Chapter 15

Translator: Abo Dammen

Qin Guchuan actually hesitated for a while before sending that painting back to the Qin estate. 

The main hesitation was that he himself hadn’t done anything, but because of the “plot”, he had even had to “bully” Chen Lu several times. Even under those circumstances, Chen Lu could still call him “darling,” which made it look like Chen Lu was being influenced too deeply by the storyline in his head.

Could it be that they were still in the final extra chapter stage of the plot—the part where the two are sweetly in love?

…Although, at that time, “Chen Lu” was supposed to be gentle and calm, resilient yet mature—a personality not quite the same as the current one.

But aside from this explanation, there didn’t really seem to be any other. 

So under these circumstances, if he sent Chen Lu a painting by one of his favorite artists, wouldn’t that be a little inappropriate? And considering Chen Lu was already so brazen in the Qin estate, if he sent him something on top of that, Chen Lu would only get more carried away.

The reasons not to send the painting were many, each one enough to convince Qin Guchuan. The reason to send it was just one—

He honestly found it hard to appreciate that painting’s so-called “artistic value.”

And that one reason easily defeated all the others. 

Carrying that painting onto the plane was enough to put real psychological pressure on him.

He also couldn’t understand why “Chen Lu” would like artwork in that style. After all, in the original plot, Chen Lu’s paintings were described as full of healing and natural beauty. Everyone who saw them would feel his richness, softness, kindness, purity, serenity, sincerity, resilience, warmth, and a transcendent sense of life’s beauty.

Recalling the exaggerated praise lavished on Chen Lu’s paintings in the story, Qin Guchuan really did want to see them for himself one day to know whether they truly had that “one glance can wash away all fatigue” effect.

But as for the gift Chen Lu actually received… After having nightmares for two nights, he woke up, then stared at that dark, oppressive painting for a long time… 

The next evening, while on a business trip abroad, Qin Guchuan checked the study’s surveillance before bed to see what nonsense Chen Lu might have been babbling at him today.

This time, however, when he opened the feed, what filled the screen wasn’t Chen Lu’s pitiful “fragile little white flower” face, but a pair of crimson eyes glaring straight from the abyss.

Qin Guchuan, “……”

Thanks. Sleep ruined. 

Chen Lu, who had deliberately launched an “art attack” on someone, kept his name well hidden.

Whether it was effective or not, Chen Lu didn’t know. But the very next day, the painting placed in front of the study camera abruptly disappeared. Presumably the butler, under certain instructions, had committed the deed.

And so, after swaggering about for half a month, when Chen Lu finally heard from the kitchen that they should prepare the young master’s dinner tonight, the news felt almost surreal.

His “last meal” was finally coming. Chen Lu found himself a little reluctant. 

After all, the anime he’d just started in this world wasn’t finished, the manga he was following was still ongoing, and with just two more days he could have leveled up in his game.

Why couldn’t Boss Qin just stay on his business trip a bit longer!

Shamelessly, Chen Lu directed this complaint at Qin Guchuan in his heart, then calmly tried to recall the delicate “little white flower” act he had put on before.

Maybe Boss Qin would be blind enough to believe it again? 

Better to trust the plot’s ability to save itself.

Dedicated as ever, Chen Lu even went to the kitchen to dab a little flour on himself.

Back then, just looking like this had made Zhu Yi so concerned that he wanted to send Chen Lu to the hospital. Surely when Qin Guchuan saw him like this—frail, pitiful, yet bravely struggling—he would at least feel a little sympathy.

So, after rushing back exhausted from his overseas business trip, Qin Guchuan stepped out of the car and immediately saw Chen Lu, standing together with the butler in the hall, looking so weak he might collapse any second, but still mustering the strength to welcome him home. 

Qin Guchuan was so startled that he instantly sobered up.

He even stopped in his tracks and instinctively looked up at the towering mansion in front of him, double-checking several times that this was indeed the Qin residence, and that the person in front of him wasn’t just someone who happened to look exactly like Chen Lu.

Qin Guchuan, who had seen Chen Lu’s true colors through the surveillance feed, “……”

Looking at the servants all pretending to be statues, eyes lowered, ignoring the scene, Qin Guchuan realized he didn’t particularly want to look either. 

Because it was really hard to keep a straight face.

After several seconds of silence, he finally walked forward again. When he reached Chen Lu, he kept his face composed, and said in a calm, steady voice, “Go to the study.”

That steady voice, to Chen Lu’s ears, was like being doused with ice water.

Three words flashed through his mind: I’m doomed. 

Sigh… looks like playing the pitiful card doesn’t work on Boss Qin after all.

In the end, it was this world itself that wasn’t trying hard enough.

Chen Lu very smoothly dumped the blame elsewhere, then followed behind Qin Guchuan at a snail’s pace, so slow it was like he took three steps and glanced back once, soon falling far behind.

He was stalling for as much time as he could. 

It wasn’t that Chen Lu was struggling pointlessly. After tossing the blame onto this world, a new storyline finally began to unfold in his mind.

——The new storyline began with Qin Guchuan deliberately keeping his distance for a while, trying not to think about “Chen Lu.” Yet upon returning to the Qin estate, one day when he happened to look up, he caught sight of “Chen Lu” leaning against the balcony rail, the wind tousling his hair, his face shadowed with melancholy. Qin Guchuan froze, staring for a long moment.

——Then the two of them shared some small, seemingly trivial interaction.

Chen Lu, who had no sense of romance whatsoever, brushed off those details as unimportant, focusing instead on the latter half of the storyline. 

——Thanks to Zhu Yi’s efforts, “Chen Lu’s” mother’s condition temporarily stabilized. Her illness was quite unusual, and the specialist Zhu Yi invited over was deeply interested in conducting further treatment. He even mentioned being able to apply for a medical research fund.

——About a week later, Zhu Yi came to the Qin estate for the regular monthly follow-up. He had originally planned to wait until the fund was approved before telling “Chen Lu”, but when he saw how gaunt “Chen Lu” had become, his heart softened, and he shared the good news in advance.

——But “Chen Lu” couldn’t forget how Qin Guchuan’s gaze always saw only his “white moonlight”. Proud as he was, the wound to his self-esteem never healed, so he resolved to ask Qin Guchuan to end their contract.

——At the same time, Qin Guchuan instantly realized what “Chen Lu” was planning. 

——’Even you want to leave me?!’

The new storyline in Chen Lu’s head cut off right there at the moment Qin Guchuan blackened. Looking over that ending again and again, Chen Lu instinctively felt like he already knew where this was headed.

He hadn’t read many old-school webnovels, but he’d watched enough anime, dramas, and played enough games to recognize the pattern: when a side character barges into the story of two destined leads and even tries to break apart a couple who are literally “heaven-made for each other”, the ending is almost guaranteed to be miserable.

Chen Lu remembered how, at their last meeting, Zhu Yi had shown him such genuine concern. And with how often the storyline emphasized Zhu Yi’s honesty and kindness, he couldn’t help but sigh. 

In his mind, Chen Lu gave Zhu Yi a consoling pat on the shoulder. Don’t worry, you don’t have to suffer for long—the world’s about to end anyway.

From the study doorway, Qin Guchuan watched Chen Lu sighing and sighing, utterly perplexed.

He recalled how, on the surveillance feed, he’d seen Chen Lu sprawled out happily gaming in this very room…

Could it be that he was sighing because now that Qin Guchuan was back, he had no computer to use? 

Their thought processes were completely out of sync. After staring at Chen Lu for a while, Qin Guchuan finally spoke first, “Chen Lu, come in.”

Chen Lu moved into the study at a pace that suggested he was cherishing every last second left in this world. Qin Guchuan, filled with question marks, simply watched but didn’t rush him.

After all, when you provoked a troublemaking kid like this, you never knew what even scarier stunt he might pull.

Love and peace. 

Once Chen Lu had fully entered, Qin Guchuan reached out to close the study door, then turned back and asked, “Chen Lu, you know what comes next, don’t you?”

Chen Lu, head bowed as if bracing for judgment, didn’t quite register what Qin Guchuan meant. He lifted his head slightly, eyes full of confusion. “Huh?”

“I mean…” Qin Guchuan tapped his temple with a finger.

“You’ve got the next part of the story in your head too, don’t you?”