After Transmigrating, My Younger Brother Always Tries to Seduce Me - Chapter 5

Zhu Zhenzhen looked up and met a pair of malevolent eyes.

Her scalp tingled, and alarm bells rang in her mind. She had to escape immediately. Even if she wasn’t the source of infection from that day, the crime of trespassing alone would land her in serious trouble.

She fled, he pursued, and escape seemed impossible.

Zhu Zhenzhen’s talents lay not in combat, but in evasion.

She dodged another palm strike at an impossible angle, regaining her balance only to find herself even closer to the window.

Though she couldn’t win in a fight, she could run—and she was an expert at escaping.

Her back pressed against the windowsill, the man behind her realized her intent to flee. He lunged forward, trying to rip off her mask. His fingers brushed the edge, ready to peel it off with a slight tug.

Zhu Zhenzhen’s brow furrowed beneath the mask. She raised her leg in a high block, straining every muscle to prevent his hand from moving further. Bracing one hand against the windowsill, she secretly exerted force while using the other to secure her mask, preparing to flip out.

Half her body was already outside the window, just one step away from freedom, when a sudden tightening grip clamped around her leg.

Zhu Zhenzhen’s heart sank. She was completely exhausted, but with her last ounce of strength, she kicked his tightly gripping hand with her other leg.

No matter how hard she kicked, he didn’t budge. His health bar didn’t even flicker.

This matchmaking system is rigged! An adult versus a middle schooler?

She had already resigned herself to failure, feeling herself being slowly dragged back inside. But then, he suddenly released her. Overjoyed, Zhu Zhenzhen kicked him in the face without a second thought and, clutching her bruised rear, scurried away.

As she fled the mansion, the moonlight finally revealed the man’s face it was none other than the Skinny Monkey from that day.

He stared intently in the direction Zhu Zhenzhen had fled.

Meanwhile, on the windowsill, five silver needles glinted with a chilling light. An unknown liquid dripped from their tips. Had he not withdrawn his hand, the poisoned needles would have pierced his palm.

Back at the Sun and Moon Inn, Song Heng was still sound asleep. Zhu Zhenzhen removed her mask, revealing her delicate, youthful face.

She lifted her skirt and, as expected, found another tear.

Zhu Zhenzhen pressed a hand to her forehead and chuckled bitterly.

As she carefully applied medicine, she pondered Why did he let go? The Skinny Monkey shouldn’t be able to freely enter and exit the study. If he had the authority to move about as he pleased, all he would have needed to do was call out, and I would have been trapped tonight.

Skinny Monkey’s agility didn’t match the image of a mere lackey who relied on Li Jiadong’s authority. Combined with his actions tonight, it seemed he had some ulterior motive for staying by Li Jiadong’s side.

The person at the foot of the bed mumbled in their sleep, then turned their back to her, their eyes clear and alert as they forcefully tucked a poisoned needle deep into their inner garment.

Song Heng had risen early and ventured out. He paced the streets endlessly, from one end to the other, down narrow alleys, searching for something, again and again.

As he walked back and forth, the sparse crowd gathered before the notice board gradually grew larger. People whispered among themselves, pointing and gesticulating at the board.

Using his height to his advantage, Song Heng glanced at the board and immediately spotted a slender figure mixed among the portraits of notorious criminals.

In that instant, he recognized his timid, mouse-like sister—no, she was now brazenly bold.

A wry smile curled Song Heng’s lips. So, a mere bump on the head can completely alter one’s temperament?

Song Zhen’s presence on the notice board didn’t surprise him he had seen it yesterday. What had changed was the reward the original hundred taels had tripled to three hundred. Even arsonists and murderers on the board were only worth a hundred and fifty taels, yet this beggar’s bounty had doubled.

The onlookers who had witnessed the events that day clicked their tongues in astonishment.

A sudden commotion erupted in the crowd. Song Heng heard the people covering their noses and mouths, shouting in disgust as a gaunt beggar squeezed through the densely packed throng.

Filthy from head to toe, the beggar clutched half a stale, nearly spoiled steamed bun in his arms. He stared blankly at the wanted poster, or more precisely, at Song Zhen’s portrait.

Someone shoved the beggar, sending him crashing into Song Zhen’s likeness. He snapped out of his daze, tore down the poster, and bolted.

His speed was astonishing. Before the surrounding crowd could react, city patrol soldiers spotted him and roared, Stop! They gave chase immediately.

Unauthorized removal of a wanted poster could only mean one thing the person intended to report the wanted individual to the authorities. Yet this man clearly had no such intention.

The pursuing soldiers scattered much of the crowd. The beggar charged through the chaos, heedless of anyone in his path, clutching the poster as he barreled forward. The onlookers, witnessing his reckless rampage, dared not intervene.

Song Heng watched coldly. To his surprise, the beggar veered toward him. With a swift dodge, Song Heng sidestepped the man, letting him continue his headlong flight.

As the beggar brushed past, matted strands of hair obscured his face, making his features indistinct. But a purplish birthmark on the back of his hand caught Song Heng’s attention. His interest piqued, Song Heng pivoted on his heel and followed at a brisk pace.

Lu Yin hadn’t eaten much to begin with, and his initial burst of running had completely drained his energy. His pace slowed, and when he glanced back, he saw that the government soldiers had been blocked from view by the crowd and hadn’t yet spotted him.

With a quick pivot, Lu Yin darted into a pitch-black alleyway. He carefully unfolded the crumpled portrait from his chest pocket, handling it with the gentle reverence of someone handling a precious treasure.

Ever since receiving food from his benefactor, Lu Yin had been tirelessly searching for her. Heaven rewards the diligent, and within a single day, he had found her again. Even disheveled and without her elegant robes, Lu Yin recognized her instantly.

But then Li Jiadong had humiliated her. Lu Yin gritted his teeth, bracing himself to be beaten to death, and took a step forward—only for her to turn the situation around.

Lu Yin watched with bright eyes as she skillfully extricated herself from danger, a surge of admiration rising in his heart.

The kick she had endured looked agonizing. He had already taken a few steps forward at a jog when he saw the timid beggar who had been cowering beside her step forward. Only then did he relax.

Earlier that day, while out scavenging for food, Lu Yin had overheard neighbors discussing the bounty. Sensing something amiss, he had come to check the notice board.

Though the portrait still bore the grime of that day, Lu Yin tore it down, unwilling to let his benefactor face constant danger in Bian City.

What are you looking at?

The unexpected voice startled Lu Yin, his muscles tensing. He instinctively tried to flee, but the person behind him grabbed his arm and lifted it, revealing the purplish birthmark on the back of his hand.

Song Heng froze, stunned that his reunion with Lu Yin had come about in such a way.

The grip on Lu Yin’s wrist loosened. His eyes hardened as he kicked Song Heng in the stomach, using the opportunity to break free. But before he could run more than a few steps, a silver needle flashed past his nose in slow motion, forcing him to halt abruptly.

Lu Yin finally spoke, his voice hoarse and grating from disuse. What do you want? he asked, his tone carefully neutral as he tucked the portrait into his sleeve.

It was clear Lu Yin saw Song Heng as someone with ill intentions, seeking to expose his benefactor’s whereabouts.

Seeing the wary look in Lu Yin’s eyes, Song Heng’s mind drifted back to their first encounter.

He remembered that in their first lifetime, when they met, Lu Yin had already become a renowned and wealthy merchant.

That year, Lu Yin had just turned twenty, the same age as Song Heng. Half of Song Heng’s informants in the capital had been wiped out, and his hideouts had been raided. Forced to flee back to Bian City, he recklessly expanded his operations, causing word of his presence to leak. His pursuers, already hot on his trail, dispatched another team to hunt him down.

Song Heng had barely rested a few days in Bian City before the chase resumed. His notoriety had grown so great that even the Sun and Moon Inn dared not shelter him.

During those days, Song Heng didn’t dare close his eyes, fearing he’d be caught in the blink of an eye.

Bian City had a river called the Mandarin Duck River. Legend held that if lovers released flower lanterns together on the Double Seventh Festival, their love would last forever.

Song Heng had planned to leave Bian City the next day and find a new hiding place. But just as he finished packing, government soldiers burst through his door, initiating another round of their cat-and-mouse game.

It was the Double Seventh Festival, and Song Heng deliberately fled through crowded areas, eventually reaching the Mandarin Duck River. The river was filled with flower lanterns and pleasure boats, the perfect setting for young men and women to confess their affections.

He randomly boarded a boat, drawing a dagger from his boot, intending to subdue anyone who resisted. But when he lifted the curtain, he found the cabin completely empty.

The soldiers on the shore didn’t stop the boat for inspection. The cabin, made of some unknown material, was remarkably soundproof and tranquil. Song Heng had only intended to rest briefly, but he drifted off to sleep without realizing it.

In his drowsy state, Song Heng caught a whiff of tea—a crisp, refreshing aroma like new bamboo after rain, piercing his senses.

The tea poured in a gentle stream, filling the cup with steaming warmth. The person before him picked up the cup, blew on it to disperse the steam, took a small sip, and set it down.

Clad in white robes, the figure was as ethereal as a painting, as warm and smooth as jade.

Song Heng snapped awake, his eyes hardening. Who are you? Why didn’t I wake when you boarded? Despite his exhaustion, his vigilance should never have faltered so completely.

He leaned forward, knocking over the teacup in front of him. The tea’s fragrance filled the air as a dagger slid from his sleeve into his hand, pressing against the white-robed man’s throat. Speak! Did you put a sedative in the incense?

Unfazed by the blade at his throat, Lu Yin simply picked up his own cup of tea. It’s merely calming incense. If I had wanted to knock you out, do you think you’d still be standing here unharmed?

Lu Yin’s lips curved into a smile. More likely you’d be spending the rest of your days in that prison cell. He drained his cup. Wouldn’t you agree, Young Master Song?

Song Heng sheathed his blade and sat back down. Then why didn’t you turn me over to the authorities? Why help me?

Lu Yin merely smiled, offering no explanation. Instead, he asked, Young Master Song, aren’t you curious about who I am?

Song Heng sized him up before blurting out, Rumor has it there’s a young master who adores jade. He once spent ten thousand taels of gold searching for a jade pendant. Though the jade was only of middling quality, the wealthy Jiangnan merchant Lu Yin wears it daily, clearly cherishing it.

He paused, then deliberately picked up the teapot, his wrist twisting slightly as he refilled their cups. And the pattern on that pendant is identical to the one you wear, Young Master.

Lu Yin chuckled. Indeed.

This inexplicable bond had endured for four years.

They had gone from strangers to confidants, then to comrades who had risked their lives together. They had shared wine, laughter, and heartfelt confessions, yet Song Heng never learned why Lu Yin had chosen to help him.

Even if he were to live this life again, he would still keep Lu Yin by his side.