"Lu Jinsheng, who do you think you are? You're trash, and trash belongs in a trash can."
"Don't think you can stand on equal footing with me just because your surname is Lu too. You think you're worthy?"
"Back then, your mother climbed into my dad's bed and had you, an illegitimate son who couldn't see the light of day."
"What do you want now? To be Young Master Lu? Keep dreaming."
Lu Jinsheng was soaked through, standing in the swimming pool, his face cold and silent.
He faced humiliation like this every day. He was already used to it.
The person on the poolside insulting him was the Lu family's young master, his older half brother, Lu Jincheng.
Back then, his mother had been forced by that bastard Lu Zhen. After she became pregnant, she couldn't bear to abort the child and gave birth to him.
All these years, his mother had swallowed her grievances and never taken money from the Lu family, all to preserve her dignity.
Now that someone was calling his mother a gold digger with ulterior motives, Lu Jinsheng clenched his fists underwater.
He wasn't strong enough yet. He couldn't fight back.
But one day, he would personally repay today's humiliation.
He swept a cold gaze over the people on the poolside, committing this grudge to memory.
Lu Jincheng still wouldn't let up, telling the others to get into the pool and force Lu Jinsheng underwater.
He was determined to bully Lu Jinsheng to death and make his life miserable.
As a part-time server at this banquet, Lu Jinsheng naturally didn't dare cause trouble. He could only swallow his anger and let them push him around.
They kept forcing him underwater. The smell of disinfectant filled his nose, and he could barely breathe.
When he surfaced, he thought they would push him under again. He held his breath, only to feel the pressure on his arms disappear.
He heard a pleasant voice. "You've gone too far! How can you bully someone like this?"
The voice was familiar, exactly like the person who had called him big brother earlier.
Both sounded a little babyish, with a hint of childishness.
He opened his eyes and saw a figure standing at the edge of the pool, hands on his hips, angrily throwing a fit.
"What's so impressive about ganging up on one person? He's just a server doing his job honestly. What did he ever do to you?"
"If you keep bullying him, I'll get my Brother Shang to beat you up."
Lu Jincheng laughed mockingly. "An Yubei, are you sick in the head? Why are you playing the hero?"
"What's this got to do with you? Have you sorted out your own mess?"
"You're just a fiancée. Haven't you been kicked out of the Ji family yet?"
The others chimed in too. "Exactly, An Yubei. Have you forgotten how you used to suck up to Young Master Lu? Now you're helping his enemy? You must have a death wish."
"Since An Yubei's so eager to play the hero, let's beat him up too!"
An Yubei stood his ground angrily. Right now, he was mainly angry because the original owner had been blind enough to become Lu Jincheng's lackey.
Please, even when choosing a master, you can't just settle for anyone. At least pick someone good-looking.
Angered by so many people mocking and insulting him, An Yubei shouted to the side, "Brother Shang, someone's bullying me!"
Lu Jincheng glanced aside and saw the unsmiling Ji Shang. He laughed even louder.
Who in the entire capital didn't know that An Yubei was the laughingstock of wealthy society?
Despite being a fiancée, he coveted the family fortune he had no business coveting.
Everyone knew An Yubei was nothing but a dog in wealthy circles, one that would become a stray sooner or later.
Who would have thought that today, the stray dog would change his personality and start daydreaming?
How ridiculous.
Everyone knew Ji Shang was extremely cold-hearted and indifferent. He never bothered with An Yubei or other people's business.
Wasn't An Yubei slapping himself in the face by asking Ji Shang for help?
"An Yubei, if you haven't taken your medication, go home and take it. Don't act crazy here."
"Get lost. Once I've settled things with Lu Jinsheng, I'll deal with you."
Soon, a deep voice sounded behind him. "Who are you planning to deal with, Young Master Lu?"
At the voice, Lu Jincheng stiffened slightly. He turned around in disbelief and saw Ji Shang.
Ji Shang actually came over?
Lu Jincheng swallowed nervously without speaking. Then he saw An Yubei fly into Ji Shang's arms like a little bird and wheedle, "Big brother, they're being mean to me."
Lu Jincheng: "...!"
Holy shit, holy shit, was the world ending?
Why did they seem so close?
Ji Shang rubbed An Yubei's head and said gently, "Don't be scared, Xiao Bei. I'll back you up."
An Yubei nodded, looking aggrieved.
Lu Jincheng was shocked again. Ji Shang could actually be this gentle, speaking so softly and quietly as though afraid of frightening the person in his arms.
This was downright bizarre.
"Um, Mr. Ji, we only insulted An Yubei because he meddled first. No matter how you look at it, he had it coming, didn't he?"
Nothing would have happened if he hadn't meddled. Was he allowed to play the hero, but they weren't allowed to insult him?
Someone like that was just asking to be taught a lesson.
Lu Jincheng was rather afraid of Ji Shang, but he still put on his young master airs as he spoke to him.
The Lu family was richer than the Ji family. Even Ji Shang had to bow and scrape before his grandfather, so he had no reason to be afraid.
Despite telling himself that, Lu Jincheng still couldn't stop his legs from shaking.
Ji Shang came up to Lu Jincheng and lifted his eyelids slightly. "Xiao Bei can do whatever he wants. How is that meddling?"
Lu Jincheng choked, his whole face flushing with anger.
Dude, is that really your line? Did you get the wrong script?
This mindless doting clearly doesn't fit your aloof, unattainable character.
An Yubei is your enemy! What are you doing now, defending him?
Lu Jincheng felt as though the whole world had gone mad.
"Mr. Ji, everyone has their own rules. An Yubei broke the rules first and interfered with my business. I have every right to criticize and insult him."
"Is that so?" Ji Shang stepped forward, frightening Lu Jincheng into retreating repeatedly. "If you want to bully Xiao Bei, you'll have to ask whether I agree."
Ji Shang swept his gaze over everyone present. "You were mean to Xiao Bei. Apologize."
Everyone looked at one another, bewildered.
In the end, Lu Jincheng was the first to apologize and flee. Only then did the others apologize and leave too.
Once it was quiet, An Yubei thanked Ji Shang before going to the edge of the pool and holding out his hand. "They're gone. Come on up."
Ji Shang stood by the pool, his brows tightly knitted. Discarded as soon as he'd served his purpose-this little brother of his was a bit of a scumbag.
Still, having An Yubei depend on him felt pretty nice.
Standing in the pool, Lu Jinsheng looked at An Yubei's smile, as warm as the sun, and was momentarily dazed.
This was the first person to treat him well, and the first to respect him and call him big brother.
The gloom in his heart was soothed. Lu Jinsheng moved toward the hand that could lead him out of the abyss.
Watching Lu Jinsheng lower his guard and walk toward him, An Yubei grinned from ear to ear.
[He saved the male lead, so he was the male lead's lifesaver. Once the male lead made it big, he would definitely remember the Ji family.]
[Then, protected by the male lead's halo, everything would definitely go smoothly for the Ji family, and they wouldn't suffer any hardships. I'm such a genius, protecting my family in my own way.]
[Hold the male lead hostage to command the lords. I'm the greatest book transmigrator of all time, anywhere in the world.]
Ji Shang didn't quite understand An Yubei's inner thoughts. He only understood An Yubei's concern and love for him and Ji Dongsheng.
Still, he felt a little uncomfortable as he watched An Yubei about to hold hands with Lu Jinsheng.
How could he allow that?
So Ji Shang grabbed Lu Jinsheng's hand first and pulled him out of the pool.
Lu Jinsheng: "...!"
That wasn't the hand I wanted to hold.
An Yubei: "...!"
Why did something feel off?
My bad, my bad. I accidentally stole the female lead's job.