Chapter 20: Lin Jiangye, Who the Hell Are You?

“Don’t smoke upstairs.”

In order not to reveal anything abnormal, Lin Jiangye only said these few short words. Then, with his back to Gu Jiu’an, he leaned against the balcony railing and silently tore open another cake wrapper.

Chocolate hazelnut wrapped around a cheese filling. Soft and fluffy in texture, yet unexpectedly not too cloying.

“Sorry.” Gu Jiu’an froze for a moment, then skillfully put out the cigarette with the back of his hand and threw it into the trash can.

He was silent for a while, staring at the back of Lin Jiangye’s head, then spoke again. “Does Yu Wangxiao treat you well?”

“Mm, he smells very fragrant.” Lin Jiangye blurted it out, only then realizing that he seemed to have said something he should not have. But he was too lazy to fix it.

As long as the meaning was conveyed, it was fine.

Gu Jiu’an felt a little irritated listening to this. Even he himself could not figure out why. Maybe it was the nicotine acting up, or maybe it was the cold wind blowing in the night.

His fingertips were cold, and there was a clump of heat stuck in his heart that would not disperse. He needed to continue venting and confiding, but Lin Jiangye’s little bit of interest in him and the Gu family… seemed to have vanished in an instant.

Lin Jiangye had asked him so many questions only to help Yu Wangxiao.

He tugged at the collar of his hoodie. The heavy hood strangled his neck uncomfortably, making him feel like he could not breathe.

“I’m going to buy beer. Do you want some?”

Lin Jiangye paused, then shook his head. “I want iced Coke. Thank you.”

“Mm.”

Gu Jiu’an left. When Lin Jiangye was making a call on the balcony, he could clearly see Gu Jiu’an walking into the night with his hands in his pockets, leaving behind a tall and thin back view.

…

“After class tomorrow, Chen Ming will pick you up and take you to the hospital for another checkup. If you’re very hungry, you don’t have to endure it, but you need to learn to chew slowly. That’s better for your body.”

Yu Wangxiao really had a good temper. It was late at night, and he was clearly in a video conference, yet he still answered Lin Jiangye’s call.

As soon as he answered, he heard Lin Jiangye complain that he could not eat enough, yet he still patiently comforted him.

The corners of Lin Jiangye’s lips lifted slightly, though he himself did not know it.

“Gu Jiu’an’s father wanted to kill you. Was it because Old Madam Gu is living dead?”

“Mm? So that’s how it is. The poisoning really was Gu Yuan’s work.” Yu Wangxiao smiled. “Tuantuan is really amazing.”

He had been praised, but Lin Jiangye was a little dissatisfied. “You didn’t know? I feel like you knew, because you’re smart.”

“I did suspect him, but there was no evidence. I couldn’t do anything about it either. It wouldn’t be good to alert the snake.” Yu Wangxiao still had a good temper, and the smile in his voice seemed even clearer.

“In the future, if there’s anything suspicious, even without evidence, you have to tell me first.”

“Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

Lin Jiangye did not believe this sentence. Whoever believed it was a big fool. However, it really did sound very comfortable.

So he took this chance to educate Yu Wangxiao seriously. “Then in the future, you can’t openly go to someone else’s house and personally steal their corpse again. You’re too bold. People die when they’re killed. You’re human. If someone cuts you with a knife, you really will die.”

“Then can you protect me, Tuantuan?”

“…Mm.”

“So I have nothing to be afraid of. With you around, I’m very brave.”

Lin Jiangye froze slightly and realized that after hearing this, his heart felt even more comfortable. He liked this feeling a little. Protecting others, giving someone courage, and still receiving a high salary—it was very reasonable.

A little more reasonable than earning money by pretending to be lovers.

Actually, his own courage was also growing. At the Lin family home, knocking Lin Yu to the ground with two punches could also be considered an intentional experiment. The current him did indeed possess a certain amount of ability to protect himself and would not be easily kidnapped or ambushed.

Although his outer shell had not changed at all, only his appetite had become terrifying.

Lin Jiangye did not continue wasting words. He told Yu Wangxiao about the safe Qiu Zhen had mentioned, asking him to pay attention in daily life and be careful that the Gu and Lin families might inexplicably try to trap him. But whether Yu Wangxiao wanted to secretly try unlocking it had nothing to do with him. Every profession had its own specialization.

As for the USB drive, he also mentioned it to Yu Wangxiao, planning to look through it before sleeping tonight. Perhaps there would be useful content stored inside.

Yu Wangxiao very politely expressed his thanks and did not stop Lin Jiangye’s little exploration plan. He only smiled and said gently, “The Lin family’s matters are actually your family matters. What I should do next will be decided by you. I’ll listen to you. At most, I’ll provide some directional guidance.”

Lin Jiangye looked at him quietly for a long while, then took the last chocolate from his pocket and swallowed it in one bite.

Then he could not help sighing. “Talking to you really is more comfortable than talking to other people. Where should I learn this kind of communication skill?”

“Tuantuan, you don’t need to learn it.”

“Wu?”

“You don’t need to make other people feel comfortable, and you don’t have to read people’s expressions. A lot of the time, if you offend someone, then you offend them. It doesn’t really matter.”

“Because you’ll back me up anyway?” Lin Jiangye tilted his head and looked at him. “I only need to look at your expression, right?”

Yu Wangxiao good-naturedly curved his lips. “Mm. You don’t have to look at mine either.”

***

In the next few days, Lin Jiangye’s life was very fulfilling.

Lin Yu, who had been beaten into panda eyes, quieted down. He actually really did not send garbage messages to harass him anymore.

Because Lin Jingyao, the only one who could control this explosive-tempered older brother, very tactfully chose the peaceful path.

For someone with such an awkward and subtle identity, choosing the correct side was an important decision concerning the future.

No matter what private thoughts he had, at least on the surface, Lin Jingyao had reluctantly reconciled with him. Soon, he sent over a fresh physical examination report, even attaching a long list of allergen test results.

Aside from his stomach not being very good and some congenital anemia, there was nothing wrong with him. At least both kidneys were healthy, and the uremia hinted at in the original plot was complete nonsense.

Lin Jiangye backed up and saved this report, and also sent a copy to Yu Wangxiao to store, to guard against any unexpected plot kill. Naturally, he had to hold evidence in his hands first.

Lin Bingsheng also politely chatted with him a few times, asking him about his studies like a good father. As they chatted, he even transferred him two hundred thousand yuan, looking to be in a good mood.

As for Qiu Zhen, she absolutely did not mention the USB drive. She only asked what kind of food he usually liked, sweet or spicy.

Lin Jiangye unceremoniously accepted the money and replied to Qiu Zhen, “I love all of it.” After that, there was nothing much left for them to talk about.

After all, since the original owner had been recognized back into the Lin family three years ago, he had often been sent to live at school. The family had not even prepared an exclusive bedroom for him. Every time he came back, he slept in a hastily arranged guest room. The relationship between the Lin family and him had always carried an indescribable distance and unfamiliarity.

To put it unpleasantly, they knew almost nothing about the original owner’s life experiences. They only knew that he had come back from the countryside, and that his adoptive parents had deliberately swapped the babies.

This actually made things convenient for Lin Jiangye. His attitude suddenly becoming forceful would not make others feel angry. Instead, because they had already been too distant and unfamiliar to begin with, it would inexplicably raise fear and distance.

Now that the buzzing flies were no longer causing trouble, Lin Jiangye finally had time to continue exploring this world.

He liked attending class, but did not like doing homework much, because knowledge was not absorbed by the human brain he currently had. He did not need to spend time consolidating it. What he remembered was remembered. There was actually no need to review.

So he helped Li Liang play ranked promotion matches, and Li Liang helped him do homework. Their cooperation was rather pleasant.

He also liked the lunchboxes Chen Ming brought every day. Yu Wangxiao knew his appetite had grown, and seemed to have specially asked the private chef to increase the portions. Moreover, it was increased bit by bit so his stomach and intestines could slowly adapt.

Very considerate.

Lin Jiangye sat at a snack stall outside the school gate, finished the last skewer of grilled meat, rubbed his stomach, and drank the remaining half of his brown sugar milk tea.

“Ai…”

Now he did not even dare randomly call Yu Wangxiao, afraid that Yu Wangxiao would inexplicably like him more and make the nutrition from his meals fail to keep up.

“What are you sighing about? Is Uncle ignoring you?”

A somewhat familiar voice sounded beside his ear. Lin Jiangye frowned and turned his head, only to see Yu Lin casually sitting close beside him, his arm very naturally leaning over.

This person wore a loose black hoodie without any decorations and a pair of jeans. He looked like an ordinary, refreshing university student, but his aura was completely different from the passersby beside him.

Gu Jiu’an’s previous reminder had not been wrong. Yu Lin had indeed escaped long ago.

He was supposed to have been locked in the Yu family old residence for a week, until he finished writing that self-criticism titled How to Respect Your Lover and sent it to Yu Wangxiao’s email before he could be released.

But for a protagonist gong whose rebellious phase had been extended several times over, the skill of climbing over walls and escaping had naturally been maxed out. Even dragging an injured leg was not worth mentioning. With Yu Wangxiao absent, no one in the Yu family could control him.

“Don’t randomly touch me.” Lin Jiangye moved to the side, a little annoyed by him.

They were clearly related by blood, but he and Yu Wangxiao really did not look alike. Their personalities were also completely opposite. How strange.

“More sensitive than before…” Yu Lin slowly examined him, then suddenly laughed softly. “What, did he touch you, then cold-violence you? I haven’t seen Uncle for several days.”

“What does that have to do with you?”

Yu Lin laughed again. His sharp brows and eyes had lost some of their previous aggression. He was not as neurotic, and the way he spoke actually sounded like flirting.

“Lin Jiangye, I at least gave you a black card before. Your attitude is that bad?”

“Mm, you deserve it.” When Lin Jiangye said this, he raised his eyes and glanced at him. “Why are you looking for me? Say it directly.”

“Yu Wangxiao is a lunatic. I told you before, but you didn’t believe me, right? Aren’t you curious why I’ve always hated him?”

Lin Jiangye did not speak. He looked at Yu Lin expressionlessly and took a sip of milk tea.

Actually, he really was not that curious. In any case, the protagonists of this world were all rather mentally ill. No matter how abnormal Yu Wangxiao was, at least he was the more stable type.

Yu Lin had long expected his cold attitude. He merely curved the corner of his lips, tilted his head, and said in a low voice, “Lin Jiangye, my dad died.”

“…When did it happen?” Lin Jiangye was startled and almost choked on a pearl.

“The night before last. Yu Wangxiao didn’t tell you, right? Heh, of course he wouldn’t.”

“Yu Lin, your dad wasn’t killed by him. He still hasn’t left North City.”

Yu Lin did not comment. Suddenly, he took the milk tea from Lin Jiangye’s hand and drank a big mouthful arrogantly. Only after a long while did he continue, “Remember the day I wanted to break up with you? Mid-Autumn night. I broke my leg while showering, and my dad suddenly had a splenic rupture. He was rescued for over ten hours and never woke up. Later, he stayed in the ICU and never regained consciousness.”

Lin Jiangye really did not know this detail. He only knew that Yu Lin had inexplicably broken his leg, but Yu Wangxiao indeed had not talked to him about what exactly happened.

Thinking carefully, it was very strange. Mid-Autumn night was the first day he arrived in this world. He did not do anything special either, just accompanied Yu Wangxiao in watching romance movies all night. He had not expected the Yu family to become such a mess that night…

Speaking of which, at that time, he had still been dazed, having only just arrived and extremely weak, with chaotic memories and not much understanding of human nature. It was thanks to Yu Wangxiao’s good temper.

“…Continue.” Lin Jiangye suddenly came back to himself and snatched the milk tea back. He wanted to continue drinking, but felt a little disgusted, so he simply stuffed it back to Yu Lin. “After you finish talking, pay me for the milk tea.”

“What a heartless guy. At least say condolences to me.” Yu Lin lowered his eyes, his pressure dropping a little, though his tone still sounded joking.

Pretending to be pitiful?

At least Yu Lin did not face the risk of being forced to dig out a kidney, having his living expenses cut off, then being directly driven out of the house. No, he was even the source of all the original owner’s disasters.

Lin Jiangye very objectively assessed the essence of his personality, then calmly answered, “If the one sent to the hospital for emergency rescue on Mid-Autumn was my dad, you wouldn’t have much sympathy for me either.”

“You would only speed up and drive me away, take advantage of the Lin family falling into chaos to bring Lin Jingyao back to your own home to raise him, and seize the opportunity to cultivate feelings with him.”

Yu Lin listened in silence for a moment. He stared at Lin Jiangye’s calm, waveless black eyes, and confusion flashed through his eyes for an instant. It was unclear what he was puzzling over.

But he quickly returned to normal, and did not plan to apologize for his previous behavior. Instead, he laughed again. “Fine. I admit you’re right.”

“So then, what exactly does your dad’s death have to do with Yu Wangxiao?” Lin Jiangye immediately pressed.

“Director Li is one of his people. You know him, right? The night before last, I personally saw that old man enter my dad’s ward. He went in alone. Ten minutes later, my dad died.”

“What did the death report say?”

“Brain death. Once the guardian signs, they can agree to withdraw life support. Yu Wangxiao signed it. He gave an electronic signature.”

“…Shouldn’t the one signing be your mother?”

“My mom is crazy and has no civil capacity. My dad’s appointed guardian has always been Yu Wangxiao. Oh, you probably didn’t know this. I never planned to take you to meet my parents before. My bad.” Yu Lin shook his head, the same unruly smile still hanging by his lips.

Lin Jiangye looked at him. Only after a long while did he speak calmly. “Yu Lin, I think there’s a problem with the way you’re narrating this. You’re deliberately guiding me into overthinking, guiding me to make malicious guesses.”

“Oh, how so?”

“If you suspect the brain death diagnosis was falsified, then you can absolutely call the police, sue, and hurry to do an autopsy, using facts to prove the truth. If you accept that brain death is an established fact, then your dad was actually already dead. In theory, whether the tube was withdrawn or not, this person was already no longer in the world.”

Lin Jiangye spoke in a clear and proper manner, and he really did think this way. For someone brain-dead, the soul would long ago have been harvested early by gods of death and trainees, leaving not even the slightest trace behind.

Most of the time, the humans in the ward were still kneeling on the ground, struggling and crying, while the gods in the void had already begun freely enjoying the feast.

Unfortunately, Yu Lin would not understand this logic. Lin Jiangye only clearly heard this person’s heartbeat gradually speed up, thumping so hard it almost jumped out of his chest. His breathing also quickly became urgent.

“Fine, then let’s not maliciously speculate about others first. Let me speculate about you first, alright?” Yu Lin could still suppress his emotions in the first half of the sentence, but the more he spoke, the louder he became. His eyes inexplicably reddened. “Lin Jiangye, who the hell are you? How could you possibly talk to me like this!”

He suddenly threw the cup of milk tea out. It smashed against the ground with a “pa,” shattering into pieces. Broken plastic bounced, splashing milky-white stains everywhere.

“Keep your emotions stable. Don’t waste food.” Lin Jiangye frowned, finding his words and actions very difficult to understand. If they were not in public, he would have wanted to beat Yu Lin up too.

“My dad is dead, my mom is insane, my uncle stole my inheritance and my boyfriend, and you’re telling me to keep my emotions stable? Lin Jiangye, you fucking…”

Yu Lin’s voice grew increasingly hoarse. He stood up and suddenly kicked over the dining table in front of him. His harsh words got stuck halfway, and he directly bent his long legs and crouched down.

He crouched like this before Lin Jiangye, like a helpless big dog. He did not even know whether his fracture had fully healed, yet he seemed completely unable to feel pain. He raised his head. The wetness and redness surging in his eyes became more and more obvious, making him look extremely fragile.

“Hold me. Hold me like before and say something nice. Coax me. Is that so hard? Comfort me a little, and I’ll immediately listen to you. From now on, I’ll listen to everything you say. I’ll secretly be your mistress, okay?