Exposed
After the awards ceremony, Lin Wanxing had booked a hotel well in advance. She dragged Chu Yiran and Su Jing towards the private room for the celebration banquet, shouting, "We're not leaving until we're drunk! Nobody's allowed to slip away first!"
The private room was already bustling with activity. Zhao Lingyi, who had also won the Best Newcomer Award that night, was excitedly recounting the details of the awards ceremony. Cheng Zixuan and Zhou Xiaoxiao smiled and echoed his sentiments. Shen Zheyu sat in the corner, a gentle smile on his face. After Lin Wanxing led Chu Yiran and Su Jing in, Chu Yiran went straight to sit next to Shen Zheyu, while Lin Wanxing and Su Jing sat opposite them.
Once all the dishes were served, Lin Wanxing called for everyone to pour wine. Shen Zheyu suddenly spoke up, "By the way, I'm getting engaged next month and will be having a small family banquet. Everyone must come if you have time." He had a happy smile on his face, "The news hasn't been officially announced yet, so please remember to keep it a secret for me."
The table fell silent instantly, and all eyes turned to Shen Zheyu.
Chu Yiran was taken aback at first, but when he saw the happiness that Shen Zheyu couldn't hide in his eyes, a wave of genuine relief washed over him. In this life, his senior brother no longer had to risk his life for him, nor would he be buried in the dungeon of the Crown Prince's mansion. It was truly wonderful that he could have a peaceful and happy life.
Chu Yiran raised his glass first and said sincerely, "Congratulations, Brother Shen."
Shen Zheyu gently clinked glasses with him: "Thank you."
The others, as if waking from a dream, also raised their glasses to congratulate Shen Zheyu.
"You've been hiding your true colors, Zhe Yu!"
"Congratulations, Brother Chen! I'll definitely give you a big red envelope later!"
"What does your sister-in-law look like, Brother Chen? Is she in the entertainment industry? Let us see a picture!"
...
Amidst the laughter and chatter, Su Jing remained somewhat silent, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the rim of his cup.
Lin Wanxing nudged him with her shoulder: "Why aren't you saying anything? Let's drink together!" She then enthusiastically reached out to pour him a drink. Su Jing subconsciously raised his hand to stop her, but then suddenly remembered that Su Jing in this life had a high alcohol tolerance, so he could only watch silently as Lin Wanxing filled his glass.
Su Jing began, "I..."
Before he could finish speaking, Lin Wanxing interrupted him impatiently, "What's wrong with you? You're taking cephalosporins again? What's wrong with you, Su Jing? Don't use those excuses from outside to avoid drinking with your own people. I've invited you so many times and you still won't come out for a couple of drinks. Your injury has almost healed. Are you planning to really quit drinking?"
Lin Wanxing's words had already attracted the attention of others, and it was clear that Chu Yiran was also looking over—
"Look at you, how could I be such a spoilsport?" Su Jing said a few polite words, then raised his glass and forced himself to drink it down. The spicy liquid slid down his throat, bringing a strong sense of discomfort.
Su Jing tried to drink in moderation, but the lively atmosphere eventually got the better of him. After a few rounds, his face flushed an unnatural red, and his eyes began to glaze over. He covered his mouth and coughed a few times, trying to maintain his image as someone with a high alcohol tolerance.
Chu Yiran sat opposite him, keenly noticing his unusual demeanor. The subtle furrowing of Su Jing's brow as he drank, the subconscious resistance coupled with forced restraint, especially that occasional glance that carried a hint of detachment and suppressed emotion... it was all too similar...
An absurd and chilling conjecture, like a cold snake, quietly gripped Chu Yiran's heart.
When the party ended, Su Jing needed to hold onto the table to stand. Zhao Lingyi wanted to go to a karaoke bar instead, but Chu Yiran stepped forward, took Su Jing's arm, and said to everyone, "He doesn't seem to be feeling well, I'll take him home first."
"Are you alright by yourself? Or should I come with you?" Seeing that Su Jing's condition was indeed a bit off, Lin Wanxing frowned and said, "Su Jing, your alcohol tolerance has decreased after not having a gathering for so long."
Hearing Lin Wanxing's words, Chu Yiran's heart sank. At this moment, Su Jing was already somewhat unconscious. Chu Yiran forced a smile and said, "It's okay, you guys play for a while longer. I know the way to Su Jing's house well."
Seeing that Chu Yiran was so insistent, no one said anything more and had no choice but to let Chu Yiran take Su Jing home by taxi.
The night was slightly cool, and the evening breeze brushed against his cheeks. Su Jing's steps were a little unsteady as he leaned on Chu Yiran's shoulder, his breath reeking of alcohol.
After putting Su Jing into the car and helping him back to the apartment, Su Jing remained quiet throughout the entire process, but he leaned most of his weight on Chu Yiran.
Just as Chu Yiran settled him on the sofa and was about to pour him some water, his wrist was grabbed by a scalding hot hand. Before Chu Yiran could react, he was pulled into a warm and solid embrace.
"Mmm..." Chu Yiran subconsciously struggled, but was held even tighter.
Su Jing rested his chin on Chu Yiran's shoulder, his hot breath mixed with the smell of alcohol spraying onto Chu Yiran's neck. Then, as if he felt it wasn't close enough, or as if seeking comfort, he unconsciously and affectionately rubbed his head against Chu Yiran's neck.
Su Jing's eyes were half-closed, her brows furrowed, as if she were trapped in some kind of nightmare. She murmured in a low voice, her voice indistinct yet carrying a familiar tone etched into her soul by Chu Yiran, a tone from a past life: "Stop fooling around... Wenxi..."
"boom--!"
It was like a thunderclap exploding in his mind! Chu Yiran's blood seemed to freeze instantly!
Moon Hee...
Isn't this the courtesy name his father bestowed upon him? How could Su Jing in this life know this?
Chu Yiran's heart pounded wildly as all the previously overlooked clues suddenly connected—Su Jing inexplicably showed extra care for his mother, visiting Zheng Shuyi every few days with a tone of familiarity that belied their first meeting; he said, "What if it's something I owed you in my past life?", "I want to start over", and "No matter how you treat me, I won't leave"; he disliked sunlight, his left hand became increasingly adept at use, and even the way he looked at Chu Yiran always held a strange complexity and stubbornness…
Chu Yiran shoved Su Jing away abruptly, staggered back two steps, and stared incredulously at the unconscious man on the sofa.
If Su Jing in this life is the same Su Jing from the previous life, then did he also transmigrate here? Was he deceiving him from beginning to end?
Chu Yiran stared straight at Su Jing, unable to sleep all night, until the morning light shone through the gap in the curtains.
After an unknown amount of time, Su Jing stirred on the sofa, seemingly sobering up a bit. He rubbed his aching temples, slowly opened his eyes, and met Chu Yiran's bloodshot eyes. The chilling coldness in Chu Yiran's eyes made him freeze completely, instantly sobering up.
Their eyes met, and the air seemed to freeze as solid as ice.
Chu Yiran looked at him, her voice hoarse, each word seemingly squeezed out from between her teeth: "You've been hiding this really well... Su Jing."
Su Jing's face turned deathly pale in an instant, all color draining from his body. Looking at Chu Yiran's bloodshot eyes and the gaze that seemed to pierce him, he knew that everything could no longer be hidden.
"You've been lying to me from beginning to end!" Chu Yiran gritted her teeth and said, "This is the second life of Su Jing, and you're still lying to me! Are you happy to see me being played like a fool? Are you proud of yourself? You pretend not to know me and keep saying you want to start over with me. What, do you want to play me again? What do you want this time, Su Jing? My life again, or everyone around me?
"No! That's not how it is! Listen to me—" Su Jing was terrified and tried to grab Chu Yiran, but he was pushed away.
"I..." His voice was terribly hoarse, "I...I came here after that accident...The original body's consciousness dissipated, and I transmigrated, inheriting this body's memories, and that's how I learned...you're here." He explained with difficulty, a deep sense of powerlessness in his voice, "I'm afraid...I'm afraid you'll know it's me, afraid you'll still remember the grudge from our past life, and won't even give me a chance to get close...let alone forgive me. So...I dared not say it, I only wanted...to use this identity to be a little kinder to you, even if it can only make up for one ten-thousandth...hoping that...there's a chance to start over with you—"
"Start over?" Chu Yiran interrupted him, her voice suddenly rising, filled with sharp mockery and uncontrollable pain. "Su Jing, my father died on the battlefield, my mother hanged herself, my Chu clan was destroyed because of you, and my senior brother died to save me. We are separated by a blood feud. How can we start over?"
"I know you hate me!" Su Jing grabbed his hand suddenly, with such force that she almost crushed his bones. "But all I want in this life is to be good to you, to make it up to you! I can give up everything, as long as you give me a chance!"
Chu Yiran forcefully shook off his hand, stood up, took a step back, and created distance: "No need." His eyes were as cold as ice. "I haven't settled the score from the past life with you; that's already more than enough. Between us, there's no going back."
Chu Yiran turned and walked towards the door without hesitation: "Su Jing, do you still remember my last words from my previous life?"
"Su Jing, if there is an afterlife, I only wish that we... will never meet again."
The words from the previous life echoed in Su Jing's ears like a curse. In this life, Chu Yiran stood in front of him and said resolutely once again, "In this life, I do not wish to be entangled with you again. I only wish that we will never meet again."
After saying that, he didn't look at Su Jing's instantly ashen face, turned around, opened the apartment door, and disappeared outside without looking back. The heavy door slammed shut with a "bang," like a pause, completely extinguishing the last faint glimmer of light in Su Jing's eyes.
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