In a corner of the hall,
Jiang Cheng took A Long and Li Shiyao to a spot where they would not easily be noticed.
That kid Lu Ming, meanwhile, had his soul hooked away by several socialites and heiresses, eagerly running over to strike up a conversation.
But Jiang Cheng was not worried. Though the guy looked foolish on the surface,
his mind was clear as a mirror—a certified tea-detector master.
Trying to take advantage of Lu Ming was harder than climbing to the heavens.
As for... tricking him into sex, the guy would definitely say something like, "There's such a good deal?" or "No need to go easy on me."
Seeing Jiang Cheng sit there without even sparing her a glance,
Li Shiyao gritted her teeth and decided to take the initiative.
The early bird got the worm, and the proactive bird picked the fattest worm!
"Senior, you must be tired. Let me massage your shoulders."
"N-no, hiss!"
Jiang Cheng had intended to refuse sternly, but who would have thought this girl was genuinely skilled?
She sent him straight to heaven!
It felt as though all the exhaustion in his body had vanished in that instant, leaving him full of energy.
Ahem.
He admitted that his voice had been a little loud just now.
Li Shiyao's eyes flashed with smugness and cunning. This was the ultimate move she had specially learned.
One massage, and Senior would be guaranteed to want another and another.
"Senior, what was that 'don't' you said just now? I didn't hear it clearly."
"Mmh, d-don't stop!"
Jiang Cheng silently praised his quick reflexes, closing his eyes as he enjoyed the massage.
There was nothing strange about a little sister giving her brother a massage, right?
Just as Jiang Cheng was getting so comfortable that he was about to doze off, a teasing voice rang out.
"Well, if it isn't Jiang Cheng?"
"Brother, who are you?"
Jiang Cheng slowly opened his eyes and looked calmly at the lean man strolling toward him.
Pfft.
The lean man nearly spat out a mouthful of blood, feeling like a clown.
The saddest thing in the world was when you took your opponent seriously, only to find that they had never considered you worth a thought.
The lean man felt as though his face had been slapped again and again.
If looks could kill, Jiang Cheng would have been cut into a thousand pieces by now.
The commotion here also drew the attention of everyone in the hall.
"Isn't that the Lin Family's Young Master?"
"I heard he was studying abroad and only recently returned."
"How did he run into Young Master Jiang as soon as he came back? This is going to be interesting."
Everyone spoke at once, turning their eyes toward them.
"Oh, so it's the overseas returnee... Brother Tianba."
Jiang Cheng's tone was calm, without much emotional fluctuation.
An overseas returnee? You look more like a turtle in the water to me.
Familiar with all sorts of characters from the story, he had recognized him at a glance. He had merely been teasing him earlier.
As for why Lin Tianba had it out for him, it was all because of Jiang Ruoxue.
As the Heroine, she had been beautiful ever since she was little.
Back in kindergarten,
she had been as exquisite as a porcelain doll, adored by teachers and little boys alike. Lin Tianba had been one of them.
But even then, Jiang Ruoxue had only liked playing with the "little hottie" Jiang Cheng.
Although she was older than Jiang Cheng, she always liked following him around and calling him Brother.
And when Lin Tianba was young, he had been as dark as a little chubby coal ball.
Whenever he came to play with Jiang Ruoxue, she would pull Jiang Cheng away with a look of disgust, pointing at Lin Tianba and saying,
"Black Ball, I don't want to play with you~"
But whenever it came to Jiang Cheng, it became, "Brother Jiang Cheng, please play with me~"
One could only imagine how devastating that sentence had been to a little boy!
Jiang Cheng almost wanted to dedicate A Spray of Plum Blossoms to Lin Tianba.
Snowflakes drifted, the north wind howled~
Later,
Lin Tianba successfully grew from Little Black Coal Ball into Big Black Coal Ball. The same treatment continued until middle school, after which Lin Tianba went abroad to study.
No one could stand such differential treatment.
Still, Jiang Cheng admired him. His ability to withstand psychological blows was truly strong.
Though you lost a happy childhood, you gained an unhappy childhood!
There were gains and losses.
Jiang Cheng did not know why this guy insisted on targeting him.
Jiang Cheng was still a little surprised that Lin Tianba had recognized him at a glance.
But on second thought, Lin Tianba had probably recognized his unchanging handsomeness.
That was still worth praising!
Hmm? That's it?
Listening to Jiang Cheng's indifferent tone,
Lin Tianba only felt as though he had punched cotton, utterly powerless.
Damn it, at least show some emotional reaction!
"Jiang Cheng, it's been years. I just returned from studying abroad, and I almost didn't recognize you."
Lin Tianba held out his hand. Seeing that Jiang Cheng did not react, he gave a fake smile and said,
"What? We were schoolmates, at least. You won't even give me that much face?"
He was indirectly calling him petty.
Jiang Cheng chuckled and extended his hand.
"Brother Tianba, you've changed quite a bit over the years. Still, I think you were cuter back then—dark and chubby, so festive-looking!"
"Oh, right. I kept all the gifts you gave Ruoxue for you. Come find me and pick them up when you have time."
Lin Tianba's expression stiffened, his teeth grinding in anger.
Provocation. Naked, blatant provocation!
He was poking exactly where it hurt. This was going too far!
"Hey~ Brother Tianba, why are you trembling? Maybe you should go to the hospital and get checked out. Health is the foundation of everything."
Jiang Cheng wore an innocent expression, revealing a harmless smile.
Everyone present was left stunned by his words. Young Master Jiang's words were not very damaging, but they were incredibly insulting.
"No need for your concern."
Lin Tianba was unwilling to let it go. His gaze fell on Li Shiyao, who was covering her mouth and stifling a laugh, and a flash of amazement passed through his eyes.
As the Lin Family's Young Master, he was never short of women.
But he had never had someone as exceptional as Li Shiyao around him. That damned Jiang Cheng was only a little more handsome.
Why did all the beautiful women throw themselves into his arms?!
With a cold snort, Lin Tianba left with a dark expression.
"Brother Cheng, that was so awesome!"
Lu Ming jogged over, looking excitedly at Jiang Cheng with undisguised admiration in his eyes.
"I was forced into it too."
Jiang Cheng spread his hands helplessly. Lin Tianba was the one who had come looking for trouble.
He was an honest man. He could not tell lies.
The two had barely sat down when Lu Ming began waggling his brows at Jiang Cheng.
"Bro, another sister-in-law is here."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Jiang Cheng turned around and happened to see Mu Qingcheng looking around as though searching for something.
The next second, their eyes met.
Mu Qingcheng's face lit up, and she quickly headed toward the corner.
Jiang Cheng hurriedly turned back and shot Lu Ming a glare.
"Don't call her that later, got it?"
"Brother Cheng, don't tell me you're going to deny her after pulling your pants up."
Lu Ming studied Jiang Cheng with a complicated expression. He remembered that Mu Qingcheng had been drugged last time.
If nothing had happened between them, he would not believe it even if someone beat him to death—unless Brother Cheng had some unspeakable condition.
Li Shiyao, standing nearby, widened her eyes at what she heard.
Denying her after pulling his pants up... Could Sister Mu already have...
Ah! How annoying. She was not the first one to eat the crab.
Li Shiyao wore a miserable expression and covered her ears in frustration.
Jiang Cheng had wanted to explain,
but Mu Qingcheng's gentle yet delighted voice had already reached them.
"Jiang Cheng, you're here too? We really are fated."
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