I'd Risk Anything but My Life

This restaurant's food wasn't as good as he had imagined, but at least the atmosphere was nice enough to make up for the disappointment to his taste buds.

Bai Yunsheng gently set his chopsticks aside. "Brother, you've probably never eaten at a restaurant like this before, have you?"

Mr. Meng's gaze flickered slightly. His slender fingers pressed against the base of his wineglass as he said indifferently, "No. I've eaten everything. After all, when I was little, I often didn't get enough to eat."

Bai Yunsheng froze.

Didn't get enough to eat... in the way he understood it?

But wasn't he a member of the Meng Household? Even if he was an illegitimate child, it shouldn't have been possible...

Mr. Meng seemed to see what Bai Yunsheng was thinking. "Back then, my father didn't like me very much. In his eyes, there was only my eldest brother. Just like you." Then, as though he had thought of something, he added with a smile, "But there's one difference. You aren't an illegitimate child."

Before his rebirth, Bai Yunsheng had heard bits and pieces about Meng Shangzhi's past.

It was just that Bai Yunsheng hadn't cared back then.

After his rebirth, he heard such things less often, though occasionally he still caught wind of them. Bai Yunsheng hadn't believed them. How could someone like Meng Shangzhi have lived that kind of life?

He was Meng Shangzhi.

Something flashed through his mind—something colorful, along with crying. It seemed to be on some rooftop, but the scene quickly turned into a vast expanse of white. The transition took only a second, like a blade slicing through his brain. The pain made Bai Yunsheng gasp.

"What's wrong?"

With a thud.

It was as if ripple after ripple had been smashed into a calm lake.

At some point, Meng Shangzhi had come to stand beside Bai Yunsheng. The white tablecloth had been stained dark red by the overturned wineglass. "Shengsheng, what's wrong?"

Bai Yunsheng slowly opened his eyes. His lashes were damp with tears from the pain. "N-Nothing. It just suddenly hurt."

Concern flashed through Meng Shangzhi's eyes. "Have you been to the hospital?"

Bai Yunsheng stared blankly at the pool of spilled wine and shook his head. "No." Then he braced himself against the table and stood, gently brushing away Meng Shangzhi's hand from his shoulder. "I'm fine. Don't worry too much."

That little incident drained the mood from the meal.

After leaving the restaurant, Bai Yunsheng waited at the entrance for Meng Shangzhi to bring the car over.

Several more groups of diners entered beside him.

Bai Yunsheng watched Meng Shangzhi walk away, staring absently at his retreating figure.

He couldn't help thinking of that dream.

Of that back.

The two figures gradually overlapped.

Yet they were different.

Meng Shangzhi's back was straight and broad, giving off an intangible sense of security.

But the person in the dream, though also upright, was thinner than Meng Shangzhi.

Bai Yunsheng was so absorbed that he didn't notice someone standing beside him. Only when a choking cloud of smoke was blown into his face did he snap back to his senses. He coughed several times and stepped back.

Sheng Chengguang had a cigarette between his lips and wore a wicked grin. "What are you looking at? You seem so engrossed."

What a coincidence. Bai Yunsheng frowned. He had only come out for a meal, yet he had run into someone he hated. He instinctively shifted aside and ignored him.

Sheng Chengguang stared at Bai Yunsheng's profile for a while, casually tossed his cigarette onto the ground, and crushed it beneath his shoe. "Why do you always treat me like this whenever you see me? I don't remember offending you."

Bai Yunsheng gave a cold snort. "Anyone who hangs around Gao Yan can't be anything good."

Sheng Chengguang raised his hands innocently. "Don't wrong me. He and I only keep up appearances; we aren't close. It's just what our families require."

Bai Yunsheng said, "What does that have to do with me?"

Sheng Chengguang ignored Bai Yunsheng's distant attitude and instead moved closer. "Are you alone?"

Bai Yunsheng didn't answer.

Sheng Chengguang muttered to himself, "Definitely not. Someone like you couldn't possibly come out alone and wait in line for food. That's not like you."

"Who came with you?"

"Let me guess."

"Zhang Cheng? I heard he seems to like you quite a bit. Is he planning to pursue you?"

The disgust on Bai Yunsheng's face became even more obvious. "Can you stop being disgusting?"

Sheng Chengguang said, "Not him? Then let me think."

"Gu Jing? That day, he told me you were the prettiest boy he'd ever seen."

Bai Yunsheng glanced toward the road. He didn't know whether there was traffic, but Meng Shangzhi's car still hadn't arrived.

Sheng Chengguang smiled. "Looks like it isn't him."

"Then there's only one person left."

At Sheng Chengguang's words, Bai Yunsheng finally turned to look at him.

"Meng Shangzhi." The moment those three words left his mouth, Bai Yunsheng's expression finally changed. It was no longer filled with disgust and rejection.

Sheng Chengguang immediately knew he had guessed right. For no reason, irritation rose in his heart, though none of it showed on his face. "So it really is him."

"Bai Yunsheng, I've realized you're pretty impressive."

"You just stand there, doing nothing, yet you've already seduced quite a few people. Even I've been left obsessed with you. Tell me, aren't you quite the slut?" Sheng Chengguang's words were malicious. The corners of his eyes lifted slightly, and though he wore a smiling face, he didn't look happy at all.

Bai Yunsheng had never been indifferent in the face of others' malice. "Animals go into heat anytime, anywhere."

Sheng Chengguang didn't mind. "You think Meng Shangzhi isn't an animal?"

Bai Yunsheng frowned.

"An illegitimate son who managed to obtain all the Meng Household's shares and take the position of chairman—you think Meng Shangzhi is a good person?"

"What he's done may be worse than what animals do."

"At most, I get worked up when I see something pretty. But he didn't even spare his own brother, his own father, or—oh right—his own grandfather."

Bai Yunsheng's eyes darkened. He turned around and grabbed Sheng Chengguang by the collar. "Don't say anything bad about Meng Shangzhi in front of me."

Sheng Chengguang said, "Angry? I only said a few things, and you're already this angry?" He glanced at Bai Yunsheng's hand. The knuckles on the fair back of it stood out, white from the force. "Bai Yunsheng, don't tell me you like him?"

"I'm kindly warning you: someone like Meng Shangzhi isn't someone you can handle."

People were constantly passing by, and more and more gazes were turning toward Bai Yunsheng.

Bai Yunsheng didn't want to make a scene outside. He shoved Sheng Chengguang hard, then released him.

"Who said I was just playing around? I like him. No matter what kind of person he is, I like him."

Sheng Chengguang staggered back a step from the shove. Hearing Bai Yunsheng's words, his expression finally darkened.

"Sheng Chengguang, remember this. If I hear you say anything bad about Meng Shangzhi again, I swear you'll end up worse than Feng Tingfan. I'd risk anything but my life."