The Sickly Omega Is No Longer Pretending to Be Good/Obedient - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Jingling the Bell – “The Past”

Shen Qiudu’s brain burst with a “buzz,” and his hands and feet, which were curled up under the blanket, froze.

He opened his eyes. Xu Zhouye was lying lazily on the rocking chair nearby, raising his eyelids with interest and meeting his gaze.

Shen Qiudu’s face was unreadable. He propped himself up against the corner of the bed and turned his face away, avoiding eye contact.

“You knew I was awake a long time ago?”

“Of course. I’m not an idiot like Wen Jiangchu.”

Xu Zhouye lay flat on the rocking chair, closed his eyes, and tapped his fingers rhythmically, seemingly amused by Shen Qiudu’s reaction.

“Judging by your look, you’re scared?”

Shen Qiudu ignored the question. “So, everything you and Wen Jiangchu said just now was actually meant for me to hear, right?”

“Yes and no.”

“At first, I wanted to tease you, but after seeing Wen Jiangchu’s reaction, it became the truth.”

Xu Zhouye used his foot to stop the rocking chair’s movement, then stood up. His nearly 190 cm height blocked most of the sunlight in the room.

He slowly walked towards Shen Qiudu, but stopped at the last moment, bent down, and picked up the bell that Shen Qiudu had casually placed by the bed, looking at it intently.

He remained silent for a long time. Shen Qiudu knew his attitude towards him was not good and was unwilling to force a connection. The atmosphere instantly stalled.

“Are you thinking of leaving?”

Xu Zhouye’s expression suddenly hardened, his eyes sinking.

“Actually… I can help you.”

Shen Qiudu’s fingers by his side curled slightly, his face turned away, silent.

Suddenly, the bell chimed softly. Shen Qiudu frowned, afraid that Wen Jiangchu would burst through the door at any second.

Xu Zhouye chuckled softly. “Relax, he’s busy right now. He won’t hear it.”

He looked up at Shen Qiudu, his eyes filled with intense aggression, and his tone was flippant. “I know what you’re thinking, but don’t think we have no way to deal with you if you stay silent.”

“Your background was thoroughly investigated the moment Wen Jiangchu picked you up.”

“Have you ever wondered why Wen Jiangchu still told you the news about the slum burning down after you lied and said you were an orphan? He knew you were lying to him long ago; he just didn’t care.”

“However, your current situation is no different from an orphan’s.”

Xu Zhouye’s words were barbed, as if deliberately trying to provoke Shen Qiudu.

Hearing this, Shen Qiudu began to re-examine the events of the past few days in his mind.

Only then did he realize that while Wen Jiangchu seemed to be listening intently to his words, he was actually the one being led by the nose, unknowingly exposing all his weaknesses.

He always gently bore all his emotions and lies, making Shen Qiudu believe he had successfully deceived him, but in others’ eyes, he was just a clown, secretly delighted by his flawed lies.

“I didn’t understand at first why Wen Jiangchu would keep you—a burden, a cripple, a liar—and ultimately get nothing good in return.”

“But then I thought about it. Maybe he’s just too much of a softie. We grew up together, and he was often tricked.”

“Once, he saw an old man with a limp begging in the rain, and he gave him all the cash he had. The next day, he saw the man driving a new car and cruising around with a beautiful woman.”

“He was constantly being kidnapped in junior and high school because he was too trusting. Because of his excellent personality, many people would come to befriend him, but in reality, they were all crying to him and asking to borrow money. As soon as they borrowed it, they disappeared.”

“He’s like the landlord’s foolish son—rich and naive, and too sentimental. And he’s never seen your type before, so the novelty is overwhelming, which is why he’s kept you and is taking care of you.”

Shen Qiudu’s throat felt constricted by a sticky liquid, unable to utter any rebuttal.

He listened calmly as Xu Zhouye revealed the pale facts, feeling the skin exposed to the air turn colder and colder, bit by bit.

Along with his heart.

“Do you think I’m right?”

Xu Zhouye maintained a polite smile, anticipating Shen Qiudu’s reaction.

But Shen Qiudu didn’t react as he wished. Not only did he not go mad or angry, but he was overly calm.

In fact, Shen Qiudu had already contemplated these reasons in his heart, so when they were personally spoken aloud, there was no ripple in his emotions. He was even relieved that his guess was correct.

He relaxed his body, leaning back against the soft headboard, lowering his eyes to stare at the bell in Xu Zhouye’s palm, his tone flat: “So after all that, how do you plan to take me away?”

Xu Zhouye’s smile stiffened slightly. He simply stopped pretending, his eyes darkening. “Not yet. He’s watching you closely, and the Song family is also making moves.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Qiudu scoffed disdainfully. “So everything you said just now was useless. You still can’t take me away.”

Xu Zhouye was put on the spot by Shen Qiudu’s merciless words, his face darkening a shade. “I will send you back once your parents are safely home.”

“Why are you helping me?”

Xu Zhouye expressionlessly and without hesitation threw the bell, which Wen Jiangchu cherished so much, into the trash can, watching it slowly get buried in garbage and stained with the dirty, rotting smell of mold. He forced a smile.

“Because I am his friend, and of course, I don’t want to see him dragged down by irrelevant people.”

“Everything he cares about should end up like this bell.”

Shen Qiudu frowned, a sudden panic surging in his heart.

Xu Zhouye’s words were too strange, contradictory, and clearly unsettling.

The sinister smile was hidden deep within Xu Zhouye. He trembled slightly, uncontrollably excited. He seemed to notice Shen Qiudu’s probing eyes and quickly returned to normal, maintaining his gentlemanly demeanor.

“Then it’s settled.”

“Shen Qiudu, when the time comes, I’ll take you away.”

“I can’t wait to see what Wen Jiangchu will look like after you disappear.”

After Xu Zhouye left, Shen Qiudu stood up and squatted beside the trash can, his gaze fixed on the bell inside, murmuring, “Crazy…”

He would be a fool to trust him.

Shen Qiudu pursed his lips, took a deep breath, quickly closed his eyes, picked up the bell, and immediately ran to the sink, washing it repeatedly with water.

He continuously rubbed the stains off the bell with his fingertips until his fingertips were red and swollen, and numb with pain, before he stopped.

The mirror reflected Shen Qiudu’s slightly pale face. The clothes he was wearing were specially chosen by Wen Jiangchu from his wardrobe for him to change into, but because his size and frame were too small, Wen Jiangchu’s clothes could cover his shins.

His frail frame was like a fragile snail that had found a huge shell, seemingly enough to protect everything, but in fact, if he shifted even slightly, the shell would fall off, making him face the dangers of life once more.

Shen Qiudu put the washed bell back in its original place. When he opened the door, the villa was empty. His gaze was once again drawn to the photo wall. He supported himself on the stairs and slowly descended.

As his hand, through the glass, reached Wen Jiangchu’s face in the photo, Uncle Liang’s voice rang out behind him.

“This was the day the young master was admitted to university.”

Uncle Liang walked to Shen Qiudu’s side and sighed heavily. “Time flies so fast.”

Shen Qiudu did not respond, only looking at the young man in the photo, who was smiling brightly and warmly, with the uninhibited spirit unique to that age.

He stared for a long time before speaking: “It’s different from now.”

Uncle Liang was stunned. He gave Shen Qiudu a deep look and asked knowingly, “How is it different?”

“Here.”

Shen Qiudu’s hand slid over Wen Jiangchu’s smile in the photo. “The smile is different.”

Shen Qiudu had seen Wen Jiangchu smile, but in contrast to the one in the photo, his current smile seemed empty and pale.

Uncle Liang sighed sadly, looking around the cold and quiet house. “Living alone in this house must be lonely. How could he be genuinely happy?”

Shen Qiudu frowned. The Wen Jiangchu in the photo wall had countless people who loved him around him; the love was practically seeping out.

Was it because he was an adult that they left him here alone?

“Where are his parents?” Shen Qiudu subconsciously asked.

Uncle Liang’s walking stick tapped a few times on the floor, like the heavy sigh of an elder. He sat down on the sofa, his eyes glistening with moisture.

“Three years ago, A-Chu was studying abroad in Chicago, USA. That year for his birthday, the entire family took a private jet to secretly go to Chicago to give him a birthday surprise.”

“But they unfortunately encountered a plane crash, and they all passed away.”

“Since then, the entire Wen family has only A-Chu left.”

In an instant, Shen Qiudu felt as if he was being constantly dragged down by an invisible hand. A corner of his heart felt empty, his ears were ringing, and he couldn’t hear any sound.

The tragic truth hung in his mind, sweeping over the originally calm sea surface, unleashing a silent tsunami in his eyes.

“They… all passed away?” He choked out the words, his voice low.

No wonder—

No wonder Wen Jiangchu shed tears when he heard him lie and claim to be an orphan instead of exposing him.

No wonder he tried his best to help him save his parents.

No wonder for so many days, his gaze could only be fixed on him.

Because he knew how heavy and suffocating the grief of losing a loved one was.

So, was he taking care of him like this because Wen Jiangchu thought they were in the same boat?

Shen Qiudu didn’t understand. He was trapped in endless doubt and speculation.

“Yes. I was supposed to go that time too, but the Wen couple let me stay because they saw I was mobility impaired. That’s how I escaped.”

“Later, A-Chu inherited all of the Wen family’s assets. You probably have no concept of how wealthy the Wen family is, do you?”

“Let me put it this way: the Wen family patriarch was once one of the Empire’s generals. Everyone in the Wen family was an S-level Alpha. Even the current Empire’s General has to greet the Patriarch when they meet.”

“Furthermore, the reason why Suozhou City became Suozhou City is that A-Chu liked to go to the Suozhou River when he was little. He alone is enough to influence the entire Suozhou City.”

“It’s just that now… A-Chu is the only one left in the Wen family, and their strength is not what it used to be, which is why the Song family and others are watching him covetously.”

“In these three years, A-Chu has sacrificed a lot and, as you said, changed a lot.”

“But the one thing that hasn’t changed is that he is still kind, otherwise he wouldn’t have saved you so selflessly.”

Seemingly wanting to lighten the atmosphere, Uncle Liang deliberately changed the subject, forcing a smile.

“A-Chu is busy with the fire incident. He’ll be back soon.”

“Feel free to look around the house.”

Uncle Liang left hastily, his elderly body tottering as he left behind a helpless and bitter figure.

The intermittent tapping of his cane, like continuous waves, struck Shen Qiudu’s heart.

Shen Qiudu looked at the man next to Wen Jiangchu in the photo wall. Besides the one who resembled him, the remaining one should be Uncle Liang.

But back then, Uncle Liang’s legs were still fine.