Chapter 42.3

Rong Jing stared intently at the light in the operating room. If Xie Zhanhong could stay alive this time, it would mean that everything he had done wasn’t in vain.

After an unknown amount of time, the red light turned green, and the unconscious Xie Zhanhong was wheeled out. The doctor ambiguously told Xie Ling that his father needed to exercise restraint in such wild matters. Looking back at the resuscitation process this time, Xie Zhanhong had a weak heartbeat at one point. If he had arrived a few minutes later, he might have been directly sent to the funeral home.

Rong Jing’s body almost went weak for a moment. Xie Ling thought it was because he heard that their father had been saved.

In reality, Rong Jing felt that he had been one step ahead of fate, and while the plot had come full circle, the outcome was different. Although Rong Jing didn’t particularly like Xie Zhanhong, having this trouble-making stepfather alive was… still better.

Xie Ling’s entire face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot. Upon hearing the doctor’s words, it felt like he had been slapped across the face with several hands. What had this father done besides causing trouble for him? He was unworthy of being a father. Did he really have to end up like his grandfather said, dying in the arms of a woman?

After more than half an hour, Xie Zhanhong finally opened his eyes and looked around the white hospital room, his gaze hesitant.

I’m still alive?

After having his stomach pumped and being under anesthesia, he doesn’t feel much pain now.

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Rong Jing looked at Xie Zhanhong’s face, still as handsome as ever, which showed a bit of aging compared to his radiant appearance at the previous banquet. He asked, “Do you remember who gave you the drug?”

Xie Zhanhong, full of resentment, replied, “It’s those two bitches. Tell your big brother to catch them, they shouldn’t be allowed to escape!”

“You know you only have Big Brother to rely on, so why do you keep angering him?” Rong Jing questioned.

Xie Zhanhong averted his gaze as if trying to conceal something and looked at the sky tinged with a dark blue hue. After a moment of silence, he self-mockingly said, “If he could choose his father, I know he’d never pick me. He’d probably save you first if we both fell into water.”

After experiencing a near-death situation, Xie Zhanhong’s attitude towards Rong Jing had undergone some changes. During the critical moment, it was Rong Jing’s reminder that made him vigilant. Although he didn’t take it seriously at first, when he was forced to take the drug, perhaps due to a strong will to survive, he suddenly thought of what he said, convincing himself to stay alert and not swallow it.

Rong was like a link between him and Xie Ling, prompting Xie Zhanhong to have a desire to confide, “The day his mother left, I actually wanted to genuinely turn over a new leaf, but after enduring for a month, I just couldn’t do it. I’m just not cut out for business, otherwise, why burden Xie Ling with so much at such a young age?”

Rong Jing: “…” So, you knew all along.

“When he was born, the old man said he was the only seedling of our Xie family. He told me to stay away from him, so I wouldn’t corrupt him. On top of that, Xiao Ling doesn’t even like me. The kid has a high IQ but a scary low EQ. Look at him, all alone. Who would dare want him?”

“Big brother is good, way better than most people. You know it better than I do,” Rong Jing quickly exposed Xie Zhanhong’s duplicity.

Rong Jing seemed to have a bit of understanding. Xie Zhanhong wasn’t clueless about his own foolhardiness. However, desire triumphed over morality; it had become a habit over the years. It wasn’t that he didn’t care about Xie Ling, but what separated them was the life of Xie Ling’s mother that was taken—something not easily overcome with a few words.

Xie Zhanhong found some solace in Rong Jing’s response. Finally, there was someone in the family who could understand Xie Ling. One was enough; Xie Ling was too lonely.

Xie Zhanhong glanced at the door again, thinking that his eldest son probably wouldn’t come back for a while. He said to Rong Jing, “Don’t be fooled by his tough exterior. I know he has never said anything nice to you since childhood, but that guy’s just stupid. The more he cares, the less he shows it. With his stubborn temper, if I really died, who else would care about him?”

“Who knows, he might not even have a decent grave if he dies.”

“Rong Jing, Dad doesn’t want to die,” For the first time, Xie Zhanhong referred to himself as ‘Dad’ in front of Rong Jing. “Even if he hates it, I just want to stay alive and annoy the heck out of him.”

After these words, Xie Zhanhong turned his face away. This man, who had been wandering around for most of his life, finally spoke a true statement after surviving a life-threatening situation.

Suddenly, Rong Jing remembered a scene from the original novel. After Xie Jisheng crushed a person’s bones, he threw the ashes into a rotating disk, mixed them with clay, and crafted them into cups, which he displayed in his study as works of art to admire from time to time.

He asked Gu Xi once, “Can you guess who is inside this?”

Gu Xi ignored him, and so he enjoyed admiring it on his own. Later, he poured a glass of water in the cup and forcefully made Gu Xi drink it.

Whose ashes were those? Was it perhaps a mixture of different ashes?

Rong Jing dared not think further. He only came out of the room when Xie Zhanhong’s spirit went down. Surprisingly, he found Xie Ling, who had actually been listening outside the room for who knows how long, leaning against the wall and silently staring into the void.

When Xie Ling spotted him, his previously imposing demeanor softened, “Let’s go. I’ll see you off.”

“Brother…”

“He’s skilled at manipulating people with flowery words. Don’t fall for it.”

“Oh.”

Deciding to stay out of the father-son drama, Rong Jing shared the details of what Xie Zhanhong had revealed before leaving.

“Those two women had planned to board the plane. It seems they had orchestrated this well in advance. Luckily, our people managed to intercept.”

Xie Ling seemed to have reached a certain conclusion in his mind. He patted Rong Jing’s head, as if reluctant to bring up these distressing topics again, and said, “I’ll handle these matters, you’ve already done enough.”

Rong Jing felt it wasn’t enough; he wanted to completely change the original story.

Seeing Rong Jing still dissatisfied, Xie Ling chuckled.

“You’re young, don’t dwell on unnecessary matters. Didn’t you tell me a few days ago that you got cast by a crew and now you’re still idle? Since it has always been your dream, go ahead and pursue it. If you don’t achieve something, don’t even call yourself my younger brother.”

“I know. We’re having a dinner party later,” Thinking about how Xie Ling had always been against the original soul entering the entertainment industry but eventually agreed now, Rong Jing realized that Xie Ling would ultimately go along with his younger brother’s wishes.

Recalling the dangerous incident in the afternoon, Rong Jing asked, “Big brother, besides that accident, have you had any other life-threatening experiences lately?”

Xie Ling looked at him strangely, “No.”

Rong Jing was confused. Is it just me? Everyone’s just cannon fodder, why am I the only one who’s in the limelight? Oh well, it’s not like I can figure things out now, so let’s put this matter aside.

“There’s also the matter with the old man…”

In the original story, Xie Ling’s sudden heart attack was quickly concluded, Xie Zhanhong died from an overdose, and the Old Man Xie also passed away not long after their deaths due to a heart attack.

“There’s also something there, you should come then. Also, Grandfather said he wants to meet you,” Xie Ling paused. “Xiao Jing, I think Grandfather would prefer it if you call him ‘Grandfather’.”

Old Man Xie had been in a semi-comatose state in the nursing home. 

Rong Jing, alone in this world, always felt lost and remained detached, feeling out of place in this world. He just wanted to live and find his way back home. But at some point, he didn’t know when, perhaps at this moment, or maybe even earlier, it seemed like he wasn’t alone anymore.

There was once a simple word that slowly landed on the ground, then engraved itself in his heart stroke by stroke.

That word was—family.

“Okay.”

*

Rong Jing arrived at the KTV the crew mentioned, and it was already around ten in the evening. This place was situated in a building in the bustling city center, equipped with a self-service buffet area. When the waiter led Rong Jing to the designated private room, the thick smoke inside hit his face. He instinctively covered his eyes that were struggling to stay open.

Suddenly, he recalled that both the director, Liu Yu, and the assistant director were heavy smokers. In this line of work with immense pressure, they needed some way to relieve stress, and it seemed like countless nights were spent in places like this.

Rong Jing coughed a few times.

No, smelling this scent, the nicotine addiction of this body seemed to be acting up again.

The person currently holding the microphone and singing was someone Rong Jing found familiar. As the spotlight shone down, Qi Ying turned around and glanced over, subtly provoking him with a look.

This was an Omega who knew how to use their charm very well.

If it were the original soul, he might have already been chanted by this seductive gaze. However, Rong Jing remained expressionless, shifting his gaze away.

Even someone like Gu Xi can’t break my resolve, so what chance do you think you have?

Others also noticed him all at once. Perhaps having had a few drinks and feeling a bit tipsy, one pointed at Rong Jing and loudly exclaimed, “Wow, look at this handsome guy! Where did he come from?!”

Liu Yu also spotted him and handed him a full glass of alcohol, saying, “Come, come, Isn’t this Fu Qianming, the one who can make everyone swoon with just a smile? You’re the only one missing in this party.”

Fu Qianming was the character Rong Jing was going to portray.

Rong Jing raised his glass to them, glanced around, but didn’t see Gu Xi. He asked in a low voice, “Director Liu, where’s Gu Xi?”

Director Liu Yu furrowed his brow in displeasure. “You Alphas, you’re here to get drunk but your minds are not even on the alcohol. Always with Gu Xi this, Gu Xi that. Can’t you guys walk straight without him? Every time he sees you guys, he hides. Look at how you all scare him. Stop looking for him, I’ve already hidden him away. I don’t want you guys drooling over him all the time.”

Rong Jing swept a glance around and indeed saw some Alpha actors and crew members looking at him with a knowing gaze, as if their eyes silently conveyed ‘We get it man. Who wouldn’t want a piece of Gu Xi?’.

“Handsome guy, you’re the only newbie here, so go greet the seniors. Don’t skimp on the proper etiquette!” Liu Yu slapped Rong Jing on the shoulder. “Go on, raise a toast.”

Liu Yu, having already consumed alcohol quite a bit, rushed to grab the microphone and started singing like a playful child. Rong Jing had barely smiled when he noticed a scrutinizing gaze from the side. The assistant director still harbored doubts about Rong Jing’s selection, and there was a hint of dissatisfaction in their attitude.

As Liu Yu had left, Rong Jing was now closer to the assistant director.

Assistant director: “I hope Gu Xi’s choice this time won’t disappoint us. Otherwise, you won’t just be losing face for yourself.”

For the sake of this handpicked candidate, they even had to reject the main investor. How could they not feel disheartened?

After saying this, the assistant director downed an entire glass of alcohol. Before Rong Jing could respond, others came over to toast the assistant director.

The other actors, including Qi Ying, all had a higher status than Rong Jing. After going around toasting everyone, Rong Jing started to feel a bit dizzy. Using the excuse of going to the restroom, he walked towards the exit. The smoke inside the private room was suffocating. While walking, he sent a text to Gu Xi: “Where are…”

Before he could even finish the text message, as he passed by an empty room, a hand suddenly reached out from the darkness.

*

Big Jing: No one should think about tarnishing my innocence.