IMPGS Chapter 71

When they heard the noise, Xiao Yixi and Xiao Yinan were peering into the classroom, their heads close to the window.

The setup inside the classroom was pretty much the same as any other, not particularly interesting. But the thought that Brother Cheng might have sat in such a classroom when he was in high school made the twins even more curious.

They were startled by the loud sound and turned to look at Xiao Cheng and Luo Jingshu, especially Xiao Yixi.

It seemed like he suddenly came to his senses—he had actually let Brother Cheng walk with this stranger. What had they been doing behind his back just now?

“Brother Cheng, what happened?” Xiao Yixi quickly stepped forward, seeing that Xiao Cheng was holding his forehead. He rushed over, worried, trying to see what had happened.

“How’s your head?”

The loud bang they heard earlier—did Xiao Cheng bump his head?

Although Xiao Yixi often teased and angered Brother Cheng, he really did care about him.

Seeing Xiao Cheng in pain, his eyes red and filled with tears, Xiao Yixi grew more anxious. “What happened? How did you hit your head?”

“I’ll take you to the hospital!”

While saying this, Xiao Yixi cast a suspicious and resentful look at Luo Jingshu.

Could it be that this guy pushed Brother Cheng in a panic, causing him to bump his head? Otherwise, Xiao Yixi couldn’t understand why Brother Cheng would suddenly hit his head for no reason.

Xiao Yinan also looked at Luo Jingshu with suspicion. While he didn’t think Luo Jingshu would have the guts to push Brother Cheng, it was clear that whatever had happened to Brother Cheng’s head was somehow connected to him.

Xiao Yinan sized up Luo Jingshu for a while and suddenly noticed that Luo Jingshu’s forehead seemed a bit red too.

It was only because the light was behind him from his angle that he hadn’t noticed it earlier.

A guess formed in Xiao Yinan’s mind—maybe they had bumped heads?

What kind of position could they have been in to make that happen?

Or maybe, while the twins looked at the classroom earlier, what were Xiao Cheng and Luo Jingshu doing behind them?

“I’m fine.” Xiao Cheng rubbed his forehead and pushed Xiao Yixi away. “I just bumped it by accident, it’s nothing.”

He had been so angry just now; if he had known, he wouldn’t have used his head to bump into Luo Jingshu.

The force of the collision was mutual. As he had pushed Luo Jingshu back a step, Xiao Cheng had also felt the painful buzzing in his head.

“Should I rub it for you?” Xiao Yixi reached out, but Xiao Cheng didn’t let him, especially with Xiao Yinan and Luo Jingshu standing nearby.

The two of them watched with sharp eyes, making Xiao Cheng’s expression freeze.

“No need, it’s not that painful.” He dodged Xiao Yixi’s hand. “Let’s keep moving.”

Xiao Yixi opened his mouth, wanting to say that Xiao Cheng had nearly cried from the pain, and his eyes were still red—how could he say it wasn’t painful?

It was just that Brother Cheng was rejecting him.

Thankfully, Xiao Yixi was used to being brushed off. Even though he understood what Xiao Cheng was thinking, he wasn’t upset.

But then, he didn’t act as recklessly as before. Though he didn’t cling to Xiao Cheng, he also didn’t allow him to be alone with Luo Jingshu.

But that led to another problem.

He had more questions than ever.

Everything he saw made him want to ask Xiao Cheng about it.

Xiao Yixi wasn’t necessarily that curious—he just wanted to seize the chance to talk to Xiao Cheng more, since Brother Cheng usually ignored him.

But what he didn’t realize was that this was exactly what was troubling Xiao Cheng.

The classroom they had just seen could be explained as part of the building renovations, which Xiao Cheng had forgotten, but some things had been there for a long time, and Xiao Cheng didn’t know how to answer.

Perhaps without even realizing it, whenever he couldn’t come up with an answer, his gaze fell on Luo Jingshu.

Those slightly red eyes were filled with an unspoken expectation, almost waiting for Luo Jingshu to come to his rescue.

Luo Jingshu had been paying attention to Xiao Cheng the entire time. As soon as Xiao Cheng looked over, he immediately noticed it.

Luo Jingshu didn’t disappoint Xiao Cheng’s silent plea. Every time Xiao Cheng couldn’t answer, Luo Jingshu would explain and provide a reason that left no room for argument.

It was fine at first, but after a few times, Xiao Yixi couldn’t stand it anymore.

“I’m asking Brother Cheng, why do you keep butting in?”

He didn’t want to talk to Luo Jingshu, and his tone made Xiao Yixi uncomfortable every time he explained.

It felt like Luo Jingshu was purposely showing off his closeness to Brother Cheng.

So what if they were in the same school?

What was there to be proud of?

Xiao Yixi felt a pang of jealousy. He wished he could see Brother Cheng every day, go to school with him, and leave together.

That dog of a man really had it easy.

Xiao Yinan had been listening quietly, and now, seeing Xiao Yixi fall silent, he suddenly spoke in a low voice: “So, Classmate Luo, you and Brother Cheng knew each other back in school?”

Luo Jingshu fell silent, his gaze landing on Xiao Cheng. His expression was complex and hard to read.

“It sounds like you two were pretty close back then?”

Pretty close? Ha.

Xiao Cheng thought. Whether in this life or the last, he definitely didn’t know Luo Jingshu when he was in school.

It’s strange to think that despite being only one grade apart, and their classrooms separated by just one floor, they never crossed paths during school.

Or maybe they had met before, and Xiao Cheng simply forgot.

Thinking this, Xiao Cheng turned his gaze toward Luo Jingshu, seemingly waiting for his response.

Under the intense gaze of the three, Luo Jingshu exhaled gently and said in a deep voice, “I knew Brother Cheng since my first year of high school.”

“I’ve always admired him.”

Bullshit.

Xiao Cheng immediately retorted in his mind.

Luo Jingshu was really a liar without hesitation, lying with a straight face right in front of him.

If he had truly admired him for so long, why hadn’t he accepted Xiao Cheng’s confession in the past life? And why was he toying with Xiao Cheng’s feelings in this life?

It couldn’t be just because Xiao Cheng had refused to help him in the last life.

Though Xiao Cheng did feel a slight guilt, it didn’t mean he had to believe Luo Jingshu’s lies.

At this point, Xiao Cheng’s expression grew colder, and he seemed to hum lightly, a sound that Luo Jingshu caught keenly.

Luo Jingshu knew that Xiao Cheng didn’t believe him, so he continued to explain, “Brother Cheng was very outstanding during school, a well-known figure. Every time there was a sports event, he was the one holding the flag.”

Xiao Cheng’s expression suddenly softened as he realized this must be true. The last time he visited the school, the younger students enthusiastically greeted him, and Xiao Cheng suspected that he was quite famous back then, famous enough that even after graduating, they could still recognize him.

Xiao Yixi grinned, as if he was the one being praised, “Brother Cheng is obviously outstanding!”

He wasn’t just mindlessly complimenting him; every year during the New Year, the adults would chat about the younger generation’s achievements, and Xiao Cheng was always the one being praised.

So, it was no surprise that Xiao Yixi liked Xiao Cheng. Brother Cheng wasn’t a showpiece; he was smart and excellent, shining like the sun.

Xiao Yixi wasn’t just attracted to his looks; he admired Xiao Cheng in every way.

The twins’ admiration for Xiao Cheng was complicated.

Besides their naturally bold personalities, when they were little, they often played games pretending to be newlyweds, which subtly gave them the idea that a relationship between two men could be possible.

Living in an open-minded environment abroad, where same-sex marriage had long been legalized, they had grown up with the concept that two boys could marry.

Most importantly, the twins had been exposed to a similar case—a friend of theirs had fallen in love with his own uncle.

This significantly impacted them, leading them to believe that even people with blood ties could be together.

But they never expected that Xiao Cheng would be so resistant to this idea.

The hardest part for the twins was not realizing that Xiao Cheng might not like them, but rather that Xiao Cheng wouldn’t even give them a chance to try.

All because they were cousins.

Despite Xiao Yixi’s usual cheerful demeanor, his inner anxiety was overwhelming.

If not for Xiao Yinan’s support, Xiao Yixi might have impulsively done something irreversible.

He knew that Xiao Cheng cared most about their blood relationship, but what could he do? That was a fact that could never be changed.

He didn’t know how to persuade Xiao Cheng.

Without Luo Jingshu’s presence, Xiao Yixi could tell himself to be patient. People say that constant effort wears down rock, so if he was patient enough, one day Xiao Cheng would be swayed.

But then came Luo Jingshu.

This person followed Xiao Cheng like a shadow, and his possessiveness over Brother Cheng was even stronger than that of Xiao Yixi. Sometimes, the way Luo Jingshu looked at Xiao Cheng made Xiao Yixi feel uneasy.

He knew clearly that if Xiao Cheng really agreed to get back together with Luo Jingshu, he would never have a chance again.

He dreamt of Luo Jingshu disappearing.

Especially since this person held something over them.

Xiao Yixi still didn’t understand how Luo Jingshu knew about it.

Xiao Cheng had no idea just how conflicted Xiao Yixi’s feelings were; he only thought that Luo Jingshu was talking nonsense.

This person had not only praised his excellence but also claimed to have known him long ago and always acknowledged his brilliance.

“I admit that I didn’t like Brother Cheng back then, but I knew he was a great person,” Luo Jingshu said, his gaze fixed on Xiao Cheng. His voice was tender, almost like a confession.

Xiao Cheng inexplicably felt his ears burn.

Xiao Yinan, however, regretted asking the question. He intended to mock Luo Jingshu, but instead, he gave him an opportunity to make a confession.

It now seemed like he was unintentionally playing the role of a wingman.

“Brother Cheng, there’s nothing interesting here. Let’s walk over there.” Xiao Yinan casually pointed in another direction.

Xiao Cheng cleared his throat. “Alright.”

He was eager to escape the awkward and tense atmosphere, but as they walked, he realized the path was becoming oddly familiar.

In fact, up until now, the place hadn’t left a great impression on Xiao Cheng.

It wasn’t because of the school, but because right here, Xiao Cheng had discovered Luo Jingshu’s deception.

The path they were walking now led toward No. 3 artificial lake. It was here that Xiao Cheng had gone on a date with Luo Jingshu during his first visit to the school. Luo Jingshu had said a few words that made him blush.

The second time he came, it was also here, where he heard those words from Luo Jingshu.

Clearly, Luo Jingshu had recalled this as well. He became much quieter, falling two steps behind Xiao Cheng, his gaze fixed on the small portion of Xiao Cheng’s profile.

Xiao Cheng pressed his lips together, his expression flat, showing no signs of emotion.

In fact, when he thought back, he wasn’t as angry as he had been back then. After all, so many things had happened later, and Xiao Cheng had decided not to dwell on it anymore.

But walking into this familiar place, he couldn’t control his thoughts, and the images from that time resurfaced in his mind.

The twins, perhaps sensing the strange atmosphere between them, remained silent.

Their footsteps on the snow made crunching sounds, and Xiao Yixi reached out to flick some snow off a tree branch, hissing as he was shocked by the cold.

The sound seemed to snap Xiao Cheng back to reality. He suddenly stopped and looked at the large tree ahead, speaking softly, “That day.”

Luo Jingshu immediately stopped as well. Without Xiao Cheng needing to say more, he knew exactly which day Xiao Cheng was referring to.

Luo Jingshu’s expression didn’t change, but his body silently tensed. His hands, hanging by his sides, clenched into fists, the veins on the back of his hands standing out.

“I was standing right here, and I heard you talking to that person.” Xiao Cheng pointed to the large tree in front of them. “It hadn’t snowed yet, and it was very dark, so you didn’t notice me.”

He spoke in a calm tone, and when he finished, he even gave a soft chuckle. “Fortunately, you didn’t see me.”

At that time, he had been a mess, crying uncontrollably. It was lucky no one else had seen him.

The muscles in Luo Jingshu’s face twitched slightly. His clenched teeth seemed to ooze blood, and the taste of iron filled his mouth. His eyes were red, and it was unclear if it was from the cold wind or something else. A faint glimmer of tears appeared in his eyes, which he fixed on Xiao Cheng, filled with what seemed like endless pain.

Xiao Yinan suddenly felt something strange, as if Luo Jingshu was about to cry any moment.

Did Brother Cheng really like this kind of man who cries so easily?

Was Luo Jingshu trying to gain Brother Cheng’s sympathy with this pitiful appearance?

“Brother Cheng.” Luo Jingshu’s back, once straight, seemed to curve a little. His body stood still like a statue in the cold wind, yet his eyes grew redder.

Xiao Cheng finally gave him a glance. When his gaze met those bloodshot eyes, he paused for a moment.

“I’m sorry.”

Luo Jingshu’s voice trembled slightly. He didn’t know what else to say to Xiao Cheng. He had done this all to himself, and his words seemed hollow in the face of such hurt. Even Luo Jingshu himself felt that Xiao Cheng shouldn’t forgive him so easily.

“You really owe me an apology.” Xiao Cheng’s voice was a little hoarse. He didn’t want to say more in front of the twins, as it was he who had been in the more embarrassing position at the time.

“That day, I came looking for you in the freezing cold, my hands almost frozen stiff.”

When he met Luo Yuan at the auditorium’s entrance and learned Luo Jingshu’s identity, Xiao Cheng truly felt his whole body stiffen, his heart colder than his frozen body.

He had tried to hold on, walking to the artificial lake, still holding on to a shred of hope for an explanation from Luo Jingshu.

Even though he knew Luo Jingshu had been lying to him all along, Xiao Cheng was still willing to give him one last chance to explain.

But Luo Jingshu’s words shattered the last bit of hope he had.

The identity was fake, and so were the feelings.

Luo Jingshu had never told him the truth.

Xiao Cheng sighed. He had originally planned to keep this matter deep inside and never let Luo Jingshu know.

But with his emotions running high, he couldn’t help but think, why should only he be the one to suffer? Luo Jingshu should know just how desperate he had been at that moment.

The twins quietly listened, even Xiao Yixi, who usually liked to interrupt, stayed silent.

They had figured out something from the conversation, or perhaps something had happened here that caused Brother Cheng to break up with Luo Jingshu.

And up to this point, Brother Cheng still hadn’t gotten over it or forgiven Luo Jingshu.

Though the twins didn’t enjoy watching Luo Jingshu flirt with Xiao Cheng, they hoped they could gather more information from the conversation, maybe even use it to drive Luo Jingshu away.

Luo Jingshu didn’t pay any attention to the twins; all his focus was on Xiao Cheng, his gaze never leaving him for a moment.

He couldn’t help but regret the words he had said that day by the lake. Luo Jingshu had wanted to slap himself countless times.

He rarely regretted his actions, but when it came to Xiao Cheng, he often found himself doing things he would later regret.

Those words had been said in a moment of anger, and even afterwards, he had warned Jiang Yi not to speak carelessly. But unexpectedly, Xiao Cheng had heard them.

“Brother Cheng, I know you might not believe me, but what I said that day wasn’t from the heart.”

Luo Jingshu had explained this before, but Xiao Cheng, still angry, hadn’t believed him at the time.

Now, perhaps Xiao Cheng believed him a little, since Luo Jingshu was someone who often spoke against his true feelings.

But the hurt could never be erased. Even if it was patched up, it would always leave a scar. Forgiveness, after all, was a form of letting go by the victim.

Xiao Cheng withdrew his gaze. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

Luo Jingshu had hurt him, and Xiao Cheng had unknowingly hurt Luo Jingshu as well. The two of them were, in a sense, even.

Xiao Cheng looked at the twins. “Shall we keep going?”

“Let’s go,” they replied.

The twins could tell that Xiao Cheng wasn’t in a good mood, so they didn’t bother him. They walked slowly behind Xiao Cheng and Luo Jingshu, giving them a chance to talk.

“Brother Cheng, do you still hate me?”

Luo Jingshu walked alongside Xiao Cheng, his voice low and hoarse, tinged with a trace of unnoticeable hope and pleading.

Although Xiao Cheng’s attitude had softened and he seemed to have let go of the past, Luo Jingshu still wanted to know his true feelings.

“It’s hard to say,” Xiao Cheng replied honestly. His feelings for Luo Jingshu were complicated.

It was difficult to define love or hate with simple words.

What Xiao Cheng knew for sure was that, after everything, he was still willing to give Luo Jingshu a chance, and also give himself a chance.

In the end, he still hoped for a good outcome with Luo Jingshu.

But Xiao Cheng didn’t say this to Luo Jingshu.

People say, “Once bitten, twice shy.”

Without fully knowing Luo Jingshu’s true feelings, Xiao Cheng would no longer trust him easily. He wouldn’t let his heart soften or show signs of wavering in front of him.

Just like Luo Jingshu had tested him, Xiao Cheng had given him three chances.

It wouldn’t be so easy if he wanted to be treated well.

Xiao Cheng glanced at Luo Jingshu, the irritation inside him dissipating a little. Looking at Luo Jingshu’s red eyes, a mischievous thought suddenly came to him.

He wanted to tease him.

“Actually when I come to find you, I’m bringing a gift.”

Luo Jingshu clenched his fist tightly, his breathing shallow, his eyes fixed on Xiao Cheng as he repeated, “A gift?”

He thought back to after their breakup, when Xiao Cheng had also given him a “gift.”

That gift had caused him a great deal of pain.

But then he quickly remembered that perhaps Xiao Cheng had been carrying something meant for him when he came to see him.

It was the items from the two small receipts.

“I was too angry back then.” Xiao Cheng lowered his gaze, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips. “So I just found a trash can and threw it away.”

Luo Jingshu’s breathing became erratic. “Where?”

Xiao Cheng casually pointed. “It should be over there.”

The school’s trash would usually be cleared by the next day, and now it had already been more than a month.

Luo Jingshu knew very well that there was no way the things Xiao Cheng wanted to give him were still in that trash, yet he still stared at the trash can for a long time.

Xiao Cheng indeed smiled this time, and said softly, “Who told you to make me angry?”

“You’re not worthy of my gift.”

The twins, who were walking behind, didn’t catch the earlier words, but they did hear Xiao Cheng say that Luo Jingshu wasn’t worthy.

They thought Xiao Cheng and Luo Jingshu were arguing again and couldn’t hide their schadenfreude.

Luo Jingshu closed his eyes. “Yeah, I’m not worthy.”

Back then, he was a jerk. How could he deserve the gift Xiao Cheng had carefully prepared for him?

Thinking about all the things he had missed in the past made his heart and mind ache. His body, cold in the wind, felt as though it had frozen, unable to move for a long while.

He wanted to show some expression, but his features were stiff and unmoving, failing miserably.

Xiao Cheng let out a deep breath. The frustration that had been building up for months slowly dissipated. He didn’t want to admit it, but there was a feeling of satisfaction that came with it.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Without turning his head, Xiao Cheng continued walking forward.

Luo Jingshu took one last look at the trash can behind him, then took two long steps to catch up with Xiao Cheng and pressed close to his shoulder.

It couldn’t be undone no matter how much he regretted the past. All he could cherish was the present.

Having lost one of Xiao Cheng’s gifts, he should work to get more surprises from him.

And for the gift he had prepared for Xiao Cheng, Luo Jingshu hoped that one day he could openly give it to him.

The group walked around the school. After the break, there weren’t many people around, and the place was quiet and empty. The sunlight didn’t feel warm, and it felt even colder after walking around.

“How about we head back?”

Xiao Yixi originally wanted to invite Xiao Cheng to eat outside but was worried that Luo Jingshu, this shameless man, would follow them. After thinking for a moment, he decided to head back instead.

“I might not go back,” Xiao Cheng glanced at his watch. “I have something to do this afternoon.”

“What’s that?”

The three of them looked at him in silence, especially Luo Jingshu, whose eyes were still a bit red. He stared at Xiao Cheng like a little wife checking on his husband.

“I’m going to a high school reunion.”

The twins didn’t know much about Xiao Cheng’s high school relationships, but Luo Jingshu frowned when he heard this. “Where is it?”

Xiao Cheng resisted the urge to roll his eyes at him. “You ask too many questions.”

“I didn’t mean it like that.” Luo Jingshu grabbed Xiao Cheng’s wrist. “Brother Cheng, come with me for a moment.”

By now, they had reached the school gates. Xiao Yixi saw that Luo Jingshu dared to touch Xiao Cheng, and he immediately stepped forward.

“Let go of Brother Cheng!”

Luo Jingshu glanced at him coldly, and his gaze was so intense that it froze Xiao Yixi in his tracks, making his outstretched hand stiff in midair.

After a moment, Xiao Yixi became even angrier.

“How dare you…”

Before he could finish, Xiao Cheng interrupted him.

“Alright, you two go back first.”

Seeing that Luo Jingshu wasn’t deliberately causing trouble, but genuinely wanted to talk to him, Xiao Cheng didn’t pull his hand away.

Xiao Yixi was reluctant to leave but didn’t dare to stop them. He could only watch them walk away, standing at a distance while they spoke.

When Xiao Yixi was far enough and couldn’t hear their conversation, Xiao Cheng finally shook off Luo Jingshu’s hand. “What do you want to say?”

Luo Jingshu lowered his voice, his brow furrowing slightly. “Have you forgotten about things from high school?”

Xiao Cheng was taken aback, his lowered lashes trembling slightly. He neither confirmed nor denied the guess.

“You’ve forgotten, haven’t you?” Luo Jingshu’s tone became more certain.

“Earlier, when we were at school, you couldn’t answer Xiao Yixi’s questions.”

Luo Jingshu had been observing closely. Every time Xiao Cheng couldn’t answer, he would look at him with a hopeful gaze.

At first, Luo Jingshu thought that Xiao Cheng simply didn’t want to answer, but after several instances, he realized that Xiao Cheng genuinely didn’t know the answers.

But that didn’t make sense.

Xiao Yixi’s questions weren’t difficult. As someone who had been in the No.1 High School for three years, Xiao Cheng couldn’t possibly not answer such simple questions.

Unless he didn’t remember anything at all.

“When did you forget?”

Luo Jingshu took a deep breath. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

He had always thought that Xiao Cheng had only lost those five years of memories, but it seemed like he didn’t even remember things from high school.

Xiao Cheng felt a pang of panic. He had intentionally kept this from Luo Jingshu, not wanting him to find out.

Luo Jingshu was too smart and could always spot something off in the details. Xiao Cheng feared that he would figure out his secret about having transmigrated into the book, so he hadn’t told him.

“After… I came back from being reborn.” Xiao Cheng paused. “I don’t know why, but I just forgot everything.”

Luo Jingshu stepped closer, carefully examining Xiao Cheng’s expression, noting every subtle reaction.

“How much did you forget?”

“Everything,” Xiao Cheng admitted, no longer hiding the truth.

“You…” Luo Jingshu uttered this one word but didn’t continue.

Xiao Cheng’s heart tightened, as if a large hand had clutched his heart, making his pulse quicken and cold sweat form on his back.

“What do you want to say?”

Had he guessed something?

It shouldn’t be possible. No one would ever think of something as bizarre as transmigration.

Luo Jingshu sighed softly, then suddenly reached out and grabbed Xiao Cheng’s shoulder, holding him in place, not giving him a chance to escape.

“Are you scared?”

Xiao Cheng froze, his expression confused and innocent, as if he didn’t understand what Luo Jingshu was saying.

In Luo Jingshu’s eyes, there was only concern and worry, not the suspicion and guesswork that Xiao Cheng had expected.

“Brother Cheng.”

“To wake up and find this world so strange, with no memories of anything…”

“Would you be scared?”

He gently traced the corner of Xiao Cheng’s eye with his fingertip, his voice soft and comforting. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help you. All I’ve brought is pain.”

When Xiao Cheng truly needed him, he hadn’t been there.

Xiao Cheng averted his gaze uncomfortably.

“It has nothing to do with you.”

Back then, Luo Jingshu hadn’t even been reborn, so he couldn’t have helped.

Xiao Cheng’s heartbeat hadn’t settled. He hadn’t expected that when Luo Jingshu found out about this, his first reaction would be concern for him.

This person…

Luo Jingshu suddenly changed the subject. “So, do you want me to accompany you to the reunion today?”

Xiao Cheng’s heart hadn’t fully processed the emotions yet, but those words shattered everything.

He pushed Luo Jingshu’s hand away without expression. “No, thanks.”

“Brother Cheng.” Luo Jingshu blinked his eyes. “Think about it again.”

“You don’t have your memories. What if you meet someone who wants to reminisce?”

Luo Jingshu lightly tugged at his fingers, acting cute.

“I’m really obedient.”

“Take me with you?”