The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 77

Cen Xiao was caught off guard.

He froze for a few seconds, taking a deep breath, letting the night air fill his lungs.

The sudden movement tugged at the bruises on his skin, a sharp, stinging pain that grounded him in reality.

There’s a certain weight to a joke that hides the truth—it can cut deeply.

Unable to contain the heat rising in his chest, Cen Xiao cupped Li Rong’s neck with one hand and leaned in, capturing his lips.

Li Rong tilted his head slightly, welcoming the kiss that was intense and tinged with a faint ache.

Emotions can be conveyed through a kiss—whether lighthearted, longing, passionate, or grateful….

Li Rong’s lashes fluttered as his slender neck tensed, his fingers unconsciously tracing up Cen Xiao’s arm until they rested against his chest, pulling him closer.

The summer breeze lifted Li Rong’s soft hair, brushing against Cen Xiao’s cheek, much like the slight tickle of Li Rong’s trembling eyelashes.

The sultry atmosphere blended with the humid summer night, lingering unspoken on their lips.

A hidden desire spread from the depths of their hearts, coursing through their veins and igniting every nerve.

Li Rong was the first to pull away, gasping for air.

He pressed his forehead against Cen Xiao’s, his chest heaving as a flush crept across his cheeks. Strands of damp hair clung to his temples.

After a few breaths, Li Rong raised his gaze, suddenly leaning forward to quickly flick his tongue over Cen Xiao’s lips before retreating with a mischievous grin. His moist lips pursed in satisfaction, as though daring Cen Xiao to retaliate.

“You…”

Cen Xiao paused, his gaze darkening as he leaned back in, reclaiming Li Rong’s lips with fervor.

Their breaths intertwined, tongues entwining as they immersed themselves in each other’s presence, completely shutting out the world around them.

The sound of glass doors opening and closing, insects bumping against lamp covers, cars rolling over asphalt, and leaves rustling in the wind—all of it faded into nothingness.

Hidden beneath the heavy night, they remained exposed under countless watchful eyes.

Time passed before their fiery emotions began to subside.

Li Rong turned his head, looking at the neon lights in the distance. In a casual tone, he asked, “Cough… Did it hurt?”

When he had hugged Cen Xiao earlier, he had felt a slight tension in his muscles.

The exams in District Nine involved combat, and it was nearly impossible to emerge completely unscathed. From the looks of it, though, Cen Xiao seemed fine.

Cen Xiao followed Li Rong’s gaze briefly before looking back at him, his voice calm. “I’ve taken care of it. It’s nothing serious.”

Li Rong let out a sigh of relief.

“What about Du Mingli?” he asked.

Based on the events of their past lives, Du Mingli should have taken first place in this exam. If Cen Xiao had performed exceptionally well, then Du Mingli would be second.

It wasn’t a question that required much thought—he was merely trying to fill the silence.

Perhaps Cen Xiao’s strong reaction to his earlier “truth” had stirred a rare sense of bashfulness in him.

Cen Xiao frowned slightly, his tone tinged with dissatisfaction. “It’s finally over, and you’re still talking about other men?”

Li Rong was taken aback before bursting into laughter. “Seriously? I mean, I get it if you were jealous of Lin Zhen, but now you’re even jealous of some middle-aged man?”

This time, however, Cen Xiao didn’t brush it off. Instead, he responded seriously, “I can’t stand him. Just hearing his name makes me sick.”

Li Rong blinked in surprise, his brows knitting as he studied Cen Xiao’s expression. Seeing that he had no intention of avoiding the topic, Li Rong crossed his arms, tilted his head slightly, and asked softly, “You hate him that much? Did he steal your kingdom or your wife?”

He deliberately kept his tone light, as if joking, so he could retract his words if necessary.

Cen Xiao’s deep gaze lingered on him for a moment before his lips curled into a faint smile. He lifted a hand, brushing Li Rong’s cold earlobe with his ring finger. “You must be hungry, waiting this long.”

A simple, casual expression of concern, yet it caused a strange heaviness to settle in Li Rong’s chest.

His eyelids fluttered slightly, his gaze lowering. As the folds of his eyelids smoothed out, the subtle creases became faintly visible. His long, thick eyelashes stood out, one by one. Below his high-bridged nose, his slightly parted lips left a barely noticeable gap.

To an observer, his expression might appear somewhat stern.

This was his habit when deep in thought—momentarily enclosing himself in a vacuum-like state, completely detached from the external world. In that space, all he could feel was an endless stream of clues and rapidly spinning thoughts knocking against the walls of his mind.

Cen Xiao avoided answering the question directly but didn’t deny it outright either.

It wasn’t an evasion. Instead, it was a subtle acknowledgment of the truth.

From the moment they first met at the training hall, Cen Xiao had shown an obvious aversion and disdain for Du Mingli. Whenever his name came up, Cen Xiao’s words were full of negativity.

Even though Cen Xiao made an effort to restrain himself—to ignore it and act indifferent—Li Rong, being someone close to him, saw everything clearly.

He had always wondered why Cen Xiao harbored such feelings toward Du Mingli.

After all, in his memory, there hadn’t been much interaction between District Three and District Nine after Du Mingli toppled Han Jiang.

Could it be… that his death had something to do with Du Mingli?

Cen Xiao knew. And then what?

Li Rong recalled those pointed remarks Cen Xiao had made:

“Don’t feel too bad about it. You’re not the first person who couldn’t dodge it.”

“If someone ever takes down Du Mingli in the future, that person will be me.”

Once Cen Xiao learned the truth, he must have sought revenge for him.

But Li Rong couldn’t understand—he had no significant connection to District Nine, so why would Du Mingli target him? 

When his parents faced their downfall, Du Mingli was just an ordinary person, with no ties to Blue Pivot or Hongsuo. How could he have been involved in framing his parents?

Why would a completely unrelated person meddle in this?

How many people had been intimidated by Project GT201?

And what about Cen Xiao?

Why did he, too, seem to share memories of their previous life?

Had Cen Xiao… also been caught in the storm, unable to escape unscathed?

Li Rong’s mind was flooded with questions, but he knew Cen Xiao wasn’t ready to discuss it yet.

Cen Xiao’s admission of his disgust for Du Mingli was a reminder—Li Rong would soon work in District Nine, where Du Mingli would become a figure he couldn’t avoid. 

It was a warning to stay wary of Du Mingli—not just cautious, but to treat him like an enemy.

Li Rong bit down gently on the soft flesh inside his lips. The pressure spread pain throughout his mouth, forcing him to focus on the discomfort and pull his thoughts away from the torrent of questions, grounding himself back in the present.

A few seconds later, he released his bite and curled his lips into a faint, breezy smile. “I am a little hungry. The food at home has probably gone cold.”

Cen Xiao raised a brow. “You cooked?”

Li Rong scoffed. “As if. I ordered takeout from a Michelin-starred restaurant.”

Cen Xiao smirked. “Taxi back?”

Li Rong hummed in agreement.

Luckily, after lingering in front of the café for a while, most of the exam candidates had already dispersed. The once-jammed road in front of the Cultural and Economic Center was now cleared.

Li Rong flagged down a taxi, and the two of them got in, heading back to the apartment Li Rong had rented.

The city’s speed limit was forty kilometers per hour, so the car moved leisurely.

Li Rong gazed out the window at the night view, unbothered by the lack of rushing scenery. Instead, he savored it.

Each restaurant on the street had its own unique style, with colorful signs and lights in varying hues. The only thing they shared was the bustling, warm atmosphere that seemed to radiate harmony and joy.

The lively night seemed capable of driving all the ugliness and filth into unseen corners, out of sight and out of mind.

It felt good to enjoy a brief respite and forget, even if only for a moment.

Their current relationship felt like a dream—so beautiful, it bordered on unreal.

Mutual affection. Sharing life and death. Even their souls felt like they had reached an unprecedented level of harmony.

Even the most rational and composed people couldn’t resist lingering in such a dream for just one more second. And then another.

Both he and Cen Xiao felt the same.

Neither of them wanted to break this fragile bubble. No matter how dangerous their tasks might be, at least in matters of the heart, they both hoped for something simple and straightforward.

Halfway through the ride, the driver broke the silence. “Mind if I turn on the radio?”

“Go ahead,” Li Rong replied. After driving all day, the driver must’ve been tired, and listening to the radio helped him stay alert. Li Rong didn’t mind.

Cen Xiao didn’t care either. His mind was still replaying earlier moments, wondering if his subtle hints had been too much, contemplating Li Rong’s mood, and planning what to say when they were alone at home.

The driver glanced at them and then pressed the button to turn on the radio.

“Hello, Ms. Li. Thank you for tuning into FM97.1’s Warmth Together show. I’m your host, Little Lamb. What emotional issue would you like to discuss?”

A teary, shaky voice came through the speakers: “Hi, host. I listen to your show every day and love it… I feel like you really understand things.”

“Thank you, thank you. Due to time constraints, please go ahead and tell us your issue.”

The young woman let out a small sob, struggling to suppress her emotions. “My issue is… I’ve discovered my boyfriend always keeps things from me. It makes me feel so, so uncomfortable. I feel like I don’t have any sense of security.”

Li Rong: “…”

Cen Xiao: “…”

The host tread carefully. “Are you worried he doesn’t like you anymore?”

The young woman choked up. “No… he’s still quite interested in me, you know what I mean—that kind of interest.”

The host hesitated. “Could it be a lack of communication between you two?”

The young woman sniffled. “We’ve known each other since high school and started dating after graduation. He’s the studious, aloof type, always leaving me to guess everything. It’s exhausting.”

The host concluded firmly: “You should discuss this issue with him. I believe mutual honesty is the foundation of any relationship. If you can’t be honest with each other, it’s only a matter of time before you break up.”

Li Rong: “???”

Cen Xiao: “???”

The young girl exclaimed, “Is it that serious?!”

The host replied, “Actually, the success rate of first loves is really not high.”

Li Rong agreed with this statement; after all, his first love wasn’t Cen Xiao.

However, Cen Xiao didn’t seem too pleased. He grumbled irritably, “Can we change the station?”

“Huh?” The driver paused, then quickly replied, “Sure, sure. These radio stations nowadays are pretty boring anyway, talking about trivial matters.”

With that, he casually switched to a music channel.

Li Rong listened to an unfamiliar pop song, a faint smile playing on his lips. In the dimly lit car, he reached out and poked Cen Xiao’s arm with his finger. “Do you have anything you’re hiding from me?”

Cen Xiao turned his face, meeting Li Rong’s mischievous gaze, and asked in return, “What about you?”

Li Rong didn’t answer, just smiled. After a moment of silent eye contact, the two tacitly turned away—one leaning back to relax his tired muscles, the other propping his chin on his hand to continue gazing out the window at the passing scenery.

After about forty minutes, the taxi arrived at Li Rong’s residential complex. Li Rong paid the fare and led Cen Xiao upstairs.

Since it was only a three-month rental, the apartment wasn’t very large, but it was clean, tidy, and had a good view.

Upon entering, Li Rong turned on the lights. The kitchen, connected to the entryway, held the dinner he’d ordered earlier.

He had ordered seared steak, roasted tomatoes and potatoes, a salmon and shrimp salad, and a bottle of red wine.

The steak and roasted tomatoes, now cold, only needed reheating. Li Rong motioned for Cen Xiao to draw the curtains while he went to heat the food.

As the food warmed in the microwave, Li Rong turned around, leaning against the table with both hands, and raised an eyebrow at Cen Xiao. “Let me see your injury.”

Cen Xiao rubbed his fingers lightly and said, “I’ve already treated it—it’s not serious.”

Li Rong frowned and stepped forward, grabbing at the hem of Cen Xiao’s shirt, trying to pull it up. “Let me see!”

Unyielding, his movements were quite forceful, leaving Cen Xiao’s clothes wrinkled. Cen Xiao had no choice but to hold his hands down. “Alright, don’t make a fuss.”

Sighing, Cen Xiao hesitated briefly, then decided to take off his shirt, revealing all of his injuries.

As his skin met the cool air, his muscles instinctively tensed. The contours of his chest and abdomen were fully exposed to Li Rong.

Li Rong’s expression shifted slightly. He reached out, his fingertips gently tracing the fresh scars.

This wasn’t the first time Li Rong had seen Cen Xiao’s injuries. Since deciding to take the District Nine exam, Cen Xiao would often return from training at Tang He’s place with injuries.

Li Rong might have grown used to the sight, but he knew he couldn’t let himself grow indifferent.

Cen Xiao didn’t have to walk this path—he did it for him.

Under the soft, milky-white light, even the edges of the scars were illuminated with stark clarity.

Li Rong inhaled softly, half-closing his eyes, and suddenly leaned in to kiss one of the wounds on Cen Xiao’s body.

The bruised skin was hot, warmer than his lips. He gently rubbed against the scar, his warm breath brushing against the tense skin, and his lips followed the rise and fall of the muscles.

“Li Rong,” Cen Xiao rasped, calling his name.

Li Rong acted as if he hadn’t heard, continuing down to the inner side of Cen Xiao’s wrist.

The deep gash there was especially jarring. Though the blood had dried, the unhealed tissue starkly announced the pain its owner had endured.

Li Rong furrowed his brow slightly. Not daring to touch the wound directly, he merely let his lips rest against the reddened skin.

Cen Xiao looked down at Li Rong and felt as if the thread of reason in his mind was about to snap.

His Adam’s apple bobbed several times as he tried to suppress the urge to possess Li Rong, but the sensitive underside of his wrist sent waves of tingling sensations.

He recalled many past moments—those times he had claimed Li Rong without restraint, only to earn Li Rong’s anger.

He couldn’t repeat those mistakes. He couldn’t betray Li Rong’s openness or ruin the pure and passionate relationship they now shared.

Suppressing his impulse to overpower Li Rong, Cen Xiao took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “The food’s ready. I’ll go get it…”

He tried to pull his arm away from Li Rong’s lips with a firm motion.

But Li Rong held him tightly.

Sensing Cen Xiao’s avoidance, Li Rong looked up and sighed.

In all things, there’s a danger in going to extremes.

While he had been unhappy with Cen Xiao’s earlier forcefulness, that didn’t mean he intended for their relationship to turn purely platonic.

They were already intimately familiar with each other. In a relationship built on mutual understanding, physical desires should naturally be addressed. Yet Cen Xiao was acting as if he had taken a vow of celibacy, which was starting to frustrate him.

Narrowing his almond-shaped eyes, Li Rong gritted his teeth and said, “Do we eat food first, or do you eat me first?”