It wasn’t surprising for Jiang Ying to be here; what puzzled Xiao Cheng was that Jiang Ying would actually take the initiative to greet him.
Their previous encounters hadn’t been pleasant, and most of the time, it was Xiao Cheng giving Jiang Ying the cold shoulder. Xiao Cheng had assumed Jiang Ying must be thoroughly sick of him by now.
Not that Xiao Cheng was particularly fond of Jiang Ying, either.
Aside from the initial meeting, during which Xiao Cheng inexplicably felt dislike and wariness, Jiang Ying later even teamed up with Luo Jingshu to deceive him. Xiao Cheng figured their relationship was one of mutual disdain.
Seeing the young man sitting there with a face full of surprise, Jiang Ying couldn’t help but chuckle. He walked around the sofa and sat down beside Xiao Cheng.
“What’s with that look? As if you’ve never seen me before.”
Xiao Cheng quietly shifted to the side, his eyes scanning the crowd for Bai Yiheng’s figure. Noticing that his boss was chatting with someone and hadn’t noticed this corner of the room, Xiao Cheng felt slightly relieved.
“President Jiang is here too.”
Jiang Ying clicked his tongue and casually picked up a glass of wine from the table, lightly clinking it against Xiao Cheng’s juice glass. The clear sound of glass meeting glass rang pleasantly.
“We’ve met before. No need to be so formal, don’t you think?”
Xiao Cheng couldn’t help but internally roll his eyes. Sure, we’ve met, but it’s not like our relationship is anything to write home about.
Still, he remembered Bai Yiheng’s earlier words and didn’t let his true thoughts show. Instead, he smiled politely, following Jiang Ying’s lead.
“You’re right, President Jiang.”
Jiang Ying silently observed him for a few moments. “You were cuter before.”
Although Xiao Cheng’s attitude toward him hadn’t been the best back then, it had at least been genuine. Unlike now, where his smile carried an unmistakable hint of insincerity.
Jiang Ying sighed inwardly but didn’t feel particularly bothered by it. People change, after all. Xiao Cheng’s former straightforwardness, while endearing, wasn’t exactly suited for the kind of environment they were in.
In business, there are no absolute friends, nor absolute enemies.
Xiao Cheng didn’t respond to Jiang Ying’s comment. He silently sipped his juice, his gaze falling on the distant crowd, though it wasn’t clear what he was looking at.
Jiang Ying followed his gaze briefly but, finding it uninteresting, let his eyes drift back to Xiao Cheng’s profile.
“You broke up with Luo Jingshu?”
Hitting where it hurts, huh.
Xiao Cheng had expected Jiang Ying might bring up Luo Jingshu. After all, aside from this topic, there really wasn’t much else for them to talk about.
“A long time ago,” Xiao Cheng replied flatly.
He leaned forward to place his juice down on the table. When he straightened up again, he loosened his cuffs slightly, feeling unusually hot. The air he breathed in felt dry and scorching, as if the banquet hall’s air conditioning was set too high.
Jiang Ying noticed his small movements, his gaze tinged with amusement as it briefly swept over Xiao Cheng’s untouched juice.
It seemed Xiao Cheng didn’t realize that some things shouldn’t be consumed carelessly.
Jiang Ying’s eyes darted to the crowd, spotting a familiar figure. That person’s gaze occasionally flitted in their direction, and when their eyes met Jiang Ying’s, they even smiled.
‘Typical,’ Jiang Ying thought with a hint of disdain. Did Bai Yiheng not warn Xiao Cheng about that person?
The man was infamous in these circles for his predatory tendencies. Once he set his sights on someone, he wouldn’t stop until he got his way, resorting to any means necessary.
It was likely that when Xiao Cheng and Bai Yiheng had entered the room earlier, they had crossed paths with him.
‘Bold,’ Jiang Ying mused. Knowing this is Bai Yiheng’s person, and still daring to make a move.
Returning his gaze to Xiao Cheng, Jiang Ying decided to play the good guy for once. “Are you feeling unwell?”
Xiao Cheng loosened his collar again, his body burning as if consumed by fire. When his fingertips brushed the skin of his neck, it felt like he was touching something scalding hot.
Finally realizing something was wrong, he admitted, “I feel… a bit uncomfortable.”
Jiang Ying chuckled. “If you’re not feeling well, maybe you should go rest.”
Xiao Cheng shook his head slightly, the heat within him growing unbearable, making even his blood seem like it was boiling. This sensation drained his strength, leaving him slumped against the back of the sofa.
“Should I take you to rest?”
Jiang Ying’s eyes flickered as he took in Xiao Cheng’s appearance—his flushed cheeks, damp eyes, and lips slightly parted as if seeking relief. He looked like he had stepped out of a painting, drenched in a sultry allure.
It wasn’t hard to see that Xiao Cheng was genuinely unwell.
But Xiao Cheng wasn’t so out of it that he couldn’t think straight.
Setting aside the fact that Jiang Ying was a morally questionable man who, in the original story, was depicted as someone easily swayed by desire, his current physical state—weak and unsteady—would make him even more vulnerable if he went to a room alone.
“No need.”
The heat in his body made his voice huskier, the words spilling out low and raspy, as though his vocal cords had been overworked.
Jiang Ying could tell Xiao Cheng was on guard against him, but even in this situation, he chose to lean in a little closer.
“Xiao Cheng, I don’t think I’ve ever done you wrong before, have I?”
It was as though Xiao Cheng saw right through his intentions, remaining fully vigilant from the moment they met.
When Xiao Cheng didn’t reply, Jiang Ying continued, “I’m quite interested in you. Since you’ve broken up with Luo Jingshu, why not give me a chance?”
He figured that during Xiao Cheng’s relationship with Luo Jingshu, nothing intimate had likely happened between them. Lowering his voice, Jiang Ying’s eyes glinted with a sense of inevitability.
“What’s your relationship with Bai Yiheng?”
Bai Yiheng certainly wasn’t Xiao Cheng’s boyfriend, nor was he some ambiguous partner. But if their relationship weren’t unusual, Bai Yiheng wouldn’t have left Xiao Cheng here alone.
This assumption was somewhat unfair to Bai Yiheng. While he had warned Xiao Cheng to be cautious of others, it wasn’t possible for him to monitor Xiao Cheng’s every move.
Besides, Xiao Cheng was careful not to show any signs of distress in front of others. Though his body was unwell, he merely closed his eyes, his complexion a bit redder than before. From a distance, he appeared to be resting quietly.
Though eager to close the gap between them, Jiang Ying was mindful of his reputation and kept a respectable distance. From an outsider’s perspective, they seemed they were simply chatting casually.
Xiao Cheng, however, felt as though a stick was stirring relentlessly inside his head, making it impossible for him to think. To make matters worse, someone was incessantly murmuring in his ear, further disrupting his fragile calm.
He furrowed his brow tightly, unable to endure any longer. “Could you just stop talking?”
Jiang Ying, noticing Xiao Cheng’s unusually strong reaction, frowned. “Come with me.”
His tone carried a hint of threat: “You wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself in front of everyone here, would you?”
Xiao Cheng forced his aching eyes open, scanning the crowd for Bai Yiheng. He spotted him standing with a group, his back turned, deep in conversation with the evening host.
Bai Yiheng was completely unaware of Xiao Cheng’s current predicament.
Xiao Cheng tried to stand up and head toward Bai Yiheng, but Jiang Ying grabbed his arm and forced him back into his seat.
Rubbing his throbbing head, Xiao Cheng said, “Mr. Jiang, I’m not interested in you. A forced melon isn’t sweet.”
“You wouldn’t know until you tried,” Jiang Ying replied casually.
Frustrated, Xiao Cheng pushed himself to his feet. His steps wavered, and he nearly fell back into the chair. In his desperation, Jiang Ying steadied him by grabbing his arm.
Out of nowhere, a young server in a black suit appeared beside them. “Sir, you seem unwell. Would you like me to assist you?”
Xiao Cheng cast him a wary glance. This man was probably even less trustworthy—most likely someone sent by the person who spiked his drink.
Caught between a wolf and a tiger.
Xiao Cheng strained to maintain his composure and didn’t respond.
The server smiled, ignoring Jiang Ying’s displeased expression, and said, “Sir, shall I arrange a car to take you home?”
Jiang Ying’s grip on Xiao Cheng’s shoulder tightened. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll take care of him.”
The server’s face stiffened slightly. He hadn’t expected Jiang Ying to appear and foil their plan. His gaze flickered briefly to another part of the room, meeting his employer’s dark, ominous eyes. He trembled slightly.
Jiang Ying tightened his hold on Xiao Cheng’s arm. “Let’s get you upstairs to rest.”
Mindful of the other man present, Jiang Ying refrained from dragging Xiao Cheng away outright, though his firm grip made his intent clear.
Both men stared at Xiao Cheng, waiting for him to decide.
Xiao Cheng wasn’t foolish enough to go with either of them. He yanked his arm free from Jiang Ying’s grasp, slumped back into his seat, and pulled out his phone. After several attempts, he finally managed to open his contacts.
He hadn’t expected the drug to take effect so quickly. Within minutes, his vision was already blurry.
Just as he managed to dial the first digit, Jiang Ying’s hand shot out to stop him. “Let me take you out of here.”
Xiao Cheng refused to let go of his phone. In the struggle, he must have accidentally pressed something, as the call went through, but the screen turned off before Jiang Ying could see who he’d called.
Jiang Ying’s patience wore thin. He pulled Xiao Cheng to his feet and looked at the server sharply. “Tell your boss: he’s mine.”
The server hadn’t anticipated this twist. He had gone through so much trouble to keep Bai Yiheng occupied, only for Jiang Ying to swoop in and ruin everything.
He watched the two of them walk away, then glanced at Bai Yiheng, still obliviously chatting. Letting out a cold laugh, he said nothing further.
The scattered groups of people blocked the view, and Xiao Cheng had been seated in a secluded corner. When Jiang Ying led him away, they hardly made a sound, drawing no attention from the others.
Xiao Cheng’s limbs felt weak and powerless. “Jiang Ying, you bastard…” he muttered.
Jiang Ying’s expression darkened as he wrapped an arm around Xiao Cheng’s waist. “You should’ve come with me sooner. Now look at the trouble you’ve caused.”
The music blared around them, drowning out the faint sound of a voice coming from Xiao Cheng’s pocketed phone.
Xiao Cheng understood that he currently had no chance of overpowering Jiang Ying, so he stopped struggling altogether and quietly conserved his energy.
Jiang Ying led him to the front desk and booked a room before dragging him into the elevator.
Breathing heavily, Xiao Cheng had somehow calmed down during this process. He even managed to smile faintly at Jiang Ying. “Jiang Ying, are you sure you want to make an enemy of the Xiao family?”
Jiang Ying licked his teeth. “Young Master Xiao, haven’t you heard the saying, To die under the peony flower, even as a ghost, one remains charming?”
Besides, the Xiao family’s current glory might not last much longer. Jiang Ying had caught wind of an upcoming policy change that would render two of the Xiao family’s long-prepared projects worthless.
Jiang Ying, who had been biding his time, saw an opportunity while the Xiao family remained oblivious, still pouring effort into those doomed ventures.
With a touch of cold detachment, Jiang Ying thought to himself that when the time came, he might even swallow up parts of the Xiao family’s assets. Not only would Xiao Cheng be unable to retaliate, but he might also have to come begging for mercy.
Xiao Cheng’s eyes briefly closed, his fevered gaze tinged with a chilling edge. His fingers, hanging by his side, clenched and unclenched.
He didn’t resist much as Jiang Ying escorted him into the room. When Jiang Ying threw him onto the bed, his body even bounced lightly against the soft mattress, making him appear dizzy and disoriented.
Jiang Ying studied the beauty lying on the bed and chuckled softly. “I hadn’t planned to touch you at first.”
His interest in Xiao Cheng wasn’t strong enough to make him ignore the threat of the Xiao family, especially when Xiao Cheng had once been close to Luo Jingshu.
“But who told you to break up with Luo Jingshu?”
Jiang Ying had long suspected that Luo Jingshu harbored genuine feelings for Xiao Cheng. Initially, he intended to give up, but who could have guessed they would split so quickly?
That lunatic Luo Jingshu actually let Xiao Cheng go.
Standing tall, Jiang Ying’s gaze swept over Xiao Cheng like a predator assessing its prey.
He hadn’t planned on doing anything serious here. Not only was time limited—Bai Yiheng could show up at any moment—but Xiao Cheng’s attitude toward him made Jiang Ying wary of causing more trouble than it was worth.
All he wanted was to leave behind some evidence, something he could use against Xiao Cheng in the future.
Xiao Cheng’s light gray suit jacket was unbuttoned under Jiang Ying’s admiring gaze, and Jiang Ying still had the leisure to chat.
“Honestly, from the first time I met you, I thought you had a fantastic physique.”
A slim, flexible waist, long, straight legs, and a tall, graceful figure—like a towering bamboo shoot.
Xiao Cheng quietly gathered his strength, though his face showed a humiliated expression. His watery eyes, tinged with deep red, appeared dazed and unfocused.
Jiang Ying was considering taking a few photos to keep as leverage against Xiao Cheng.
This was entirely a spur-of-the-moment idea. With no prior preparation, Jiang Ying could only exploit the drug someone else had slipped into Xiao Cheng’s drink. He was merely reaping the benefits of another’s scheming.
But this lack of planning left Jiang Ying uncertain about his next steps. He was new to such dealings, and after unbuttoning Xiao Cheng’s jacket, he paused to survey his work, feeling it wasn’t enough.
His hand moved to Xiao Cheng’s shirt collar, undoing the top button.
Xiao Cheng made a seemingly unintentional struggle, kicking his legs lightly against the bed.
Jiang Ying didn’t take it seriously. After all, Xiao Cheng hadn’t resisted much along the way, and Jiang Ying was certain he no longer had the strength to fight back.
That’s why, when Xiao Cheng’s kick lashed out, Jiang Ying failed to dodge in time. The blow landed hard on his thigh. Fortunately, Jiang Ying shifted at the last second, narrowly avoiding a far more vulnerable target.
Even so, Jiang Ying was in so much pain that he couldn’t straighten up for quite some time.
Xiao Cheng’s vision blurred, and his delivered kick drained all his remaining strength. He shrank back on the bed and, taking advantage of Jiang Ying’s temporary incapacitation, quickly pulled out his phone.
“Hey, Siri, call…”
The best course of action would undoubtedly be to call the police. He had already considered it earlier, but Jiang Ying had stopped him.
Just as Xiao Cheng began to speak, the door was flung open with great force, followed by hurried footsteps.
Xiao Cheng didn’t have time to see who had entered; he focused instead on finishing his command. However, it seemed Siri didn’t respond.
Jiang Ying looked up, but before he could discern the figure clearly, his collar was seized in a vice-like grip. A fist slammed into his face with a dull thud, followed by another.
After taking two punches, Jiang Ying suppressed the pain in his leg and lashed out with a kick. The intruder deftly avoided his attack, ignoring everything else to continue the assault, each blow landing with brutal precision.
Jiang Ying, disoriented, quickly realized who it was and yelled in protest, “Luo Jingshu!”
Luo Jingshu’s expression was dark and vicious, his eyes filled with unrestrained fury. Blood from Jiang Ying’s face splattered onto his hand, but he didn’t care in the slightest. He looked as though he intended to beat Jiang Ying to death.
Fear crept into Jiang Ying’s heart. Luo Jingshu was an unreasonable lunatic—he had seen it in how Luo dealt with others before. He hadn’t expected how ruthless Luo Jingshu could be in a fight.
A man in his thirties, now getting thoroughly pummeled by a young man barely out of his teens, left Jiang Ying both enraged and humiliated.
“I didn’t… I didn’t touch him!”
Luo Jingshu’s bloodshot eyes glinted with something wild and unhinged. He delivered a final kick to Jiang Ying’s abdomen and said coldly, his voice like ice, “Jiang Ying, I told you—he’s mine.”
Jiang Ying’s entire body aches, his face swollen and smeared with blood that dripped down his clothes. Fear and pain overtook him completely.
The composed, refined Jiang Ying from before was nowhere to be seen.
Jiang Ying’s gaze turned icy, filled with venomous resentment. He panted heavily, wiping the blood from his face in silence.
Luo Jingshu didn’t care about Jiang Ying’s attitude. Perhaps they were destined to be enemies, with only one of them surviving in the end.
And it was destined to be Jiang Ying who fell.
Luo casually wiped the blood off the back of his hand and carefully approached Xiao Cheng. “Brother Cheng?”
Xiao Cheng’s cheeks were flushed, his brows tightly knit as he lay on the bed with his eyes closed, looking as though he had lost consciousness.
Luo reached out toward his face, but Xiao Cheng suddenly snapped his eyes open, fist clenched as he swung at Luo Jingshu.
Luo Jingshu quickly blocked the punch. “Brother Cheng, it’s me!”
Xiao Cheng’s jaw was clenched tightly, and his face was taut with tension, making it unclear whether he recognized Luo Jingshu.
Luo Jingshu tried to soothe him. “It’s me, Luo Jingshu.”
But Xiao Cheng remained on edge. Luo Jingshu guessed he had likely lost awareness and was resisting purely on instinct.
Luo Jingshu’s expression grew even darker, the violent emotions in his chest almost uncontrollable. The beast within him roared, urging him to tear apart anyone who had hurt Xiao Cheng.
Xiao Cheng refused to relax his body. Luo Jingshu had no other choice but to lean in closer, speaking softly in his ear: “Brother Cheng, it’s Nian Nian.”
Upon hearing that name, Xiao Cheng’s tightly closed eyelashes fluttered slightly. His clenched fist slowly loosened, and his body finally went limp.
He stopped resisting.
Luo Jingshu let out a breath of relief, pulling Xiao Cheng into his arms. As he passed Jiang Ying, he didn’t spare him a glance, striding out of the room.
Two minutes after Luo Jingshu left, Jiang Ying was painfully tidying his clothes and calling his assistant when another person hurriedly entered the room.
Jiang Ying looked up to meet Bai Yiheng’s grim gaze.
After a few seconds of tense silence, Bai Yiheng frowned at the disheveled bed and Jiang Ying’s battered appearance. “Where’s Xiao Cheng?”
He had only briefly spoken with Shao Jun, and when he turned back, Xiao Cheng had disappeared.
Bai Yiheng silently berated himself. He thought he only needed to guard against one person but hadn’t expected Jiang Ying to also pose a threat.
If something had happened to Xiao Cheng, he wouldn’t be able to face Xiao Yu or forgive himself.
“As you can see, he’s not here,” Jiang Ying spat out a breath, his expression growing stiffer as a third party witnessed his humiliation. His hatred for Luo Jingshu surged to its peak.
Bai Yiheng’s gentle demeanor cracked, and his face was cold as ice. “Where is he?”
“Luo Jingshu took him.”
Jiang Ying was happy to sow discord between them. He deliberately sneered, which pulled at his wounded face, distorting his expression. “I didn’t do anything to him. Luo Jingshu took him away.”
“Mr. Bai, let me kindly remind you—Luo Jingshu is Xiao Cheng’s ex-boyfriend.”
Bai Yiheng felt a slight relief in his chest. Being taken by an ex was better than being taken by someone else.
But he didn’t know what kind of person Luo Jingshu was or whether Xiao Cheng was safe.
Bai Yiheng shot a long, penetrating look at Jiang Ying before turning and walking out briskly, dialing Xiao Yu as he went.
“Sorry, Brother Xiao. Cheng Cheng is in a bit of trouble. It seems his ex-boyfriend took him. Do you have any way to contact him?”
To his surprise, Xiao Yu was even more shocked than he was. “Ex-boyfriend? Who?”
Bai Yiheng grew increasingly worried. Had Xiao Cheng not told his family about the relationship?
“Someone named Luo Jingshu.”
As soon as the name left his lips, violent coughing erupted on the other end of the line.
“You’re telling me Luo Jingshu is Cheng Cheng’s ex-boyfriend?!”
–
Luo Jingshu took Xiao Cheng from the hotel and shoved him into the backseat. After fastening his seatbelt, he pulled out a packet of wet wipes from the car.
“Drive to the City People’s Hospital,” he said, while helping Xiao Cheng settle in, his hand resting on Xiao Cheng’s shoulder as he spoke to the driver in the front.
Xiao Cheng’s face was unnaturally red, his body burning with fever. Luo Jingshu carefully wiped his face with the wet wipe, his gaze lingering on Xiao Cheng’s lips, deep and unfathomable.
His eyes were filled with desire, but his hands remained controlled as he wiped Xiao Cheng’s face and palms, trying to cool him down.
Xiao Cheng tilted his head, his breath hot and labored. “Hot…” he murmured.
Despite it being winter, he was drenched in sweat, and his unbuttoned shirt revealed flushed skin.
Luo Jingshu closed his eyes for a moment, then buttoned up Xiao Cheng’s shirt. However, Xiao Cheng was unhappy and tugged at the collar, trying to undo it.
Unfortunately, his strength was weak, and he lacked coordination, so after a long struggle, he was still unsuccessful.
Luo Jingshu’s mind wandered back to the last time Xiao Cheng was drunk, a vivid and intoxicating memory that teased his senses and awakened a bottomless desire and greed in his heart.
He silently inhaled, pushing down his anger as he held Xiao Cheng’s hand.
“Brother Cheng, we’ll be at the hospital soon.”
Xiao Cheng couldn’t comprehend his words or recognize who was with him. He fumbled weakly, then seemed to lose all strength, collapsing back against the seat.
Luo Jingshu wiped the sweat from his forehead, speaking gently to soothe him. “It’s alright, we’ll be at the hospital soon.”
His words carried an unmistakable tenderness and care.
However, Luo Jingshu’s expression grew darker. His grip on the wet wipe tightened, his hand trembling slightly as he struggled to control the rage building inside him.
Before they could reach the hospital, Luo Jingshu received a call from Xiao Yu.
The last time, he asked Fu Ju to arrange a meeting with Xiao Yu. After their conversation, Xiao Yu gave him his contact information.
As soon as the call connected, Xiao Yu immediately asked, “Is Cheng Cheng with you?”
Luo Jingshu didn’t deny it, his voice cold: “Mm, Brother Cheng is feeling unwell. I’m taking him to the hospital.”
Xiao Yu asked for their location, seemingly preparing to come over himself. As he listened to the sounds on the other end of the line, Luo Jingshu couldn’t help but let out a silent sneer.
“Mr. Xiao, it seems the people you trust aren’t very reliable,” he said.
Bai Yiheng was a useless fool; he couldn’t even keep an eye on Xiao Cheng when he was right in front of him.
Luo Jingshu didn’t dare imagine what would have happened to Xiao Cheng if he had been any later.
Xiao Yu’s heart raced with worry, and when he heard this, he couldn’t help but ask, “What’s going on between you and Cheng Cheng?”
The last time they spoke, Luo Jingshu had said they had some conflicts, and Xiao Cheng wasn’t ready to forgive him yet.
At first, Xiao Yu didn’t take the young man’s words seriously. But as their conversation continued, he grew increasingly uneasy, realizing he had underestimated him.
Xiao Yu actually had a good impression of Luo Jingshu. He had even thought about asking his son one day what exactly the conflict between them was.
Xiao Yu had even hoped to play peacemaker.
But no one had told him this so-called conflict was a breakup!
Luo Jingshu’s tone softened suddenly. He reached out and gently wiped away a bead of sweat from Xiao Cheng’s flushed face.
“Sorry, Uncle Xiao.” He paused, then spoke softly, “I like Brother Cheng.”
Xiao Yu: Bah!
I’ve never met someone like you, stealing someone else’s son and acting all justified about it!
At that moment, Xiao Cheng suddenly struggled again, letting out a muffled groan, clearly in more discomfort.
The groan dragged on, rising in pitch at the end, filling the once quiet space with a strange, ambiguous tension.
Luo Jingshu held his hand down, but the intense heat from Xiao Cheng’s body set his heart ablaze.
The sound of fabric rustling was audible through the phone’s speaker, and Xiao Yu even heard Xiao Cheng’s swallowing and Luo Jingshu’s slightly labored breath.
Xiao Yu went eerily silent for a moment, then roared, “Luo Jingshu!”
“What are you doing to my son?!”
