Chapter 10

Song Ling held the milk and banana in front of the door, looking at the direction Zhou Qingluo left, lips curling up slightly.

Song Zhaoguang supported Song Jinyi out, asking about his health. Seeing Song Ling sitting lazily outside, the loving expression on his face instantly disappeared.

What surprised him was that there was actually a smile on Song Ling’s face and not the usual mocking sneer.

This month, Song Ling smoked a lot and got hungover, his blood indicators barely a pass. Song Zhaoguang coldly threatened, “You just try drinking and smoking next time, affecting your blood quality.”

Song Ling grabbed the bottle of milk, as if he didn’t hear.

Song Zhaoguang: “You better behave and not stir up any trouble.”

Song Ling raised his eyes, mouth flattening, and looked at him coldly, mocking: “Can you stop me?”

Song Zhaoguang frowned. He knew that his threat was just formality to Song Ling. Every time after Song Ling finished transfusing blood to Song Jinyi, he would rip the tiles off the roof (go haywire).

Last time, he went to Jiang Shiyan’s celebration banquet to make a mess. After scolding him, he ordered snail noodles and even brought the delivery staff to annoy him.

In order to not embarrass himself, Song Zhaoguang didn’t want to talk to him too much. He had already prepared for the opening day of Rising Sun Mall, and Song Ling wouldn’t be able to cause any trouble.

After Song Ling finished mocking him, he grabbed the milk and banana, walking towards the surgery department.

He walked quickly, as if he was hurrying off to chase someone.

When Zhou Qingluo got to the surgery department office, everyone else went to the cafeteria to eat and only Zhou Qingmu was still there writing up reports.

“Sis, eat first.”

Zhou Qingmu put down her pen and rubbed her stomach, “Wow, I’m really hungry. Dad’s food is really delicious.”

Zhou Qingluo: “Dad’s cooking is so good; he can definitely open up a restaurant.”

“Dad’s temperament is meek and not confident. He’s always afraid he can’t do it well.”

Just as Zhou Qingmu opened the lunchbox, her colleagues came back from the cafeteria. Seeing her meal, they immediately surrounded her, “What delicious food did Uncle cook for you today?”

Zhou Qingmu: “Braised pork ribs and scrambled eggs with loaf. Come and try it.”

Zhou Shoulin packed a lot for her, as if afraid she wouldn’t have enough.

Her colleague didn’t stand on courtesy, picking up a piece of ribs and putting it in her mouth, enjoying it with eyes closed: “Qingmu, you should get your dad to work in the cafeteria. It’s too good.”

“My gosh, I’ve never eaten such a good pork rib before.”

A colleague said on a whim, “Hey Qingmu, you should ask your dad to make some more portions. We’ll pay for it, take it as a packaged meal.” They paused and glanced at Zhou Qingluo, “You can have your brother deliver it at noon.”

When they finished speaking, another teased, “Do you want to eat or see the little brother?”

“Can’t I do both?”

Zhou Qingluo listened to their jokes with a smile, but some words caught his interest.

Dad really can open up a takeout store.

He was just about to ask when a doctor asked, “How about it, Qingmu’s brother? If we order food from Uncle in the future, will you deliver it to us?”

Zhou Qingluo agreed with a smile, “Of course.”

“Then you should go back and discuss it with Uncle. If it’s alright, we’ll start ordering from tomorrow on.”

Zhou Qingluo said goodbye to everyone happily and bumped into Song Ling right when he walked out of the office.

Song Ling was still dressed as he was before, wrapped up tightly in black. The sunglasses blocked his eyes so that no one knew where he was looking.

He looked like such a ruffian. If he tilted his head and added a big silver chain, turn on the lights, and he could directly go on stage and dance.

Zhou Qingluo took two steps forward. Song Ling immediately followed.

The smile on Zhou Qingluo’s face froze and he asked with a frown, “You’re following me?”

Song Ling: “Yes.”

Zhou Qingluo ignored him and kept walking forward, Song Ling matching his steps.

Zhou Qingluo stopped, and Song Ling also stopped.

Zhou Qingluo: “What are you following me for?”

“Nothing much.”

Of course Zhou Qingluo knew why he was following him. Wasn’t it because he looked similar to his dearly beloved white moonlight?

The white moonlight left, so of course he needed warmth and comfort.

Zhou Qingluo stretched out a finger and wagged his finger solemnly, “Don’t follow me. It won’t work.”

This granddaddy isn’t interested in being some substitute!

Song Ling: “…”

At this time, a female doctor came out from the surgery office, somewhat shyly walking up to Zhou Qingluo: “Qingmu’s brother, wait a minute.”

Zhou Qingluo stopped, unfurrowing his brows. He replied with a smile, “My name’s Zhou Qingluo. Do you need something?”

“It’s like this. I run a popular science and medical research website. I heard Qingmu say that you can draw and even contracted with Xingchen Comics. I mean to say, can I make an appointment with you to draw some things for the official account sometimes? Some articles occasionally need an illustration.”

Zhou Qingluo smiled generously: “Of course.”

“That’s great. Let’s add WeChat.”

The female doctor added his WeChat, running back to the office giddily, waving at Zhou Qingluo: “Contact me anytime, Zhou Qingluo.”

After bidding farewell, Zhou Qingluo walked back with Song Ling following after. As they went downstairs, Zhou Qingluo didn’t say a word to him, treating him like air.

Song Ling said nonchalantly, “You’re interested in her?”

Zhou Qingluo rolled his eyes, ignoring him, walking to the scooter. He had just got on when Song Ling seated himself behind him.

Zhou Qingluo turned his head back, a face full of confusion: “What is this?”

A certain someone with a thick face, “I haven’t eaten yet.”

“That’s unfortunate, I already ate.”

Zhou Qingluo gestured for Song Ling to get off but he didn’t budge, his whole body chilly.

It was noon and the sun was blazing. Zhou Qingluo was a bit annoyed, “Hurry up and get off. I have things to do at home.”

“Zhou Qingluo, two months ago, weren’t you trying your best to burrow into my arms?”

Zhou Qingluo’s breath stalled. He tried hard to avoid this matter, but unexpectedly, Song Ling brought it up so frankly.

Before he could answer, Song Ling continued: “Playing hard to get?”

Zhou Qingluo: “…” Playing hard to get my ass!

“I used to be able to ignore you at will, but now I can’t afford it?”

“???” Why could he express this king of thing so blatantly?

Zhou Qingluo was overwhelmed by Song Ling’s brain hole, praying in his heart for a beam of righteousness to wake this narcissist up.

Zhou Qingluo knew that Song Ling wasn’t a normal person and shouldn’t be annoyed. What if he got impatient and snapped his neck? That would be such a tragic death.

Not to mention, Song Ling was taller and stronger than him. He could probably overwhelm him through sheer grit, so if he wanted to live a good life, he might as well avoid it.

Who could beat a desperate lunatic?

Zhou Qingluo patiently said, “You said it yourself, that was two months ago.”

Song Ling was silent for a moment, finally saying: “This era of chasing fads and switching to a new love every day sure is not in vain.”

This strange tone…

Zhou Qingluo wanted to refute, but remembering the original owner’s reputation, he silently took this black pot (blame).

However, what needed to be explained still needed to be explained.

Zhou Qingluo thought about it. This was a good chance to clarify, and it was now or never.

He hemmed and hawed for a while. Then, he looked directly into Song Ling’s sunglasses, saying seriously: “You probably won’t believe it, but the so-called ‘drilling into your arms’ was a misunderstanding.”

Song Ling played along, “A misunderstanding with all my heart.”

Zhou Qingluo: “…I drank too much that day and thought you were a friend.”

Song Ling paused, pursed his lower lip, and took off his sunglasses to look directly at Zhou Qingluo.

Zhou Qingluo was caught off guard by the pair of deep eyes. Double eyelids, tail end raised, clear pupils. They were obviously beautiful eyes, but they were biting cold.

He blinked lightly, not avoiding his gaze.

Song Ling: “Ex-boyfriend?”

???

“…Yes.” Zhou Qingluo decided to run with the train and agreed.

It seemed that the saying was well-said: what kind of person you are makes you believe what kind of people other people are.

Song Ling took off his mask, “How similar?”

“Maybe four or five points.”

“You have pretty good eyesight.”

“…You jest.”

“Then I’m a substitute?”

“……”

Bro, do you not know who the substitute really is? Are you trying to say ‘what a coincidence’?!

Zhou Qingluo had an idea, sincerely saying: “After thinking about it later, I felt that it was unfair to treat you as a substitute. What did you do wrong? Why should you be my substitute, right? Finding a substitute is also very irrational in and of itself, right?”

Zhou Qingluo felt that he was very witty. His heartfelt words would definitely awaken Song Ling’s conscience and let him understand how immoral it was to use a substitute.

He looked at him full of hope.

Song Ling: “I don’t mind being your substitute.”

“……”

Zhou Qingluo never expected things to turn out like this.

He clearly wanted to was himself clean, but he ended up jumping into the mud himself.

Zhou Qingluo: “I already forgot him. I don’t need a substitute anymore.”

“Deceiving yourself.”

“…”

“Zhou Qingluo, your substitute is hungry. Let’s go eat.”

“…”

“Not going? How did your ex hold you before? Do you want me to hold you?”

As the saying goes, a good girl was afraid of entanglement, and a good boy was also afraid of entanglement. Under the scorching sun, Zhou Qingluo was almost annoyed to death by Song Ling.

He resignedly started up the scooter, gritting his teeth: “Sure, where do you want to eat?”

“Just go to where you and your ex-boyfriend frequented.”

Zhou Qingluo laughed in anger, “Why don’t we go to the restaurant you and your ex frequented?”

He regretted saying it immediately. How could he be so conscientious, proactively acting as a substitute for others?

Sigh. Could it be that they would live a life of being a substitute to each other from now on?

The person on the back seat was silent, and Zhou Qingluo knew he touched Song Ling’s reverse scale.

The two fell into a brooding silence.

Zhou Qingluo was just about to liven up the atmosphere when Song Ling said, “My previous boyfriend died.”

Zhou Qingluo: “?”

Dude, are you not a bit too ruthless? You either get it or destroy it? Love to the extreme?

You obviously made a huge ruckus at the other’s celebration banquet.

When he comes back to save you and you give up on destroying the world, you better not forget what you just said.

Zhou Qingluo suddenly realized that Song Ling didn’t know about the mess between him and Jiang Shiyan…

The day Song Ling caused a ruckus, Song Ling didn’t see him at the banquet.

They met in the parking lot.

But Lakeside Hotel had so many floors, he didn’t necessarily go to that floor.

The original owner also didn’t know he was a substitute. He only knew because he transmigrated into the book.

If he couldn’t change the fate of being a substitute, then transmigrating sure was a useless golden finger…

If he tore apart Song Ling’s little secret, would he go crazy and directly snap his neck…?

In order to keep the atmosphere from falling into silence again, Zhou Qingluo casually asked, “How did he die?”

Zhou Qingluo felt that he might as well have not said anything. Just as he was thinking about how to change the subject, Song Ling answered.

“Fell to death.”

“…”

Combined with Jiang Shiyan’s upcoming flight abroad, Zhou Qingluo felt his back chill.

But without Song Ling’s extreme love and hate, how could he have been willing to give up everything for Jiang Shiyan?

None of this had anything to do with him. Everything was fine as long as he didn’t get involved with him and become a substitute.

Zhou Qingluo wanted to hurry up and get to the restaurant, but the traffic lights just happened to change to red. He stopped on the side and the stores on the road were playing songs and advertisements to attract customers.

/Mid-year promotion, everything for 10 yuan. Walking by, just don’t pass it by!/

After broadcasting the ad, the radio started singing.

/I want to invite you to sit on my wild motorcycle/

/I’m willing to take you to eat and drink and go singing/

/My wild motorcycle, although it’s a little beat down/

/Don’t dislike it, you will fall in love with the happiness it brings/

After the song was over, the commercial started playing again.

/Everything for 10 yuan, everything for 10 yuan/

Zhou Qingluo: “…”

Song Ling sat in the back and could clearly feel Zhou Qingluo’s whole body stiffen.

He was embarrassed.

His back was straight as a beam and the white roundneck T-shirt drooped a little, revealing a patch of fair skin, in stark contrast to the tanned neck.

Song Ling suddenly remembered what Jiao Zuo said. Zhou Qingluo was soft and delicate, with thin skin and tender flesh. He stared at the small patch of white skin and raised the corners of his mouth, “What song is this? It’s pretty good.”

“…”

Song Ling looked at the beads of sweat on Zhou Qingluo’s head and took off his cap, putting it on Zhou Qingluo’s head.

Zhou Qingluo: “?”

“Zhou Qingluo, you’re already so dark you’re almost reflecting light.”

“I think blacker is better. I’ll keep it that way in the future to distinguish myself.”

Black is not like your Jiang Shiyan.

Song Ling smiled silently and suddenly wanted to tease him. Looking at the back of his neck, he started humming the song playing on the roadside, “I want to invite you to sit on my wild motorcycle…”

Zhou Qingluo couldn’t bear it anymore, “Shut up.”

“Why?”

“When you talk, you’re not like him anymore. He doesn’t like to speak.”

“…” Song Ling was silent for a while, then snorted, “Didn’t you say you already forgot your ex-boyfriend?”

Zhou Qingluo: “…”

He didn’t want to continue the topic and started his scooter, “It costs 8 yuan to ride on my scooter, an additional 3 yuan per kilometer. You can get off if you don’t like it.”