Chapter 49: The Incompetent Husband 04 Part 2

He rubbed the soft pad of his finger against those lips, swallowing hard.

Sweat beaded on his forehead and trickled down his cheek.

The room was utterly silent, save for the occasional ambiguous sound.

Ye Mingxu’s throat felt parched, and the room seemed stiflingly warm.

He sat rigidly, like a wooden post. The finger pressed to Yu Sui’s lips bore down harder, drawing a muffled grunt from the man as if in pain.

For some reason, Ye Mingxu felt a pang of guilty panic, his eyes darting away. He hastily withdrew his hand.

His gaze fell on the intimate area he had been ignoring until now.

Without the benefit of x-ray vision, he had to rely entirely on touch.

He figured his natural talent was probably adequate.

Still, the difficulty suggested their relationship hadn’t reached that point yet. Perhaps Yu Sui still harbored lingering feelings for him, not entirely disillusioned. Maybe this was exactly what he needed.

Yu Sui twisted restlessly, as though trapped in a nightmare. Sweat drenched his forehead as he tried to flee some devouring beast.

His body tensed, legs trembling weakly, desperate to escape yet unable.

He mumbled something in his sleep that Ye Mingxu couldn’t quite make out.

Ye Mingxu’s heart raced again at the sound of his sigh.

His mind buzzed with chaotic thoughts, but he proceeded methodically nonetheless.

As a lawyer, he had faced countless unexpected situations; this composure was second nature.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed. He had noticed Yu Sui’s abnormality—no, an intense reaction.

The dreaming man shuddered violently, toes curling as if from the chill in the room.

His rigid waist finally relaxed. He had escaped the nightmare’s clutches.

Ye Mingxu bowed his head, staring at the bedsheet.

He lifted his hand, staring at his fingertip.

It glistened.

His mind went blank.

It took a long moment before he snapped out of it. Then he rose and headed to the bathroom.

He turned on the faucet with one hand but didn’t wash immediately. Instead, he slowly brought his finger to his lips and touched it lightly.

His eyes flickered evasively as he licked it, his ear tips burning red.

Ye Mingxu hurriedly washed his hands, scrubbing them repeatedly.

In his heart, he thought: This way, he probably won’t crave anyone else anymore.

When he emerged, he tidied everything up, reapplied the ointment, dressed Yu Sui properly, and tucked him in. Then Ye Mingxu left in haste.

He closed the door behind him.

Clutching his chest, he glanced downward in shock.

What was this?

The next day.

Yu Sui woke feeling drained. He yawned, silenced his alarm, and slowly sat up.

Hm?

He eyed the pajamas he was wearing, puzzled.

Had he changed them himself?

He had been quite drunk last night and couldn’t remember.

Probably.

Yu Sui didn’t dwell on it. He scratched his head, got out of bed, and slipped on his shoes, though something felt off—indescribably uncomfortable.

Aftereffects of the alcohol?

He resolved to fake his drinking from now on.

After washing up and changing, he emerged to find breakfast covered on the table. But Ye Mingxu was nowhere to be seen.

Yu Sui paused. “Is he afraid I’ll notice something?”

[Something might have happened,] the System guessed. [But he still made you breakfast. He must still love you.]

Yu Sui thought to himself: Love-struck fool.

He sat at the table and ate in silence.

Ye Mingxu had kept his head down honestly last night. Recalling the feel of those fingers and the video he had glimpsed by chance, Ye Mingxu stared at his own and couldn’t help imagining.

But he quickly shook his head. What was wrong with him? He couldn’t just go with the mood like that—he didn’t even like men!

He had agonized all night and slept poorly, dreading facing Yu Sui in the morning.

So after preparing breakfast, he had hurried off.

Yu Sui felt off today, so he took a cab to the company.

Meng Chenxiao, who had planned to intercept him on the subway, missed his chance.

He assumed the man hadn’t gotten up, but upon arriving at the office, he saw Yu Sui there and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Evidently, the man knew his limits.

At lunch, he headed to the company cafeteria.

Ignoring the stares from others, he sat across from Yu Sui and studied him.

“Good day, President Meng,” Yu Sui greeted. Sensing the eyes on him, he felt intensely uncomfortable.

Meng Chenxiao sat opposite. “Last night…”

It was intrusive to pry into someone’s private affairs. He struggled for the right words.

But Yu Sui assumed he was testing whether he had truly been drunk.

“What happened last night? I blacked out from the drinking and don’t remember,” he said, his tone genuinely puzzled.

“Is that so?” Meng Chenxiao nodded, assuming he just didn’t want to talk about it.

He had clearly noticed Yu Sui’s unsteady gait earlier.

They didn’t chat further and ate in silence.

Yu Sui racked his brain for how to invite his boss over again.

“Thanks for seeing me home yesterday,” Yu Sui said gratefully. “Let me treat you to dinner sometime.”

“Then I won’t stand on ceremony,” Meng Chenxiao replied, not refusing. He had been wondering how to get closer.

Nearby employees gawked in surprise. They hadn’t expected the president to chat with someone like Yu Sui—let alone befriend him.

Meng Chenxiao seized the chance to add his contact info.

Yu Sui figured he wanted to track his movements, so he agreed.

Ye Mingxu’s workload was light today. He sat at his desk, staring at his phone. No message from Yu Sui.

He frowned. Was he dissatisfied?

But revealing his identity to help would only make Yu Sui more demanding—maybe even want to sit on his face.

He patted his cheeks, his expression growing stern. Helping while he slept was already his biggest concession.

Maybe not enough fingers?

Ye Mingxu’s ears turned scarlet. So greedy?

After lunch, Yu Sui remembered he was supposed to have Ye Mingxu report in.

No helping it—the plot was advancing faster than expected, so forgetting was forgivable.

Back at his desk, he sent a message.

[WeChat] Yu Sui: What are you doing? Who are you with?

Ding-dong—

Hearing the sound, Ye Mingxu immediately checked his phone. Seeing Yu Sui’s message—lacking the usual anger or impatience—his lips curved up.

Looks like he does prefer me. Satisfied, he won’t crave others.

He pinched his fingers and replied.

[WeChat] Ye Mingxu: I’m busy with work at the company. Not with anyone.

[WeChat] Yu Sui: I don’t believe you. Take a photo of where you are.

Ye Mingxu snapped a picture of his surroundings and another of his hand.

His eyes darted evasively, biting his lip in shyness.

Yu Sui glanced at them casually, issued a few more warnings, then closed his phone.

Ye Mingxu replied and waited, but no follow-up came. He sighed in disappointment.

“Brother Ye, you in love or something?” a colleague teased, seeing him lost in his phone.

Ye Mingxu stiffened, eyes flickering. Love… what love?

“Have you finished organizing the files?”

The colleague groaned at that.

That evening, Yu Sui got off work without rushing to invite his boss over—it would seem too obvious.

Meng Chenxiao left right on time, just ahead of him. He pondered how to offer the man a ride.

As he hesitated, Yu Sui vanished.

He sighed inwardly, a touch disappointed.

Ye Mingxu clocked out normally, in high spirits, and bought plenty of groceries.

Yu Sui pushed open the door to the aroma wafting from the kitchen.

He set down his briefcase and sniffed appreciatively. “Ye Mingxu is just too perfect.”

[He really is,] the System agreed wistfully.

“I’m such a scumbag,” Yu Sui lamented again.

He shrugged off his jacket, washed his hands, and approached the kitchen.

The man had tied back his hair and donned an apron as he simmered soup.

Yu Sui leaned against the doorframe, gazing at his back.

Such a great man, ruined by running into me.

Ye Mingxu had heard him come in but couldn’t face him calmly anymore, so he pretended not to notice. He planned to go out only if called.

But no call came.

Puzzled, he turned and found his husband standing in the doorway, watching him with deep affection.

Ye Mingxu froze, his heart skipping a beat. “You…”

Yu Sui looked away. “After I passed out yesterday, nothing happened with you and my boss, right?”

His tone dripped with suspicion.

Hearing the interrogation, Ye Mingxu frowned. Was he worried about putting that man in a tough spot?

“He didn’t stay long.”

“Is that so?” Yu Sui eyed him. “Why’d you come home so late yesterday?”

He circled back to it. “Were you with some other guy…?”

“I wasn’t.” Ye Mingxu shook his head, irritation rising. “Is that what you think of me?”

Yu Sui snorted coldly. “I’ll check after dinner.”

Ye Mingxu’s anger evaporated instantly.

So all the excuses were just for this.

His expression grew uneasy, lips bitten in silence.

Yu Sui mistook it for disappointment and turned back toward the living room.

Dinner was sumptuously lavish.

Yu Sui had a hearty appetite and ate plenty.

Ye Mingxu sat across from him. Seeing Yu Sui in high spirits made his scalp tingle.

Was it because he could see him soon… that he was so pleased?

Oblivious to Ye Mingxu’s thoughts, Yu Sui ate until he was stuffed. He patted his belly and rose to his feet.

Ye Mingxu’s gaze landed on that hand. He pictured Yu Sui’s normally flat stomach, now puffed out from overeating—and suddenly, a scene from that animation flashed in his mind.

The stomach bulging.

Bulging…

Clatter—

The chopsticks slipped from his grasp and hit the floor.

Yu Sui jumped in surprise and turned toward the distracted Ye Mingxu. “Who are you thinking about, looking like that?”

It was as if he’d latched onto evidence of his wife’s potential betrayal. He bore down relentlessly.

Ye Mingxu met his eyes, his own gaze fixed on the waist concealed by Yu Sui’s shirt. “I’m not thinking about anyone. Really.”

Yu Sui wasn’t buying it. This man was probably dwelling on Meng Chenxiao right now. His own suspicions and pressure had no doubt disappointed Ye Mingxu, prompting unfavorable comparisons.

Even so, Yu Sui had no intention of digging deeper. “You’d better not let me catch you, or else…”

Ye Mingxu murmured his assent, the picture of meek compliance.

His heart stuttered at the veiled threat.

Or else what?

Unaware of his wife’s inner turmoil, Yu Sui had overindulged and needed to walk it off.

After dinner and their evening ablutions, Ye Mingxu pushed open the door to the master bedroom.

Yu Sui still hadn’t emerged from the bathroom.

Ye Mingxu perched on the edge of the bed, staring in that direction, his body rigid with tension.

Creak—

The door swung open. Yu Sui was still bundled up tight as ever.

A flicker of disappointment stirred in Ye Mingxu’s chest.

“You…?” Yu Sui eyed the bathrobe draped over him and raised his brows in mild surprise. “Hurry it up. Don’t make me tell you twice.”

Ye Mingxu stood.

The bathrobe pooled on the floor. Yu Sui recoiled in shock.

“What the hell are you doing? Why are you naked?” He felt like his eyes might burn right out of his skull and whipped his head away.

Ye Mingxu stood there before him, skin gleaming and utterly exposed. The sheer visual impact…

“Put some damn clothes on!” When Ye Mingxu didn’t move, Yu Sui’s annoyance boiled over. He stormed back into the bathroom—he needed to wash his eyes out!