SDVPP Chapter 3

As soon as Chi Han found the entrance to the VIP elevator, he heard a “thud” and, upon entering, saw someone had indeed fallen.

A slender young man struggled to prop himself up and move toward his wheelchair. Several places on his slender fingers had already been scraped. Against the backdrop of fresh red blood, his skin appeared excessively pale.

It seemed like he hadn’t seen sunlight in a long time.

Chi Han furrowed his brows and looked at the elevator that had just closed. He had heard all the mocking laughter coming from inside.

What was wrong with these people? Were they so delighted to pick on a disabled person?

Chi Han glared fiercely at the elevator, took a few steps forward to lift the wheelchair, and then crouched down, intending to help the young man on the ground.

However, to his surprise, as soon as his hand touched the other’s shoulder, he was pushed away.

Chi Han was caught off guard and almost fell to the ground.

The young man, breathing heavily, spoke with a voice full of icy warning, “Go away!”

Chi Han: “…”

This kid was quite defensive.

After the young man finally returned to his wheelchair, his frail body kept moving. His black hair in front was drenched with sweat, revealing a pair of dark eyes.

It had to be said that those eyes were truly captivating, like pure obsidian, radiating a cold and proud aura but shrouded in a layer of haze that made it hard to see deep inside, only revealing a hint of darkness.

It was hard to imagine such an aura in a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy.

Even sitting in a wheelchair, the young man’s back remained straight. But his head was slightly lowered, like a soulless shell, lifeless.

Apart from that one warning, he hadn’t spoken a word to Chi Han.

The elevator’s numbers descended floor by floor. Chi Han pursed his lips and glanced at the blanket on the ground.

He wasn’t someone who readily overflowed with sympathy, especially since the other person had clearly rejected his goodwill.

But…

Chi Han’s gaze fell on that erect spine as if determined to protect the last vestiges of dignity, and he sighed inwardly.

He couldn’t just pretend not to see.

Rong Xu’s leg was growing increasingly painful. His knee, which had just hit the ground, was probably bleeding, as he noticed a damp spot there. However, this pain was entirely incomparable to the agony in his calf.

It felt like his bones were hurting as if something was grinding back and forth.

Rong Xu’s vision occasionally turned white, making it nearly impossible to see clearly.

Just as he was gritting his teeth and enduring the pain, something soft suddenly brushed against his arm. He reluctantly diverted some of his attention to look. It was a black velvet blanket embroidered with several lotus flowers – the same blanket that had been taken from him.

He silently watched. Simply suppressing the pain had already drained all of his energy. He had no strength left for any other action.

Chi Han observed the silent young man with his head bowed, momentarily unable to comprehend his intentions. Was this… a rejection?

It didn’t seem so.

After thinking for a moment, Chi Han gently shook the blanket open and covered the young man’s legs as softly as possible. Once he was done, he shifted a step away, making no sound.

In the instant the blanket covered him, Rong Xu’s entire body stiffened. His legs, wracked with pain, were more sensitive than usual, and even the slightest touch would intensify the agony.

He closed his eyes and bit his lip, bracing for the pain, but the blanket brought a faint warmth instead. The spasming leg gradually started to improve.

With a pale face, Rong Xu’s dark eyes held a hint of puzzlement as they rested their gaze on his own leg.

The leg pain has surprisingly gone away so quickly…

“Ding!” The elevator reached the first floor.

The elevator door and the interior cabin had a raised edge where they connected, making it uneven.

Before the young man’s wheelchair touched the low protrusion, Chi Han helped him cross by taking a few steps up and grabbing the handle. Then he quickly let go.

“I didn’t touch you; it’s uneven here, not easy to pass.”

The young man stiffened his back, but he didn’t say much. He glanced at Chi Han and maneuvered the wheelchair to a corner of the elevator.

Chi Han could sense that the hostility in the young man’s eyes had diminished slightly, replaced by curiosity and assessment.

It was as if a small animal hiding in a burrow had cautiously poked its head out.

Chi Han gently curled the corner of his lips and pressed the button for the 15th floor. “Which floor are you going to? I can press it for you.”

Rong Xu lowered his eyes, and his slightly long hair once again covered his brows and eyes.

Oh, ignored again.

Chi Han tilted his head, feeling somewhat helpless.

The elevator quickly arrived at the 15th floor. Chi Han thought the young man would wait for him to exit before selecting his floor. To his surprise, they were going to the same floor.

No wonder he wasn’t talking.

There were many private rooms on the top floor, but there was only one pathway after leaving the elevator.

A middle-aged man rushed over. He appeared thin and somewhat refined. But as soon as he spoke, Chi Han’s impression of him plummeted.

“Rong Xu! Why did you just come up? The whole family is waiting, and the old man has something to tell you. Come in with me quickly!”

Chi Han watched as the man scolded the young man with an accusatory tone without even letting him talk. He couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

Regardless of their relationship, the young man clearly had difficulty with his legs. Instead of offering assistance, this man came up and started scolding him.

Chi Han strongly empathized with the situation, his fists were clenched tightly.

Just as his anger was about to erupt, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind like lightning.

Wait… What did that man just call him?

Rong Xu?!

His heart skipped a beat, and his eyes widened slightly.

Considering the timing, the original novel’s main antagonist, Rong Xu, who, in a wheelchair, wreaked havoc on the industries of various major families in S City, is only seventeen years old, isn’t he?!

The seventeen-year-old major antagonist Rong Xu was at the lowest point in his life, with hardly anyone sincerely caring for him. No wonder he reacted so strongly when someone tried to assist him. After all, Rong Xu was not the protagonist of the novel. The novel barely mentioned his childhood, just briefly touching on it.

Isolation, loneliness, and constant bullying were summed up in that short description of Rong Xu’s teenage years.

When Chi Han read the novel, he only saw Rong Xu’s decisive and ruthless actions, giving the impression of a cold and noble demeanor. But now, seeing him in person, he realized how much Rong Xu had endured during his teenage years.

The middle-aged man continued his incessant complaining as if Rong Xu had caused him a great deal of trouble.

Rong Xu remained silent, appearing calm to the point of being lifeless, or perhaps, resigned.

Chi Han’s heart trembled. Without a second thought, he rushed over.

“Hello, sir?”

Rong Xingwen paused and looked puzzled as he glanced behind him. A young man in short sleeves with a clear and handsome face was looking at him with restrained anger.

“Who are you?”

The man pushed his glasses up and spoke relatively politely, considering the young man’s attire, which didn’t resemble that of a commoner. Moreover, people dining in a place like this would typically be members of prominent S City families.

Chi Han didn’t answer his question. He had a stern expression and said, “I just came up with Rong Xu. He fell downstairs. Shouldn’t you check on his condition before discussing other matters?”

Rong Xingwen’s throat tightened. Years of living a pampered life left his complexion fair. Being scolded by a teenager like this face-to-face made his face turn red and white in an instant.

“Who are you from? This is our Rong family’s business! You better go to your parents’ place!.”

Rong Xingwen waved his hand and emphasized the words “Rong family.”

He believed that with just those two words, Chi Han would surely apologize to him. After all, anyone raised in S City had heard of the Rong family.

Rong Xingwen slightly lifted his chin, displaying the confidence of being a member of the Rong family.

However, Chi Han’s chin was raised even higher. The Rong family had nothing to do with him, and he only wanted to stand up for Rong Xu. The only person he had ever pitied in that absurd novel.

“Rong family?” Chi Han showed an expression as if he had just learned something new. “So, this is how the Rong family cares for and educates their children. I’ve underestimated it. My apologies, my apologies.”

Rong Xingwen was being directly challenged for the first time in many years, and it was by someone much younger.

He pointed at Pool, his face reddening. “Whose family are you from?! You’re simply… so uncultured!”

The tips of Rong Xu’s fingers, resting on the armrest, trembled slightly. He had heard every word that Pool had said.

Was he standing up for him?

Rong Xu tugged at the corner of his mouth, revealing a sarcastic smile. How long had it been since he had grown accustomed to living in the face of others’ malicious accusations and ridicule? He never expected that someone would speak up for him, especially a stranger he had only met a few minutes ago.

Rong Xu raised his hand to cover his heart, feeling as if something had leaked there, and the skin it touched seemed to be burning and festering.

Rong’s grandfather was waiting inside, and Rong Xingwen didn’t have time to waste. He glared at Chi Han and then forcefully pushed Rong Xu away, leaving quickly.

Chi Han stood there until Rong Xu’s figure disappeared, sighing with a touch of melancholy.

Although he had spoken up for Rong Xu, he felt he hadn’t done enough. Thinking about Rong Xu’s eventual fate and the disgusting face of Fang Jingluo, his chest felt heavy.

If he had truly entered this world because of the comment he left in the comment section, it seemed that fate had a different ending in mind for Rong Xu.

Chi Han took a deep breath. If it was possible, he would definitely change the original ending. He wouldn’t let Rong Xu tread the same old path again.

—

When Rong Xingwen pushed Rong Xu into the private room, the scene inside was lively.

Although Rong’s grandfather was already in his seventies, his hair was still jet black. He sat spiritedly at the head of the table, watching his children and grandchildren toast to him.

“Wishing Grandfather a long life and prosperity, like the pine and crane, eternal spring!”

“I also wish Grandfather a life as vast as the Eastern Sea, with the sun and moon shining brightly!”

“…”

Rong’s grandfather held his teacup, and his smiling face nodded. “Good, good…”

It wasn’t until Rong Xu entered that his smile disappeared.

Seeing the change in Rong’s grandfather’s expression, the others cast hidden looks of schadenfreude¹taking pleasure in other’s misfortune or situation toward Rong Xu and Rong Xingwen.

Two wastrels, and they still have the nerve to attend such an event? Simply clueless!

Rong Xingwen released the wheelchair’s handle and ingratiatingly smiled at the crowd. “Xiao Xu had a little accident downstairs, so he was late. Please forgive him, everyone!”

The younger members of the Rong family present exchanged glances, their eyes filled with excitement and satisfaction after causing mischief, without a hint of shame.

Rong Guanyu, the head of the Rong family, heard this and didn’t even raise an eyebrow. His gaze was filled with the dignity that came with a lifetime of being in power, cold and aloof, as he asked, “Rong Xu, how’s your leg? Can you stand up?”

In the presence of the public, this sentence was like the sharpest blade, stabbing deeply into Rong Xu’s heart.

He clenched the hand he had placed on his leg tightly, trembling with effort.

Rong Guanyu waited a long time for a response, and his brows furrowed with sternness.

Rong Xingwen was skilled in reading the room. Seeing that the patriarch was angry, he cursed Rong Xu for his lack of gratitude in his heart and hurriedly spoke up. “Father, though Rong Xu’s leg is not fully recovered yet, I recently found a doctor from abroad, and I’m sure he can…”

Rong Guanyu impatiently waved his hand, cutting off Rong Xingwen’s explanation. “Then it’s useless.”

He then looked at Rong Xu with some disdain. “If your leg is ruined, fine, but why can’t you even speak properly? You have no spirit, no presence at all. What a disgrace to the Rong family!”

Seeing Rong Guanyu getting angry, Xu Man lowered her eyes, concealing her smile. She pretended to pat his back with an annoyed tone. “Oh, dear, why do you bear grudges against the younger generation, my dear? Today is your seventieth birthday, don’t get angry over such matters. Come on, Ah Wen, Ah Yi, let’s keep your father company and have a drink.”

Xu Man was Rong Guanyu’s second wife, ten years his junior. Rong Xu’s mother was the daughter of Rong Guanyu’s first wife, so naturally, Xu Man disliked Rong Xu in many ways.

Her previous words appeared to be soothing Rong Guanyu’s anger, but in reality, she was telling everyone that Rong Xu didn’t deserve any attention.

The room buzzed with activity again, and Rong Xingwen lifted his glass and joined in.

There was no place for Rong Xu here.

The little warmth that had briefly returned to his heart because of Chi Han hadn’t lasted. He had returned to the depths of hell.

---

• 1
  taking pleasure in other’s misfortune or situation