Cheng Zhili slowly opened his eyes.
In the silent, white room, he could clearly hear his own rapid breathing and steady heartbeat.
Alive.
Cheng Zhili pulled his lips into a grin: "Ha, hahaha!" He clutched his chest, laughing up at the ceiling.
I’m back from the dead!
Cheng Zhixia! Cheng Wenbin! Zheng Xue, and Zhao Chao! Just you wait, I’ll kill you all! Kill you all!!!
"Tsk, tsk, tsk! How terrifying!" Suddenly, a flippant voice rang out.
Cheng Zhili looked up, his gaze cold and sharp as he stared at the man floating in the air. "Reinhardt, thank you!"
This man, floating in the air with black bat wings on his back, horns on his head, and a tail dangling from his spine, was Reinhardt, a Demon.
It was this Demon who had resurrected him. No, to be precise, had allowed him to be reborn.
Cheng Zhili was an illegitimate child.
His father, Cheng Wenbin, was a self-made man who, after building the thriving Cheng Corporation through his wife Zheng Xue’s family connections, became somewhat arrogant. He hid his marital status and, while Zheng Xue was pregnant, started an affair with his mother, Li Suqiu.
Later, when the truth came out, Zheng Xue confronted them, and his already pregnant mother left, heartbroken. When Cheng Zhili was eight, his mother fell gravely ill, and Cheng Wenbin came to take him back to the Cheng Family.
At that time, Cheng Zhili was overjoyed, thinking he would no longer be called a "fatherless wild child" by his peers.
Then he arrived at the Cheng Family and discovered he had a half-brother, Cheng Zhixia, and that he was the despised, scorned illegitimate child.
Cheng Zhixia excelled in his studies, was gentle in nature, and despite having a heart condition, was resilient and lovable. In contrast, Cheng Zhili was gloomy, timid, performed poorly in school, and was an illegitimate child.
Thus, Cheng Zhili’s fragile inner world collapsed and was destroyed.
He gave up on himself, mingling with a group of wastrels, gambling, smoking, racing cars, bullying others… he did almost every bad thing that wasn’t illegal.
It was Zhao Chao, the bodyguard sent by his father to take care of him, who saved him. Zhao Chao was also the son of the Cheng Family’s butler.
Zhao Chao was gentle with him.
Cheng Zhili poured all his feelings into Zhao Chao, staying away from women and keeping himself pure for him…
However, Zhao Chao shattered his feelings with his own hands!
Because Zhao Chao loved Cheng Zhixia!
As mentioned before, Cheng Zhixia had a heart condition.
At eighteen, Cheng Zhixia underwent heart transplant surgery, but by the time he was twenty-two, the transplanted heart began to show signs of rejection and started to fail.
Cheng Zhili’s heart was a match for Cheng Zhixia’s.
So Zhao Chao orchestrated a car accident, drugged Cheng Zhili, and bribed the hospital to falsely claim that Cheng Zhili was in critical condition, leading to his heart being "donated" to Cheng Zhixia.
Heart transplants require family consent, and Cheng Wenbin signed without hesitation.
After Cheng Zhili’s death, his soul hovered in the air, watching the doctors perform the heart transplant surgery on Cheng Zhixia. Only then did he realize that the Cheng Family had taken him in because his heart was a match for Cheng Zhixia’s!
It was just that he was too young at the time for surgery, and Cheng Zhixia happened to find another matching heart, so they didn’t touch him. The Cheng Family, worried about the possibility of Cheng Zhixia’s condition recurring, continued to raise him and sent Zhao Chao to take care of him.
Of course, on the surface, it was said to be care, but in reality, it was surveillance.
Zhao Chao loved Cheng Zhixia, and for Cheng Zhixia, he diligently took care of Cheng Zhili.
When Cheng Zhixia’s condition indeed recurred, the Cheng Family had Zhao Chao orchestrate a car accident, sending Cheng Zhili to the operating table without hesitation.
Cheng Zhili felt like a fool.
His so-called friends were nothing but fair-weather friends! The person he loved couldn’t wait for him to die! His father only cared for Cheng Zhixia, not him!
In this world, no one needed him!
Just as Cheng Zhili was consumed by anger, pain, and a desire for revenge, the Demon Reinhardt appeared!
According to Reinhardt, a Demon friend had predicted that Cheng Zhili’s child would become his partner, but Reinhardt waited and waited, and Cheng Zhili never got pregnant. Not only that, but he found out Cheng Zhili had died!
"Haha! I’m not doing this for you, I’m doing it for my future partner, that’s why I let you be reborn! But… those Divine Favored are truly detestable, altering the course of fate…" Reinhardt’s eyes flashed with a glimmer.
"What exactly is a Divine Favored?" Cheng Zhili asked curiously.
"It’s a child favored by the gods," Reinhardt explained with a mischievous smile. "You can think of them as the darlings of the world. From birth, they are showered with love and affection, and they always seem to turn misfortune into fortune. Even if they do nothing, a whole bunch of people will fall in love with them and give everything for them~"
"Are you talking about Cheng Zhixia?"
"Exactly." Reinhardt smirked.
Cheng Zhili’s eyes flashed with a deep-seated hatred.
"Doesn’t it make you feel indignant?" Reinhardt asked.
"Why?!" Cheng Zhili gritted his teeth!
Why could Cheng Zhixia do nothing and have a bunch of people give everything for him? Why could Cheng Zhixia be showered with love and affection, while he was the despised illegitimate child?!
"Hahaha!" Reinhardt laughed heartily, then said, "Don’t worry, where there’s a will, there’s a way. You have me, don’t you? And in a way, you’re also a Divine Favored, aren’t you?"
"Are you talking about the pregnancy?" Cheng Zhili frowned, touching his stomach.
To be honest, he never thought he could get pregnant.
But according to Reinhardt, his maternal family had made a contract with Demons a century ago, allowing anyone in the family, male or female, to bear children. However, as homosexuality became less common in the family and with the development of the modern era, this secret gradually became unknown.
"Mm-hmm~" Reinhardt said with a playful smile. "Don’t forget, our contract is that I help you be reborn for revenge, and you give me your firstborn child."
"Yes, I won’t forget." Cheng Zhili clenched his fists, his gaze turning icy cold, as if laced with poison. "I want to make Cheng Zhixia lose everything! I want the entire Cheng Family to pay the price!"
The thought of having a child disgusted him! But if it was for revenge, even if it disgusted him, he would have the child!
"But before that, don’t you need to find someone willing to, you know, mate with you?" Reinhardt asked with a meaningful tone.
"I already have someone in mind." Cheng Zhili stepped barefoot off the bed, a wicked smile playing on his lips.
"Oh? Who?"
"Fu Laiying, Cheng Zhixia’s fiancé! The President of Fu Group!" Cheng Zhili’s gaze was icy cold.
Reinhardt raised an eyebrow. "Does your world allow same-sex marriage?"
"Of course." Cheng Zhili nodded, glancing at the time displayed on his phone. "Last year, Fu Laiying fell in love with Cheng Zhixia at first sight. In half a month, they’re supposed to get engaged." The Fu family’s influence was greater than the Cheng family’s, and Fu Laiying was an undefeated king in the business world, so the Cheng family was eager to establish ties with the Fu family.
Cheng Zhili remembered that shortly after the engagement, Cheng Zhixia’s heart condition worsened. To ensure Cheng Zhixia could smoothly become the "Young Lady of the Fu Family," the Cheng family resolutely sacrificed Cheng Zhili.
Thinking of this, a bloodthirsty smile appeared on Cheng Zhili’s face.
The timing of his rebirth was perfect, right before their engagement!
Cheng Wenbin wanted to curry favor with the Fu family? Cheng Zhixia wanted to marry a quality man like Fu Laiying? Fine, then let him destroy it all!
"Love at first sight?" Reinhardt scoffed. "It’s just the effect of the heartthrob aura. Besides, Cheng Zhixia can’t have children. Doesn’t the Fu family object?"
"His parents respect his choice. Besides, they can always have another child to carry on the family line, can’t they?" Cheng Zhili’s eyes flashed with envy, jealousy, and hatred. But then he calmly asked, "By the way, I have a question. You said Cheng Zhixia is a Divine Favored, so why does he have a heart condition?"
"Because he received too much divine favor, his body couldn’t handle it!" Reinhardt explained with a smile in his eyes. "But don’t worry, I’ll slowly devour all the divine favor he has! Divine Favored are a delicacy for us Demons too!"
"You’re not going to fall in love with Cheng Zhixia too, are you?" Cheng Zhili asked suspiciously.
"How could I?" Reinhardt scoffed. "The heartthrob aura doesn’t work on us Demons! Besides, my future spouse hasn’t even been born yet!"
"That’s good." Cheng Zhili nodded, then picked up his phone. "Let’s go, time to catch a big fish!"
"What are you going to do?" Reinhardt asked, intrigued.
"Of course… drug and seduce him!" Cheng Zhili grinned, his smile as devilish as a Demon.
*
Without delay, Cheng Zhili drove straight to the Fu Group building, parked in the underground garage, and walked into the building.
The receptionist on the first floor saw Cheng Zhili and immediately greeted him with a gentle smile, her voice sweet as she asked, "Hello, sir, may I help you?"
Cheng Zhili smiled slightly and said, "I’m here to see my future brother-in-law."
"Uh… brother-in-law?" The receptionist was puzzled.
"Yes, my brother-in-law is Fu Laiying. Call him and tell him his fiancé’s brother is here to see him." Cheng Zhili said with a straight face.
The receptionist was stunned, taken aback for a moment, and then, for some reason, found it hard to maintain her smile, which appeared rather forced. "Alright, please wait a moment."
Then she began making an internal call.
After a short while, she looked up, her face once again adorned with an impeccable smile. "Sir, the President is waiting for you in the office on the 10th floor."
"Okay." Cheng Zhili responded, turning to enter the elevator. He made a point of pressing the button for each floor.
"What are you doing?" Reinhardt asked curiously.
"Making sure everyone in the company sees me!" Cheng Zhili explained with a mischievous smile.
"Oh, I see, you’re marking your territory." Reinhardt said.
Cheng Zhili rolled his eyes at him but said nothing.
When the elevator finally reached the 10th floor, Cheng Zhili leisurely walked through the secretary’s office area to the President’s office and knocked on the door.
"Knock, knock, knock—"
"Come in." A deep, cold voice responded.
Cheng Zhili pushed the door open and immediately saw a man in a black suit sitting behind the desk. The man exuded the aura of a king on a throne, naturally commanding and awe-inspiring.
—Fu Laiying.
At that moment, Fu Laiying was holding a pen, slightly bowed over a document, his face strikingly handsome, like the most perfect creation of God.
Upon hearing the door open, he looked up, his deep, dark eyes briefly sweeping over Cheng Zhili before returning to his document, asking indifferently, "What do you want?"
He didn’t have a favorable impression of Cheng Zhili.
The fact that Cheng Zhili was an illegitimate child was well known in high society, and Fu Laiying was no exception. He had no fondness for this rumored arrogant and unruly person who would compete with his fiancée for the family inheritance, and even felt a sense of disgust.
—Cheng Zhili’s existence had ruined the perfect family of his lover! How heartbroken his lover must be?
Putting himself in his lover’s shoes, if Fu Laiying had to live with his half-brother, he might have killed him immediately! But his lover, Cheng Zhixia, chose to forgive. Unfortunately, Cheng Zhili was an ungrateful wretch, treating Cheng Zhixia as an enemy, and consequently, Fu Laiying’s impression of him was extremely negative.
Cheng Zhili hadn’t even attended the engagement party before, which Fu Laiying had been grateful for, but now Cheng Zhili had come to see him.
Fu Laiying found it amusing.
But he still agreed to meet.
Because he was curious about the purpose of this future brother-in-law’s visit.
Cheng Zhili, of course, had no idea what Fu Laiying was thinking.
He smiled, gently closing the door, then walked over to Fu Laiying, his smile radiant. "President Fu, do you think I’m good-looking?"
Fu Laiying’s brow furrowed instantly, and he let out a cold laugh. "Shameless."
Clearly, he had understood Cheng Zhili’s purpose in coming.
Cheng Zhili continued to smile, as if he hadn’t heard the insult. "Yes, I’m shameless, unlike Cheng Zhixia, who is noble and pure, untouched by the mud."
"Get out." Fu Laiying didn’t even spare him a glance.
Cheng Zhili refused to leave. "Oh dear, I wanted to take the gentle approach, but it seems that’s not possible. Well then, President Fu, my apologies." With that, he glanced at Reinhardt floating in the air.
Reinhardt chuckled, then snapped his fingers at Fu Laiying.
"Snap!"
Fu Laiying suddenly felt a darkness envelop him, and in an instant, a wicked fire surged through his body. He watched helplessly as Cheng Zhili slowly undressed in front of him, revealing his pale body.
And then, he remembered nothing.
A night of indulgence.
When Fu Laiying regained consciousness, it was already dusk. He was crammed on the sofa, a warm, smooth body nestled against him. He jolted, looking down to see Cheng Zhili curled up in his arms, sleeping soundly. The marks on Cheng Zhili’s body made it clear who was responsible.
Fu Laiying’s pupils contracted sharply.
The memories that had vanished now flooded back like a storm.
He had just lost control and had an encounter with Cheng Zhili right here in the President’s office! And he had been the one to initiate it!
How could this be?! What happened?!
He clearly hadn’t been willing, clearly despised Cheng Zhili!
At that moment, the office door clicked open.
Cheng Zhixia hadn’t even stepped inside when he was caught off guard by the scene in the room. His face, originally wearing a gentle smile, turned as pale as paper.
"Laiying…" Cheng Zhixia instinctively clutched his chest.
Fu Laiying hadn’t expected Cheng Zhixia to suddenly come in, and seeing him clutching his chest in pain, his heart ached. He sat up abruptly from the sofa, but since he was completely naked, with only his lower half covered by clothes, he couldn’t stand up. He could only try to explain, "Zhixia, it’s not what it looks like!" But after saying that, he found himself at a loss for words.
Because he knew how weak and pale his explanation sounded.
He and Cheng Zhili had done what they had done, and it was all too clear in his mind.
Even if it hadn’t been voluntary, he had still betrayed Cheng Zhixia.
Just then—
"Mmm—" Cheng Zhili stretched lazily, then slowly opened his eyes.
Seeing Cheng Zhixia’s pale face and the accusatory, anguished look in his eyes, Cheng Zhili couldn’t help but smile smugly. "Ah, brother, what brings you here? Sorry, did I interrupt you and brother-in-law? Oh, wait." He suddenly covered his mouth with a laugh, "It seems President Fu won’t be your brother-in-law after all!"
"Cheng Zhili!" Fu Laiying’s composure and calm shattered into a storm of rage.
Cheng Zhili smiled, unfazed by Fu Laiying’s anger, and leisurely asked, "What? Brother-in-law, are you planning to eat and run?"