What If He’s Starting to Notice Something’s Wrong?!
Su Jingyang remembered the system had indeed warned about this. If the person being helped not only wasn't grateful but instead loathed him, energy would be correspondingly reduced. He stepped right on a landmine this time through his own carelessness, yet he still felt wronged and bewildered.
That said, the other party was an elderly woman with one foot already in the grave. He couldn’t very well strike back. Putting lofty talk of morals aside, if something really happened to her, he wouldn’t be able to afford the consequences. Accepting his bad luck was the only option.
He took this as a lesson learned. Chasing energy collection didn’t mean throwing caution to the wind and helping absolutely just anyone.
After calming himself down, Su Jingyang ignored the system’s sarcastic snickering and strode toward Ling Li’s home. On the way, he bought a small packet of sugar balls to bring back for Ah Xuan.
Ling Li had mentioned before that Ah Xuan had never eaten sweets. After Su Jingyang fed him one, the little fellow sucked on it with obvious relish.
Ling Li brought the food to the table. He noticed that although Su Jingyang was holding Ah Xuan and playing with him, a trace of lingering anger remained between his brows. Ling Li asked what had happened. There was nothing to hide, so Su Jingyang told him about the day’s events.
Ling Li came over to look at his arm and found one spot already swollen, proof that no restraint had been used at all. His brows drew together tightly. “That’s truly excessive!”
During the meal, Ling Li told him that the old woman hadn’t singled out Su Jingyang alone. When Ling Li had passed by her house previously, he had been exhausted and walked slower. She chased him for several li, yelling abuse and accusing him of improper conduct, claiming he deliberately paraded around to distract her grandson from studying.
In that area, she was notorious for cursing. She didn’t only curse people. Even stray cats or dogs making a sound nearby would be viciously chased off, for fear that the slightest noise would stop her precious grandson from memorizing his books, ruin his studies, and keep him from becoming an official. Very few people around there were willing to associate with that household.
Su Jingyang could only marvel in disbelief, while also feeling unlucky. How had he managed to run straight into someone so unreasonable and difficult?
Ling Li shook his head as well. “That household only has the grandmother and grandson left. She pins all her hopes on that only-descended grandson someday testing first in the imperial exams, becoming a high official, and bringing her to Jincheng to enjoy life.”
Su Jingyang pictured the youth by the window whose face clearly spelled out ‘academic deadweight.’ He let out two short laughs while drinking his porridge. Top scholar? Dreams came faster than that.
He treated the day’s incident as an unpleasant little interruption and set it aside. After lunch, Ling Li was weaving baskets in the courtyard. As a failed job seeker, Su Jingyang wanted to learn a skill as well, yet his poor technique kept getting his hands cut, blood flowing freely.
Ling Li brought cloth to bandage his wounds and stopped him from continuing. With nothing else to do, Su Jingyang squatted nearby and watched. Ling Li’s lashes were lowered, his profile serene, while his hands moved with practiced speed. Before long, a small basket was finished. Su Jingyang picked up the perfectly made piece and praised him.
Ling Li said, “I was just like you at the start. I’m better now, but Jingyang, there’s no need for you to do this.”
Because Ah Xuan’s condition was special, Ling Li was destined to be unable to work outside every day. On top of being shunned by the townspeople, no one was willing to hire him. He could only take on odd jobs through a kind auntie, bringing the work home to do. Even though the pay was only thirty percent of normal wages, he was content. His previous savings had all been spent on the child’s treatment. Since then, he had supported himself and his son on that meager income.
In recent days, his health had been poor, and he hadn’t been able to take on suitable work. The household ran out of grain and the child cried from hunger. Left with no choice, he went to the porridge distribution to beg for a bowl for his son. He expected hardship there, yet he also met Su Jingyang. To Ling Li, that was the greatest stroke of fortune he had in years.
Ling Li suddenly paused his hands and turned his face toward Jingyang with a faint smile. Light brown eyes reflected the brilliant sunlight, shimmering beautifully.
Su Jingyang: “……???”
He stared blankly at the surge of energy flooding into his body. He hadn’t done anything, yet he received energy again. What exactly was Ling Li thanking him for now? Collecting energy from him felt far too easy.
Su Jingyang looked at Ling Li, torn between laughter and tears. Ling Li, unaware of the reason for Su Jingyang’s rapidly changing expressions, was about to ask in concern when Su Jingyang abruptly stood up and said he was going out again to think of solutions.
Watching him dash off full of drive, Ling Li chased a couple of steps and called after him, “Remember to come back for dinner tonight!”
“Got it!” Su Jingyang waved back as he ran.
He hadn’t expected to run into Liang Lu the moment he reached the street. One of Liang Lu’s eyes was still blackened, adding an unintended touch of comedy to his formerly handsome face. Su Jingyang saw him and didn’t dodge, continuing forward openly.
Liang Lu spotted him in the crowd. His eyes lit up, and he hurried over to block his path.
Su Jingyang crossed his arms and eyed him coldly. “What now? Looking to fight again?”
Liang Lu forced a series of wry smiles and opened his folding fan to waft some air. “Not at all. I came to talk. Maybe… we could find somewhere cooler first?”
Su Jingyang slapped the fan aside. “Spit it out.”
“Jingyang, the night before last, that night…” Liang Lu hesitated, clearly searching for careful wording so as not to provoke him. “Those marks on you… they weren’t from me, right?”
After sobering up, Liang Lu had thought it through. That night, while they were fighting, Su Jingyang suddenly passed out. Liang Lu himself had staggered up to check on him, only for the alcohol to hit again and knock him out cold. When he woke, his clothes were still on, and there was no feeling of release. Whatever marks Su Jingyang had couldn’t have been his doing.
After turning it over again and again, only one possibility remained. The shop door had been open that night, and there were plenty of roaming ruffians on the street outside…
Su Jingyang had no intention of letting misunderstandings linger here. He said plainly, “Of course not.” Something else came to mind, and he shot Liang Lu an annoyed look. “I don’t want you marrying me. Get lost.”
Liang Lu grabbed his arm to stop him from leaving. He stared at him for a long moment, eyes rimmed faintly red, heavy with remorse and guilt. “Jingyang, I’m sorry… I really was… I drank that night, and my head was f*cked up. I always thought we were mutual. I lost control for a moment. I—”
Su Jingyang yanked his arm free, utterly speechless. “Who gave you the idea it was mutual?”
Liang Lu choked. “You’re usually pretty friendly with me, smiling all the time.”
“Nonsense! You’re the boss. Should I scowl at you every day?” Su Jingyang was truly done with him.
“Anyway, even if it wasn’t me, this all started because of me. I still caused you to lose your chastity. I’ll definitely compensate you properly.”
“Pfft—” Hearing the phrase ‘lost your chastity,’ Su Jingyang nearly choked on his own spit. He knew Liang Lu still misunderstood plenty. Explaining held no appeal. He waved him off and continued forward. “No compensation needed. Stop looking for me.”
As Su Jingyang passed him, Liang Lu blurted out urgently, “I can help you get an identity plaque!”
Su Jingyang halted immediately and whipped around, gaze burning. The temptation was enormous.
Seeing him stop, Liang Lu hurried on. “You’ll need to come back to work at my place though. Don’t glare like that. Rest assured, I’m not some lecher. It was a misunderstanding before. I won’t do anything to you.”
Su Jingyang scoffed. “Putting on a gentleman act now?”
Liang Lu said, “I really just want to make it up to you. You know the abacus, right? Go to my bookshop instead. Just sit there collecting payments and keeping accounts. The pay’s much higher than here. How about it?”
Outwardly, Su Jingyang remained calm. Inside, he was tempted. Until his identity plaque was settled, Liang Lu’s place was the only steady income available. Agreeing would ease the immediate crisis. Even if Liang Lu still had ulterior motives, he could handle it.
“Fine,” Su Jingyang said. “I’ll go. One thing though. Can you still advance my wages like before?”
“No problem.” Liang Lu led the way. “I’ll take you over to have a look first. The resting room there is much bigger. You can live there.” He added with a grin, “Don’t worry. I won’t barge in at night again.”
“I already have a place to stay,” Su Jingyang said. “I won’t live there.”
Liang Lu was surprised and about to ask where he found lodging so quickly. Su Jingyang cut him off by asking about the identity plaque. Liang Lu explained that it wasn’t hard. It just required greasing relationships, finding a few reputable figures to write affidavits to submit to the authorities as a reissue. Su Jingyang would be registered as his distant cousin.
As long as he could shed his unregistered status, Su Jingyang didn’t care.
The complete process though, would take at least a month.
When Liang Lu mentioned the bookshop, Su Jingyang had imagined something similar in size to the clothing shop. He was startled upon arrival. The place was unexpectedly large, even two stories tall. Rows of shelves held books arranged neatly by category. People read, copied, and purchased books inside, all quiet and orderly.
The scholarly atmosphere was so strong that Su Jingyang unconsciously softened his steps, afraid of disturbing anyone. He had always loved reading, sometimes classics, more often interesting miscellany. Truth be told, he liked this place. Working here beat selling clothes by far.
Liang Lu kept his word and advanced a month’s wages. Su Jingyang counted it. It was nearly five times what he had earned at the tailor’s shop. Given local prices, it would support him, Ling Li, and Ah Xuan for several months.
In high spirits, Su Jingyang immediately went to the rice shop to haul back two sacks, then bought some meat from a stall and strode home.
When he lugged the rice into the kitchen, Ling Li was staring at the pot of porridge, troubled by the few scattered grains inside. Payment for the basket work hadn’t come through yet. The little rice they had was on credit from Aunt Huang, who secretly passed him jobs. Such thin porridge wouldn’t fill Jingyang up.
Ah Xuan, toddling around Ling Li’s legs, spotted Su Jingyang first. He ran over happily, stumbling, arms outstretched to be picked up. He remembered the pastries, the sugar, and playing together. He was very attached to Su Jingyang.
Su Jingyang set the rice down, placed the meat on the board, wiped his sweat, then scooped the little one up and kissed him. Ah Xuan didn’t mind the sweat at all, wriggling happily in his arms.
Only then did Ling Li notice Su Jingyang’s return and the supplies he brought. His eyes widened. He asked where everything came from.
Su Jingyang told him. Ling Li’s expression turned unpleasant. He immediately told him to return both the wages and the purchases.
Su Jingyang spent a long while persuading him, explaining that it was all a misunderstanding from before. Ling Li couldn’t out-argue him and finally sighed, letting it rest for now.
That night, the table finally held solid rice and meat. Ah Xuan ate with relish, polishing off two full bowls that his little belly bulged up. Ling Li held his son, who could finally eat his fill, rubbing his cheek against the child’s, his chest aching.
Then Su Jingyang, sprawled in his chair digesting, received another wave of energy.
Before bed, Su Jingyang mentioned rent. Ling Li pressed his lips together and looked at him. His expression wasn’t obvious, yet Su Jingyang could tell he was upset, even hurt.
Su Jingyang quickly dropped the topic. He decided to make up for it by contributing more household supplies instead.
After starting work at the bookshop, life finally felt on track. His days filled up, time flew by, and before he knew it, autumn had arrived.
Su Jingyang went to and from work on schedule. Hot meals awaited him at home. It felt blissful. The dishes were simple, ingredients and seasonings few, yet whatever Ling Li cooked tasted especially good.
Every time he ate, Su Jingyang couldn’t stop. On a whim, he suggested Ling Li open a restaurant as a cook. Business would be great. Ling Li seemed tempted, then quickly shook his head. “No one would eat food I make.”
Su Jingyang swallowed his bite and said, “I would. I want to eat your cooking for the rest of my life. Ah Xuan too, right?”
Ah Xuan puffed his cheeks, waved his spoon, and babbled happily at Ling Li. He might have been a little slow, yet he was undeniably cute.
Ling Li’s light brown eyes curved into a gentle arc. He picked up a piece of meat and put it in Su Jingyang’s bowl, urging him to eat.
When the seven-colored rings surged in again, Su Jingyang barely reacted. He had grown used to it. He collected energy from Ling Li many times a day now. The system’s judgment didn’t lie, Ling Li truly was soft-hearted and easily moved.
Even so, a small worry crept into these smooth days.
The mole in his palm still hadn’t darkened. He still had to continue those encounters with the faceless man, unfailingly every five days. Lately though, the man seemed off. Several times during it, he acted strangely, gripping Su Jingyang’s hand as if trying to write something in his palm. Under the system’s control, his mind was hazy. Each time, after slowly and laboriously tracing a few strokes, he seemed to forget what he meant to write, then collapsed against Su Jingyang in frustrated nuzzling.
Once, Su Jingyang barely made out two characters: ‘you’ and ‘are’…
He was probably trying to ask: Who are you?!
Did that mean he had realized this wasn’t a spring dream?!
After waking, Su Jingyang hurriedly asked the system, “What if he’s starting to notice something’s wrong?!”
He was afraid the system would change people at the drop of a hat.
Sleeping with one stranger was already shameless enough. He didn’t want to end up sleeping with different men going forward!!!
The system replied coolly, “What, are you afraid he’ll specially come looking for you?”
“Afraid? Of course I am,” Su Jingyang said.
“……”
“Don’t flatter yourself, okay?!”
“How is that flattering myself?” Su Jingyang shot back. “I’m afraid he’ll come demanding compensation. He’s innocent too, forced by you to sell his body. I’m telling you now, I don’t have money to pay!”
“F*ck off!” the system snapped. “Didn’t you choose him yourself?!”
Angered by the blame reversal, Su Jingyang said, “Scummy system! As expected, you don’t play fair!”
They cursed each other out and parted on bad terms.
Lying in bed, Su Jingyang thought it over. The system hadn’t said anything about switching people. Once chosen, it probably couldn’t be changed. Otherwise, it would never let him off so easily. That eased his mind a little.
His dark eyes rolled. He definitely didn’t want to get pregnant. Still, he couldn’t help muttering in doubt, “It’s already been over three months… That man couldn’t be… tsk…”
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