The Tough Guy Forced To Become The Broodmother - Chapter 2
Chapter 2: His Past
“Tsk tsk, that shouldn’t be right.” The boy circled around Luo Jia, a playful, teasing expression on his face. “Didn’t you say you had a way to make the City Lord fall head over heels for you? What happened? The City Lord didn’t take an interest? It seems the beauty you’re so proud of doesn’t have much value after all.”
Luo Jia’s face went pale. He thought to himself: Was the original owner of this body a gold-digger? Should I argue with him? Or is it better to do nothing?
Before Luo Jia could make a choice, the boy patted him on the shoulder, his tone softening. He spoke to Luo Jia like a true friend: “Actually, it’s probably for the best that he didn’t pick you. I heard the City Lord’s private life is a mess. He often ‘snaps’ the lovers he’s finished with. People like us should just stay honestly on this Trash Planet. Don’t try to use people we can’t afford to provoke just to leave this place.”
From the driver’s seat, a middle-aged man poked his head out and shouted, “A-Luo, time to go!”
“Coming!” A-Luo started heading toward the car. Seeing Luo Jia still standing there, he clicked his tongue. “What are you dazing off for? We’re heading that way anyway; I’ll give you a lift.”
Luo Jia wanted to refuse, but thinking about how hard it would be to survive in the wild when he knew nothing, he hurried to catch up.
A-Luo grabbed the door frame and hopped inside with a nimble jump. Luo Jia tried to follow suit with equal grace, but he failed—he couldn’t make the jump.
A-Luo reached out a hand. “Grab on.”
Luo Jia took his hand and was pulled up.
The middle-aged man gave him a nod of greeting. A-Luo kicked aside some clutter on the floor and pointed to a window seat. “Sit.”
Luo Jia sat down and observed his surroundings. The back of the vehicle was filled with various odds and ends; it looked very lived-in. They clearly hadn’t come out specifically to find him.
A-Luo stroked his chin, studying Luo Jia. “You seem different since you came back from the City Lord’s place.”
Luo Jia replied, “Maybe it’s because I’ve been through some things.”
A-Luo shrugged. “Hey, even if you were toyed with by the City Lord, it’s no big deal. Life goes on. We’ll drop you home in a bit, and you should get some sleep.”
The middle-aged driver looked back at Luo Jia with a sympathetic glance.
Luo Jia thought to himself: Who is this City Lord? His reputation seems terrible. He didn’t dare ask questions for fear of blowing his cover. It was better to play the role of a fragile, victimized “white lotus” for now.
A-Luo asked, “Did you actually see the City Lord?”
Luo Jia thought: How would I know? He lowered his head and remained silent.
The middle-aged man couldn’t help but speak up: “A-Luo, stop it. Let him have some peace.”
“Tsk.” A-Luo crossed his legs, speaking nonchalantly. “I’m just curious what that Lord looks like. He always wears a mask in public. Surely he doesn’t wear a mask while doing… those things, right?”
The middle-aged man chuckled. “The City Lord’s appearance is indeed a mystery.”
As if remembering something, A-Luo stood up and began rummaging through the pile of junk. He pulled out a bundle and tossed it to Luo Jia. “Almost forgot. Here, Sister Lili asked me to give this to you if I ran into you.”
Lili? Who is that now?
Luo Jia nodded and whispered, “Thank you.”
“Ah! Did I hear that right?” A-Luo’s eyes widened theatrically. “I actually heard a ‘thank you’ come out of your mouth. It seems the City Lord’s mansion really hit you hard. Anyway, I’m only helping you for Sister Lili’s sake.”
Luo Jia asked, “Where is Sister Lili?”
A-Luo replied, “So you actually remember her! I thought you wouldn’t even ask. She was so good to you, taking you around like a little idiot wherever she went. I really don’t understand why you left us just to go to the Lost City and try to climb into the City Lord’s bed!”
Luo Jia: How should I know?!
Luo Jia simply stared at A-Luo without speaking. Being stared at by such a handsome face softened A-Luo’s heart a bit. He said, “After Sister Lili gave me this, she went out scavenging and never came back.”
Luo Jia: “Huh?”
A-Luo looked saddened. “We scavengers live a life where tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. It’s not hard to understand why you’d want to climb into the City Lord’s bed to escape this.”
Luo Jia asked, “When did Sister Lili give this to you?”
A-Luo said, “The day after you left.”
“Did she… say anything?”
A-Luo shook his head. “She just told me to give this to you.”
Luo Jia: “…”
“But I don’t think Sister Lili is dead. Maybe we’ll meet again someday.” A-Luo then asked, “By the way, did you hear anything in the Lost City about the City Lord losing a treasure?”
Luo Jia’s heart skipped a beat. He shook his head. “I’m not sure. I just know a lot of people were looking for something.”
The middle-aged man chimed in: “It’s quite mysterious. They say it’s a vial of some reagent. The City Lord put out a massive bounty. A-Luo and I looked around but found nothing.”
A-Luo added, “Don’t think about it. With a bounty that high, even if we found it, we couldn’t keep it. Don’t get ideas.”
Soon, the car came to a stop.
Luo Jia looked out at the vast stretches of ruins, confused. A-Luo nudged his leg. “Luo Jia, are you stupid? You’re home.”
Luo Jia: ???
“Get out, quick.” A-Luo turned his face away, sounding impatient. “I’ve joined their scavenging team, so I won’t be heading back with you. Luo Jia, you’re on your own from now on.”
A wave of inexplicable bitterness washed over Luo Jia. He quickly gathered his things and got out. As he stepped down, he whispered to A-Luo, “Thank you.”
A-Luo froze for a moment, saying nothing.
Luo Jia glanced back, then hurried forward with his bundle.
The middle-aged man looked at A-Luo. “You’re actually going to miss him, aren’t you? Hey… is he going the wrong way? That’s the Lost Forest. Should we warn him?”
A-Luo shook his head. “No. Where he goes is his own business. Let’s move.”
Luo Jia clutched the bundle and walked forward. Once A-Luo’s car had disappeared and no one was around, he opened the bundle to look for clues about himself.
Inside were only two things: a white cloak and a silver necklace.
He shook out the cloak—nothing else fell out. He couldn’t understand why Sister Lili was so certain he’d return, or what these items meant.
The necklace looked ordinary, featuring a simple ring-shaped pendant. He put on the cloak, using it to hide his face.
Does Sister Lili think I’d be too embarrassed to show my face after failing to seduce the City Lord?
Luo Jia was amused by his own thought. However, combining A-Luo’s info, he piece together the original owner’s timeline:
- Tried to seduce the City Lord.
- Failed and left the Lost City.
- The City Lord lost something.
- People thought the failed “bed-climber” stole it, leading to his murder.
He still didn’t understand his resurrection. Could the thing the City Lord lost be with me?
His brain felt like it was hitting a limit. He agreed with A-Luo—he needed to go home and sleep.
Luo Jia looked at the dark, lush forest ahead that seemed ready to swallow him whole.
Home is in there? Is that right?
Was A-Luo messing with him?
Yet, Luo Jia’s subconscious told him there was no danger. He boldly stepped inside. The further he went, the denser the trees became, and strange cries echoed through the woods.
Luo Jia: “…” This feels like the start of a horror movie.
A flock of strange black birds let out miserable shrieks as they flew over his head. He heard a rustling sound, like something crawling. In the sudden silence, he could hear his own heartbeat.
A drop of liquid landed on his cloak.
The dark green fluid slid off the fabric and hit the ground, immediately making a hissing sound.
Strong corrosive properties!
Luo Jia cautiously looked up. A massive snake head, with eyes like lightbulbs, had its mouth open right next to his face.
“AH!” Luo Jia screamed, diving out of the way. As he moved, the snake—with a body thicker than a tree trunk—slid down and slithered rapidly toward him.
Luo Jia’s mind was screaming: Holy crap, this is basically a giant python!
Without hesitation, he turned and bolted.
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