Unconventional [Rebirth] - Chapter 57

“Bullying a toddler?”

Jiang Rui’s lip twitched. While Wang Chenghui owned a casino, his actual skill at the table remained a mystery to outsiders—but not to Jiang Rui. Even in his previous life, before he had mastered the metaphysical arts, Jiang Rui could have beaten Wang Chenghui soundly at gambling. Now, for Wang Chenghui to suggest that playing against Jiang Rui was “bullying” was the height of arrogance.

Jiang Rui watched as Huaiqing stepped forward to the table with a defiant, aloof air, and he couldn’t help but find it amusing. The youth’s gambling skills were indeed impressive. Had this been his previous life, Jiang Rui might have spent a fortune to recruit such a young talent—someone who could easily deceive the masses with his innocent appearance.

But he was no longer that person.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Rong Jingtang still maintaining a posture that outsiders would perceive as deep and stoic, but in reality, he was shamelessly staring at the crimson jade anklet on his leg.

Those intricate patterns had taken Jiang Rui seven full days of meticulous carving. If this chain were placed before his master—the great Master Xue—the old man would likely have died a happy man knowing such skill existed. Thinking of the master who had favored him so much in his past life, Jiang Rui sighed. He had been trying to find a way to contact the old master in this life, but it was proving difficult.

Master Xue’s health had been poor, and despite his house being filled with spiritually-rich jade, he had no way of absorbing its energy, leading to his untimely death. He was the only person who, until the very end of Jiang Rui’s previous life, had nagged him to study hard and take care of himself.

Jiang Rui’s lips curved into a smile. It wasn’t too late; though the master was already famous, there was still time before he would have taken Jiang Rui as a disciple. The opportunity would come soon during an upcoming treasure appraisal competition.

His mood significantly improved, Jiang Rui even found Rong Jingtang’s childlike behavior endearing. He stepped forward, smiling at Huaiqing. “What are we playing?”

Huaiqing lifted his chin coldly. “Whatever you like.”

Jiang Rui shrugged. “Let’s stick to Sic Bo.”

Huaiqing frowned. Sic Bo again. He found this youth strangely familiar and felt an inexplicable sense of hostility. Both in looks and stature, they were remarkably similar. No—that wasn’t right. There was no comparison. Huaiqing was talented, certainly, but compared to Jiang Rui, the difference was like a country squire’s son next to a celestial young master.

Irritated by his own thoughts, Huaiqing’s expression turned even icier. “Fine.”

Jiang Rui gave a faint smile and made a polite “after you” gesture. “You first.”

Huaiqing, annoyed by the way the other boy acted like an elder humoring a child, grabbed the three dice and placed them in the transparent shaker.

Small bets are for pleasure; big bets are for ruin. This was a trap Wang Chenghui had set, banking on Huaiqing’s skill since Rong Jingtang hadn’t brought a gambling expert. Wang Chenghui wasn’t stupid enough to actually win against Rong Jingtang; his plan was to show off his strength and then “graciously” lose to give Rong Jingtang “face.”

It was a clever calculation.

The sound of the dice rattling in Huaiqing’s shaker stopped. As the cup was slammed down, Jiang Rui raised an eyebrow in surprise. It seemed the boy’s skills had improved since their last encounter.

Jiang Rui smiled, picked up his own set, and without even waiting for Huaiqing to reveal his hand, gave his shaker a casual couple of flicks before slamming it onto the table.

“Reveal,” Huaiqing said, chin tilted with a mix of contempt and confidence.

Jiang Rui’s eyes twinkled with amusement. Huaiqing revealed a total of three points (all ones). Then, Jiang Rui slowly lifted his own cup.

The three dice were stacked vertically in a tower. The one on top was a two.

This was a blatant, “red-fruited” humiliation.

Jiang Rui hadn’t intended to be petty with a child, and his target certainly wasn’t Huaiqing. But seeing the boy’s eyes instantly redden as if he were about to burst into tears, Jiang Rui felt a twinge of guilt. He had gambled with this boy twice now, and both times Huaiqing had lost in an embarrassing fashion. There was no telling how Wang Chenghui would scold him later.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Jiang Rui put his hands behind his back and looked at the narrowing eyes of Wang Chenghui. “Mr. Wang, shall we continue?”

Wang Chenghui slowly shook his head, his face shifting into a fake smile. “As expected of someone by Mr. Rong’s side…” He emphasized the phrase “by his side” before continuing, “It’s nearly noon. Would I have the honor of hosting Mr. Rong for lunch?”

Rong Jingtang, whose head was still down looking at his own foot, looked up with annoyance at being interrupted. “Very well,” he said unhappily.

Jiang Rui rolled his eyes internally. Giving the “Great Lord” his due, he offered his hand to help Rong Jingtang up. Rong Jingtang reached out and patted the soft hair on Jiang Rui’s head, and his mood instantly brightened.

In contrast to Rong Jingtang’s good mood, Wang Chenghui and Huaiqing were clearly tense. Wang Chenghui thought he had played his cards well, but his schemes were a joke to Jiang Rui.

At the restaurant, the meal was already served. Jiang Rui noticed there was not a single piece of seafood on the table, suggesting Wang Chenghui had done his research. However… there was also very little meat.

Jiang Rui didn’t need much food to survive, but he loved meat. Looking at a table full of “bird-food” greenery, he lost his appetite. Rong Jingtang’s palate had also been spoiled by Jiang Rui; he took a few bites and stopped.

Jiang Rui stood up, hiding a smile as he looked at Wang Chenghui’s face, which was now as black as the bottom of a pot. “Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”

Wang Chenghui nodded, his gaze fixed on Rong Jingtang as if he had something to say that he couldn’t mention in Jiang Rui’s presence. Jiang Rui ignored them and walked out.

He had expected Wang Chenghui to try something drastic, but he realized he had forgotten one thing: the Wang Chenghui of now was not the all-powerful man of his past life. To his current self, Wang Chenghui’s tricks were like a child playing house. Even the memories of his own past death—of his bones being crushed and watching his own tragic end—felt blurred and distant.

Jiang Rui stared at the water flowing from the tap. He heard footsteps behind him but didn’t react. The sound grew louder, accompanied by a heavy scent of alcohol and a “salty pig hand” (a wandering hand) reaching for him.

Jiang Rui turned and looked at Wang Chenghui, who had pinned him against the edge of the sink. He smiled faintly. “Mr. Wang, please have some self-respect.”

Wang Chenghui seemed mesmerized by Jiang Rui’s jade-like face. His alcohol-laced breath hit Jiang Rui’s face. Frowning, Jiang Rui used a bit of force to push him away.

The pushed-back Wang Chenghui gave a foolish, drunken laugh, using the alcohol as an excuse to act crazy. He placed his hand on the small of Jiang Rui’s back. Looking at the thick-knuckled hand on his waist, Jiang Rui smiled and lightly tapped a few points on that hand—a touch as light as a caress.

Wang Chenghui clearly found it pleasurable and was about to tighten his grip when Jiang Rui suddenly pulled away. The force sent Wang Chenghui stumbling onto the sink.

“Since Mr. Wang doesn’t love himself, you can’t blame me,” Jiang Rui shrugged. He didn’t look back as he walked away, his voice cold and clear enough for the man to hear: “Consider this a small lesson. Enjoy it, Mr. Wang.”

Once Jiang Rui was gone, Wang Chenghui stopped acting drunk. He narrowed his eyes at Jiang Rui’s retreating figure, about to laugh—but before a sound could escape, his face contorted in horror.

His hand!

He fought to suppress a scream. A searing, burning sensation—like being roasted over a fire—ebbed and flowed through his hand. Just as he thought it was fading, it would surge back again. It was pure torture. He stared at the empty corner with a twisted expression, a bizarre, croaking laugh escaping his lips as if he had become a different person entirely.

When they left, the atmosphere was entirely different. Wang Chenghui used “illness” as an excuse not to see them out. Rong Jingtang looked at Jiang Rui, who was smiling like a cat that had successfully stolen a treat, and surprisingly, he didn’t make things difficult for Wang Chenghui’s subordinates.

On the way back, Rong Jingtang remained silent. Sensing he was unhappy, Jiang Rui stayed quiet as well. The car drove straight to the Rong residence. After stepping out, Rong Jingtang didn’t even give Jiang Rui a chance to decline.

“I’m hungry,” he said.

Jiang Rui paused, then resignedly rubbed his forehead. “I’ll cook for you.” He added mischievously, “Do you want fish?”

Rong Jingtang tilted his head, seeing the rare spark of playfulness in Jiang Rui’s eyes. “Yes.”

Jiang Rui: “…”

Under Uncle Cheng’s delighted gaze, Jiang Rui donned a莫名 (unexplained) apron and entered the kitchen. Seeing Uncle Cheng skillfully acting as his sous-chef, Jiang Rui’s lip twitched. “Uncle Cheng, you can go upstairs.”

Uncle Cheng nodded, washed his hands, and gave Jiang Rui a beatific smile. “Xiao Rui is so virtuous/homely (xian-hui).”

The “virtuous” Jiang Rui then proceeded to cut off a fish head with savage precision and shoved the entire fish into the pot with a grimace. I’ll show you virtuous!

Uncle Cheng, following Jiang Rui’s instructions, brought a spoonful of purple flower honey to the study. He saw his young master—who usually spent this time buried in documents—staring intently at his own ankle.

“Young Master, Master Jiang says it’s time for your honey.”

“Put it there,” Rong Jingtang said. He was relaxed in front of the man who had raised him, his legs crossed as he admired the dark red chain.

Uncle Cheng was amused by the rare display of boyishness. “Did Master Jiang give you that?”

“Mhm.” Rong Jingtang nodded, resting his foot on the silk chaise lounge so the fabric contrasted with the warm glow of the jade. “He is very good.”

Uncle Cheng found the phrasing a bit odd, but since Jiang Rui was indeed a good boy, he simply viewed it as a senior approving of a junior. “He is a good boy. Now, Young Master, you really must eat your honey.”

Rong Jingtang finally lowered his foot and drank the honey.

Meanwhile, the “good boy” Jiang Rui was still in the kitchen, battling the fish that the Master had insisted on eating. Since I opened my mouth, I have to finish making it, even if I hate handling fish!

Drenched in sweat, Jiang Rui finally finished. He looked at the window where Rong Jingtang was calmly sipping honey and felt a surge of exasperation. How is it that every time I’m with him, I stop feeling like myself?