IMPGS Chapter 93

Seeing the conversation begin to veer toward a rather risqué direction, Xiao Cheng hurriedly suppressed the complicated thoughts in his mind and reached out to push Luo Jingshu away.

“Can you be serious for once?”

All Luo Jingshu ever thought about were frivolous things. If someone didn’t know better, they might think he was some sort of insatiable person.

In reality, the two of them had only done it once, and Xiao Cheng still felt a bit of regret.

The memory of that night was becoming increasingly blurred. Xiao Cheng’s mind had been foggy from the drug and while his body was undeniably sensitive, he couldn’t recall much.

He only vaguely remembered that it felt good, and the ambiguous scenes were enough to make his heart race and cheeks flush. But when asked to describe it in detail, he came up blank. 

It was as though he had been floating in a dream-like state.

If he didn’t have clear evidence that everything that should have happened had indeed happened, Xiao Cheng might have believed he had merely dreamed it all.

A fleeting spring dream.

All that remained was the soreness and exhaustion that permeated his body.

Strictly speaking, Luo Jingshu had been the only one who truly experienced it.

Xiao Cheng had been there physically, but he hadn’t been fully present.

Still, he didn’t want to admit this to Luo Jingshu and risk embarrassing himself further. He especially didn’t want to confess that he had been pondering whether they could find another opportunity—one where he was fully conscious—to relive that experience.

Without truly feeling it, Xiao Cheng found himself unable to let it go.

Luo Jingshu had no idea what the blushing young man in front of him was thinking. He only assumed Brother Cheng was upset with his bluntness and teasing. 

“I do want to be serious,” Luo Jingshu replied.

But even the most dignified and upright person couldn’t avoid the occasional fantasy when facing someone they liked.

Especially at his age.

Luo Jingshu wanted to explain himself further but feared provoking Xiao Cheng’s anger, so he kept quiet.

Xiao Cheng reined in his wandering thoughts. “Never mind, let’s focus on the important matters first.”

He was still curious about how Luo Jingshu managed to take down Jiang Ying.

After checking on the twins, he definitely needed Luo Jingshu to explain.

Luo Jingshu waited in the lounge while Xiao Cheng went to the hospital room alone.

As Xiao Cheng reached the door and was about to knock, the door opened from the inside.

“Cheng Cheng?”

It was Feng Yi.

“Auntie,” Xiao Cheng greeted her with a polite smile. “I came to see Yixi and Yinan.”

Feng Yi’s face was etched with visible fatigue. Her blue-tinted eyes were red, as though she had just been crying.

Xiao Cheng didn’t feel guilty about disciplining the twins, but he did feel a bit sorry for Feng Yi.

“Come in,” she said.

The twins were lying in separate hospital beds. Uncle sat between them, raising his head as he heard the noise.

“Cheng Cheng is here.”

Xiao Cheng greeted his uncle first before turning his attention to the twins.

Both were receiving IV drips, their eyes closed. They didn’t look as bad as He An had described.

Perhaps the nightmares had stopped; their faces only retained a sickly redness, and their brows were furrowed as though they were sleeping uneasily.

“What caused the sudden fever?” Xiao Cheng asked, though he already knew the answer.

Feng Yi sighed. “Not sure, maybe they caught a cold. The two of them slept in the same room last night and both got sick.”

Their symptoms were quite similar. When the fever made them delirious, neither could call for help. They weren’t discovered until this morning.

Xiao Cheng stepped closer. Both twins’ lips were dry, and Xiao Yixi even had tear stains on his face. His mouth moved slightly, as if muttering something in his sleep.

Xiao Cheng glanced downward. From their exposed skin, there didn’t seem to be anything unusual. The rest of their bodies were covered by blankets and clothing, making it hard to tell how much the adults had noticed.

Since the twins were asleep, Xiao Cheng couldn’t question them, so he simply reassured Uncle and Auntie.

“They probably just got scared, which caused the sudden fever. After the IV drips, they should be fine.”

He felt a bit relieved.

His intention was to teach the twins a lesson so they wouldn’t dare misbehave again—not to actually harm them.

After chatting with his uncle and aunt for a bit, Xiao Cheng prepared to leave.

But Feng Yi suddenly called out to him.

Xiao Cheng looked up to meet her gaze and was struck by a premonition. He felt like Feng Yi knew everything.

Not just the cause of the twins’ fevers, but also their feelings for him.

“Cheng Cheng,” she said, “I have something to talk to you about. Can we step outside for a moment?”

Xiao Cheng nodded.

Feng Yi led him to another area, eventually stopping at a balcony.

The winter air was cold, and snowflakes were falling. Nobody wanted to stand outside in the chill, making it a good place for a private conversation.

Feng Yi stopped walking and gazed at the snow-covered landscape in the distance.

Xiao Cheng felt a twinge of nervousness but mimicked her posture, standing by her side and looking out.

The snow hadn’t melted yet, hanging heavily on the branches. The world was wrapped in white, a serene and beautiful scene that helped Xiao Cheng relax a little.

At this moment, Feng Yi broke the silence with her first sentence, one that shocked Xiao Cheng deeply.

“I apologize to you on behalf of Yixi and Yinan.”

Xiao Cheng was startled. “Aunt, you don’t need to—”

Before he could finish, Feng Yi shook her head slightly, cutting him off.

“Cheng Cheng, I bear responsibility for this matter as well,” she said, her tone steady but laden with guilt.

Feng Yi’s next words were even more astonishing: “I’ve known about Yixi and Yinan’s feelings for you for a long time.”

The premonition in Xiao Cheng’s heart solidified, and his expression turned serious. He didn’t interrupt but quietly observed Feng Yi’s demeanor.

With evident remorse, she continued, “I don’t know if your mother ever told you, but Yixi and Yinan are not your uncle’s biological children.”

The story itself wasn’t overly complex. Feng Yi had been pregnant with twins from her previous boyfriend when she married Xiao Cheng’s uncle.

Before their marriage, Xiao Cheng’s uncle was already aware of the situation.

Feng Yi had considered terminating the pregnancy, but due to her rare condition that made conception difficult, she ultimately decided to keep the babies after careful deliberation.

Over the years, Xiao Cheng’s uncle had treated Yixi and Yinan as his own, showering them with love and care. However, the truth about their parentage was kept from the twins.

“It’s my fault for not clarifying things with you earlier,” Feng Yi admitted.

When she first became aware of the twins’ feelings for Xiao Cheng, she neither intervened nor discouraged them.

Knowing there was no blood relation between Xiao Cheng and the twins, she rationalized that their relationship could work if Xiao Cheng felt the same way. From a moral standpoint, she didn’t see a problem.

She thought if Xiao Cheng reciprocated their feelings, the issue of legalities could be resolved, given the lack of a blood tie. And if he didn’t, she wouldn’t need to reveal the truth about the twins’ parentage.

It seemed like a win-win scenario.

However, she had overlooked Xiao Cheng’s feelings entirely.

Her approach had been selfish—centered on the twins—without considering the immense emotional pressure Xiao Cheng would face.

It wasn’t until things spiraled out of control that Feng Yi recognized her mistake.

She had seen the injuries on the twins and knew that, even in their dazed states, they had called out Xiao Cheng’s name repeatedly.

This morning, after sending the twins to the hospital, Feng Yi had spoken at length with He An and learned the shocking truth: the twins had resorted to force when their pursuit of Xiao Cheng failed.

Feng Yi had always thought her sons were well-behaved and obedient. Never did she imagine they were capable of something so audacious in private.

Initially, she was upset with Xiao Cheng for being so harsh, but after hearing the full story from He An, Feng Yi felt the twins deserved it.

She loved her sons deeply, but only within the bounds of fair and appropriate actions. Resorting to such unscrupulous means to pursue Xiao Cheng was unacceptable, even to her.

She spoke slowly, laying everything bare—from her initial reactions to the twins’ feelings, to her regret and acknowledgment of their wrongdoing.

Xiao Cheng remained silent throughout, quietly listening to her account.

When she finally finished, he let out a soft sigh.

To say he wasn’t resentful would be a lie. Even though he had already exacted revenge on the twins, a lingering bitterness remained in his heart.

As for Feng Yi herself, Xiao Cheng struggled to form an opinion.

She seemed reasonable, yet she had condoned the twins’ actions. She appeared protective, yet she apologized on their behalf multiple times.

In the end, Xiao Cheng simply rubbed his temples. “I’m sorry, Aunt, but matters of the heart can’t be forced. I already have someone I like.”

Feng Yi had always thought highly of Xiao Cheng. One of the reasons she didn’t stop the twins from pursuing him was that she genuinely admired him.

If Xiao Cheng became part of their family through marriage, it would only strengthen their bonds.

But as Xiao Cheng said, love was about mutual willingness. If he didn’t feel the same, then there was no point.

“I understand. This is our fault,” Feng Yi said earnestly. “When Yixi and Yinan wake up, I’ll make sure they apologize to you again. I promise they won’t bother you anymore.”

Her gaze softened as she looked at him. “Cheng Cheng, it’s us who’ve wronged you.”

This was precisely the situation Xiao Cheng had hoped to avoid. He had kept the matter under wraps to prevent it from affecting the relationship between their families.

“Aunt, I admit I’m the one who injured Yixi and Yinan,” he said after a pause.

“But they hurt me too, and I’ve already retaliated.”

He looked directly at her, his tone calm yet firm. “From now on, we’re just cousins. Please don’t let this incident affect the relationship between our families.”

Feng Yi understood the meaning behind his words and finally felt a weight lifted from her chest. A faint smile appeared on her face. “Of course. It’s already more than enough that you don’t hold this against us.”

What she feared most was Xiao Cheng cutting ties with them entirely.

Since Xiao Cheng himself was willing to let the matter rest, Feng Yi had no further complaints.

After clearing the air, she apologized again, her attitude sincere.

Xiao Cheng, too, felt as though a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

Although this matter couldn’t be kept under wraps, at least neither set of parents were harmed, and the relationship between the two families didn’t become strained. That was already the best possible outcome.

Xiao Cheng felt a faint sense of melancholy. After Feng Yi left, he stood in place for a while longer.

The cold wind seeped into his collar, and only then did Xiao Cheng realize that his body was starting to stiffen.

He stomped his feet, preparing to head back, when someone lightly patted his shoulder.

Xiao Cheng turned around and was surprised to see Bai Yiheng.

“Mr. Bai?”

What was Bai Yiheng doing here?

Xiao Cheng suddenly felt that today was unusually lively. Just a moment ago, he had run into Jiang Ying at the hospital entrance, and now he bumped into Bai Yiheng, with Luo Jingshu still waiting for him in the rest area.

“Caught a cold, came to pick up some medicine.” Bai Yiheng raised the bag in his hand, revealing a few boxes of medicine inside.

He spoke with a thick nasal tone, his voice more hoarse than usual.

Stopping about a meter away from Xiao Cheng, Bai Yiheng said, “I won’t get too close. Don’t want to pass it to you.”

Xiao Cheng rubbed his hands together, feeling as though his fingers were nearly frozen. “Mr. Bai, make sure to stay warm. Lots of people are catching colds lately.”

Bai Yiheng’s gaze softened with a smile as it landed on Xiao Cheng’s hand, where he wore a ring.

Last night, he had seen a photo in someone’s social media feed: two hands wearing matching rings.

Even though he had come to terms with it, Bai Yiheng couldn’t suppress a trace of reluctance.

From the very first meeting, he had felt a strong fondness for Xiao Cheng. However, he never managed to take that step forward emotionally.

Though the age gap between them wasn’t significant, Bai Yiheng often found himself constrained by the fact that he was close friends with Xiao Cheng’s father, which even earned him the title of “Uncle Bai” in Xiao Cheng’s life.

Luo Jingshu’s provocations had been the final push that made Bai Yiheng toss aside his reservations. He had deceived himself, rationalizing: It’s not that I want to date someone younger. I just can’t stomach the idea of losing to that guy.

But deep down, no one knew just how much anticipation and joy he felt when he finally decided to pursue Xiao Cheng.

Fully aware that Xiao Cheng had no romantic interest in him, Bai Yiheng had opted for a slow and steady approach, like boiling a frog in warm water.

He wasn’t moving too slowly, but circumstances changed too quickly.

What Bai Yiheng hadn’t expected was that, after returning home for the New Year, Xiao Cheng would reconcile with Luo Jingshu in the blink of an eye.

Seeing Luo Jingshu’s post on social media the previous night had driven Bai Yiheng to the brink of impulsively calling Xiao Cheng to demand an explanation. In the end, however, a shred of reason held him back.

Even in the throes of jealousy, Bai Yiheng managed to maintain his dignity. Perhaps, in this way, Luo Jingshu was indeed more suited for Xiao Cheng.

Bai Yiheng was gentle and mature, the kind of man who exuded thoughtfulness. Yet, this very maturity often kept him from expressing his feelings directly.

Mature men often prioritized preserving their dignity, forgetting that love sometimes required reckless abandon and fiery passion.

Xiao Cheng, on the other hand, wasn’t someone particularly attuned to subtle emotions. If feelings weren’t plainly stated, he often failed to notice them altogether.

Xiao Cheng responded best to Luo Jingshu’s straightforwardness. With Luo Jingshu, there was no need to decode hidden meanings—Luo Jingshu always made his intentions clear through his candidness and enthusiasm.

Xiao Cheng had a typical male ego. He loved being pampered by his partner but also found joy in taking care of them.

It was precisely this dynamic that made him completely defenseless against Luo Jingshu’s occasional coquettishness.

If he were with Bai Yiheng, however, Xiao Cheng would undoubtedly feel overwhelmed.

It wasn’t that Xiao Cheng was particularly dominant, but he instinctively believed he couldn’t “handle” Bai Yiheng. In front of Mr. Bai, he felt like a child.

For various reasons, Xiao Cheng had never considered Bai Yiheng as a potential partner.

Though he tried to suppress his discontent, Bai Yiheng couldn’t help but notice the relaxed, happy smile on Xiao Cheng’s face. All he could do was sigh inwardly.

He and Luo Jingshu were fundamentally different. Luo Jingshu lacked the same rigid moral compass and was willing to do anything to keep the person he loved close.

If Xiao Cheng were with someone else, Luo Jingshu would stop at nothing to win him back.

But Bai Yiheng couldn’t bring himself to “steal” someone else’s love—not yet, at least.

However, Bai Yiheng hadn’t fully resigned himself to this reality. Deep down, he harbored a sly thought: perhaps the two of them would break up again.

As he had said the night before, unresolved conflicts would only lead to repeated reconciliations that would eventually fall apart.

He was waiting—waiting for Xiao Cheng and Luo Jingshu to separate once more.

In the meantime, Bai Yiheng didn’t mind stirring up a little trouble for Luo Jingshu.

“Xiao Cheng, you know, I really like you.”

Bai Yiheng seemed to be joking, but the look in his eyes was unusually earnest.

Using humor as a guise to reveal his true feelings.

Xiao Cheng paused, a bit taken aback, then chuckled. “I like you too, Mr. Bai.”

Bai Yiheng knew the kind of “like” Xiao Cheng referred to wasn’t the same as his own.

But it didn’t stop him from feeling a small surge of joy at Xiao Cheng’s words.

“I always thought you’d find yourself a more outstanding boyfriend,” Bai Yiheng said seriously, taking a sip of tea. “Not that Luo Jingshu isn’t good, but he’s just too young.”

“Young people don’t know how to take care of others.”

Luo Jingshu happened to overhear this as he approached. He had been waiting for Xiao Cheng in the rest area for too long and finally decided to come looking for him.

From a distance, he saw Xiao Cheng and Bai Yiheng standing together, smiling as they talked.

A sense of alarm immediately flared in Luo Jingshu’s heart. He wished he could fly over to Xiao Cheng that very second.

“Young people have their advantages,” Xiao Cheng replied, speaking up for Luo Jingshu.

Like a strong back, good stamina, and boundless energy.

Not to mention how clingy he could be, with a voice so sweet it seemed coated in honey, making Xiao Cheng’s heart flutter.

Sure, he could be a bit immature at times, but nobody was perfect. That little bit of childishness only made it clearer how much Luo Jingshu cared about him.

Xiao Cheng didn’t say it aloud, but in his heart, he silently came up with plenty of counterarguments for Luo Jingshu.

Out of the corner of his eye, Bai Yiheng noticed a familiar figure approaching. A subtle smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

“That’s true. Age isn’t really the issue.”

“As long as two people are honest with each other, that’s all that matters in a relationship.”

Honesty.

That word hit Luo Jingshu right in a sore spot.

He wanted nothing more than to rip Bai Yiheng’s smug face apart and stop him from sneakily sowing discord in his relationship with Xiao Cheng.

Yes, he had deceived Xiao Cheng in the past, but he has changed now.

That conniving man, Bai Yiheng, tried to steal his boyfriend the moment he wasn’t looking!

Xiao Cheng also spotted Luo Jingshu. “Why did you come over here?”

He felt a little awkward, knowing they had just been discussing Luo Jingshu behind his back. He wasn’t sure how much Luo Jingshu had overheard.

Luo Jingshu’s eyes curved into crescents as he reached out and gently grabbed Xiao Cheng’s wrist.

“I waited for you for so long, but you never came,” he said, his tone laced with both complaint and affection. It sounded like a girlfriend grumbling to her boyfriend, completely devoid of the aggression he had displayed earlier when threatening Bai Yiheng.

Xiao Cheng, unsurprisingly, fell for it. His ears turned a bright shade of red.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I was just chatting with Mr. Bai,” Xiao Cheng said.

Luo Jingshu smiled, glancing briefly at Bai Yiheng across from him.

Xiao Cheng suddenly had a strange feeling, as if Luo Jingshu was about to do something mischievous.

Before he could verify his suspicion, Luo Jingshu reached out and brushed the snowflakes off Xiao Cheng’s hair—a gesture brimming with intimacy.

At the same time, Xiao Cheng heard Luo Jingshu let out a soft chuckle beside him, his voice syrupy sweet.

“It’s fine. For you, I’d wait as long as it takes.”

“Husband.”

Xiao Cheng froze.

Bai Yiheng’s eyes widened in shock.

What did Luo Jingshu just call Xiao Cheng?

It wasn’t that Bai Yiheng looked down on Xiao Cheng; he just couldn’t wrap his head around the idea that someone like Luo Jingshu would ever play the shou role in a relationship.

Could he have been wrong all along?

A sudden absurd thought struck Bai Yiheng: could the reason he failed to win over Xiao Cheng be because they were both the gong type?!