The Salted Fish is Rebellious – CH28

Chapter 28

Between classes, training, and commuting between school and the company, there really wasn’t much time left to actually watch anime.

To pass intel to his new ally, Xing Shi would pull out his phone and take a few glances at Magic Bear whenever he had a spare moment, purposefully acting like a die-hard fan for an entire day. This way, he could share it naturally without coming across as suspicious.

After all, this matter was his biggest secret, and he wanted to handle it with absolute care.

Both Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning understood the principle of committing to a performance. He couldn’t just stop pretending to love Magic Bear the moment he shared it; Xing Shi figured he’d at least have to watch a few dozen episodes to sell the act.

Fu Xiuning, having fallen for the setup, got roped into five episodes. After being dragged into the anime against his will, he felt a strong urge to stop caring about Xing Shi’s survival altogether.

But Xing Shi immediately stopped him. “Where are you going?”

“To the bathroom,” Fu Xiuning replied.

Xing Shi paused the show and said considerately, “I’ll wait for you to come back, and then we can keep watching together.”

“I still have a few documents to finish reading,” Fu Xiuning said. “You can keep watching. No need to wait for me.”

He added indulgently, “Do you want any snacks or barbecue? I can grab some for you.”

Xing Shi grabbed onto his pajamas and refused to let go. “No way. If you don’t watch with me, something feels off. You’re my brother, aren’t you?”

“How about this,” Xing Shi suggested. “I’ll sit next to you while you work on your documents, and then you can join me to watch Magic Bear. You said yourself that the later episodes get really exciting. You must want to see them for yourself, right?”

Fu Xiuning stared at him in silence. He really didn’t want to.

Xing Shi met his gaze, his expression equal parts dependent and sincere.

Moments later, the living room was dimly lit by a floor lamp that had been moved from the bedroom to sit near the couch. Fu Xiuning’s never-before-used television was turned on.

He sat in the lamp’s glow with a pile of documents that usually served as desk decorations.

Xing Shi sat close beside him. The coffee table in front of them was laden with plates of fruit. Snacks from a delivery order were on their way and would arrive in about half an hour. It was the perfect setup for watching anime.

The entire living room was filled with the lively background music of Magic Bear.

Fu Xiuning endured another five episodes alongside him. Glancing at the time, he finally had enough and stood up. “That’s it for today. Get some sleep.”

Xing Shi obediently turned off the TV and sweetly said, “Goodnight, big bro.”

Fu Xiuning tossed out a casual “Goodnight” and walked off without looking back.

They’d only watched ten episodes that night. The next day, the moment Xing Shi returned home, he turned the TV back on.

After two days of nonstop Magic Bear, Fu Xiuning tried to show some kindness. “The rainy season is starting. It’s going to rain both tomorrow and the day after. Coming back so late won’t be convenient or safe. Why don’t you stay at the apartment?”

Xing Shi instantly understood what that meant—Fu Xiuning wanted him to go bother Yu Yi and the others. He said, “No, I want to stay with you.”

Fu Xiuning smiled faintly. “I don’t need you to.”

Xing Shi stared back unblinkingly. “But I’d miss you.”

Fu Xiuning knew there was no convincing him.

Even if he suddenly found an excuse to attend a social drinking event, Xing Shi would probably still wait for him. It was clear the kid had made up his mind to share in his hardships.

Sometimes, this little brat was really something else. Fu Xiuning felt a wicked streak rise in him. He spoke in a gentle tone. “You can’t bear to leave me? Then why don’t we sleep together tonight?”

?System: !!!?

The system exclaimed excitedly, “AHHHHHH, WHAT DID I JUST HEAR? He’s making a move! Are you going to agree?”

Xing Shi rejected it outright. “Of course not. I’m a restless sleeper.”

Fu Xiuning threw his words back at him. “That’s okay. You’re my little brother, after all.”

“Exactly, because I’m your little brother,” Xing Shi argued. “I can’t bear to disturb your rest.”

Fu Xiuning’s lips curled into a faint smile. The aloofness in his demeanor disappeared, replaced by focused sincerity. “It’s no trouble. Compared to work, you’re more important.”

Xing Shi silently sucked in a breath.

Even though he knew Fu Xiuning was just joking, he couldn’t deny that when Young Master Fu said something like that with his handsome face and that tone of voice, it was dangerously convincing.

In the end, Xing Shi firmly declined. “No way. How could I trouble you like that?”

Of course, Fu Xiuning never intended to actually share a bed with him.

The two went back and forth a few more rounds before both sides took a step back and ended the conversation.

Fu Xiuning turned back to the TV screen while Xing Shi started rambling to the system about why Fu Xiuning had made that unexpected suggestion.

“He can’t possibly want to date me or sleep with me. He’s such a passive person—did you forget?”

“Then what’s his deal?” the system asked.

“He probably knew I’d refuse and said it on purpose,” Xing Shi reasoned. “Maybe he thought I was being clingy after I joked about staying with him. He’s just being his awkward self.”

The system reviewed the situation and agreed. “Tsk!”

Xing Shi sighed. “He loves my looks but wants me to behave and not cling to him. He wants me close but also wants me to be independent. Ugh, men. Thank goodness I’m on the brother route.”

“Exactly,” the system said. “Don’t worry about him. Let’s just wait for him to rack up those affection points.”

Fu Xiuning listened impassively, accompanying him through the last few minutes of the episode. They exchanged goodnights, and he returned to his room.

Xing Shi turned off the TV, feeling like a couple more days of this should be enough. Satisfied, he stretched and went to bed.

That night, it rained heavily and didn’t stop until dawn.

Xing Shi’s outdoor morning run was rained out, so he used Fu Xiuning’s treadmill instead.

After showering, he sat down in the dining room and received a message from Lin Kecheng.

Their alliance was set to expire today, but Lin Kecheng hadn’t finalized the list of names yet. Some people hadn’t been at school, and with the recent rain, his wheelchair made it inconvenient to travel. He suggested extending the deadline to Monday.

Thanks to Fu Xiuning, Xing Shi already knew none of those people were hosts. All he needed from Lin Kecheng was for him to behave, so he agreed to the delay.

Time passed quickly, and the days of watching Magic Bear finally came to an end.

Xing Shi paused his anime marathon, explaining that the repetitive plotlines were becoming tiresome. The system felt a bit reluctant to stop but couldn’t deny he was right and didn’t suspect a thing.

It pulled up a list. “Should I recommend something else for you?”

Xing Shi declined. “Nah. After staring at the TV for so many days, I’m kind of exhausted.”

“Alright,” the system replied. “Whenever you feel like watching again, just let me know.”

Xing Shi agreed, sprawling on the couch and scrolling through his phone. Fu Xiuning, finally free from being dragged into anime marathons, picked up a book.

The two spent a peaceful evening together, and soon it was Monday.

Xing Shi only had one class that morning. After it ended, he went to meet Lin Kecheng.

They met at the same café as last time.

When Xing Shi arrived, Lin Kecheng had just gotten there as well.

With a fractured ankle, a muscle contusion in his right arm, and a battered body, he’d been tirelessly moving back and forth, trying to get close to his target and test the waters. In just a few days, Lin Kecheng had grown significantly thinner, his eyes sunken with dark circles. He looked utterly exhausted.

Both Xing Shi and the system hissed in unison. “Oof.” Xing Shi asked with concern, “Senior, are you feeling any better?”

Lin Kecheng, stressed to the point of developing mouth ulcers, looked back at him and thought, Do I look like I’m better?

With a troublesome system watching over him, Lin Kecheng didn’t dare show his frustration. Instead, he smiled warmly and replied, “Much better.”

Xing Shi nodded. “Injuries like yours take about a hundred days to heal. You need to take it slow and make sure not to touch the injured areas.”

“I know,” Lin Kecheng said.

The two found a corner to sit in, with their first order of business being to renew their alliance. Since the list of names was stored in the system, it was the safest option.

When Lin Kecheng saw Xing Shi reach out his hand, he suggested, “Junior, we’ve known each other for quite some time now. We’ve renewed our alliance several times and even worked together to expose Yu Shu’s identity. I think by now, we’ve built enough trust that we don’t need to set such short terms anymore. It’s inconvenient to renew every few days, don’t you think?”

Xing Shi thought for a moment, hesitated, and said, “Well… that might work.”

Both Lin Kecheng and the system perked up, only to hear Xing Shi follow up with, “Actually, no, my system won’t allow it.”

Both human and system froze.

This system was so annoying!

Xing Shi looked at him earnestly. “Don’t worry, Senior. I don’t have any plans to form alliances with other hosts for now. I feel more secure having you as my ally since we know each other so well.”

Lin Kecheng felt relieved. He silently resolved to get the system to relent eventually and shook hands with Xing Shi.

After completing the alliance renewal, Lin Kecheng instructed his system to send three names over to Xing Shi. In a low voice, he explained, “Out of the entire list, only these three people showed any reaction during my probing. However, I can’t confirm whether they’re actually hosts without further testing. I didn’t dare make my probing too obvious to avoid exposing myself. Should we coordinate like we did with Yu Shu?”

Xing Shi replied, “Send me their detailed information. I’ll take it back and analyze it with my system.”

“Got it,” Lin Kecheng agreed readily.

With days of work temporarily wrapped up, his expression lightened. “We’ll also come up with some ideas on our end. Let’s stay in touch.”

“Alright,” Xing Shi replied.

Lin Kecheng, wanting to build a closer relationship, ordered him a dessert.

However, Xing Shi had no intention of wasting time. After finishing his food, he left to return to his company training.

Watching Xing Shi disappear out the door, Lin Kecheng remarked, “His system is really difficult to deal with.”

His system sighed in agreement. “We’ll just have to find a way to ease the tension.”

As Lin Kecheng slowly wheeled himself out, a sudden idea struck him. “Hosts can only ally with one person at a time, right? Or can they ally with multiple people simultaneously?”

The system replied, “They can ally with multiple people. Why?”

Lin Kecheng mused, “What if I reached out to Yu Shu?”

“Ah?” the system exclaimed.

Lin Kecheng narrowed his eyes. “Yu Shu doesn’t know Xing Shi’s identity. He might think Xing Shi is easy to manipulate and try to get close to him. I could approach Yu Shu, lay things out, and tell him Xing Shi plans to deal with him first. Then, I’d propose an alliance where I act in the open and he operates in the shadows so we can take Xing Shi down together.”

He chuckled. “After that, I’ll steer Xing Shi into thinking Yu Shu suspects him and plans to get rid of him. This way, I can fan the flames between them and make sure they tear each other apart. Once they’re both out of the picture, I’ll have killed two birds with one stone.”

Lin Kecheng’s system had seen him climb to the position of head of the literature department over the past six months, scheming against countless people along the way. It couldn’t help but admire his mind, though not all of his plans succeeded. Those that did usually played out exactly as he had envisioned.

Still, the system reminded him, “Yu Shu’s name was just exposed, and plenty of hosts are keeping an eye on him. If you approach him now, it might draw suspicion. Also, since it was me who revealed his identity, he might not be too friendly toward us. People in the entertainment industry are shrewd. There’s no guarantee we could outmaneuver him.”

Lin Kecheng considered this. “True. Then how about—”

Before he could finish, the system suddenly said, “Fu Xiuning.”

Startled, Lin Kecheng quickly scanned the area with his eyes and spotted someone walking over from across the street.

He wasn’t in great shape today, feeling both frustrated and fatigued. But without hesitation, he wheeled himself over to the roadside. When Fu Xiuning noticed him, Lin Kecheng gave a weary smile. “Senior.”

Fu Xiuning stopped in front of him and glanced down. “Haven’t been resting well?”

Lin Kecheng was momentarily moved.

Look at this senior of his—he treated Lin Kecheng like a nobody, yet still showed him warmth and concern on the surface.

And then there was a certain idiot. His emotional intelligence was so low it was painful. With his straight-man mindset, he couldn’t even tell when Lin Kecheng looked unwell. Say you’re fine, and he’d actually believe it!

Playing the sympathy card, Lin Kecheng said, “Yeah, I’ve been injured, so I haven’t been sleeping well lately.”

“Where are you headed?” Fu Xiuning asked.

Lin Kecheng quickly connected the direction he was going with a few possible destinations and chose one that matched Fu Xiuning’s path.

Fu Xiuning took hold of the wheelchair’s handles without hesitation and pushed him forward.

Lin Kecheng was instantly flattered. “Senior, where are you going? I thought you had class this morning.”

“I suddenly felt like going to the library,” Fu Xiuning replied.

This, of course, was a lie.

He’d overheard Xing Shi and his system discussing their meeting with Lin Kecheng at this café. Knowing Xing Shi wouldn’t linger for too long, Fu Xiuning timed his arrival perfectly.

“What brings you here?” Fu Xiuning asked.

Lin Kecheng smiled awkwardly. “I suddenly had a craving for the coffee here.”

“Mm,” Fu Xiuning acknowledged without further comment.

“Their lattes are pretty good,” Lin Kecheng offered. “Would you like one? My treat.”

“Maybe next time,” Fu Xiuning replied.

Lin Kecheng wasn’t disappointed. Running into Fu Xiuning and walking together was already a pleasant surprise. As they moved, he racked his brain for conversation topics, hoping Fu Xiuning would walk slower.

“Senior, are you going to the library to find books?” Lin Kecheng asked.

“Mm,” Fu Xiuning responded.

Lin Kecheng gave a helpless smile. “I passed by the library earlier and thought about going in to read, but the slope outside is too steep. I couldn’t get up there by myself. Senior, would you mind pushing me up?”

Fu Xiuning nodded. “Sure.”

“Thank you, Senior. Let me treat you to lunch later,” Lin Kecheng said gratefully.

“No need,” Fu Xiuning replied. “I’m just grabbing a few books and leaving.”

“Alright, maybe next time then.”

Fu Xiuning pushed him into the library and went off to look for books.

Lin Kecheng followed him to the same floor, pretending to browse the bookshelves. When it was time to leave, he planned to “coincidentally” leave with Fu Xiuning.

Since loud noise wasn’t allowed in the library, Lin Kecheng resumed his conversation with his system in a low voice.

“Let’s keep an eye on Yu Shu for now to see if any other hosts approach him. We’ll also dig into his background and analyze his personality before deciding whether to ally with him.”

He picked a book and placed it on his lap. “As for the three suspects at school, there’s some room to maneuver. We could try forming an alliance with them as a backup.”

The system replied, “Then we can’t let Xing Shi get involved. We’ll handle the investigation ourselves and tell him none of them are hosts. That way, we can keep them to ourselves.”

Lin Kecheng nodded. “Exactly. Send him a message, saying I’ve decided he’s too busy and that his unique status requires him to stay under the radar. We’ll handle the final confirmation ourselves.”

“Got it,” the system replied.

Not far away, Fu Xiuning listened impassively.

The main system mostly selected ambitious individuals as hosts, and Lin Kecheng was no exception. As long as they had their systems to rely on, they’d never truly settle down or accept their fate—they’d always find ways to stir up trouble.

Fu Xiuning casually selected two books and walked out.

Lin Kecheng hurried to follow him, accompanying him out of the library.

Both Lin Kecheng and his system thought they’d had a stroke of luck that day. Little did they know, two days later, they’d run into Fu Xiuning again—this time accompanied by the student council president. The three ended up eating a meal together, during which the upcoming flea market came up.

With graduation approaching, senior students typically sold their unused items at low prices before leaving campus. Even people from outside the school often came to shop, making it a lively event.

Fu Xiuning casually mentioned that his family did charity work every year. Without needing any further nudging, Lin Kecheng caught on and eagerly chimed in.

“How about we organize a charity donation drive?” he suggested. “If the seniors can’t sell off all their stuff, they might just throw it away. Instead, we could encourage them to donate it, and we could give it to people in need.”

He looked at Fu Xiuning. “Your family has experience with this kind of thing. Could they help us coordinate?”

Fu Xiuning’s smile deepened.

In fact, the school already organized similar activities every year, like the “1-Yuan Donation” or book donation drives. However, if the students initiated something on their own, the school wouldn’t stop them—after all, it was a good deed.

There was a hint of approval in Fu Xiuning’s eyes as he asked, “But isn’t it exam week around that time? Won’t you be too busy?”

Lin Kecheng smiled confidently. “Not at all. I’ll draft a plan. You’ve got to trust in my abilities, Senior.”

Fu Xiuning nodded and gave him the contact information for the person in charge of charity in his family that very afternoon. Over the next few days, he occasionally met with Lin Kecheng, listened to his plans, and offered encouragement and praise.

Lin Kecheng, feeling a resurgence of the ambition that had driven him to become head of the literature department, was convinced that the single point he’d lost would soon be regained. He grew happier by the day, practically glowing with newfound energy.

He didn’t tell Xing Shi about any of this. Instead, he decided to silently put in the effort so that one day, he could amaze him and force that damned system to treat them with respect.

Xing Shi, on the other hand, didn’t pay much attention to Lin Kecheng. He hadn’t used his system to investigate Lin Kecheng’s preferences and was entirely unaware of his circumstances. His days proceeded as usual.

Fu Xiuning was the same as ever, typically sitting on the sofa with a book in hand. He was refined, elegant, and pleasing to the eye.

Xing Shi wasn’t sure if Fu Xiuning’s previous comment about “just skipping to the later episodes” was meant as a test. But he didn’t want to bring up Magic Bear as an excuse again, lest they really end up watching it all. For now, he decided to hold back and wait for a better opportunity to bring it up.

A week later, Fu Xiuning mentioned that the charity department’s representative wanted to express their gratitude by hosting a meal at one of their affiliated hotels. The student council was invited, and they were welcome to bring family members.

Fu Xiuning brought his younger brother.

Xing Shi, of course, wouldn’t say no to a free meal. He got into the car and only learned about the event after the fact. “Didn’t this charity thing just get started? Why are they already treating us to dinner?”

Fu Xiuning replied, “Maybe this is when they’re available.”

Xing Shi shrugged. “Fair enough.”

When the two arrived at the hotel restaurant, most of the guests had already shown up.

The event was being held in a luxurious private room, fully equipped with amenities, including karaoke. Aside from the representative, everyone there was part of the student council, so they could relax and enjoy themselves freely.

As the meal wound down, Fu Xiuning glanced at the student council president. She turned to Lin Kecheng, mentioning that her phone had died and asking to borrow his to make a call. Lin Kecheng didn’t think much of it and handed it over.

Once she left with the phone, Fu Xiuning approached Lin Kecheng and asked quietly, “Didn’t you see my messages?”

Lin Kecheng froze, quickly making an excuse before asking, “Did you need something, Senior?”

Fu Xiuning nodded. “There’s a small detail in the plan that I wanted to confirm. Let’s talk in the next room.”

Lin Kecheng immediately agreed and let Fu Xiuning wheel him out of the private room and into a nearby lounge.

Xing Shi took in the entire scene and sent Fu Xiuning a message: ?Bro, what are you doing with Lin Kecheng??

Two seconds later, Fu Xiuning replied with one word: ?Play?

“What?” The system was baffled. “What does that even mean?”

Xing Shi didn’t know either and followed up with: ?Can I join in??

Fu Xiuning responded: ?Just watch.?

Xing Shi put away his phone, ready to enjoy the show.

The system asked, “Are you sure this is fine?”

Xing Shi replied, “It’s fine.”

The system trusted him and settled in to watch as well.

Two minutes later, the student council president returned with Lin Kecheng’s phone and placed it on the table.

Now, even if someone wanted to send Lin Kecheng a message, he wouldn’t see it.

The rest of the attendees, unaware of the undercurrents, noticed the room’s screen suddenly light up. Everyone turned their attention to it, seeing two familiar figures appear.

Fu Xiuning had pushed Lin Kecheng to a spot near the coffee table. He picked up a pitcher of lemon water, poured two glasses, and handed one to Lin Kecheng.

Lin Kecheng smiled, thanking him as he accepted the glass.

It was just a donation campaign, with a straightforward plan that he could recite backwards and forwards. Confident that he could impress Fu Xiuning, he asked, “What detail did you want to confirm, Senior?”

Fu Xiuning took a small sip of lemon water, his tone calm. “I know you were behind what happened with Shao Jianbai.”

Lin Kecheng was just about to take a drink. The sudden statement caught him completely off guard, and his hand jerked, spilling most of the water onto himself.

He struggled to keep his expression under control and forced a laugh. “What are you talking about, Senior?”

“Shao Jianbai’s mental state has improved a bit,” Fu Xiuning said, his voice steady. “The lawyer said you two were in contact for at least a month. During that time, you were slowly leading him into targeting me.”

Lin Kecheng’s face twisted in surprise as he protested, “I didn’t, Senior! I was trying to help him let go of his hatred!”

He frantically called out to his system. “Why is Fu Xiuning bringing this up now? Did he do something? Check him out—quick!”

Fu Xiuning had already erased his phone records, including the messages he’d just exchanged with Xing Shi.

Completely unbothered, he continued, “That day at the porridge shop, you showed up immediately after I did. Quite the coincidence. Sometimes, I wonder if you’ve been sending someone to follow or monitor me since you always seem to know where I am.”

This hit on the system’s secret.

It had been about to search elsewhere after finding nothing useful on Fu Xiuning’s phone. Hearing this, it froze and anxiously turned its attention back to the situation.

Lin Kecheng forced himself to remain composed and protested, “That’s impossible, Senior. How could I possibly have those kinds of connections?”

“And then there’s the time you rushed out like that,” Fu Xiuning continued, unfazed. “It was as if you knew exactly when I’d be passing by. I reviewed the dashcam footage several times—it was clear you deliberately tried to get hit by me. What was it, a ploy to make me feel guilty so I’d take care of you?”

Before Lin Kecheng could refute, Fu Xiuning went on. “And Xing Shi. You’ve repeatedly asked him to put in a good word for you so you could join my company as an artist. That makes your motives with Shao Jianbai crystal clear too. You lured him into attempting to kill me so you could save me at the last second and become my so-called savior.”

Lin Kecheng’s heart nearly leaped out of his chest. “I didn’t do that, Senior!”

Fu Xiuning ignored him. “I’ve always known you’re a schemer. Just like when you wanted to become the head of the literature department, you set up the previous vice president and framed another candidate in the department. Don’t bother denying it—I’ve gathered the evidence. I could call them over right now to confront you.”

Lin Kecheng’s face turned pale, his expression taut. “You must be misunderstanding, Senior. Did someone say something to you?”

Fu Xiuning took another sip of water and looked at him, calm and unhurried. “I don’t wrongfully accuse people. I’ve always had a particular constitution that tends to attract those with extreme personalities or dark thoughts. The feeling you give me is very, very similar. I’m even starting to wonder if you’re part of some kind of organization.”

Both Lin Kecheng and his system were paralyzed with fear.

Setting the glass down, Fu Xiuning spoke softly yet firmly. “Let me make it clear today—I can’t stand you. I don’t want to have any further interactions with you. You’d better take the hint and stay out of my way.”

This was essentially cutting off any possibility of Lin Kecheng continuing his strategy.

The last bit of color drained from his face, and his system nearly crashed.

Fu Xiuning leaned down, resting his hands on the wheelchair’s armrests, and stared at him up close.

He’d let Lin Kecheng enjoy a few days of sweet dreams, only to shatter them completely today. He could see the despair in the other man’s eyes, clear as day.

He smiled faintly and whispered, “Do you know why I brought you here? Because I started a livestream. Everyone in the student council is watching.”

Lin Kecheng’s eyes filled with red, his fraying nerves stomped on yet again.

The student council had been his badge of honor, a place where he had built a shining reputation. Now, it was all in ruins.

His chances of progressing in the game? Reduced to nothing. His school connections? Severed entirely.

This was absolute devastation—irreversible and total.

Losing all reason, Lin Kecheng lunged forward and grabbed Fu Xiuning by the neck, his voice breaking into a scream. “I’ll kill you—!”

The sudden burst of strength was immense, and Lin Kecheng threw his entire weight forward.

Fu Xiuning didn’t dodge, letting himself fall backward onto the coffee table.

The glass table shattered instantly, fragments flying everywhere. Lin Kecheng spotted a shard, and despite the system’s panicked scream of “Stop!”, he picked it up, aiming for Fu Xiuning’s neck.

Fu Xiuning caught his hand, and just as the lounge door burst open, he deliberately loosened his grip. The onlookers arrived just in time to see Lin Kecheng slash his neck, confirming an attempted murder.

At the same time, Lin Kecheng’s system triggered a secondary punishment. He collapsed instantly, unable to utter a sound.

Fu Xiuning glanced at him dispassionately.

In the past, he would have dealt with people like this by killing or maiming them outright—he wouldn’t have bothered with such theatrics. But this time, he had done it to ensure everything unfolded in a controlled manner. The timing was perfect, and Xing Shi could witness it all up close.

He knew Lin Kecheng’s system would soon calculate the odds: with its host heading to prison and the chance of success reduced to zero, it would decide to disconnect.

Xing Shi was the first to rush into the room.

He kicked Lin Kecheng aside and crouched to check on Fu Xiuning.

Fu Xiuning frowned slightly, his expression pained. But Xing Shi didn’t miss the faint hint of unrestrained delight that lingered on his face.

This young master, hunted for five years, had spent his days at home living a quiet, ascetic life. He could sit for an entire evening with just a book, like a high and untouchable flower that had no place in the mundane world.

It wasn’t until this moment that Xing Shi finally glimpsed the rarely revealed core of who he was.

Deep down, he was cold, sharp, exceptionally intelligent, and dangerously calm—a total…

Madman.