Chapter 3
Lu Mian’s vision blacked out repeatedly. He fell back onto the soft bedding, burying himself in it, his anxieties finally overwhelming him.
The impact made his head hurt even more, and his eyes teared up.
He hadn’t intended to offend the villain further, hoping they could stay out of each other’s way. However, Wu Xingwen’s words had completely ruined any chance of that.
Even though he hadn’t ordered it, since he occupied the original owner’s body, Lu Lin would undoubtedly blame him.
Lu Mian’s mind was blank.
Having read the original novel, he knew that Lu Lin’s psyche had become twisted due to his mother’s death and his father’s indifference, further warped by the persecution of those around him. His methods were notoriously ruthless and decisive.
If others made his life difficult, he made sure they couldn’t live at all.
Now, Lu Lin must hate him to death!
“Ugh…” A fluffy head emerged from the bedding. Lu Mian crawled out, the corners of his eyes tinged with red, tears welling up from the pain.
Should he go to the ancestral hall and beat Lu Lin up now?
Otherwise, it would be so unfair to be hated by Lu Lin!
At least then the accusations would be justified.
However, Lu Mian assessed his physique and decided he probably couldn’t beat the other.
Moreover, he was a 21st-century model student, a night owl who slept late and woke late, never getting into fights, incapable of breaking the law.
The voices outside gradually subsided, and soon, the sound of a curtsy followed, then the soft clinking of beaded curtains. Light footsteps approached, and a woman’s gentle voice called, “Mian Mian, are you awake?”
Lu Mian met Tao Rouxuan’s tender gaze, his lips parting.
Should he call her ‘Mother’?
He couldn’t get the word out.
It was probably due to his upbringing. Lu Mian couldn’t bring himself to address someone he had only met twice as ‘Mother.’
Tao Rouxuan looked at him intently, a flicker of hope in her eyes. She had also called for a doctor, who said that the blood stasis in her son’s brain couldn’t be dispelled and might affect his memory.
But she still held a sliver of hope.
Mother and son stared at each other. Lu Mian leaned back defensively, the word ‘Mother’ on the tip of his tongue taking a detour. “Lu… Lin.”
Tao Rouxuan, full of expectation, froze. “Mian… Mian, what did you say?”
Lu Mian moved his lips. “Lu Lin.”
Hearing him repeat the name, Tao Rouxuan composed herself. “He has already received his due punishment. Mian Mian… do you still recognize Mother?” Tao Rouxuan had never cared for her current husband’s eldest son from his previous marriage.
In fact, she even looked down on Lu Hongzhi himself.
Tao Rouxuan had overheard the two servants’ conversation before entering, but she hadn’t thought to pursue the matter. Even if it wasn’t Lu Lin’s fault, her son was in this state, and someone had to bear the brunt of her anger.
Lu Lin happened to be the perfect target.
Lu Mian didn’t answer her question, just mechanically repeated, “Lu Lin.”
Tao Rouxuan paused, looking at her son’s dull, vacant expression. Her heart ached, and she called out, “Go and invite the Eldest Young Master here.”
The ancestral hall was dark and damp, filled with dust that crept into one’s lungs. Lu Lin knelt upright on the cold floor, his back straight. The open wounds on his body stuck to the fabric of his clothes, which had been torn by the barbed whip, causing a constant, piercing pain. He lowered his eyes, staring at the flesh beneath the tattered cloth, his fingers twitching at his sides, wanting to peel it open, to tear it apart.
To rip the flesh to shreds.
Images of the imagined carnage filled his mind as Lu Lin raised his hand to his chest.
Just then, hurried footsteps approached from outside the ancestral hall. “Eldest Young Master, please come with me.”
It was Liu Xu, Tao Rouxuan’s chief maid. Her expression was indifferent, neither overly warm nor dismissive. She had once served in the palace before being assigned by the Empress to her sister’s side. She was well-versed in the ways of servants, always holding back.
Even though this Eldest Young Master was unloved by both his parents, he had still managed to gain Master Ji’s favor in such circumstances, suggesting he possessed some exceptional qualities.
She had recently suggested that Madam restrain herself, but since the Young Master disliked the Eldest Young Master so much, Madam naturally found him unpleasant.
Lu Lin lowered his gaze, his dry throat burning like fire. “May I ask, what is the matter?”
The Lu residence was a place where people were devoured without a trace. Any random servant could order him around, so while asking, Lu Lin had already propped himself up, ready to leave with her.
Resistance was the most unwise choice at this time.
Liu Xu gave him a few more glances and replied, “Madam is looking for you.”
She led the way.
Lu Lin followed, out of the ancestral hall, across the covered walkway, around the artificial hills, and arrived at a lavishly decorated courtyard.
This was… Lu Mian’s residence.
Before entering, Liu Xu glanced at the bloodstains on his clothes, thinking of the Young Master’s current condition. “Please change your clothes before going in, Eldest Young Master.”
A short while later, Lu Lin, in clean clothes, entered the room filled with the scent of incense. Exquisite decorations filled the room, the furniture all expensive and high-quality. Ruyao porcelain lined the shelves, and priceless jade pieces on the antique shelves shimmered under the glow of night pearls, illuminating the room as bright as day.
“Madam, Eldest Young Master is here,” Liu Xu announced, lifting the curtain.
Hearing her son repeatedly say ‘Lu Lin,’ Tao Rouxuan wondered if he had remembered something. Even if he hadn’t fully recovered his memory, just uttering the name was a sign of some reaction.
Lu Mian, under her constant watch, was sweating nervously.
It turned out playing dumb wasn’t so easy. All those transmigration novels he had read were lies.
In those novels, the protagonists transmigrated with cheat abilities, foreseeing the future, conquering everything. Lu Mian had enjoyed reading those novels, his eyes and mind learning the ropes, but now in practice… he was completely useless.
As Liu Xu’s voice rang out, and he saw the tall, straight figure, Lu Mian’s eyes suddenly lit up.
Lu Lin!
As soon as he stepped inside, Lu Lin met a pair of bright, sparkling eyes, so clear and luminous that they reminded him of the night pearls he had seen upon entering.
Such beautiful eyes, yet they belonged to a useless fool, Lu Lin scoffed inwardly.
The boy’s clear voice pierced his eardrums.
“Lu Lin!”
Lu Mian’s eyes shone brightly.
He had saved him; he had made the original owner’s mother pull him out of the ancestral hall.
I saved you this time, so you can’t hurt me in the future, Lu Mian thought to himself.
Those dark, moist eyes gazed at him as if they could speak, conveying a thousand words in this moment. Lu Lin’s eyes darkened.
Seeing Lu Mian’s unusually distinct reaction, Tao Rouxuan pondered, her gaze shifting to Lu Lin. “Come here.”
Her voice was slightly cold. Lu Lin obeyed, his eyelashes lowered, concealing his expression.
Lu Mian stared blankly at the approaching Lu Lin, observing him secretly.
So this was what the villain looked like up close.
“Mian Mian, do you recognize him?” Tao Rouxuan turned to Lu Mian, her voice softening.
Lu Mian began to shut down his senses, becoming deaf and blind.
He was a little fool now; he didn’t understand anything.
Lu Lin silently watched the mother and son before him.
As he got closer, the untreated wounds on his body emitted a faint smell of blood, drifting towards the two people on the bed, the metallic scent unpleasant.
Tao Rouxuan frowned slightly. She looked at her son, who had suddenly started playing with his fingers, a pang of pain in her heart. How could this be?
“Mian Mian, look, who is he?” Tao Rouxuan tried to get her son’s attention.
Lu Mian buried his head, picking at his fingers.
He had rescued the guy; the rest was none of his business.
Tao Rouxuan’s frown deepened.
Lu Lin seemed to understand something, but he didn’t say a word, just stood there quietly, like a transparent person.
“Mian Mian?” Tao Rouxuan called again.
Lu Mian resisted the urge to reply. He noticed a small hangnail on his index finger. He poked at it, then retracted his hand, not daring to pull it.
He was afraid that if he did, the skin would tear all the way up his arm.
Lu Mian, with his lightning-fast internet speed, had seen that horrifying picture.
Ever since seeing that picture, he had never pulled a hangnail again.
Lu Mian gave a friendly smile and touched the small hangnail. Let’s coexist peacefully, okay?
Suddenly, a voice interrupted the ‘peaceful coexistence’ between Lu Mian and his hangnail.
The scene before him filled him with a sense of impending doom.
Tao Rouxuan ordered Liu Xu, “Take the Eldest Young Master back to the ancestral hall.”
Lu Mian snapped back to reality.
Liu Xu was already leading Lu Lin out, the latter seemingly unperturbed, like a pitiful creature summoned and dismissed at will.
For a moment, Lu Mian saw his own tragic future.
He took a breath and suddenly shouted, “Lu Lin!”
The boy’s cheeks puffed out, as if he only knew those two words.
Lu Lin stopped at the door. Tao Rouxuan, about to smile, turned to see Lu Mian patting the bedpost. “Lu Lin, hey.”
Lu Lin: “…”
Tao Rouxuan was stunned.
Lu Mian turned his head and smiled sweetly at her, opening his mouth. “Lu Lin, ah—” He perfectly mimicked the look of a student called on in class after zoning out, pretending to be attentive, while his legs trembled under the covers.
Tao Rouxuan’s eyes filled with sorrow, but she quickly recovered. At least he was saying other things now. She flicked her sleeve, and Liu Xu stopped.
A servant’s voice came from outside. “Madam, Master…”
Tao Rouxuan’s expression turned slightly colder. She smoothed her son’s hair. “Mother will be back soon.” She glanced at Liu Xu, then got up and left with the others. The doctor had said her son needed rest.
Soon, only Lu Mian, Lu Lin, and Liu Xu remained in the room. The silence made the rumbling sound particularly noticeable.
“Is Young Master hungry? I’ll have someone bring in the meal.” Before leaving, Liu Xu glanced at Lu Lin, not worried about what he might do. The Eldest Young Master was sensible and wouldn’t do anything to disadvantage himself.
Lu Mian looked at his rumbling stomach, as if he hadn’t heard, and patted it. “Lu Lin is hungry.”
Liu Xu quickly walked out.
Despite the order for rest, Lu Mian’s two servants were in the side room in the courtyard, waiting to be summoned, so she would be back soon.
Once Liu Xu left, only Lu Mian and Lu Lin, who was standing in the middle of the room, remained.
Despite the distance between them, Lu Mian felt the air grow thin.
Was this the legendary aura?
As he was lost in thought, a shadow fell over him. Lu Mian froze and looked up.
Lu Lin had walked to his bedside, looking down at him.
Lu Mian’s breath hitched.
“What are you playing at?” His voice was low and soft, without a hint of threat, yet it sent chills down Lu Mian’s spine. “Are you really stupid?”
Lu Mian felt as if someone was choking him, his face turning red.
No way… Had he really been seen through?
Was the villain that smart?
In the next second, Lu Mian started rambling. “None of your business! I have my own plans!”
“Monks don’t lie! It doesn’t say I can’t hit you!”
“My name is Little Cool, I’ve loved wearing overalls since I was little, from overalls to cool! I’m the coolest in the world!”
“…”
“Honey, open the door! It’s your wife!”
Lu Mian picked at the bedding while sneaking glances at Lu Lin, seeing that the other didn’t say anything, just stared at him quietly.
He whimpered inwardly, preparing to deliver a super-upgrade in kinship, the word ‘Dad’ about to escape his lips.
“The Young Master can’t be stimulated right now, be careful when attending to him.”
Liu Xu returned from outside.
