Will Drawing the “Wife Card” Turn Me Into the Group’s Favorite? 71

Extra: Returning Through Time

The Bureau’s greatest enemy had been defeated, and everyone was enjoying a period of peace, especially Wei Langxing. Wang Wen remarked that he looked like he wanted to set off firecrackers every time he stepped outside.

Indeed, Wei Langxing thought, he finally had an official boyfriend, why wouldn’t he celebrate?

When he called his sister, she wasn’t surprised at all.

She even scoffed: “With how often you mention his name, I’d have to be an idiot not to figure it out… Skip the formalities, when are you bringing him home for dinner?”

Wei Langxing hesitated. He hadn’t discussed this with Tang Yu’an yet. What if he felt it was too soon?

But his sister was insistent: “You’re a grown man, and you’re taking this long to introduce him? I’m not waiting any longer. It’s decided. Hurry up, my gifts are gathering dust!”

Wei Langxing hung up, pacing around the kitchen, trying to figure out how to bring it up.

Tang Yu’an was playing with his phone on the living room sofa. Wei Langxing assumed he was browsing the StarNet, but upon closer inspection, he saw he was chatting with Xie Cun.

“What are you talking about?”

Tang Yu’an didn’t hide it, showing him the chat log: “Xie Cun is unbelievable. He bought a spaceship as a ‘welcome back’ gift without even asking, I only found out when it was delivered, and he refuses to return it…”

“He just wants to spend money, don’t mind him.”

Wei Langxing took Tang Yu’an’s phone, kissing his forehead: “Any plans tonight? If not, let’s go out for dinner. My treat.”

Tang Yu’an: “?”

“Are you… planning to dine and dash?”

They weren’t that poor!

Wei Langxing said: “We’re going to my parents’ place. They’re pretty good cooks.”

Understanding his meaning, Tang Yu’an asked seriously: “Are you serious?”

Wei Langxing sat beside him, leaning close: “More serious than a pearl!”

Although he knew from Wei Langxing’s stories that his family was welcoming, he still hesitated.

Wei Langxing gently massaged his shoulders: “It is a bit sudden, it’s okay if you don’t want to go, we can wait… But not meeting you would be a great loss for them. I bet my sister would cry like a firetruck if she knew you weren’t coming.”

Tang Yu’an chuckled at his nonsense, then his expression turned serious, asking a slightly silly question: “Do you think… they’ll like me?”

Wei Langxing thought for a moment: “As long as you don’t throw grenades at them the moment you enter, I think they’ll like you.”

Tang Yu’an punched him playfully: “I’m serious!”

“So am I,” Wei Langxing looked into his eyes. “Everyone likes you.”

Persuaded, Tang Yu’an agreed, then immediately dragged him out to buy gifts.

While shopping, he received a message from Zuo Tinghan—

A warm-toned photo, no people, just a brown dining table, matching chairs, and a neatly organized shoe cabinet.

After the final battle, Zuo Tinghan’s position in the Bureau was awkward. After some discussion, the higher-ups decided to let his merits offset his transgressions, but to ensure his future obedience, they mandated a period of rest.

Initially, he seemed to have vanished. He would reply to Tang Yu’an’s messages, saying he was fine, but never revealing his location. Tang Yu’an assumed he was on vacation, but then he caught him following him one night when he went out to buy snacks.

Caught red-handed, Zuo Tinghan insisted he was just taking a walk.

Tang Yu’an sighed, brushing leaves off his clothes: “Don’t lie if you’re not good at it. It insults my intelligence.”

Such a grown man, hiding in the bushes.

He stopped him from running away, demanding an explanation.

Zuo Tinghan confessed that he felt anxious when he couldn’t see him, afraid he would disappear again.

Tang Yu’an didn’t understand: “If you wanted to see me, you could have just messaged me. Why all this sneaking around?”

“I… I was afraid you didn’t want to see me.”

Tang Yu’an knew he was trapped in a negative thought spiral. He ordered him to stop lurking around, find an apartment, settle down, and return to the Bureau.

“Send me a picture of your new place, I want to inspect it!”

He hadn’t expected Zuo Tinghan to be so obedient, completing the task so quickly.

He chatted with him briefly, when Wei Langxing suddenly appeared behind him.

He had noticed Tang Yu’an smiling at his phone, seemingly engrossed in his conversation, and couldn’t help but ask.

He didn’t want to be jealous, but he couldn’t help it.

Tang Yu’an: “It’s just Zuo Tinghan.”

Wei Langxing relaxed. If it was the ice block, there was no need to worry, he wouldn’t have the courage or the social skills.

They continued shopping. Tang Yu’an, seeing a beautiful boutique, entered.

But the moment he stepped inside, it transformed into a clothing store.

He stared at the rows of clothes, confused.

Had he been mistaken?

He turned back, calling Wei Langxing’s name, but there was only a white wall behind him, empty.

A cold sweat broke out.

What was going on? Had he time-traveled again?

Was his fate not over yet? Had he been blinded by a moment of happiness?

Then, the familiar system notification echoed:

[Beep—This is customer service. Detected spatial turbulence. This is a side effect of the system shutdown after the completion of the main storyline. Don’t worry, Host, you’ll automatically return to your original world within a few hours!]

“Do I need to do anything?”

[Just treat it as a vacation, and don’t forget to leave a positive review!]

Tang Yu’an sighed in relief.

As long as he could go back.

He looked around, recognizing the world from a poster of a familiar face.

In this world, he had helped the protagonist achieve his dream of becoming a famous star. It seemed he was even more successful now, as expected of a protagonist.

He had no intention of contacting him again. He would be leaving soon anyway; it was better to maintain distance.

He wandered around to pass the time.

But fate had other plans. He saw a crowd gathered in the square, assuming it was an event, only to discover they were paparazzi, waiting for the protagonist.

“Why isn’t he here yet? Is your information accurate?”

“Don’t question me! I told you Fang Li would be here after his meeting!”

“Is that him?!”

“Are you blind? That’s a security guard!”

Tang Yu’an chuckled, thinking he and the protagonist were truly fated.

But they had been close once; he still cared about him. Afraid of seeing him and being reminded of being forgotten, he turned and left.

He walked around the building, heading towards a snack street.

He happened to have two hundred star coins in his pocket, the same body he had used in this world before.

As he walked, a black car that had passed him suddenly turned back.

He felt a surge of alarm, quickly turning into a side street, hoping to reach the crowded area ahead.

But bodyguards blocked his path. He turned back nervously, seeing an unexpected figure.

Fang Li removed his mask. Dressed in designer clothes, he looked every bit the glamorous star.

But his expression wasn’t that of a celebrity, more like a lost and homeless wanderer.

He approached Tang Yu’an: “Yu’an, is that you?”

Tang Yu’an was confused. Had the protagonist regained his memories?

No one could look exactly like him; denial was pointless. He admitted: “I didn’t expect to see you here. Are you hiding from the paparazzi?”

Fang Li, always emotionally expressive, hugged him tightly.

Tang Yu’an gently patted his back: “Are… are you okay?”

“No…” Fang Li’s voice was broken. “I’m not okay, not at all…”

After a long pause, he released him, then suddenly grabbed his hand and slapped himself.

Tang Yu’an was stunned, but Fang Li, thinking he had hurt his hand, apologized profusely, gently blowing on it.

Calmed by his touch, Fang Li, a red handprint on his face, finally explained that he didn’t know what had happened to him, that he had actually forgotten him.

It had been like a nightmare, he had felt like something was missing, but he couldn’t figure out what.

He had fame, fortune, adoring fans, what was there to be unhappy about? It had to be an illusion.

Then, one day, during a fan meeting, smiling and signing autographs,

Everything had changed in an instant.

It’s been a long day, he had thought. I’ll order takeout with Tang Yu’an when I get home.

This thought had struck him like lightning.

He remembered Tang Yu’an approaching him outside the building, and he had simply smiled and walked past, assuming he was just a fan.

He remembered the sports car he had bought for Tang Yu’an, still in the garage, never given, he had even forgotten why he bought it, he didn’t even like the color.

He remembered how Tang Yu’an had gradually faded from his life, how he had pushed away the person he had sworn to protect, until they became strangers.

What… was going on?

What was wrong with him?

They had promised to share everything, why had he forgotten him after everything he had done for him, after he had walked that difficult path with him?

Then, a young fan had handed him a photo for an autograph: “Fang Li gege, can I have a personalized message?”

He had picked up the photo, his hand trembling.

It was a picture of him and Tang Yu’an, the one he had placed in his wallet.

“Where did you get this? Tell me!”

The girl, startled by his urgency, replied: “A young man gave it to me. Is there something wrong with it?”

Nothing wrong with the photo, only with him.

He was broken.

Since then, he had been desperately searching for Tang Yu’an.

But it was as if he had vanished from the face of the earth. He had reported him missing, but the police had found nothing.

And now, he was here.

Seeing Fang Li’s distress, Tang Yu’an suggested they talk in his car.

Public figures had to be careful; the tinted windows provided privacy.

Inside the car, they sat side-by-side. Fang Li asked a barrage of questions: Where had he been? Why couldn’t he find him? Why was he back now?

He said he had seen a psychiatrist, but they couldn’t find anything wrong, he didn’t understand his amnesia, he felt like he was going insane.

Tang Yu’an, seeing no one else around, stopped his apologies, saying directly: “Fang Li, I’m not from this world.”

Fang Li froze.

Tang Yu’an raised his right hand, now translucent.

He told him the truth, that he had come to this world to help him achieve his dream, then left, his memory erased.

Returning now was an accident.

He was afraid Fang Li would think he was delusional, but he didn’t want to lie.

Fang Li stared at him for a moment, then chuckled: “So, you really are my lucky star.”

That’s… not quite right, Tang Yu’an thought, but believing in him was a good thing.

Fang Li asked if he could stay, offering him anything, he had so much money now…

Tang Yu’an simply shook his head.

Fang Li, after a long pause, asked: “Where will you go after you leave?”

Tang Yu’an said he was going home.

“Will you… be happy when you go home?”

Tang Yu’an lowered his gaze, then said firmly: “Very happy.”

Fang Li took a few deep breaths, composing himself, then forced a smile: “How… how long will you stay here?”

Learning he wouldn’t be here long, he asked if he would like to take a helicopter ride with him.

Tang Yu’an suddenly remembered, when Fang Li was still a struggling actor, they had been talking one hot night in their cramped apartment, and he had said that when he became famous, he would buy a helicopter, so they wouldn’t have to deal with traffic anymore.

He nodded. Half an hour later, looking down at the city from above, he felt a strange sense of detachment.

Fang Li was a star now, but seeing his smile, Tang Yu’an felt he hadn’t changed at all.

They went racing, ate street food, and rode the swings at the amusement park, just like they used to.

Being rich was convenient; he could rent out the entire park.

As night fell, Fang Li looked at the stars, then at Tang Yu’an, his body becoming translucent, like a drop of water about to evaporate.

He felt a surge of panic, not wanting to lose him again.

But Tang Yu’an’s expression was serene, as if he was looking forward to going home.

So, he swallowed his words.

Tang Yu’an stood up: “I have to go now.”

Fang Li blinked back tears, extending his arms: “I probably won’t see you again, can I have a hug?”

Tang Yu’an hugged him, his body light as a cloud, whispering in his ear: “I wish you all the best.”

Shooting stars can’t be stopped, Fang Li thought, but thank you for lighting up my sky.

Tang Yu’an took a single step forward on the grass, and he was back in the boutique.

He had returned.

He hadn’t left, not even for a second.

He turned back, telling Wei Langxing to follow him, then, in an unprecedented move, took his hand.

There were still many places to go, a long road ahead.

But this time, he wasn’t alone.

–The End–