After Amnesia, I Learn I'm a Scumbag Top?! - Chapter 39
Chapter 39
“I told you before that this plan of yours wasn’t sustainable. You can’t expect that kid to keep playing along with your charade forever.” When Zhou Yingjie received Chu Tinghan’s call in the middle of the night, he initially thought something major had happened. But it turned out to be just another relationship drama.
He couldn’t fathom why Chu Tinghan was so fixated on this one particular tree, seemingly determined to hang himself from it.
His response was met with an eerie silence.
Zhou Yingjie sat up in bed, casually switching on the bedside lamp. He figured this emotional crisis might be even worse than the last one.
Just as he was racking his brain for comforting words and about to speak, a rustling sound suddenly echoed through the bedroom.
In the dim light, he faintly glimpsed a large, white, furry ball moving across the room.
Leaning forward, he squinted and saw a pair of round, obsidian-like puppy eyes.
Lucky had apparently woken up at some point and, hearing the commotion, had sauntered over with his tail wagging.
Just as Lucky settled down by his bed, a voice finally broke the silence on the other end of the line.
Chu Tinghan’s voice sounded hoarse: “Then… what do you think I should do now?”
The night was silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Though Zhou Yingjie had his phone’s volume turned low, Lucky’s keen ears perked up, his head tilting as he precisely caught Chu Tinghan’s words. Instantly, the little dog grew agitated, raising his front paws and whimpering as he tried to jump onto the bed.
Lucky’s sudden reaction startled Zhou Yingjie so badly that he jerked backward, phone in hand, the bedsheets crinkling under the dog’s frantic claws.
With a mighty leap, Lucky landed on the bed and nuzzled his snout against the phone, which Zhou Yingjie momentarily lost his grip on, sending it clattering to the floor.
The moment the phone hit the floor, Lucky leaped down after it, as if to snatch it in his teeth.
Thankfully, Zhou Yingjie’s reflexes were quicker, and he snatched up the phone first. Holding it high above his head, he stared down at the frantic puppy jumping against his legs, barking incoherently, “Lucky! Lucky! Good boy! Sit!”
But Lucky completely ignored him. The usually well-behaved dog was acting completely out of character, continuing to pounce at him, trying to snatch the phone.
Desperate and frantic, Zhou Yingjie finally switched to speakerphone and pleaded with Chu Tinghan for help. “Hey, your Lucky seems to have gone completely mad! He’s not listening to me at all. Could you say something to him?”
Hearing this, Chu Tinghan was even more anxious. “What’s wrong with Lucky?”
The moment Lucky heard Chu Tinghan’s voice, his excitement surged, making Zhou Yingjie immensely grateful he’d trimmed the dog’s nails just a few days prior. Otherwise, his pajama pants would have been shredded to ribbons by the tiny claws.
As Zhou Yingjie stroked the dog’s head, trying to calm him down, he explained, “Nothing serious. He’s probably just been missing you. He got really excited when he heard your voice and keeps jumping all over me.”
Chu Tinghan finally relaxed, took a deep breath, and softened his tone as he called through the phone, “Lucky? Lucky?”
Hearing the familiar voice call his name, Lucky’s eyes lit up, his whimpering grew louder, and he nearly knocked Zhou Yingjie to the ground in his frenzy.
Despite all the commotion, the Alaskan sprawled asleep by the door remained undisturbed. Watching his deeply slumbering, oblivious son, Zhou Yingjie felt a wave of despair and continued pleading with Chu Tinghan, “Could you get Lucky to sit down? He’s already snagged threads all over my pajama pants.”
After what felt like an eternity—Zhou Yingjie was almost ready to light incense for his ruined pajama pants—Chu Tinghan’s voice finally came through the phone: “Lucky, sit.”
The next moment, the hyperactive puppy instantly fell silent, obediently sitting on the floor, wagging its tail and cocking its head as it stared intently at Zhou Yingjie’s phone.
Zhou Yingjie: “……”
Fine, as expected, the master’s words still carry the most weight.
All that dog food and canned meat I bought these past few days was a complete waste.
He glanced at the doorway and saw his idiot son had rolled over to the other side, still snoring away. Zhou Yingjie’s speechless frustration only deepened.
They’re both dogs, so how come Lucky is so smart while my idiot son only knows how to eat and sleep?
Ah well, as long as my kid is happy and by my side, I shouldn’t ask for more.
At least he’s not a stray no one wants.
At that thought, Zhou Yingjie’s mind suddenly froze, and his gaze drifted inexplicably to Lucky.
Chu Tinghan left Lucky with me for so many days. Even though I know it’s temporary, the puppy doesn’t understand human language. Could he think his owner abandoned him? Could he think he’s become just another unwanted stray?
A pang of sadness hit Zhou Yingjie. He couldn’t resist stroking the puppy’s perked-up ears as he sighed, “Hey, when are you planning to take Lucky back? You’ve left him with me for so long—what if he thinks you don’t want him anymore?”
The other end of the line remained eerily silent. Zhou Yingjie continued, stroking Lucky’s fur.
“Why don’t you take Lucky back when you get a chance? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying he’s a nuisance, but… isn’t it a bit cruel to keep him here? Even though you visit every few days, it’s still nothing like having him at home. No one likes living in someone else’s house, right? I bet dogs feel the same.”
“Also, I’ve noticed Lucky’s been less lively lately. He used to be all bouncy and excited whenever we went out, but now he just hangs his tail low and mopes around. He’s definitely not happy. He’s even eating less and has gotten thinner than when you first brought him over.”
Still no response. Zhou Yingjie glanced at his phone, thinking the signal might be weak. Seeing full bars, he called out, “Hey, Chu Tinghan? Can you hear me?”
A muffled “Mm” came from the other end, sounding utterly dejected.
Zhou Yingjie hesitated, wondering if he’d been too harsh. He steered the conversation back to its original point. “About what you said about the kid… I still think… we should just cut our losses now.”
After a pause, drawing on some unknown reserve of courage, Zhou Yingjie continued earnestly, “You should confess to him sooner rather than later. Before things get any worse—he’s not deeply attached to Chengcheng yet. He might even forgive you. If you keep dragging this out, what if he finds out first…?”
Zhou Yingjie didn’t dare finish the sentence, but he was sure Chu Tinghan understood his meaning.
As expected, Chu Tinghan replied gravely, “I understand. Let me consider it further.”
He knew deep down that he couldn’t let Pei Ji and Chengcheng continue their relationship indefinitely. With each passing day, the cracks in his facade grew wider, and lies, no matter how carefully crafted, eventually crumble.
His immediate priority was to separate them for a while. Distance would naturally cool their affection. Once the time was right, he would confess the truth to Pei Ji.
Woof! Woof-woof! Lucky’s urgent barks suddenly erupted from the phone, though not loud, they carried a palpable urgency.
The sound instantly snapped Chu Tinghan back to reality. After a moment’s thought, he abruptly ended the call and immediately initiated a video call with Zhou Yingjie.
When Zhou Yingjie answered the video call, he didn’t point the camera at himself but rather at Lucky.
Chu Tinghan watched as Lucky’s furry head pressed closer and closer until it filled the entire screen, his black, wet nose nudging the glass again and again. The dog alternated between whimpering and barking, as if trying to burrow through the screen to reach him.
A sharp pang stabbed at Chu Tinghan’s heart, a mix of tenderness and ache. Zhou Yingjie’s earlier words suddenly echoed in his mind:
Isn’t this a bit cruel to the dog?
Earlier, his thoughts had been too chaotic to properly consider Zhou Yingjie’s remark. But now, after deeper reflection, he realized the truth in those words. His actions had been particularly cruel to Lucky.
A dog’s world is simple: all they want is to be by their owner’s side every day. Yet he had entrusted Lucky to someone else for nearly half a year.
Half a year…
A dog’s life only spans a few years. If Lucky could think and speak, he would probably hate him to death.
Chu Tinghan was instantly overwhelmed by boundless remorse. A dark cloud descended over his heart, stirring up a tempest of regret.
“Just let me know when you’ve made up your mind, and I’ll bring Lucky back to you right away,” Zhou Yingjie said, turning the phone camera to face himself.
Chu Tinghan’s figure vanished from Lucky’s view. Frantic, Lucky began pawing at Zhou Yingjie again.
The video feed became a chaotic blur, alternating between Zhou Yingjie’s face and Lucky’s furry, oversized head.
Hearing the puppy’s whimpering through the phone, Chu Tinghan felt his chest tighten and ache. Unable to bear watching any longer, he ended the call.
He had once hoped to keep his secret hidden for as long as possible, but now regret gnawed at him. He longed to find the right moment to confess everything to Pei Ji.
To free Chengcheng, to free himself, and to bring Lucky home sooner.
The next day, An Zhu was buried in reviewing contracts. Without checking the caller ID, she answered the phone.
“How’s work going lately?” A crisp, cool voice caught her off guard. An Zhu froze, wondering if she’d misheard.
She glanced at the caller ID—it was indeed her cousin, Chu Tinghan. More shocked than ever, she blurted out in disbelief, “Brother, what made you think of calling me?”
The topic felt so abrupt. Her cousin had never shown such concern for her career before. Something’s definitely up.
Chu Tinghan replied blandly, “Can’t I just be concerned about you?”
An Zhu let out a skeptical “Hmm,” goosebumps rising on her skin. “I don’t buy it…”
Despite her skepticism, she answered his question truthfully. “Work’s going great! Business is booming. We recently signed a few recent college graduates during graduation season. One of the guys even mentioned that his idol is Song God Chu Tinghan…”
“Alright, alright,” Chu Tinghan cut in, recognizing An Zhu was about to launch into another rambling tangent. “How’s that artist you signed earlier doing?”
The artist I signed earlier?
An Zhu’s mind circled for a moment before realization struck. So that’s why Chu Tinghan suddenly called—it’s about Pei Ji.
A sudden wave of anxiety washed over her. Could my cousin think I’m not giving Pei Ji enough opportunities? Is he calling to grill me and support his little boyfriend?
Heaven and earth bear witness! I’ve crammed every resource I could possibly secure into Pei Ji’s schedule.
An Zhu cautiously replied, “Um… he’s doing okay, I guess.”
Chu Tinghan continued, “I’ve recently invested in a variety show that’s about to start filming. We’re still short one guest. Do you have any suitable artists on your roster?”
An Zhu mentally translated: I want Pei Ji on this variety show. Consider this your notice.
At this point, she should feign ignorance and exclaim Pei Ji’s name with utter surprise and delight. But she had just booked him for a travel variety show, and his schedule might be too tight.
Terrified of death, An Zhu dared not reveal the truth. She stalled for time, saying, “Um… let me take a closer look.”
Chu Tinghan had no patience for her evasiveness. He cut straight to the point: “What about Pei Ji?”
Damn, no playing dumb this time.
“He is… technically available,” An Zhu stammered, “but I just got him another outdoor variety show—as a permanent guest! And the director personally invited him! We haven’t signed the contract yet, but backing out now would be bad form…” Her voice trailed off, each word dripping with fear and guilt.
Just when she thought her life was about to end, Chu Tinghan surprised her by not arguing. His expression and tone barely shifted as he simply replied, “I see.”
An Zhu found this strange. When did my brother become so reasonable?
Chu Tinghan said nothing more, and An Zhu assumed the matter was settled. But a few days later, she saw Chu Tinghan’s name among the tentative guest list for the very same variety show.
So, he went to such great lengths to invite Pei Ji onto the show just so they could be on the same program?
How had she never realized her brother was such a love-obsessed idiot, completely unable to handle a long-distance relationship?
An Zhu had only guessed half the truth. Chu Tinghan’s real motive for getting Pei Ji on the variety show was to separate him from Chengcheng.
His lies were like a dilapidated building on the verge of collapse; the slightest misstep could reduce them to rubble.
But he couldn’t accept that outcome. He was greedy; he didn’t want to be separated. He desperately hoped for a way to have it all: to stop pretending while still avoiding Pei Ji’s scorn.
The best option he could think of was to confess everything to Pei Ji. Only by coming clean first could he hope for forgiveness.
Therefore, he planned to separate Pei Ji and Chengcheng for a while, allowing their still-fragile father-son bond to weaken. Only then would he have the courage to confess and seek forgiveness.