Xiao Cheng thought for a long time but still couldn’t figure out what he had forgotten.
His gaze fell on the man tied up not far away, and a cold smile appeared on his face.
After thinking for a moment, he decided to take a picture of the man.
If this person never bothered him again, he would act as if the photo didn’t exist and wouldn’t spread it around—he’d only go after Jiang Ying.
But if this person dared to take revenge on him in the future, he’d use the photo as leverage.
After all, it was all Jiang Ying’s fault.
If this person wanted revenge, he should take it out on Jiang Ying.
With that in mind, Xiao Cheng simply opened the camera and took a few pictures of the man.
He even made sure to capture different angles.
The man’s hands and feet were tied, his mouth stuffed with a towel, and he was making muffled noises, though it was unclear what he was trying to say. Tears streamed down his face continuously, making him look both pitiful and pathetic.
He seemed to want to avoid Xiao Cheng’s camera, but being restrained, he couldn’t escape no matter how hard he tried.
Xiao Cheng looked down at his phone, finally satisfied.
But as he exited the camera app, his eyes landed on the WeChat icon on his home screen. The smile on his face froze, and suddenly, he realized what he had forgotten.
He had forgotten to reply to Luo Jingshu.
Luo Jingshu was extremely clingy. If Xiao Cheng didn’t reply to his messages for one or two hours, he would call him.
Unless Xiao Cheng had told him in advance that he would be busy.
Before going to the gathering, Xiao Cheng had indeed informed Luo Jingshu. Luo Jingshu had been upset for quite a while and only agreed after Xiao Cheng coaxed him several times.
But the condition was that Xiao Cheng couldn’t drink alcohol and couldn’t go more than half an hour without replying to his messages.
It wasn’t that Luo Jingshu was too controlling, but because he knew that Xiao Cheng had a low alcohol tolerance and was afraid that he might encounter some ill-intentioned people and not be able to reach him in time.
This small detail suddenly surfaced in Xiao Cheng’s muddled mind, and he instantly felt dizzy. A few words flashed through his mind: I’m doomed.
Not only had he drunk alcohol, but he had also encountered someone with bad intentions and even fallen for their trick, ending up in a hotel room.
If he hadn’t happened to run into someone a bit gullible, he probably wouldn’t have been able to get away tonight.
He had gone through everything that Luo Jingshu feared the most.
And those people had taken his phone. The mere thought of Luo Jingshu not receiving his replies, calling him only to find the call unreachable, and the possible expression on his face sent a cold sweat down Xiao Cheng’s back.
He was done for.
If Luo Jingshu found out, wouldn’t he really be locked up and watched 24/7?
No one knew better than Xiao Cheng just how crazy Luo Jingshu could be.
Now, he could only pray that Luo Jingshu hadn’t called him yet.
Thinking about it, he decided to log into his WeChat using the tied-up man’s phone.
The moment he refreshed the app and saw the glaring red 49 next to Luo Jingshu’s name, his legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the sofa.
Aches surged through his waist and legs again, and a certain area tensed up instinctively. Fear flooded his heart.
He was doomed.
If Luo Jingshu found out, he really might die in bed this time.
Xiao Cheng sat there for a while before finally regaining his composure. He let out a heavy breath and, with trembling fingers, tapped on Luo Jingshu’s profile picture.
He scrolled up quickly until he reached the familiar messages and then slowly read downward. The more he read, the more terrified he became.
As expected, after he stopped responding, Luo Jingshu bombarded him with messages.
At first, the messages were accusatory, but then they turned into pleading, as if he thought Xiao Cheng was angry. Luo Jingshu had said a lot of nice things.
When he realized that Xiao Cheng was really not responding, Luo Jingshu’s messages became half-coaxing, half-threatening. The last few messages, however, were filled with urgency.
[Brother Cheng, did you get drunk?]
[If you see this, reply to me.]
Twenty minutes later:
[Xiao Cheng?!]
[Did something happen?!]
These last two messages had been sent just three minutes ago.
Xiao Cheng sucked in a sharp breath, his fingers shaking as he typed a reply.
[Xiao Cheng: Sorry, I got caught up talking and lost track of time. I drank a little too much.]
That response should be fine, right?
Luo Jingshu’s reply came instantly: [You haven’t gone home yet?]
Xiao Cheng hesitated before replying: [I’m on my way back.]
Luo Jingshu didn’t say anything else.
But in the next second, a video call request popped up on his screen.
Xiao Cheng instinctively declined.
How could he answer?
If Luo Jingshu saw the hotel’s interior decor, he wouldn’t be able to explain himself even with eight mouths.
[Why didn’t you pick up?]
Xiao Cheng suddenly felt like a boyfriend being checked on, and he was completely guilty.
He couldn’t help but admire those “playboys” who juggled multiple relationships at once. How did they even manage to pacify their girlfriends? He only had one person to deal with, and he was already at a loss.
[I’m in the car. There are other people around. It’s inconvenient.]
This time, Luo Jingshu’s silence lasted even longer.
Xiao Cheng, whose head was already throbbing with pain, felt even dizzier. He knew his excuse was full of holes, but at this moment, he couldn’t think of a better one.
After a few minutes, Luo Jingshu sent a voice message.
Xiao Cheng licked his lips and clicked to play it.
“Xiao Cheng, why are you hiding things from me?”
Luo Jingshu’s voice was hoarse, slow, and carried an indescribable sadness. Xiao Cheng even thought he heard a hint of sobbing.
In his mind, he pictured Luo Jingshu’s red, teary eyes. Why was this guy always so quick to cry?
A wave of guilt surged in Xiao Cheng’s heart. He knew Luo Jingshu had always lacked a sense of security, which was why he kept sending messages nonstop. Tonight must have scared him badly.
But even at this point, Xiao Cheng still hadn’t realized that his lie had already been completely exposed.
[I’m not hiding anything from you. It really wasn’t convenient.]
Luo Jingshu: “I was really fucking worried about you.”
Holding the phone close to his ear, Xiao Cheng clearly heard Luo Jingshu’s words.
His foggy brain suddenly clicked into gear, and he carefully listened to the background noise from Luo Jingshu’s side.
It sounded like… a moving car?
Xiao Cheng was startled by his own suspicion. [Where are you?]
At this hour, shouldn’t Luo Jingshu be in his classroom for evening self-study?
Luo Jingshu: [On my way to find you.]
Xiao Cheng jolted as if struck by lightning, jumping up from the couch despite his weakened state. He paced around the room anxiously, looking like an ant on a hot pan.
This was really bad. Luo Jingshu was actually coming to find him!
The man lying on the floor was startled by Xiao Cheng’s sudden movement. Thinking he was about to be beaten again, he stared wide-eyed in fear and wriggled backward.
Xiao Cheng had no time to pay attention to him. He bit his finger, forcing himself to calm down.
If it was just a case of being drugged, it wouldn’t be too bad. Luo Jingshu might not blame him.
But the problem was, despite all of Luo Jingshu’s countless warnings and reminders, Xiao Cheng had still let his guard down.
Even though he was the victim, and Luo Jingshu wouldn’t direct his anger at him, he would definitely use this as an excuse to punish him.
Xiao Cheng was genuinely scared now. Luo Jingshu was already terrifying on an ordinary day, but in bed… he was inhuman.
Xiao Cheng shuddered. Right now, he could only pray that Bai Yiheng would arrive before Luo Jingshu did. That way, he could at least claim that he had only gotten drunk.
Xiao Cheng wasn’t sure how long he waited in the hotel before the door suddenly swung open.
The moment he saw the familiar face stepping inside, he exhaled a heavy sigh of relief.
Thank god.
“Mr. Bai.”
Bai Yiheng quickly stepped forward to support him, flanked by bodyguards who stood protectively around them.
As Bai Yiheng steadied Xiao Cheng, he glanced at the man on the floor and signaled for the bodyguards to release him later.
“Are you okay?”
“Dizzy. Feel like throwing up.”
Xiao Cheng guessed that they hadn’t given him a drug to heighten his senses, but rather something that caused dizziness and muscle weakness.
Ever since waking up, his body hadn’t felt feverish or restless—just sluggish and foggy, with no strength.
Honestly, those few punches he’d landed on the man earlier had already drained his energy.
Fortunately, the guy was an out-of-shape older man. If he had been strong and fit, Xiao Cheng might not have been able to restrain him.
Bai Yiheng helped Xiao Cheng into the car. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”
Xiao Cheng didn’t refuse.
As he watched the city lights flicker past the window, a sudden thought struck him. “Mr. Bai, Jingshu might be on his way.”
Bai Yiheng remained calm. “I know.”
It seemed like he had known for a while.
Xiao Cheng was about to ask when Bai Yiheng said, “He called me on my way here.”
A bad feeling crept into Xiao Cheng’s heart.
“What did you tell him?”
Bai Yiheng looked at him. “I told him you might have gone home. I wasn’t sure.”
Xiao Cheng’s tense body gradually relaxed.
That explanation didn’t contradict what he had told Luo Jingshu earlier.
Bai Yiheng could easily claim he was unaware.
But before Xiao Cheng could fully breathe easy, Bai Yiheng asked, “How do you plan to explain this to him?”
“I’ll just say I had an upset stomach and wasn’t feeling well.”
Bai Yiheng hesitated but ultimately said nothing.
He had a feeling that Luo Jingshu wouldn’t be fooled so easily.
Tonight’s events—Luo Jingshu will find out the truth.
Bai Yiheng gently suggested, “Why not just tell him the truth? It’ll keep him from worrying.”
Xiao Cheng pulled a long face. Mr. Bai had no idea how terrifying the consequences would be. If Xiao Cheng dared to come clean, he would have done it already instead of wracking his brain for a way to deceive Luo Jingshu.
Bai Yiheng could tell he was reluctant and tried to persuade him again. “If he finds out later that you lied to him, he’ll probably be even angrier.”
Xiao Cheng thought about it. That was true.
He was only worried about Luo Jingshu’s immediate reaction. But if Luo Jingshu discovered the truth later, wouldn’t that be even worse?
Bai Yiheng, despite being his romantic rival, spoke up for Luo Jingshu: “He won’t like being lied to.”
That was true. Just as Xiao Cheng hated being deceived, Luo Jingshu also disliked it when things were hidden from him.
Xiao Cheng wavered.
Deep in thought, he found that the dizziness wasn’t as unbearable during the car ride.
But the moment he stepped out of the car and reached the hospital entrance, the world spun again, and he nearly collapsed. He would have fallen if not for Bai Yiheng supporting him.
Bai Yiheng accompanied him through various medical tests. Since he needed further observation, Xiao Cheng, exhausted, fell asleep on the hospital bed.
Bai Yiheng tucked the blanket around him and sighed as his phone suddenly vibrated.
He let out a silent breath before stepping outside the hospital room to answer.
A cold, hoarse voice came through the line. “Where is Brother Cheng?”
Bai Yiheng gave him the hospital’s address. Luo Jingshu didn’t say another word and immediately hung up.
Bai Yiheng glanced at the time on his phone.
If Luo Jingshu had been driving, he had probably sped the whole way. Who knew how reckless he had been?
For a fleeting moment, Bai Yiheng felt like he finally understood why he had lost.
Maybe that kind of fearless, obsessive love—the willingness to risk everything for someone—was something he would never be able to learn.
He turned back to look at Xiao Cheng, still asleep in the hospital bed, and let out a deep sigh.
Hopefully, things wouldn’t get too out of hand.
