Chapter 32: Lv Qingqi, you smell good

Lu Qingqi felt like he had become a happy little canary, lying on a warm little bed, wrapped layer upon layer in the afternoon’s gentle sunlight.

The warm, melting light flowed over his feathers, carrying the sweet scent of grains, lulling him into a drowsy haze.

That big hand responsible for feeding him would occasionally pat his head, or tease him now and then.

The warmth of fingertips settled on his back, dispelling the slight chill in the corner of the cage, tracing upward along the feather patterns in an intimacy that made him tremble faintly.

Until, suddenly, an anklet tightened, the cold metal biting into his ankle with an inescapable restraint, yanking him fiercely toward someone’s demonic claws!!

“Get off me!”

The youth jerked awake in a frenzy, his sweet dream shattered, nightmare crashing in.

He lifted his eyes in bewilderment, meeting the plain white ceiling.

Then, a familiar face suddenly popped into view.

“Awake?”

Liu Wangjiang’s expression looked a bit off.

Only then did Lu Qingqi realize he seemed to be in a hospital.

He sat up, his left hand hooked to an IV, a bag of glucose hanging beside him.

“What happened to me?”

His right hand touched his forehead; the last memory was of passing out.

“Hypoglycemia.”

The man was curt.

With that, Liu Wangjiang looked at him, reaching out to pat his shoulder, his tone earnest.

“You know you’re short; don’t believe those nonsense online courses—dieting won’t make you taller; you need to eat more and exercise to grow.”

Lu Qingqi bristled instantly.

Height was forever his sore spot—not just shorter than Liu Wangjiang, but among the rich kids’ circle, he was on the short side too!

“Mind your own business!!”

“You passed out on the mountain; I carried you back.”

Lu Qingqi choked, pursing his lips, mumbling awkwardly.

“Oh, well, thanks then.”

He paused, then stuck out his neck to emphasize,

“By the way, you don’t get to judge my height.”

“You’re so tall yourself, but I don’t see you with a single girlfriend?”

Hearing this, Liu Wangjiang sighed inwardly in resignation.

As expected, still that Qiqi who wouldn’t let up if he had the upper hand, and would argue three points even without reason.

He might not always remember favors, but grudges? He’d return them double, turning one jab into ten clever retorts.

He suppressed the helplessness in his heart, paused, and changed the subject.

“How’d you pass out?”

“No idea.”

The youth replied.

He truly had no clue; clearly, the last moment in his memory was using his ability on Liu Wangjiang, and the next second, the world spun, darkness swallowing his vision.

“Did you see anything strange?”

“Let me think…… no.”

“Mm.”

Liu Wangjiang nodded, pondering inwardly.

Looks like that mist was only for me.

Earlier, because of the misty girl’s words, he’d wanted to take the unconscious Lu Qingqi to find the Mother’s Drowning Spring, but after searching the woods for half a day, no trace—had to give up, as if that misty girl had said it just to prank him.

Suddenly, Liu Wangjiang’s gaze fell on the short-haired youth on the hospital bed, a strange flutter in his heart.

If the one in the mist before was Qiqi played by the misty girl, then is this one in front of me…… real?

He suddenly leaned forward, reaching out to pinch the soft flesh on the youth’s cheek, half-testing, half-teasing.

“Lu Qingqi, you smell pretty nice.”

Lu Qingqi recoiled like he’d been scalded, scooting his butt back, swatting the man’s hand away, glaring with utter disgust.

“What the hell’s wrong with you?”

“Even if it’s a joke, I’m not your bro—if not for you carrying me back, I’d have slapped you already!”

He pouted, sizing up Liu Wangjiang, a hint of suspicion in his tone.

“Looking at you like this, I really suspect you like guys.”

“No way,”

Liu Wangjiang drawled, a glint of amusement hidden in his eyes.

“I super—like women.”

Watching the youth bristle and get all serious, he inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

Good, this Qiqi who blushes, who flares up, who snaps back and insults him—this one’s real.

“Right, where’s my girlfriend?”

Lu Qingqi suddenly looked around, even craning to peer out the window.

“What girlfriend?”

“I’m in the hospital, and she didn’t come see me?”

“We’re at the same hotel, aren’t we? Or did you not tell her?”

“I did; she said inspiration struck, she’s sketching up on the mountain, left you to me.”

Lu Qingqi: ……

Seeing the youth all puffed up and a bit aggrieved, the smile at Liu Wangjiang’s lips deepened; he drawled lazily, tone casual.

“Oh, right—the surveillance video I sent you last time, did you watch it?”

At this, Lu Qingqi’s expression stiffened for a beat, then he jutted his chin up to meet the man’s eyes, defiance clear in his voice.

“I did.”

But right after, as if afraid of being swayed, he quickly added,

“But I’ve already had someone verify it—tech’s so advanced now, who knows if it’s synthesized? Maybe someone doctored it on purpose, trying to stir things between me and her.”

He clenched his fingers, stubbornness in his gaze, voice pitching up a notch, like he was psyching himself up.

“We’ve been together seven years—seven years! Don’t I know what kind of person she is? I won’t believe she’d betray me—absolutely impossible!!”

Liu Wangjiang listened to his stubborn words, chuckling lowly inside.

Betrayal?

Truth is, from the moment she chose to stay with you, she’d already betrayed.

He was almost impatient to let Lu Qingqi know the full truth, to see him fully recognize that woman’s true face, even…… come to hate women from then on.

The deeper the love, the sharper the hate.

Seven years of cuckoldry—truly something to look forward to……

But no rush.

After all, even the most vibrant flower needs green leaves to set it off; and a play’s climax often needs ample buildup and prelude to deliver the most shocking impact when unveiled.

He had plenty of patience—slowly wait.

“If that’s what you think, then I’ll wait for your results.”

Liu Wangjiang had just straightened up when the youth’s indignant shout rang from behind.

“Get lost, you bastard rival!”

“If I find out that video’s fake, you won’t get off easy!”

The man didn’t reply, turning to pull open the ward door and leave.

The room fell instantly quiet, only the “drip-drip” of glucose into the IV tube.

Lu Qingqi held his earlier snapping pose, chest rising and falling slightly, but seconds later, a loud “gurgle—” rumbled from his belly.

The sound rang especially clear in the silent room; the youth froze, then awkwardly rubbed his stomach.

The aftereffects of hypoglycemia hadn’t fully faded, plus that earlier spat had drained some energy; hunger surged like a tide, stomach empty and aching, even making his head spin a bit.

He pursed his lips, eyeing the empty room, a strange grievance welling up.

Girlfriend sketching on the mountain, ignoring him; that bastard Liu Wangjiang pissing him off; now starving too……

“What a shitty situation……”

Lu Qingqi muttered softly, burrowing into the covers.

“I’m clearly the chosen one with superpowers, and I don’t even have anyone to bring me food.”

“Once I unlock some badass superpower, I swear I’ll never eat beef again!”