After Transmigrating into a Book, I Saved the Cheap Shou - Chapter 22

When Lin Zhenchuan returned, there was a bright red handprint on his face.

He called Su Chen over and asked if he was willing to work at his place. When he mentioned the hourly wage, Su Chen’s eyes clearly widened.

Su Chen glanced toward Gu Jingning, who was standing not far away. The moment their eyes met, Gu Jingning’s brows curved gently, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

The setting sun hung slanted in the sky, stretching their shadows long.

The Beta walked with both hands in his pockets, casually kicking pebbles on the road.

He walked ahead of Su Chen, his back elegant and jade-like. Su Chen gripped the strap of his schoolbag tightly. He really wanted to repay Gu Jingning’s kindness, but he also knew that with his current abilities, he couldn’t do anything for him.

There were many things he wanted to say, but in the end they all turned into one sentence: “Senior, thank you.”

Gu Jingning: “It’s nothing, no need to thank me.”

Su Chen’s expression looked off. His beautiful eyes kept glancing toward him, then quickly lowering again, as if he wanted to say something but was holding back.

Gu Jingning asked worriedly, “Are you tired?”

Three hours of training was nothing to Gu Jingning, who was used to it, but today was Su Chen’s first time trying it. He was worried he might have pushed Su Chen too hard.

Although he felt a little sorry toward Su Chen, ever since that day when he personally witnessed Pei Yuanqing pinning Su Chen against the school gate, he had made up his mind to turn Su Chen into a diamond Barbie!

Look at those thin arms and legs, that fair and tender skin that wouldn’t be damaged even by wind, sun, or rain, plus that heartbreakingly beautiful face — he was the perfect delicate, frail, and easily pushed-down weak shou!

Hehe! Gu Jingning could already imagine the satisfying scene years later when the trained Su Chen saw the cheating scumbag gong and the white moonlight again: one punch for each scumbag, one kick for each mistress.

Gu Jingning looked down at the way Su Chen was walking. After exercising, his thighs were soft and sore, making the Omega slow down. Gu Jingning walked beside him and proactively took his arm to support him.

But the person beside him kept leaning closer, as if trying not to put his weight on him and desperately restraining himself. This made the Omega’s steps gradually unsteady.

Gu Jingning let go of Su Chen’s arm. For a moment, Su Chen looked startled, but then he saw Gu Jingning turn his back to him and squat down. “Get on. I’ll carry you.”

Su Chen shook his head in panic and quickly refused, “No need, Senior! I’m heavy!”

“Come on! You’re as light as a feather, okay? Look, you can barely walk. Get on!”

Gu Jingning directly grabbed Su Chen’s hands, pulled them over his shoulders, and fixed them in front of him. He squatted down slightly, hooked his arms under Su Chen’s knees, stood up, and bounced twice. Proudly, he said, “Don’t doubt your brother’s ability.”

Su Chen firmly wrapped his arms around Gu Jingning’s neck. Why would someone like Senior help him? He couldn’t buy expensive things for Senior, nor could he provide any substantial help. Why would someone do so much for a person who couldn’t do anything?

In the past, Su Zhiguo had once told him that Omegas were born to serve with their beauty. After his mother married him, her greatest use was giving birth to a pretty face. Even when Su Zhiguo hit them, he would deliberately avoid Su Chen’s face for fear of leaving scars that would lower his future selling price.

He had once scoffed at this. Just because he was an Omega, did he have to suffer such inhumane treatment? He didn’t believe it. He would definitely use his own strength to give his mother and younger brother a good life.

So he worked and studied day and night. Since their father was unreliable, he would carry the family on his own shoulders.

He had once naively believed that hard work would bring rewards, only to discover that the moment he was born an Omega, hard work became meaningless — especially for an Omega from a poor family.

Xu Tao and his gang had once tried to grope him. Although they held back because of Pei Yuanqing, their lewd gazes still woke him from nightmares every night.

He was very grateful for Gu Jingning’s help and had even developed feelings for him because of it. But was it only because he was an Omega? If he were a Beta, or even an Alpha, would Senior still do the same?

He couldn’t help asking, “Senior… if I were a Beta or an Alpha, would you still help me like this?”

Gu Jingning looked confused, not understanding why Su Chen was asking such a question, but he answered firmly, “Yes.”

Then why me? If it were someone else, would you still do this? Su Chen didn’t dare ask.

A cold wind blew past, bringing a shiver. Su Chen’s arms tightened more and more, as if he could draw warmth from the other person this way.

During winter break, students couldn’t stay in the dorms. Gu Jingning had packed his essentials a few days earlier and left school with only a small suitcase, since he would return after the break.

He didn’t want to go back to the Gu family. Fortunately, Gu Jingning’s father had left him an apartment before he died. Every winter and summer break, he spent it in this apartment.

Gu Linghai didn’t care about him anyway and only transferred living expenses to his account every month. In Gu Linghai’s words, this was already the utmost benevolence. Gu Jingning was also happy not to have to go back and witness the scene of his real father acting like a stepfather.

No longer having to live a life that interfered with the plot, he could finally relax.

This apartment had been bought by An Minggeng — his mother — before marriage, so it wasn’t considered joint marital property. Gu Linghai’s reach couldn’t extend here. After his mother’s death, the apartment had been transferred to Gu Jingning’s name, and the monthly rental income was deposited into his account.

The apartment had three bedrooms and one living room. Besides his own room, there was also his mother’s room. On the very first day he arrived, he had locked An Minggeng’s room. The deceased should rest in peace; he didn’t want to disturb the original owner.

When he got home, he immediately collapsed onto the sofa. Once, Gu Jingyu’s mother had tried to snatch the apartment from him. Luckily… luckily…

?

Hiss… he couldn’t remember what had happened back then. The more he thought about it, the more his head hurt, as if a hammer kept pounding his brain.

Forget it, don’t think about it!

After the pain subsided, he opened the notes app on his phone. The only winter break plot was Pei Yuanqing inviting Su Chen to a party at his house. However, when Pei Yuanqing wasn’t around, his friends would freely humiliate Su Chen, belittling him as worthless, only to treat him like a brother again the moment Pei Yuanqing returned.

Su Chen would begin avoiding Pei Yuanqing, so Pei Yuanqing would stand outside Su Chen’s house in the heavy snow, refusing to leave even when he had a fever, until Su Chen told him the reason. Later, Su Chen would go to Pei Yuanqing’s house to take care of him while he recovered, and the two would spend a long time being lovey-dovey in the scumbag’s house.

Gu Jingning got goosebumps. This plot had most likely been butterfly-effected away by him.

With no one at home, Gu Jingning lived a completely reversed day-and-night schedule. There were so many novels in this world that he hadn’t read before. He hadn’t had time to read while at school, but now that he was on break, he wished he could read novels for 18 hours a day.

Unknowingly, the snow outside piled up thicker and thicker. Firecrackers sounded in the streets and alleys, and the gray streets gradually became dyed with festive red.

Only then did he realize that the New Year had arrived.

The TV was playing New Year’s programs. Gu Jingning huddled under a blanket. The fridge was empty, and no one was accepting delivery orders at this hour. His stomach was growling loudly.

It looked like it was time to go out.

Gu Jingning dragged his lazy body, put on his down jacket, and rode his bicycle against the cold wind to the night market near his home.

The night market was bustling with noise and bright lights that illuminated the night. The sweet aroma of sugar-roasted chestnuts mixed with the charred scent of steak in the air. Gu Jingning held sweet potato balls and fried squid in his hands as he walked through the laughter of countless children.

After eating until he was half full, his thoughts unconsciously drifted to the last time he had come here — it had been with Su Chen.

Just as he was thinking about the person, that person appeared right in front of him.

Gu Jingning blinked, then rubbed his eyes. It was real, not an illusion!

Su Chen was standing alone at the fried rice stall. The steam had turned his cheeks rosy. His movements were skillful as he scooped bowl after bowl of fried rice, selling it briskly. It stood in stark contrast to the quiet stalls around him. Su Ran was doing homework at a small table nearby.

He had wanted to go over and say hello, but he was afraid of disturbing Su Chen’s business, so he thought he would come back later.

He wandered through the entire night market. It was about time to head home. Holding cotton candy he had bought for Su Ran, he walked toward the fried rice stall.

When he arrived, however, he found very few customers in front of the stall. Instead, several burly men in black clothes had taken their place.

The moment he realized something was wrong, he rushed forward. One of the burly men raised his hand to punch Su Chen. He was too far away to stop it in time. The sandbag-sized fist was about to hit Su Chen’s face.

In that instant —

Su Chen kicked the burly man in the abdomen. The man flew through the air like a parabola and landed precisely in a trash can not far away.

Su Chen casually withdrew his leg and gently apologized to the surrounding customers.

Gu Jingning and the customers: (⊙o⊙)

For a moment, Gu Jingning forgot how to move. He stood frozen in place and called out softly, “…Su Chen?”

Hearing the familiar voice, Su Chen’s body stiffened. He turned around rigidly and saw Gu Jingning standing there like a statue, looking at him with a complicated expression.

He panicked. “Senior, let me explain…”

“Wow! You’re so badass!!!” Gu Jingning let out an exclamation of amazement.

What had he just seen?! His delicate protagonist shou had just kicked a burly man as strong as an ox flying like a soccer ball. He knew it — Lin Zhenchuan’s training was really effective!

That must have been at least three meters! Amazing, my protagonist shou! The plan to kick the scumbag gong flying is just around the corner, hahaha!!!

“…?”

Gu Jingning forcefully pulled Su Chen into his arms and rubbed his fluffy head, his movements full of endless joy. Excitedly, he said, “You’re amazing!”

“That’s how you do it! Just kick anyone who harasses you flying! The farther the better! You did so well! Hahaha!”

Su Chen was held in Gu Jingning’s arms, his nose filled with Senior’s scent. He panicked, not knowing where to put his hands.

Only then did Gu Jingning realize this might not be the right time. He asked, “By the way, what happened? Who were they?”

Su Chen explained, “They suddenly appeared and said this area belongs to them. They demanded protection money from me.”

Gu Jingning frowned. The three men were still unconscious not far away. He walked closer to look — they had ordinary faces. In the cold weather, the three were wearing thin, tight black long-sleeved shirts. They were probably just nameless small fry.

The sound of police sirens approached. Kind passersby had called the police. Because Su Ran was still there, Gu Jingning told Su Chen to explain everything properly to the police while he would take care of Su Ran.

The child didn’t cry or make a fuss. His grape-like eyes looked at Gu Jingning. Gu Jingning handed him the cotton candy and comforted him.

It was already late at night. By the time Su Chen finished cleaning up, Su Ran had fallen asleep against Gu Jingning’s shoulder.

Su Chen wanted to carry Su Ran, but Gu Jingning refused. He said, “You’ve been busy all day. I’ll carry him. It’s fine.”

“Won’t it be too late for you to go home? There are no more buses now. My place is nearby. Do you want to stay at my house for the night and go back tomorrow?”

Su Chen hesitated for a moment. Seeing his younger brother sleeping soundly in Gu Jingning’s arms, he couldn’t refuse. He picked up their things, helped push the bicycle, and went home with Gu Jingning.

He walked into the apartment. The simple living room was piled with quite a few novels and game consoles. After Gu Jingning carried Su Ran into his room, he came back out and saw Su Chen still standing awkwardly in place.

He told Su Chen to put his things down and had him sit on the sofa. “What would you like to drink?”

“Anything is fine.”

Gu Jingning thought for a moment, went into the kitchen, and five minutes later came out with a cup of warm milk.

The warm milk in his palms gradually warmed Su Chen’s frozen red hands. The heat spread from his palms to his whole body. He lowered his head and took a sip — it was sweet, with honey added.

Seeing that Su Chen had finally relaxed, Gu Jingning said, “The guest room isn’t tidied up. Is it okay if you sleep in my room first?”

Su Chen shook his head. “It’s fine. I can sleep on the floor.”

Gu Jingning also shook his head like Su Chen. “You two sleep in my room. I’ll sleep in the guest room.”

“I don’t mind…”

Gu Jingning narrowed his eyes. He took the milk from Su Chen’s hand and placed it on the coffee table, then slipped his arm through Su Chen’s and rested his head on Su Chen’s shoulder. Using a childish, coquettish voice, he acted spoiled toward Su Chen: “It’s already so late, and I’m so sleepy~ Can’t we just sleep in my room?”

Hehe, he had learned this from Su Ran.

Fireworks suddenly exploded outside the window with a loud bang. The brilliant light passed through the floor-to-ceiling windows and shone into Gu Jingning’s pupils. Su Chen could clearly see the star-like smile in his eyes.

He turned his head away, trying to hide his gradually heating face. Even though he knew Gu Jingning was doing it on purpose, he still couldn’t resist the Senior who was acting spoiled toward him.