Lu Heng’s attention returned to Jiang Yunxing.
“What’s your real name? How old are you?” Lu Heng asked.
Jiang Yunxing hesitated, “I just turned eighteen. My real name… just call me Jiang Yunxing.”
“Hmm.” Lu Heng paused, “Are you in college?”
“…I just finished my college entrance exam,” Jiang Yunxing replied.
“Hmm.”
“What about you? How old are you?”
“Eight years older than you,” Lu Heng said flatly.
“Wow, that’s quite a gap.” Jiang Yunxing was a bit shocked. “Then I was right to call you Ge.”
“Hmm.”
The room fell silent. Lu Heng glanced at Jiang Yunxing, who hung his head low, looking visibly dejected. Even a fool could tell he wasn’t happy.
Lu Heng died in June. If he remembered correctly, it should be around when college entrance exam results came out. Jiang Yunxing likely died on the same day as him.
Did he fail the exam? Lu Heng wondered briefly but decided not to ask.
He craved a cigarette and looked through his coat without much hope.
He didn’t find any cigarettes, but he did find his phone. Lu Heng turned on the screen. It was already four in the afternoon.
He stared at the lock screen thoughtfully.
He tried entering a password, and the phone actually unlocked.
Although the author hadn’t written much detail, after transmigrating here, many details defaulted to match his reality.
Like how he used his birthday for all unimportant passwords, including his phone’s.
The phone had few apps, just the essentials, not even a single game.
Lu Heng suddenly remembered something and asked Jiang Yunxing, “How much was my hospital bill? Did you pay for it?”
Jiang Yunxing looked up, as if just remembering, and said sheepishly, “Not yet, I don’t have much money…”
Lu Heng nodded, opened his contacts and quickly found one labeled “Butler.”
He dialed, and the other end picked up immediately.
“Young Master? Aren’t you in class?” the butler asked.
Even the butler’s voice matched reality, except in real life, he’d never use terms like “Young Master” that belonged in rich, domineering president novels.
“I’m sick, and I’m at the hospital now. Send someone to pick me up,” Lu Heng replied.
The other end went quiet for a while before responding, “Which hospital are you at?”
Lu Heng scanned the room for the hospital name and reported it.
The butler replied, “Very well, I’ll send someone right away.”
After hanging up, Lu Heng frowned slightly. The butler’s initial attitude seemed normal but turned cold towards the end.
As if he was reluctant to send someone.
It seemed the “Lu Heng” in the book wasn’t well-liked at home.
Lu Heng put on his coat and looked at Jiang Yunxing again, his movements pausing.
Jiang Yunxing sat there, lost in thought, his eyes full of confusion.
That they transmigrated into the same world was fate, but Lu Heng had no intention of getting close to Jiang Yunxing.
They weren’t from the same world to begin with. Even in reality, Jiang Yunxing was just a kid fresh out of high school who’d never even seen him in the news.
Moreover, in this world, one was the protagonist and one the villain. They were natural enemies.
But Lu Heng didn’t plan to waste time on Lin Yao. The conflicts from the book wouldn’t happen, so they weren’t even enemies anymore.
Jiang Yunxing knew the plot and Lin Yao’s feelings. He could handle it well and continue that relationship with Lin Yao.
As for himself, he needed to fulfill the wishes he couldn’t in reality.
Lu Heng finished putting on his coat and prepared to leave. Jiang Yunxing finally snapped out of his daze.
“…Ge? Are you leaving?”
Based on his question, he clearly didn’t pay attention to the phone call.
Lu Heng hummed in agreement. “Someone’s coming to take me home. I need to figure out where I live anyway.”
“Ah!” Jiang Yunxing looked panicked. “I don’t know where I live either.”
“…”
“Lin Yao probably arranged to walk home with you after school? Just go back to school and leave with him later.”
Jiang Yunxing brightened. “Oh, right, why didn’t I think of that? You’re so smart, Ge!”
“…”
Were college-bound students usually this dim?
Lu Heng internally questioned Jiang Yunxing’s intelligence while asking calmly, “We go to the same school? What’s it called?”
“No. 2 High School,” Jiang Yunxing answered quickly. “It’s the best school in the province. You and Lin Yao are in Class 1, the top class. I’m in Class 6, a regular class.”
Lu Heng stayed silent. Jiang Yunxing glanced at him and hesitantly continued, “But… you got into Class 1 through connections. Your actual grades aren’t good, so your classmates don’t like you much…”
Lu Heng had guessed as much. The “Lu Heng” in the book was written as an idiot, so naturally, his grades wouldn’t be good.
This actually worked in his favor, though. He’d been out of high school for almost ten years. Genius or not, he’d forgotten most of it.
They left the hospital together. Lu Heng paid the bill first and checked his balance while at it.
It was plenty for a high school student but unusually low for someone from such a wealthy family.
Outside the hospital, Lu Heng stopped, and Jiang Yunxing stopped with him.
“Go back to school,” Lu Heng said.
“Okay.” Jiang Yunxing hung his head.
He didn’t move right away. Lu Heng glanced at him, noting his dejected expression. The words “don’t want to leave” might as well have been written on his face.
Lu Heng remembered how Jiang Yunxing had hugged him crying earlier.
True, in this book, Lu Heng merely changed his way of living, but for Jiang Yunxing, it was like being reborn completely.
Not only that, Jiang Yunxing had just turned eighteen, and he was still essentially a child. Add to that his mysterious death and reluctance to share his real name…
Poor kid.
Lu Heng sighed internally and took out his phone. “Got your phone? Want to add each other?”
Although he didn’t plan on getting too close to Jiang Yunxing, being casual friends was fine.
Jiang Yunxing had helped him today. If he had troubles, Lu Heng would naturally help where he could. Besides, Jiang Yunxing knew far more about this world than him. That might come in handy.
Jiang Yunxing seemed surprised by the offer. His face lit up after a moment. “I do! But…”
His excitement deflated as he pulled out his phone. “I don’t think we can add each other.”
Lu Heng was confused until he saw Jiang Yunxing’s phone.
It was a flip phone.
“…”
This book really was from another era.
“Let’s exchange numbers then.” Lu Heng found his number and showed it to Jiang Yunxing. “I have my own things to do and won’t bother Lin Yao. You should work on your relationship with him.”
Jiang Yunxing’s hand paused while entering the number. He looked up at Lu Heng. “But Ge, he’s a guy…”
Lu Heng was surprised. “You’re not gay?”
“…”
Jiang Yunxing stayed quiet, his expression complicated.
Lu Heng remained calm. Seeing Jiang Yunxing had finished entering his number, he put his phone away. “Sorry, I assumed since you read these kinds of books, you were too.”
“No, I, I’m…” Jiang Yunxing stumbled over his words, his face and ears turning red. “Just… don’t you think it’s weird?”
“You get used to it after seeing it enough,” Lu Heng said.
He reached for his pocket instinctively, wanting a cigarette, but found nothing.
Lu Heng frowned slightly, his expression cooling. His nicotine craving made him irritable.
Jiang Yunxing did not notice anything, still caught up in Lu Heng’s response. He looked at Lu Heng like he was some kind of savior.
“What about you, Ge?” Jiang Yunxing asked bravely. “Are you… are you like that too?”
Lu Heng ran his tongue over his teeth, barely maintaining his patience. “I’m nothing. I’m not interested in any of that.”
“Oh…” Jiang Yunxing lowered his head disappointedly.
Lu Heng’s gaze landed on the convenience store across the street. He started to move, then remembered the high schooler beside him.
“You should go,” he said. “Get along well with Lin Yao. Call me if you need help.”
Jiang Yunxing left, looking back several times. Lu Heng hurried to the store, scanning the shelves, but found only unfamiliar cigarette brands.
Probably because it was a novel, the brands and packaging were slightly different. Unable to find his usual brand, he bought one pack of each type on the shelf.
When he walked out with his bag of cigarettes, the car from home was already waiting.
He opened a pack and put one in his mouth.
After smoking half a stick, Lu Heng’s mood finally improved. He stubbed out the remainder in a trash bin and got in the car.
The hospital wasn’t far from home. It took about a twenty-minute drive to get back. The driver didn’t say a word the whole way.
Although the location had changed, the villa looked exactly like the one in reality. Lu Heng was surprised at first, but then remembered the house had been in the news several times.
It was still early. His siblings were still at school. Only the butler and housekeeper were home.
When Lu Heng returned, the butler just bowed and said “Young Master” formally, without any greeting.
The housekeeper, however, asked kindly, “You’re home early. Is there anything you’d like to eat? I’ll tell the chef.”
Lu Heng thought for a while before answering, “Braised fish, with the bones removed.”
“Okay, I’ll have it sent to you at dinnertime.”
Sent? Weren’t they eating in the dining room?
Lu Heng was confused, but the housekeeper seemed to think him eating in his room was perfectly normal.
He just hummed in response and headed to his room.
In reality, Lu Heng lived in the master bedroom on the third floor, which was the largest room in the villa after Lu Shenghua’s.
He wasn’t born into that room. It took him twenty-three years to earn it.
Countless first places and honors in school, single-handedly reviving a lifeless branch of the company at work. Only after such efforts did he earn that bedroom.
To him, it wasn’t just a room, but a symbol of his achievements.
Yet, in this world, that room was beyond his reach again.
Lu Heng stood at the stairwell, looking at the keypad lock. He didn’t even have access to the third floor.
Next to the stairs, at the end of the second floor, was a room.
Lu Heng stared at it for a long while before entering. He immediately noticed the certificates on the wall bearing his name.
This was his room now.
“Tch.” Lu Heng walked in irritably, shutting the door and tossing the bag of cigarettes on the desk.
He opened a new pack, lit one, and walked to the window.
Even though he’d expected this, Lu Heng couldn’t help feeling frustrated.
The “Lu Heng” in the book was an idiot who, despite his low status at home, only cared about competing with a high school student.
He hadn’t even gotten to that fight yet.
It was his own fault that he got that ending.
But now, Lu Heng had taken over this miserable life.
In reality, he’d fought so hard to climb up, almost reaching the top. Now, he hadn’t just fallen. He had to start from an even lower point.
Lu Heng smoked one cigarette after another, trying eight different brands, but none satisfied him.
Various tobacco scents swirled by the window. Lu Heng narrowed his eyes, unexpectedly recalling Jiang Yunxing’s scent.
Jiang Yunxing’s pheromones smelled like tobacco, but unique, unlike anything he’d ever smoked.
His nape began to burn faintly again. Lu Heng’s mind filled with the memory of Jiang Yunxing’s pheromones, making even his cigarette taste bland.
…He really wanted a taste.
…
Was he going into heat again?
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