Chapter 47: The Incompetent Husband 02 Part 2

When the man let out a pained cry, Meng Chenxiao’s face filled with concern. “Where does it hurt?”

“My waist.” Yu Sui was convinced Meng Chenxiao already knew but was forcing him to admit his weakness—just to highlight how superior his own waist was, no doubt.

What a schemer.

At those words, Meng Chenxiao’s gaze fell to Yu Sui’s waist. “Wait here a moment.”

He called his assistant and instructed him to fetch a doctor.

The assistant was surprised by the request.

He, too, had been assigned to the young master by President Meng.

Wasn’t the young master supposed to be spoiled, stubborn, and arrogant? He seemed perfectly approachable.

The assistant promptly arranged for the doctor and didn’t keep it under wraps.

A positive image for the boss was good for the company.

Yu Sui had no idea that rumors were already flying outside: President Meng had fired a team leader in a fit of rage over a lowly employee and even called in a doctor with great fanfare.

Anyone who didn’t know better would think they were filming a domineering CEO drama.

Yu Sui lay on his side on the sofa.

Meng Chenxiao watched him with deep worry, but since he wasn’t a doctor himself, all he could do was fret.

Fortunately, the doctor arrived quickly.

Seeing the crowd of people file in, Yu Sui was dumbfounded.

[He’s trying to announce to the whole world that your waist is no good.] The System said in surprise.

Yu Sui’s face darkened, but he didn’t dare snap at his boss. He could only swallow his anger.

“Check him out quickly.” Meng Chenxiao waved them forward.

The doctor took one look at his expression and adopted a grave demeanor before beginning the examination. “It’s just a bump on the waist. Some rest should do the trick. I’ll give him an injection first.”

Meng Chenxiao nodded and let out a long breath of relief.

The doctor couldn’t help thinking that the company’s leadership must all have performative personality disorder.

Was it really necessary to make such a fuss over a minor injury?

After administering the injection in Yu Sui’s back, the doctor left behind some ointment and a medicated patch.

“No strenuous activity,” the doctor instructed. “And watch your diet for the next few days.”

Yu Sui nodded.

Once everyone else had left, Meng Chenxiao sat down beside him. “Let me apply the medicine for you.”

“No need.” Yu Sui refused. “I should get back to work.”

He didn’t want to be alone in a room with this man—especially not when he looked such a mess while the other man was so impeccably put together.

“Don’t push yourself, or the injury will get worse.” Meng Chenxiao’s face was full of concern.

“Thank you, Young Master Meng.” Yu Sui couldn’t help thinking that the man just wanted to see him at his most pathetic.

Meng Chenxiao went to wash his hands before squatting down beside the sofa.

The shirt that had been tucked into Yu Sui’s pants had been pulled out during the injection.

To make applying the medicine easier, Meng Chenxiao tugged at the waistband of the pants a bit—and spotted the medicated patch. “Were you already injured?”

He frowned. How had he not noticed earlier?

“It’s nothing serious.” Yu Sui’s body went rigid with embarrassment and humiliation.

Peeling back the ointment’s lid revealed a patch of reddened skin. When Meng Chenxiao touched it, his fingers brushed against bone.

The man lying there drew in a sharp hiss of breath and shuddered. “You…”

He bit down on the tip of his tongue to keep from cursing.

“I’m sorry.” Meng Chenxiao’s ears turned red as he stared at the dip in the skin. He’d probably been… too forward.

But Yu Sui couldn’t apply the medicine himself. It would be heartless not to help.

He convinced himself of that.

Dipping his fingertips into the cool ointment, he gently rubbed it over the bony spot. He heard the man let out a muffled grunt—likely from the pain—and felt a pang of guilt.

Meng Chenxiao leaned in and blew on it softly.

Yu Sui felt a gust of warm air and shivered again. He whipped his head around with a ghostly expression. “What are you doing?”

Meng Chenxiao’s cheeks flushed bright red. “I was afraid it would hurt, so…”

Yu Sui eyed him suspiciously. “You…”

Meng Chenxiao looked away and picked up the medicated patch. “I’ll put this on for you.”

Yu Sui pressed his lips together and said nothing, his mind racing. What had this guy been trying to do just now?

Cripple him?

Meng Chenxiao’s fingers trembled.

They’d only just met, and here he was touching such an intimate spot—even if it was just to apply medicine…

“It’s hard for you to do this yourself. Let me help you for the next few days.” He tried to sound casual.

“No need.” Yu Sui had no intention of letting his boss see him made a fool of over and over.

“But you can’t manage it alone.” Meng Chenxiao persisted.

“My wife will help me.” Yu Sui shot back.

What did he mean, all alone? This man was far too brazen. Had his wife stopped being part of his family?

They weren’t even divorced yet!

Unfortunately, his persona wouldn’t let him say it outright, so he could only drop the reminder bluntly.

Meng Chenxiao’s fingers froze. “You’re married?”

“Mm.” What a good actor.

“You… how… you’re married…?” His tone turned dazed and heartbroken.

All his plans for growing close over time and letting feelings blossom naturally lay in ruins.

After applying the patch and straightening Yu Sui’s clothes, Meng Chenxiao turned his face away. “Rest a bit before you go.”

He retreated to the adjoining bathroom, needing a moment to calm down.

Meng Chenxiao hadn’t expected the man to be married. What about his chance at love…?

He sank into bitter anguish.

Seeing the man drop the act so suddenly, Yu Sui knew his position as the legal spouse had struck a nerve.

“Weren’t they supposed to be truly in love?”

[Maybe it’s one-sided infatuation from the protagonist gong. Or maybe the protagonist shou still likes you more after all—he hasn’t given up on you completely yet, so he won’t divorce and hand over the role.] The System explained. [That also explains why you ran into him this morning. He was throwing subtle shade but couldn’t say anything outright because he doesn’t have the standing to do so.]

Yu Sui was stunned.

He didn’t linger. Straightening his clothes, he grabbed the medicine and left.

Meng Chenxiao took a long time to compose himself, but his mood had plummeted.

He was thoroughly distracted.

He skipped lunch, staring at documents in his office and trying to bury the pain of this sudden heartbreak in work.

Secretary Wen hadn’t expected such dedication from him. Pleased as he was, he still spoke up. “Your health comes first, Young Master Meng. You should eat something.”

“Could you investigate that employee from today for me?” Meng Chenxiao asked his secretary.

“Are you planning to compensate him and send a message to the rest of the staff?” Secretary Wen was surprised. The young master really knew how to win hearts and minds.

Meng Chenxiao had been misunderstood, and he felt a twinge of guilt, but he didn’t explain. “Investigate thoroughly—leave no detail out.”

The secretary nodded and left.

When Yu Sui returned to his desk, no one dared give him any more trouble. If anything, they offered him awkward apologies.

He said nothing. If not for his persona, Yu Sui would have torn into them.

Seeing he wasn’t having it, they slunk back to their seats with sour expressions.

He ate lunch alone.

After enduring this hellish day, he still had to squeeze onto the subway to get home in the evening.

The thought made Yu Sui’s vision go dark.

He couldn’t make any big movements, but walking slowly would be manageable.

Rush hour, though… that was another story.

In the end, he decided to take a cab.

Ye Mingxu’s hours at the law firm were irregular. He’d clocked out early today and, thinking of Yu Sui’s waist, had picked up some nourishing ingredients on the way home.

He busied himself in the kitchen, simmering a pot of fish soup.

Only then did he realize what he was doing, and his expression soured.

But dumping it out would be such a waste.

As he agonized over it, the door clicked open.

Ye Mingxu glanced at his watch, surprised at how early Yu Sui was back.

He stepped out of the kitchen and saw that Yu Sui’s face looked even worse than before.

“What happened?” He took Yu Sui’s briefcase. “Did something come up?”

Ye Mingxu knew his spouse all too well. Yu Sui often came home from work pissed off and took it out on him with yelling.

He usually enjoyed the schadenfreude, but today, Ye Mingxu wasn’t in the mood. “Who was it?”

Yu Sui blinked in confusion. In the plot, the wife had always been gentle and soft, never showing a sharp edge in front of him.

What was this today…?

Had Ye Mingxu run into Meng Chenxiao? Was he worried their meeting had been exposed?

“It’s nothing. Work stuff—you wouldn’t understand anyway.” Yu Sui fell back on his usual lines. “Why are you home so early?”

His gaze drifted toward the bedroom, suspicion rising that someone might be in there.

“The firm wasn’t busy, so I made some fish soup.” Seeing Yu Sui didn’t want to talk, Ye Mingxu dropped the subject.

But Yu Sui wasn’t buying it. He eyed his wife and shrugged off his suit jacket. “Is that really all?”

Ye Mingxu frowned as he reached out to take the coat. He was about to say something more when he caught a whiff of perfume clinging to the fabric.

He interacted with all sorts of people at the law firm, and he recognized this scent—it was far too expensive for Yu Sui to afford.

“Yu Sui, what happened at the company today?” His immediate assumption was that someone had bullied the man.

“What nonsense are you spouting? Who could bully me?” Those words clearly stung Ye Mingxu’s pride. Yu Sui turned his face away. “Don’t try to change the subject. After dinner, I want to inspect it.”

Hearing that, Ye Mingxu’s concern instantly morphed into something else entirely.

He noticed that Yu Sui was still limping badly, yet the man persisted in dropping those pointed hints.

Does your waist not want it anymore?

Ye Mingxu’s eyes darkened, his breath catching.

Realizing what he was thinking, he quickly shook his head.

Yu Sui went to wash his hands before settling onto the sofa, waiting to be waited on.

Inwardly, he sighed to himself. Ye Mingxu was such a good man, and here he was treating him like dirt.

“The way he slaves away without a single complaint makes me feel so guilty,” he confessed to the System, full of remorse. “I’m willing to play the role of that Sleeping Husband. Even cheering him on from the sidelines isn’t out of the question.”

[Won’t you be angry about this, Host?] The System sounded shocked.

“Why would I be angry?” Yu Sui replied, genuinely puzzled.

[You two are husbands in name, at least.] The System pointed out.

“I’m not the bottom,” Yu Sui explained. “So it doesn’t bother me if he gets intimate with a few people.”

[That’s a relief.] The System relaxed. [I’ve heard from veteran systems that some Hosts can’t handle being cucked and end up going on strike. Their fates tend to be pretty grim.]

Yu Sui drew in a sharp breath.

[Good thing you don’t like men. You won’t let this break you.] The System let out a sigh of relief.

Ye Mingxu ladled out a bowl of fish soup and carried it out first. “Wait until it’s cooled down before drinking it.”

Yu Sui just hummed in acknowledgment, not even bothering to look up.

Ye Mingxu stared at the top of his head, struck by how surprisingly obedient he seemed like this.

No—what was he thinking?

Tightening his expression, he strode back into the kitchen with forced seriousness. He absolutely could not let himself be swayed.