TL: Hua
When Luo Lingsheng heard the inquiry, he turned around and immediately bumped into someone.
“……Ah.”
The person in his arms let out a muffled grunt, causing Luo Lingsheng to look down at him.
It was still the same pair of eyes that gave people a lasting impression, but the slyness at the bottom of those eyes had turned into a halo of intoxication, and the slightly upturned corner was now tinged with a little bit of attractive red.
—Shi Yunnan.
This name flashed in Luo Lingsheng’s mind. Before he could say anything, the other party tugged at his tie, “Who are you? How did you find your way here?“
“…..”
Luo Lingsheng smelled the alcohol on his body, but it was mixed with a hint of an indefinable, unexplained refreshing aroma, which caused him to let go of his previous aversion.
After a brief silence, Shi Yunnan, who was in front of him, moved closer to his arms again and pointed at the embroidered label on his clothes with drunken eyes, “Coincidentally, the two of us wear the same brand of… clothes.”
Luo Lingsheng remained silent and didn’t answer, and in the blink of an eye, Shi Yunnan let go of his tie.
The other party’s free hand suddenly poked his cheek, “You! You have a good eye! This is a niche brand from Austria, hic-“
He ended the sentence with a hiccup.
Luo Ling Sheng looked askance at the fingers below, inexplicably feeling that this person in front of him was a bit interesting. He took a half step back, “Do you know this designer?”
“Of course I do.” Shi Yunnan raised his chin proudly, but in fact he was swaying and trying to keep his feet steady.
“I, and my brother’s clothes, are all my choice! It’s my birthday present for us. I’ve saved… saved for a long time.“
In the last half of the sentence, his voice became muffled.
According to common sense, Luo Lingsheng should ignore this confused “little drunkard” and just walk away.
However, he accidentally witnessed the dispute in the side hall, and learned from his friend, Yu Shuo, about what happened to the brothers, Wen Yibei and Shi Yunnan, so at this moment, Luo Lingsheng stood still, and of course didn’t speak.
The opposite Shi Yunnan waited for a while, then suddenly frowned, “Hey!”
He approached again, his fingers quickly wrapped around Luo Lingsheng’s tie and pulled it forward, looking indescribably unreasonable1胡搅蛮缠[hú jiǎo mán chán]: To pester someone with unreasonable demands..
Luo Lingsheng furrowed his brows. His neck was strangled and he felt a little uncomfortable.
Just as he was about to break free from Shi Yunnan’s inexplicable pull, he heard the other party ask aggrievedly, “Why don’t you praise me?”
Luo Lingsheng didn’t react for a moment.
Shi Yunnan got closer again. He tried his best to raise his head, trying to make up for the difference in aura caused by the height difference.
“I just praised you for your good eyes. Why don’t you praise me? How can you be like this!“
With a fierce tone, he said the most aggrieved words.
Luo Lingsheng hooked his lips subconsciously. He had never met such a person before.
His peers in the family are years apart from him, and the only two people of his age were girls. Because of his status as the young master of the Luo family, his circle of friends has almost been boxed in.
Except for Yu Shuo, a good friend who he can freely talk to, almost everyone approached him with the purpose of ‘climbing the social ladder’.
There was no one like Shi Yunnan, who was so drunk he dared to spill his guts in front of him.
“Hey!”
Shi Yunnan suddenly stood on tiptoe again.
Because of excessive force, the distance between their faces was instantly brought extremely close.
Luo Lingsheng saw his own face in his watery eyes. In addition, he could smell the refreshing fragrance mixed with alcohol again.
He had no idea what kind of shower gel this person was using, but it smelled good.
Luo Lingsheng uncharacteristically didn’t avoid him. For the first time, he spoke in a gentle and low voice, as if he was coaxing a child, “You also have good taste in clothing.”
Shi Yunnan, who was about to get into his arms, snorted twice. He couldn’t stand on tiptoe for long and staggered backward.
Seeing this, Luo Lingsheng quickly grabbed his arm and said, “Be careful.”
Shi Yunnan let out an undetectable muffled hum of satisfaction. His drunken eyes gleaming with water fell on Luo Lingsheng’s handsome face, and he was reluctant to leave.
“…You haven’t told me yet. What’s your name?”
He was clearly drunk, but his question was clearly sorted out.
“Luo Lingsheng.”
Luo Lingsheng announced his name.
Instead of going back to the front yard and being disturbed, it’s better to hide here and chat with this little drunkard.
Shi Yunnan nodded and shook his head again, “Oh, I haven’t heard of you before…“
He patted Luo Lingsheng on the shoulder and said earnestly, “But don’t be sad. I’ve been abroad all this time, and the young masters I know in the imperial capital circle don’t add up to more than one hand.”
“…..”
Faced with this sudden comfort, Luo Lingsheng’s mouth twitched again with a hint of helplessness.
Suddenly, the street lamps outside the courtyard wall suddenly lit up, adding a touch of dim and misty light to the relatively dim backyard.
Shi Yunnan happened to stand under the oblique light, his fingers rubbing against the bridge of his high nose, his delicate and youthful brow bone, and his thin red lips that exhaled lightly.
Luo Lingsheng had seen many young masters and young ladies from wealthy families. Some were gentle and well-behaved, some were unruly and arrogant, but no one had ever been like Shi Yunnan—
The boundaries between youthfulness and temptation blurred for him, making people inexplicably unable to look away.
Luo Lingsheng felt that he was enchanted and immediately took a half step back after regaining his senses.
The other party’s fingers were still wrapped around his tie. This retreat not only failed but also made Shi Yunnan, who was also stunned, come to his senses.
“Hmm.”
The moment the lights were turned on, Shi Yunnan subconsciously stretched out his hand to cover it, and his slightly narrowed eyes stopped right on Luo Lingsheng’s face through his fingers.
“Luo Lingsheng.” Shi Yunnan took the initiative to come up, smiling brightly and sincerely complimenting him, “You are so good-looking.”
Perhaps because of being drunk, Shi Yunan blurred the boundaries of normal communication.
Between the lips and teeth, the warm breath he exuded hit Luo Lingsheng’s lower lip, giving people the illusion of asking for a kiss.
Or perhaps it was not Luo Lingsheng’s illusion.
Because in the next second, Shi Yunnan asked drunkenly, “Do you like boys or girls? Do you have a lover? Can I pursue you?”
He asked three questions in a row, straightforward and ardent.
Luo Lingsheng, who has always been more mature and stable than his peers, got stuck. He rolled his Adam’s apple, “…It’s only the first day we met. Do you like to joke when you’re drunk?“
He was a few years older than Shi Yunnan, but he had never been in love.
Firstly, it was due to his own attitude towards love, which he’d rather go without than make do with something shoddy. Secondly, his family’s intricate influence didn’t allow him to indulge his feelings for the time being.
“Joking? “Who’s joking with you?” Shi Yunnan wrinkled his brow, “I-I‘m eighteen years old!”
Speaking of age, there was a little pride in his drunk eyes.
“Those friends of mine in foreign countries have had several rounds of love and breakups by the time they are my age.”
Shi Yunnan gave an example, then he hiccuped again.
Luo Lingsheng looked at him silently, “Oh? You too?“
Shi Yunnan seemed to be afraid of Luo Lingsheng’s misunderstanding, so he quickly shook his head, “No, I’m usually pretty good and don’t mess around.”
“…..”
You are quite messed up right now.
This thought suddenly occurred to Luo Lingsheng, and he forgot to open his mouth to refuse.
The drunk Shi Yunnan didn’t think much. Seeing that Luo Lingsheng didn’t refuse, he couldn’t help tightening the tie in his hand, and his free thumb tentatively touched the Adam’s apple in front of him.
The careful touch brought an unprecedented numbness.
Luo Lingsheng’s breathing tightened, for no apparent reason, and his slightly darkened eyes fixed on Shi Yunnan, who was close at hand.
Shi Yunnan was originally dizzy from the wine, and after the four eyes met, his guts suddenly got bigger and he tilted his head up.
The cool lips seemed to brush against Luo Lingsheng’s chin, and the interlocking breaths tugged at each other.
At the critical moment, the front yard suddenly exploded with cheers.
Luo Lingsheng’s rationality quickly converged, and he tilted his head back sharply as soon as the soft lips touched.
At the same time, Shi Yunnan wrinkled his brow, revealing an obvious look of pain.
“–blech!”
Shi Yunnan trotted to the sewer in the backyard and vomited loudly.
“…..”
Seeing Shi Yunnan’s exaggerated physiological reaction, Luo Lingsheng showed an indescribably complex expression for the first time in his life—
How?
Did the lips that seemingly touched, not even a kiss, make him vomit?
However, Luo Lingsheng’s wandering thoughts were quickly pulled back by Shi Yunnan’s pitiful whimper—
The other party wasn’t psychologically disgusted by the unsuccessful kiss but had a normal physiological reaction after being drunk and dizzy.
Shi Yunnan didn’t have much in his stomach, and now he couldn’t discharge as much as he felt. He looked left and right and finally could only direct his soft gaze for help to Luo Lingsheng.
“Luo Lingsheng, I want water.”
Six simple words, giving an order as if it were second nature.
Luo Lingsheng frowned slightly, and quickly walked away from Shi Yunnan to the outside courtyard. In less than a minute, he walked back with mineral water and tissues.
Luo Lingsheng’s sight searched for the target, and his pace was slightly paused—
Shi Yunnan was sitting on the lawn not far from the water channel, burying his head in his knees. Just looking at the huddled back, there was an indescribable, abandoned, lonely feeling.
To be honest, Luo Lingsheng normally would never want to have contact with such a drunk, but there were exceptions to everything.
Luo Lingsheng quickly approached him. He looked at Shi Yunnan, who was curled up on the ground without moving. He just squatted down and patted his shoulder, “…I brought you some water. Rinse your mouth before drinking it.“
Shi Yunnan raised his head slowly, his eyes redder than before.
He looked at Luo Lingsheng, who had reappeared in front of him, and pursed his lips as if he couldn’t control it, “I thought no one would pay attention to me.”
What are you saying Shi-drunk-Yunan, from the very first time Lou Lingsheng laud his eyes to you he already paid you attention a whole lot besides there’s your mother in heaven, your twin brother and your surnamed Fu, friend of yours so don’t say that. Anyways thanks for the chapter ♡♥(･´з`･).
It’s not about who cares for you, but about feeling neglected. If there’s a constant comparison, no matter how much you love the object of comparison, you’ll feel inferior and neglected. He loves his brother too much, but his brother getting all the attention hurts him. It’s not that he’s jealous, he’s just disappointed- disappointed at himself for not being good enough. And he never thought anyone would ever think for himself.
Exactly! That’s the reason why communication is important in any relationship, humans don’t come with the function of a mind-reader. No matter how much you love or care about someone, the other won’t know if you don’t talk, don’t speak, don’t show concern obviously (not secretly, saying things like wanting to protect them, be a knight, a guardian angel, etc).
Shi Yunnan lived his childhood only having his brother care about him, while the others either hate him or badly affected because some people hate him. He lost his mother, the family and safe haven he had broke apart, he was exposed to the worst side of humanity (friends and acquaintances who would be friendly with him changed face and became on that ‘thing’ s side.
After experiencing this, he matured, earlier than his brother and understood the underlying situation, beyond all the acts and hidden messages inside all the people’s demeanor and words, he gains an insight to the deeper side of high society. And he saw, the fact that them brothers were not accepted and rejected, defended against, except for the possible safe haven, that is the Wen family, but that shit Shi family cut off the possibility of both of them going to the safe haven together.
And like any sensible and sober brother that thinks more about others than himself, he pushed his brother to the Wen family, while he, himself jumped to the deadly trap that is the Shi family. And at this time, he clearly felt that he was unwanted by everyone, everyone wants his brother instead of him (because he’s mild and malleable, and is pure and good and everything nice, not deep minded and rebellious aka not easily controlled like him), and he felt the same (this abandoned feeling as a result amplified, his self worth lowered, his confidence took a hit inside, his feeling of inferiority was born at this moment, coupled with him kinda abandoning/giving up on himself because he also loves and thought the same of his brother (a nice angel who should be protected), like a big brother).
And then the whole shenanigans with that ‘thing’ making Shi Yunnan a black sheep happened, and in the Wen family, since his brother was protected both by his talent and Wen family elders, he got the brunt of the hate that’s directed to both of them. And he’s sent to abroad, where he got bullied that resulted in PTSD-born phobia of darkness and tight spaces and have to work even while all that, without experiencing proper school life because he can be dropped out and can starve and die, and if I remember correctly, he also earned scholarship? (To ease the load). The only silver lining is that he got his first real, genuine friend there.
It’s not easy acknowledging that his situation has improved, that he has people who cares about him, loves him, accept him for who he is, that he’s not lacking, not a waste, not a harbringer of trouble, unwanted goods thrown like a hot potato by everyone, and one can only hear something so much until they believe it themself. It’s not easy, he fell from heaven to hell, his life flipped upside down, he matured early to protect himself ‘and’ his brother, he went from a child coddled and protected to a slab of meat everyone want to tear into, into someone hated and rejected by everyone, and the sensible him knew that anyone who cares even a smidgen about him can’t fight against the world, and the trouble could even start from their own home, this sweet, sensible child then did the only thing he could do, avoid everyone, be self-sufficient, growing up and in the process of it, getting stronger to one day be able to prove and protect himself as well as the people he cares about. He knew how it feel to have a broken home, a broken family, so he did everything he could to prevent that future from others even if that was at the expense of the possibility of him being a child that could be protected and live happily and smoothly like before the accident happens.
That, that was a brave, smart, commendable and mature thing to do, for a child who haven’t even graduated from school yet (he was in junior high school when all this shit went down if I remember correctly?) even if it’s kinda clumsy and maybe there’s a better way, it was attempt of an unprotected and vulnerable child with no protection, money nor assets or chips to protect his brother, his last family member (as for himself, as long as he lives, he doesn’t care much about hardships, ridicule or and malice that he faces).
Any other person who faces all this, might have given up on himself and killed themselves to rid themselves of pain and to give more convenience for his brother (as everyone seemingly made trouble towards him) so that the other won’t be implicated or hate their brother and be selfish and protect themselves first. Who knows if Shi Yunnan ever thought of such thoughts or how close he was to, well, off himself, to not implicate others.
I’m so Shook because there’s no next chapter button!!! 😭😭😭
Ahhhhh when I finally touch the flashback, I have to wait… Aaaaaaaa
Cough… Anyway THANK YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH FOR THE HARD WORKS IN TRANSLATING THIS ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR NOVEL!!! 🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇 FOREVER ETERNALLY GRATEFUL
I find it funny when they keep on saying that old man Wen also cared or loved Yunnan when the so called love was not really portrayed. It was supposed to be a birthday party for the twins but in the end , the only one who was the star was Yibei. If the old man really cared for Yunnan, he should have introduced him to the guest. Based on what I’ve just read, the invitation should only have Yibei’s name because most of the guest including Lingsheng and his friend doesn’t even know that there is another bday boy. It’s quite stupid because even if Yunnan grew up in the GShi family, he is stillafterall a member of the Wen family.
The old man is really useless
This chapter makes my heart hurt. Poor Yunnan. Because of his shitty father, grandfather, stepmother, and half-brother he never got the chance to grow up normally in a family. It’s honestly a miracle that his relationship with his twin brother managed to survive the estrangement over the years.
Poor bubu, he never has a real, normal family, forgot about warm atmosphere with nice people around…
Thank You for the chapter ʚ♡⃛ɞ(ू•ᴗ•ू❁)
Oh! Turned out the suit is Yunnan’s present to his brother! Meaning he and Lingsheng really had similar taste. I loved their first meeting. It is actually the same as what “Yunnan’s thought as their first meeting”. Helping troubled Yunnan, got teased and tempted by forgetful Yunnan.. so sweet.
So that is what Lingsheng means when he told Butler Qin before, if he can’t get it, no one else can get it. Meaning when he come to Shi family, it is not to propose on behalf of that fake ass ML, but he might really come to propose on behalf of Luo’s family… proposing business transaction directly! But our sly fox makes him thought of another possibility which he favoured so much, contract marriage. 😂