To Jiang Xun, Fu Yanli was a straight man who had been married for three years and clearly had no interest in Jiang Zixing. Apart from initiating a conversation, he hadn't spared Jiang Zixing so much as an extra glance.
Jiang Xun propped up his head, engrossed in his covert observations.
Just then, the man opposite him suddenly lifted his eyes and looked his way. It wasn't accidental; his target was Jiang Xun.
Before Jiang Xun could look away, he was caught red-handed.
His gaze met those dark eyes, seemingly veiled in a thin mist. They were mysterious, like an abyss whose depths he couldn't see.
Jiang Xun was only startled for a moment before calmly raising his wineglass in a toast across the table, an innocent smile appearing on his face.
Fu Yanli casually withdrew his gaze, then lifted his glass and took a token sip, his Adam's apple bobbing.
After that, Jiang Xun didn't look across the table again.
The fruit wine tasted good. It wasn't astringent, and a hint of tartness complemented its refreshing sweetness and fruity aroma.
Jiang Xun enjoyed tasting wine and had collected quite a few prestigious bottles in his previous life. Unfortunately, he'd died suddenly before he could drink them.
He drank glass after glass, never expecting to get drunk.
His cheeks grew warm, and through the haze in his head, he thought about how terrible the original owner's alcohol tolerance was. Even low-alcohol fruit wine could go straight to his head.
Deng Shu, sitting beside him, was the first to notice something was wrong. She asked in surprise, "Xiao Xun, how did you get drunk? Are you all right?"
Jiang Xun smiled faintly, his gaze a little unfocused. "I'm fine. I just need a moment."
"That won't do." Fu Sang looked at her son. "Xingye, take Xiao Xun to a room to rest."
Chu Xingye wasn't willing. Folding his arms, he shot Jiang Xun a disdainful sidelong glance. "No. Whoever wants to take him can do it."
Jiang Xun scoffed. His mind was fuzzy, and he couldn't be bothered to keep up the act anymore. Two words slipped lightly from his lips: "Scrawny mutt."
It wasn't particularly damaging, but it was deeply insulting.
Some things simply couldn't be tolerated-an insult to a man's dignity, for instance. Chu Xingye, the proud owner of six-pack abs, gritted his teeth. "Who are you talking about?"
Jiang Xun leaned back in his chair, idly playing with the wineglass in his hand, then unconsciously tipped his head back for another sip.
"Whoever gets worked up about it."
"You!"
Furious, Chu Xingye shot to his feet and started lifting his shirt to show Jiang Xun his six-pack, only for his mother to smack him on the back of the head halfway through.
"That's enough. Settle down and stop embarrassing me."
Chu Xingye reluctantly sat back down, while others thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle.
Grandma Chu laughed the hardest, marveling that someone could finally keep her little tyrant of a grandson in check.
Xiao Xun really was entertaining. Her initial impression of the boy hadn't been good, but in such a short time, he seemed to have become an entirely different person.
Jiang Shiyuan, however, felt embarrassed. He explained with an awkward smile, "Jiang Xun never watches his mouth. Don't take it to heart, Xingye. I'll give him a proper talking-to when we get home."
Chu Xingye couldn't very well scowl at an elder, so he waved it off graciously. "It's fine."
Grandma Chu said, "What would you scold him for? Xiao Xun must have suffered so much all those years away. That trafficker was utterly heartless. Shiyuan, you all need to treat Xiao Xun well."
"You're absolutely right."
Jiang Zixing's expression shifted subtly. He glanced at Jiang Xun, who sat languidly in his drunken state, showing none of his former inferiority or unease. He looked composed and confident.
How had his personality changed so suddenly?
Suppressing his doubts, he put on a shy smile and looked at Fu Yanli.
His eyes held anticipation as he asked softly, "Maternal Uncle Fu, can I come to your place to hang out with my second brother sometime?"
It was unclear where Fu Yanli's gaze had settled, and his emotions were unreadable behind those mist-veiled eyes. Only after a long moment did he answer indifferently, "Ask your second brother."
"Oh... okay."
Jiang Zixing lowered his eyes, concealing his disappointment.
Jiang Xun was thoroughly drunk. The fruit wine had tasted just like a soft drink, but he'd never expected it to hit so hard. By the end, he was barely conscious.
Hold on. Hold on... I can't hold on anymore.
That bout of drunkenness lasted straight into the following morning, when Jiang Xun woke up in his own room.
The previous night's events fell into two sections: before he got drunk and after. He remembered the former clearly, while the latter was a complete blank.
He didn't even know how he'd gotten home.
This body really was pathetic.
Jiang Xun raised a hand to rub his faintly aching temples, only to suddenly realize something was wrong.
Wait, where did this watch come from?
Jiang Xun stared at the expensive watch on his left wrist and fell briefly silent.
It had a deep-blue, starry dial, exquisite craftsmanship, and a hefty price tag-at least several million.
He'd owned an identical one in his previous life.
And last night, he'd happened to notice one on Fu Yanli's wrist.
Had the watch grown legs and walked over on its own?
While Jiang Xun racked his brain trying to remember the previous night, a knock suddenly sounded outside, followed by Jiang Huaijin's perfunctory voice. "Go downstairs for breakfast."
He immediately leaped out of bed, hurriedly opened the door, and grabbed Jiang Huaijin before he could leave.
"Brother, what happened last night? Where did I get this watch?"
Jiang Huaijin pushed his hand away in disgust. So now he was calling him brother.
This time, Jiang Xun wrapped both arms around his arm and called again, "Brother!"
He wasn't a man with many principles.
A vein throbbed at Jiang Huaijin's temple. He tried to push Jiang Xun away, but Jiang Xun clung on stubbornly. He sneered.
"Last night, you were so drunk you didn't know what you were doing. You insisted on grabbing Fu Yanli's arm and saying the watch he was wearing belonged to you."
"You kept demanding that he give your watch back, and you wouldn't let go until he did."
Jiang Huaijin didn't even dare imagine what Fu Yanli's expression had been, but he'd still taken off the watch and given it to Jiang Xun.
"Well done, Jiang Xun. Now you're using being drunk as an excuse to rob people. You're really something."
Of all the people he could have robbed, he'd chosen Fu Yanli.
And when Jiang Huaijin helped Jiang Xun outside, Jiang Xun had thrown up all over him.
Just thinking about it infuriated Jiang Huaijin. He impatiently shoved aside the now-petrified Jiang Xun and strode downstairs.
After turning to stone, Jiang Xun felt as though he was about to shatter.
With trembling hands, he took off the watch, carefully placed it in a box, then pressed his palms together and bowed reverently.
I really deserve to die.
He certainly had to return the watch, but he couldn't find an opportunity.
Then Saturday arrived, and it was time for him to move out of the school dorm and into Fu Yanli's place.
Lin Jian looked rather forlorn, gazing at him pitifully. "Jiang Xun, are you really moving out? I'm going to miss you."
After spending a few days with him, Jiang Xun had discovered that this bottom protagonist wasn't malicious. He was just a little naive and easy to bully.
Jiang Xun affectionately patted Lin Jian's head. "It's not like we'll never see each other again."
"Oh, and don't get too close to Chu Xingye anymore. He only looks good on the outside."
To complete his task, Jiang Xun shamelessly spread lies. "He's actually a total slob. He goes days without showering, doesn't flush the toilet, and even wipes his boogers under his desk."