When Lu Yuanxing woke up, he had some field of vision before his eyes, but not much.
Everything was a miserable, glowing white.
His vision was still a little blurry. Lu Yuanxing tried hard to open his eyes, but he still had not quite reacted. Was this heaven, or the underworld?
Only when a nurse pushed open the door with a tray of medicine, saw that he was awake, and let out a sharp cry of “Ah—,” followed by a burst of frantic chaos inside the room, did Lu Yuanxing clutch the corner of his hospital blanket and gradually become clear-headed.
—Oh. This was the mortal world.
Wait. The mortal world?
Question marks popped up over Lu Yuanxing’s head one after another. His whole face was full of confusion, and he felt as though his brain was no longer enough to process this—hadn’t he already died suddenly from a cerebral hemorrhage while burying his head in his graduation thesis?
In his previous life, he had been a frail graduate student. His fragile body had kept him in hospital beds all year round, so he was very familiar with the smell of disinfectant here.
Confirmed, absolutely confirmed: this was a hospital.
In his previous life, because of his body, he had not been able to do physical labor. Therefore, he could only study. It was the only thing he could do.
When the nurse said his name, “Lu Yuanxing,” Lu Yuanxing was almost certain that he had transmigrated into a book.
Because fragments of the original owner’s memories were currently surging into his mind, and they overlapped highly with The Counterattack on the Road to Stardom, the book he had read.
Bad news. Lu Yuanxing scratched his head. It felt a little itchy. He was about to grow a brain.
A dull pain throbbed across his forehead. Lu Yuanxing’s body, which had originally half-sat up, fell back down again into a salted-fish sprawl. “Hiss—”
Because his movements had been too exaggerated, his forehead hurt a little.
The original owner had died in a car accident. He had hit his head, and that was why Lu Yuanxing had transmigrated here by some freak combination of circumstances.
This was not right.
Lu Yuanxing held his head. The cannon fodder in this book had exactly the same name as him, and he had also happened to read it. It was as if it had been waiting for him to transmigrate into the book!
However, Lu Yuanxing said that it had not been easy for him to get a chance to come back to life, and this body was much better than the one he had had in his previous life, so Lu Yuanxing did not want to think too much about it!
Lu Yuanxing happily hugged the blanket, like a cat that had finally managed to sneak onto the bed, and rolled around excitedly, until the doctor pulled him up and gave him an injection.
Whimper.
Life was not easy. The cat sighed.
The doctor was somewhat surprised by Lu Yuanxing’s recovery ability. “There are no major problems with your body. You only hit your head. Rest and recuperate properly. If there are no issues, you can be discharged.”
“Mm, mm, mm.” Lu Yuanxing obediently nodded, even more well-behaved than a cat whose fur had been stroked smooth.
Gurgle, gurgle.
Rubbing against the soft blanket, smelling the scent of sunlight… this was simply too comfortable.
The original owner was cannon fodder, the comparison group for the original book’s main love interest, Lu Yuantang. Lu Yuantang was his younger half-brother from the same father. After his mother passed away, his father brought both his mistress and the mistress’s child back home.
Because Lu Yuantang had been very pitiful since childhood, neglected, sensitive, fragile, and sentimental, Lu Yuantang replaced him and became the treasure of the Lu family. Meanwhile, no matter what the original owner did, everything was excessively interpreted.
Ever since the illegitimate child returned, being criticized by his father and older brother had become the original owner’s normal state.
As for Lu Yuantang, he was that pure, innocent-looking heartthrob whom everyone adored.
However… it did not matter anymore, because the original owner had a super-rich husband from a top wealthy family, who was extremely capable!
His husband was Lin Jingzhou, a marginal character in the original novel, but his status had been set absurdly high. The Lin Consortium under Lin Jingzhou’s name was a wealthy family powerful enough to shake the entire country.
That made sense. If he had not been set up that way, how else could the original owner act recklessly in the entertainment industry, fund his own way into production teams, squander money in every possible way, and then get slapped in the face?
Lu Yuanxing lay back on the bed in satisfaction, counting up his current situation. He had a husband, there were two children at home, and with a whole bunch of nannies around, the problems were not serious. He could live a carefree wealthy-family life.
It was just that, in the original novel, the original owner had to go on a parenting variety show.
On that parenting variety show, he appeared on camera with the child, performed so terribly that it could not have been worse, was hated and mocked by the entire internet, and in the end almost lost the child, causing the child to be kidnapped and seriously injured. This provoked Lin Jingzhou’s fury. Lin Jingzhou, who had always silently indulged him and dismissed his petty tricks, finally divorced him. In the end, the original owner met a miserable end, dying alone, abandoned by everyone.
No big problem. As long as he did not go on the parenting variety show and did not trigger the original plot, it would be fine, right?
Actually, Lu Yuanxing did somewhat want to divorce and run away with the compensation money, but Lin Jingzhou gave him far too much—
There was pocket money, Lin Jingzhou did not come home, and there was also a house of several thousand square meters.
According to the original novel, Lin Jingzhou would barely return for at least several years. The time they spent together day and night was extremely little. When there was no brainless tiger in the mountain, the cat could declare himself king. With Lin Jingzhou absent, he, as Lin Jingzhou’s legal spouse, was the greatest master of the Lin residence.
Lu Yuanxing decided to hide out in the Lin residence for the time being.
In his previous life, he had been forced to become an overachiever, worked himself to death, and then truly died… now he only wanted to give up.
And live a happy salted-fish life.
Lu Yuanxing tidied himself up and prepared to leave. At this moment, he received a phone call. The caller ID showed Lu Yuanze.
His unfortunate older brother.
The call connected, and Lu Yuanze’s somewhat low voice sounded. “Xingxing… how is your injury?”
Lu Yuanxing lowered his eyes. “It’s much better already.”
The person on the other end seemed to pause, considering his words. “That’s good. Yuantang… has acute gastroenteritis. I have to go pick him up, so I won’t come see you.”
“Okay, okay, okay.”
It did not matter. He was not the original owner. He had no expectations for this plastic-like family affection!
Lu Yuanze seemed a little surprised. “Also, that car Dad bought you when you were in university—can we lend it to Yuantang to drive for a while?”
“Heh.” Lu Yuanxing laughed softly. There were so many cars at home. Which one could he not drive? Yet he just had to drive his. “Sure.”
This really was completely dishonourable!
“He’ll probably drive it for…”
“He can drive it for as long as he wants.”
Do not get tangled up with someone who had a protagonist’s halo! Lu Yuanxing quickly planned his strategic policy, which was to stay far, far away from the original owner’s family. The farther, the better.
After he said that, he hung up the phone.
At this moment, a message from the Lin residence’s butler came in, saying that he would send a driver to pick Lu Yuanxing up.
Lu Yuanxing replied with an “OK” emoji. One second later, not forgetting his original intention, he reminded him, “Make delicious food, okay!!”
A voice message came from the butler’s side. “Young Master Xing, please rest assured. I guarantee it will all be food you like. You’ll be satisfied.”
“Hehe, that’s good!”
This butler was quite sensible. Was this the joy of having a wealthy-family butler and nannies?
Lu Yuanxing curled up in the blanket and waited for someone to come pick him up and take him back. As he waited, he fell asleep in satisfaction. Peaceful.jpg
Even though he had started as cannon fodder, compared to his previous life, it was already much better.
Having lived again, he was going to be himself!
Starting with performing the skill of falling asleep in one second!
Half an hour later, a five-year-old boy brought the driver and butler behind him and opened the door to the room.
The boy wore a forehead protector on his head, wrist guards on his hands, and carried a black tennis bag on his back as he came in.
His eyes were a deep blue. Although his features were still childish, there was already a hint of coldness in them. His eyelashes were thick like little brushes, casting a circle of fine shadows under the hospital room’s fluorescent lights.
The people behind him wanted to say something, but Lin Zixiao held up one finger. “Shh—”
He tiptoed around the hospital bed and came to Lu Yuanxing’s side. Looking at Lu Yuanxing, who was sleeping so deeply that he knew nothing of the world, his expression became somewhat awkward.
Lu Yuanxing’s entire body was buried in the blanket. His skin was snow-white, almost blending into the white hospital blanket. Only a bit of his forehead and his hair, sleeping in complete disarray, were exposed.
Lin Zixiao looked at him with some disdain. Hmph… how did his bad stepdad manage to sleep so peacefully even after being injured? Was he not afraid that no one would care about him?
Also, this fool of a stepdad was so bad. He had never done anything he promised him, stayed away from home all day, did not care about him or his younger brother, and was practically like an oversized brat.
How could such a nasty person look so cute while asleep?
Like a cat.
Lin Zixiao had never raised a cat, but he had seen them in cartoons. He was still very good at drawing inferences from one example.
Lin Zixiao looked at Lu Yuanxing’s fair skin, pale like cherry blossoms and snow, and reached out.
He poked his cheek.
A small little dimple was poked into Lu Yuanxing’s cute face.
Ah… the texture, the texture was not bad.
Lin Zixiao could not resist and poked him again.
Bad stepdad. So soft.
Lu Yuanxing’s delicate brows and eyes moved. Lin Zixiao felt a little guilty and subconsciously took a step back.
He looked at the butler beside him and signalled with his eyes: “I thought bad stepdad was cute just now and secretly poked his face. Don’t say anything!”
Butler: “…”
I can choose not to say anything, but Young Master, could you not say it so loudly?
Conspiring loudly in front of Madam—was that really all right?
Lin Zixiao seemed to realize the problem too. He and the butler both turned their heads in unison to glance at the person on the bed. It would be awkward if they were caught on the spot.
However, unexpectedly, the person on the bed only moved a little, let out a small yawn, stretched, then turned over and continued sleeping.
·
The butler wanted to wake Lu Yuanxing and send him back to the Lin residence. After all, that was what had just been agreed.
But Lin Zixiao said, “No need. Let Daddy sleep.”
After saying that, he lowered his head, sat down on a chair at the side, and opened a book of Olympiad mathematics.
The numbers and diagrams in the book were extremely complex, but Lin Zixiao seemed to read them very happily.
A little academic prodigy with no pressure at all.
Although his stepdad was very bad, he was a polite boy. He felt that rashly waking up a patient did not quite fit his upbringing.
He would not argue with a sick person.
At such a young age, Lin Zixiao already had a bit of an overbearing CEO’s awareness.
·
An hour passed. Lin Zixiao jumped down from the chair, carried a cup of yellow peach juice, and came to Lu Yuanxing’s bedside, somewhat hesitant.
Although, still, bad stepdad could really sleep!
Lu Yuanxing rubbed against the blanket. Smelling the fragrance of yellow peach juice, his eyes suddenly snapped open.
Fragrant!
What was it?
Lu Yuanxing’s throat gurgled, and he crawled out from under the covers.
Ah, yellow peach—canned fruit—
It was what he had loved drinking most when he had been sick in his previous life!
It was fragrant and sweet. Not only was the yellow peach flesh delicious, but the juice was also tasty. The soft, dense fruit burst over his taste buds, paired with sweet peach juice. It was simply the most effective comfort medicine in the mortal world.
When in doubt, drink yellow peach!
There was nothing that canned yellow peaches could not solve. If there was, then two cans!
Looking at the way his bad stepdad slurped yellow peach juice from his fingers, Lin Zixiao’s other hand moved suspiciously.
He wanted… to touch stepdad’s head.
Like petting a cat.
But Lin Zixiao still held back.
This was his bad stepdad, after all. Lying, breaking promises, becoming arrogant—his wicked deeds were countless, too many to record.
He had to remember that. He must not forget.
After Lu Yuanxing finished eating the canned fruit, he raised his head and only then realized there was a little boy in front of him.
Ah, judging by his age, this was the eldest child in his family.
One look. Not sure. Another look.
Lin Zixiao touched his own face in confusion. Were there flowers on his face?
Lu Yuanxing put down the can in his hand. “Thank you, Yellow Peach Hero.”
A strange feeling rose in Lin Zixiao’s heart. “Daddy, don’t you recognize me?”
Lu Yuanxing went “Mm, mm, mm.” He revealed a kind smile and, in the softest tone, threw out a bombshell. “My brain… was probably knocked away.”
Lin Zixiao’s pupils trembled.
Could a person still live without a brain?!
“Is Daddy a zombie now?!”
Lu Yuanxing thought about it for a moment, then began to scare the child. “Maybe I am, maybe I’m not.”
Lin Zixiao could not understand. Shocked, he took a step back.
Lu Yuanxing revealed his small pointed teeth. “Schrödinger’s zombie.”
This time Lin Zixiao understood. His tutor had once told him about Schrödinger’s cat.
Bad stepdad like this really did resemble a cat in a box.
Lu Yuanxing looked at Lin Zixiao’s expression and was somewhat astonished. A five-year-old child seemed to understand Schrödinger. He was practically a little prodigy. Lu Yuanxing could not help testing him. “Can you understand that?”
So Lin Zixiao nodded. “I can.”
“Then tell me?”
“Daddy has become boxed.”
“Thank you. My good eldest son, you really are very filial.”
Lin Zixiao felt that he had said it correctly. He nodded with mysterious confidence and said shyly, “My physics teacher taught me.”
“Physics teacher?”
“The tutor Father Zhou hired.”
So competitive! This was too competitive!
Starting this young with intense child training! Does your family have an imperial throne to inherit…
Lu Yuanxing got up. The movement of slipping into his shoes paused. Actually, the Lin family did seem to have one.
A hundred-billionaire.
Seeing Lu Yuanxing get down, the butler tactfully supported him. “Careful, Young Master Xing.”
After all, he had been in a car accident. Although the doctor had personally confirmed that he could be discharged, Lu Yuanxing’s body was still very weak.
“Thank you.” Lu Yuanxing smiled at the butler. His complexion was still pale, and he looked somewhat frail. Although his clothes were neatly gathered, they could not hide his sickly appearance. But his features remained soft and beautiful, his lashes dark as butterfly wings. When he smiled, he looked especially clear and lively.
The butler froze for an instant. Th-this, Young Master Xing had actually smiled at him. Although Lu Yuanxing had a terrible personality, his features were impeccable. Flattered, he lowered his head and said, “Young Master Xing, this is what we should do.”
Lu Yuanxing waved his arm, signalling that there was no need to support him. He was not at that point yet.
The butler stepped back and indicated for the servants to help take the luggage that had just been packed.
Lu Yuanxing looked at the suitcase that had been packed in perfect order and silently sighed. Wealthy-family life really was good. Even his clothes and miscellaneous items had been neatly organized within just a few minutes. He did not need to worry about being discharged at all.
In that instant, Lu Yuanxing also found Lin Zixiao much more pleasing to the eye.
Mm. With nannies and the like at home, this child, whose IQ was probably around one hundred and eighty, should not require too much effort from him, right?
He had absolutely no experience raising children. They were all being human for the first time!
That was right. Children should pamper Daddy!
Lin Zixiao still did not know that he had been compared by his bad stepdad to miscellaneous luggage: ?
Lu Yuanxing patted Lin Zixiao on the shoulder and revealed a smile with ill intentions. “Child, Daddy is weak and sickly. From now on, the heavy responsibility of supporting the family will be handed over to you.”
Lin Zixiao was baffled, but he was a little man. Father Zhou said that little men had to learn to shoulder responsibility. Although bad stepdad had a big temper, but… but it was not impossible, so he nodded.
Lu Yuanxing was a little satisfied. Sigh, child, you are so easy to fool. Looks like you have never seen how sinister people’s hearts can be!
Lu Yuanxing prepared to leave. He lifted his eyes and looked toward the dense crowd at the door.
Outside the door, a servant was holding a flowerpot… this was the “bouquet” they had given him to celebrate his discharge.
Thank you. Even the flowers of a wealthy family were so different.
Hardcore.
Lu Yuanxing’s steps were still a little unsteady, and he walked with the gait of a zombie.
The butler hesitated over whether to call the young master: the hospital seemed to have made Madam mutate.
Lin Zixiao even thoughtfully stood on tiptoe and placed a sheet of newspaper with a pointed tip exposed over Daddy’s head.
Lu Yuanxing: Thanks… feels like I’m playing Plants vs. Zombies, and I’m that newspaper zombie.
