Chapter 8: I Beg You Two Lovebirds, Please Act Normal

A late-night scene he had witnessed many years ago had left a shadow of smoke and fire burned into the young man’s heart.

Even now, after being officially found by the Gu family and becoming the legitimate heir, Gu Jiu’an still did not dare provoke that man.

Among the so-called wealthy families of Jing City, who could afford to provoke Yu Wangxiao?

The fact that they could maintain their surface glamour was all thanks to the Yu Group showing mercy. They had to thank the Yu Group’s powerful technical department for focusing on innovation and development, and for never maliciously monopolizing the lifelines of old enterprises.

Because this absolute person in power had a bit more conscience than the previous Old Master Yu, as well as a measure of restraint that could almost be called gentleness… His reputation was truly very good.

So good that it was terrifying.

Gu Jiu’an held his breath and stood outside the door, waiting until Lin Jiangye hung up the video call before slowly exhaling a breath of cold air.

As for the undercurrents surging between the two of them, Lin Jiangye noticed almost nothing. He only saw that Gu Jiu’an’s expression looked strange, as if a layer of dark, heavy, thin ice were floating over his face.

He quickly retreated to the other side of the balcony and whispered, “Sorry, Student Gu. I’m blocking you from drying your clothes.”

“The dryer is on your right. Never used it before? Move.”

“Hm?” Lin Jiangye immediately changed positions, tilted his head, and stared at the round white machine. Then he smiled in realization. “Sorry, I don’t recognize it.”

Dumb and slow. Who knew how he had grown up like this? Gu Jiu’an pursed his lips unhappily, truly finding it somewhat hard to understand.

They were supposed to be the same kind.

Both were wild children who had wandered outside. Both had returned to a paradise of extreme luxury and indulgence. Both had suffered endless torment.

Yet he was still struggling on the edge of losing control. On what basis could Lin Jiangye live so… happily and sluggishly?

Being raised in a golden cage of “love” like this—was Lin Jiangye willing, or had he been deceived and coaxed by people with ulterior motives?

Lin Jiangye’s attention was no longer on him. With the corners of his lips curved, he flipped through his phone, his smile bright because of the message Yu Wangxiao had sent. His black eyes, reflected beneath the evening moon, were exceptionally beautiful. His crow-black lashes trembled lightly, rippling with a shimmering pale glow.

Gu Jiu’an’s breath hitched. His movements of putting clothes into the dryer gradually slowed. The fabric covered in water droplets stuck to his fingertips, dragging out a cool, damp sensation.

Compared to that pale, bloodless face from the afternoon, Lin Jiangye looked inexplicably much better tonight, as if he had been born more suited to appear in a beautiful and quiet deep night.

Like an exquisite piece of glasswork fired from colored glaze, granted fresh and lively vitality by a merciful moon god. A blush slowly seeped out from the snow-white, delicate texture at the corners of his eyes, almost gorgeous.

An indisputable beautiful sight.

But this beautiful sight should have appeared in the final chapter of a grand power-seizing drama. It should not be here and now… It should not be caused merely by that man casually moving his fingers and easily sending over one message.

Yu Wangxiao was also not someone Lin Jiangye could afford to provoke. To change from his once arrogant, domineering, gloomy, and violent self into his current calm and gentle appearance—could that be done by shallow disguise alone? Impossible.

Gu Jiu’an did not dare imagine how deep his schemes were now, nor what good show he was carelessly planning, and whether he had also included Gu Jiu’an and the Gu family in it.

“You’d better break things off with that person sooner. Don’t get yourself killed in his hands.

“The Lin family will never help you. Aside from us classmates, who would willingly collect your corpse?”

The fear and anxiety rising in his heart burned like sparks spreading across dry grass. Gu Jiu’an intended to persuade him, but the words sounded extremely sharp and unpleasant the moment they left his mouth.

Lin Jiangye froze for a moment, but he did not take Gu Jiu’an’s fierce attitude to heart.

He lowered his eyes and thought for a while, then answered seriously, “Student Gu, what you said makes a lot of sense. But if I’m not with him, Yu Lin will bully me without restraint. I’ll get hurt.”

“…I’ll protect you.”

After Gu Jiu’an said it, even he himself froze for a moment. Meeting those stunned black eyes, he gritted his teeth and continued, “I know your situation. I also can’t stand Yu Lin’s behavior. With me standing in his way, he won’t be able to touch you.”

It was an extremely moving, redemption-style statement.

Unfortunately, Lin Jiangye was not human.

Even Gu Jiu’an many years later, when he held great power in his hands, would lose to Yu Lin in the later part of the plot… let alone now, when he was only a green university student who had just stepped into the struggle for power.

Unable to protect himself, yet still taking the initiative to reach out to someone weaker—this was an extremely irrational way to act.

So Lin Jiangye decisively shook his head, his gaze solemn and puzzled. “Student Gu, before you obtain the shares under your grandmother’s name, you have no right to make promises to anyone. Why must you care about my matters?”

Gu Jiu’an’s face abruptly turned pale. For a long while, he made no sound. Perhaps he could not believe that the beautiful young man before him, who seemed weak and easy to bully, would suddenly say something so impolite.

But Gu Jiu’an himself spoke even more impolitely, so he had no grounds to accuse anyone else.

“I just don’t want to watch an innocent person fall into the abyss and walk down a path they shouldn’t… If you don’t need it, then forget it.”

His tone softened, revealing a hint of suppressed helplessness.

After Gu Jiu’an showed weakness, the “kindness” he revealed finally became an emotion Lin Jiangye could understand.

Although the soul of this world’s protagonist shou had already been replaced, the deeply devoted second male lead was still walking straight toward the main plot without deviation, wholeheartedly wanting to save him from fire and water.

This was not a good thing. It needed to be changed in time.

“Thank you for thinking of me,” Lin Jiangye tilted his head and thought to himself, then lowered his voice. “Tomorrow, don’t give your grandmother rubies. She was kidnapped when she was young, and she really hates red things.”

Gu Jiu’an froze again. “…How do you know Grandma doesn’t like them?”

“My boyfriend is Yu Wangxiao. He knows.” Lin Jiangye blinked.

“Heh. Right.”

A statement that should have been questioned and interrogated was smoothly rationalized just like that.

Fortunately, Yu Wangxiao was still alive and could serve as the most authoritative spoiler shield at any time. He would even take the initiative to share the dessert styles at the birthday banquet with him and remind him to make an eating plan in advance…

With the addition of a lazy black cat sleeping emoji, there was no longer even the slightest trace of a near-death smell.

This man’s soul was fresh and lively enough. His personality and spontaneous actions would not be affected by the plot either. How nice.

Without continuing to chat idly with Student Gu, Lin Jiangye returned indoors in a pleasant mood, washed up, and rested.

The hunger that kept surging before he fell asleep was deliberately ignored by him, but it spread all the way into his dreams.

He dreamed of his former self, beginning to eat after finishing work, seriously enjoying a fresh soul that had not long been extracted.

The outer layer was an icy, slippery membrane. Its taste was very much like the first snow, wrapped in fine, dense frost, and it needed to be broken down with special knives and forks.

When he gently bit through it, thick, slightly bitter fluid flowed down. The astringency lingering on the tip of his tongue gradually faded, transforming into a full and fragrant sweetness.

Now that he had tasted human food, Lin Jiangye could finally describe that delicate texture more specifically.

…Like dark chocolate that would never solidify, mixed with blood plasma, layer by layer occupying the senses of his taste buds. Compared to the aura of death, the bitterness was stronger.

What a delicious memory. He really wanted to eat it again.

Unfortunately, during his internship, work had been busy, and the souls he had tasted were too numerous and varied… Lin Jiangye could no longer remember what kind of person that had been, nor why they had suddenly entered his dream for no reason.

It seemed to have been a cold deep night, with the pungent smell of smoke and fire, as well as scalding blood.

***

The next day, Lin Jiangye woke up amid an intense feeling of hunger.

The desk beneath his bed had been wiped clean, and breakfast personally brought by Uncle Chen was placed on it.

When he opened the insulated lunchbox, the soft, thoroughly cooked meat porridge released a rich fragrance, rising continuously with the hot steam.

Li Liang, who was still in the dorm, was so tempted that he could not stand it. Holding a bowl, he came over eagerly and begged for a few spoonfuls.

He pulled over a chair, sat beside Lin Jiangye carelessly, and said while eating with a grin, “Young Master Lin, did you hear? Old Meng from quality development had diarrhea this morning. The sound of his fart instantly echoed through the infirmary. Hiss—so hot…

“Mmph, it’s fine, it’s fine. Let me tell you, don’t even think about having PE this week. His sphincter basically exploded. People passing by thought dry thunder was rumbling in the sky. I’m dying of laughter!”

Lin Jiangye leisurely listened to Li Liang chatter. His gaze quietly swept over the three coins on the desk, and the corners of his lips also curved slightly.

He really could perform divination.

This was not some miraculous power. Rather, his way of seeing the world was different from humans.

By tearing through the floating light and shadow on the surface and deeply observing the constantly changing bones and veins of this world, he could infer the direction of an independent lifeform’s fate.

Trainee death gods did not have abundant resources. If they wanted to enjoy fresh souls first, they had to learn some strange and unorthodox tricks themselves.

Without relying on innate companion talents, independently predicting the direction of short-term events was also one of Lin Jiangye’s required professional courses.

Of course, fate could change at any time. Relying too much on one’s inherent understanding did not seem like a good thing in the long run.

Otherwise… he would not have become the current Lin Jiangye, weak and helplessly blowing on the hot porridge in his spoon, afraid of scalding his throat.

During this period when his body was still weak, it could barely be used to deal with crisis situations.

Lin Jiangye glanced at the steaming-hot custard bun and calmly shared it with Li Liang. Then, while Li Liang was distracted blowing on it, he discreetly tossed the coins again.

—There would be a water calamity tonight.

A water calamity? Would there be an accident at the Gu family banquet?

Before he could think further, an icy, damp, and gloomy chill climbed up along his fingertips, almost instantly strangling his throat.

Without hesitation, he threw the coins away, immediately snatched the custard bun back from Li Liang’s hand, and swallowed it whole with an expressionless face.

“Holy shit?! Bro, what are you doing, swallowing gold to commit suicide?” Li Liang was startled badly and hurriedly searched for a cup of water. “Don’t burn yourself to death! Hurry and drink something cold!”

The indescribable coldness gradually dispersed as a living person drew near, and his stiff limbs finally returned to normal.

Lin Jiangye breathed a sigh of relief and slowly curved his lips. “Thank you. To me, it isn’t very hot.”

His voice was slightly hoarse. His unhurried attitude made Li Liang somewhat relax, though lingering fear remained.

Li Liang cleared his throat. “…Brother Gold-Swallower, you’re not allowed to get hurt in the dorm, okay? I’m afraid your partner will get angry and blow up my family’s entire lumber factory.”

“Hm? He wouldn’t, right? Wangxiao has a very good temper.” Lin Jiangye tilted his head, blinking in confusion.

He truly thought Yu Wangxiao had a very good temper.

Li Liang cleared his throat again, laughed dryly twice, and his gaze quietly became serious. “It’s normal for you to think that. Most people don’t know this, but my family’s former business rival used to do really dirty things. They did a lot of malicious competition. One time, they accidentally affected your man and injured the child of one of his subordinates. That was a huge problem.

“Not long after, their whole family somehow died in a lumber factory fire. It was ruled a safety accident, but what happened privately is hard to say. Anyway, I don’t even dare mention it. In public, I’ve always pretended not to recognize the Yu name.

“Your partner is much more reliable than that rabid dog Yu Lin, but he’s the chairman of the Yu Group, dating a university student. Think about it. What could he possibly be after? I come from a small household, so I don’t know how rich families play, but you look kind of dazed too… Be careful while dating him. Don’t get sold and still help count the money.”

These words could be considered heartfelt, and also barely counted as a kind of self-protection. After all, if Lin Jiangye truly angered Yu Wangxiao, the people around him would probably all suffer misfortune.

No matter how carefree Li Liang was, he still carried anxiety when it came to matters of life and property.

Lin Jiangye thought about it, stroking the locator button on his coat sleeve, and roughly understood what Li Liang meant.

Yu Wangxiao absolutely could not be a just and flawless kind entrepreneur.

However, he still needed to try to recover the reputation of his contract partner, so he answered seriously, “Thank you. I’ll be careful. But the fire probably wasn’t ordered by Wangxiao. Think about it—he didn’t even burn Yu Lin to death.”

“…That seems to make sense too.” Li Liang froze. “Speaking of which, you and that lunatic are in the same department. Will he bully you if you run into him in major classes? Why don’t I go with you? I was planning to skip class this afternoon anyway.”

“He broke his leg, so he probably won’t come.”

“Right, right. What goes around comes around. Scumbags deserve broken legs!”

…

In the end, Li Liang did not go to class with him. Jin Long dragged him to the neighboring dorm to play a promotion match.

Lin Jiangye went to the large lecture hall alone. As expected, he did not see Yu Lin.

But Yu Lin’s two fair-weather friends did come. They were both quite good-looking, as if they had a few more clarity filters than the passersby of this world.

They lazily sat in the last row of the classroom, their gazes subtly following Lin Jiangye’s footsteps, staring at him the whole way over.

Their meaningful scrutiny was too obvious. Lin Jiangye thought about it, then simply took the initiative to go over and ask what exactly they wanted.

But before he could speak, the black-haired young man named Li Yushen took the initiative to wave at him, his expression indescribable. “Hey, little sheep, what did you do to Lin-ge? I beg you two lovebirds, please act normal and spare public property.”

“Sorry, we’ve already broken up.” Lin Jiangye paused where he stood, raised his eyes, and tried hard to distinguish his identity. Then he cautiously asked, “Did he do something impulsive again?”

“Do you even need to ask? Just consider me begging you, okay? Stop making trouble. Lin-ge actually cares about you a lot. He’s had that dog temper since he was little. Anything he likes or cares about, he can’t keep…”

Li Yushen complained halfway before suddenly realizing this was not the place to talk. He hurriedly pulled the topic back. “Sigh, you really should manage him in the future. It’s fine if he smashes up my family’s hospital room, but he can’t beat up my biological father too, right?! Because of him, my credit card got frozen this month.”

“Don’t even mention it. I’m the same.” The pink-haired young man beside him, who wore a lip piercing, nodded heavily, almost so angry that he was grinding his teeth. “I heard that little uncle of his spoke up. My dad was scared half to death. When he got home, he warned me over and over again not to lead Lin-ge astray…

“Huh?! Holy shit, who exactly is leading who astray? I used to be a genius with straight A’s in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, but every day, he dragged me out to race cars!”

Lin Jiangye: …

He had been completely ignored, with absolutely no presence.

The free time before class turned into a complaint session between the two brothers.

More and more classmates in the classroom secretly looked toward them, silently typing on their phones and exchanging gossip.

It seemed that the rumor of the young master of the Yu family being hurt by love would soon spread throughout the anonymous gossip board.

Li Yushen’s identity was already clear. He would probably be active in the middle and later parts of the plot as the “domineering CEO’s” doctor friend. As for the fashionably styled pink-haired young man, Lin Jiangye had no impression of him at all.

However, judging by their attitude toward Yu Lin, they were clearly relatively rational normal humans. They only endured hanging around with Yu Lin because their family businesses were restricted, and because of the friendship of having grown up together since they were bare-bottomed children.

It was good that there were normal humans… If he was ever pestered by Yu Lin again in the future, it should be fairly convenient to find someone to help him run away.

While Lin Jiangye planned for the future, he found a seat in the corner and sat down. He opened his brand-new laptop to prepare for class, only to see a scarlet light flash across the top of the screen.

The color was not quite right.

Was the camera on? No, that was not it. He had not set up facial recognition at all.

“Wangxiao?”

Lin Jiangye tilted his head tentatively and said in a low voice, “You can look at me if you want, but this is a university classroom. You can’t privately record audio.”

The bright red circular hole stood unmoving, yet it was like some strange, living gaze, firmly fixed on him. Compared to malice, it was more like fearless, blatant peeping.

Seeing that the professor had already stepped onto the podium, Lin Jiangye became a little anxious.

“…Don’t ignore me. Hurry and turn off the recording function.” He lightly pressed his lips together, his beautiful brows and eyes furrowing as he continued urging, “Otherwise, I’ll tell the whole world that your childhood nickname is Tangyuan.”

A threat with no attacking power whatsoever.

But against specific people, it had a different kind of effect.

[Yu Wangxiao: Received. White flag.jpg]