The Beautiful Top Being Pursued Relentlessly [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 61

“My dearest father, I am so pleased to see you here. I have finished a new painting; would you like to take a look?”

Felix Cheng gave a wooden nod in response.

Just as Gnas was about to present the artwork, the tutor “Jiang Cheng” pulled out a thick dictionary. He seemed to take Felix Cheng’s evaluation very seriously; from the moment he met Gnas, he transformed into a rigorous teacher, delivering a meticulous lecture.

His voice was neither too loud nor too soft actually, it was rather pleasant to listen to.

Felix Cheng mused while spacing out. Gnas’s bedroom was on the top floor. The boy was shy and rarely ventured out; aside from mealtimes, Felix Cheng rarely crossed paths with him. This meeting was an accident. Now that the annoying tutor and the annoying child were meeting, Felix Cheng, as a “responsible” father, was forced to be present.

It was getting late. After a brief exchange between the tutor and his student, it was nearly time for dinner. Unsurprisingly, there would be an extra person at the table tonight.

Felix Cheng emptied his mind, his hollow gaze drifting to a pair of messenger birds outside the window. He let his lips move rapidly of their own accord: “Dearest Gnas, the newly hired tutor is exceptionally learned. I truly hope you two will get along well in the days to come.”

Gnas lowered his head shyly. “Dearest Father, if that is your wish, I will see to it.”

Felix Cheng raised his hand and pressed his palm firmly onto the top of Gnas’s head, a thin smile playing on his lips. “Good boy.”

He spoke through gritted teeth, his palm secretly applying pressure. Gnas, seemingly oblivious to the pain, looked up and affectionately rubbed his head against Felix Cheng’s palm. “Father.”

What a hypocritical child, Felix Cheng thought sourly. Even seeing Gnas sit obediently across from “Jiang Cheng,” he had no further reaction.

Soon it was dusk. The heavy curtains were drawn back, revealing an orange-pink sunset that looked like layers of swirled honey drifting across the sky. While waiting, Felix Cheng sat on a large sofa, quietly watching the distant treetops turn into hazy silhouettes in the twilight.

It was a beautiful view, if only he were enjoying it alone.

“Dearest Father, you promised me you would guide me on my painting.” Gnas walked up to Felix Cheng, clutching his artwork, making rare eye contact.

Felix Cheng adjusted his cufflinks, his smile appearing slightly weary. “Of course, my dear child.”

At these words, Gnas grinned like a cheerful bird and quickly unfurled his painting. Felix Cheng looked over involuntarily, and his eyelid twitched.

It was a painting of a family of three.

Gnas stood in the middle, his current shyness completely gone, replaced by an innocent, radiant smile. To Gnas’s left stood a lady with blurred features but a gentle, graceful aura, undoubtedly Gnas’s biological mother, Felix’s supposed “second wife.”

And to Gnas’s right.

Felix Cheng could hardly believe his eyes. The man in the painting wore a well-fitted suit and possessed a smile so tender it radiated a nearly absurd sense of joy. Felix Cheng wanted to poke his own eyes out.

“Dearest Father, how did I do?”

That is not me.

“My dear.  Gnas, you have quite the imagination. It is a natural gift.”

Gnas’s cheeks flushed. “Father, I knew you would like it.”

After saying this, Gnas seemed to split into another persona, lowering his head and sniffing. “It’s a pity I was too young when Mother left; I can no longer remember her face clearly. Father, am I useless?”

Yes.

“Of course not, my dear Gnas.”

What a lying brat. Why doesn’t God punish him and make his nose grow long and hideous? And that foolish tutor, what was he grinning about over there?

As he thought this, the man walked over. “Jiang Cheng” knelt on one knee, looking up with a handsome face. This angle made him appear exceptionally submissive, and because of his overly candid gaze, he seemed remarkably sincere.

“Rest assured, Your Grace. Young Master Gnas is a bright child. Under careful guidance.” He paused, his voice clear. “He will surely become an outstanding painter.”

Felix Cheng’s fingers tightened on his knees. He didn’t understand what this man was playing at. However, he soon figured it out. Perhaps this tutor wasn’t passionate about his job at all, but rather.

He had designs on Felix Cheng himself.

That would explain his previous offensive behavior. Felix Cheng couldn’t describe how he felt anticipation, restlessness.  none of that. He simply felt it was absurd. This entire world felt absurd.

At dinner, the candles on the long table flickered. Felix Cheng stared intensely at the double portion of dishes on the table, then shifted his gaze to John. An extra guest has arrived, but he isn’t anyone important. Is it really necessary to set out five extra courses?

Felix Cheng stirred his white almond soup. Once the ripples on the surface settled and the steam dissipated, he took a tiny sip.

It was time for Duke Felix Cheng’s “criticism hour.”

“The soup is too bland,” Felix Cheng said, wiping his mouth.

“It was my oversight—”

Before John could finish, a new bowl of creamy soup was placed in front of Felix, with almonds resting neatly on the rim. Felix Cheng snapped his head up to look at “Jiang Cheng” sitting opposite him.

He’s using magic again.

How strange, Felix Cheng thought. This time, he observed the tutor for a bit longer and noticed something unusual.

This person was constantly spacing out—spacing out with no expression, spacing out while smiling, and occasionally spacing out with his mouth hanging open. When no one was paying attention, his gaze became vacant, like a wooden puppet whose soul had left its body.

Leaving the body…

Felix Cheng didn’t find the idea frightening, nor did he find the man pitiful. Perhaps where that man went was a land of freedom. If so, Felix was the one who was truly pitiful.

Preset Line: “This grilled steak tastes excellent.” Jiang Cheng’s Text: “Your Grace, can you smell the aroma? Would you like to try this grilled steak?”

The “Jiang Cheng” who had gone to freedom returned to the cage of his own accord. He pushed away Felix Cheng’s vegetable salad and replaced it with the pungent-smelling steak.

Felix Cheng furrowed his brows in disgust.

“Jiang Cheng” kept chattering away. He picked up the knife and fork, cut a small piece of steak, stood up, and naturally offered it to Felix Cheng’s lips. The smell of meat invaded his nose. Felix Cheng desperately wanted to refuse, but his mouth opened uncontrollably, meeting the sauce-covered steak.

Again.  Curse that wicked, evil Dark Wizard!

Felix Cheng’s reaction had never been this intense. His curled fingertips turned white as he dug them into his thigh. “I  do not. thank Master. Jiang Cheng.”

“Eh?”

Almost simultaneously, “Jiang Cheng” noticed the forced discomfort in his brow and the unnatural movement of his Adam’s apple. He quickly pulled back the silver fork, moved the salad back, and looked utterly distraught. “So sorry, so sorry! I didn’t know you didn’t like this.”

“Jiang Cheng” smacked his own forehead, muttering, “How did I miss something so important? Waaah, making a mess of things at our first dinner together.”

Felix Cheng froze. The power constricting his body had vanished.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” “Jiang Cheng” leaned toward Felix Cheng, bowing his head and shaking his clasped hands from side to side. He repeated his apologies incessantly.

Felix Cheng’s ears were almost growing calluses. His thigh actually hurt from where he had pinched himself, but he ignored it, glancing left and right.

Gnas was sitting in his chair, his short legs swinging slightly as he enjoyed his meal, occasionally praising John. Each time, John would smile and say, “I’m glad you like it, Young Master.”

They hadn’t noticed. None of them had noticed the anomaly just now.

A certain suspicion in his heart was confirmed once again. Felix Cheng stared at “Jiang Cheng” without blinking. A few strands of his long silver-white hair slid silently over his shoulder as he leaned forward.

His fingers resting on the table edge curled inward imperceptibly, his nails digging into his soft palms. Deep in those indifferent eyes, it was as if something in a frozen river had cracked very slightly, sending out a faint ripple.

But he quickly lowered his gaze, picked up his water glass, and gently blew on the steam.

He couldn’t alert the enemy. He had to find a more secure way to ensure total success. This wretched world that he didn’t belong to he didn’t want to stay for another moment.

After turning off the computer, Jiang Yi sat at his desk and pulled a diary from his drawer. He rested his chin on his hand for a moment before writing:

Duke Felix Cheng is a picky eater. He dislikes meat; he looks angry when he smells it. However, the Duke doesn’t particularly love vegetables either. Eating doesn’t seem to mean much to him; he just eats mechanically during mealtimes.

After finishing, Jiang Yi exhaled and leaned back against his cushion with the diary. Since the game launched, he had summarized many of the Duke’s habits and preferences, filling more than half the book.

For example, Felix always seems indifferent to everything, yet his eyes will inadvertently follow the birds outside the window; he is especially focused when he hears them chirping. Another example: Felix dislikes rainy days. The fine mist on his body feels sticky and uncomfortable, making him frown involuntarily. Usually, at times like these, the Duke acts quite childishly and secretly huffs at John.

Thinking about the moments he recorded these habits, Jiang Yi couldn’t help but let out a silly grin. He flipped further back in the diary, and a sticky note fell out—it was the official character setting in neat printed font.

Since he wasn’t a main character, Felix’s setting wasn’t very detailed. Most of it was skipped over roughly, making it feel formulaic.

Duke Felix Cheng forever mourns his three deceased wives and pours all his affection into his only son, Gnas. He does not allow anyone to harm his child.

Jiang Yi frowned. He spun a black pen between his fingers as he propped up his cheek, his mouth pressed into a straight line.

Do official character settings OOC Out of Character?

A moment later, his pen hit the paper, and he drew a massive “X” over that specific setting.

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