Luo Jingshu’s mind was in turmoil, but his expression remained confused. His gentle, peach-blossom eyes reflected Xiao Cheng’s figure, and his slightly reddened lips, slightly parted, exuded an aura of softness and purity.
Xiao Cheng couldn’t help but focus on his lips. Perhaps because they were so close, he felt that with just a slight lean, he could kiss Luo Jingshu.
Xiao Cheng scolded himself again. He considered himself not a lecherous person and had never had feelings for boys before. Why did his mind fill with such thoughts upon meeting Luo Jingshu?
To avoid any awkward reactions, Xiao Cheng stepped back, creating some distance between them and said:
“He’s not a good person. He’s a scumbag.”
Luo Jingshu’s lips curled up slightly. “How do you know that?”
Xiao Cheng said seriously, “Because I’m roommates with Jiang Ying’s younger brother.”
Sorry, Jiang Zihe.
“He often complains about his brother to me. Jiang Ying is a heartless scumbag. Don’t fall for him; it will bring you unhappiness.”
Luo Jingshu found this even more interesting. He knew better than Xiao Cheng what Jiang Zihe was like.
He would never dare to badmouth his brother.
Let alone reveal his brother’s private life to a roommate.
Xiao Cheng was lying.
But how did he know Jiang Ying was a scumbag?
Luo Jingshu thought, if he could be reborn, why couldn’t Xiao Cheng?
But he should have had some special experience, not rebirth. If Xiao Cheng was reborn, he would know that Luo Jingshu was him.
Recalling the incongruity he felt with this Xiao Cheng and the stark difference from the Xiao Cheng of his previous life, Luo Jingshu began to suspect something else.
Perhaps this person was different from Xiao Cheng from his previous life.
Everyone else around him was the same as in his previous life, only this person was a variable.
Body switching?
Regardless of the situation, it piqued Luo Jingshu’s interest.
Perhaps rebirth wasn’t another boring experience; fate seemed to favor him by sending him a distraction.
Luo Jingshu nodded under Xiao Cheng’s hopeful gaze. “I understand.”
“I’ll keep my distance from Jiang Ying.”
Xiao Cheng felt relieved. “Good, I…”
He suddenly realized he had been in Luo Jingshu’s room for a long time and wasn’t sure if Xiao Ziyue had messaged him.
Taking out his phone, he saw that he had received several messages from Xiao Ziyue.
The last one was particularly resentful.
[Xiao Ziyue: You’ve forgotten your sister for a pretty face!]
Xiao Cheng: …
Xiao Ziyue had seen him with Nian Nian?
Xiao Cheng touched his nose, feeling somewhat guilty, and put his phone away. “Nian Nian, my sister is looking for me. I might need to leave.”
Luo Jingshu nodded and gave him another gentle smile. “Go ahead… Brother Cheng.”
Although it wasn’t the first time he was called that, it felt different coming from Luo Jingshu.
He restrained himself, speaking in a hoarse voice, “Mm.”
Then he left under Luo Jingshu’s gaze.
As soon as he got downstairs, Xiao Ziyue called him.
Once the call connected, Xiao Ziyue’s teasing voice came through.
“Bro, I thought you were missing.”
Xiao Cheng’s flushed ears finally cooled down, but hearing this made them warm up again. He lowered his voice, sounding inexplicably husky:
“Where are you?”
Xiao Ziyue was already back in the car. As soon as Xiao Cheng sat down, people around him immediately crowded in.
“Spill it. Where did you just go?”
Xiao Cheng’s mind flashed with Luo Jingshu’s face, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. The dim light in the car made it hard for Xiao Ziyue to notice.
“I was just wandering around.”
“Wandering around? I heard you took a little beauty upstairs.”
Heaven knows, when she heard this, she almost doubted if she had another brother.
Could this be something her indifferent, old-fashioned brother would do?
Xiao Cheng clicked his tongue inwardly, sounding casual and carefree. “Who told you that?”
Although he didn’t deny it, his expression was so natural and serious that Xiao Ziyue found it even more unbelievable.
“It must be someone talking nonsense.”
Xiao Cheng didn’t answer, closing his eyes as if he hadn’t taken Xiao Ziyue’s words seriously.
Xiao Ziyue abandoned her doubts.
Xiao Cheng was reluctant to let Xiao Ziyue know, because she was too nosy. If she found out, within three hours, everyone who knew them would know.
It would cause trouble for Nian Nian.
He was interested in Nian Nian, but things were still in their early stages.
Xiao Ziyue would definitely make wild assumptions.
Better not let her know.
—
While Xiao Cheng’s side was relatively pleasant, the atmosphere at the Luo family’s home was heavy and gloomy.
With the guests gone, the once-bustling Luo household fell silent. Mrs. Luo, who had been smiling all evening, finally had a moment to relax.
Her face grew cold, her eyes filled with anger. “Butler!”
“Where is Luo Jingshu?!”
No matter the circumstances, tonight was supposed to be Luo Jingshu’s welcome banquet, yet he had not appeared.
Many guests had asked about him earlier. Though Mrs. Luo had explained with a smile, she couldn’t help but wonder how people were truly reacting to her.
What was Luo Jingshu doing?!
However, instead of summoning Luo Jingshu as Mrs. Luo expected, the butler leaned in and whispered something in her ear.
Mrs. Luo’s expression changed from initial rage to confusion, and finally to joy. The contrast was so stark that Luo Yuan, who was hiding on the second floor waiting for Luo Jingshu to be scolded, was baffled.
Seeing that Mrs. Luo seemed to have calmed down, Luo Yuan guessed that Luo Jingshu might avoid punishment tonight, and he felt disappointed.
Luo Jingshu had not shown up, and Luo Yuan knew the reason better than anyone—he had pushed Luo Jingshu into the pool, leaving him drenched and likely hiding somewhere, probably crying.
The thought of Luo Jingshu potentially hiding in some dark corner while he got to stay with his mother and mingle with the guests gave Luo Yuan a twisted satisfaction.
Even if Luo Jingshu was the biological child of the Luo family, so what?
For the first decade or so, the Luo family’s young master had always been him, and it would continue to be so!
His parents were his, and the Luo family’s assets would also be his!
Seeing Mrs. Luo’s smile from a distance, Luo Yuan feigned surprise as he hurried downstairs.
“Mom.”
Mrs. Luo smiled at him, then turned to the butler and said, “Go get Jingshu. I need to talk to him.”
She had gone from calling him by his full name to simply “Jingshu” instantly.
Luo Yuan clenched his teeth, suppressing his jealousy.
“Mom, why call him down so late?”
Mrs. Luo seemed in high spirits as she took Luo Yuan’s hand and lightly patted his hand, but she didn’t answer his question.
Luo Yuan had no choice but to suppress his curiosity and jealousy and wait with Mrs. Luo for Luo Jingshu’s appearance.
Ten minutes later, Luo Jingshu finally appeared.
“Did you need something?”
Mrs. Luo suppressed her impatience. “I heard from the butler that you were with Young Master Xiao tonight?”
Mrs. Luo had always been secretly pleased that she had invited two important guests tonight.
One was Jiang Ying from the Jiang family, and the other was Xiao Cheng, the eldest son of the Xiao family.
Though Xiao Cheng was younger and seemed less accomplished than Jiang Ying, he was the sole heir of the Xiao family. Eventually, all that vast family fortune would be handed over to him.
As for Xiao Ziyue, Mrs. Luo considered her to be a future outsider once she married. The Xiao family would never give their fortune to an outsider.
Unfortunately, although Jiang Ying had come, he didn’t stay long, and Mrs. Luo barely had a chance to speak with him.
She had hoped to build a good relationship with Xiao Cheng, but he had also vanished, leaving only his sister.
Mrs. Luo initially thought the evening was a waste, but it turned out that Xiao Cheng had spent time with Luo Jingshu.
Her despised biological son had actually managed to win over the attention of the esteemed Young Master Xiao.
Luo Jingshu had known what Mrs. Luo was going to say. Listening to her now, he found it both amusing and ironic.
Luo Yuan, on the other hand, looked shocked.
He hadn’t expected the truth to be this way.
While he had mocked Luo Jingshu for not daring to show up, Luo Jingshu had actually managed to win over a significant figure.
Luo Yuan also knew Xiao Cheng, but the young man seemed unfriendly tonight. Many people who tried to approach him were turned away.
Luo Yuan had considered approaching him but was afraid of being rejected, which would have been embarrassing.
He had planned to deal with Luo Jingshu first and then see if he could talk to Xiao Cheng. But by the time he returned, Xiao Cheng was already gone.
Now he realized that his dear younger brother had taken Xiao Cheng to his room.
Luo Jingshu, that shameless fox. No wonder he had been so obedient today, not making a fuss when pushed into the pool.
Luo Yuan recalled the cold, vengeful look Luo Jingshu had given him from the pool, which made him so fearful that he fled in haste, inadvertently giving Luo Jingshu the chance to charm Xiao Cheng.
If he had waited a bit longer, he might have been meeting Xiao Cheng.
Luo Yuan’s jealousy was so intense that it twisted his expression. But Mrs. Luo, focused on climbing the social ladder, paid no attention to her adopted son’s emotions.
Luo Jingshu observed everyone’s reactions. When Jiang Ying had used his status to coerce the Luo family into handing him over in his previous life, the Luo family’s reactions were the same.
This time, however, the influential figure was Xiao Cheng instead of Jiang Ying.
“Since Xiao Cheng likes you, then get along with him.”
If possible, it might even lead to a marriage alliance between the Luo and Xiao families. After all, this son was as good as a stranger to her. She even had a subtle aversion towards Luo Jingshu.
She had accidentally lost Luo Jingshu, and although the Luo family had not openly blamed her, they had certainly held it against her.
During that period, Mrs. Luo had a very difficult time.
From birth, Luo Jingshu had been cared for by a nanny, and Mrs. Luo’s feelings for him were never deep. After he was abducted, she faced criticism for it.
She blamed Luo Jingshu for everything.
None of this would have happened if Luo Jingshu had been smarter and not trusted strangers.
It was all his fault.
