Every time Lin Wangye saw Lu Chengxuan’s face, memories of the relationship between the Lin family and the Lu family in the previous life would flood back uncontrollably.
Then, it would get so awkward that he couldn’t even muster the courage to look at him for another second.
But Lin Shen was completely unaffected.
He even lowered his head to help the elderly woman count the bamboo skewers, then looked up and raised his chin, saying to Lu Chengxuan, “Fifty-three, round it up to fifty-five.”
Is this rounding up?
Does he really have the nerve to freeload so boldly?
In the last life, you two were practically at each other’s throats—could it be because you owed money and didn’t pay it back?!
Lin Wangye grew up in a very comfortable environment, always generous when it came to entertainment. It was common for him to treat friends to food, drinks, and fun.
But young Master Lin was also someone who had principles.
In China, people value the concept of reciprocity and are used to the social model where if I treat you to a meal today, I’ll invite you next time. But Lin Wangye didn’t like the feeling of owing anyone anything.
So, when someone else paid for his meal, he wasn’t necessarily eager to meet up again next time.
He never spent other people’s money. If he could treat others, he would; if not, they’d split the bill.
Of course, there was an exception: Shi Yuan.
For those he liked, he wanted the bond to grow deeper.
If his father had paid for this meal, Lin Wangye wouldn’t have felt guilty.
But, of course, his father had acted the role of a poor boy, and after the meal, he called Lu Chengxuan over to settle the bill, acting like he was using him as an ATM.
The Lu family was different from the Lin family. Even at their peak, the Lin family was essentially a family of merchants. But the Lu family was a big, powerful family, with deep connections and a solid foundation—truly a prestigious noble family.
The Lin family wasn’t particularly notable when it was under his grandfather’s rule; it was just a rich business family with a bit of fame.
It wasn’t until his grandfather passed, and the power shifted to his father, that things really started to take off.
In fact, Lin Shen could have been like Lin Wangye, an carefree second-generation rich kid.
But throughout countless days and nights, he was never idle. Lin Wangye didn’t know how much blood, sweat, and tears Lin Shen had poured in to slowly lead the Lin family through a transformation, turning it into the Lin Corporation, completing a crucial leap in social class amidst the tides of time.
Even so, all he had earned was the right to stand on equal footing with the Lu family.
His father and Lu Chengxuan had been at odds for years—always at each other’s throats, each time either hurting the other or causing mutual harm. They were locked in a constant rivalry, as if trying to prove something.
But neither of them had truly defeated the other.
If outlasting one of them could be considered a victory, then Lu Chengxuan had won.
Lin Wangye knew how powerful the Lu family’s background was, and how terrifying Lu Chengxuan would be in the future.
So, when he learned that his father and Lu Chengxuan had once been close brothers, he couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of relief, followed immediately by a chilling sense of dread.
No! There was still a chance to fix everything!
History absolutely couldn’t repeat itself!
The same thing definitely couldn’t happen again!
If his father and Lu Chengxuan joined forces, wouldn’t that make them invincible in the future?
It could completely change history!
He had to do something!
With that thought in mind, Lin Wangye felt a rush of anxiety in his chest, his brain firing up like never before. He had never thought this quickly.
Once he cleared his thoughts, Lin Wangye straightened up and looked at Lu Chengxuan with determination. He grabbed a small stool, gave it a quick wipe with his sleeve, and flashed a flattering smile, even softening his voice as he said, “Brother~ sit down!”
Lu Chengxuan didn’t seem particularly surprised to see both of them together.
He didn’t sit down. Instead, he gave Lin Wangye a brief glance before lowering his head, pulling out his wallet, and handing a hundred-yuan bill to the old lady. His voice was low and clear.
“Check, please.”
“Got it, got it.”
The elderly woman was a straightforward person, so she naturally didn’t round up the change like Lin Shen had suggested. She took a few bills, both in whole and in change, and handed them back exactly as they were.
Before Lu Chengxuan could make a move, the money was already halfway to Lin Shen, who casually slid it into his own pocket.
Lin Wangye’s scalp went numb. His reflexes were lightning-fast as he grabbed the money from Lin Shen’s pocket and shoved it back into Lu Chengxuan’s hand, pretending nothing had happened, and flashed a bright smile. “Brother, keep it!”
“Huh? What’s going on here?”
Lin Shen’s eyes flickered between the two of them, finally landing on Lu Chengxuan’s face, his voice filled with surprise. “This your little brother?”
Lu Chengxuan returned his gaze, his eyes almost asking—
Don’t you know whose kid this is?
The two of them silently locked eyes. Lin Wangye kept glancing from one to the other, feeling the atmosphere getting more and more awkward, and it seemed like the source of the weirdness was coming from him. His heart immediately started to race.
“Ahem… uh, how about we just head out? Let’s not take up space and hold up the old folks from doing business.”
Lu Chengxuan had only come after finishing his evening study session.
In the blink of an eye, it was already time for the students to leave school.
Students from the Seventh High School started trickling out of the gates, heading their separate ways to their homes, with some already stopping by the food stall.
Seeing that seats were quickly becoming scarce, Lin Shen stood up decisively. He playfully draped an arm over Lin Wangye’s shoulder and turned to leave, making sure to do it right in front of Lu Chengxuan.
Lin Wangye couldn’t help but glance back, feeling a little relieved when he saw that Lu Chengxuan was following close behind.
The big shot didn’t seem too upset.
Then again, Lu Chengxuan never showed much emotion. He always seemed distant, and even if something bothered him, he never let it show.
In the last life, Lin Shen was like this too—always hard to figure out, impossible to know what was really on his mind.
So, seeing that his father had had this kind of temperament when he was young was actually a bit of a surprise to Lin Wangye.
Ah, whatever. No use worrying about it now.
Hopefully, I didn’t just piss off Lu Chengxuan.
The wheels of fate were silently turning in places unseen.
Lin Wangye had almost been physically dragged away from the food stall by Lin Shen. Aside from that brief glance at Lu Chengxuan, he hadn’t looked back.
So, he didn’t notice that the person he had been thinking about all day was just a few meters behind, dropping his heavy backpack with a tired sigh, wrapped in the chill of the wind and exhaustion. He had stepped in to help the old man at the food stall, taking over the task of cooking meatballs.
The northern winter nights were brutally cold, and the wind felt like knives scraping against your skin.
Lin Wangye had come here in the fall, so his clothes were thin.
He hadn’t felt it while sitting by the food cart, but once he stepped outside, he immediately hunched his shoulders, shivering from the cold.
“Damn, it’s freezing, and you’re wearing so little. Aren’t you cold?”
The internet cafe had been warm, and Lin Shen had been wearing his down jacket, so his sense of temperature was a little off. Finally noticing that Lin Wangye was only wearing a light coat, he frowned and asked.
Lin Wangye shot him a look full of grievance, too cold to say a word.
The pitiful look on his face was more than Lin Shen could bear for even a second. He muttered something under his breath, yanked the zipper of his long down jacket open, and pulled Lin Wangye into it. At the same time, the cold air rushed in, making him suck in a sharp breath.
“Ugh… It’s freezing. Where’s your place? Let’s get you home first.”
Lin Wangye turned his head down and shook it, not saying a word.
“You’re not gonna tell me? Is it this way?” The wind howled through the gaps in his jacket, and Lin Shen was only wearing a sweater underneath. He gritted his teeth and asked, “If you keep stalling, we’re gonna freeze into ice statues, and the guy behind us will be collecting our bodies.”
Lu Chengxuan quickened his pace to catch up, handing over his jacket, which he must have taken off at some point.
Lin Shen was stunned. “What the hell! You think you’re a Super Saiyan or something? Put it on.”
“I’m not that cold,” Lu Chengxuan said, tugging at the neck of his hoodie to show Lin Shen, “I’ve got a wool sweater underneath.”
Lin Shen quickly hid the concern that had slipped out unguarded. After watching him for a few seconds, he stopped walking and squinted his eyes.
“You don’t like me squeezing in with him, do you?”
“…”
“What are you saying!” Lin Wangye had no idea why his dad’s mouth was always so annoying. Hearing the odd, sarcastic tone in Lin Shen’s voice, he quickly interrupted and leaned toward Lu Chengxuan. “You put it on, brother. I’m fine now, not cold anymore. This works for me.”
After saying that, just to prove his point, Lin Wangye pulled Lin Shen in closer, wrapping an arm around his waist and tugging the down jacket tighter.
Thanks to the loose fit of the jacket, neither of them had to deal with the cold wind anymore.
But, of course, their bodies were pressed so tightly together that they couldn’t even take a single step.
To be honest, Lin Shen had never been this close to anyone before.
He wasn’t used to this kind of contact.
But subconsciously, he didn’t mind it.
Lin Wangye kept his gaze fixed on Lu Chengxuan. With the cold wind biting at him, he blinked a few times, the smile still playing at his lips. His eyes silently conveyed his gratitude for the borrowed jacket.
His pure, sincere look made it clear that there was no hidden agenda—just a polite refusal born out of kindness.
But after this series of innocent actions, Lu Chengxuan’s expression suddenly became unreadable, flickering between emotions.
Lin Shen couldn’t help but feel a little pleased by that.
So, he deliberately wrapped his arm around Lin Wangye’s shoulders and laughed lightly in front of Lu Chengxuan.
“See? We’re warm now, it’s fine. You should put it on though, don’t catch a cold.”
Lu Chengxuan didn’t put the jacket on. He stood still, watching them for a few seconds before saying, “It’s fine. Just walk a few steps.”
Both Lin Wangye and Lin Shen froze in place.
The two of them tried to move forward, still in the awkward position, but their legs kept tripping over each other, like they were newly sprouted. They almost fell a few times.
After a moment of struggling, Lin Shen finally gave in and started directing. “Follow my lead. I’ll count to three, then we both step forward with our left foot.”
Lin Wangye nodded seriously. “Got it.”
Lu Chengxuan didn’t stop them or give any advice. He just draped his jacket over his arm and stood still, watching them like they were a pair of fools.
“Three, two…”
“Stop right there!”
Before Lin Shen could finish counting, a loud shout came from behind them. The three of them froze and turned in unison, seeing two police officers rushing toward them.
The lead officer was quick on his feet, grabbing Lin Wangye and pulling him out of Lin Shen’s arms, pinning him down.
“Finally caught you, you little brat. Come with me to the station!”
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
