Everyone I Flirted With Says They Won’t Let Me Go (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 10

The man’s smile in the video was so familiar it stung, making his eyes ache with a dull pain.

“Why was I there?”

Chu Ran closed the video and affectionately nuzzled his cheek. “Have you lost your mind? How could that be you? You’re right here with me now, aren’t you?”

Xia Chengxi could barely hear his own voice, only the powerful, pounding rhythm of his heartbeat echoing in his chest. “But that face is exactly like mine. If it’s not me, then who is it?”

“Xiao Xi, did you know you have a twin brother?” Chu Ran held the trembling Xia Chengxi in his arms, yet Xia Chengxi felt that Chu Ran was shaking even more violently than he was.

“I don’t want to lie to you. Over these fifteen years, I did look for you. I came back a year after I left, but… I found the wrong person—your brother. He happened to appear right in front of me, looking exactly like you. I truly thought it was you.”

“A year later?” Xia Chengxi murmured softly, his voice hollow as he let out a bitter laugh. “But I don’t have any brother.”

Xia Chengxi, who grew up in an orphanage, was an orphan. He had no parents, no brother—only Chu Ran.

“You still have me.”

Xia Chengxi sneered, shoving him away forcefully, enunciating each word with heavy emphasis. “Even if that’s true, you’re wasting your efforts. Gu Chengxi would never fail to recognize me!”

“Do you really think you matter that much to Gu Chengxi? Look at him in the video—does that look like someone who recognized you?”

Xia Chengxi still refused to believe it, shaking his head firmly. “Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!”

“Why is it impossible? Do you think I spent this past month doing nothing? I made him learn your preferences, imitate your actions, and study your thoughts. You’re twins, connected by an unspoken bond. See, isn’t he doing a great job pleasing Gu Chengxi now? The year your brother appeared before me, he lied and said he’d lost his memory. Now, I’m just letting him have his wish.”

“You bastard!” Xia Chengxi clenched his fist and swung it hard at Chu Ran’s face, but Chu Ran effortlessly deflected the blow and pulled him into an embrace.

The thought of Gu Chengxi now holding his identical twin brother—a brother he’d never met—replacing him in Gu Chengxi’s affections, being loved and cherished, sharing meals, living together, even kissing and sharing a bed…

He didn’t care about this so-called twin brother, nor did he care about the seemingly devoted Chu Ran before him. He was merely borrowing Xia Chengxi’s body, using this identity to complete a mission nothing more.

From beginning to end, the only one he cared about was Gu Chengxi!

“Darling, you never used to curse or hit me before, but it’s fine. We have plenty of time to get along well.”

Xia Chengxi trembled with rage. “Chu Ran, you lunatic! Let me go, or I’ll never forgive you!”

“Crazy? I’ve been crazy for a long time. I lost my mind fifteen years ago. I missed you twice already. This time, I won’t let you slip away!”

“But the one I love is Gu Chengxi!”

Chu Ran’s face darkened with fury. “You say you love him? Then what about the promises we made to each other fifteen years ago? What do they count for?”

“That was fifteen years ago! I was only seven back then, and you were just ten. How can words spoken so long ago still hold weight?”

“Why can’t I!” Chu Ran was instantly enraged by these words, his eyes bloodshot, his face twisted into a terrifying, demonic expression. He pinned Xia Chengxi down on the bed, forcing his legs apart.

“What kind of bewitching potion has Gu Chengxi fed you? What’s so great about him that he’s turned you into this? But it doesn’t matter. From now on, I will erase every trace Gu Chengxi left on you—whether on your body or in your heart!”

“You belong to me, only to me!”

Xia Chengxi vaguely understood what he intended to do and struggled fiercely. Lifting his head with effort, he roared angrily, using every ounce of his strength.

“I haven’t forgotten! I said I would stay with you forever when I grew up, but you also promised to come back for me in a few days. Yet you disappeared for fifteen years without a word. Since you didn’t keep your promise, why should I fulfill mine alone?”

“Chu Ran, have you ever thought about how I lived these fifteen years?”

“The day after you left, the orphanage was forced to shut down. The director vanished, and the other children fell ill, died, or scattered. No other orphanage would take us in.”

“I begged on the streets for a year before being sold. I learned how to smile, how to cry, how to serve men. The supervisor wanted me to earn money by taking clients, but I refused. I learned to flatter and act obedient, begging the supervisor not to make me sell myself.”

“Because I believed you would come back for me one day and take me away from that place!”

Xia Chengxi broke down. “But I couldn’t wait for you! I couldn’t wait for you!”

“It was Gu Chengxi who saved me, not you. He pulled me out of that hell.”

“He pampers me, loves me, indulges me. He gave me a comfortable life, my dignity, and my sense of self. He saved the second half of my life. So why should I still care for you?”

“Chu Ran, you broke your promise for fifteen years. What right do you have to interfere in my life now?”

For fifteen years, the hidden pain and the murky depths of his dark past had festered inside him. Now, he finally poured it all out.

He tried to recall the fifteen years Xia Chengxi had endured, but as an outsider, all he could do was attempt to remember. Then, he looked at Chu Ran with pure malice and said, “You’re so foolish. You found the wrong person. That year, you found your twin brother, but you lost Xia Chengxi.”

Suddenly, he shuddered, feeling scalding tears drip onto his neck. Chu Ran leaned over, staring blankly at him, his despairing eyes reflecting Xia Chengxi’s conflicted expression. Tears fell one after another, striking his neck like painful blows.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m truly sorry,” Chu Ran murmured, holding Xia Chengxi tightly. His eyes were hollow and lost, filled with agonizing grief. “I shouldn’t have left back then. I thought if I became strong enough, I could protect you. But I never imagined… I never imagined…”

“The Chu family had deep roots overseas, with immense influence. The scandal of the illegitimate child being abandoned could never be exposed. It would tarnish the family’s reputation. I begged him back then to spare all of you. I thought he would let the orphanage be…”

Silence fell. No one spoke.

Xia Chengxi smiled bitterly, resigning himself. “Forget it. It’s all in the past. There’s nothing I want to hope for anymore. Let it be. It’s not so bad as it is.”

Chu Ran stared at him intently, each word seeming to drain all the strength from his body, “But I… love… you!”

[Holy crap!!! Host, Chu Ran’s sincerity level is at 94%! Damn, Xi, with just a few words, you raised Chu Ran’s sincerity from 89% to 94%! Wow, both men are great—you can pick either one, or even have a threesome!]

Xia Chengxi was furious, [I have a few choice words I must say to you!]

Once the truth from all those years ago was laid bare, Chu Ran’s moment of weakness was just that a moment. In front of Xia Chengxi, he had always been the strong, sunny “Brother Chu.”

“Missing fifteen years doesn’t matter. In the days to come, I’ll make up for every moment I was absent. I’ve already arranged a flight abroad in a few days. Don’t worry—once you’re overseas, I’ll make sure you forget all of this.”

…This is exhausting.

“Chu Ran, don’t you understand? Even if I’m by your side, I can’t fall in love with you. I’ve already fallen for Gu Chengxi—that’s an unchangeable fact!”

“Shh, Xiao Xi,” Chu Ran covered his mouth, “Don’t say things like that to upset me. Right now, Gu Chengxi has someone by his side, and I have you. This is the best outcome. When we go abroad, I’ll make it up to you. I believe that one day, you’ll come to love me.”

Seeing Chu Ran’s confident yet deranged expression, Xia Chengxi silently swallowed back the words, “I won’t go abroad with you.”

Xia Chengxi’s silence finally eased Chu Ran’s expression. He ruffled Xia Chengxi’s hair, a gentle smile appearing at the corners of his lips. A stark contrast to the broken, desperate Chu Ran from moments before.

“I’ll bring breakfast up for you.”

The system felt utterly wronged and hopeless, [Host, I feel exhausted for you. Just give in to Chu Ran. At worst, put on an act—you’re the movie emperor, after all. Isn’t this a piece of cake for you? Just save your life.]

Xia Chengxi shook his head frantically, [No, absolutely not! Gu Chengxi is being deceived by an imposter right now—I have to go back!]

The system: [I know you want to be with Gu Chengxi forever, but the rules are the rules. There’s nothing I can do. You only have a little over three months left. If you complete the mission, you can move on to the next world. Once the progress is done, I can send you back. But if you fail, you’ll be completely erased. Can you bear the thought of Gu Chengxi losing you forever?]

Xia Chengxi fell silent for a moment, lowering his gaze, his tone filled with indescribable despair, […I understand. I’ll hurry.]

[Go, host! Mwah!]

The system was right. This was the perfect opportunity to boost Chu Ran’s sincerity level. Time waits for no one.

But thinking of the video where Gu Chengxi was doting on his so-called younger brother, Xia Chengxi’s eyes grew hot.

Lying quietly in bed, he felt as if he were trapped in a cold, inescapable cage. With Gu Chengxi, he was a cherished canary, but with Chu Ran, he felt like a prisoner at someone else’s mercy.

Not long after, Chu Ran pushed the door open, carrying a bowl of steaming white porridge.

“This is the plain rice porridge you loved most as a child. Eat it while it’s hot.” Xia Chengxi looked at Chu Ran as a spoonful of hot porridge was brought to his lips. He didn’t open his mouth, instead staring blankly at the porridge as if remembering something. In an instant, tears fell, plopping into the spoon.

Xia Chengxi turned her head away, wiping her tears, then snatched the bowl of plain congee from Chu Ran’s hands and gulped it down hastily. After finishing the bowl, she was suddenly pulled into Chu Ran’s embrace. She could only hear him murmuring, “Xiao Xi, don’t cry. Rest assured, from now on, I will protect you well. I won’t let you suffer anymore. I will cherish you until the day you believe that I love you.”

[Congratulations, Host. Chu Ran’s sincerity level has reached 95%. What did you do?]

Xia Chengxi was slightly taken aback. [It seems he’s overthinking things.]

——

In the Gu family villa, warm-toned light spilled from the half-open door. Gu Chengxi stepped out of the room, and just as he was about to close the door, a trembling, tearful voice came from inside. Gu Chengxi nodded slightly, his tone gentle, “Get some rest early.”

As the door closed, the gentle smile on his face vanished, replaced by a coldness as harsh as a stormy winter day. Twelve approached and stopped two meters away, turning slightly and bowing his head. Before he could speak, Gu Chengxi, with a swift and ruthless demeanor and a sinister glare, asked as he walked, “Found him?”

The servants around them remained silent, none daring to speak.

Twelve replied, “Found him.”

“Where?”

“Panshan City.”