ABSML Chapter 2: Accidental Injury

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Chen Zhan had no idea that an article would spark a bloody incident. When he used the tip money to recharge his electricity card, the shop owner chuckled and said, "This is the first time I've seen someone so happy just to pay a bill."

Chen Zhan simply smiled without responding.

The residential area was poorly planned, and cars nearly blocked the entire road. As he navigated a winding path toward his building entrance, he noticed that no one was by the trash bins today.

He checked his watch—normally, the old man would be there at this hour, collecting scraps.

Sliding the key into the worn-out lock, Chen Zhan hesitated for a moment before knocking on the door opposite his own.

"Who is it?" A strong, full-bodied voice sounded from inside.

Expressionless, Chen Zhan turned around and took out his key again.

Just then, the door behind him opened. The old man peeked out and was momentarily surprised to see Chen Zhan.

"Wrong door," Chen Zhan said, leaving a vague explanation.

The old man’s eyes flickered as if he wanted to say something, but before he could, a dull thud signaled the closing of Chen Zhan’s door.

Gazing at the door across from him for a few seconds, the old man tugged at the corners of his mouth in resignation and returned inside.

His apartment had the same layout as Chen Zhan's, but it was even tidier. Its cleanliness stemmed from its monotony.

A young man with strikingly handsome features sat on the sofa, adding a touch of vibrancy to the otherwise dull space. His hair was slightly longer than that of the average man.

"Your neighbor?" he asked.

The old man nodded. "Keeps to himself most of the time, but I don’t think he has a bad nature."

After all, he had noticed that the old man wasn’t out collecting scraps at his usual time and had come over to check.

Next Door

Chen Zhan yawned, thinking about the work he had to do for the day.

Curiosity suddenly struck him. He opened his article to check the comments and, amidst the flood of insults, spotted a few that stood out.

   [Mxx: An impatient reader, urging for updates.]

   [Snow Leopard II: When’s the next update?]

   [Maria’s Hair: Dropping a deep-water tip—hurry and update!]

...

When enough people gather, making them all voice the same opinion is nearly impossible. Still, Chen Zhan hadn’t expected to see differing comments appear so soon.

To avoid legal trouble, his writing was strictly factual. He neither exaggerated nor defamed anyone. He rarely even mentioned names, using mostly placeholders instead.

He had already assessed the risks—Jiang Ying was in the entertainment industry and had a new movie coming out next year. His actions essentially gave her free publicity. As long as he didn't cross the line, he shouldn't face any public backlash.

Chen Zhan’s mood was easily influenced by the weather. He preferred writing at dusk. Just as he was about to close his laptop, the sky outside suddenly darkened.

His window was open, and he could already hear the light patter of rain.

A tinge of melancholy brewed within him. Calmly, he placed his hands back on the keyboard and continued writing for the day.

Maintaining his realistic style, he dedicated a lengthy section to describing how he first entangled himself with Jiang Ying. At the end, he wrote about his first encounter with the male lead—Jiang Ying’s future boyfriend:

"No matter how I tried to strike up a conversation, Jiang Ying wouldn’t even spare me a glance.

Noticing the scars on her fingers, I decided to take a softer approach—I went to buy some sticky notes.

At a convenience store on the south side of the airport, I met my destined lifelong rival for the first time… Lin Chiang.

He—the sole heir of the Lin family—was fluent in English, French, Russian, Slovenian, and seven other languages.

He—deep and unreadable, exuding an untouchable air of nobility—made even a single strand of his hair seem more valuable than an ordinary person’s entire existence.

Fate had brought us together in that moment, and an indescribable jealousy surged in my heart. Why are some people born with a silver spoon, while others, no matter how wealthy, are still seen as mere upstarts?

At that moment, I saw him pull out a hundred-yuan bill, tell the cashier to keep the change, and then walk away in a hurry."

"This is an insult to me!"

"He did it on purpose! Just to prove his generosity!"

"Otherwise, why didn’t he use mobile payment?"

Less than half a minute after publishing the latest update, several comments had already appeared. Chen Zhan skimmed through them casually:

   [Maria’s Hair: I have no words for this writing style, but somehow, the author’s final thought makes so much damn sense!]

   [Ghostly Lover: Agreed +1. The logic is flawless.]

Chen Zhan closed his eyes and rubbed his temples, trying to ease the fatigue in his eyes.

The rain had come and gone in an instant. If not for the damp breeze carrying the scent of grass, there would be no trace of it at all.

Enjoying the cool air for a moment, Chen Zhan stretched his arms and legs, then started worrying about dinner.

His article hadn’t reached the paywall stage yet, so he relied solely on tips for income. After paying the utilities, affording three meals a day was becoming a challenge.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Behind it was an elderly face.

Chen Zhan instinctively said, "I wasn’t the one rummaging through the trash downstairs."

The old man waved a hand dismissively. "I’m not saying you’re stealing my business."

He lifted the bottle of liquor he was holding. "A kid I once sponsored brought this over. Drinking alone is boring."

Chen Zhan frowned. "You should be more cautious. It's important to be aware of potential dangers."

The old man thought he was going to refuse, but to his surprise, Chen Zhan followed up with: "Consider this my safety awareness lesson. I’ll reluctantly accept the bottle."

A minute later, Chen Zhan found himself in the old man’s apartment, using his barely passable cooking skills to prepare a couple of simple side dishes.

He preferred interacting with people over fifty. They spent less time online, had little interest in the entertainment industry, and were unaware of the disgraceful things his past self had done.

The liquor was mild, with a hint of sweetness. Chen Zhan took a sip, then closed his eyes in satisfaction.

The old man began to brag about how successful and grateful his sponsored student had become. "He knew I wasn’t feeling well, so he made a special trip to visit me."

Chen Zhan glanced at a box of ordinary eggs placed in the corner. He failed to see where the supposed "success" was. Given that the visit only came after the old man mentioned feeling unwell, he couldn’t help but overthink it.

Having grown up in a harsh environment, Chen Zhan's first instinct was to judge people’s actions with suspicion.

Just days ago, the news had reported a case of an idle young man preying on an elderly person’s inheritance. He frequently visited and cared for the old man, pretending to be a filial "grandson," only to take his life after the old man successfully recovered from surgery.

Chen Zhan refilled his glass, frowned, and said, "Next time he comes to visit, if it's convenient, let me join you."

The old man looked at him in confusion.

Chen Zhan, appearing casual, said, "I just want to learn a thing or two."

The old man was stunned for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "You’re right. With his guidance, maybe you’ll be able to leave this place soon and move to Pearl on the Sea."

Pearl on the Sea was an exclusive luxury residence, its property prices so astronomical that even calling it "sky-high" felt like an understatement.

Chen Zhan scoffed, clearly uninterested.

He spent the entire afternoon drinking and listening to the old man's stories, completely unaware that he had once again stirred up a storm.

Lin Family Residence

Just thirty minutes after Chen Zhan published his new chapter, a trending topic quickly climbed to the top three:

#CEODoesntGiveChange

That day, Lin Chiang arrived home early, only to be met with sarcastic ridicule from his girlfriend, leaving him in no mood for work.

As he wondered how Jiang Ying had seen his private social media posts, he handed his coat to the housekeeper.

The Lin family was a top-tier aristocratic household, deeply traditional. Lin Chiang’s grandfather had served in the military in his youth and had instilled strict discipline in the family. Though the old master had passed away years ago, his rules still held weight.

His parents sat quietly, waiting for him to join them for dinner.

Sensing an unusual tension in the air, Lin Chiang had just picked up his chopsticks when a stern voice rang out:

"Why didn’t you let the cashier give you change?"

Lin Chiang was completely baffled.

The housekeeper, who had watched him grow up, subtly gestured toward the news as a hint.

Pulling out his phone, Lin Chiang didn’t even need to search—his name was already at the top of the trending list.

Lin Mother: "Is what’s written in the article true?"

Lin Chiang recalled the incident—it might have been related to Jiang Ying. Though it happened a long time ago, he still remembered it clearly. He nodded slightly. "I was in a hurry that day."

Lin Mother, who had once worked as an accountant, frowned. "Do you realize how much trouble that causes for the cashier?"

Lin Chiang was puzzled. "What trouble?"

Lin Mother scoffed. "That’s a convenience store, not a luxury hotel. Anyone could pocket the extra cash. Your actions only make it harder for others when they balance the register at the end of the day."

Lin Father: "He’s too spoiled to understand reason. Cut off a few of his cards starting tomorrow."

"..."

Dinner was eaten in silence, devoid of any taste.

Back in his room, Lin Chiang carefully reread the article. His eyes lingered on the author's name. He pressed his fingers against his temples and muttered under his breath:

"That damn bastard."

_____

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