ALCSRB Chapter 1

The mid-June sun was already scorching, causing the pedestrians on the street to sweat profusely. Only a few young women holding parasols remained composed and unbothered.

Inside the quiet car, the air conditioning was blowing cool air softly, forming a stark contrast to the heat outside.

In the spacious backseat sat two young men. One of them, slightly taller, tugged at the dark navy tie around his neck, his handsome features revealing a trace of impatience.

“Jiang Mingyi.” He spoke, his dark eyes turning toward the boy who hadn’t said a word since getting into the car.

The boy had a fair, delicate face. When he stayed silent, he looked particularly obedient and gentle. His slightly long bangs hung down, hiding his brows. Even his side profile was so beautiful it was hard to look away.

However, remembering how Jiang Mingyi usually clung to him and acted spoiled and unreasonable, Lu Jingze immediately forced himself to look away.

“Even though it’s your birthday today, I didn’t come to pick you up because I wanted to.” He figured it was best to make things clear ahead of time, lest Jiang Mingyi start pestering him again.

Since last night, the old man had stressed repeatedly that he had to personally pick up Jiang Mingyi for his birthday party today. He had even been scolded for it.

Jiang Mingyi had always been sweet-talking and good at playing nice, coaxing the old man and the others into liking him so much they practically wished he were their own child.

In front of people their age, this guy always had the temper of a spoiled young master—delicate, proud, and unable to endure the slightest grievance.
In short, Lu Jingze had never liked him, only finding him overly dramatic and extremely hard to please.

“The old man may like you a lot, but there’s no way anything would happen between us…” Seeing that Jiang Mingyi didn’t respond, Lu Jingze paused slightly before continuing,
“I’m only picking you up today because I was forced to. So don’t go thinking too much or get all emotional about it…”

Jiang Mingyi kept his eyes shut, only feeling the buzzing noise by his ears was annoying as hell.
Suddenly, his right hand, which had been hanging down against the leather seat, swung up sharply.

Smack!

The sound cut off Lu Jingze’s endless chatter.
“You’re really noisy!” the teenager said. His voice was crisp and pleasant, just like the stunning impression his delicate features gave off.

The driver in front, focused on the road, pretended to be invisible, showing no interest in whatever was happening in the backseat.

Lu Jingze, now completely dumbfounded by the slap, was left speechless, staring in disbelief at the usually smitten boy sitting next to him.
Normally, Jiang Mingyi would light up the moment he saw Lu Jingze—like a fly spotting food… no, like a bee finding a flower—overly eager and attentive.

But today, he was the complete opposite—distant and indifferent.
Was he trying to play hard to get now?

Lu Jingze sneered, “Heh.”

The bit of anger he had left was now replaced with cold mockery.
Jiang Mingyi, I’ll wait and see what kind of act you’re trying to put on next.

Jiang Mingyi didn’t even bother responding to Lu Jingze’s expression or care what he was thinking.
Half an hour ago, a flood of strange information suddenly appeared in his mind, leaving him confused and disoriented for a while.

After finally processing the information, Jiang Mingyi realized something shocking—
He was actually a villain cannon fodder character in a cliché “fake young master in a wealthy family” web novel.

The guy sitting next to him, Lu Jingze, was the main lead of the story—a privileged heir who despised the annoying little cannon fodder that kept pestering him.
After multiple rejections from Lu Jingze, the cannon fodder (Jiang Mingyi’s role) grew resentful, constantly making life difficult for the shou (Main character).

He bullied the shou, sabotaged the shou’s relationships with his admirers, and used every underhanded trick in the book.
Yet, despite everything, he never won Lu Jingze’s heart.
Instead, he earned everyone’s hatred—even his adoptive parents, who once spoiled him, became disappointed and eventually cut ties with him.

Losing the powerful Shen family backing, and with his late parents’ inheritance stolen by cold-blooded relatives, the cannon fodder ended up abandoned and homeless.
In the end, he was even hunted down by the shou’s admirers and met a tragic downfall.

The entire story revolved around the main gong and shou’s epic romance, and he, the little cannon fodder, was merely a stepping stone—insignificant and easily discarded.

But now, Jiang Mingyi truly felt the pain.
Just thinking about how his wonderful life would be ruined because of those two infuriated him beyond belief.

Absurd!
Ridiculous!

So ridiculous it was like Absurdity knocking on its own door and moving right in! Totally out of this world!

He stayed silent the entire ride.
When the car finally pulled into the underground parking lot, Lu Jingze’s phone started ringing.

It was the old man calling. Lu Jingze held back his impatience and answered, “I’ve picked him up. We’ve arrived at the underground parking lot…”

Just as he was speaking, he heard the sound of a car door opening beside him.

Looking up, he saw Jiang Mingyi getting out of the car without even glancing back.

Lu Jingze: …………

What kind of young master tantrum is this now?

Jiang Mingyi headed straight to the elevator and pressed for the top floor.

In the elevator mirror, his slender, tall figure and exquisitely beautiful features were reflected.
He had always been pretty since he was a child.

Back when his parents were still alive, many people said he inherited the best genes from them—fair-skinned, soft, and adorable like a little milk bun everyone loved at first sight.

After his parents passed away in an accident, he was adopted by the Shen family, a top-tier powerful family and close friends of his parents. The Shen couple treated him as their own, pampering him in every possible way.

For the eighteen years of Jiang Mingyi’s life, everything had been smooth sailing—peaceful and carefree.

With his stunning looks and elite family background, there was no man he couldn’t have… yet he had been foolishly infatuated with that idiot, Lu Jingze.

Facing the elevator mirror, Jiang Mingyi made a vomiting expression.
He decided from this moment on to completely take back all the feelings he had for Lu Jingze.

Ding!
The elevator arrived at the top floor.

As soon as the doors opened, someone peeked in.
The moment he saw Jiang Mingyi, a bright smile lit up his handsome face.

A big warm hug followed, along with heartfelt birthday wishes.

“Ming Bao^[1], happy birthday!”

Jiang Mingyi was stunned for two seconds before coming back to his senses and hugging him back.

At the same time, he lightly complained, “Pie Shiqing, I’m an adult now. Don’t call me by my childhood nickname anymore.”

“What’s wrong with good bros using childhood nicknames?”
Pie Shiqing muttered with a bright smile still on his fair face.
“You still like to call me Qing Bao, don’t you?”

In Pie Shiqing’s eyes, using nicknames was proof of their close bond.
After all, they’d been best friends since childhood—like wearing the same pair of pants.

Jiang Mingyi: “Then I’ll change it.”

Pie Shiqing chuckled, “You can change it, I won’t.”

Looking at his friend’s smug smile, Jiang Mingyi was speechless. “Childish.”

Pie Shiqing playfully pinched his face.
Jiang Mingyi’s skin was fair and delicate—just a light pinch made his cheeks blush red.

Pie Shiqing immediately let go, his gaze lingering for a second on those pink cheeks before teasing, “Who are you calling childish? Weren’t you the one who used to call me ‘big bro’ with starry eyes when we were little?”

Afraid he’d start digging up more childhood blackmail material, Jiang Mingyi quickly cut him off.

At that moment, he noticed another figure standing behind Pie Shiqing.

Unlike Jiang Mingyi and Pie Shiqing, who were both dressed in luxurious high-end fashion that made their noble aura stand out, this person wore a simple white shirt and jeans, with a pair of slightly worn white sneakers.

Although his features were delicate and pleasing, the way his fingers kept fidgeting with the gift tray betrayed his nervousness.

Bai Yumo opened his mouth slightly. His timid gaze shifted from Pie Shiqing’s lively expression to Jiang Mingyi, who was currently sizing him up.

After a brief moment of hesitation, he spoke in a soft, hesitant tone:
“Y-Young Master Jiang, happy birthday.”

Jiang Mingyi wasn’t surprised to see him here.

According to the information he’d received not long ago, this seemingly weak and delicate boy was the real young master—the protagonist and rightful heir—in a cliché “switched-at-birth in a wealthy family” story.

And his close friend Pie Shiqing standing next to him was actually the fake young master who had been mistakenly raised in his place.

Thinking of Pie Shiqing’s tragic end in the original story, Jiang Mingyi’s expression turned cold for a moment.

Regardless of whether that strange intel was real or not, Jiang Mingyi wasn’t planning on exposing anyone. He had never liked Bai Yumo, whom he considered a fake and two-faced person.

Pie Shiqing took the gift box from Bai Yumo’s hands.
“I picked this birthday present just for you. I wanted to be the first one to give it to you.”

The box wasn’t large, but it was beautifully wrapped.

A faint smile returned to Jiang Mingyi’s exquisite face. He accepted the gift box and said,
“Thank you.”

“Open it! I know you’ll love it!” Pie Shiqing urged excitedly, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Unable to resist him, Jiang Mingyi had no choice but to unwrap the gift on the spot.

Bai Yumo, who had been completely ignored, stood awkwardly to the side.
It had always been like this since they were kids, but he still hadn’t gotten used to the feeling of being overlooked.

Though resentment stirred in his heart, his demeanor remained timid—like a soft little bun.

Suddenly, Pie Shiqing asked,
“Didn’t Lu Jingze go pick you up? Why didn’t you come together?”

Bai Yumo, who had been hanging his head, suddenly perked up—clearly paying close attention.

Jiang Mingyi replied casually,
“He was too annoying.”

Pie Shiqing’s dark eyes widened instantly, gleaming with curiosity.
“Annoying? You actually think he’s annoying?”

After all, Jiang Mingyi’s infatuation with Lu Jingze was practically an open secret in high society.

Jiang Mingyi lifted his eyelids to glance at him while catching a glimpse of Bai Yumo’s expression out of the corner of his eye.

“Nothing major. He was just especially naggy today, like an old granny going on and on.” Jiang Mingyi spoke while unwrapping the gift without pause.

“I don’t know—maybe he’s hitting menopause early or something.”

“Young Master Lu is only twenty. He’s way too young for menopause,” came a soft mutter from the side.

Jiang Mingyi didn’t respond to Bai Yumo’s comment and went on to finish unwrapping the gift.

Inside was the latest model of a Piaget mechanical wristwatch.

At the same time, Pie Shiqing lifted his own wrist, revealing the same watch.
“Matching watches—brother style.”

Jiang Mingyi: …………

Pei Shiqing was still proudly showing off, “I went through so much just for you—lowered my pride and pestered my brother until I finally squeezed out a huge sum to buy it.”

Jiang Mingyi was speechless but helpless. “You really went through a lot.”

Bai Yumo, observing Jiang Mingyi’s expression, suddenly spoke up, “I actually told the young master that no one gives a watch as a birthday gift, but he wouldn’t listen.”
His tone held a hint of mockery.

“What did you just say…” Pei Shiqing glared at him in dissatisfaction. The moment the words left his mouth, he suddenly realized that giving a watch might be seen as a bad omen.

When he first saw this new watch model, he really liked it. With the thought that good things should be shared with friends, he’d spent a lot of time coaxing and pestering his miserly brother to get some pocket money. He had to agree to a bunch of unfair terms just to get enough to buy two identical watches.

Pei Shiqing pouted as he took off the watch and put it back into the gift box.

“Mingyi, I’ll get you another gift tomorrow,” he said, trying to take back the present, but Jiang Mingyi stopped him.

“I’ve always wanted this model,” Jiang Mingyi said, putting on the watch immediately. He admired it for a moment and seemed very satisfied. “I really like it.”

“No matter what a good friend gives, it’s always precious,” he said to Pei Shiqing, not even sparing Bai Yumo a glance.

Then he pulled Pei Shiqing’s hand and left with him.

Bai Yumo bit his lower lip, a little unwilling to give up. Just as he lifted his foot to follow them, the elevator gave a ding, stopping him in his tracks.

“Yumo, were you waiting here especially for me?” a surprised voice came from the elevator as the doors opened.

Hearing Lu Jingze’s voice, a soft smile immediately appeared on Bai Yumo’s delicate face.

He responded in a sweet tone, “Young Master Jiang and the young master have already gone to the banquet hall. I thought since Young Master Lu hadn’t come up yet, I’d wait here for you.”

Then a shy blush spread across his face. “Young Master Lu won’t mind me making my own decision, right?”

When Lu Jingze heard that Jiang Mingyi hadn’t even waited for him, he immediately got upset. “That brat Jiang Mingyi has been in a terrible mood all day, giving me the cold shoulder the whole way. Now he doesn’t even bother to acknowledge me.”

He was so angry he wanted to go find Jiang Mingyi. Just as he stepped out of the elevator and saw Bai Yumo’s delicate figure, he stopped in his tracks.

“Whatever, I don’t care about him anyway. You’re still the best, Yumo.”

He reached out and directly held Bai Yumo’s soft hand.

Bai Yumo lowered his long lashes, his eyes flashing with a trace of satisfaction. He pretended to struggle a bit, only to feel Lu Jingze hold his hand even tighter.

At the top floor of the Imperial Capital’s most prestigious hotel, a grand birthday banquet was underway. Many wealthy families with ties to the powerful Shen family were in attendance, making for a lively and bustling scene.

Jiang Mingyi had changed into a custom-made, pure white tailcoat. The tailored fit outlined his slender figure, making him look noble and pure.

That air of elegance, paired with his exquisitely beautiful face, attracted quite a bit of admiration from the young men and women at the banquet.

After making a round of social greetings, the birthday boy Jiang Mingyi was now leaning on a small terrace with a glass of juice in hand. He took a sip, the pale color of the juice adding a subtle shine to his lips.

His gaze casually swept across the guests at the banquet.

Pei Shiqing walked over with a wine glass, following his line of sight to two figures standing side by side—one tall, one short.

he let out a mocking laugh, “That little flirt Bai Yumo really did hook up with Lu Jingze.”

“You knew they were involved, and you still brought him here,” Jiang Mingyi said.

Pie Shiqing grinned as he nudged his shoulder. “I knew you didn’t like him, so I thought I’d bring him over for you to vent your frustration. I’ve already arranged everything—he’s definitely going to make a fool of himself later.”

Hearing that, scenes from the original novel flashed through Jiang Mingyi’s mind, describing the prank.

[Bai Yumo, a poor boy, found himself at a grand banquet hosted by the rich and powerful. He looked nervous and overwhelmed. Fortunately, Lu Jingze appeared like a knight in shining armor, staying close to him, caring for him attentively, and gently comforting him, telling him not to worry about the stares from the others.
At that moment, a waiter passed by with drinks. Lu Jingze took a glass of wine and handed it to the anxious young man.
With a gentle tone, Lu Jingze said, “Have some wine, it’ll help you relax.”

Bai Yumo blushed as their fingers brushed when he took the glass. His fair cheeks turned rosy, making Lu Jingze utterly captivated.
Watching this scene from afar, Jiang Mingyi’s eyes burned with jealousy. But remembering the drug mixed in that glass of wine, he grinned smugly.

“Bai Yumo, I can’t wait to see you make a fool of yourself.”

But no matter how long he waited, Bai Yumo never lost composure. Just when he was getting impatient, a spoiled young master from the Pei family suddenly rushed over and hugged him. Before anyone could react, the two spoiled rich boys ended up falling into the outdoor pool.
The entire banquet descended into chaos.]

What a brainless plot.

Jiang Mingyi decided he refused to be a part of it.

He pressed down on Pie Shiqing’s wine glass. “Why fuss over a little tart like him? It makes us look petty and lowers our status.”

Pei Shiqing blinked in confusion.

Weren’t you the one always wanting to teach him a lesson?

Jiang Mingyi suddenly chuckled. “If Lu Jingze likes Bai Yumo, let him.”

“Wait, Mingbao, are you so mad you’re talking nonsense now?”

Pie Shiqing forgot about the wine and reached out to touch Jiang Mingyi’s forehead. “No fever…”

Jiang Mingyi swatted his hand away and casually poured the wine into a nearby potted plant, then placed the glass on the low table.

“No. I just suddenly figured it out,” he explained.

“I realized Lu Jingze isn’t even that good-looking, and his temper sucks. Why should I waste my time liking someone like him? There are so many talented young men at this party—any one of them would be better than Lu Jingze.”

His delicate features lit up with a bold, cheerful smile.

Jiang Mingyi pointed at a tall figure surrounded by a group of young people in the distance. “Look over there—broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs. Even just the back view is irresistible. Why should I ignore such a fine specimen just to fight Bai Yumo over that useless Lu Jingze?”

Only Bai Yumo, eager to shed his lowly status and marry into wealth, would see Lu Jingze as a golden opportunity.

In the original story, Bai Yumo indeed becomes the golden phoenix and gets a happy ending with Lu Jingze. Why should he be the cannon fodder trying to break them up?

Looking at the clingy pair, Jiang Mingyi only felt they looked like a perfect match: a scumbag Top and a cheap bottom.

“That handsome guy over there is clearly the better choice!”

Leaving that sentence behind with glee, Jiang Mingyi whistled and left the small terrace while Pie Shiqing stared at him, dumbfounded.

“Wait, Mingbao, what are you planning to do?”

Without turning back, Jiang Mingyi replied, “Obviously, I’m going to find that handsome guy and start a sweet, sweet romance.”