Unconventional [Rebirth] - Chapter 85

Before Jiang Rui could even regain his composure, Rong Jingtang retreated with a look of smug satisfaction. He sat back down in the primary seat with perfect composure and began to eat as if nothing had happened.

Jiang Rui shook his head with a smile. Watching the “Great Lord” wash his hands of the matter and start his meal, Jiang Rui had no choice but to go to the door, pick up the soup Uncle Cheng had left on the floor, and bring it to the table.

The atmosphere of this meal was… complicated. However, seeing that Rong Jingtang polished off half a fish by himself, Jiang Rui decided to let it be.

After the meal, Jiang Rui waited for Rong Jingtang to rest before checking his physical condition again. Now that the interference from the mutated Ice Root and the Yin Jade was gone, Rong Jingtang’s body radiated an aura of pure comfort. It was so inviting that Jiang Rui, who had only intended to perform a quick check, found himself lingering by the man’s side.

He had to actively suppress the urge to strip Rong Jingtang bare, throw him onto the bed, and hold him for a long nap.

Restraint, restraint. Impulse is the devil.

With a faint smile playing on his lips, Jiang Rui squinted at the bright sky outside and pulled out his phone. He had changed into a white shirt provided by Uncle Cheng; the slim-fit cut accentuated his slender frame in a way that was undeniably alluring. Passersby couldn’t help but steal several glances at him as he walked.

Unaware of the attention, Jiang Rui held his phone to his ear and retrieved a few health-restoring items from the Secret Realm. Finding a secluded spot, he used a flash-step to appear near the hospital.

“I’m downstairs at the hospital now,” Jiang Rui said into the phone with a smile. “Tell me the ward number.”

Zhao Jinyan quickly rattled off a number and added, “An Le is awake. I’m going to check on him.” He then hung up.

Jiang Rui tucked his phone back into his pocket and stood before the elevator. He was carrying a red plastic bag that looked entirely out of place with his elegant appearance, yet somehow, he made it look natural.

The elevator arrived with a ding, and a group of people walked out. The smile on Jiang Rui’s face froze for a split second before vanishing. In the blink of an eye, his expression returned to normal.

He watched calmly as the group exited. Among them, Wang Chenghui looked surprised for a moment before breaking into a wide grin. “Young Master Jiang? What brings you here?”

Jiang Rui gave a cool smile, lifting the bag in his hand. “Visiting a friend.”

“What a coincidence. I’m also visiting a friend.” Wang Chenghui’s expression was unreadable. He stepped out of the elevator, offered Jiang Rui a smile, and said, “Until we meet again.”

Jiang Rui nodded politely, lowered his eyes, and pressed the button for the 13th floor.

Between them, there would naturally be a “meeting again.”

This was different from the early days of his rebirth, when his mind was consumed by nothing but vengeance. Now, Jiang Rui simply viewed it as a goal to be checked off. As for hatred… he found he didn’t even feel that much anymore.

In his past life, Wang Chenghui had been able to influence him so much only because Jiang Rui had been weaker. He was the one suppressed, the one betrayed, and ultimately, the one who died in prison.

Because he had started this life from a position of weakness, his initial impulse was to grind Wang Chenghui’s bones to ash. Back then, when he was alone, he wanted to strangle the man with his own hands and force him to witness his own miserable end.

But as of today, those feelings had faded. Wang Chenghui hadn’t even crossed his mind in a long time, let alone occupied a central place in his thoughts.

As for revenge…

Jiang Rui let out a quiet scoff as he stepped out of the elevator. To the current him, killing Wang Chenghui would be as easy as crushing an ant. Watching Wang Chenghui desperately try to make a name for himself was, in Jiang Rui’s eyes, as ridiculous as a clay Buddha trying to cross the ocean.

He straightened his clothes and knocked on the door to An Le’s ward.

Quick footsteps approached, and the door opened. Jiang Rui smiled, followed Zhao Jinyan inside, and closed the door. He looked at An Le, who was lying on the bed, pale-faced, with an IV drip in his arm.

“How is he?” Jiang Rui placed the items on the nightstand. He found it amusing how An Le’s eyes lit up for a second before he slumped back down, looking drained.

“Gastric hemorrhage.” Zhao Jinyan rubbed the bridge of his nose and pulled over a chair for Jiang Rui.

Jiang Rui remained silent, his index finger twitching slightly as he sent out a probe to inspect An Le’s body. “An Le is so young. How did he end up with a stomach bleed?” He didn’t see anything fatally wrong, but An Le’s stomach was indeed a mess.

Zhao Jinyan shot An Le a cold look. An Le shrunk back guiltily, but the movement was too sudden; he let out a sharp gasp of pain and took a while to recover.

“This kid has loved eating junk since he was little,” Zhao Jinyan sighed. “His stomach was already weak, and after mixing in all that other nonsense, it turned into this.”

An Le gave Jiang Rui a pitiful look, as if screaming for help. Jiang Rui laughed inwardly, noting that An Le and Zhao Jinyan really were a case of “one thing being the bane of another.”

“Stomach issues can only be managed with care. These things I brought are perfect for that. Once An Le can eat solids again, give these to him,” Jiang Rui said, gesturing to the table.

An Le looked at Zhao Jinyan with sparkling eyes. After a moment of silence, Zhao Jinyan sighed. “Fine.” An Le grinned toothily.

Jiang Rui guessed that speaking probably hurt An Le’s incisions or triggered his cramps, which was why the usually talkative boy was so quiet today. Perhaps Jiang Rui’s heart was softening after living so long, but seeing An Le’s miserable state made him feel a twinge of pity. He reached into his pocket—pretending to pull it out—and retrieved a small white porcelain bottle from the Secret Realm.

The bottle immediately drew their attention. “I got this from an old gentleman,” Jiang Rui smiled. “I gave some to my mother before; it’s very good for the health.”

What he had taken out was, of course, flower nectar. The nectar gathered in the Secret Realm was sweet, fragrant, and unparalleled for physical recovery. Jiang Rui usually just used it as a sweetener for his tea.

Well, I used to save it all for Rong Jingtang’s health. I barely had any for myself. Now that he’s better, I can finally enjoy some.

The moment he opened the stopper, a light, refreshing sweetness filled the room. Even Zhao Jinyan, who usually didn’t care for food, couldn’t help but swallow. An Le, the foodie, looked like he was about to crawl out of bed and snatch the bottle by force.

Jiang Rui laughed and replaced the stopper. “An Le can’t have liquids yet. Just pour a little bit out and smear it on his lips. Even absorbing a little through the skin will help.”

Zhao Jinyan tried it. The look of sheer longing on An Le’s face was so blatant it made the corners of Zhao Jinyan’s eyes crinkle with amusement. He applied only a tiny amount and put the rest away. Even so, he felt as though his own spirits had been lifted.

As dusk began to settle outside, Jiang Rui stood up. “It’s getting late. I should head back.”

Zhao Jinyan rose to see him out, but Jiang Rui pressed him back into his seat. “An Le needs someone by his side. Stay here.” He slipped out and closed the door behind him.

Once outside, Jiang Rui spread his divine sense, following the trace of energy Wang Chenghui had left behind to find the person he had visited.

Sure enough, it was Ye Wenbin, whom he had briefly encountered not long ago.

Jiang Rui’s hand rested on the railing, a helpless smile on his lips. His mind clearly perceived Ye Wenbin’s condition—it was the unmistakable aura that followed intimate activity. Despite Ye Wenbin’s stubborn expression and the way he ground his teeth in apparent humiliation, the flush on his face betrayed everything.

In his past life, although Wang Chenghui was the one who destroyed him, the person he had truly hated was Ye Wenbin. He had been with Ye Wenbin for years, treating him like a precious treasure and obeying his every whim. Because Ye Wenbin claimed to dislike “that sort of thing,” Jiang Rui had never once forced him. In the end, he had simply paved the way for Wang Chenghui.

Back then, what he loved most was Ye Wenbin’s perceived “pride and purity”—traits Jiang Rui himself felt he lacked. He had never stopped to think: how could a truly proud person, while being with one man, run to another and whisper all of his secrets?

He didn’t know what happened to Ye Wenbin after his death in the previous life, but he imagined it couldn’t have been good. Wang Chenghui was calculating and ruthless. While Jiang Rui was alive, Ye Wenbin was a perfect pawn.

Even after Jiang Rui was imprisoned, he had desperately hoped Wang Chenghui would save him. That hope died the day he looked out from his cell and saw Wang Chenghui and the “pure” Ye Wenbin together. The mocking look in Wang Chenghui’s eyes back then had been a silent proclamation of how useless Jiang Rui was.

And back then, Jiang Rui had apparently reached a breaking point where he actually watched the scene until the end. He remembered Ye Wenbin’s shock and Wang Chenghui’s final taunt: “Well, Ah-Rui, is it fun to be betrayed by the person you love?”

At least Jiang Rui had managed to preserve the last shred of his dignity. Even though it resulted in the final beating that killed him, he never regretted his reply: “Is this all you’re capable of?”