Unconventional [Rebirth] - Chapter 61

Jiang Rui gently wiped the tears from the corners of Jiang Xi’s eyes. This man, who had lived a full life without ever being particularly sentimental, now acted like the most tender of older brothers. He looked at Jiang Xi’s tear-stained face and joked, “Xi-xi, you won’t look pretty if you cry. Mommy likes beautiful children.”

Hearing this, Jiang Xi immediately scrubbed her tears away and grabbed a napkin to blow her nose with great purpose.

In the main ward, Huang Wenhua had remained silent for a long time. Jiang Jianheng sighed quietly and stood up to leave. Terrified of being caught awake, Jiang Xi scrambled into her bed and pulled the covers over her head. Suddenly remembering Jiang Rui was still in the room, she peeked out with wide eyes.

Jiang Rui winked at her and placed a finger to his lips. “Shhh.”

Jiang Xi blinked, a wide grin breaking across her face.

When Jiang Rui returned to Jiang Jianlin’s birthday celebration, his heart felt significantly lighter. Seeing Jiang Jianheng’s improved attitude toward Jiang Xi compared to his previous life, and even Huang Wenhua’s subtle shift, he felt at peace.

He wasn’t a saint, but he owed Jiang Xi for the kindness she showed him across two lifetimes. If he could ensure her happiness, he would watch over her for the rest of his life. From his recent breakthrough to the Golden Core stage, he realized that cultivating one’s state of mind was even more vital than power. To prevent any future “Heart Devils,” he had to resolve these lingering regrets.

Jiang Rui stood at the edge of the hall with a warm smile, watching the party wind down. As he turned to leave, he found Rong Jingtang standing directly behind him.

Rong Jingtang was dressed in his signature white. Bathed in the afternoon sunlight, he seemed to glow, causing Jiang Rui to daze for a moment. He realized then that if he were ever to have a true Heart Devil in this life, it would likely be the man standing before him.

I’ve survived one life, Jiang Rui thought with a sigh. Miao Xuan risked everything for my rebirth. He knew he had to accumulate merit through good deeds to balance the scales of fate. Miao Xuan had warned him of a great catastrophe ahead; if he passed it, his path would be clear, but if he failed, his soul would be extinguished.

And this man, Rong Jingtang, was likely the catalyst for that disaster.

“Why are you in Qing City?” Jiang Rui asked, a smile tugging at his lips.

Rong Jingtang’s eyes were bright—clearly, the protective anklet was working. They walked together to the car.

“What brings you here this time?” Jiang Rui teased. Since his breakthrough, the fear he once felt toward this man had vanished. As Miao Xuan said, to a high-level cultivator, mortals are like ants. But Jiang Rui didn’t seek to be a heartless immortal; he didn’t want to be a stoic monk. His feelings for Rong Jingtang were… complicated.

Rong Jingtang, unaware of Jiang Rui’s internal shift, simply found the youth more captivating than ever. It wasn’t just his striking looks; it was his aura. From the cautious, plainly dressed boy he first met to the confident person standing here today, Rong Jingtang felt a shameless urge to take all the credit for “cultivating” him.

“Which university did you apply to?” Rong Jingtang asked suddenly.

“Peking University, the Medical School,” Jiang Rui replied.

Rong Jingtang nodded. “It suits you.”

“Thank you,” Jiang Rui smiled. He knew Rong Jingtang would have found out regardless, but he appreciated the gesture of asking.

The car didn’t leave Qing City but instead drove toward a secluded area Jiang Rui knew well. It pulled up at the entrance of Lianyu Manor.

To Jiang Rui’s surprise, the entrance was crowded—something Cao Xingjian hadn’t notified him about. He frowned and followed Rong Jingtang inside.

In the middle of a swarm of black-suited men stood a tall man with shocking blond hair. The moment the blond man spotted Rong Jingtang, his expression shifted from bored impatience to pure elation.

Jiang Rui, feeling a sudden surge of protectiveness, stepped in front of Rong Jingtang. He held out a hand to block the blond man’s lunging embrace. “Mr. Bonanno, please have some self-respect.”

Same words, same scene, Jiang Rui thought. He felt like every meeting with this man would involve a physical confrontation. Since he knew who the man was now, he didn’t use much force, but even a light touch from a Golden Core cultivator made the other man wince.

“Dolly, you’re so cruel!” Jervis Bonanno wailed, nursing his wrist like a wounded puppy. His golden hair seemed to lose its luster.

“The word is ‘fierce,’ Young Master,” a bodyguard behind him whispered, adjusting his sunglasses awkwardly.

Jiang Rui suppressed a laugh. Jervis was like a Golden Retriever; if he had a tail, it would be wagging so hard it might snap off. He was about to tease him when a large hand gripped his waist and pulled him aside.

Jiang Rui felt a bit awkward—he realized that the protective chain he gave Rong Jingtang worked too well. With it, he couldn’t even sense Rong Jingtang approaching him.

Rong Jingtang looked coldly at Jervis’s hovering hand. “Mr. Bonanno, self-respect.”

“Oh! Rong! You remembered my name! You and the Dolly both remembered me!” Jervis cried out. The bodyguards looked like they wanted the earth to swallow them, expecting their boss to blow a fuse, but Jervis’s logic was entirely unique.

Jiang Rui knew Jervis wasn’t truly a fool. In a family like the Bonannos, “playing the fool” was a survival tactic. Jervis constantly poked at Rong Jingtang’s boundaries but always knew when to stop before the man truly got angry.

Rong Jingtang’s next words were biting: “It seems Old Bonanno hasn’t disciplined you well lately.”

Jervis immediately wilted. He looked around suspiciously before leaning in to whisper to Rong Jingtang, though he kept a safe distance. “Rong, I know there’s a secret here.”

Jiang Rui, the owner of the Manor and the “secret” in question: “…”

Rong Jingtang caught the helpless look on Jiang Rui’s face. He released his grip on the youth’s waist, glanced at his hand, then at Jiang Rui’s waist, and finally at his own, looking dissatisfied. He glared at Jervis. “What does that have to do with me?”

He took Jiang Rui’s hand to lead him away.

“Oh! Rong! You have deeply wounded my heart!” Jervis cried, clutching his chest in a dramatic display.

They moved quickly through the manor, and since many guests were dressed similarly, they successfully lost Jervis after a few turns.

“Jervis is a friend worth having,” Jiang Rui remarked.

Rong Jingtang gave a non-committal nod, ignoring the wine glasses on a nearby table. “You find him trustworthy?”

“Yes,” Jiang Rui replied. He had read Jervis’s Qi. While his threads for family and romance were thin, the yellow thread of friendship was incredibly bright and strong. That singular thread of loyalty was enough to carry him through.

Rong Jingtang didn’t answer directly. Instead, he scanned the elegant jade displays. “Why are they all gathered here?”

Jiang Rui shook his head. “The people here are all titans of the jade industry. Lianyu Manor is beautiful, but it shouldn’t attract this many heavyweights at once.”

Rong Jingtang turned to him with a slight smile. “I heard… the owner here is you?”

Heard it again? Jiang Rui arched an eyebrow and admitted it openly. He felt Rong Jingtang’s attitude shifting; the “unmatchable” arrogance was slowly fading. While he didn’t know why Rong Jingtang had been protective of him from the start, he knew the man meant him no harm.

“Yes, Lianyu Manor is indeed mine,” Jiang Rui smiled. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cao Xingjian running toward them.