Chapter 75
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The four individuals confronted each other, and the air seemed to freeze for a moment. In this critical moment of life, Lin Qingyang suddenly remembered many things.
He recalled the system telling him that his character’s positioning would affect his future. If he completed the entire plot as a cannon fodder, his future life would be filled with misfortune and death.
Now, he understood a bit. That was why he always found himself in such awkward situations, wanting to dig a hole and escape. Wasn’t he still a cannon fodder?
This was probably the luck that came with being a cannon fodder.
That was the only way to comfort himself— the future would be better, sob sob sob…
Lin Qingyang’s brain froze for a few seconds, but Pei Jin quickly reacted. She pushed Lin Qingyang away and looked towards the door, sternly questioning, “How long have you been standing there? Where did you start listening from?!”
Pei Jin’s imposing aura was intimidating, and with her high status, Shuncai was immediately silenced.
However, Chu Lishu’s gaze remained fixed on the figure on the bed, the one with disheveled clothes. The scene was just too unsightly.
“Speak!” Pei Jin’s tension had turned into a murderous intent, instantly unsettling Shuncai at the door. Instinctively, he blurted out, “When we arrived, you were discussing whether he had really rescued you…”
Pei Jin’s complexion gradually returned to normal. She had been careless, neglecting the possibility of someone eavesdropping at the door.
Taking a deep breath, Pei Jin discreetly retrieved her dagger and looked at Lin Qingyang, who sat motionless on the bed, his face suddenly pale. She couldn’t understand why he had turned so pale all of a sudden.
“I’ve returned your clothes. Don’t forget our agreement…”
“Get lost.”
Pei Jin hadn’t finished speaking when a sudden, deep voice, as if emanating from the abyss, abruptly interrupted her.
Pei Jin, being the legitimate eldest son of the Pei family, held a high position among the younger generation, while Chu Lishu was just a fallen young master.
Hearing that term, Pei Jin felt like she was hearing things, “Excuse me, what did you say?”
“I told you to get lost!”
Each word was deliberate, the low tone carrying an unmistakable rage.
As the voice resounded, Chu Lishu’s gaze shifted to Pei Jin. The innate pressure of someone superior, the aura of a high-born aristocrat, looked down upon Pei Jin like one would look at ants.
In that moment, Pei Jin instinctively felt the urge to kneel. It was a reaction reserved for those who held the power of life and death over others.
Almost without thinking, Pei Jin leaped off the bed.
When she snapped back to reality, she was drenched in a cold sweat.
“You…”
“How much longer do you want to linger here? Get out!”
With the sharp tone, Pei Jin’s face flushed red. It seemed as though she had been subtly insulted, and the atmosphere here was no longer bearable for her. In a disheveled manner, she took brisk steps away. “I was leaving anyway!”
As she passed Chu Lishu, Pei Jin couldn’t resist turning her head and glaring.
Chu Lishu’s dark eyes also glanced over, the predatory gaze making Pei Jin’s heart shrink. She immediately averted her gaze and left.
By now, Lin Qingyang had been completely stunned by Chu Lishu’s outburst. Watching Chu Lishu step closer, his face showed a mixture of emotions as if he were witnessing a future tyrant approaching him. Each step felt like it was treading on his fragile and sensitive nerves.
Almost the moment Chu Lishu reached the bedside, Lin Qingyang instinctively knelt on the bed, appearing like a meek, repentant little one who had done something wrong.
As for Shuncai at the door, he had long abandoned his master by closing the door. Since when did his sidekick become so perceptive? What happened to the loyal servant?
Stay calm, stay calm, Lin Qingyang, you can do this. The male lead is generally reasonable. Just explain things clearly.
With a pair of wide, sincere eyes, Lin Qingyang bravely met Chu Lishu’s gaze. “Cousin, listen to me. Actually… Ah!”
Before Lin Qingyang could even begin to explain, Chu Lishu suddenly reached out and grabbed the back of his neck.
“Cousin… Cousin… Lishu! What are you doing?” Lin Qingyang was awkwardly pulled off the bed, stumbling all the way, and dragged behind a folding screen where he had just taken a hot bath. Steam was still gently rising.
Lin Qingyang couldn’t even finish his sentence before the silent Chu Lishu forcefully pushed him into the bathtub.
The male lead is definitely not in a normal state right now!
Could it be that Chu Lishu is so angry that he wants to drown him? Did Lin Qingyang’s actions today make Chu Lishu so furious? Wasn’t this emotional state something that only appeared later in the original plot?
Choking on water, Lin Qingyang desperately tried to understand the current situation. The male lead must have misunderstood, thinking that while Lin Qingyang was playing the role of someone secretly in love with him, he was also harassing other ‘men,’ probably finding it utterly disgusting. Moreover, considering they were enemies, there was a suspicion of betrayal. With this perspective, Lin Qingyang could somewhat comprehend the male lead’s current anger.
Lin Qingyang took several gulps of water, and then, with a forceful tug on the back of his neck, he was pulled out of the water.
Breathing rapidly, Lin Qingyang felt weak all over. He struggled to support himself on the edge of the bathtub, water dripping continuously from his hair, disrupting his vision. In a daze, he seemed to hear the male lead gritting his teeth and muttering, “All these different scents, it stinks!”
Lin Qingyang: ???
Is it the meaning of wanting to wash off something?
Wait, what’s going on? What different scents?
“Chu Lishu, what exactly…”
Suddenly, Chu Lishu’s hand moved to Lin Qingyang’s neck, slowly tracing upward from the carotid artery.
Lin Qingyang’s entire body tensed. He looked at Chu Lishu, who was standing outside the bathtub, and finally saw the expression on his face at this moment.
His heart skipped a beat, and he couldn’t find words to describe the feeling. However, Lin Qingyang didn’t see anything in Chu Lishu’s eyes. It was as if they were in a chaotic state, lacking the rationality of a normal person and displaying a more instinctive response.
The cold gaze swept over his face, seeming to stop at a particular spot. The fingers with force moved to Lin Qingyang’s chin.
Forced to raise his head, Lin Qingyang’s heart pounded. His fragile lips were pressed heavily by Chu Lishu’s thumb, becoming swollen under the pain. It felt like if pressed further, even his front teeth might be broken through those thin lips.
What on earth was the male lead doing? Doesn’t he want to hear his explanation?
Because it was a bit painful, Lin Qingyang instinctively wanted to dodge. However, when his mouth moved, it opened, and Chu Lishu’s thumb naturally did not release its pressure. So, it directly pressed in, and Lin Qingyang immediately closed his mouth around it, gently biting with his upper and lower teeth.
Gently and moistly enveloped, the soft and moist tip of the tongue swept over Chu Lishu’s thumb.
Lin Qingyang was instantly dumbfounded, for a moment unsure whether to continue holding it or what to do. However, he suddenly noticed that Chu Lishu on the other side seemed to be still, and the chaotic aura enveloping him had also dispersed.
Chu Lishu’s gaze seemed to focus just now, previously shrouded in an unpleasant darkness, but now it became clear.
He saw Lin Qingyang completely soaked, looking at him pitifully like a wet puppy.
Black hair winding on fair skin, wet eyes blinking, droplets sliding down his eyelashes as if crying, and his lips, slightly reddened, gently holding Chu Lishu’s fingers, with a soft expression.
The originally loose inner garment, in the recent struggle, was now completely hanging on his arm, revealing round shoulders and delicate collarbones, glistening with water. The chest was exposed, and going further down, the bent image was distorted by water, but the elusive V-lines were still visible…
Chu Lishu suddenly felt a wave of annoyance, and this strange irritation provided a brief respite for his already pounding headache.
Rationality was questioning his emotions again.
Why did he lose control? It had been a very long time since he last lost control, even when facing those three princes who came out of the palace, he managed to control his emotions very well.
Why?
Lin Qingyang dumbly bit Chu Lishu’s thumb, carefully observing his reaction, and vaguely said, “Lishu… What’s wrong with you? If you have any doubts about today’s events, I can explain. It’s definitely not what you think! Especially the scene just now when you opened the door, it’s too misleading, but it really doesn’t carry the meaning you saw.”
Chu Lishu endured the pain in his head, pulled back his hand abruptly, and clenched it, hiding the thumb covered in a layer of moisture in his palm. He said coldly, “Do you like him? Planning to be with him in the future?”
He hit the nail on the head right away!
As expected, the male lead has suspicions.
“I swear, I absolutely, absolutely don’t have any feelings for him! How could I possibly like him? Let alone be with him!”
“Hmph…” Chu Lishu snorted, obviously unconvinced. “First it was Xu Wenze, then the Yu Zhang, and now… Pei Jin. Your affections seem to shift quickly. If you don’t like him, why would you, in the middle of winter, jump into an icy lake, disregarding your own safety, to save someone? And after saving them, you even show kindness…”
Chu Lishu’s cold interrogation paused there, and suddenly his gaze transformed into a sharp blade, shooting straight at Lin Qingyang.
“Did you exchange breath with him?”
“Huh?”
“Mouth-to-mouth, did it happen?” His tone became even colder.
“How is that possible!” Lin Qingyang’s hair stood on end.
“Why not? Breath exchange happens naturally!”
Lin Qingyang was slightly stunned, and in an instant, an image flashed through his mind. Indeed, there had been an exchange… an exchange with the lips of the person in front of him!
Looking at the lips of the male lead moving, Lin Qingyang’s face turned inexplicably red.
But in Chu Lishu’s eyes, Lin Qingyang’s shy reaction seemed like recalling something intimate with Pei Jin.
A surge of emotions rushed up.
He had really kissed Pei Jin!!!
“I didn’t really touch him, there was no breath exchange at all. I was just looking down, and then his sister and Ying Xiaodie appeared.” Lin Qingyang dared not look at Chu Lishu’s lips, so he could only explain with his head down.
However, with his guilty explanation, Chu Lishu no longer believed him. “Then why are you blushing? Didn’t you kiss someone you like? You seemed reluctant to part, so you even went directly to the bed? Speaking provocatively, openly indulging in sensuality during the day, are you that desperate for a man!”
In response to the direct questioning, Lin Qingyang’s face went blank for a moment, and Chu Lishu also paused, as if realizing that this might not have been something he should say.
“No way!” Lin Qingyang became anxious. His blushing was due to embarrassment, not because he had kissed someone he liked. It was uncomfortable for a straight man to be accused of lacking a man.
Growing agitated, Lin Qingyang spoke vehemently, “Is it necessary to question me like this? Let alone the fact that I really didn’t touch him. Even if I did, would those two girls let me off so easily? Besides, performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to save someone is upright and righteous. Why should I deny it? I have nothing to hide! Furthermore, breath exchange is just that, what does it have to do with a kiss? I’ve saved… saved others before! That could be considered a ‘kiss’ too!”
If it considered, then male lead, you’re done for! You’ve been kissed by me, how’s that!
Upon hearing this, Chu Lishu’s serious and restrained expression finally changed, as if he realized something.
Suddenly, Chu Lishu asked seriously, “How many people have you performed breath exchange to save?”
Lin Qingyang, who had just figured out how to evade all the questions he needed to hide and had carefully crafted lies: …
Damn it, what kind of thought process is this for the male lead? Is this the issue we should be discussing now?
“One person, what’s the big deal!”
“Who?”
“Why should I tell you! Chu Lishu, don’t you have other questions to ask? Forget it, I won’t wait for you to ask, I’ll say it myself!”
Lin Qingyang stood up from the water in excitement, afraid that he might forget the details he had prepared, and began to explain today’s situation in detail.
Finally, he finished speaking when his throat was dry, “Do you understand? Is it clear? I’m not someone who’s full of thoughts about personal affairs! How do you really see me? If you continue to think of me like that in the future, I’ll be angry!”
Chu Lishu lowered his eyelids, his voice deep, “You made it very clear. You saved him because at that time, only you were in the courtyard, and Lin Qingxu caused him to fall into the water. If you didn’t save him, and something happened to Pei Jin, you were afraid that Marquis An Nan’s residence would be retaliated against, implicating us.”
Lin Qingyang nodded vigorously, cautiously observing Chu Lishu’s expression, fearing that he might raise objections. “You can say it’s for the greater good. Should I give up grievances and save a life? Besides, there are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests.”
Chu Lishu nodded and continued, “You mentioned that he came to threaten you, asking you not to reveal what you overheard in the courtyard. At that time, he was discussing with Lin Qingxu about dealing with Wang Tong’en and Cheng Yi. Due to the fight between you, you both fell onto the bed. After you turned the tables and held him hostage, you reached an agreement. You promised to keep his intentions secret, and he agreed not to help Lin Qingxu target you. So, when I arrived, you were just about to release him.”
This is what Lin Qingyang just thought of, finding it very reasonable. After all, Chu Lishu’s goal is to instigate conflict among the three families. These three families are now in a hostile relationship, all attending the same imperial academy. How could they not confront each other? Pei Jin’s actions make sense. He threatened Lin Qingyang to keep quiet about what he overheard, and that also makes sense.
Perfect!
But why does Chu Lishu’s gaze seem a bit… numb? Disappointed? It’s a feeling that is hard to describe.
“Is that all?” Chu Lishu asked in a cold tone.
“Okay… Do you have any more questions? I’ll answer them all.” Lin Qingyang felt a bit uneasy internally. Damn it! There were too many things to keep confidential. He was afraid his brain wouldn’t be enough, and he might miss one or two things. “Anything you want to know, I’m willing to tell you.”
Chu Lishu looked at him silently, and his expression changed from disappointment to indifference.
Deception? Lies from someone close. How many more times did he have to listen to this?
He was fed up. He initially believed that Lin Qingyang’s feelings towards him were pure, making him the most loyal person. He intended to trust him. However,
……
Qi Yan’s letter mentioned that Pei Jin already knew about Lin Qingxu’s use of false orders. So, when Pei Jin returned today, given his temperament, how could he conspire with Lin Qingxu to harm others?
Pei Jin was likely confronting Lin Qingxu, trying to figure out why he did this and whether there was someone else behind it. Therefore, Lin Qingyang, by the lakeside, must have overheard some other secrets. This might be the reason why Pei Jin came to threaten him. Perhaps, they had indeed reached some agreement during this encounter.
A hero saving the beauty? Collaborative allegiance? Lin Qingyang had a point – there were no eternal enemies, only eternal interests.
If seeing those previously blood-pumping scenes made him feel that Lin Qingyang was promiscuous and unscrupulous, causing a kind of infuriating manipulation, now, after hearing a person who claimed to love him meticulously crafting a lie, Chu Lishu’s anger inexplicably disappeared.
It was laughable, too laughable. He even found himself reflecting on why he had become so angry and lost control over Lin Qingyang’s affairs. Was it because he had started putting in effort to eliminate all those who harmed him, only for Lin Qingyang to turn around and work hard to protect a secret between him and the enemy?
Regarding Pei Jin’s secret, and the interests of Lin Qingyang or the Marquis An Nan’s residence, Chu Lishu had no right to know. He was merely Lin Qingyang’s cousin, perhaps a man he once secretly admired, but he knew that hearts change easily. How could he hope to grasp when Lin Qingyang fell in love with someone else or remained loyal to someone else?
Lin Qingyang might have just switched his affections, after all, there was no explicit commitment. There was nothing to be concerned about, as Chu Lishu also had a pile of secrets he wouldn’t tell Lin Qingyang. It was tit for tat.
Looking back now, he felt like a fool for his previous actions.
Lin Qingyang didn’t intend to harm him, but he had his own thoughts now, so he wouldn’t seek revenge. However, he didn’t want to be influenced anymore. If Lin Qingyang ultimately chose the third prince’s side, he wouldn’t hesitate to act when needed.
He was just a useless tool, and considering the limited value of using him, letting himself almost lose control was not worthwhile. The earlier decision to stay away was the right one.
Lin Qingyang probably never imagined that the thought process of a clever person could be so terrifying. What does it mean for cleverness to backfire on itself?
An exposed lie, even though the truth of the lie was not known, had been analyzed as if he and Pei Jin had reached a cooperative agreement. He was supposedly planning to ally with the third prince, deliberately hiding it from the male lead because of its significance.
So when Chu Lishu calmly said, “I don’t want to know,” and then turned to leave, Lin Qingyang was genuinely puzzled.
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Thanks for the chapter!!
Chu lishu istg