Unconventional [Rebirth] - Chapter 66

“Hey, I heard there’s a special guest for this orientation meeting.” An Le nudged Jiang Rui’s arm with his elbow, winking suggestively.

Jiang Rui smiled. “Oh? Who is it?”

“No idea.” An Le curled his lip, but nonetheless grabbed both Jiang Rui and Zhao Jinyan by the hands, dragging them into the grand hall.

This orientation meeting was a unique tradition of Peking University. On the first day, once the morning roll call and registration were finished, the rest of the time belonged entirely to the students.

The university didn’t worry about the freshmen feeling lost; in addition to the new students, many graduating seniors stayed behind to act as hosts, and returning sophomores and juniors often joined the festivities.

The social hierarchy in the room was clear. The seniors in charge of order and guidance were few and professional, while those dressed like socialites and PR experts were likely the second- and third-year students. The freshmen, meanwhile, were unified in their school uniforms, standing in small, cautious circles with their roommates.

Jiang Rui felt a momentary sense of displacement as he watched the scene, but he stepped inside regardless. Every youth in the hall was bursting with life and vibrant energy. In contrast, Jiang Rui—having lived a previous life—felt far more jaded and world-weary. To himself, he felt quite old-fashioned.

Of course, that was only his own perception.

The lights in the hall gradually dimmed. The heavy doors were shut, and the blackout curtains were drawn, plunging the entire space into a darkness as deep as night.

Jiang Rui blinked. Being able to see clearly in the dark meant the change didn’t bother him much. He could hear An Le’s constant chatter beside him as he watched a single spotlight hit the high stage at the front of the hall.

There stood a blonde, blue-eyed “god” wearing a rather flamboyant tailcoat. Despite the flashiness, it looked exceptionally right on him, complementing his handsome features with a unique flair.

However, Jiang Rui’s expression immediately became a mask of disbelief.

Wasn’t that Jervis?!

Jiang Rui’s lip twitched as he heard the muffled gasps around him—mostly from the girls, who were whispering about how handsome he was and wondering which department he belonged to.

Jiang Rui: “…” Is it too late to leave?

Jervis pressed his hands down slightly to quiet the crowd, speaking in rather unpolished Mandarin. “My dears, let us be quiet.”

He shrugged helplessly and switched to English, self-deprecatingly joking about how his Chinese was unpleasant to the ear. The moment he spoke, the hall erupted in screams.

Seeing the girls surging toward the stage, Jiang Rui decided to retreat to the sidelines. In the shuffle, he became separated from An Le and Zhao Jinyan. Finding a quiet corner, he pulled up a high stool, sat down, and took a slow sip of some pale yellow fruit juice.

Jervis was certainly a master at working a crowd, but Jiang Rui wondered how a young master of the Bonanno family had ended up here. Then again, it likely had something to do with Rong Jingtang.

Jiang Rui smiled and swirled his glass.

“Ruirui, you look very happy.” A deep male voice suddenly rang in his ear. Startled, Jiang Rui nearly choked.

He whipped his head around to see Rong Jingtang. Lately, the man seemed to be following him like a shadow. “What are you doing here?”

“What? Am I not allowed?” Rong Jingtang leaned against the wall. The subtle curve of his silhouette made Jiang Rui daze for a second before he recovered. “It’s not that…”

Before Jiang Rui could finish, the stage lights dimmed again. After a small wave of exclamations, the hall lights surged back on. Music and dance performances began on stage, but Jervis had suddenly vanished.

Jiang Rui lost interest in the show and turned back to Rong Jingtang. “Did you come here with him?”

Rong Jingtang tilted his face slightly. Because he was backlit, Jiang Rui had to squint to see him. Those handsome lips parted slightly. “Are you jealous?”

Jiang Rui felt weak. “No.”

Rong Jingtang’s behavior toward him had become increasingly ambiguous lately, far different from how he used to be. If he weren’t so certain, Jiang Rui would have suspected that the person inside the shell had been swapped.

There was no one else in their immediate vicinity. Rong Jingtang looked at Jiang Rui’s face, which had suddenly taken on a touch of melancholy. “Ruirui, I have something…”

“Hi! Baby! Beautiful! Did you miss me?!” A loud exclamation in English burst from a nearby corner. Both Jiang Rui’s and Rong Jingtang’s faces went dark instantly.

Jervis, the brainless wonder, had no idea he had interrupted a moment. He merely blinked his sky-blue eyes at Jiang Rui, looking like a giant puppy acting pitiful because he knew his master couldn’t stay mad. “Let’s go play!”

Jiang Rui didn’t answer, but Rong Jingtang ground his teeth. “He doesn’t have time.”

Jervis looked like he was about to cry. Just as Jiang Rui was about to lose his patience, Jervis’s expression shifted instantly. “Then never mind~!”

Before the words had even finished, he had already lunged back into the crowd of brightly dressed socialites.

Jiang Rui shook his head helplessly. “What are you really doing here?”

Rong Jingtang looked sour. He shook his head without a word, grabbed Jiang Rui’s hand, and led him out through a side door.

He had another reason for leaving: Jervis’s flashy blonde hair had made Jiang Rui and Rong the center of attention, which Rong Jingtang found highly irritating.

Jiang Rui followed submissively. This scene only served to further excite the girls left behind; aside from the whispering, a few looked at their retreating backs and nearly screamed in delight.

Jiang Rui found himself back at the Siheyuan. Rong Jingtang parked the car and brought him inside.

Jiang Rui knew Rong Jingtang had something to tell him; it had been on the tip of his tongue since last night, only to be interrupted repeatedly. Jiang Rui was subconsciously nervous. Given Rong Jingtang’s personality, if something weren’t important, he would have let it drop after the first interruption. To bring it up again—and to choose such a specific time—meant it was vital.

Countless thoughts flashed through Jiang Rui’s mind. He thought of everyone around him and everything he knew of the Rong family’s affairs. He couldn’t imagine anything that would stump a man of Rong Jingtang’s caliber.

As Jiang Rui’s eyes filled with anxiety, Rong Jingtang found it even harder to speak. For the first time, under someone’s gaze, he felt truly tongue-tied.

Rong Jingtang pursed his lips, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest. Finally, he let out a long breath and forced a smile. “Wait a little longer. You’re still too young.”

Jiang Rui’s brows snapped together.

“What exactly do you mean?” Even a saint has his limits. Rong Jingtang’s constant hesitation over the past few days, leaving him to guess blindly, was genuinely infuriating.

Rong Jingtang closed his eyes and shook his head, leaning back with a pale face. The slight furrow in his brow made it clear he wasn’t feeling well.

Jiang Rui’s heart skipped a beat. He suddenly remembered the infant spirit that had slept between them the previous night. He paused and said, “Stand up.”

Rong Jingtang was exhausted—so tired he felt he could fall asleep the moment he closed his eyes. But seeing Jiang Rui’s solemn expression, he pushed himself up from the chair.

Jiang Rui looked at the hideously distorted infant spirit clinging to Rong Jingtang’s back, staring at him with pure hatred. He covered his face and sighed.

Since embarking on the path of cultivation, everything had come naturally to him. He had faced small waves, but nothing major. Yet here, with Rong Jingtang, he had overlooked the most important factor.

“Rong Jingtang.” What Jiang Rui had to do next required Rong Jingtang to face the truth with a clear head. Even if he had seen his parents’ ghosts last night, that single “boost” wasn’t enough.

Rong Jingtang turned and looked at him. His eyes were like an ancient well—still, deep, and seemingly empty.

Jiang Rui’s heart trembled. He gritted his teeth and finally said with a forced smile, “Listen carefully to what I am about to say.”

Rong Jingtang sat back down with Jiang Rui’s permission, but his eyes never left the boy’s.

Jiang Rui licked his lips—a nervous habit—unaware that the sight made Rong Jingtang’s jaw tighten.

“I am not an ordinary person…” Jiang Rui started, nearly laughing at how poorly phrased it was. But he didn’t correct it. Under Rong Jingtang’s gaze, he continued: “Novels are popular now, so you might have heard of this… I am a cultivator.”

Rong Jingtang lifted his chin slightly, indicating he understood.

Jiang Rui continued, “The reason you are naturally sensitive to cold and possess a ‘Yin’ constitution isn’t just because of physical weakness.”

“I know,” Rong Jingtang whispered, his eyelids fluttering half-closed as he nodded.