TYMRHBDES Chapter 3

Jiang Luoluo murmured in his sleep. Fu Tingchuan, with a serene yet intense gaze, bent down and lifted the man from the sofa.

It wasn’t quite time for Jiang Luoluo to die yet.

One day, Fu Tingchuan vowed to take everything from Jiang Luoluo, making him regret everything he’d ever done.

The bed in the bedroom loomed large. Amarelo ¹ From Old Galician-Portuguese amarelo (“yellow”), from Early Medieval Latin amārellus (“yellowish, pale”), derived from Latin amārus (“bitter”) bed sheets complemented the dark gray headboard, creating a calm yet vibrant scene.

Fu Tingchuan bent down, ready to lay the man on the bed and leave. But then Jiang Luoluo clung tightly to his neck, refusing to let go. Catching Fu Tingchuan off balance, his body ended up half on top of Jiang Luoluo.

The disturbance slowly roused Jiang Luoluo from his slumber. He opened his eyes, lips pursed  his lips as he murmured his complaint, “Fu Tingchuan, you’re crushing me…”

As they lay so close, Jiang Luoluo’s soft breaths brushed against Fu Tingchuan’s face. His skin tingled, feeling as if it might burst into flames, almost like some strings in his heart had been plucked.

The person in his arms felt so soft. His subtle scent invaded all of Fu Tingchuan’s senses.

*This kind of person who feels soft, fragrant… is… is actually the wife he he married…*

:::system
+0.1 Favorability   Points!
:::

The robotic voice chimed in his mind. Jiang Luoluo’s momentary excitement quickly fizzled away after hearing such a measly number.

‘A dog man is a dog man!’ Jiang Luoluo thought. Every last one of them is a stingy, freeloading dog man!

He gritted his teeth. “Fu Tingchuan, you covet my body! You’re despicable!”

Fu Tingchuan’s ears blushed bright red.

Just as Jiang Luoluo thought he was going to get angry, a robotic voice exploded in his ears:

:::system
Favorability Points +2

Favorability Points +2

Favorability Points +2

Favorability Points +2

Favorability Points +2
:::

Jiang Luoluo stared in confusion.

:::system
[I’m not glitching. It seems secondary personalities really respond to this kind of thing. You can keep going with this approach and earn more points!]
:::

The heat in Fu Tingchuan’s ears grew worse. He didn’t dare look Jiang Luoluo in the eye, his gaze fixed on Luoluo’s towel, while his mind kept replaying the steamy scene from the bathroom.

The whole room felt like it was on fire. Fu Tingchuan couldn’t bear to stay any longer. With a long stride, he was about to make a run for it.

“Wait, wait—” Jiang Luoluo propped himself up on one elbow. “You’re just going to leave like that? Don’t you have anything else to do?”

As a pampered little canary, even his basic needs were incredibly pricey. Even if he had lost his memory, as his husband, shouldn’t Fu Tingchuan have at least some ambition to keep working and earning money to support him?

Fu Tingchuan turned and gave him a long, deep look. The faint redness at the corner of his eye slowly returned to its natural pale color.

His face remained cold and expressionless. “I understand.”

As the sound of the closing door echoed, Jiang Luoluo closed his eyes. Holding the crumpled blanket hugged to his chest, he drifted back to sleep.

***

It was July, and although it was only 10 a.m., the sun was already scorching. Its rays scorching  the earth below.

The leaves of the trees were wilting. The couple of huskies raised at home were lying on the left and right with their tongues sticking out, under the shade of the trees.

Fu Tingchuan descended from the corridor. Glancing at the two huskies cooling off under the tree, he quietly moved between them and stood straight.

He knew Jiang Luoluo wouldn’t let him off easy.

Fu Tingchuan clenched his fists, his profile cold and emotionless.

*Isn’t being made to stand in as punishment pretty normal?*

As a lowly son-in-law, he had already endured plenty of hardships in the Jiang household.

Fu Tingchuan pressed his lips together, remembering the bloodstains on his chest and back when he got dressed this morning.

This has to be Jiang Luoluo’s doing—deliberately torturing me with his nails! ² T/N: Not because you tortured him for a whole night?

And that bloody bite mark on my right shoulder—it’s another of Jiang Luoluo’s ways to torment me!

Just wait. Once I take control of the Jiang family, I’ll make Jiang Luoluo pay—

“Young Master!”

Before Fu Tingchuan could finish his dark thoughts, an elderly voice interrupted him.

The housekeeper frowned in distress. What happened to his young master? The young master was standing under the tree with two dogs, wearing half-worn clothes. The sun was about to rise—and it would be scorching in a moment!

The housekeeper sighed. “Young Master, are you okay standing there in this heat?”

Fu Tingchuan’s hands clenched into fists as he glared grimly at the housekeeper, who was one of Jiang Luoluo’s lackeys. “Is it against the rules for me to stand here?”

He took a step forward, exposing himself to the blazing sun as his eyes bored into the housekeeper. “What’s wrong now? Am I good enough for you?”

The whole Jiang family is rotten to the core. Every last one of them is just like Jiang Luoluo—with a heart of a vicious snake.

Under Fu Tingchuan’s glare, the housekeeper’s lips trembled. “No, not at all…”

“Do you need me to kneel down to satisfy you?” Fu Tingchuan’s jaw muscles tightened with anger.

“Oh heavens no…” The housekeeper waved his hands in panic. “How dare I ask the Young Master to do such a thing…”

How despicable, how utterly spineless! Lying through his teeth and living in pretense!

Fu Tingchuan looked down, the hot sun’s rays bouncing off the pebbles beneath his feet.

Damn this Jiang family to hell—let the whole lot burn to ashes!

***

After a nice little power nap, Jiang Luoluo felt much better. Much of the pain in his body had disappeared. He got up from the bed, changed into comfortable clothes, and slipped on some slippers. With a swish, he drew open the curtains.

Outside, the sun was shining brightly. The leaves on the tree by the window were a vibrant green, looking full of life.

Hmm…

Jiang Luoluo leaned out of the window, peering down.

A figure stood straight as a pine tree, the blazing sun casting its rays on him. From this angle, Jiang Luoluo could see the sweat-drenched back, dark lines of moisture clinging to his skin.

Even Fu Tingchuan, that flashy, overly confident boss, can look like this?* Jiang Luoluo muttered to himself. Serves him right! It’s not the time for him to torment me anymore!

:::system
[Host, you should stop tormenting the secondary Fu Tingchuan and start winning him over.]

[ Fu Tingchuan’s real white moonlight [footnoot] “白” means “white,” and “月光” means “moonlight.” Quoted from late Chinese author Eileen Chang’s novel “Red Rose, White Rose,” this term refers to a spotless woman a man cherishes in his memory whom he loved but who is no longer with him. [/footnote] might return to China at any moment. You don’t have much time left.]
:::

The system’s booming voice echoed in his head.

“But I think it’s great to let off some steam right now!” Jiang Luoluo protested.

:::system
[I’m not completely sure about the relationship between his two personalities. In some cases, the primary personality knows everything that happens during the secondary personality’s time awake.]
:::

Before the system could finish its message, Jiang Luoluo darted out, hopping down the stairs.

He ran out of breath by the time he reached Fu Tingchuan, his words coming in fits and starts: “Fu, Fu…”

Fu Tingchuan silently supported his body.

Jiang Luoluo patted his chest, his small face bright red from struggling to breathe. He looked up and noticed the sweat on Fu Tingchuan’s forehead. Without thinking of himself, he stretched up on his toes and wiped it away with a delicate hand as pale as jade.

The soft little hand carried the chill of the air-conditioned room, sliding across Fu Tingchuan’s face like the gentlest silk. In that moment, his skin felt a sudden coolness, while his heart burned with uncontainable heat.

Under his palm, he could feel Jiang Luoluo’s slender waist, the sensation of soft skin barely concealed by a thin silk fabric. Fu Tingchuan’s movements grew stiff, his palm igniting with fire.

The delicate face above him wore its anxiety openly. “I didn’t ask you to stand outside,” he said softly. “Why are you out here? It’s so hot—what should I do  if you get sunburned?”

If you get sunburned, you know what boss Fu Tingchuan might do to me when he gets back!

Listening Jiang Luoluo’s concerned voice, Fu Tingchuan found the anger in his heart ebbing away. He muttered, “I think you’ll be satisfied if I’m sunburned.”

“Nonsense!”

Jiang Luoluo quickly retorted, tugging on his arm and leading him towards the room. He sounded hurt: “If you get sunburned, I’ll die…”

Fu Tingchuan’s long, lowered lashes suddenly fluttered, as if a feather had brushed against his heart, sending a tingling sensation. In that instant, he felt himself softend.

Jiang Luoluo pushed him all the way into the bathroom, where he’d thoughtfully filled the bathtub with water. Then, he waddled over on his short legs to help Fu Tingchuan out of his clothes.

In a panic, Fu Tingchuan grabbed the hem of his T-shirt, as if to grasp the chastity he was about to lose. He declared firmly, “I’ll do it myself.”

“Oh”

Jiang Luoluo made a small sound of understanding, his round, almond-shaped eyes flickering with disappointment. In a soft, whispering voice, he explained, “I didn’t mean to make you stand outside, Fu Tingchuan. Back then, I was just reminding you that you need to go to work, that the company needs you.

“Of course, I need you too. I need your money and your card.” Jiang Luoluo swallowed these last words, staring up at Fu Tingchuan with pleading eyes. He hooked his pinky finger around the man’s shirt and wheedled, “Don’t be mad at me, husband… Husband is the best to Luoluo~”

Fu Tingchuan abruptly turned away, his back facing Jiang Luoluo. “I know. Just hurry up and leave, okay?”

Jiang Luoluo caught a glimpse of his flushed cheek through the mirror.

His mouth fell open in surprise.

This version of Fu Tingchuan is far too bashful…

He’s already embarrassed by this?

He said obediently, “Bye, hubby~” and carefully closed the door behind him.

Fu Tingchuan pressed a hand to his chest.

His heart raced, pounding against his ribcage as if trying to break free.

How could anyone call me like that?

Hubby…

The voice was so soft and delicate, as sweet as honey. It made every nerve ending in my body tingle…

Fu Tingchuan took off his shirt. In the mirror, his muscles rippled with power. His sturdy chest was covered in rows of graceful scratches of red, as if made by little cat claws.

He reached out to touch a finger to them, and suddenly, the scene of Jiang Luoluo stretching out her soft, cool hands and placing them on his chest appeared in front of his eyes..

The blush on his face burst into flames, spreading all down to his neck.

Fu Tingchuan swallowed hard and rushed to stand under the showerhead, letting the cold water pour over him…

• 1
  From Old Galician-Portuguese amarelo (“yellow”), from Early Medieval Latin amārellus (“yellowish, pale”), derived from Latin amārus (“bitter”)
• 2
  T/N: Not because you tortured him for a whole night?