08

 Seeing You Xingxiu's madness, Jiang Nian was speechless for a moment.

But he had to do something. Jiang Nian stepped forward, stood still, and looked down at You Xingxiu. You Xingxiu stopped what he was doing. He stared blankly up at Jiang Nian. Jiang Nian remained silent, then raised his hand and slapped You Xingxiu hard. The slap was extremely forceful, and You Xingxiu's cheek was twisted, and the taste of blood filled his mouth.

Jiang Nian's face was cold as she said in a stern voice, "You can't become Zhou Gebai just by pretending. Put away your strange ideas."

"I know who I like."

You Xingxiu held the shard of glass, looking completely bewildered after being hit. After a long while, he turned around, stood up, and, ignoring his brother's life or death, approached Jiang Nian. He threw away the shard, his eyes fixed on Jiang Nian without blinking. His voice was low, "Really?"

"Jiang Nian, can you really tell who you love?"

The magnificent chandelier made of real crystal was turned on, its light reflecting off everyone in the living room.

It also reflected You Xingxiu's more brown eyes.

In Jiang Nian's memory, there was also a pair of eyes like that.

They appeared when he mistook someone for someone else, and they appeared when he finally recognized the right person.

They belonged to only one person.

"...How could it be you?"

"You Xingwen."

...

Jiang Nian and You Xingwen's acquaintance stemmed from a deception.

But it was something she only realized much later.

At this time, Jiang Nian was deeply in love with You Xingxiu, the real You Xingxiu.

You Xingxiu was a handsome, taciturn man with messy hair that hung down his back, his overly long bangs obscuring his eyes. He had pierced ears and wore red earrings, making him look like a delinquent.

At least, that's what Jiang Nian thought.

Although she had encountered similar people in the previous world, they seemed relatively respectable. You Xingxiu, however, practically had "I'll fight anyone who messes with me" written all over his face, making Jiang Nian wary.

The original plot didn't explain how the male lead's adoptive parents met; it was all Jiang Nian's own doing.

But saying it was all about coincidence wasn't quite right.

Because the moment he saw Jiang Nian, You Xingxiu's lazy posture leaning against the wall instantly straightened, and he subconsciously stubbed out his cigarette.

He didn't even have time to think, watching the clean-cut, pure-looking Jiang Nian approach him.

Too close…

close enough that You Xingxiu could smell the faint fragrance emanating from Jiang Nian, a scent he couldn't quite describe, yet like mint in an ice cube on a summer day, sending a shiver down his spine.

He watched the handsome young man's mouth open and close, feeling the warmth and moisture of his bright red mouth, imagining even the saliva might taste sweet. It wasn't

until his mind, clouded by Jiang Nian's close proximity, cleared that he realized Jiang Nian was confessing her feelings to him.

"Are you Senior You Xingxiu?"

You Xingxiu had already graduated; he didn't know if Jiang Nian was his junior, but they must be several years apart, otherwise, with Jiang Nian's looks, she wouldn't have remained unnoticed.

He felt a little nervous, suddenly regretting his inappropriate attire, letting his idolized junior see him like this.

Yes, You Xingxiu thought Jiang Nian admired him.

Although he was the second son in the You family, constantly overshadowed by his genius older brother, You Xingxiu wasn't one to slack off; he was still very outstanding. He

was a prominent figure in university.

You Xingxiu's Adam's apple bobbed. He had never actually been in a relationship, a virgin who had never even held anyone's hand. But the moment he saw Jiang Nian, he became unlike himself, wanting only to be close to her.

He answered, "Yes, it's me."

"I've liked you for a long time, will you be with me?" Jiang Nian lied to someone she was meeting for the first time.

But You Xingxiu believed her without a doubt.

He almost eagerly agreed.

After they got together, Jiang Nian discovered that You Xingxiu was quite different from the character in the script. He was too rebellious, acting on his own whims, just like his appearance—easily exploding. But in the script, he was cold and mature. Jiang Nian thought it might be because they had known each other for so long.

You Xingxiu's work was also very casual. He seemed to be tinkering with something, occasionally managing to finish it with a few keystrokes, and spending the rest of his time fooling around with Jiang Nian.

You Xingxiu loved Jiang Nian very much and doted on her, almost bathing her himself. The two were inseparable, but Jiang Nian was still preoccupied with her mission.

The adoptive parents weren't just there to make the male protagonist suffer; the adoptive father's background and influence were also part of his upbringing.

But now, although he's not short of money, where does You Xingxiu's lone-wolf behavior come from?

Jiang Nian and You Xingxiu have been together for a year, and Jiang Nian has noticed You Xingxiu's inner despondency. She couldn't help but get angry and said to You Xingxiu, "Why don't you have any ambition?"

Actually, You Xingxiu was already quite ambitious. Before meeting Jiang Nian, he was so poor that he had to sleep on park benches for several nights. From the very first day they were together, You Xingxiu started working to earn money, just to give his lover a better life.

You Xingxiu had already poured everything into Jiang Nian. Jiang Nian wasn't really angry; she just wanted to provoke him. She took You Xingxiu's hands and placed them on her soft belly.

She said softly, "I can actually get pregnant. I want you to strive harder. I don't want our child to lose at the starting line."

Heaven knows how shameful it was for Jiang Nian to say that.

But You Xingxiu froze, his eyes widening as he looked at his wife. "You're pregnant?"

You Xingxiu didn't expect or want children, but the thought of sharing a life with Jiang Nian was a different kind of temptation.

He felt the skin beneath his hand and asked cautiously, "Are you already pregnant?"

"How could that be!" Jiang Nian chuckled.

The real male lead hadn't been born yet.

You Xingxiu pulled Jiang Nian into his arms, stroking her hair, and suddenly said, "My brother and I were born at the same time, he was a little earlier than me. My family only cared about the eldest son. No matter how hard I tried, it was useless. I always felt this world was meaningless, just drifting through each day aimlessly." "

After graduating from university, I resigned myself to fate, no longer striving to prove myself. I did odd jobs and manual labor. It was only after meeting you that my fighting spirit was rekindled, but it's still too slow... My strength alone is too weak, Nian Nian, I'm sorry for making you suffer."

You Xingxiu didn't want to work hard for any child; he didn't care about children. But Jiang Nian cared, so he would work hard for what Jiang Nian cared about.

Even if it meant bowing to a past he had abandoned and a family he loathed, he would do it willingly.

The next day, You Xingxiu led Jiang Nian into the home he hadn't contacted in many years.

Although the You family had three children, the eldest son already controlled the group and worked and lived elsewhere, the second son had run away from home and his whereabouts were unknown, and the youngest was still in university and rarely home. Therefore, Jiang Nian was left with only a cold and stern father-in-law and a reserved and aloof mother-in-law.

However, neither of them made things difficult for Jiang Nian. In their minds, You Xingxiu's

relationship with Jiang Nian was merely a fling, nothing more, and there was no need to make a big fuss. You Xingxiu didn't explain much either; he didn't want his terrible parents to have anything to do with Nian Nian. He simply introduced her and then explained why he had returned home.

"Father, give me some authority."

From then on, You Xingxiu began working at the head office as the second son of the You family.

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