Accidentally Turned a Tragic Romance Plotline into a Sweet and Pampering One [Transmigration] CHAPTER 10
Chapter 10
Zhao Qi had a habit: he couldn’t help but resort to violence whenever someone disobeyed him.
When the original body (the person whose body the current protagonist inhabits) was adopted, it was Zhao Qi who casually pointed him out, saying he wanted him as a younger brother, and so he was taken away. Because he felt the original body was something he had brought into existence, Zhao Qi used this to morally blackmail him from childhood to adulthood.
As a child, the original body was self-effacing and dared not talk back. He accepted whatever others said, swallowing his grievances.
Occasionally, when he couldn’t bear it any longer and dared to retort, he would be physically punished by this half-brother, who cleverly chose to inflict injuries in places hidden from view.
To others, he was a good older brother, but to the original body, he was a devil.
As he grew up, his true nature was revealed. Everyone knew he disliked his brother, but his excellent disguise led people to believe he just disliked his adopted younger brother, unaware of the extent to which the adopted brother became his punching bag whenever he was angry.
Zhao Qi usually used various means to present himself as a normal person, but stripped of his facade, he was nothing more than a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a despicable human being.
Just looking at him evoked an uncontrollable wave of nausea.
As an older brother himself, Lin Zheng felt a chill of disgust at Zhao Qi’s depravity.
“Brother? You’re fucking kidding, right?” Lin Zheng showed his disgust openly, his brows furrowed. “Hey, get your fucking hands off me, you’re disgusting.”
Hearing Lin Zheng’s words, Zhao Qi’s eyes widened. He said word by word, “Say that again?” The sound of his teeth grinding followed.
Lin Zheng showed no fear, even adding fuel to the fire. “Don’t worry, I can say it a hundred times. I said, being touched by you disgusts me.” He emphasized, “The kind of disgust that makes me want to vomit!”
Zhao Qi hated being disobeyed, especially by this “younger brother” who had always been submissive.
He felt a surge of anger, as if something was about to burn through his skin and erupt.
“Sir, the guest room is just ahead; the lounge is beyond that,” a sweet female voice came from nearby, accompanied by two sets of footsteps.
They were standing in a conspicuous spot in the hallway. Zhao Qi suppressed his expression, his face darkening as he released Lin Zheng’s hand. He straightened his jacket, glared at Lin Zheng, and said, “You belong where you belong. I don’t care how you got in here, but don’t let me see you in a place like this again.”
He took out a handkerchief, wiped his hand, and left Lin Zheng.
After Zhao Qi rounded the corner, the two sets of footsteps also approached from the corner and passed him.
Lin Zheng stood there, speechless.
That person’s arrogant demeanor was utterly infuriating.
A stinging pain shot through his hand. Looking down, he saw that his wrist, where Zhao Qi had grabbed him, was already red and swollen.
Lin Zheng cursed under his breath. Just as he was about to leave, he made eye contact with an approaching middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man seemed surprised to see his face—Lin Zheng knew why—and ignored him, walking past. After passing the man, he put his mask back on.
Back at the venue, unsurprisingly, Gu Lin was still surrounded by influential figures.
Lin Zheng decided not to approach him.
Excellent men are envied; exceptionally excellent men command the willing adoration of others. Gu Lin was the latter.
Putting aside personal grievances, Gu Lin was indeed an exceptionally excellent man.
His figure, appearance, manners, speech, and professional abilities were all beyond compare.
As Lin Zheng was thinking, an arm suddenly draped over his shoulder. Before he could react, he was pulled aside.
Lin Zheng was stunned. Before he could ask, the person removed their mask, exclaiming, “Damn, Lao Lin, I knew you looked familiar! I thought I was mistaken, but it’s really you!”
Lin Zheng recognized him. “Huan Yuan!”
Lin Zheng almost forgot that Yu Huan Yuan was not only his classmate but also a rich second-generation with a good family background.
Yu Huan Yuan smiled, clapped him on the shoulder, and wagged his finger. “I can’t believe it, Lao Lin! Just the other day, you said you were just acquaintances with Gu Lin, and now you’re his dance partner! You know, Gu Lin has never brought anyone here before.”
Lin Zheng knew, but the reasons were too complicated. He decided not to explain.
Yu Huan Yuan was excited. “I saw you two dancing just now! You were the center of attention! So many people were curious about your identity. The people next to me were guessing, going through almost every young master in the circle who’s around your age.”
Lin Zheng shrugged. “Too bad, I’m not some young master.”
He was just a discarded fake young master.
What a shitty life.
Yu Huan Yuan paused, hooking his arm around Lin Zheng’s shoulder. “Forget them, just focus on your relationship with Gu Lin.”
At the mention of Gu Lin, Lin Zheng hesitated.
Lin Zheng thought, whatever, Yu Huan Yuan will find out eventually.
Yu Huan Yuan was outgoing and boisterous.
They were laughing and chatting when they noticed a gaze from the crowd.
“Mr. Gu?”
Only when someone called out to him did Gu Lin slowly withdraw his gaze and speak to a slightly taller middle-aged man. “I believe I saw Mr. Yu’s young son at the party.”
Yu Qingshi was surprised when Gu Lin mentioned his playful young son. Gu Lin wouldn’t normally care about this, so this was a pleasant surprise. Thinking of his son, he smiled. “Yes, my son is playful, but he’s getting older, and he needs to socialize and learn more.”
Gu Lin glanced in Lin Zheng’s direction, then returned a polite smile.
After playing for a while, Yu Huan Yuan was called away by his father, reminding Lin Zheng to contact him if he needed anything.
Lin Zheng gave an okay sign.
The music in the venue was melodious and elegant, exuding a classic and refined atmosphere.
Leaning against the wall, bored and having already drunk quite a bit, Lin Zheng reached for another drink when a waiter passed by. Before he could bring the glass to his lips, it was snatched away.
Looking up, he saw Gu Lin.
“Why did you take my drink?” Lin Zheng said, reaching for it.
Gu Lin moved his hand holding the glass. “You’ve already had enough.”
“It’s nothing. I can handle it.”
“Even if you can handle it, you shouldn’t drink that much.”
“I said I can!”
Lin Zheng stubbornly tried to grab it back.
Gu Lin refused to let him, moving his arm back. Lin Zheng, focused on the drink, lunged forward. Realizing he was about to fall into Gu Lin’s arms, he stopped abruptly, bracing himself.
Though he avoided the embarrassing embrace, his hand landed on Gu Lin’s solid chest.
The feel through the fabric wasn’t intense, but he could feel the outline of Gu Lin’s muscles.
Gu Lin raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips. “I didn’t expect that drinking was just an excuse. Your true goal… was this?”
!!! Lin Zheng, realizing what happened, quickly retracted his hand, creating distance.
“Don’t overthink it! I just wanted a drink.” Lin Zheng backed away, making excuses.
Luckily, their location was inconspicuous, and nobody noticed. As long as they maintained a safe social distance, no one would know what happened.
But Gu Lin seemed to be doing it on purpose. Lin Zheng retreated, and he advanced. Two steps back, two steps forward.
Lin Zheng’s back hit the wall. “…”
He thought if Gu Lin continued, he’d have to run.
Fortunately, Gu Lin stopped, and Lin Zheng didn’t need to flee.
Gu Lin looked at him and teased, “You really like drinking that much?”
Lin Zheng paused, then nodded seriously, unexpectedly docile.
Lin Zheng liked drinking, no particular reason, he just simply liked it. He didn’t like getting drunk, but he liked the feeling of vitality after drinking, as if every cell in his body was activated.
Gu Lin, seeing the relaxed expression on the man’s face when he talked about alcohol, found it amusing and somewhat…cute.
Gu Lin sighed softly. “Fine, just one last drink, then you stop, okay?”
Lin Zheng thought Gu Lin was considering that he was his assistant and might need to work later, so he couldn’t drink too much. But Lin Zheng had tested it; this body’s alcohol tolerance was about the same as his original body’s. Even ten more cups wouldn’t make him drunk.
But Gu Lin wouldn’t believe it without seeing it, so to get the drink, Lin Zheng nodded firmly, finally receiving the drink.
Under the light, the deep red liquid was clear and transparent, without a trace of impurities.
Gu Lin watched as the man held the glass, the liquid disappearing slowly along his slightly pale lips. His Adam’s apple bobbed with each swallow, the contrast between his fair skin and the dark liquid naturally drawing the eye.
Gu Lin stood with his arms crossed, his expression relaxed and unrestrained.
Indeed, keeping this person by his side was a good decision.
He was seeing more and more surprises in Lin Zheng, and he was curious what else he could discover.
Lin Zheng slowly raised his right hand holding the glass, his shirt sleeve slightly loose, sliding down a bit with the movement, revealing part of his wrist.
Gu Lin’s eyes suddenly stopped.
On Lin Zheng’s wrist was a distinct bruise, a shocking red.
He felt inexplicable irritation.
Gu Lin lowered his gaze, his eyes darkening. “What’s with the bruise on your wrist? Who did this?”
