Chapter 48: The Incompetent Husband 03 Part 1

Yu Sui drank two bowls of soup and ate half a bowl of rice before he dawdled to his feet and headed to the bedroom to wash up.

Peeling off the medicated plaster in front of the mirror, he didn’t dare twist too far for fear of straining his back.

“Am I really this weak?”

[That’s how it is if you haven’t exercised much.]

Yu Sui sighed.

After his shower, he changed into pajamas and pushed open the door, only to find Ye Mingxu standing right outside.

Yu Sui jumped in surprise. “What are you doing?”

“Are you sure you can manage washing up on your own?” the man asked, though he quickly added, “Because of your injury.”

Looking at the man dressed so conservatively, Ye Mingxu felt a pang of bewilderment.

If Yu Sui was trying to hint at wanting help with his bath, wouldn’t this be the perfect opportunity? So why hadn’t he called for him?

At those words, displeasure flickered across Yu Sui’s face. “What do you mean by that? You think I’m that pathetic?”

His pride took another hit.

“That’s not what I meant.” Ye Mingxu explained, his gaze fixed on the droplets of water trailing from Yu Sui’s damp black hair.

With his bangs swept back, his face was fully revealed—and even with that cold expression, it was hard to feel angry at him.

Ye Mingxu averted his eyes. “Dry your hair first.”

“I don’t need you fussing over me,” Yu Sui shot back. “If anything, you…”

He scrutinized the man. “Don’t think buttering me up will get you off the hook.”

He eyed Ye Mingxu with domineering suspicion, but the other man remained utterly calm.

In Yu Sui’s eyes, the man posed no threat at all. Before, he’d only felt disdain for this corporate drone who spent his days glued to a desk at the office. Now that he knew Yu Sui’s true intentions, he dismissed it entirely.

Ye Mingxu clenched his fingers, unable to fathom what Yu Sui was getting at.

But that suspicion grated on him all the same. Did Ye Mingxu strike him as some casual floozy? A flicker of irritation surfaced in Ye Mingxu’s eyes.

Yu Sui caught it immediately, and his own eyes lit up.

Looks like his wife was starting to feel resentful toward him.

He shuffled over and sat on the bed, tilting his head to signal the other man not to block his view.

Ye Mingxu froze at the sight of those clear, eager eyes. He was that desperate to see?

Lips pressed thin, he slowly unbuttoned his shirt.

This time, Yu Sui didn’t tell him to stop.

Ye Mingxu shrugged off the shirt and set it aside.

With his long, straight black hair and striking beauty, he gave off an air of aloof perfection when his face was impassive—like some untouchable flower on a high peak, meant only to be admired from afar.

Yet he wasn’t frail at all. On the contrary, his muscles were defined, his lines sleek and powerful.

Yu Sui stared, ostensibly inspecting him, but inwardly grumbling, “Comparisons are truly odious.”

Ye Mingxu noticed the fixation on his abs and tensed up instinctively, making the muscles stand out even more.

He lowered his gaze slightly, his long hair cascading over his shoulders.

The contrast between the dark strands and his pale skin only made him more mesmerizing.

Yu Sui consulted the System. “Should I keep going?”

[Keep the underwear on,] the System replied. [You’re just jealous of your wife’s intact body—you don’t actually want to see more.]

“Enough, shut up,” Yu Sui cut it off.

“What are you standing there for?” he said to his wife.

Ye Mingxu’s ear tips flushed crimson. Did Yu Sui want to see everything?

Well, they were both men anyway, so he unbuckled his belt.

Even in black boxer briefs, his impressive endowment was undiminished.

Yu Sui lost his composure entirely, his eyelid twitching as he looked away, inwardly fuming. “Is this fair? Isn’t he supposed to be the protagonist shou? Why’s he packing like that?!”

[The protagonist is naturally exceptional,] the System said.

Ye Mingxu caught the shift in Yu Sui’s gaze and felt heat bloom across his cheeks. So the man really did want…

His mind tangled in knots. If Yu Sui actually tried to touch him, what then?

He couldn’t pretend that far yet.

“Hmph, you better not let me catch you,” Yu Sui said, gesturing for him to get dressed.

Ye Mingxu exhaled in relief. It must be his back injury—Yu Sui had tabled the idea for now.

He left the room feeling unburdened.

Watching his retreating back, Yu Sui knew this humiliating display had even pierced the hopeless romantic shell of Ye Mingxu.

Good. He’d wake up to reality soon enough.

Yu Sui blow-dried his hair, then awkwardly applied the ointment himself. But sticking on the plaster was a problem.

Frowning, he flopped onto the bed and reached back as best he could.

As for asking his wife—his pride wouldn’t allow it, not unless the man offered first.

Ye Mingxu stepped out of the master bedroom and washed his face.

His cheeks burned fiercely.

He lifted his head to the mirror and frowned slightly, worry creeping in.

Once Yu Sui recovered, he’d probably demand something even more outrageous.

Like… inspecting his manhood with his hands…

Ye Mingxu shuddered at the thought.

No! He wouldn’t give in!

Straightening his clothes, he realized his tie was still in the man’s room.

Hesitation crossed his face, but his feet carried him back to the master bedroom without pause.

Creak—

“I…”

Ye Mingxu started to explain, only to freeze at the sight before him.

Yu Sui’s cheeks were flushed, his lip caught between his teeth as he endured something. He lay prone on the pillows, head turned to the side, one hand stretched behind him, fumbling inside his clothes.

Ye Mingxu’s shock hit like a thunderbolt.

Yu Sui… Yu Sui was…

Hearing the noise, Yu Sui glanced toward the door, brow furrowed. He couldn’t manage the plaster alone and had no choice but to speak up—though he kept up his persona, face sour. “Ye Mingxu, help me…”

“No, I have things to do!” Ye Mingxu shook his head in panic and slammed the door as he fled.

Yu Sui paused, stunned by the refusal.

“Why would he…”

[It must be the humiliation from earlier—it sparked some resistance in him,] the System said.

Yu Sui sighed and resigned himself to struggling on alone.

Ye Mingxu’s face burned scarlet. Back in his room, he pinched his scalding ears and sat on the bed, at a complete loss.

Yu Sui had dropped the act entirely.

Was it because he’d seen him naked that his body was now ablaze with lust?

Had he been doing… that… even while talking to him?

Ye Mingxu slapped his cheeks. The impact was too much.

And… hadn’t the man’s back injury healed yet?

No, he wouldn’t help with something like that!

Ye Mingxu’s eyes darted, his resolve wavering.

Yu Sui finally got the plaster on. He got up to wash his hands and use the bathroom.

Trips to the bathroom today had really driven home what impotence felt like.

He still couldn’t stay calm about it.

“Why did I even make that demand?” Yu Sui wondered, utterly baffled.

The System had no answer for him.

Fortunately, Yu Sui stopped dwelling on it soon enough.

Ye Mingxu tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Closing his eyes conjured Yu Sui—flushed, voice trembling, begging for help.

He flicked on the light, grabbed his laptop, and dove into work files to distract himself.

Meng Chenxiao was in a foul mood. He skipped dinner and headed straight home to his apartment after work.

Fresh from a shower, he sprawled on the sofa, brooding over his lost love.

In the midst of his moping, his secretary messaged that the info on Yu Sui was compiled and sent.

Meng Chenxiao bolted upright and opened his laptop.

Home address, phone number, then spouse.

Seeing Yu Sui’s partner was a man gave Meng Chenxiao a mild shock, but then his eyes locked on that face.

It looked familiar.

Staring at the name “Ye Mingxu,” Meng Chenxiao pulled out his phone and searched.

The man was a lawyer hired by someone in elite circles, but wasn’t he supposed to be single?

He messaged a friend for intel.

[Ye Mingxu? That cool beauty—tough to chase. You gunning for him?]

Meng Chenxiao arched a brow.

[Does he have a partner? Or is he married?]

The reply came quick.

[Not that I’ve heard.]

So, a secret marriage?

Meng Chenxiao dropped it there and scanned the file on Yu Sui.

Meek personality, often pushed around at work, mild-tempered.

By contrast, Ye Mingxu was a powerhouse on the job—opposites in every way. Hard to picture them together.

He pursed his lips, lost in thought.

Why keep it hidden?

Given their personalities, it had to be the dominant Ye Mingxu calling the shots.

Meng Chenxiao’s mind turned to Yu Sui’s injury. Had the man done that to him?

His expression darkened.

No care for his beloved, injuring him and then making him cram onto the subway the next day. What a beast.

He condemned it silently, his thoughts racing.

If their marriage was rocky…

His mood lifted. Before bed, he cracked open one of his favorite domineering CEO novels.

He drifted off with sweet dreams.

Yu Sui woke the next morning feeling much better about his back.

That domineering CEO doctor was no ordinary guy, he thought.

He rose slowly, took his time washing up, then donned a suit.

Pushing open the door, he spotted the man at the table, glancing guiltily his way. Their eyes met; Ye Mingxu froze, then hastily dropped his gaze to his phone on the table.

Yu Sui halted. “Why does Ye Mingxu look so guilty? Don’t tell me…?”

[Hard to say,] the System replied. [You can pretend to suspect, but don’t actually check the phone. Not yet.]

Yu Sui approached. “What are you looking guilty about? Who’re you chatting with?”

He sat across from the man, eyeing him suspiciously. “Some other guy?”

Ye Mingxu’s hand stilled. He looked up. “Just a client.”

“Is that so?” Yu Sui didn’t buy it. “You better shape up. If you betray me, don’t blame me for getting nasty!”

He narrowed his eyes, trying to look menacing.

From Ye Mingxu’s view, though, Yu Sui was leering at him.

Getting nasty, huh? How nasty? Did he mean… forcing himself…?

Yu Sui stiffened. “I… I got it.”

Ye Mingxu turned his face away, his voice growing even softer.

Seeing the restrained look on Ye Mingxu’s face, Yu Sui silently apologized in his heart.

After finishing breakfast, he rose, grabbed his briefcase, and left.

Ye Mingxu watched his husband’s retreating figure. As he watched the man bend down to change his shoes, his thoughts drifted to the actions he hadn’t clearly seen yesterday. He couldn’t help biting down on his chopsticks.

What exactly had happened yesterday…

Would the man be disappointed if he left? Or would he murmur his name…