"Second Brother! Third Brother definitely didn't mean it. He must... he must just like Brother Jingyi too much. Don't blame Second Brother."
"Nanyu, you're just too kind."
"Exactly! Nanyu, he's only acting so brazenly because you're kindhearted. Don't be afraid! I'll teach him a lesson for you!"
"Don't... Second Brother, he's still my third brother, after all!"
"Xiaoyu, he was the one who seduced me! He's disgusting! You're the only one I like. It's always been you!"
A noisy, nauseating exchange rang out beside his ears.
So loud.
Why were people still yammering in his ears when he was dead? Couldn't they let him rest even in death? So annoying!
He looked up impatiently, coming face-to-face with three men.
One was sniveling, one wore an expression of tender concern, and one was bristling with righteous indignation.
Not even bothering to think, Ji Nanshu grabbed the teacup from the table in front of him and smashed it hard against the floor.
"Shut up!"
Ji Nanshu's sudden shout and the shattering teacup gave all three a fright.
Bai Nanchen snapped, "Bai Nanshu! What are you shouting for? You seduced Nanyu's fiancé, and you think you're in the right? Believe me, I'll beat you to death!"
Huh? What fiancé? He was the mighty state preceptor of the Qiang Kingdom. Who had the nerve to call himself his fiancé?!
Oh, someone else's.
Wait, no. Hadn't he sacrificed himself for the kingdom, dying inside his own altar to save the Qiang Kingdom?
What was going on now? Had he come back from the dead?
Ji Nanshu's eyes widened, and he was just about to blurt out, "Holy shit, that's awesome."
But a sharp pain swept through his head.
A host of strange images suddenly flashed through his mind. The boy in them looked exactly like him. In barely more than ten seconds, he witnessed the boy's entire miserable, foolish, short life.
It seemed... he really had fucking come back from the dead.
To be precise, he had been reborn in the body of a boy who shared his full name and looked exactly like him.
Since I'm using your body to live another life, I suppose this state preceptor will reluctantly grant your wish and make sure the Bai and He families meet miserable ends.
The body's original owner had been named Bai Nanshu, an adopted child of the Bai family. Bai Nanyu had been abducted by human traffickers shortly after his birth, and his mother had developed depression as a result.
To stop Mother Bai, Liu Yanshuang, from harming herself, the Bai family adopted Bai Nanshu. Unexpectedly, although Liu Yanshuang's depression improved, she inexplicably came to hate Bai Nanshu, believing he had taken her biological son's place. The Bai family's other two children came to think the same.
During one instance of Liu Yanshuang's deliberate neglect, the original owner nearly died. Grandmother Bai, Ji Ya, could no longer stand by and took Bai Nanshu into her care, raising him herself.
When the original owner was nineteen, the Bai family found their biological son, Bai Nanyu.
Bai Nanshu's household registration was swiftly transferred out of the Bai household, and his name was changed to Ji Nanshu.
Out of guilt, and because of Bai Nanyu's obedient act and efforts to please them, as well as his targeting of Ji Nanshu, the Bai family doted on Bai Nanyu while treating Ji Nanshu with extreme disgust and harshness. In the end, Ji Nanshu died as a result of one of Bai Nanyu's deliberate schemes to frame him.
Today happened to be the day the Bai family announced Bai Nanyu's identity and his engagement to the He family's young master, He Jingyi. It was also the beginning of all the framing, suppression, and targeting.
To drive Ji Nanshu out of the Bai family for good, Bai Nanyu had specifically asked the Bai family's second brother, Bai Nanchen, to invite him. Before the banquet, he had even slipped an aphrodisiac into his drink, then used someone else to lure He Jingyi over.
Bai Nanyu then brought guests over to witness the scene, falsely accusing Ji Nanshu of shamelessly seducing his younger brother's fiancé and making the Bai family thoroughly despise him.
Ji Nanshu's head throbbed. Fortunately, he hadn't ingested much of the aphrodisiac, or it really would have been difficult to suppress its effects.
Seeing Ji Nanshu sitting on the sofa with an unreadable expression, saying nothing for a long while, Bai Nanyu urged with great understanding, "Second Brother, stop scolding Third Brother. He definitely didn't mean it."
After saying that, Bai Nanyu turned to Ji Nanshu. "Third Brother, hurry and explain to Second Brother!"
Ji Nanshu looked at Bai Nanyu with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Explain what? That you drugged the drink you gave me? Or that you're using your fiancé just to drive me out of the Bai family?"
"You... Third Brother, why would you say that? What drugs? Why would I want to drive you out of the Bai family?" Bai Nanyu's eyes widened, tears rapidly gathering in them. "Third Brother, even... even if you hate me for taking Mom, Dad, and our brothers away from you, you can't slander me like this!"
Hah, Ji Nanshu. Someone neither his parents nor his brothers loved-how could you possibly win against him?
Suddenly, as though remembering something, Bai Nanyu turned to He Jingyi and explained pitifully, with a hint of urgency, "Brother Jingyi! I... I never did any of those things! You're so wonderful, Brother Jingyi. How could I..."
He Jingyi shot Ji Nanshu a contemptuous glance, wrapped an arm around Bai Nanyu, and comforted him gently. "Xiaoyu, I believe you. You're so kind, unlike certain vicious-hearted people! How could you possibly do any of that?"
Bai Nanchen glanced at the guests gossiping outside the door, took a deep breath, and politely ushered them away.
"Bai Nanshu! You really never change!" As he spoke, Bai Nanchen swung a hand toward Ji Nanshu's face. "You're a disgrace to the Bai family! Doing something so disgusting at your age."
But before he could reach Ji Nanshu, Ji Nanshu kicked him hard in the stomach, making him howl in pain. "Aah-!"
"Second Brother!!" Bai Nanyu threw himself onto Bai Nanchen. "Second Brother! Are you all right?"
"Third Brother!! How could you kick Second Brother?!"
Ji Nanshu rolled his eyes. "So he's allowed to hit me, but I'm not allowed to fight back? What, am I a punching bag who has to let him beat me up?"
Bai Nanyu desperately wanted to snap back, but He Jingyi and Bai Nanchen were still there, and he couldn't break character in front of them. All he could do was look tearful and pitiful, holding back what he wanted to say.
Bai Nanchen gritted his teeth. "Bai Nanshu, you're getting bolder by the day. How dare you..."
"My surname is Ji. Ji Nanshu!" The state preceptor picked at his ear as he emphasized this. "And yes, I hit you. What? Was I supposed to pick an auspicious time?"
It was as though these Bais couldn't understand human speech.
Having said that, Ji Nanshu prepared to leave the room. He could feel his body growing weaker. The aphrodisiac was beginning to take effect.
He had to leave quickly.
But Bai Nanyu had no intention of letting Ji Nanshu go. He cast an inconspicuous glance at the glass of water on the table. Half of it had been drunk. The drug... should be taking effect soon.
"Third Brother... where are you going? The banquet is about to begin!"
He Jingyi said, "Xiaoyu, it's better if he doesn't attend!"
Ji Nanshu had already reached the doorway. He turned back and said with a faint, ambiguous smile, "Bai Nanyu, I hope you can keep being this 'understanding.'"
"Oh, right. May you two enjoy a hundred years of... wedded bliss!"
Hah. A womanizer like He Jingyi-you two had better stay bound together for good.
Ha! He really was looking forward to it!
Ji Nanshu wanted to leave the hotel quickly. Drawing on the original owner's memories, he took out his phone and called his friend Lin Kai'an. "Come pick me up..."
Lin Kai'an, who was having the time of his life at a bar, said, "Huh? Nanshu, what did you say-I can't hear you!"
By now, Ji Nanshu was burning up all over.
No. If he didn't leave now, he really wouldn't make it.
Ji Nanshu staggered to his feet and forced himself toward the elevator.
Just as he reached the elevator doors, someone coming out knocked him to the floor.
He could no longer see the person's face very clearly. He could only vaguely tell that the man had a good build, though he seemed both shrouded in dazzling golden light and wreathed in yin energy...
The man stood before Ji Nanshu, feeling the jade pendant burning against his chest. He studied him for a while with a cold gaze, then actually crouched down and lifted Ji Nanshu into his arms.
In his daze, Ji Nanshu seemed to hear someone say, "I've finally found you..."