The Sickly Double Doesn't Want to Be Spoiled - Chapter 18

Chapter 18

On the second floor, Qin Qing was binge-watching a drama in the small living room.

Since Meng Yuan wasn’t staying home tonight, she was all alone in the massive villa. Out of boredom, she had clicked on a revenge short-drama to help her sleep, planning to watch just two episodes before bed.

…

It was too addictive!

Qin Qing stayed up until the middle of the night. If the elevator door hadn’t suddenly opened, scaring her into dropping her phone, she probably would have stayed up until dawn.

Lu Cong walked out carrying Meng Yuan, his expression rather sour.

Qin Qing picked up her phone and walked over, eyeing them curiously. “What happened? I thought he wasn’t coming back tonight?”

Lu Cong walked slowly toward Meng Yuan’s room. Qin Qing noticed his footsteps were lighter than usual.

“Couldn’t stay there anymore,” Lu Cong said. “His brothers and sisters were conspiring in the middle of the night to kill him, and he overheard it.”

“What?!” Qin Qing’s face paled in shock.

Lu Cong paused for a step and shot her a cold look. “You really think they have the capability?”

Qin Qing froze, then thought about it. In the past, it might have been uncertain, but now that Meng Yuan was by Lu Cong’s side, it would indeed be quite difficult for anyone outside to do anything to him.

She composed her expression and followed them, though she was still fuming inwardly.

“They have quite the nerve,” she said indignantly. “Do they really think the laws of our country are just for show? Truly detestable!”

Lu Cong didn’t respond. He entered the bedroom and gently placed Meng Yuan on the bed.

For some reason, even though Meng Yuan was sleeping fitfully, he couldn’t wake up. His breathing alternated between slow and hurried; the moment he touched the bed, he slipped out of Lu Cong’s arms and curled himself into a ball.

With his hands now empty, Lu Cong unconsciously clenched them. There wasn’t much residual warmth; Meng Yuan’s body was naturally very cold.

He watched Meng Yuan silently watching his eyelashes tremble, repeatedly brushing against the thin, transparent skin beneath his eyes; watching him slowly lower his head, burying his face in his knees as if trying to hide from something.

“Is he hiding from me?”

The words were out before Lu Cong realized what he was saying, and his mind jolted.

“No, how could he?” Qin Qing didn’t notice Lu Cong’s momentary lapse. She looked at Meng Yuan with pity. “He must be frightened. Biological siblings… even if they aren’t from the same mother, there should be some affection from growing up together. How can they be so cold-hearted!”

The heartache in her eyes was almost overflowing, identical to the driver’s expression in the garage earlier.

Lu Cong was feeling an indescribable irritability. Seeing Qin Qing like this, the image of Meng Yuan being carried up and down by others flashed through his mind, and his temples began to throb.

“You all coddle him too much.”

Qin Qing: “?”

Lu Cong said seriously: “Meng Yuan is an adult. It’s ridiculous for you all to keep treating him like a baby. From now on, let him walk on his own.”

Qin Qing: “Ah?”

How did the conversation suddenly jump here? What did this have to do with walking?

“What are you ‘ah’-ing about?”

Lu Cong looked at Meng Yuan. Meng Yuan was very thin; wearing the loose white tank top, his arms and shoulders were exposed, and his chest looked as gaunt as a rack of ribs.

He pulled up the quilt and gently covered Meng Yuan.

He turned and barked at Qin Qing: “Did you hear me?”

Qin Qing: “.”

Qin Qing: “Oh.”

Lu Cong walked out of the bedroom, turned off the lights, and closed the door. Ignoring Qin Qing’s aggrieved gaze which seemed to say, “But didn’t you just carry him back too? “he instructed:

“In the future, don’t let him go back to the Meng house unless necessary.”

Qin Qing turned serious: “Don’t worry, I’ve noted it. Today was my fault too. If I had known his family was like that, I wouldn’t have let him go back for anything.”

Everyone knew the Meng siblings were united in appearance but divided at heart, but she hadn’t expected them to be so malicious.

She followed Lu Cong downstairs. Seeing that Lu Cong was about to head out again, she asked, “Aren’t you staying here?”

A flash of hesitation crossed Lu Cong’s eyes, followed by a surge of self-righteousness: “When have I ever stayed here?”

Qin Qing thought about it and realized he was right. “Alright then, drive safely.”

Lu Cong: “…”

Apparently not expecting Qin Qing to agree so quickly without even trying to ask him to stay for Meng Yuan’s sake, Lu Cong let out an unnatural cough.

“Mhm.” He opened the door to change his shoes.

“By the way, President Lu,” Qin Qing suddenly called out.

Lu Cong stopped: “What else?”

Qin Qing took two steps closer. Her eyes suddenly turned strangely fierce, mimicking the protagonist of a short drama. She made two quick “hand-blade” chopping motions and lowered her voice:

“Those bad kids from the Meng family… should we show them some ‘color’ (teach them a lesson)?”

Lu Cong: “…”

Lessons certainly had to be taught, but Qin Qing… this person… this housekeeper…

Lu Cong’s temples throbbed even harder. He suppressed the urge to fire Qin Qing and walked out the door. After a few steps, he turned back and pointed at her:

“Those short dramas of yours you are not allowed to show them to Meng Yuan.”

Qin Qing: “?”

“What kind of nonsense is that?” Lu Cong’s disdain was palpable, barely suppressed by his remaining upbringing. “As for those people, I will handle it. You don’t need to ask.”

Then he left, looking very displeased.

Qin Qing: “.”

So, what’s wrong with short dramas? They’re quite good.

She didn’t have time to tell Lu Cong that these were all enthusiastically recommended by Xiao Yuan—and Xiao Yuan was the one who watched them most excitedly!

Before the door closed, Lu Cong, who was halfway to his car, drifted back again.

“Make sure to cook more meat for Meng Yuan in the future.”

Meng Yuan was too thin; Qin Qing felt the same way. She nodded: “Understood. I’ll vary the recipes and try to get him to eat a bit more.”

Lu Cong gave a grunt of affirmation. He stood there, neither speaking nor leaving.

Qin Qing thought the boss had more instructions and waited alertly. However, Lu Cong just stood there for a dozen seconds, his eyes changing through a thousand expressions. Finally, he turned around, leaving behind an angry silhouette.

Qin Qing: “?”

…

Meng Yuan didn’t sleep well; he had several nightmares throughout the night.

In his dreams, he was walking down a pitch-black alley. His brothers and sisters were chasing him with knives, every one of them wanting his life. Suddenly, his creditors from his previous life appeared as well, wielding iron bars and looking menacing as they demanded he pay his debts.

Trembling, Meng Yuan searched all his pockets, only finding a few coins. His hands shook with terror. The sound of the iron bars dragging on the ground was incredibly loud and piercing, making his skin crawl.

Meng Yuan could only run with all his might. But the alley seemed endless, long, narrow, with no room to hide. Gradually, his physical strength failed him. He couldn’t run anymore.

He was covered in sweat, gasping for breath. His vision flickered between black and white. Finally, his legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.

The footsteps behind him were frighteningly fast, getting closer and louder. Meng Yuan’s whole body shuddered. Accompanied by a wave of suffocation, someone grabbed his back collar. He didn’t know who caught him first, but they shrieked with laughter as they dragged him into the abyss.

Meng Yuan was jolted awake. He was startled awake repeatedly throughout the night.

His collar was completely soaked. Without stopping to catch his breath, Meng Yuan rolled over and opened his phone. A message from Lu Cong popped up at the top:

“What are you doing?”

Meng Yuan swiped it away and opened his bank app to check his savings. Only after confirming that the balance was still a long string of numbers without a single decimal point missing did the heavy stone on his chest lift.

Thank goodness, thank goodness. I’m still very rich. I’ll never be poor again… It’s safe here. No one can hurt me… Meng Yuan collapsed back onto his pillow, drained of energy. Only then did he remember Lu Cong.

Anemia caused black mist to rise before his eyes, and his heart hammered in his chest. His hands were shaking too hard to type, so he simply pressed the voice message button: “Sleeping.”

There was no immediate reply. Meng Yuan tossed the phone aside and stared blankly at the ceiling. His neck and cheeks were sweaty, and his soaked clothes turned icy cold against his back it was quite uncomfortable.

He shivered. Outside the window, the morning light was faint. Meng Yuan had no desire to sleep.