Although Ji Ling was shorter than Lord Richard, his contemptuous look and haughty expression still made the tall middle-aged aristocrat red in the face. There were angry flames in his eyes like he wanted to bite him!
But Ji Ling wasn’t afraid. He was even in the mood to raise his chin, and provoke him with a sneer.
A mere lord dared to bully civilians. This guy was nothing in front of his father, so Ji Ling assumed that he wouldn’t dare do anything to him. Otherwise, with the original’s constant arrogance, he would’ve been killed off long ago. Wasn’t it because he had a strong backer behind him?
This was how the imperial aristocracy's hierarchy worked.
Lord Richard's face turned from red to white, and white and red. He almost ground his teeth to dust. Wine dripped down his face, making him feel humiliated... but he still put up with it in the end.
He didn’t dare touch Ji Ling.
Not only was Ji Ling the only child of Duke Ji Ting and Madam Marina, but there was also that rumor circulating widely among imperial nobles lately; Grand Duke Carlos was extremely fond of Ji Ling as well.
At the same time, he was in the heart of two grand dukes, and one of them was the terrifying and blood-thirsty Grand Duke Carlos.
Even if he had the heart of a lion, he wouldn’t dare show his dissatisfaction to Ji Ling. In his eyes, those ordinary civilians were the lowest beings, but in the eyes of this high noble Ji Ling... wouldn’t he also be considered too low as well?
After a while, Lord Richard gave a distorted smile, seemingly humble, and bowed, “My apologies. I didn't realize he was one of your people.”
Ji Ling snorted and twitched his brow: “Now you know.”
Lord Richard bowed his head in shame and said: "Yes, I was at fault today. I humbly ask your forgiveness for my presumptuous and ignorant behavior."
Ji Ling glanced at him, and saw Lord Richard’s forehead drip in cold sweat.
As long as he couldn’t get Ji Ling’s pardon today, he’d find himself driven to a dead end. If Ji Ling casually spoke so much as one phrase about him to Duke Ji Ting or Grand Duke Carlos, he’d die a miserable death.
Ji Ling watched the tall middle-aged man trembling slightly and sweating heavily. Finally, he waved, disgusted, and said, "Get out."
Lord Richard acted as if he was granted amnesty, because this meant Ji Ling didn’t care about it anymore. He respectfully faced Ji Ling, bent over, and flew away from this place where he was shamed!
Ji Ling looked at his figure leaving in haste and gave a contemptuous laugh.
Another wonderful day of bullying... so nice.
After dealing with Lord Richard, Ji Ling turned around triumphantly. However, he was startled to face Wen Yan’s black eyes searing with heat.
This was a man whose mind was an unfathomable depth, and wouldn’t even bat an eye if the world collapsed… This man was someone whose mood you could never read, but staring into his eyes now, they seemed to contain a kind of strong and extremely complex emotion. It was so deep it was scary!
Ji Ling:? ? ?
I did the same thing last life. My behavior should’ve totally been within your expectations, but now you look so incredibly touched. What the heck is wrong with you?!
Is it necessary to act so realistically?
After what happened with Carlos, Ji Ling was very sensitive to these behaviors that didn’t happen last life. He looked at Wen Yan warily…
and decided to hurry up and finish the plot line, so he could get out of there.
So then Ji Ling looked at the direction Lord Richard left, and with his hands behind his back, he sneered contemptuously: “What a fool! If you’re going to beat a dog, you need to see who its owner is. He didn’t even know something so simple."
His tone, expression and bearing seemed to be pointing at Lord Richard, but in fact, his statement showed he didn’t even consider Wen Yan to be equal as another human at all!
This was also why Wen Yan could manipulate the original without hesitation. The original only stood up for him, because Wen Yan buttered him up all happy. In other words, the way he looked at Wen Yan was no different from the other nobles. He fought for Wen Yan based only on the premise that “*you need to see who the owner is before beating a dog,” without even knowing that in Wen Yan's eyes, the laughable pet was actually him.
He didn’t even realize how stupid he was.
Ji Ling followed his own character setting completely. After doing his good work, he was ready to draw aggro… This way, Wen Yan would become good friends with Ning Yu later according to the plot. He’d pretend to help him deal with Ning Yu on the surface, when actually, he was helping Ning Yu deal with him.
Ji Ling finished that sentence, and glanced lightly at Wen Yan, satisfied with how deeply he captured the role of a rich kid.
In the face of this kind of subconscious shaming, Wen Yan would never express displeasure outwardly. He would only leave respectfully as usual. The original never noticed anything wrong, but Ji Ling knew that this was a form of disdain for him.
However, this time, Ji Ling waited for ages, and still didn’t hear Wen Yan say anything.
Just when he was getting a little confused, Wen Yan suddenly looked away respectfully, bowed his head slightly and said, “You are absolutely right."
Ji Ling: "…?"
Wen Yan looked at the blond boy's proud and bright face. His beautiful blue eyes seemed to be shining with starlight, countless times more dazzling than the eternal stars in the universe... Wen Yan’s inner emotions surged, and he lowered his eyes to hide the burning gaze he could barely conceal.
Ji Ling came here again.
Like in the previous life, he appeared before him like an angel from heaven.
He thought he’d never see him again.
It was all because he didn't stop him that day. If he had… would the outcome have been different?
Wen Yan closed his eyes painfully, recalling the events of his last life. When he finally hurried over, he only made it in time to see a cold corpse. Those beautiful eyes would never open again.
After more than ten years, he had never forgotten that scene.
He woke up with nightmares on countless nights.
The young man’s willfulness, arrogance, laughter, and anger... Each expression was so clearly engraved in his memory that it did not fade away even with the passage of time.
It was then that he finally realized that the feelings he had for him were not only despicable, selfish and possessive, but he also harbored longing and yearning for him… all because he had unconsciously fallen in love with Ji Ling long ago.
His whole life he’d been playing with people's hearts, thinking that he could see through everything. When in fact, it was the most difficult to see what was closest… Ironically, he couldn’t even understand his own heart.
He couldn’t even understand the kindness of a simple boy.
Although he always said that he wouldn’t forgive others’ remarks, Ji Ling wasn’t really like those ugly nobles. It was just that ever since he was young, Ji Ling lived in a world with no respect for ordinary civilians, and no one taught him how to respect people. Despite this, Ji Ling still stood up for him and extended his hand to him time and time again... If he really looked down on him from the bottom of his heart, why would he go so far?
He just didn’t know how to express his good intentions, and hid his good heart behind arrogance.
In essence, Ji Ling was completely different from those aristocrats.
Even though he was born into that kind of world, he still didn’t let his pure white heart get tainted by the darkness outside.
After Ji Ling’s death, it took him a long time to understand such a simple truth.
Wen Yan's chest heaved slightly, masking the pain of self-deprecation in his eyes. He took a deep breath, and lifted his line of sight again. All that remained in his dark eyes was the deep black of the starry sky. He whispered, "I'll take you back."
Although Wen Yan soon returned to normal, Ji Ling thought about the look in his eyes just now and got goosebumps all over. He just wanted to get away earlier, so he waved his hand and pretended not to care: “No need.”
Wen Yan looked at him persistently, and insisted again: "Please allow me to send you back to show my gratitude."
Ji Ling: "......"
It would be unreasonable to refuse again.
Ji Ling could only walk back subconsciously. All along the way, he didn’t dare look at the people around him. He returned to his bedroom with difficulty, and hadn’t even had time to send Wen Yan away when he had already followed him directly inside.
Ji Ling: "......"
You weren’t busying yourself today with your political struggle, nor were you anxiously currying favor with my father. Spending so much time on me…Are you sick in the head? Isn't it a waste of your time? Ji Ling rolled his eyes and thought up a plan. He went straight to the bed and sat down. In an impatient tone, he said coldly: "I want to rest. You can go out now.”
Wen Yan smiled and then, without warning... knelt down on one knee before Ji ling in an almost submissive posture. He lowered his head, and his voice was low and hoarse saying: "I will serve you."
Ji Ling: "!"
Wen Yan lowered his eyelashes.
Last life, I thought this kind of feeling was just possessiveness at work. I was eager to conquer you. In order to get you, who was so beautiful and high above, I didn’t hesitate to betray you and sell you out, if only for the day I’d be able to pull you down from the altar on high, trample you under my feet, and look at you, who was so holy and untouchable… as you submitted under one of the lower beings you so despised.
My heart was so ugly and dirty. Inferiority and jealousy blinded my eyes. I didn’t want to acknowledge that I actually loved you... and I almost did something that I’d regret for a lifetime.
If it wasn’t for your death, I might not even know what I really wanted to this day.
When I finally understood…
I had already lost my chance to make up for it.
This pain has tormented me for ten years … I never imagined at the time that a person like me could be saved.
I have a chance to re-do everything, and make up for my regrets.
Translator’s notes
*Okay first of all, you should never beat a dog, but in case you don’t get this proverb, it’s like if you beat someone up, and they’re actually related to someone powerful, then you’re f*cked when they get back at you.
Although Ji Ling was shorter than Lord Richard, his contemptuous look and haughty expression still made the tall middle-aged aristocrat red in the face. There were angry flames in his eyes like he wanted to bite him!
But Ji Ling wasn’t afraid. He was even in the mood to raise his chin, and provoke him with a sneer.
A mere lord dared to bully civilians. This guy was nothing in front of his father, so Ji Ling assumed that he wouldn’t dare do anything to him. Otherwise, with the original’s constant arrogance, he would’ve been killed off long ago. Wasn’t it because he had a strong backer behind him?
This was how the imperial aristocracy's hierarchy worked.
Lord Richard's face turned from red to white, and white and red. He almost ground his teeth to dust. Wine dripped down his face, making him feel humiliated... but he still put up with it in the end.
He didn’t dare touch Ji Ling.
Not only was Ji Ling the only child of Duke Ji Ting and Madam Marina, but there was also that rumor circulating widely among imperial nobles lately; Grand Duke Carlos was extremely fond of Ji Ling as well.
At the same time, he was in the heart of two grand dukes, and one of them was the terrifying and blood-thirsty Grand Duke Carlos.
Even if he had the heart of a lion, he wouldn’t dare show his dissatisfaction to Ji Ling. In his eyes, those ordinary civilians were the lowest beings, but in the eyes of this high noble Ji Ling... wouldn’t he also be considered too low as well?
After a while, Lord Richard gave a distorted smile, seemingly humble, and bowed, “My apologies. I didn't realize he was one of your people.”
Ji Ling snorted and twitched his brow: “Now you know.”
Lord Richard bowed his head in shame and said: "Yes, I was at fault today. I humbly ask your forgiveness for my presumptuous and ignorant behavior."
Ji Ling glanced at him, and saw Lord Richard’s forehead drip in cold sweat.
As long as he couldn’t get Ji Ling’s pardon today, he’d find himself driven to a dead end. If Ji Ling casually spoke so much as one phrase about him to Duke Ji Ting or Grand Duke Carlos, he’d die a miserable death.
Ji Ling watched the tall middle-aged man trembling slightly and sweating heavily. Finally, he waved, disgusted, and said, "Get out."
Lord Richard acted as if he was granted amnesty, because this meant Ji Ling didn’t care about it anymore. He respectfully faced Ji Ling, bent over, and flew away from this place where he was shamed!
Ji Ling looked at his figure leaving in haste and gave a contemptuous laugh.
Another wonderful day of bullying... so nice.
After dealing with Lord Richard, Ji Ling turned around triumphantly. However, he was startled to face Wen Yan’s black eyes searing with heat.
This was a man whose mind was an unfathomable depth, and wouldn’t even bat an eye if the world collapsed… This man was someone whose mood you could never read, but staring into his eyes now, they seemed to contain a kind of strong and extremely complex emotion. It was so deep it was scary!
Ji Ling:? ? ?
I did the same thing last life. My behavior should’ve totally been within your expectations, but now you look so incredibly touched. What the heck is wrong with you?!
Is it necessary to act so realistically?
After what happened with Carlos, Ji Ling was very sensitive to these behaviors that didn’t happen last life. He looked at Wen Yan warily…
and decided to hurry up and finish the plot line, so he could get out of there.
So then Ji Ling looked at the direction Lord Richard left, and with his hands behind his back, he sneered contemptuously: “What a fool! If you’re going to beat a dog, you need to see who its owner is. He didn’t even know something so simple."
His tone, expression and bearing seemed to be pointing at Lord Richard, but in fact, his statement showed he didn’t even consider Wen Yan to be equal as another human at all!
This was also why Wen Yan could manipulate the original without hesitation. The original only stood up for him, because Wen Yan buttered him up all happy. In other words, the way he looked at Wen Yan was no different from the other nobles. He fought for Wen Yan based only on the premise that “*you need to see who the owner is before beating a dog,” without even knowing that in Wen Yan's eyes, the laughable pet was actually him.
He didn’t even realize how stupid he was.
Ji Ling followed his own character setting completely. After doing his good work, he was ready to draw aggro… This way, Wen Yan would become good friends with Ning Yu later according to the plot. He’d pretend to help him deal with Ning Yu on the surface, when actually, he was helping Ning Yu deal with him.
Ji Ling finished that sentence, and glanced lightly at Wen Yan, satisfied with how deeply he captured the role of a rich kid.
In the face of this kind of subconscious shaming, Wen Yan would never express displeasure outwardly. He would only leave respectfully as usual. The original never noticed anything wrong, but Ji Ling knew that this was a form of disdain for him.
However, this time, Ji Ling waited for ages, and still didn’t hear Wen Yan say anything.
Just when he was getting a little confused, Wen Yan suddenly looked away respectfully, bowed his head slightly and said, “You are absolutely right."
Ji Ling: "…?"
Wen Yan looked at the blond boy's proud and bright face. His beautiful blue eyes seemed to be shining with starlight, countless times more dazzling than the eternal stars in the universe... Wen Yan’s inner emotions surged, and he lowered his eyes to hide the burning gaze he could barely conceal.
Ji Ling came here again.
Like in the previous life, he appeared before him like an angel from heaven.
He thought he’d never see him again.
It was all because he didn't stop him that day. If he had… would the outcome have been different?
Wen Yan closed his eyes painfully, recalling the events of his last life. When he finally hurried over, he only made it in time to see a cold corpse. Those beautiful eyes would never open again.
After more than ten years, he had never forgotten that scene.
He woke up with nightmares on countless nights.
The young man’s willfulness, arrogance, laughter, and anger... Each expression was so clearly engraved in his memory that it did not fade away even with the passage of time.
It was then that he finally realized that the feelings he had for him were not only despicable, selfish and possessive, but he also harbored longing and yearning for him… all because he had unconsciously fallen in love with Ji Ling long ago.
His whole life he’d been playing with people's hearts, thinking that he could see through everything. When in fact, it was the most difficult to see what was closest… Ironically, he couldn’t even understand his own heart.
He couldn’t even understand the kindness of a simple boy.
Although he always said that he wouldn’t forgive others’ remarks, Ji Ling wasn’t really like those ugly nobles. It was just that ever since he was young, Ji Ling lived in a world with no respect for ordinary civilians, and no one taught him how to respect people. Despite this, Ji Ling still stood up for him and extended his hand to him time and time again... If he really looked down on him from the bottom of his heart, why would he go so far?
He just didn’t know how to express his good intentions, and hid his good heart behind arrogance.
In essence, Ji Ling was completely different from those aristocrats.
Even though he was born into that kind of world, he still didn’t let his pure white heart get tainted by the darkness outside.
After Ji Ling’s death, it took him a long time to understand such a simple truth.
Wen Yan's chest heaved slightly, masking the pain of self-deprecation in his eyes. He took a deep breath, and lifted his line of sight again. All that remained in his dark eyes was the deep black of the starry sky. He whispered, "I'll take you back."
Although Wen Yan soon returned to normal, Ji Ling thought about the look in his eyes just now and got goosebumps all over. He just wanted to get away earlier, so he waved his hand and pretended not to care: “No need.”
Wen Yan looked at him persistently, and insisted again: "Please allow me to send you back to show my gratitude."
Ji Ling: "......"
It would be unreasonable to refuse again.
Ji Ling could only walk back subconsciously. All along the way, he didn’t dare look at the people around him. He returned to his bedroom with difficulty, and hadn’t even had time to send Wen Yan away when he had already followed him directly inside.
Ji Ling: "......"
You weren’t busying yourself today with your political struggle, nor were you anxiously currying favor with my father. Spending so much time on me…Are you sick in the head? Isn't it a waste of your time? Ji Ling rolled his eyes and thought up a plan. He went straight to the bed and sat down. In an impatient tone, he said coldly: "I want to rest. You can go out now.”
Wen Yan smiled and then, without warning... knelt down on one knee before Ji ling in an almost submissive posture. He lowered his head, and his voice was low and hoarse saying: "I will serve you."
Ji Ling: "!"
Wen Yan lowered his eyelashes.
Last life, I thought this kind of feeling was just possessiveness at work. I was eager to conquer you. In order to get you, who was so beautiful and high above, I didn’t hesitate to betray you and sell you out, if only for the day I’d be able to pull you down from the altar on high, trample you under my feet, and look at you, who was so holy and untouchable… as you submitted under one of the lower beings you so despised.
My heart was so ugly and dirty. Inferiority and jealousy blinded my eyes. I didn’t want to acknowledge that I actually loved you... and I almost did something that I’d regret for a lifetime.
If it wasn’t for your death, I might not even know what I really wanted to this day.
When I finally understood…
I had already lost my chance to make up for it.
This pain has tormented me for ten years … I never imagined at the time that a person like me could be saved.
I have a chance to re-do everything, and make up for my regrets.
Translator’s notes
*Okay first of all, you should never beat a dog, but in case you don’t get this proverb, it’s like if you beat someone up, and they’re actually related to someone powerful, then you’re f*cked when they get back at you.
