Chapter 55: The Incompetent Husband 10 Part 1

Ye Mingxu tried to find a solution, but he soon realized that all he could do was play defense.

Yu Sui felt a twinge of discomfort, and his expression soured.

Meng Chenxiao, who had been keeping a close eye on him, noticed the man clutching at his waist. He frowned.

Could it be that Ye Mingxu hadn’t applied any ointment for him? What a beast!

“Cough cough, are you feeling unwell?” he asked.

Yu Sui froze at the question, a flush of embarrassment creeping over him. “No…”

“But you’ve been rubbing your waist this whole time. Is it from yesterday…?” Meng Chenxiao’s voice grew husky.

“No.” Yu Sui cut him off. Was this really an appropriate topic to discuss?

“Then where are you hurt?” Meng Chenxiao pressed, his gaze full of curiosity.

[He’s acting a bit off.] The system mused.

“Hm?” Yu Sui blinked in confusion.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Should we call a doctor to take a look?” When Yu Sui didn’t respond, Meng Chenxiao added.

“I’m fine, really.” Yu Sui wanted nothing more than to drop the subject.

But Meng Chenxiao assumed he was just being stubborn. His wife was so inconsiderate, yet Yu Sui was still putting up with it.

A spark of jealousy ignited in his chest.

“Come with me for a second.”

Yu Sui frowned. What was this guy up to?

The two of them stepped into the adjoining break room.

Meng Chenxiao pulled a tube of ointment from a drawer. He washed his hands, then turned back with a serious expression. “If you’re uncomfortable, you should take it off.”

Yu Sui’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about?”

“I’ll apply the medicine for you.” Meng Chenxiao’s ear tips flushed red, but his resolve was unshakable.

Yu Sui was dumbfounded. “You…”

“He really is inconsiderate. Did he even clean you up afterward?” Meng Chenxiao’s eyes flickered as he asked.

Yu Sui was at a loss for words. Was it appropriate to ask him something like that so straightforwardly? And they were the legal husband and the third wheel, no less—it was utterly explosive.

“Cough cough, what are you saying, President Meng?” Pretending not to understand, Yu Sui turned to leave.

Meng Chenxiao saw how much he was resisting and felt a jolt of alarm. Could it be serious? Or maybe he really hadn’t been cleaned up?

Or…

His gaze dropped to Yu Sui’s pants. Was something still inside?

Thinking of Ye Mingxu—and how that man had disregarded the setting in the movie theater just to provoke him—Meng Chenxiao couldn’t put it past him.

With a stern look, he ignored Yu Sui’s struggles, grabbed his arm, sat down himself, and pulled him onto his lap. “Don’t be scared.”

“You… what are you doing?” Yu Sui struggled, realizing the man’s strength was no joke. Forgetting his manners, he snapped, “Meng Chenxiao, let me go!”

“Don’t worry, I’m just checking.” Meng Chenxiao’s eyes darkened, his body tensing as Yu Sui squirmed, his breathing growing ragged. “This is for your own good.”

Yu Sui wriggled like an eel, but he couldn’t break free.

As it met the air, he shivered.

Meng Chenxiao stared at the pale expanse, his cheeks burning. He’d glimpsed it once before, but it was still embarrassing.

Yet soon, he spotted some marks.

Fingerprints from that Ye Mingxu, stark on his thigh.

Jealousy surged through him.

Yu Sui’s vision went black. He called out to the system, but got no reply. He was about to curse when—

His body went rigid, eyes wide with disbelief.

The man’s cool fingertips carried a jolt like electricity, sending a numb tingle up Yu Sui’s tailbone.

Sweat beaded on Meng Chenxiao’s forehead, his hands trembling. It was his first time doing something so intimate.

The man draped over his lap lay stunned. Meng Chenxiao held him open with one hand, inspecting closely.

He couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. That Ye Mingxu was all show and no substance.

A restless urge stirred in him.

Yu Sui felt something hard pressing against his stomach, his face twisting. “Meng Chenxiao!”

Finally, the man finished applying the ointment and straightened his clothes.

Yu Sui shot to his feet, shoving him without regard for his status and backing away repeatedly.

Meng Chenxiao, caught off guard, tumbled onto the sofa. “Yu Sui, what’s wrong?”

“You’re asking me?” Yu Sui felt like spitting blood. “Something like that…”

He trailed off, unable to say it outright.

“Your wife isn’t considerate at all.” Meng Chenxiao felt a pang in his heart.

Ye Mingxu was like that, so why couldn’t he get a look in?

And Yu Sui kept using him without giving anything in return?

Why?

Yu Sui blinked at the words, baffled. What did this have to do with Ye Mingxu?

[Host, you okay?]

“What do you think?” Yu Sui scowled. “He did that to me…”

[The protagonist gong’s actions toward you are obviously because of Ye Mingxu. Your wife touched you, and he doesn’t want to see those jealousy-inducing marks.] The system explained.

“But still…”

[Don’t believe me? Ask him yourself.]

At that, Yu Sui turned to the man. “You… you touched me because of… Ye Mingxu…?”

Meng Chenxiao was puzzled. Why was he suddenly laying his feelings bare?

“Yes.” He nodded, curious to see what Yu Sui would do.

Yu Sui couldn’t believe it. This guy was seriously twisted.

Meng Chenxiao arched a brow at his shocked expression. What a great actor.

If he hadn’t acted on impulse today, would Yu Sui have pretended to be oblivious forever?

“You…” Yu Sui furrowed his brow. “That doesn’t mean you can do that to me.”

Meng Chenxiao paused, clenching his fists.

It was so unfair—making him watch their lovey-dovey moments without so much as a scrap for himself. How could he be so ruthless?

“Seeing his marks on you… it hurts me inside.” His voice came out hoarse.

Yu Sui dropped the pretense. Time to lay it all out.

“You…” It lined up with what the system had said. Fear gripped him.

[What a clever ploy.] The system remarked. [Pretending to be interested in you when it’s really about your wife. Since you can’t stand up to your boss, your only option is to distance yourself from him.]

“So he…” Yu Sui gasped.

[Exactly. Your wife’s growing disillusioned with your coldness, and he’s seizing the chance to win your heart. Plus, he’s leaving clues on you with this excuse—when your wife finds out, it’ll breed suspicion. He’s dead set on breaking you two up, taking this risky gamble.]

“How is he so sure…”

[Because of your personality. You’re always weak with your wife.]

Yu Sui got it. Though Meng Chenxiao’s move had shocked him, it might make his wife give up faster. Then he wouldn’t have to deal with those kisses anymore.

[Yeah, it’s a good thing.] The system agreed. [Tell him where you stand right now.]

Yu Sui looked at the man. “I… I won’t let him touch me anymore. And you… you stop this too.”

Meng Chenxiao had been wondering if Yu Sui would play dumb, turn cold, or stay indifferent once he confessed. He hadn’t expected him to dangle an ambiguous promise like that.

His breath hitched. Yu Sui must have feelings for him.

He licked his lips. “As long as you keep him away, I won’t…”

But he knew Ye Mingxu wouldn’t back off, and Yu Sui knew how domineering that man was. Was this his way of hinting at him?

His first love was turning out far more thrilling than expected. Meng Chenxiao’s cheeks flushed. “Are you okay elsewhere?”

Yu Sui shook his head vigorously.

The man’s words confirmed the system’s suspicions completely.

His emotions tangled, he didn’t want to linger.

Meng Chenxiao watched him go, throat bobbing as he headed to the bathroom.

He tilted his head back, reliving the sensation from moments ago.

Yu Sui hadn’t rejected him—in fact, he’d even held on.

Didn’t that mean he had feelings? His own gentleness stood in sharp contrast to Ye Mingxu’s roughness. Keep drawing the comparison, and Yu Sui’s heart would eventually tilt his way.

Meng Chenxiao was in high spirits.

Yu Sui massaged his temples, shoving aside the mortifying incident as he stared blankly at his computer.

He could sense how thrilled Meng Chenxiao was after his promise.

His eyelid twitched.

At lunch, they ate in silence. That evening, Meng Chenxiao offered to drive him home.

Yu Sui nodded in agreement.

Ye Mingxu hadn’t come up with a counter yet. He could only keep a tight watch on Yu Sui and remind his husband.

His mood was foul. That night, his husband brought his boss home again.

And Meng Chenxiao wasn’t provocative like before—he was utterly cordial, practically offering tea.

Ye Mingxu stiffened. That demeanor felt all too familiar…

At the dinner table, he watched his silently eating husband while Meng Chenxiao gazed at Yu Sui with gentle eyes, chatting with him now and then. They looked like a family.

A lump formed in his chest.

He finished the meal with a darkened face, then saw Meng Chenxiao off.

Watching his husband head to his room, Ye Mingxu’s eyes darkened.

Yu Sui vented to the system. “He’s not even a little reserved.”

The system tsked twice. [What a player.]

“Yeah. I didn’t get it at first, but now I see—he’s weaseling his way into coming and going from my house openly.” Yu Sui marveled. “What goes on in that head of his?”

Ye Mingxu stared at his computer screen, where Yu Sui was showering. He bit his lip and added Meng Chenxiao on his phone.

In his car, Meng Chenxiao hadn’t started the engine yet.

At dinner, he’d tested the waters on purpose. Ye Mingxu clearly resented him, but Yu Sui had eaten quietly without shutting him down.

So yesterday’s “caught in the act” ploy had worked. Yu Sui still loved his wife most, though.

Meng Chenxiao wasn’t satisfied, but he knew not to rush.

As he pondered ways to build their bond, his phone buzzed with a friend request from an unknown number, remark: Ye Mingxu.

His eyes narrowed. The man couldn’t hold back anymore.

Meng Chenxiao’s lips curved up as he accepted.

[WeChat] Ye Mingxu: What did you two talk about?

Meng Chenxiao thought of Yu Sui and the promise he’d made. He squeezed his fingers.

[WeChat] Meng Chenxiao: Didn’t he tell you?

He stared at the computer screen, his face contorted as he watched Yu Sui lying on the bed.

[WeChat] Ye Mingxu: What did you say?

Seeing Yu Sui keep their secret from the others filled Meng Chenxiao’s heart with sweetness.

[WeChat] Meng Chenxiao: Is that so? It’s a secret just between the two of us—nothing to tell outsiders.

Ye Mingxu’s face twisted as he fixated on the words “secret” and “outsider.”

He clenched his fist and slammed it onto the desk.

Rather than pressing further, he reined in his emotions and stormed into the master bedroom next door.

Yu Sui stirred at the noise and opened his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“Why’d you bring him home again? Didn’t I tell you not to?” Ye Mingxu fought back his anger, his voice thick with suspicion.

“He got me promoted. I’m his assistant now.” Yu Sui sat up. “Of course I need to build a good relationship with him.”

Ye Mingxu went rigid at those words.