Reborn as a Substitute

Getting Xie Xuanming back was a big project.

Using the identity of “Ji Sheng”, he lured him into the car deceptively, closed the door and told the driver to drive back.

The driver stepped on the accelerator with relief, and Xie Xuanming, who had just stabilised, dropped his head on Ji Sheng again because of inertia.

Ji Sheng looked down and found that he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Asleep, Xie Xuanming was very obedient. Ji Sheng didn’t want to delve into the reasons why he was so well-behaved. He only adjusted his position by putting his head on his shoulder to make him more comfortable.

When they got out of the car, the driver helped move Xie Xuanming to the door of the villa.

Xie Xuanming didn’t like outsiders entering the house, so Ji Sheng refused the driver’s kind offer to help further. He picked Xie Xuanming up on his back and walked upstairs with difficulty.

It took nearly five minutes to walk up a dozen steps.

When he got to the bedroom, Ji Sheng threw Xie Xuanming on the bed and sat down on the carpet, panting and slapping his sore waist.

He took a while to recover, got up and took off Xie Xuanming’s coat, wiped his face with a hot towel, and wiped his body a couple of times indiscriminately. Only then did he go to the guest bathroom with his pyjamas to wash off the dust.

Could something be more surprising than to learn that someone had gone through fire and water for you in silence?

Under the pouring water, Ji Sheng felt his head buzz.

Xie Xuanming’s insomnia, emotional outbursts and loss of sanity were all related to him.

And when Xie Xuanming was in pain, he was suspicious, taking advantage of him and dismissive.

Ji Sheng wiped away a handful of water, leaned forward and bumped his forehead against the bathroom wall with a soft “thud”.

You are screwed.

You trash, white-eyed wolf, idiot, blind idiot.

You owe Xie Xuanming, and you won’t be able to pay it back in your two lifetimes.

After washing, Ji Sheng went upstairs and lay down on the sofa bed.

Facing Xie Xuanming, he stared at the rarely calm sleeping face in a daze.

Ji Sheng’s mind was a mush; the sudden “truth” disrupted his plans and his thoughts were also muddled.

Tell Xie Xuanming about his rebirth?

This idea flashed by and was rejected in a few moments.

Not to mention whether Xie Xuanming would believe it, this action itself was meaningless.

He would tell him, make him happy for a moment, and then what?

Then make him help investigate the truth about his death and make him avenge his death without complaint?

Goodbye.

Ji Sheng thought that Xie Xuanming would probably be happy to help, but he couldn’t claim this favour in any way.

He owed Xie Xuanming too much.

Xie Xuanming’s love for him was so deep, not to mention returning it, Ji Sheng couldn’t even bear to look at it.

Knowing that the white moonlight was only a gimmick and that Xie Xuanming had actually had a crush on him for years, Ji Sheng’s brain automatically dissected a number of the overlooked truths from his memory.

Xie Xuanming’s forbearance, Xie Xuanming’s admiration, Xie Xuanming’s concern.

Scattered in time bit by bit, it had been all ignored by the former Ji Sheng.

But now Ji Sheng was hidden in Ji Hui’s shell, full of mysteries and obsession.

Rebirth, this super-scientific thing, could happen and then it could unhappen again.

When Ji Sheng was reborn, he realized he had an endless obsession with finding the truth about his death in his previous life.

If the obsession dissipates, will the soul also dissipate?

Ji Sheng didn’t know, and didn’t dare to think about it.

He was not afraid of death, but it would be too cruel for Xie Xuanming to learn that he lost “Ji Sheng” again.

What’s more, apparently Xie Xuanming was never going to “have” Ji Sheng either.

Ji Sheng couldn’t give Xie Xuanming the affection he wanted.

Listening to Xie Xuanming’s steady breathing, Ji Sheng’s lips moved silently as he said, I’m sorry.

He lay down on the bed, curled up in a not-so-narrow space, closed his eyes, and made a decision.

Next day, when Xie Xuanming woke up, the sun was already three poles high.

Xie Xuanming frowned as his head throbbed in the unbearable pain of the hangover, rubbed his temples and sat up.

He had already told his agent not to arrange anything for him today as he wouldn’t be able to wake up and go.

This was exactly the case.

Xie Xuanming turned over and got out of bed, glanced at the empty sofa bed, and vaguely remembered that he seemed to have called Ji Hui to the cemetery last night.

Xie Xuanming didn’t think much about it and went to the bathroom.

The light was turned on and the gurgling water gushed out.

He absent-mindedly poured a handful of water on his face.

Last night… he also dreamed of Ji Sheng… No, it seems that he mistook Ji Hui for Ji Sheng.

Xie Xuanming picked up the bathroom cup, filled it with the water, took a sip, lowered his head and spit it out.

No doubt he must have lost his cool in front of Ji Hui, but he didn’t care.

Looking up again, Xie Xuanming accidentally saw Ji Hui’s face in the mirror.

Ji Sheng came in at some point and leaned against the frosted glass door of the bathroom, looking at Xie Xuanming in the mirror with a very eloquent face.

Xie Xuanming didn’t look at him and brushed his teeth.

After spitting out the foam and rinsing his mouth, Xie Xuanming finally asked, “What’s the matter?”

“I may have to move out.”

The sudden answer made Xie Xuanming change his pose a little. He washed the cup: “Why?”

“Qingchu wants to sign me up, and I also… have plans to go to this company.”

“Oh.” Xie Xuanming put down the cup lightly and smiled at Ji Sheng in the mirror meaningfully, “Climbing onto Sheng Kongzhi.”

He turned around and walked over. The pressure coming from him was very heavy; Ji Sheng involuntarily took a step back and listened to him ask: “How much do they offer?”

“It’s not about money.”

“Indeed.” Xie Xuanming could not see his expression and stared down at him uncertainly. “What did you say at the time when you begged me for shelter? I give you resources and help keep you out of trouble, and you will be valuable for me. Want to backtrack?” 

Stop thinking about avenging yourself.

Ji Sheng swallowed hard and lowered his head to avoid meeting his eyes: “Yes, I want to backtrack. I am afraid of being retaliated against. I just want to make good money and be a lukewarm little star. I don’t want to wake up one day with a sack on my head again and feel countless blows fall on me until I’m beaten to death.”

As Xie Xuanming listened to his confession, his expression became even more gloomy. He didn’t say anything, walked back to the sink and continued to wash as if nothing happened.

Ji Sheng stood upright: “I will sign a contract with Qingchu in two weeks and move out tomorrow. Thank you for taking care of me during the time I lived here.”

Xie Xuanming splashed water on his face and coldly said, “Did I agree?”

“Whether you agree or not, I have already made a decision.” Ji Sheng said, “I’m just telling you now to end it on good terms.”

“End it on good terms.” Xie Xuanming repeated with a sneer.

He straightened up, wiped the beads of water on his hands on the towel, stared at Ji Sheng in the mirror and said grimily: “You want to climb Sheng Kongzhi’s bed?”

In the past, if he sneered like that, Ji Sheng was sure to snap back.

But today…

“No.” Ji Sheng met his gaze, “He will only provide me with a contract from Qingchu.”

Xie Xuanming’s expression became colder as he took two steps closer: “You really like to keep people in line.”

Ji Sheng repeated: “No””

Xie Xuanming said, “Look up.”

Ji Sheng raised his head.

The two looked at each other for a while, but Xie Xuanming couldn’t find any clues from his gaze.

However, it was obviously impossible for Xie Xuanming to let him go like this.

“You can try and see whether you sign up with Qingchu or not.”

A sentence that seemed like a sneer and a threat.

Xie Xuanming left Ji Sheng behind and walked out.

Ji Sheng stood still calmly.

He did not doubt Xie Xuanming’s ability.

If he said you wouldn’t be able to sign up, you definitely wouldn’t sign up.

Of course, he didn’t plan to go to Qingchu to repeat the same mistakes.

Ji Sheng raised his hand and pushed the door open with a soft sound.

The contract was fake, but he was truly leaving.

Anyway it was good to get away.

Ji Sheng planned to move out first, take his payment from the company’s and go to the hotel to stay for a couple of nights, and then contact Su Jing.

His relations with Su Jing were good now. After the live broadcast they cooperated on, Su Jing slapped him on the shoulder and said that if he needed help in the future, he could find him.

Ji Sheng knew Su Jing; he never gave empty promises.

It’s just that he didn’t expect to use this connection so soon.

Xie Xuanming went out after arguing with Ji Sheng without saying a word to him.

Probably another “cold war”.

But this time it was led by Xie Xuanming.

Ji Sheng didn’t care; Xie Xuanming’s departure from the villa made it easier for him to pack up and run away.

He put two or three pieces of clothes in the old canvas bag that he brought from the dorm earlier, gathered his bathroom cup, toothpaste and some daily necessities and packed them up.

Ji Sheng originally planned to put the bag away and take it with him tomorrow, but after thinking about it, he simply decided to leave tonight, so as not to have too many dreams at night.

Just do what you say.

He was about to set off when he suddenly received a call.

Lu Haoren.

Ji Sheng was taken aback.

The band had something to do in the middle of the night?

In addition to rehearsals, the Niepan members rarely contacted Ji Sheng, and they also used WeChat groups for communication.

Now that the phone kept ringing, Ji Sheng felt inexplicably a little uneasy.

What happened?

When he picked to the phone, Lu Haoren’s suppressed, anxious voice added to his uneasy suspicions.

“Xiao Hui, Sizhe and I are in some trouble…”

Lu Haoren quickly described the situation, and Ji Sheng’s expression became darker as he listened.

An influential investor demanded Niepan members to accompany him to drink. The company could not withstand the pressure and could not afford to bother Xie Xuanming over such a trivial matter, so they could only agree.

The investor wanted Lu Haoren, Huang Sizhe and Ji Hui to come over, but the company did not dare to touch someone belonging to Xie Xuanming, so they only sent Lu Haoren and Huang Sizhe.

Seeing that there were fewer people than he expected, the investor was furious and gave the two of them a hard time in every way.

“Xiao Hui… can you come for a while?” Lu Haoren’s voice trembled, “Xiao Huang…”

“Okay,” Ji Sheng interrupted him. “Give me the address. Do you know who the guy is?”

“The surname is Zhao, the name seems to be Wenhua…”

Lu Haoren’s answer made Ji Sheng’s face suddenly darken.

“I’ll be right over.”

The address given by Lu Haoren was a private room in a nightclub. Ji Sheng rushed and opened the door to see Huang Sizhe kneeling on the littered floor with his face bruised.

Seeing Ji Sheng coming, Huang Sizhe struggled violently but was pressed to the ground by the people holding him on both sides. He grunted and gritted his teeth, but his cheek was getting closer and closer to the pile of glass splinters on the floor.

“Sizhe!” Lu Haoren tried to reach to him but was pulled back.

“Absolutely, hey! He’s really exactly the same!” Someone exploded in an ill-intentioned laughter.

Ji Sheng looked at the source of the voice and saw an ugly face that he hadn’t seen for many years.

Zhao Wenhua sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, leaning forward, his eyes wantonly sizing up Ji Sheng.

Ji Sheng calmly confronted him.

A few years ago, he couldn’t understand the meaning of Zhao Wenhua’s gaze.

Now he understood.

Full of filth.

It was disgusting.

Zhao Wenhua glanced at Ji Sheng up and down, and the itch that he had felt many years ago spread through his heart again. He suddenly laughed, pointing at Huang Sizhe with a cigarette in his fingers: “Is this your friend?”

“Yes.” Ji Sheng said quietly.

Zhao Wenhua’s grin became even wider and his eyes became even more disgusting.

“Whether you want your friend’s face or not depends on whether you give face or not.”

He flicked off the ash, “I’m not making things difficult for no reason. This friend of yours doesn’t listen and won’t have a drink with me. So clear this glass on the table for him and call it a day.”

Ji Sheng’s face sank.

He looked at the coffee table.

There was a small glass of translucent liquid on it, and Ji Sheng was not stupid enough to think that it was just a cocktail.

“I want to see my friend’s situation.” Ji Sheng said coldly, “He has a weak heart, I am afraid that something might happen.”

Huang Sizhe hung his head like a dead dog. Zhao Wenhua didn’t want to kill anyone, so he happily said, “Go ahead.”

Ji Sheng took a few steps forward, squatted down in front of Huang Sizhe, checked his breath and then touched his pulse.

Huang Sizhe suddenly struggled, raised his head and stared at him, his eyes red as he said hoarsely, “Don’t drink.”

Ji Sheng rubbed the back of his neck soothingly and quickly muttered a string of digits into his ear.

“Xie Xuanming’s number.” He said in a low voice, “Call him.”

“My friends in love, have you finished the show?” Zhao Wenhua shouted impatiently.

Ji Sheng stopped delaying, stood up, turned and walked towards the coffee table.

As soon as he picked up the glass, Huang Sizhe suddenly struggled fiercely behind him.

“Don’t drink it!” He roared at a hoarse voice and was immediately kicked severely. He retched and lowered his head. There was no other sound except coughing.

Zhao Wenhua’s smile got bigger: “Such a touching friendship.”

Ji Sheng clenched the glass and said calmly: “I hope Mr. Zhao will keep his word.”

“Naturally.”

Ji Sheng stopped talking.

He picked up the glass, raised his head, and drank it all.