Flirt First, Run Later [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 4

Jing Wenwu climbed into the bridge culvert. He was quite fastidious; the first thing he did upon standing up was to dust off the dirt on his clothes.

Liang Chu also cared about cleanliness and quietly walked over to stand in front of Jing Wenwu. Jing Wenwu paused for a moment, then resignedly dusted him off as well.

“You’re getting better and better at bossing people around,” Jing Wenwu muttered under his breath.

Liang Chu heard this and took it to heart. After Jing Wenwu finished dusting him off, he hurried to the side and asked Board-Tooth Bear, “He said I’m getting better at bossing people around. Was Jing Ke not like this before? Am I not OOC?”

Board-Tooth Bear remained silent for a moment before replying, “I would alert you if you were OOC. Please continue as you are.”

Liang Chu breathed a sigh of relief and began examining the interior of the bridge culvert.

The dwelling was extremely crude, giving him the momentary illusion of having traveled back to primitive society. Not only was there no electricity or electric lights, but there wasn’t even a candle. Upon closer inspection, there wasn’t even a table to place a candle on.

There was, however, something that could be considered a bed. A rectangular pile of dry grass pressed against the stone wall. Without a proper bed frame, it was hard to identify it as such.

Although the bridge culvert was enclosed on all sides, it was, after all, a culvert meant for water to pass through, so it had two open ends facing the sky. It could shield one from rain and snow, but it couldn’t block the biting cold wind or the sub-zero temperatures that were enough to freeze a person to death.

Liang Chu had only been there for a short while, but his hands and feet were already ice-cold. The damp chill seeped into the crevices of his bones, as if his blood were about to freeze.

Xie Shenxing sat leaning against the stone wall, draped in an army-green cotton coat. It was hard to make out his expression in the dim light. Despite the bright sunshine outside, he chose not to bask in it. Summer and winter were interesting seasons. The temperature difference between sunny spots and shaded areas could be stark. In the bitter cold of winter, a sunny spot could offer at least a little warmth. Yet, he seemed indifferent to that small comfort, sitting quietly in the cold, damp shadows.

Liang Chu couldn’t quite describe the feeling Xie Shenxing evoked in him at that moment. Though he was a young man in the prime of his youth, he exuded an aura of desolation and decay, like an elderly person weathered by hardship, merely waiting for death to arrive. His existence seemed like nothing more than a struggle to cling to life, quietly anticipating the end.

Liang Chu was momentarily speechless. Jing Wenwu, however, clearly didn’t overthink things. “Why is it so cold in here? It’s even colder than outside!” he exclaimed, pacing back and forth in an attempt to warm himself up.

Liang Chu also felt the cold creeping up from the soles of his feet. Wearing shoes made little difference, so he began stamping his feet on the spot as well.

Jing Wenwu found everything about the place utterly fascinating. He couldn’t believe someone could live in such conditions. He touched this and that, looking around curiously. When he noticed the lunch in Xie Shenxing’s hands, he exclaimed in surprise, “Oh my, Jing Ke, come take a look! What is this he’s eating? Is this even fit for humans? Our family dog wouldn’t eat this.”

It was an ignorant and insulting remark. Liang Chu followed his pointing finger and saw that the lunch was indeed unappetizing—a half-box of black rice with a few sparse vegetables soaked in a murky, dark sauce. It was hardly appealing, but for someone like Xie Shenxing, having enough to eat was a struggle in itself, let alone being picky. Jing Wenwu, sheltered and unaware of life’s hardships, had no understanding of this.

Fortunately, the dark, thin young man finally noticed them. A flicker of fierce resentment crossed his eyes, and he stood up.

He looked like someone not to be trifled with. Liang Chu and Jing Wenwu instinctively took a step back. Liang Chu retreated further, moving to the edge of the bridge arch to stand, making it easier to call for help if needed.

Xie Shenxing appeared thin, but in reality, he was incredibly strong. In his current state, Liang Chu couldn’t even lift half a bag of cement dust, yet this was Xie Shenxing’s daily work. The two of them combined wouldn’t stand a chance against him—beating him would be as easy as child’s play. Still, he hadn’t expected his “nephew” to be so capable, instantly provoking Xie Shenxing. And he hadn’t even used his full strength yet.

To Liang Chu’s surprise, Xie Shenxing didn’t explode in anger. After standing up, his cold eyes merely watched them calmly, as if waiting to see what would happen next. Liang Chu was taken aback. Once, twice, and now a third time—Xie Shenxing had actually held back again.

Endurance was a rare quality. Even adults often struggled to control their emotions, yet here he was, at such an impulsive and hot-blooded age, managing to do so. It was truly remarkable.

Feeling as though he had punched cotton, Liang Chu had no choice but to walk back. It seemed he had to rely on himself. That fool Jing Wenwu couldn’t even pick a fight properly.

Liang Chu glanced at the lunchbox and said, “Nonsense. Why wouldn’t a dog eat this?”

Jing Wenwu snorted, speaking with conviction, “You just don’t get it. I’ve seen it many times—Chengcheng only eats meat and big bones. Otherwise, how could he run so fast?”

Chengcheng was a Rottweiler, large and fierce-looking, though he wagged his tail at everyone.

Liang Chu thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. “True, look how fat he is. But even you need a balanced diet with both meat and vegetables. Why can’t a dog eat greens? If it doesn’t eat them, it’s because no one’s feeding them to it.”

Jing Wenwu’s eyes widened again, and he pointed angrily at Liang Chu’s nose. “You! You… I’m not a dog!”

Liang Chu grabbed his finger and said, “If you don’t believe me, let’s go home and test it out.”

“Fine!” Jing Wenwu shouted.

Liang Chu released Jing Wenwu, who immediately turned to leave. Liang Chu trailed a step behind, brimming with confidence, and waved his small hand imperiously, commanding Xie Shenxing, “You! Come with me!”

Xie Shenxing didn’t move. Liang Chu turned back with a displeased expression, only to find Xie Shenxing staring at him, his emotions unreadable.

Jing Wenwu, feeling a bit scared, moved closer to Liang Chu and whispered, “Why are you calling him? Let’s just go.”

Liang Chu replied matter-of-factly, “He’s mine, so of course he has to come with me.”

This not only stunned Jing Wenwu but also made Xie Shenxing take a step forward, moving out of the shadows and into the sunlight. Both Xie Shenxing and Jing Wenwu stared at him.

Jing Wenwu scratched his ear as if he hadn’t heard correctly and asked, “What nonsense are you spouting?”

Liang Chu stepped on his foot. “Watch your tone.”

“You—you said that person is yours? That’s not right!”

Liang Chu retorted, “What’s not right about it? He bumped into my foot, and when I called him, he ignored me. How dare he not listen to me! If he won’t listen, I’ll take him home to teach him a lesson. It’s too cold here anyway. If I take him home, of course he’s mine. This house is mine too. See if there’s anything you like. We’ll take it with us.”

Jing Wenwu immediately wore an expression as if he’d been struck by lightning, casting a deeply sympathetic glance at Xie Shenxing.

Liang Chu pressed on, “If your uncle tells you to take it, you take it. Listen to your uncle.”

Jing Wenwu spat in disgust, “You’re not my uncle—you’re even younger than me!” After saying that, he grabbed Liang Chu’s arm and urged, “Stop making a scene, let’s get out of here!”

I don’t want to make a scene either, and I certainly don’t want to seem like I’ve lost my mind! But what else could I do to make him come with me?

“Leave me alone,” Liang Chu pushed his hand away. Seeing that Xie Shenxing was still standing motionless, he put on an exasperated act, struggling to drag Xie Shenxing along while Jing Wenwu desperately tried to hold him back. The scene quickly descended into chaos.

As Liang Chu kept batting away Jing Wenwu’s hands, his mind raced. There was no way Xie Shenxing would pay him any attention—this request was just too unreasonable. But Xie Shenxing only had two options: either follow him obediently or stubbornly refuse to move. If one tried to leave while the other stayed put, friction was inevitable. Liang Chu smirked mischievously to himself. If Xie Shenxing so much as laid a finger on him, he’d drop to the ground and cling to him like a leech.

Before he could finish that thought, his left foot suddenly met empty air, finding nothing to step on. “Aiya!” Liang Chu cried out, already losing his balance. Earlier, while pretending to leave, he had wandered to the edge of the bridge arch. Now, caught up in the shoving match with Jing Wenwu, he hadn’t paid attention to his footing. One misstep sent him tumbling backward, his arms flailing wildly in a desperate attempt to grab onto something but he caught nothing. With a series of panicked cries, the world spun before his eyes as he tilted and fell.

A sharp, searing pain immediately shot through his head. Before Liang Chu could even catch his breath, he was tumbling downward again. The ground beneath the bridge arch wasn’t flat but a steep slope that led straight into the river. He clawed at the ground, trying to grab something to slow his fall, but only managed to clutch a handful of dry grass. Fortunately, two rows of young trees had been planted along the slope. About halfway down, one of them caught him around the waist, narrowly preventing him from plunging into the river.

Clutching the tree trunk, Liang Chu sat up dizzily. A warm liquid was streaming down his forehead, blurring his vision on both sides. He wiped his eyes with his hand and felt a sticky wetness. When he looked closely, he saw his fingers were covered in blood.

Well, now there really was a hole in my head…

Jing Wenwu stood frozen in shock, taking a long time to react. His eyes were wide as he stared at Liang Chu, his left-hand trembling as he pointed at him. He turned his head, searching for Xie Shenxing. “Blood… so much blood…”

Though the young man appeared fierce and aloof, there was an inexplicable air of reliability about him. Jing Wenwu instinctively turned to him for help.

Xie Shenxing let out a sigh and strode over, leaping down from the bridge arch with practiced ease.

Liang Chu sat slumped against the tree, hugging the trunk. Xie Shenxing knelt on one knee in front of him, lifted his chin, and quickly assessed the wound before deftly applying pressure to the skin around the bleeding point to stop the flow.

Jing Wenwu was still standing there dumbfounded. Xie Shenxing glanced back at him and said coldly, “Aren’t you going to get help?”

“Huh? Oh!” Jing Wenwu finally snapped out of his daze. Overwhelmed by panic, he didn’t think twice. He jumped down, landing squarely on his rear. Luckily, the fall wasn’t too hard. Grimacing, he rubbed his sore backside and scrambled away to find help.

Liang Chu leaned against the tree, his other hand instinctively moving to touch his head, but a low, hoarse voice stopped him. “Don’t move.”

“I have a concussion…” Liang Chu’s eyes welled up with tears.

Xie Shenxing ignored what he was saying. Then, the little runt was placed on his lap, and the boy’s hands moved upward to his waist, boldly wrapping around him without any reservation. Xie Shenxing’s body stiffened as a soft, warm figure leaned forward and collapsed against him. With no way to avoid it, he could only brace himself rigidly to catch the boy.

“Task value +1. Current task value: 1.”

Liang Chu froze for a moment.

The task value represented the progress of both conquering the world and the target, with a maximum value of 100. Once the progress bar reached its limit, it meant the task was complete, and he could leave this world. He had initially thought it would be difficult to increase.

Liang Chu was on the verge of losing consciousness, but this reminder acted like a shot of adrenaline, indicating that the direction he was taking was correct. He had to strike while the iron was hot. Struggling to keep his eyes open and stay alert, Liang Chu pulled out the scarf pressed against his chest. The small scarf was quite long, wrapped twice around his neck with plenty of fabric to spare.

He glanced up furtively at Xie Shenxing, only catching sight of the young man’s chin. Seeing that Xie Shenxing wasn’t paying attention to him, Liang Chu quietly began winding the scarf around Xie Shenxing’s arm. His movements were light, and by the time Xie Shenxing realized what was happening, the scarf had already been looped several times. Xie Shenxing tried to pull his arm back, but it was too late. Liang Chu tightened the loosely draped scarf with a firm tug and swiftly tied a tight knot.

Just like that, Xie Shenxing was tethered to him by the neck. At the slightest movement from Xie Shenxing, Liang Chu cried out, “Ouch, ouch, ouch! Are you trying to strangle me?”

Even in such a predicament, the boy refused to behave. Xie Shenxing didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, feeling as though something had lightly brushed against his heart. For a moment, he was lost in thought. Having spent months under the bridge, enduring an entire harsh winter, he was all too familiar with the scenery here—withered grass, wild trees, desolate and empty, rarely visited by anyone. Yet, this familiar landscape now seemed imbued with a different hue, as if illuminated by something.

By the time he snapped back to reality, he had already adjusted his posture to make the person in his arms more comfortable.

Banya Xiong, who had been lying on the ground reporting progress to Liang Chu, was hidden inside a hat. There was nothing in the hat to hold onto, so when Liang Chu fell, it was jolted out. Fortunately, it had the quick wit to slip into its eggshell and wrap itself up, avoiding a heroic demise. Carrying its eggshell house on its back, Banya Xiong crawled like a little snail toward Liang Chu, burrowing into his bamboo hat and tightly gripping his clothes with its claws. There was still a journey ahead, and it couldn’t afford to be left behind again.

Jing Wenwu arrived quickly with the nanny. The driver led Jing Qin and Jing Qi, the two sisters, to the car. The nanny paled at the sight of the blood on the ground. “Oh my heavens, how did things end up like this?”

She rushed down the slope and snatched Liang Chu from Xie Shenxing’s arms. Xie Shenxing’s arm was still entangled in the scarf, and he said softly, “Wait.”

Then, he began to untie the scarf.

The middle of the scarf was looped around Liang Chu’s neck, with the two ends wrapped around Xie Shenxing’s hands. There was no way Liang Chu would let him actually undo it—not after he had tied it with such effort. He clutched the ends of the scarf and Xie Shenxing’s sleeves tightly, whispering, “You have to come with me.”

The nanny, unaware of what was happening, urged anxiously, “Little rascal, can we just go home first?”

“He has to come with me…” Liang Chu was on the verge of passing out from the pain but still had to put on an act. “Hurry and do as I say, or I won’t leave either.”

With that, he made as if to get down from the nanny’s hold.

The nanny was on the verge of tears, frantic about how she would explain this to the Jing family upon returning home. It was just a spring outing—how could such a major accident happen? She had failed in her duty terribly.

How could such a small child have so much blood? Seeing that Liang Chu’s lips had already turned pale, the nanny broke into a cold sweat. She turned to Xie Shenxing and pleaded, “Please come with us!”

Xie Shenxing lowered his gaze to the sleeve the child was clutching tightly, recalling the warm, solid weight in his arms and the soft, milky scent of the child’s fair skin.

Well, he could compromise. Like an old tree blooming anew, Xie Shenxing stretched out his hands and said, “Let me carry him.”

The nanny didn’t move, eyeing him with suspicion. How could he possibly manage to carry the child?

As if reading her thoughts, Xie Shenxing said, “I can do it.”

Liang Chu’s eyes were completely blurred by blood. Afraid the two would remain locked in a stalemate, he struggled out of the nanny’s arms and stretched his little arms toward Xie Shenxing. Xie Shenxing’s arm was still wrapped around his neck—there was no way to break that bond. If things continued this way, the nanny wouldn’t just have to take Liang Chu along; she’d also have to drag Xie Shenxing with them, making everything cumbersome and inconvenient.

Reluctantly, the nanny handed Liang Chu over to Xie Shenxing.

Jing Wenwu led the way, while Xie Shenxing carried the little one, followed closely by the nanny, who anxiously kept watch, fearing Liang Chu might fall. Halfway there, she realized her worries were unnecessary. Though the young man appeared frail, he was surprisingly strong and steady on his feet. The group quickly made it to the car.

They had already called ahead to the house, and by the time they sped back to the Jing residence, a doctor was waiting.

What followed was chaos. Liang Chu, terrified that Xie Shenxing would slip away and ruin all his efforts, clung tightly to the scarf no matter where he went. Even when the doctor administered anesthesia to clean his wound, he didn’t loosen his grip, confident he had everything under control. But when the bandaging was done, he looked down. The scarf was still in his hand, but the person was gone.

Liang Chu was dumbfounded, staring at the scarf in disbelief. Xie Shenxing had actually broken free and run off! It hadn’t been long, though; he couldn’t have gone far. Tossing the scarf aside, Liang Chu wobbled as he tried to get out of bed. Just as his feet touched the floor, a figure approached and lifted his legs back onto the bed.

Liang Chu looked up and froze.

In truth, the young man had merely washed his hands and face, yet he seemed like a completely different person. His brow bone was more pronounced than most, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, his features strikingly defined, exuding a fierce, imposing beauty. But despite his aloof, unsmiling expression, a faint hint of amusement flickered in his eyes, like plum blossoms blooming defiantly in the harsh winter. The only splash of color in a vast expanse of snow.

That trace of a smile vanished quickly.

Liang Chu scolded him dryly, “Where did you run off to?”

Xie Shenxing ignored him, his expression turning cold again as he headed for the door, intending to take his leave.

Seeing him about to escape again, Liang Chu blurted out, “Stop right there!”

Liang Chu had been placed on the living room sofa. The doctor had prescribed medication and left, and only a few people remained in the hall. Jing Wenwu, aware he had caused trouble, sat meekly to the side, casting uneasy glances at Liang Chu, afraid he would reveal that he had pushed him.

The others present were Jing’s mother and Jing Ke’s eldest brother, Jing Hongjie, the heir of the Jing family. The rest were either at work or managing company affairs. The Jing family did not tolerate idlers.

What Jing Wenwu feared was the last thing on Liang Chu’s mind. All his thoughts were fixated on Xie Shenxing.

Liang Chu’s eyes darted, and he suddenly pointed at Xie Shenxing, like a little lecher coveting someone’s beauty: “You’re not going anywhere. If you don’t listen to me, I’ll really get angry. Come here and let me touch your face.”

Jing Hongjie frowned, giving Xie Shenxing a faint, disdainful glance, his tone laced with unmistakable disgust: “Stop talking nonsense. He can’t stay in this house.”

Liang Chu snorted, “He’s mine, not yours. You don’t get to decide.”

In truth, the process of Xie Shenxing staying at the Jing residence was surprisingly smooth and uneventful. As long as Liang Chu insisted stubbornly, and with Jing Wenwu—eager to shut Liang Chu up—pushing relentlessly to repay a favor, there was no shortage of support. Xie Shenxing was an orphan, something they had witnessed firsthand, which erased any lingering concerns.

Keeping someone like him was no different from adopting a stray dog or cat. He was such an insignificant figure—dirty all over, taciturn, and utterly unremarkable—hardly worthy of the Jing family’s attention. For a long time, even the household staff couldn’t be bothered to speak to him, fearing it would tire their mouths.

No one could have imagined then that this child, who resembled a beggar, would one day effortlessly determine the rise and fall, the very survival, of the Jing family.

But what Liang Chu never expected was that, despite paving the way for Xie Shenxing, the boy refused to walk it. Standing expressionless to the side earlier, as if the discussion had nothing to do with him, he waited until they finished before giving a contrary response: “I won’t stay here.”

Liang Chu stared wide-eyed in disbelief. Had he heard correctly? Couldn’t Xie Shenxing see how soft the beds were here, how delicious the food was… and even if he hadn’t noticed, surely he could feel how warm the room was?!

Jing Hongjie glanced at his watch, unwilling to waste more time on the matter, and stood up. “Do as you please. I’m heading back to the office.”

As he reached the door, he paused, tapping a finger lightly toward Xie Shenxing and looking at Liang Chu. “Since you’re the one who wants him to stay, keep an eye on him. If anything goes missing in the house, don’t blame me for coming after you. Don’t let him into any other rooms.”

With that, he hurried off. Jing’s mother, nearly sixty, showed signs of age despite careful upkeep—her temples were graying, revealing an unavoidable weariness. She paid no mind to the matter either, simply advising him to rest well before returning to her room.

With the adults gone, Jing Wenwu regained his energy, plopping down on the sofa next to Liang Chu. “He doesn’t want to stay at our place. Why?”

Maybe he has principles that don’t fill his stomach.

Jing Wenwu added, “Don’t be upset. We can go find him to play. I’ll go with you.”

Liang Chu’s stubbornness flared up as he glared at Xie Shenxing. “Fine then, bring your backpack.”

Jing Wenwu was taken aback, growing more confused by his uncle’s whims. “Why my backpack? Where’s yours?”

Liang Chu hesitated. “Mine too… but you can’t look inside. Just bring it to me first.”

Jing Wenwu complied. Xie Shenxing asked, “What are you planning?”

Liang Chu acted like a bully, threatening fiercely, “I’m going to smash your place so you have nowhere to live and have to follow me. I’m telling you, it’s all your fault! If you had listened to me and not lived in that dump, I wouldn’t have fallen. You have to take responsibility!”

Xie Shenxing remained silent for a long time, quietly watching him.

No one could ever force Xie Shenxing to do anything, yet now he felt as if he were being cornered step by step. This unfamiliar sensation washed over him, and instead of resisting it, he found himself almost wanting to surrender. That little runt—how dare he threaten him? He was overestimating himself. Xie Shenxing could easily make him cry, make him admit his mistakes. But it was precisely this thought that unsettled him even more.

He possessed the sharpest edges and immense strength, yet all he wanted was to soften his force, to gently and carefully embrace him.

Looking back over the past decade, Xie Shenxing realized that no one had ever truly liked or needed him. He could be discarded at any moment, like a rootless weed drifting aimlessly. He drifted here and there until he caught sight of a fertile, lovely patch of soil. He had to restrain himself fiercely to keep from taking root in it immediately.

“Mission value +9. Current mission value: 10.”

Then he would take a step back. Xie Shenxing made a new decision.

Jing Wenwu brought two small backpacks. Xie Shenxing took the bulging one, unzipped it, and pulled out a few books from the top. Beneath them were snacks and fruits crammed inside. He took out a pack of condensed milk biscuits—the kind he had eaten at noon—and walked over to the sofa. Liang Chu, visibly displeased, snatched the backpack from him. He had already said not to look inside, but he magnanimously let it slide without holding it against Xie Shenxing.

Xie Shenxing looked into his eyes and fed him a biscuit. “Yes, I will take responsibility.”

At that moment, he didn’t yet understand what this sudden softness of heart would mean. Before he had even become a father, he had gained a child. Yet this was the best gift God had ever given him. He willingly leaped into his trap, spending time and energy on him, bidding farewell to peaceful days forever after.

Whenever that little hunter tugged at his fingers, he was willing to do anything for him.