Chapter 52 Part 2

His voice came out hoarse.

Yu Sui shivered and snapped back to reality. “G-get out!”

Ye Mingxu paused. “Sui Sui?”

He hadn’t expected Yu Sui to be this furious. “We…”

“Get out!” Yu Sui yanked the blanket over himself.

Ye Mingxu licked his lips. “All right.”

He stood up awkwardly and left the room.

It was impossible for him not to have reacted.

Yu Sui stared blankly at the ceiling, still unable to believe what had just happened to him…

[Host, what’s wrong?] The System noticed the mosaic censor on his face and jolted in alarm.

“He’s gone mad.” Yu Sui frowned. “Because of his guilt…”

After hearing the full story, the System paused. [He loves you that much? Willing to top for love.]

Yu Sui nearly spat blood upon hearing that. “Is that the point?”

[In the original plot, all his feelings for you wore away completely. To get revenge, he hooked up with your boss without a shred of guilt.] The System explained, [Now they’ve gotten together early. The man who was already endlessly tolerant of you has done something unforgivable. Of course he’d try every way to make it up to you. But you couldn’t… so he had to for love.]

“Aren’t I just cannon fodder? With the protagonist…” Yu Sui frowned.

[You can’t touch the protagonists, but we can’t control what they do.] The System said, [Looks like their relationship progressing too fast isn’t all good.]

“But I…” Yu Sui struggled to accept it.

[Because you couldn’t, that’s why he… Otherwise, you’d be the top.]

Yu Sui felt deeply aggrieved. “Even topping wouldn’t work—I’m straight!”

[So what now?] The System changed the subject.

“I don’t know.” Yu Sui felt lost and hopeless.

[Don’t do anything rash. This situation is actually pretty mild. You don’t know some hosts’ missions—those are truly against human nature.] The System gave examples. [Having their heart ripped out, tortured body and soul. Or those tool characters passed between protagonists to convey emotions—you get it. Pure tools with no rights.]

Yu Sui was shocked after hearing that. “That’s… way too inhumane.”

[So don’t lose hope, Host. Reviving and defying fate isn’t easy.] The System comforted him.

“But I…” He fell silent.

[Does it disgust you?] The System asked.

“I think…” It was precisely because he could accept it that…

[Do you like him, then?] The System pressed.

“No.” Yu Sui was firm.

[That means you’re all about the physical sensation.] The System concluded. [Don’t overthink it. You’re still straight.]

“How could a straight guy…” Yu Sui was dumbfounded.

[It’s a normal reaction.] The System continued. [Like how guys get morning wood. You’ve had that, right? Was it because of someone specific?]

Yu Sui shook his head. “I don’t have anyone I like.”

But he had definitely reacted.

[See? Normal reaction.] The System said. [You were just stimulated. Anyone would react to that. Otherwise, they’d be frigid or have some psychological block.]

“So I’m still straight?” Yu Sui stared at his hands.

[Yeah.] The System affirmed. [Straight or not, bent or not—it’s a psychological shift. As long as your heart holds firm.]

“I get it.” Yu Sui got up to wash up, though he still felt uneasy. After all…

The System sighed in relief, seeing the Host come around. The senior’s experience manual really came in handy.

To better help the Host complete his mission, it had bought the latest edition of the manual and fully absorbed it. Now nothing unexpected could catch it off guard.

Yu Sui walked with a slight waddle. He assured himself that his heart rejected it—it was just a physiological response. That eased his mind a bit.

He went back to strip the bedsheets, his expression a complicated mix.

Meanwhile, Ye Mingxu next door was lost in thoughts of his husband.

He couldn’t understand why Yu Sui had turned on him and pushed him away. Disappointment gnawed at him, even as the veins on the back of his hand bulged tensely.

Thinking of Yu Sui, he licked his lips. His throat felt dry.

Yu Sui hadn’t slept. The experience had been a huge shock to him.

In the morning, he dawdled before getting up. It was the weekend—no work—so he had no idea how to face the man.

It was just too awkward.

Yet he couldn’t bring himself to blame Ye Mingxu. The guy was a hopeless romantic, after all.

Knock knock knock—

Hearing the knock, Yu Sui froze, not daring to move.

“Sui Sui, are you up?”

Yu Sui pretended not to hear.

Creak—

Ye Mingxu pushed the door open and walked to the bedside. “Sui Sui, do you want me to carry you up?”

His husband’s acting had gotten worse—his eyelashes fluttered nonstop.

Yu Sui opened his eyes. “No need.”

Seeing Ye Mingxu’s smile made him annoyed. “What are you smiling at?”

“Alright, no more teasing. Let’s eat breakfast, then head to the mall.” Ye Mingxu said.

Yu Sui pressed his lips together in silence.

Only after the man left did Yu Sui get out of bed.

He washed up and dressed neatly before steeling himself to open the door.

Ye Mingxu watched him intently.

Seeing Yu Sui’s ear tips turn bright red, he knew the man was embarrassed and didn’t bring up last night.

Had it been too sudden yesterday? Scared Sui Sui?

Makes sense. He’d been so distant before. Now things had escalated so quickly—Yu Sui probably couldn’t keep up.

No problem. Take it slow.

Ye Mingxu ladled porridge for him and sat across the table. “Sui Sui, is there anything you want to buy?”

“Not really.” Yu Sui kept his head down.

“Got it.” Ye Mingxu nodded, already planning to pick out some clothes for him.

He glanced toward the bedroom, wondering when the things he’d bought would come into play.

Unaware of his husband’s thoughts, Yu Sui ate in silence.

He just felt so uncomfortable.

[Relax. The protagonist will fully move on later.] The System reassured him.

After breakfast, they headed to the mall.

Ye Mingxu bought a ton of stuff, but Yu Sui had no intention of helping carry any—even though his husband had bought plenty for him too.

Gold-digging shamelessly was the main vibe.

Yu Sui gradually relaxed. This was only the second mission, and he was already like this. What about later…

They grabbed lunch at some casual spot midday.

Unexpectedly, they ran into Meng Chenxiao again.

The man had two others with him—friends, by the looks of it.

“What a coincidence.” Yesterday’s events hadn’t fazed him at all. He greeted them familiarly as ever.

“President Meng.” Yu Sui stood up. “Small world.”

For some reason, he felt guilty. What if Meng Chenxiao found out he’d messed with his man? Would he get revenge?

No—that was his husband.

Ye Mingxu’s good mood cut off abruptly. His smile faded, though he still politely stood and greeted them. “Hello.”

“Lawyer Ye, long time no see.” The man in the blue tracksuit greeted politely. “We’ve met before.”

“Oh, it’s you. Young Master Zhang.”

Now he couldn’t chase them off.

The five of them sat down.

Young Master Zhang raved about Ye Mingxu’s past tactics, full of admiration.

Ye Mingxu smiled without responding. Instead, he looked across at Yu Sui, curious what expression his husband would show upon hearing this.

But Yu Sui kept his head down, utterly silent.

Somewhat disappointed, Ye Mingxu picked up some food for him with his chopsticks.

Meng Chenxiao sat beside Yu Sui without a word, his face turned to stare at the man.

He wondered what the two of them had done after going home yesterday.

Probably…

Meng Chenxiao hadn’t known exactly what they’d done. He’d looked it up afterward.

The anime depictions were even more exaggerated.

His cheeks burned red. That night, he dreamed of the movie theater.

But this time, he’d snatched Yu Sui away and gone even further than Ye Mingxu. Even as the man cried and begged him, he hadn’t relented.

He woke up utterly embarrassed.

Lost in these thoughts, he didn’t notice the atmosphere at the table turning awkward.

His two friends—and even his rival across from him—were all staring at him.

The rival brimmed with hostility, while his friends’ expressions were indescribable.

Beside him, Young Master Sun was hunched over, typing furiously into the group chat.

[WeChat] Grandpa Sun: No way, the guy you’re into is Lawyer Ye’s partner? You’re such an ass.

[WeChat] Young Master Zhang: I ain’t helping you, bro. Lawyer Ye did my family a solid.

[WeChat] Young Master Zhang: Turn back now. You have no idea how scary Lawyer Ye is. You’re way too bold poaching his man. Aren’t you afraid he’ll…

[WeChat] Grandpa Sun: Lawyer Ye’s gonna eat you alive. Can you tone it down? Look at how you’ve shoved him aside?

Friends were complaining in the group chat, and Meng Chenxiao finally heard the commotion. He withdrew his gaze, sat up straight, and lowered his head to look at his phone.

[WeChat] Pure Meng: Is Ye Mingxu really that amazing?

[WeChat] Young Master Zhang: He’s never lost. What do you think?

Meng Chenxiao frowned.

Yu Sui ate silently, but his mind was elsewhere.

Meng Chenxiao’s appearance definitely wasn’t a coincidence. Was he secretly bringing his brothers to see his sister-in-law?

Too brazen.

He grumbled to himself inwardly.

Fortunately, after they finished eating, the three of them didn’t linger and said they had something to do before leaving.

Yu Sui breathed a sigh of relief. He’d actually been under a lot of pressure because they kept glancing at him from time to time.

He heard their phones ringing nonstop—probably still gossiping about him in the group.

“Are you full?” Ye Mingxu asked him.

His husband wasn’t being quite so attentive today, and he was in a good mood. It seemed breaking through that barrier yesterday had been the right move.

“Mm.” Yu Sui nodded.

The two of them left the mall.

Meng Chenxiao and the others went downstairs and got back in the car but didn’t drive off right away.

Young Master Zhang looked at him. “Why don’t you just give up? One’s willing to take the beating, and the other’s willing to give it.”

“Exactly. That’s Ye Mingxu you’re talking about. You try poaching from his wall, and aren’t you afraid something’ll happen at your house?” Young Master Qian chimed in to advise.

“No way. I fell in love with him at first sight,” Meng Chenxiao said. “Besides, their relationship isn’t equal—they haven’t even gone public.”

“That’s still their private business,” Young Master Zhang reminded him.

“I asked you guys to think of ways to help, not to speak up for Ye Mingxu,” Meng Chenxiao cut them off.

The two exchanged helpless looks.

“Then befriend that Yu Sui first. Wait until the day he gives up on him, and you step in,” Young Master Zhang said casually to brush him off. “Don’t do anything that crosses the line. You might be fine, but that little employee could get in trouble.”

“Of course I wouldn’t do anything that crosses the line,” Meng Chenxiao said righteously. “I’m just caring about him as a friend.”

The two of them looked utterly unconvinced.

Meng Chenxiao pondered how to make Yu Sui wake up to reality.

Yu Sui got back in the car with Ye Mingxu.

He had just fastened his seatbelt when the man leaned over and hugged him.

Yu Sui’s body stiffened. “What’s wrong?”

“Sui Sui, keep your distance from your boss at work,” Ye Mingxu instructed. That man had come over today, clearly not ready to give up, and he wasn’t by Yu Sui’s side…

“Hm?” Yu Sui gripped his hands tightly, his heart sinking. Was Meng Chenxiao going to mess with him?

Author’s note:

Yu Sui: I’m straight.

Ye Mingxu: Okay, okay, straight guy.

Meng Chenxiao: Stare——