The Sickly Omega Is No Longer Pretending to Be Good/Obedient - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Jingle the Bells “What Right Do You Have?”

Before today, Shen Qiudu had only thought Wen Jiangchu was probably just a spoiled young master from one of Sūzhōu City’s wealthy families.

It wasn’t until he followed Wen Jiangchu to the fire-ravaged slums that he realized something was amiss.

Almost from the moment they stepped out of the house, they were followed by personal bodyguards, and the entire street was lined with luxury cars whose brands Shen Qiudu didn’t recognize.

He was led by Wen Jiangchu into a black Rolls-Royce Phantom at the center of the motorcade. The deep red seats made Shen Qiudu subconsciously tense up, so nervous he was afraid of scratching anything.

He already owed Wen Jiangchu so much; he absolutely couldn’t owe him any more money.

When the car door fully closed, the light inside the car dimmed. Shen Qiudu looked up and saw the unremarkable car roof suddenly display starlight.

Shen Qiudu pressed his lips into a thin line, his gaze frozen for a few seconds. In contrast, for Wen Jiangchu, these were overly ordinary things. He just sat calmly in his seat, his expression slightly solemn.

Whether intentional or not, once they were in the car, Wen Jiangchu subtly shifted his attention away, giving Shen Qiudu enough room to breathe.

Gradually, Shen Qiudu’s stiff body relaxed little by little, and his breathing became even. But perhaps because no one had ever sat in the back of this car, Shen Qiudu’s height and long legs couldn’t find a comfortable position in the confined space.

However, the vast difference between their worlds amplified Shen Qiudu’s self-esteem infinitely at this moment. He didn’t want to trouble anyone, especially Wen Jiangchu, and he certainly didn’t want to be looked down upon by him.

So, Shen Qiudu habitually endured it, straightened his back, pretended nothing was happening, and moved his gaze to the car window.

Yet, the moment he straightened his back, the seat behind him actively adapted to Shen Qiudu’s body shape, adjusting to an optimal position.

Shen Qiudu couldn’t help but look sideways, only to see Wen Jiangchu, who had closed his eyes at some point and was resting his head slightly against the headrest, seemingly unaware of anything.

However, Shen Qiudu had heard people working for the wealthy mention at his own workplace that everyone, from drivers to chefs and even cleaners, had uniform training standards in affluent households.

Thinking this way, it wasn’t impossible for the driver to be that thoughtful.

Without his self-imposed restraints, Shen Qiudu’s consciousness gradually became hazy. Although he had only allowed Wen Jiangchu into the room briefly last night, he still hadn’t managed to sleep, staying awake until dawn.

The thought of possibly seeing his mother today made Shen Qiudu’s heart race. The moment he closed his eyes, his mind raced with anxious thoughts.

He only hoped his mother was alive.

The car drove steadily, his thoughts drifted, and Shen Qiudu eventually fell into a deep sleep without realizing when.

It was strange; he was always a very light sleeper.

But this time, he slept exceptionally soundly.

That hateful Wen Jiangchu must have lit some special incense in the car.

What a scheming, bad man.

He had to leave here as soon as possible, preferably today.

The more he thought about it, the more Shen Qiudu’s brows furrowed in his sleep. Yet, it seemed someone gently smoothed the wrinkles between his eyebrows, and he even heard a lullaby usually sung to children.

His rationality urged Shen Qiudu to wake up, but he felt like he was entirely wrapped in the soft lotus petals of spring, his cheek supported by the tender stamen, making him instinctively rub against it, wanting more and more.

That floral scent had a strange familiarity to Shen Qiudu.

It seems like he had smelled it somewhere before—

Thinking this, Shen Qiudu instantly woke up, his heart pounding violently.

He looked around. Fortunately, he was just sleeping against the back of the seat.

He cautiously glanced at Wen Jiangchu beside him, who had opened his eyes and had his face turned toward him, preventing Shen Qiudu from seeing his expression.

The car continued to drive quietly. The navigation announced they would reach the destination in five minutes. Everything seemed to have been just a dream of Shen Qiudu’s.

He deliberately ignored his reddening earlobes, attributing it to having been pressed down while sleeping. His gaze unconsciously flickered toward the scent emanating from the driver’s side, only thinking how potent this fragrance was.

Soon they reached the destination. Shen Qiudu had no time to ponder these things, but before getting out of the car, he coincidentally overheard the conversation between the driver and Wen Jiangchu.

“Young Master, why is your hand red? Are you allergic? Should I get some ointment?”

“…No need. I just pressed down on it while I was sleeping.”

…

Shen Qiudu was only shocked after getting out of the car.

The place where he had lived for over ten years was now scarred and unrecognizable.

The slums after the fire were full of ruins and collapsed walls, making the already broken and dirty place even worse.

On the muddy ground, every step revealed a body or a person with severe burns. In front of the makeshift tents erected after the fire, desperate family members were everywhere, crying hysterically. They held either the remains of their loved ones or their belongings, using their broken bodies to repeatedly ask passersby for the whereabouts of their relatives.

Even more heartbreaking, there were children, only a few years old and understanding nothing, clutching food given to them by charity from who knows where, standing helplessly among the rubble, their eyes empty and vacant.

Shen Qiudu tried hard to suppress his emotions. His feet felt filled with cement, heavily dragging his slumped body toward the centralized treatment area for the injured.

As soon as he took a step, Wen Jiangchu tightly gripped his wrist, his tall body shielding him from the flying dust and obscuring the desolate scene.

Wen Jiangchu had changed from his previous demeanor in the house. His expression was slightly grave, his brow lowered, genuinely exuding the aura of a high-level decision-maker.

He quickly released Shen Qiudu’s wrist, placed both hands on his shoulders, and gently comforted him: “Shen Qiudu, listen to me.”

“I’ve already sent people to search for your parents’ whereabouts. Even if they really met with misfortune, I will find their bodies for you.”

“For now, just stay close to me and don’t wander off, okay?”

In this moment, Shen Qiudu was calmer than ever. He merely nodded at the words, but his movements were stiff and slow, as if he had lost his soul and was incapable of doing anything.

His body was gradually turning cold. The widespread wails of the people around him were grating, pressing down on Shen Qiudu until he could barely breathe.

Soon, Wen Jiangchu led Shen Qiudu into other erected tents, the interior of which housed a temporary conference room.

Upon seeing Wen Jiangchu enter, the few people inside the tent immediately rose and greeted him with nods, though their gazes all lingered on Shen Qiudu for a few seconds.

Seeing one man hesitate to speak, Wen Jiangchu waved his hand directly, “Just say it.”

“Yes, President Wen.”

“Although the fire started in the slums, it also affected an area of two kilometers around. Both the casualties and the fire-affected area fall under the jurisdiction of your company, President Wen.”

“The company’s public relations team has handled the emergency response well enough, but the financial losses are still severe, and many shops have closed and moved away. Most of the people who worked for the Wen Group’s real estate sector came from here. Statistics show that almost half of them have…”

Wen Jiangchu flipped through the documents handed to him by the assistant, and reluctantly raised his finger to rub his brow. “What was the cause of the arson?”

Hearing this, Shen Qiudu’s heart tightened.

He absolutely didn’t believe that those people would destroy an entire area just for a million dollars in gambling debt.

“It is said that the two men came to collect a debt, but were in turn slashed a few times by the debtor, though not fatally. In a fit of rage, they set fire to that house, but didn’t expect the fire to spread so quickly.”

Wen Jiangchu scoffed, “It was a downpour that day. What kind of fire could grow fiercer in those conditions? Was it raining oil? Don’t tell me this nonsense. I want to hear something credible.”

“President Wen, those two men were always debt collectors for the casino, and their background information was deliberately erased. However, I still found that one of them had contact with the Song family… seemingly a few days ago.”

“I should have known. That family’s methods are always ruthless. To the people at the bottom, they are like ants, leaving no way out.”

“Debt collection was probably just a cover-up, deliberately escalating the situation to hide their sole purpose for the arson.”

Shen Qiudu’s eyes flickered.

When it came to the Song family, Shen Qiudu actually knew a little. The commercial district where he previously worked was controlled by the Song family. He had even seen a member of the Song family from afar once while working.

It seemed Wen Jiangchu might have offended the Song family.

Although Shen Qiudu didn’t particularly like this “bad man” Wen Jiangchu, seeing that he was willing to help him find his mother, Shen Qiudu still stepped forward and lightly tugged on Wen Jiangchu’s sleeve in front of everyone.

Everyone was stunned. The person giving the report held his breath, looking at Shen Qiudu with a shocked expression.

Wen Jiangchu was surprised for a moment, then immediately asked gently, “Shen Qiudu, what’s wrong?”

“Wen Jiangchu, I know the Song family. They are very powerful and influential.”

“You… you can’t beat them.”

“How about we try to find someone else to help?”

A man who was about to clear his throat while holding a teacup was caught off guard by these words and choked, coughing several times. He wanted to say something, but met the warning glance Wen Jiangchu sent him and reluctantly shut his mouth.

“Shen Qiudu, are you worried about me?”

Wen Jiangchu curved his eyes, his tone filled with clear amusement.

This, in turn, made Shen Qiudu feel a flash of annoyance.

Doesn’t this guy care about his own safety at all? Or is he so protected that he’s developed this fearless attitude?

Or perhaps, the people who worry about him already stretch from here to France, and he doesn’t need Shen Qiudu at all.

He worried for nothing.

Of course, a person like Wen Jiangchu will have people clinging to him.

Sure enough, rich people who lack nothing prefer to seek out this kind of excitement, making others worry.

Shen Qiudu swore he would never care about him again.

“Of course not. Don’t overthink it, Wen Jiangchu.”

“Honestly… consider me minding my own business.”

Shen Qiudu quickly finished speaking in a disgruntled tone and turned to leave, but walked straight into the person who rushed into the tent.

It was the man Wen Jiangchu had asked to look for his parents.

Wen Jiangchu, who had been across the table, was faster than him. As Shen Qiudu became agitated and tried to grip the man’s hands, Wen Jiangchu swiftly shielded him and grabbed his wrist.

“How is it? Did you find my mother?”

Under Shen Qiudu’s hopeful gaze, the man shook his head, “I’m sorry, President Wen. We searched inside and out twice. We checked the pile of bodies and the injured treatment areas, but we didn’t find the couple.”

“Impossible, impossible… Could they have been overlooked? Are there still people who haven’t been rescued? I don’t believe it. I’ll go with you…”

His already frail body couldn’t withstand any bad news. Shen Qiudu completely collapsed the moment the man shook his head. If Wen Jiangchu hadn’t quickly held him in his arms, he might have already fallen to the ground awkwardly.

“No, all personnel were rescued last night. A re-inspection today also found no traces of any surviving personnel.”

“So… are they dead? Buried in the collapsed house? No… perhaps worse. They might have been swallowed by the fire long ago, burned to ashes, right?”

The heavy anguish caused Shen Qiudu’s heart to rot and soften, no longer able to support his body. Yet, even so, he didn’t cry. Like a stray dog whose sharp canines were maliciously ground down, his mouth filled with bl00d, the pain only allowing a low, mournful whimper.

“Shen Qiudu, Qiudu…”

“No, maybe they managed to escape. Don’t think the worst—”

“But things are always this bad!”

Shen Qiudu mustered his strength and pushed Wen Jiangchu away. Due to the force, he stumbled back a few steps, hitting the tent before falling to the ground.

His face turned pale. He couldn’t help but curl up and protect himself in a corner, looking exactly like a small cat that had been abused and randomly discarded on the street.

“Even… even if I constantly hypnotize myself—that I won’t always be unlucky, that I won’t lose everything, that I can be the person who lives well in the sun…”

“But it’s useless, it’s all useless! What’s destined to happen will happen! It can’t be masked by fakery!”

“If I don’t do this, if I don’t prepare for the worst outcome. In the end, these fantasies will only laugh at my ignorance, just like the outcome itself!”

“Wen Jiangchu, I am not you.”

“A person like you probably can never truly understand this feeling, can you?”

“What right do you have to tell me that everything will be alright?”