Luo Cheng’an raised an eyebrow. For a moment, he seemed to see the scene from the previous night replaying in his mind: Xiyu putting shoes on Lu Zhixing.
Lu Zhixing blinked. Almost instantly, a wicked thought surfaced in his mind, one that he could barely keep under control.
Xiyu failed to notice the fleeting darkness in Luo Cheng’an’s eyes.
He kept his hand over Lu Zhixing’s mouth, feeling the temperature of the hand beneath his palm gradually drop.
For an ordinary mortal, such a temperature would be concerning.
But for Lu Zhixing, it was perfectly normal.
Luo Cheng’an didn’t withdraw his hand. Instead, he said to Xiyu, “Go to my room and look for a silver satin shirt in the wardrobe. It’s an outfit specified by the sponsor, and I have to wear it for a show this afternoon. I need to leave soon.”
Xiyu looked a little uneasy. Luo Cheng’an noticed his concern and gently brushed his palm over Lu Zhixing’s face.
The next second, Lu Zhixing fell into a deep sleep.
Lu Zhixing was no longer as fragile as before. He could withstand Luo Cheng’an’s spiritual power now.
Xiyu breathed a sigh of relief and climbed off the bed.
Luo Cheng’an watched Xiyu’s retreating figure. He understood perfectly well that Xiyu truly had no guard up against him.
Did Xiyu genuinely believe he no longer harbored any hatred toward Zhixu? Was that why he felt safe leaving such an indulged, spoiled Zhixu in his care?
In that case, Luo Cheng’an wouldn’t hold back…
The moment the bedroom door closed, Lu Zhixing opened his eyes. He had no idea that he had just been put to sleep. All he knew was that Xiyu had left while he had merely closed his eyes.
That’s too much, Lu Zhixing thought.
“Where’s Xiyu?!”
He sat up aggressively and was about to get out of bed to look for him. But the moment his feet touched the floor, it was as though they had been nailed in place. He couldn’t move at all.
He glared at Luo Cheng’an.
Looking into Lu Zhixing’s clear eyes, Luo Cheng’an lowered his voice.
“Actually, you’re not as oblivious as you seem. You don’t remember what happened in the past, but you’ve already learned quite a lot, haven’t you?”
For example, how to stake his claim.
The kiss Lu Zhixing had pressed to Xiyu’s ear the previous night, and the way he had turned back just before leaving.
Luo Cheng’an looked straight into Lu Zhixing’s eyes, the corners of his mouth curling into an almost malicious smile.
“You can understand the excuses we make. You’ve even begun to experience jealousy.”
Jealousy was like a parasite burrowing into one’s bones. Throughout the many years he had spent in the Ninth Heaven, Luo Cheng’an had suffered endlessly from it.
And the source of all his jealousy was the person standing right in front of him.
Lu Zhixing looked at Luo Cheng’an. The expression on his face gradually faded, becoming almost indifferent, as though he were silently admitting that Luo Cheng’an was right.
Just as I thought, Luo Cheng’an mused.
What lay at the very core of a person could never truly be changed.
Not in the past, and not now.
Though, perhaps, some things had changed. The Zhixu of the past would never question Lanxing directly. He would simply find subtle ways to eliminate whatever was making him jealous.
But the Zhixu of the present had been so thoroughly indulged by Lanxing that he had practically become lawless. Every little grievance had to be soothed away by Xiyu, who would hold it tenderly in his hands and smooth it over again and again, until Zhixu was satisfied.
Lu Zhixing’s soul was still fragmented. Luo Cheng’an could see that clearly.
He hadn’t recovered completely, but he was certainly not as innocent as he appeared in front of Xiyu.
The current Lu Zhixing possessed the mind of an adult who had lost his memories.
“What are you trying to say?” Lu Zhixing asked.
Looking at the almost cold expression on Lu Zhixing’s face, Luo Cheng’an suddenly laughed.
Interesting. Now this was interesting.
Zhixu’s soul was almost fully restored.
Once Zhixu recovered, he would truly have everything he had ever wanted. He would have Lanxing himself, along with all of Lanxing’s love.
How could one person claim every good thing in the world?
Luo Cheng’an thought that simply wouldn’t do.
So he said softly, “You asked Xiyu why he refused to acknowledge your identity yesterday, didn’t you? He didn’t answer you, did he?”
“Do you know why he wouldn’t answer? Or why he wouldn’t acknowledge your identity?”
“Because you’re nothing more than a—vessel.”
Lu Zhixing stared coldly at Luo Cheng’an. His breathing became a little uneven, and his eyes were filled with wariness.
Luo Cheng’an acted as though he hadn’t noticed. He picked up a spiritual fruit beside him and spoke in an unhurried manner.
“You are Lu Zhixing. But the name Zhixu has never belonged to you.”
“Your face, your name, even the affection you receive—all of it is based on the existence of a person named Zhixu.”
“Do you know why you lost your memories? Because Zhixu’s soul has been nurtured inside your body.” Luo Cheng’an smiled pleasantly. “Lu Zhixing, the affection you’ve received is nothing more than a stroke of luck. You just happen to be a very fortunate vessel.”
…………………..
Xiyu had noticed that Lu Zhixing had been acting very strangely lately.
Ever since he recovered from his fever that day, he had become extremely… well-behaved.
Though perhaps well-behaved wasn’t quite the right word. It was more as if he had returned to something resembling a normal state of mind, except that he still had no memories of the past.
Although this was a good thing, Xiyu still found it a little difficult to adjust.
The most obvious example was that, now that Lu Zhixing seemed clearheaded, he had apparently developed a sense of embarrassment. He no longer burrowed into Xiyu’s arms and chanted “Husband, husband!” over and over again.
It was… rather disappointing.
Still, it also meant that his soul was almost completely repaired.
The weather grew colder and colder. After a light snowfall in City A, Shen Qing and Luo Yuan returned from City S. Jiang Shuhe and Lu Zheng came back with them.
New Year’s Day was only a few days away. Xiyu had been struggling to get up early every morning, and after Luo Yuan returned, he took a few days off and spent them cooped up at home with Lu Zhixing.
Luo Yuan mentioned the tea cakes Jiang Yunzheng had given them again. Since Xiyu finally had some free time, he didn’t put it off any longer and invited Jiang Yunzheng over for a meal.
This time, Luo Cheng’an returned with gray hair. He must have used magic to get back, because unmelted snowflakes still clung to his eyelashes and shoulders when he knocked on Xiyu’s door.
At the time, Lu Zhixing was nestled in Xiyu’s arms, watching The Unparalleled Secret Realm.
Xiyu turned his head to look at Luo Cheng’an and laughed.
“Can your hair really withstand being put through that much?”
Lu Zhixing casually tossed the tablet onto the bed. He rested his head lazily against the crook of Xiyu’s neck and watched Luo Cheng’an, his eyes flickering with something that seemed almost cold. Then he rubbed his face against Xiyu’s neck.
Luo Cheng’an blinked. He brushed a hand over his slightly damp wool coat, and the scattered snowflakes on it instantly vanished.
He walked up to Xiyu.
“Don’t worry about it.”
With that, Luo Cheng’an snapped his fingers.
Lu Zhixing’s face changed instantly, becoming an exact match for the face displayed on the tablet lying on the bed.
Xiyu cupped Lu Zhixing’s face in his hands and examined it. A trace of disappointment flickered through his eyes, so faint that it was almost imperceptible.
But Xiyu and Lu Zhixing were too close. Lu Zhixing caught that flicker of disappointment with ease.
Ever since Luo Cheng’an had called him a vessel, that ever-present hostility had been like black vines coiled around his heart. Now, at the sight of the faint, wistful look in Xiyu’s eyes, another cluster of those vines seemed to sprout.
He couldn’t help remembering how Xiyu had explained things to him after Luo Cheng’an left that day, telling him why they couldn’t publicly reveal his identity.
Although he couldn’t remember his past, he was quick to perceive and understand his surroundings.
Xiyu rarely kept his conversations with Luo Cheng’an from him. The spiritual power they infused into his body to stop his fever, along with the way his appearance could be changed at any time, all pointed to an unusual relationship between Xiyu and Luo Cheng’an.
Xiyu had told him that he was both Lu Zhixing and Zhixu, and that Zhixu was also him. Xiyu had shown him variety shows and his previous movies, explaining that he had lived in this world under the identity of Lu Zhixing, and that he had been with Xiyu under that same identity.
The reason he had appeared with Zhixu’s face that day was that the identity of Lu Zhixing carried considerable public influence. If Xiyu had acknowledged him as his partner in front of outsiders, it would have looked as though he were cheating.
It wouldn’t merely have sparked romantic gossip. It could also have brought a great deal of negative attention to both families.
Xiyu hadn’t said much, but he had patiently explained everything.
As for why he had been allowed to go out wearing Zhixu’s face, that was because if word got out that Lu Zhixing had lost his memories and was mentally confused, it would cause a great deal of unnecessary trouble.
His injuries had also been caused by damage to his soul. Once his soul was repaired, he would remember everything.
It was a perfectly reasonable explanation.
He was Zhixu, and Zhixu was him. Luo Cheng’an had been lying.
Lu Zhixing hadn’t believed Luo Cheng’an.
He believed only Xiyu.
Even so, no matter how hard he tried to tell himself not to care, he still couldn’t completely stop himself from overthinking things.
Recently, he had watched every movie and recording associated with the identity of Lu Zhixing.
He had lived in this world for more than twenty years as Lu Zhixing.
Yet Xiyu preferred to call him Zhixu.
Lu Zhixing tilted his head back to look at Xiyu, his dark, lustrous eyes fixed on him. He asked as casually as he could,
“Big Brother, which of my faces do you like better?”
At that, the corners of Luo Cheng’an’s mouth lifted in a faint smile, carrying an unmistakable hint of mockery.
He knew perfectly well that Xiyu would explain things. Xiyu would never let Lu Zhixing suffer over a few little misunderstandings.
But Lu Zhixing cared about Xiyu almost to the point of obsession. Even the slightest disturbance could stir up tremendous insecurity in his heart.
Just like now. Lu Zhixing clearly didn’t believe Luo Cheng’an’s claims, yet he had already begun worrying about whether Xiyu preferred Lu Zhixing or Zhixu—even though Xiyu had probably already explained that they were one and the same person.
Xiyu hadn’t explained it before because Lu Zhixing’s mind hadn’t been in a state to understand. There would have been no point in telling him.
Later, he hadn’t brought it up because he thought it was unnecessary. But now that Lu Zhixing was troubled by the feeling that his identity was being denied, Xiyu wouldn’t simply ignore his concerns.
The many years Lu Zhixing had lived in this world under his own identity could not be erased. He couldn’t remain at home forever. Once he no longer appeared to be acting strangely, he would eventually have to go out as Lu Zhixing again.
But Xiyu loved Zhixu.
If Lu Zhixing had to choose between the two identities, the identity of Lu Zhixing would never be able to defeat Zhixu. And so, every day before his memories returned, Zhixu—living as Lu Zhixing—would be consumed by jealousy toward himself, his heart aching as though it were being cut apart.
From a fundamental standpoint, Luo Cheng’an didn’t think there was anything wrong with what he had said. The current Lu Zhixing really was nothing more than a vessel. Zhixu had used this body to approach Xiyu, and even Zhixu himself would rather face Xiyu with Zhixu’s own face.
Of course, that was assuming he hadn’t lost his memories.
Luo Cheng’an had always disliked Zhixu partly because Zhixu was so good at pretending. He clearly wanted nothing more than to lock Xiyu away in Lanxing Hall and forbid him from seeing anyone else, yet on the surface, he never let anyone notice anything amiss.