I Rely on the Collapse of the Character Setting to Survive in the Hands of the Male Lead Chapter 152

Chapter 152

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When the commotion outside subsided, Chu Lishu, who was lying on the couch, slowly opened his eyes and curled up the corners of his mouth.

Liu Jingchen knew that he wasn’t the real Chu Lishu. Despite their close cooperation, Liu Jingchen valued family more, so his scrutinizing gaze today was destined to make him concerned about certain matters.

As long as Liu Jingchen, the head of the Liu family, remained silent, others wouldn’t say much.

“Is it still… painful?” Lin Qingyang’s voice inquired with a slight tension, “If it’s too gentle, it won’t be effective.”

Chu Lishu then relaxed and said, “Hmm, it’s fine now, very comfortable.”

Lin Qingyang quickly refocused his thoughts, paying full attention. Originally, after the two of them had a drink and were about to rest, Chu Lishu suddenly claimed that he had twisted his shoulder earlier and needed a medicinal massage. However, the old man from the pharmacy who usually assisted him was drunk tonight, so he wanted to ask for Lin Qingyang’s help.

Lin Qingyang naturally didn’t refuse such assistance. He led Chu Lishu back to his room, had him lie on the couch, and took out the ointment for treating injuries, preparing to give him a massage.

As a result, when he turned around, Lin Qingyang saw Chu Lishu lying on the cushions, his collar open, black hair gathered on one side, revealing his slender neck and fair shoulders. There was a beautiful and smooth curve between his shoulder and neck, creating a naturally graceful beauty. This sight made Lin Qingyang take a sharp breath.

Since the awkward incident in the hot spring last time, it had been a long time since he had seen Chu Lishu in such an improper manner. He thought he had already returned to normal, but seeing this scene now still made him a bit hesitant to look directly.

Lin Qingyang forced himself to stay calm, applied the ointment to his hands, and, under Chu Lishu’s guidance, massaged the injured area on his shoulder and neck.

Pressing and massaging, Lin Qingyang became so absorbed in it that he started worrying and asked him how he got injured. Suddenly, Chu Lishu made a muffled groan, causing Lin Qingyang to freeze for a moment.

Feeling his heart racing, Lin Qingyang quickly finished the massage.

“All done. If it still hurts tomorrow, find the old man for treatment,” Lin Qingyang said.

Chu Lishu casually pulled up his collar, and stretched his body like a lazy cat, exuding a sense of ease. He continued to lie down, raised his head, and asked, “Cousin, I’m tired. I don’t want to leave. Can I sleep here with you tonight?”

Lin Qingyang’s hand, which was organizing medicine bottles, trembled, and there was a series of clattering sounds as several bottles fell over.

“Ah?”

“Is it not allowed? We have slept together before,” asked Chu Lishu.

Lin Qingyang finally couldn’t help it and jokingly said, “Cousin, do you remember my ‘homosexual’ image? How come you don’t seem to care about avoiding suspicion at all? There are so many rumors outside, and as a prominent young gentleman, aren’t you afraid?”

Chu Lishu’s gaze, however, remained straightforward and clear. He tilted his head and said, “Naturally, I believe in Cousin’s character. Moreover, aren’t we closer than real brothers? What’s the big deal? Could it be that Cousin has fallen for me and can’t control yourself?”

Chu Lishu spoke in a playful tone, but Lin Qingyang felt a bit flustered. “Well…”

Chu Lishu chuckled, “It’s a hot summer night, and the garden is not as cool as the palace. Only here, at Cousin’s place, there’s a fan made by Chang Jun. I just want to enjoy the cool breeze, is that not allowed?”

Lin Qingyang scratched his head. Due to the design of the flowing water fan, his entire room was filled with a refreshing breeze, maintaining a comfortable temperature. Indeed, it was much cooler than other rooms, which relied on ice to cool down.

“Haha, Chang Jun left too quickly, and I forgot to have it installed for you. Luckily, Eldest Cousin and the others have returned. We can have them send some familiar craftsmen over to make a few more.”

It was a reasonable reason, and Lin Qingyang just smiled it off, but in his heart, he couldn’t help but wonder, what was the male lead doing? Was he really trusting his confidant so much that he didn’t mind ‘losing control’ for the sake of coolness? Or was he testing his limits, to see if he would cross the line? It always felt complicated.

Couldn’t figure it out! The male lead’s thoughts were so complex that his brain cells couldn’t calculate an answer. He could only go with the flow, following whatever the male lead wanted to do.

Soon, he summoned a servant to arrange for washing up, and finally, he did lie down on the bed as he had truly wanted.

He wasn’t sure why, but this time Lin Qingyang felt particularly nervous.

The bed was large, with more than enough space for both of them to lie down comfortably. Even so, with Lin Qingyang pressed against the wall, he could still feel Chu Lishu’s presence everywhere. Although it was his own bed, it should have been filled with his own aura. Yet, every breath seemed to be filled with Chu Lishu’s essence, as if he were intimately close.

“Cousin, good night,” Chu Lishu softly said, as if he were tired, and drifted off to sleep.

After all, both of them had been drinking, so it was normal for them to fall asleep quickly.

However, Lin Qingyang inexplicably felt a bit warm. Indeed, lying together generated too much heat, and even the fan was not effective. The dryness made him unable to resist tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

In a daze, he turned to his side and saw Chu Lishu sleeping remarkably close to him. Chu Lishu was lying on his side, breathing evenly, peacefully asleep.

There was no trace of the formidable presence he had displayed just earlier in the day when he had calculated against the emperor, resolved the difficulties faced by the Liu family, and exhibited a terrifying ability to control everything.

Lin Qingyang felt his mind empty as he gazed at Chu Lishu’s sleeping face. His features were relaxed, displaying a gentle and obedient demeanor as if he had no worries, no need to guard against the world. He seemed like a simple youth, someone who would be tender and considerate by his side, full of vigor and confidence.

It was as if the person in front of Lin Qingyang was gradually separating into two in his memory—one was the Chu Lishu he had met for the first time, and the other was the male lead from the novel in his memories.

Suddenly, Lin Qingyang had a thought. If there were no painful hatred, if he were just his cousin from Jiangnan, he would surely take good care of him. He wouldn’t let him get involved in those complex and ugly struggles, and he would absolutely prevent him from experiencing any harm.

Chu Lishu should have been a soft cat, cradled in one’s arms, gently being groomed, belly rubbed, making purring sounds—not a wounded tiger, constantly vigilant, emitting hoarse growls, prepared to pounce and fight for life.

Suddenly coming to his senses, Lin Qingyang widened his eyes in astonishment. He had just been sincere and compassionate, with no ulterior motives. Yet, without realizing it, he had leaned in and lightly touched Chu Lishu’s lips.

Feeling the delicate contact, Lin Qingyang knew that the other person wouldn’t wake up, so he quickly attempted to pull away.

However, the next moment, he felt a sense of impending threat, as if he were being targeted by some wild beast. He raised his eyes and locked gazes with a pair of deep, intense eyes.

Lin Qingyang felt his heart skip a beat, and before he could react, he was flipped over and pinned down.

An overwhelming kiss descended.

Lin Qingyang accepted the domineering aura, gazing into those dark eyes that seemed to want to devour him. However, he suddenly realized that the person kissing him was not Chu Lishu but… Yuan Ran.

As if his soul were held in place, Lin Qingyang’s gaze was captivated by the endless charm emanating from Yuan Ran. Being kissed by such a powerful figure, even if it was a man, he felt powerless to resist.

“Qingyang… Do you want me?” A low, magnetic voice, carrying a deadly allure, seemed to come from a distance.

Lin Qingyang’s mind instantly became tangled, caught in a dilemma. His body, however, couldn’t help but want to flip the person over and press him down. Suddenly, reason told him something was wrong. He was straight! How could he… Lin Qingyang abruptly pushed Yuan Ran away.

In an instant, daylight illuminated the entire room.

Lin Qingyang sat up abruptly, fully awake, beads of cold sweat on his forehead. It dawned on him that it was just a dream!!!

No, even dreaming was not okay. How could he dream such a thing? This was troublesome! Could it be that he was brainwashed by his own character setting?

Quickly opening the system interface to check, he remembered the system had once provided some information…

Orientation: Women.

Lin Qingyang took a deep breath, relieved that he was still straight. Well, it was probably because Chu Lishu looked too good, lacked any masculine features, and caused him to get confused. Being close all the time made it normal for his thoughts to wander occasionally. It would be fine if they kept their distance over the next few months. Then, when he found a cute girlfriend in the future, everything would be normal.

As for the appearance of Yuan Ran in the dream… just ignore it.

Nervously glancing to the side, he saw that no one was there. He anxiously touched his lips; nothing seemed out of the ordinary, just a bit dry. He wanted to drink some water, but his body… well, morning stiffness was a normal phenomenon.

On the other side, Chu Lishu was in a very good mood, walking briskly towards the flower hall.

Lin Qingyang hadn’t done anything the whole night, and he was a bit displeased about it.

After all, it had been several months since they had been intimate. Although they saw each other every day, there hadn’t been many opportunities due to Chu Lishu recovering from his injuries. He couldn’t believe that Lin Qingyang wouldn’t want to touch him. He understood that Lin Qingyang might be feeling awkward, and this fool probably couldn’t find a suitable chance to take advantage or was concerned about his injuries. So, he decided to give Lin Qingyang a chance to approach him voluntarily.

But he still didn’t make a move! Chu Lishu slept right next to him, completely defenseless!

He pretended to be completely asleep, and all Lin Qingyang did was toss and turn without taking any action.

Chu Lishu lost patience. Finally, in the early morning, Lin Qingyang leaned in and gently kissed him on the lips. He sneakily glanced, and this guy was actually asleep. Hmph, holding back in reality was useless. This little fool couldn’t resist even in his dreams. Chu Lishu found it endearing.

Chu Lishu went with the flow, kissing passionately, almost losing control. Finally, he managed to satisfy his long-suppressed desires.

On the way to the flower hall, Chu Lishu couldn’t help but savor the moment. If he didn’t have something to discuss with Liu Jingchen, he wouldn’t have wanted to get up so early.

Upon reaching the flower hall, he indeed saw Liu Jingchen already seated, preparing for breakfast.

Seeing Chu Lishu, Liu Jingchen’s expression stiffened. He recalled what the servants had mentioned earlier—that Chu Lishu hadn’t returned to his own courtyard last night. Liu Jingchen didn’t know what to say anymore. Were they being so open about it, not hiding anything?!

“Cousin Liu, good morning.”

Liu Jingchen’s lips trembled, feeling that Chu Lishu’s address was somewhat influenced by Lin Qingyang’s intentions. “Good morning. Did you sleep well last night?”

Liu Jingchen’s mentality was already a bit shaky, and not having had time to adapt, treating this place like his own home and Chu Lishu like a guest, he unexpectedly started a polite conversation.

After the question, Chu Lishu seemed momentarily stunned. Then, he turned his head slightly with a hint of awkwardness, reaching to touch his neck. “I slept fine.”

Liu Jingchen calmly took a sip of tea, but inside, he wished he could dig a hole and hide in it.

However, he still noticed that Chu Lishu’s neck, where he was touching, seemed a bit red, and there were some bruised areas that looked like he hadn’t slept well.

Did his younger cousin lack restraint? Even at such a young age, wasn’t he afraid of overexerting himself? For Chu Lishu to come over so early and naturally like this, it seemed like… it had become a common occurrence.

Liu Jingchen suddenly felt calm, and his gaze towards Chu Lishu changed.

“As for the matters concerning the Liu family, no matter how much I express my gratitude, it won’t be enough. I’ll fulfill what you requested back then, and from now on, the Liu family will follow your orders. But I have a question.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“I’ve heard about it. You and my cousin… Are you sincere? Have you revealed your true identity to him? You must have many important and significant things to do, right?”

Chu Lishu looked at Liu Jingchen seriously, his tone low. “I’ll call you Cousin Liu, and that won’t change no matter what my identity becomes.”

Liu Jingchen was momentarily stunned.

“There are indeed many things I need to do. The reason I haven’t revealed my true identity is not because I don’t trust him, but rather to protect him and prevent any threats to you all. That’s all you need to know.”

Chu Lishu’s sincerity touched Liu Jingchen, and he could only sigh deeply. “Alright, I understand. What do you need me to do?”

He knew that Chu Lishu must have something to discuss if he came to see him alone.

“As for the affairs of the Chen Lan Merchant Agency, you don’t need to worry. Everything will proceed smoothly; I’ve made the necessary arrangements,” Chu Lishu began. “I know you want to come back, and there’s another very important matter. I need you to promise me one thing.”

Liu Jingchen’s expression changed slightly. The important matter was undoubtedly seeking revenge, finding out the truth to clear the grievances against the Liu family.

“What is it?”

“If this matter is related to Marquis An Nan’s residence, I hope you won’t harbor resentment towards Lin Qingyang. At least, the people in this other courtyard have already severed ties with Marquis An Nan’s residence.”

Liu Jingchen’s face changed abruptly. “What do you know? It’s related to Marquis An Nan’s residence?”

“I only recently investigated and don’t know much yet. I’ll share all the information with you later. Back then, few escaped the crime of framing and betraying the prince’s residence, cooperating with enemies, and selling out the country. Marquis An Nan’s residence is one of them.”

The crime of cooperating with enemies and selling out the country was the charge that led to the execution of Prince Zhen Bei and his family. When the emperor had just ascended the throne less than a year ago, the situation was still unstable. However, it was also the most sensitive moment. A report accusing Prince Zhen Bei of cooperating with enemies and betraying the country reached the emperor’s hands. Shortly after, a search of Marquis An Nan’s residence uncovered correspondence with high-ranking officials in Tianheng, engaged in iron ore transactions.

Most of Prince Zhen Bei’s military forces were stationed in the north, where there were many mines controlled by the royal family. The letters indicated that Prince Zhen Bei had discovered a mine near the border, and instead of reporting it, he had secretly collaborated with Tianheng to share the profits.

While this might not pose a direct threat to the country, it was still considered treasonous. As a result, Prince Zhen Bei, his legitimate eldest son, second son, and several close generals who were aware of the matter were all executed. Prince Zhen Bei’s residence was searched, and the Liu family was expelled.

In terms of timing, the so-called “Concubine Liu” had actually died from illness shortly after the emperor ascended the throne. When the incident occurred at Prince Zhen Bei’s mansion, only County Princess Yawen could navigate the situation, but her abilities were limited and she was unable to reverse the situation. Shortly after, she also fell ill.

People suspected of harming the Liu family in this matter included the informant, the one who framed them, the perjurer, and the true mastermind behind the scenes.

They already knew the identities of the informant and the perjurer. The informant had died from illness, and the perjurer had been beaten to death by the old prince in a fit of rage. That left the framer and the mastermind behind the scenes.

In reality, Liu Jingchen had long suspected that the mastermind behind the scenes was likely the emperor, who held a high position. However, he had yet to figure out the identity of the framer. After all, Prince Zhen Bei’s residence was heavily guarded back then, and not just anyone could infiltrate it.

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