Chapter 3: A Fight
His expression was perfectly controlled – a hint of fear mixed with apprehension. Wei Xun observed Shen Shu’s face, strikingly similar to Mu Jia Shu’s, for a long time before releasing him, pulling out a tissue to wipe his hands with a look of disgust.
Mu Jia Shu was close enough to hear him sneer softly, “What trash dares to compare to Xiao Shu?”
Mu Jia Shu: “…” His feelings were complex, a mixture of anger and something else.
Wei Xun didn’t want to look at him again, striding towards the door, “Get him out.”
“What’s going on? Who dared to provoke Young Master Wei?” Before he could take two steps, Zheng Ke, who had been following to watch the excitement, blocked his path.
Wei Xun inexplicably didn’t want him to see Mu Jia Shu, his face darkening. “What’s it to you? Scram!”
However, Zheng Ke’s eyesight was excellent; he instantly recognized the young man’s resemblance to Mu Jia Shu, exclaiming, “Jia Shu?”
At the name, Wei Xun trembled, turning to stare at Zheng Ke with a murderous glare.
Fortunately, he had been suffering from this intermittent madness for almost a year, and Zheng Ke was thick-skinned, growing numb to his glares. He looked carefully, “Oh, sorry, wrong person… not Jia Shu…”
His voice showed a hint of disappointment. To change the subject, he asked Liang Pingzhao, “Who is that guy? What’s he doing here?”
Liang Pingzhao softly explained about finding a bodyguard for Wei Xun. Zheng Ke knew the background, glanced at Mu Jia Shu, and frowned, “That small frame? Bodyguard material? Young Master Wei is skilled, most people can’t compare. At least find someone fatter; more surface area to block bullets.”
“He passed several tests,” Liang Pingzhao explained instinctively, then quickly added, “But Zheng Shao is right. I’ll get him to leave…”
“Wait,” Zheng Ke’s mind changed. “Since he’s skilled, I want to see it. Let him spar with Lao Pang.”
Liang Pingzhao gestured frantically, “Zheng Shao…”
Zheng Ke leaned closer, whispering, “Do you know what desensitization therapy is?”
Seeing Liang Pingzhao’s blank expression, he explained, “Look at your Young Master Wei. A bright young man, but since Jia Shu…died, he’s been a mess for over a year. People still need to live. Putting someone who looks like him near him might help him get over it.”
Liang Pingzhao: “…” Zheng Shao, is that how you use “like a dog”?
It sounded like a bad idea, but it made some sense.
Zheng Ke ignored him, calling Mu Jia Shu over, “Kid, come here. Spar with Lao Pang. Win, and you stay.”
Wei Xun frowned, calling out, “Hey.”
Zheng Ke waved, “Brother, if you really hate him, you wouldn’t have hesitated this long. Give your brother some face, let him try.”
Wei Xun, with a complex expression, opened his mouth but said nothing.
He was also surprised. Mu Jia Shu had been dead for a long time, and there were people around them who were calculating. Wei Xun had seen people who resembled Mu Jia Shu and never thought of them as Xiao Shu, even finding it repulsive. But this person caused his heart to waver, accepting Zheng Ke’s suggestion.
Mu Jia Shu paused, noticing Zheng Ke beckoning him like a dog. In the past, he’d been untouchable, no one dared treat him so dismissively. Even with Zheng Ke as a close friend… Perhaps because Zheng Ke was a close friend, he felt more annoyed.
However, that displeasure was fleeting. Mu Jia Shu smiled and calmly walked over.
Wei Xun felt a flicker of confusion.
Zheng Ke called out to a large man, “Lao Pang, spar with this kid.”
Pang Xing was a new face, unknown to Mu Jia Shu, likely a recent addition, looking strong and imposing.
Pang Xing, serious, said, “Let’s go.”
Mu Jia Shu smiled, “After you, Pang Ge.”
He smiled easily, his movements sharp, grabbing Pang Xing’s punch, twisting it, and sweeping his leg.
Wei Xun watched them closely. Mu Jia Shu was prepared, and Wei Xun eventually looked away.
Pang Xing was a trained ex-soldier. Mu Jia Shu was both defending against Wei Xun and fighting Pang Xing, growing weary. His performance surprised Wei Xun and Zheng Ke, Wei Xun’s initial disdain turning into seriousness.
Zheng Ke said, “Alright, enough. We know your skill…”
Pang Xing snorted, ready to stop.
That snort sounded like thunder, jolting Mu Jia Shu. Before he could think, anger flared.
Mu Jia Shu’s face changed, his fist connecting with Pang Xing’s face. Pang Xing’s cheek swelled.
He lashed out, the two grappling. Mu Jia Shu grabbed his collar, pounding his face repeatedly. Zheng Ke jumped, “What are you doing?”
Wei Xun gestured, “Separate them.”
Even after being pulled apart, Mu Jia Shu was still furious, his chest heaving.
He’d never seen Pang Xing, yet recognized his voice—that cold, sneering snort!
…On the day he died, Mu Jia Shu discovered his medicine bottle was empty. He remembered the spare bottle.
His chest tightened, his lips blue, weak, but a strong will to live propelled him towards the drawer.
He reached the bottle, full this time. He gasped, sitting down, his fingers shaking, dropping the bottle.
He reached for it, but saw a pair of feet. Before his fingers could touch it, the bottle was kicked away, ending his chances.
He tried to see the person, his vision blurring.
His last memory was that snort.
Wei Xun cut through his memories, “What are you doing? Trying to kill him?”
Even if similar, this person wasn’t Xiao Shu, who was always calm. Wei Xun had never seen him this reckless.
He asked, “Do you have a grudge against Pang Xing?”
Mu Jia Shu looked up, emotionless, but his eyes were sharp. He stared at Wei Xun, like he wanted to bore holes in him.
Wei Xun paused. Something felt imminent.
Calmly, he said, “What do you want?”
The familiar voice, like cold water in boiling water, calmed Mu Jia Shu. He fell silent, regaining composure, his voice calm, “Young Master Wei needs a bodyguard?”
Wei Xun raised an eyebrow.
Mu Jia Shu smirked, “You said I had to beat him to stay, so I did—and I don’t like his gaze.”
Wei Xun stared, silent. Mu Jia Shu lifted his chin, freeing himself from those holding him, meeting Wei Xun’s gaze. He knew Wei Xun’s nature, not worried about his position.
Seeing his calmness, Wei Xun felt a strange sense of loss, as if he’d missed something important.
“Wait for notification. Within three days,” he finally said.
Mu Jia Shu thanked him and left.
Zheng Ke commented, “This kid’s good, though a bit delicate, but I like his ruthlessness.”
Wei Xun hesitated, “Don’t you think this kid…”
Everyone else remained stiff and silent.
Zheng Ke knew what Wei Xun meant, “Similar, but not quite. There are countless people in the world. If you think that way about everyone, you can’t live.”
Staring at Wei Xun, he said seriously, “The dead can’t be brought back, you know that.”
Wei Xun said nothing, then instructed Liang Pingzhao, “Check his background. If there are no problems, he starts Monday.”
“Yes, Third Young Master.”