Chapter 4: Dark-Skinned Rugged Honest Man 4

The first night in the villa passed peacefully enough. After changing into pajamas, Jiang Rang was dismissed, and the bell on the bedside table never rang again.

Even so, Jiang Rang startled awake several times that night. He wasn’t a light sleeper by nature—in fact, he had always enjoyed excellent sleep quality.

Back in the village, even the deafening roar of the generator by the fields at night had never woken him.

Perhaps it was the weight on his mind, or maybe he was simply worried that Mr. Qi might have some late-night instructions. Either way, Jiang Rang didn’t dare let himself sleep too soundly.

The beta lay on the plush bed, lost in thought, his right thumb unconsciously rubbing the Cinnabar Red Rope on his left wrist. On closer inspection, the red rope was intricately woven, though it had worn to a shabby black from prolonged use. Only the red cinnabar bead remained as vibrant as ever.

His thoughts drifting, Jiang Rang suddenly recalled the person who had given him the Cinnabar Red Rope—his fiancé, Hang Liu.

Jiang Rang had arrived in this world exactly one year ago. He had paid special attention to the details: this Small World had never originally contained anyone like him, so there was no such thing as an “original host.” The body the System had given him was simply an upgraded version of his real-life physique.

At first, the young man had struggled to adjust to this world. Even though the System had amplified the personality traits required by its setup, the habits he’d formed over years of real-world living were hard to shake.

Jiang Rang simply couldn’t get used to the lack of air conditioning, the constant hunger, the grueling farm labor, and the mosquito swarms as thick as smog in the fields.

At that time, Hang Liu—who was still Jiang Rang’s neighbor—had taken special care of the young man.

Hang Liu was a gentle-souled, sickly, and kindhearted beta youth.

The Hang family got by decently in the village. Even though Hang Liu’s health was fragile, his mother, Mother Hang, was a capable woman who handled fieldwork with remarkable efficiency.

Back then, Jiang Rang had been a total wimp, terrified of bugs whenever he worked. Since the Jiang family had only Jiang Rang as its sole laborer, Mother Hang often lent a hand.

In Jiang Rang’s heart, Hang Liu had become the very embodiment of kindness and goodness. Countless days, it was Hang Liu who had kept him company through his lows and periods of self-doubt.

The delicate beta had delicate, refined features, his lips often pale. Right on schedule, he’d show up with a basket containing tea, snacks, and a sweat towel, braving the scorching summer sun to glide to Jiang Rang’s side like a cool breeze. With smiling eyes, he’d watch the young man wolf down his food, all while gently wiping away his sweat.

From tending to Jiang Rang’s sick father at home to handling laundry and other unseen chores, nothing had been too much for Hang Liu.

The Cinnabar Red Rope was something the young man had specially sought from a nearby temple, said to bring great protection and good fortune. He had insisted that Jiang Rang wear it close to his skin at all times, never to remove it.

That all changed half a year ago, when Hang Liu’s mother died suddenly from a cerebral hemorrhage. The Hang family was left with just Hang Liu alone.

With his frail health, Hang Liu couldn’t handle heavy labor. The moment his mother passed, a swarm of bloodsucking relatives descended, drawn by the scent of vulnerability. Not only did they covet the Hang family’s land, but they even schemed to marry him off to some old man for a bride price, determined to squeeze every last drop from the poor beta.

Jiang Rang still remembered that dusk vividly: the delicate, helpless beta youth clinging to his waist in tears, sobbing over and over, “A-Rang, A-Rang, what am I going to do? They’re trying to drive me to my death…”

His eyes were red-rimmed, brimming with desperation and hatred.

Jiang Rang’s mind had gone blank with shock. He had wanted to rush off with the young man to call the police right then and there. But the tearful beta had explained, eyes blurred with tears, that since it involved family ties, the police wouldn’t intervene much if those relatives just kept making a fuss.

In that moment, the beautiful beta seemed to steel himself with some resolve. Tilting his tear-streaked face up to Jiang Rang, he asked, “A-Rang, will you marry me?”

Jiang Rang had been stunned. In his real life, he’d never dated anyone. Sure, thanks to the Alluring Halo, he never lacked admirers, but deep down, he knew he was just an utterly ordinary person.

His work skills were average, his social abilities middling, and most of the time, when faced with problems, his instinct was simply to avoid them.

Without the halo’s influence, what was there about him worth anyone’s affection?

Jiang Rang’s daze was mistaken by Hang Liu for hesitation. The beautiful beta spoke softly to him: “A-Rang, you’re not some fallback choice for me. I like you—I’ve always liked you. I want to be your wife.”

Under the watery moonlight, the pure and wonderful youth leaned in like a moth to the flame and kissed Jiang Rang’s lips.

It was Jiang Rang’s first kiss.

He could feel his heart pounding and his cheeks burning red. Amid the haste and confusion, he couldn’t quite sort out his feelings, but one thing was crystal clear: he didn’t dislike Hang Liu. In fact, he liked him.

If Hang Liu needed him, then he was willing.

Naturally, the two became an engaged couple.

Jiang Rang rested his head on his crossed arms, mentally planning that in a couple of days, once everything had fully stabilized, he would write a letter to Hang Liu to put the family at ease.

Today, Jiang Rang had specifically asked the butler about wages. The Li Family’s monthly pay was quite generous. He planned to send most of it to his dad for medical treatment, hand the other half to Hang Liu, and keep just a few hundred for himself.

After all, room and board were fully covered here, and he neither smoked nor gambled. His daily expenses wouldn’t amount to much.

Life would only get better and brighter. Once his dad recovered, he would bring Hang Liu and his dad to the big city.

Clutching these hopeful thoughts, the young man drifted hazily into sleep.

~~~

Jiang Rang was jolted awake by a sharp, urgent bell. The freshly awakened beta was still somewhat dazed, but the early morning sunlight streaming directly through the window made him jerk halfway upright with a start.

His long years in the countryside had ingrained the habit of rising before dawn to work the fields. By now, the sun was already up, and the youth instinctively regretted sleeping in. The fields needed transplanting for the next rice crop—the sun too high would affect the seedlings’ survival rates. And there was Hang Liu’s medicinal tonic for his health; he’d have to hitch a ride from the village head’s family to pick it up in town…

As these anxious, muddled thoughts swirled in Jiang Rang’s mind, a cold, calm male voice suddenly emanated from the bedside bell.

“Woken up? From now on, come tidy the room at this hour. Just push the door open.”

Only then did the beta fully snap awake. He looked around in sudden realization. The clean, tidy room was filled with the daily necessities he had brought from home, his snakeskin bag stuffed under the bed.

Since he hadn’t drawn the curtains the night before, abundant sunlight poured into this small bedroom brimming with the essence of everyday life.

He was no longer in Jiangjia Village.

Jiang Rang hurriedly acknowledged the order. No further sound came from the transmitter. Anxious, the youth quickened his dressing.

From the simple mindset of a rural folk, a worker ought to rise early and stand ready, not laze in bed until roused by the master.

Jiang Rang moved swiftly. In mere moments, he was dressed and standing before the master bedroom door.

He pushed it open. Faint sounds drifted from the bathroom—Qi Yu must be washing up.

Jiang Rang’s movements instinctively grew lighter. The tall, sturdy youth was nimble with his hands and feet. Back home, though Hang Liu helped with tidying, he didn’t like calling on him constantly for such things, so he had grown proficient at handling them himself.

Out of ingrained habit, Jiang Rang found the room oppressively dim and somber, so he subconsciously drew open the curtains on both sides.

Morning in Juecheng brimmed with fresh air. The villa district’s landscaping was impeccable, and birdsong mingled with the scent of summer leaves, drifting into the room like a gentle mist.

The bright sunlight rendered the interior even clearer—and thus, the beta clearly spotted the familiar black silk sleepwear discarded in the trash bin.

The master had tossed it in carelessly, without a second thought, leaving half of it draped over the edge of the wooden bin.

Jiang Rang’s first reaction was a pang of heartache. He knew how fine the fabric was, how costly it must have been. The master had scarcely worn it twice before throwing it away.

The scene that greeted Qi Yu as he emerged from the bathroom was this: the burly beta staring presumptuously at the garment in the trash, as if harboring some vile, disgusting notion.

The omega’s pallid cheeks, nearly ashen, seemed utterly devoid of vitality. A chill of deathly cold crept into his gaze toward the beta.

Qi Yu walked without a sound, his slender, lanky figure silently approaching the beta from behind. His voice was stiff as stagnant water as he softly asked, “What are you looking at?”

Jiang Rang responded on instinct. “That clothing looks expensive. Why throw it away so casually?”

The youth’s expression was utterly earnest, brimming with genuine puzzlement.

For a fleeting instant, the man’s face took on a strange cast. He gradually composed himself, his voice turning indifferent. “Things without value should naturally be discarded.”

Only then did Jiang Rang realize who was speaking. He hastily lowered his head, not daring to say another word.

The youth could feel the other’s gaze scrutinizing him oppressively. After a long pause, the man’s voice drifted lightly: “Draw the curtains. Don’t do anything unnecessary.”

With the master of the house issuing the order, Jiang Rang naturally dared not disobey.

Qi Yu’s breakfast was as lavish as ever, but in corresponding fashion, the villa’s master left after barely two bites.

Only when the car had completely pulled away from the villa did Jiang Rang slowly exhale.

For some reason, in the presence of this widowed male master, he always felt a twinge of trepidation.

The servants’ breakfast came after the master had departed. Jiang Rang still devoured two heaping bowls.

After finishing breakfast, the butler handed him a new servant’s uniform.

Jiang Rang let out a sigh of relief. Heaven only knew how much this outfit restricted his movements. To avoid embarrassing himself again, he didn’t dare make any large gestures.

The beta snatched up the clothes and hurried back to his room to change, brimming with excitement. But once he had them on, he couldn’t shake the feeling—whether it was just his imagination or not—that this new set wasn’t all that different from the last one.

If he had to pinpoint any change, it was that the ties on the black apron seemed shorter. To get it fastened properly, Jiang Rang had no choice but to cinch it tighter around his waist.

The result was striking. His tall, athletic frame—broad shoulders tapering to a powerful back—was thrown into even sharper relief, radiating a taut energy like a coiled spring ready to unleash.

Even the sidelong glances from those around him multiplied.

But the straightforward beta never suspected a thing. He just assumed this was how people dressed in the big city, and that he was the one who was still too much of a country bumpkin to adjust.