Chapter 36

Translator: Abo Dammen

Qin Guchuan actually understood what Chen Lu meant. What felt awkward was Chen Lu’s frank admission that having his back stroked felt strange.

It gave him a bizarre sense of satisfaction. 

‘This kind of mentality isn’t quite right,’ Qin Guchuan thought calmly.

So, just like Zhu Yi, who was gentle and considerate of others, and Fang Qizhi, who indulged his whims, loving someone to the point of wanting them to live and hating them to the point of wanting them to die… even after gaining awareness, was he, at his core, still the ‘Qin Guchuan’ from the story?

Thinking of all the things ‘Qin Guchuan’ had done in the plot, Qin Guchuan looked silently at the oblivious Chen Lu. And Chen Lu, seemingly without a care in the world, who had just been asking endless ‘whys’, was now happily texting someone.

“Who are you chatting with?” Qin Guchuan couldn’t help but ask. 

“Fang Qizhi,” Chen Lu replied without looking up, answering directly and conveying some good news to Qin Guchuan. “He got my number from my mentor and told me that Madame Feng contacted him.”

This meant the plot where he would be targeted by Qin Guchuan’s stepmother was progressing smoothly.

This was good news.

You had to understand, from Zhu Yi to Fang Qizhi, none of the plot characters had been following the script. Now, this Madame Feng was actually seriously inquiring about Chen Lu, sending Fang Qizhi unfriendly signals about him, and expressing a desire to form an alliance with Fang Qizhi… 

She was truly too dedicated.

Move Heavens and Earth!

Chen Lu conveyed this good news to Qin Guchuan, then looked down at a new message from Fang Qizhi and let out a wow. “Fang Qizhi asked me out for a meal alone, said he wants to talk.”

Qin Guchuan’s eyebrow twitched as he watched Chen Lu, all smiles, rapidly tap out a reply to Fang Qizhi. 

“Oh, let Uncle Sun know when you go. He’ll arrange a car,” Qin Guchuan said, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, his tone neutral.

Hearing this, Chen Lu’s hand, which was typing a reply to Fang Qizhi, paused.

Normally, after he said something like that, Qin Guchuan should act like a mother hen, telling him things to pay attention to when meeting Fang Qizhi, like maintaining his lovestruck image or something.

Chen Lu glanced up at Qin Guchuan. Somehow, from that still very domineering CEO face, he could see a hint of… dejection. 

Tilting his head slightly, Chen Lu looked at Qin Guchuan. “Are you unhappy?”

“No,” Qin Guchuan replied instinctively.

“Oh.” Chen Lu made a sound of acknowledgment, then instantly broke into a grin. He stopped fiddling with his phone and, as if looking at some rare spectacle, propped his chin in his hand and stared unblinkingly at Qin Guchuan.

Qin Guchuan: “…..” 

“Fang Qizhi sent you a message,” said Qin Guchuan, feeling uncomfortable after lying, pointing at Chen Lu’s lit screen.

“Oh, not important. It’s rare to see President Qin having a little mood. Gotta cherish it,” Chen Lu said with sincerity, mercilessly piercing through Qin Guchuan’s pretense.

Qin Guchuan: “……..”

“Chen Lu!” Qin Guchuan gritted his teeth, looking at Chen Lu with a dangerous glint in his eyes. 

Chen Lu wasn’t scared at all. In fact, he was delighted.

That sentence from Qin Guchuan telling him to reply to Fang Qizhi had been dripping with vinegar. Chen Lu obviously understood what Qin Guchuan was unhappy about.

It was precisely because he understood that Chen Lu laughed so happily. He kept laughing until Qin Guchuan’s hands were itching to do something, then finally reined it in. He pretended to comfort Qin Guchuan, saying, “Actually, it’s pretty normal not to want your friend to have other friends besides you. If you’re unhappy, you can say it out loud. Let me be happy for a while.”

Qin Guchuan: “…..” 

Facing Qin Guchuan’s increasingly dangerous eyes, Chen Lu could tell the other man genuinely wanted to hit someone. He immediately coughed dryly and raised his hands in surrender. “I’m just happy! This is the first time I’ve seen you have a personal desire! It makes you look…” Chen Lu thought for a moment, weighing his words, then said decisively, “…finally like a human being!”

Qin Guchuan was taken aback, pondering Chen Lu’s words.

Finally like a human?

Looking at his own reflection in Chen Lu’s clear eyes, Qin Guchuan felt as if, in an instant, all those dark thoughts in his heart became… ordinary. 

“Before, you always seemed omnipotent, always felt very distant,” Chen Lu complained loudly. Then he began, holding his face at Qin Guchuan, “But like this, it makes me feel like I’m super important to you.”

Qin Guchuan looked at Chen Lu, who was flirting in creative ways, completely fearless, easily stating his dark thoughts as if it were everyday conversation, and couldn’t help but say, “…Aren’t you the least bit embarrassed?”

“Not at all,” Chen Lu said, pointing at Zhou Ji. “As long as there’s someone else to feel embarrassed for me.”

Zhou Ji, who felt he should be under the car, not inside it watching his boss being teased by his kept man: “……..” 

He finally understood why the bodyguards on duty sometimes spoke of Chen Lu in tones of both love and hate.

The hate was because this person truly spared no one when it came to teasing people.

The love was… when this person teased him, he’d even give him a wink…

Qin Guchuan, watching his competent assistant blush: “…” 

He felt he should send this assistant for some professional training.

Arriving at the Qin residence, Chen Lu visibly saw Zhou Ji relax with a sigh of relief. Then, glancing at the bodyguards already lined up outside the car door to greet them, he said to Qin Guchuan with a perfectly straight face, “See, I told you I’m not really suitable to ride in the same car as you. It’s not good for anyone.”

Qin Guchuan, seeing right through Chen Lu’s little scheme, reached out and hooked his collar, not giving him a chance to run, and said calmly, “Weren’t you the one who said you wouldn’t be embarrassed?”

Chen Lu, who actually would be embarrassed: “…” 

Howling like ghosts and wolves, Chen Lu entered the Qin residence. He chose to sever ties with the merciless Qin Guchuan for ten seconds, then began a new rehearsal.

After ‘Chen Lu’ fell into the water and was pulled out by Qin Guchuan, their embrace ushered in a brief sweet period. This period mainly involved changes in their emotions and psychology. Most of it was Qin Guchuan staring at ‘Chen Lu’ from somewhere, or ‘Chen Lu’ blushing after seeing Qin Guchuan and thinking of something. There were hardly any lines, it was basically a plot they could muddle through.

So, this time, the main rehearsal was for the appearance of Qin Guchuan’s vicious stepmother.

—— She arrogantly throws a five-million check in front of Chen Lu. “I don’t know how you managed to sneak into the Qin family, but you’re not welcome here. Qin Guchuan already has a fiancée, someone from his own social circle. The Qin family is a branch too high for you to climb. Take this money and get lost.” 

—— “What? You’re saying Qin Guchuan won’t let you leave? That’s ridiculous. Could Qin Guchuan possibly lack for people? Who doesn’t see through this? It’s just you using tricks and schemes to stay by Qin Guchuan’s side, you bitch.”

—— “I heard your family’s gambling debts aren’t even fully paid off yet. Think carefully. If you agree now, you’ll get this five million, allowing your family to start over cleanly, without all those messy problems.”

—— “If you don’t agree, I have plenty of other ways to make you leave. It’s just a bit more troublesome. By then, you won’t get a single cent, and you might even end up with a lot more debt.” Madame Feng smiles, meaningfully glancing at the expensive clothes ‘Chen Lu’ is wearing. What these ‘debts’ refer to goes without saying.

Although it seemed that so far, the two plot characters with more screen time hadn’t followed the script normally, rehearsal was still necessary. 

Qin Guchuan sat opposite Chen Lu, took out a five-million check, slapped it on the table in front of Chen Lu, and very seriously delivered his line. “I don’t know how you managed to sneak into the Qin family…… Take this money and get lost.”

For this scene, Qin Guchuan was prepared for the rehearsal to fail.

However, the failure Qin Guchuan anticipated was because he was playing the vicious stepmother and delivering the lines, which might make Chen Lu laugh or something. It did not include…

Chen Lu’s gaze glued itself to the five-million check, his eyes shining brightly. He didn’t laugh. In fact, he delivered his line with a perfectly straight face. “I never intended to climb the Qin family’s social ladder. If Mr. Qin agrees, I don’t need your money. I’ll leave immediately.” 

Instead, it was Qin Guchuan, looking at Chen Lu’s expression, who couldn’t deliver his next line. “…..”

This rehearsal was definitely hopeless.

“Where’s your grievance and pitiable appearance?” Qin Guchuan’s lips twitched as he reached out and took the five-million check back.

Chen Lu coughed awkwardly. It was mainly because remembering that ‘Chen Lu’ in the plot actually accepted the five million made it hard to control his emotions. 

Taking a deep breath, Chen Lu adjusted his mood, feeling sure he could portray the perfect little white flower this time.

Chen Lu immediately assured Qin Guchuan, “No problem, no problem! Let’s start over!”

Qin Guchuan looked at Chen Lu uncertainly and once again slapped the five-million check on the table in front of him. He saw Chen Lu immediately adeptly put on an expression of grievance and vulnerability… while simultaneously looking at the check with shining eyes.

Qin Guchuan, looking at the two completely different emotions conveyed by this face: “……..” 

Qin Guchuan didn’t feel angry. He just felt amazed.

How was this even possible?

“…Who could refuse five million?” Chen Lu protested his innocence to Qin Guchuan.

Qin Guchuan looked at Chen Lu. 

Chen Lu looked at Qin Guchuan.

“Special training,” Qin Guchuan said mercilessly.

Chen Lu: “?”