Xiao Cheng gritted his teeth. He wished he only liked Luo Jingshu for his looks. It would be better than being deceived and led around by the nose.
Even now, Luo Jingshu was still trying to lie to him.
Xiao Cheng thought that perhaps he had just been too stupid before. He had believed everything Luo Jingshu said, never doubting him.
Would Luo Jingshu have spun so many lies if he hadn’t been so gullible?
Full of holes.
Only his previously blind self would have believed it.
Suddenly, Xiao Cheng stood up. Before Luo Jingshu could react, he grabbed his collar with force. The strength of the pull caused Luo Jingshu to fall forward, his knees hitting the carpet and his stomach pressing painfully against the edge of the table.
If not for the fact that Luo Jingshu was still underage, Xiao Cheng might have thrown a punch at him.
They were close—so close that Xiao Cheng could see the red blood vessels in Luo Jingshu’s eyes clearly.
Xiao Cheng let out a cold laugh. “You really take me for a fool, don’t you?”
Luo Jingshu didn’t struggle, holding his uncomfortable position, gazing at Xiao Cheng with a puzzled look.
“Brother Cheng, if you’re mad, just hit me.”
Xiao Cheng took a deep breath, trying to calm his agitated emotions. “I really do want to hit you. If you were an adult, I’d ensure you couldn’t leave this room.”
His voice was full of suppressed rage as he clenched his teeth. “Luo Jingshu, you’re still lying to me!”
“You said, ‘It’s just for fun. When I get bored, I’ll break up.’ You said that, didn’t you?”
“This is how you show you like me?!”
Luo Jingshu was truly confused for a moment. His heart raced, and for once, he didn’t know how to react.
How could Xiao Cheng have found out?!
A sense of regret rose in Luo Jingshu’s chest. “Listen, that’s not what I meant—”
Before he could finish, Xiao Cheng forcefully pushed him away, his strength making it clear how disgusted he felt, as though he were discarding something revolting. He even grabbed a tissue afterwards to wipe his hands as if ridding himself of invisible dirt.
“What’s the next lie you’re going to tell me?” Xiao Cheng’s gaze was icy.
“Luo Jingshu, do you really think that just because I love you, I’ll put up with any of this and never break up with you?”
Luo Jingshu braced himself on the ground, still feeling the lingering pain in his abdomen from the table’s edge. He looked up at Xiao Cheng, whose face was now filled with contempt, and a wave of anger surged in him.
Luo Jingshu wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Now you’re disgusted with me?”
“Xiao Cheng, you weren’t like this when you kissed me.” His voice was cold and sharp.
“When you reacted to me, you didn’t seem to care that I was underage, did you?”
Xiao Cheng clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. His bloodshot eyes locked onto Luo Jingshu as if he were staring at a detestable ghost.
“I’m the one who’s pathetic, the one who’s vile, the one who’s a terrible person!” Xiao Cheng shouted furiously. “But does that give you the right to toy with my feelings?!”
Luo Jingshu let out a cold laugh. “You think I’m toying with your feelings? But you seemed to enjoy it, didn’t you? Can you really say you don’t like it?”
Suppressing the violence boiling in his chest, Luo Jingshu coldly continued, “How come you’re suddenly so clear-headed now? Are you really that hurt by something I said offhandedly?”
“Or is it…”
Luo Jingshu’s gaze darkened, and his expression turned dangerous. “Did you fall for someone else?”
“Is all this just an excuse for you to break up with me?”
Xiao Cheng shot up from his seat and took two quick steps toward Luo Jingshu, grabbing him by the collar again and pinning him to the ground, his forearm pressed tightly against his neck.
Luo Jingshu’s arms trembled as he tried to brace himself, his fists shaking as if he were about to get hit.
“Luo Jingshu!”
How dare he turn the tables and accuse him?
Luo Jingshu let out a bitter laugh, his bloodshot eyes flashing with barely concealed jealousy. “So I was right?”
“Xiao Cheng, do you really dare say that you and Xie Zhao have nothing going on?”
“Don’t tell me you didn’t know that Xie Zhao likes you?!”
