Chapter 39

In the afternoon, inside the Shen Family Villa.

Before the appointed time arrived, Shen Changqing had already impatiently gone out, eager to see Su Mingyao sooner.

This wasn’t because his love for Su Mingyao had deepened to the point where he tossed and turned restlessly, unable to bear even a moment apart from him.

Rather, it was because he wanted to figure out sooner what Luo Shang planned to do next, so that he could cooperate properly with Luo Shang.

Their current actions had already completely diverged from Su Mingyao’s in his previous life, yet Luo Shang insisted that they must act exactly as they had back then, making Su Mingyao—who knew everything that had happened in the previous life—extremely necessary.

To Shen Changqing, Su Mingyao was his key, the flame of his hope.

More urgent than love was his desire to survive, and Shen Changqing clearly had no intention of dying yet.

In situations where Luo Shang was present, things were manageable; Shen Changqing could hear Luo Shang’s heart voice detailing what he required of them and act accordingly.

But in situations without Luo Shang, Shen Changqing couldn’t imagine at all what he himself should do.

In his previous life, Shen Changqing had seen Su Shang—a version without the Su Family’s backing—as someone he could bully at will; he had no support and was weak and pitiful.

If Su Shang had sought Li Lingran’s backing, Shen Changqing could have jumped out first to accuse Su Shang of abandoning the engagement first and seducing someone else, thereby providing a strong justification for replacing him as the engagement partner.

But in this life, the impression of Luo Shang as powerful and terrifying was deeply etched into Shen Changqing’s mind. When he thought things through, it was hard to place Luo Shang in a position of weakness; subconsciously, he felt that if he dared bully Luo Shang, he would be crushed by him. No matter how he tried, he simply couldn’t recreate the thought process from his previous life.

Luo Shang’s every gesture could decide whether Shen Changqing lived or died. From any angle, the current Luo Shang was equivalent to Shen Changqing’s very life.

When it came to his life, no amount of caution and care was excessive!

So, what exactly did Luo Shang want him to do? Shen Changqing wondered.

If it involved simple tasks, that would be fine—for instance, mocking Luo Shang with a few words; he could do that immediately after hearing Luo Shang’s heart voice.

But for matters requiring preparation, like the paternity test report from before, he had to arrange everything in advance—lining up people and planning the “framing” of Luo Shang.

If he didn’t prepare ahead of time, once Luo Shang’s heart voice rang out, it would be too late to save him!

Back then, if Su Mingyao and Su Bingyao hadn’t stepped in to handle the preliminary preparations, Shen Changqing would definitely have been killed by Luo Shang. On this point alone, Shen Changqing had no doubt whatsoever.

He had to know what had happened in the previous life to replicate those actions; the information from that life was crucial!

At this moment, Su Mingyao’s importance was unparalleled.

Su Mingyao had become Shen Changqing’s sole Child of Destiny, his hope for survival, the miracle cure for the agony of his existence.

Though this medicine treated only the symptoms and not the root cause, as long as it kept Luo Shang from harboring any intent to kill him, it was good medicine!

With these thoughts in mind, Shen Changqing fervently longed for Su Mingyao, waiting for him with the impatience of one whose gaze pierced through the autumn waters.

As the time drew near, he stepped out of his villa and went outside to welcome Su Mingyao.

Su Mingyao arrived right on time. Before he could enter, he spotted Shen Changqing walking over from that direction.

Though Su Mingyao had been very familiar with the Shen Family Villa in his previous life, this was his first visit in this one. He assumed Shen Changqing had come out to greet him with that in mind, so he gave him a smile.

A husband over a dozen years younger was simply more pleasing to the eye than an old one.

“Where is your Big Bro?”

Shen Changqing saw only Su Mingyao by himself.

Su Bingyao was also a key figure; at least for now, Luo Shang seemed to hold some respect for him, while he treated everyone else like ants to trample underfoot.

“He went to park the car and will be over in a bit,” Su Mingyao said. “He told me to come ahead first.”

After all, the Su Family and Shen Family were friendly houses bound by marriage ties—even during the New Year, Su Tiancheng would visit Old Master Shen to pay respects. Naturally, Su Bingyao knew the way to the Shen Family Villa and didn’t need Shen Changqing to guide him.

“Alright, let’s head to the study first,” Shen Changqing said.

The news of Shen Changqing bringing Su Mingyao back to the Shen Family naturally couldn’t be hidden from Old Master Shen.

When Shen Zhulin came downstairs, she saw Shen Changqing bringing Su Mingyao inside. She ignored the greeting Su Mingyao gave her, shot him a fierce glare, then huffed angrily, turned around, and stormed back upstairs to complain to Grandpa.

Shen Changqing felt a bit awkward. “Sorry, Little Bamboo can be a little willful.”

“No problem,” Su Mingyao said warmly, nostalgia flickering in his eyes.

“I didn’t expect to see her like this again. She really has so much vitality.”

Shen Changqing fell silent.

These words made Su Mingyao sound like he was a whole generation older than him.

Then again, the man had been reborn; Shen Changqing tried his best to convince himself there was nothing strange about it.

“Are we going to visit Grandpa now?” Su Mingyao asked.

“No need,” Shen Changqing replied. “He doesn’t want to see you right now anyway. And did any of this happen in our last life?”

“No.” Su Mingyao shook his head.

“In our last life, I wasn’t even invited to your house.”

There hadn’t been anything as shocking as Su Shang suddenly turning into Luo Shang back then. After the Recognition Banquet ended, they’d only met once, and it wasn’t until later that they grew familiar with each other.

“To be precise, you and your brother were the ones invited to my house,” Shen Changqing corrected him.

“Either way, the fewer people who know, the better…” This could set off a whole chain reaction.

Those who could hear Luo Shang’s Heart Voice—like them—could force themselves to play along. But other people’s reactions were a wild card. If someone else acted out of line and got him killed by Luo Shang as a result, he’d be totally innocent!

Seeing Shen Zhulin’s reaction earlier had already left Shen Changqing regretting his choice. Why hadn’t he suggested they talk in a private business lounge instead of right here at home?

Su Mingyao nodded obediently and picked up his pace.

He didn’t need Shen Changqing to show him the way—he knew exactly where the study was.

Shen Changqing couldn’t help feeling a little uneasy at how at home Su Mingyao seemed.

Both the study and Shen Changqing’s bedroom were on the third floor. But as they reached the second-floor landing, Su Mingyao came to a sudden halt.

“What’s wrong?” Shen Changqing asked, climbing the steps right behind him. Then he froze.

Old Master Shen was standing at the top of the second-floor stairs, gazing down at them with a blank expression.

They were already this entangled? And it was only the second day!

Old Master Shen’s face might have looked impassive, but inwardly, he was stunned—and more than a little exasperated with his grandson.

How did I raise you to turn out like this? Su Shang is still your fiancé. The engagement hasn’t even been called off, and here you are, bringing the guy’s brother straight into our home!

Su Mingyao flashed a smile. “Hello, Grandpa Shen.”

Old Master Shen ignored him completely, fixing his gaze on Shen Changqing instead. His stance said it all.

Shen Changqing hurried to explain. “Su Bingyao’s on his way over too.”

Old Master Shen exploded in fury. “What? You’re bringing both of them here at the same time?”

Shen Changqing: ??

Grandpa, what exactly are you misunderstanding?

~~~

His phone rang again.

Luo Shang was tempted to just block Li Lingran outright. He’d made his refusal crystal clear, but the guy wouldn’t let up, showering him with concern. At this point, it was straight-up harassment.

He hadn’t even tried seducing Li Lingran the way the Plot dictated, and yet here the man was, already head over heels! Good friends weren’t enough for him anymore!

Li Lingran sent another message.

“Your figure appeared in my dreams last night…”

Of course it did—I hired a sorcerer to scare you so bad you wet the bed, then turned the whole nightmare into your dream! Luo Shang grumbled to himself.

“Every time I think of you, my heart races. My emotions surge, my hands and feet tremble. I’d never want to offend you. I only want you to be happy.”

No kidding. I almost scared you to death back then. Your heart was pounding from sheer terror of me, and you’re desperate not to offend me for the same reason—fear. Not because you’re falling harder in love!

Luo Shang was at a loss for words.

Did this somehow count as fulfilling the “seduction” requirement?

After all, he’d managed to make the guy’s heart race, stir his emotions into a frenzy, and leave him eager to please—just like in the original Plot.

He never imagined that wiping Li Lingran’s memory would lead him to mistake raw fear for budding love. Maybe the guy had a crush on him already… and this scare had convinced him his feelings had deepened. Luo Shang mused over it.

Talk about a mess. He truly hadn’t meant to seduce the man this time.

Even the original Plot hadn’t played out this boldly!

With Shen Changqing always around, Su Shang had kept things subtle in their last life—choosing his words and actions with care. He’d strung Li Lingran along with lines like “We’re good friends,” “You’re my best friend,” and “You’re the only friend I have. Everyone else looks down on me.” Any time Li Lingran tried to confess, those “friend” remarks shut him down.

In the end, though, all that deception came back to bite Su Shang. When the Li Family went bankrupt, Li Lingran finally saw through it—he’d been played for a fool.

By then, Su Shang was still just a “friend,” not a boyfriend. Li Lingran walked away.

Su Shang’s end in that life had been a grim one.

He’d died alone and forgotten. No one even knew about it. Su Mingyao and Shen Changqing had been honeymooning on some island at the time. The Su Family had been toasting their alliance with the Shen Family. Even Su Shang’s old cronies had sent their blessings to the happy couple.

The once wild and reckless young heir had faded into a forgotten speck on the street corner. Someone found his body, carted it off for cremation, and scattered the ashes gods-knew-where.

It wasn’t until several months later, when Su Mingyao casually asked about it in passing, that Shen Changqing dug up the notice of his death. He placed it on the table for all to mock, drawing sighs from passersby who caught sight of it.

How had that once arrogant and unrestrained young master fallen so low?

If only he had kept quiet and stayed out of trouble, if only he hadn’t schemed against Su Mingyao—then none of this would have happened. He could have continued living as the young master of the Su Family. Even without his shares or his promising young fiancé, at least he would still be alive, wouldn’t he?

To end up exiled from the Su Family and dying alone on the street—it was all his own damn fault!

~~~

If Luo Shang hadn’t agreed to enter the Reincarnation Space back then, that would have been his fate: condemned by everyone, branded as the vicious male side character and reviled for it. Every struggle would have been like a slow-acting poison, culminating in a miserable death in some forgotten alleyway.

But there were no “ifs” in reality.

Luo Shang had returned alive from the Reincarnation Space.

There, he had found a partner who would never abandon him, who offered unconditional support and affirmation. He had gained teammates he could trust with his life, friends who shared his interests and ambitions. Legends of Luo Shang now echoed across the Myriad Worlds, and countless Planes sang praises of his power.

All the rage, fear, and overlooked grievances from the original plot—the helplessness of enduring it all in silence—had now been shifted onto others.

Back then, he had tiptoed around people’s feelings, fawning and flattering them, only to be dismissed as a green-tea schemer, too calculating and manipulative compared to Su Mingyao’s pure and straightforward nature.

Now, it was others who had to read his moods, cater to his whims, and pray for his every success. They wished they could handle everything for him.

What exquisite irony.