A Little Chubby Boy 8

Lin Lang looked at Xue You with an expression that seemed to say he thought Xue You was out of his mind.

Xue You wiped his eyes with his fingers, as if he was laughing so hard he couldn’t catch his breath. After finally calming down, he said, “Ha, haha, even though their tone and temperament seem completely different—one is gentle as jade, the other is dark inside with a prickly exterior—why do they look so similar?”

Lin Lang’s heart skipped a beat, understanding who Xue You was referring to, but he feigned ignorance and said, “I don’t know what nonsense General Xue is talking about. It’s late, and my little treasure should be going to bed. I hope General Xue will excuse us.”

Xue You, however, didn’t bother with any pretense of politeness. With a hint of mockery and a touch of sympathy in his eyes, he said, “How could Lord Lin not know who I’m talking about?!”

“This person comes from a prestigious family, is exceptionally talented, and coincidentally, like Lord Lin, was also a top scholar. As for appearance, well, just like Lord Lin, like a flower in the mist of the moon.”

As Xue You spoke, a look of infatuation and longing appeared in his eyes. But when he looked back at Lin Lang, there was a subtle coldness and disdain. His tone turned colder as he said, “However, no matter how brightly a wildflower grows in the countryside, how can it compare to the moon in the sky?! Ultimately, it can’t make it to the grand stage—”

Lin Lang couldn’t help but show some surprise on his face. His thoughts at that moment were like a thousand grass mud horses galloping through his mind. He never expected this! He really didn’t expect it! Xue You actually had such unspeakable thoughts about his former self!

He felt like he had swallowed a fly! So disgusted that he wanted to vomit out what he had just eaten! But food is precious and innocent, and he couldn’t waste it on such a disgusting person—

He was almost amused by his own anger. This person was thinking about his former self while belittling his current self as unworthy of the grand stage! Even calling him a wildflower in the mud of the countryside! Really thinking too highly of himself!

Lin Lang turned to look at Xue You, his face expressionless, even with a faint smile, and said, “Ha, so this is how General Xue makes friends. It’s truly an eye-opener for me!”

“I am just me, neither the wildflower General Xue speaks of nor related to the moon in the sky that General Xue longs for. Since General Xue looks down on me, please don’t force yourself to lower your status to befriend me—”

Lin Lang’s words were not polite at all, and he was speechless at Xue You, wondering what kind of person he was. Looking down on him yet trying to befriend him, and not even managing to keep a fake face throughout, who was he trying to disgust—

Xue You stood up, walked over to Lin Lang, and looked down at him with a cold glint in his eyes, saying, “Ha, what are you pretending for, Lord Lin?! Do you think I’m the only one who thinks this way?!”

“Do you think His Majesty treats you differently because he cherishes your talent? Or because he values you as a person?!”

“Don’t be naive. Everyone in the court knows that His Majesty only has Ning Shizi in his heart, and even His Majesty himself has never denied it. The reason you get any attention from His Majesty is just because you resemble Ning Shizi, basking in his glory—”

“This general is just being honest by saying it to your face!”

Lin Lang looked at Xue You as if he were a rare species, truly admiring someone who could speak of their own scumminess so righteously! But Xue You was a bit taller than him, so he had to look up slightly, which made him feel a bit defeated and really annoyed.

He sneered, “General Xue is really full of himself—”

He was about to start his full-powered sarcasm mode when Little Chubby Boy in his arms angrily said, “Bad guy! Big bad guy! Uncle is a big bad guy!”

Lin Lang was stunned, all his words stuck in his throat—this Little Chubby Boy was really worth raising!

But he didn’t expect Xue You to be even more shameless, getting angry and pinching Little Chubby Boy’s chubby cheeks with a vicious look in his eyes, saying, “You ungrateful little brat, who are you calling a bad guy?!”

Xue You didn’t pinch hard, but the little guy’s face was so white and tender that it quickly turned red, and the little guy was scared by Xue You’s look, immediately bursting into tears.

Lin Lang slapped Xue You’s hand away with a “smack,” his eyes red with anger, saying, “Bullying even a three-year-old, Xue You, are you even a man?!”

Xue You’s expression turned ferocious, “Ha, Lin Lang, don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. Crushing you and this little brat is as easy as crushing an ant for me—”

“Chang Shi, show Lord Lin some color—”

The guard beside him responded, stepped forward, drew his sword, and raised it to strike Lin Lang.

Little Chubby Boy had never seen such a scene before, and immediately cried like a pig being slaughtered, throwing himself into Lin Lang’s arms, spreading his little chubby arms to hug his father, as if trying to protect him with his little chubby body.

Seeing Little Chubby Boy like this, Lin Lang felt both heartache and sadness. At this moment, he realized he was too naive, thinking that as long as he advised the emperor to be diligent and gained enough energy points, it would be enough for Little Chubby Boy and him to live. He never considered that being too conspicuous in the court would inevitably drag him into the whirlpool of various forces. He didn’t mind for himself, but he couldn’t bear the consequences of involving Little Chubby Boy.

As the sword came down, Lin Lang turned his back, shielding Little Chubby Boy in his arms, feeling a sense of desolation, thinking he might meet his end here today! Even so, he would protect the little guy with all his might.

However, the expected pain didn’t come. He turned back cautiously, only to see the emperor, who had appeared out of nowhere, drawing a sword to block Chang Shi’s blade, then kicking him hard in the chest, sending him flying several meters and crashing into a beam in the private room. Chang Shi clutched his chest, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

The emperor shielded Lin Lang and Little Chubby Boy behind him, his face icy, his voice cold and stern, “Who gave you the courage to attempt murder on a court official in public?!”

Chang Shi struggled to get up, knelt on the ground, and remained silent with his head down.

Xue You was shocked for a moment, but quickly regained his composure, saluting the emperor, “Your Majesty! Your Majesty is overreacting. I was merely admiring Lord Lin, so I invited him for a meal. It was just a joke with Lord Lin, with no intention of harming him!”

The emperor’s face was like ice, “Do you take me for a fool?! Your guard’s sword was about to hit Lin Lang’s head, and you call that a joke?!”

The emperor didn’t give Xue You a chance to argue, directly ordering, “Guards, take this guard down and hand him over to the Ministry of Justice!”

Two plainclothes guards stepped forward and dragged Chang Shi away. Xue You’s face turned dark, but he didn’t dare say more.

The emperor directly took Lin Lang and Little Chubby Boy away.

Once they were seated in the emperor’s luxurious and comfortable carriage, Lin Lang was still a bit dazed. At the moment he thought he was done for, all sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind, but in the end, there was only one left: for Little Chubby Boy’s safety, he was willing to pay any price. If anyone could save them at that moment, he would be eternally grateful!

And when he saw the emperor, he felt like his wish had come true! He had never felt the emperor was as heroic as at that moment!

Even after sitting in the carriage, he was still very moved. After comforting Little Chubby Boy, he couldn’t help but awkwardly ask, “Why did Your Majesty appear at Chunfeng Building today?”

The emperor gave him a complex look, clearly saying, shouldn’t you know better than anyone why I was there?!

Lin Lang pretended not to understand and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for saving us today. Otherwise, who knows what General Xue would have done to us!”

Seeing that he was genuinely a bit frightened, the emperor couldn’t help but feel a bit different, comforting him, “Xue You was indeed just trying to scare you. He wouldn’t dare do anything to you. But even so, I will severely punish that guard and won’t let Xue You off easily!”

Lin Lang opened his mouth, wanting to say something. He wanted to advise the emperor not to confront Xue You so openly at this time. After all, Xue You was the protagonist in the original story, blessed with the world’s fortune, and directly opposing him might not be favorable for the emperor.

But after what Xue You did to Little Chubby Boy today, he was genuinely angry. Even if there was a backlash from the world, he wanted to show Xue You some color, to let him know he wasn’t to be trifled with.

While he was still pondering, Little Chubby Boy was trying hard to reach out with his chubby body, spreading his little chubby arms towards the emperor.

The emperor couldn’t help but frown, looking displeased, but seeing the little guy’s eyebrows and eyes resembling Zi Mo, he softened a bit and couldn’t help but reach out to take him.

Little Chubby Boy snuggled in the emperor’s arms, resting his little head softly on his chest, and said in a childish voice, “Thank you, Huang Huang! Today, Huang Huang was really amazing!”

The emperor was taken aback, inexplicably feeling a bit embarrassed and shy—