Chapter 17

Chapter 17

When You Nan woke up, his mouth was sore and his head throbbed. The aftereffects of drinking left his mind still foggy, and it wasn’t until he lifted the blanket and realized he had been changed into a set of pajamas that he snapped fully awake.

You Nan quickly checked himself over and let out a sigh of relief when he found no suspicious marks.

Scratching sounds came from the door, accompanied by the meowing of a little cat. You Nan immediately got up and opened the door for 007, who'd slept overnight in the living room.

007 sauntered in leisurely.

The little cat was quite small; even standing straight on all fours, it was just a little taller than You Nan’s ankles.

You Nan wondered where all that pricey cat food he had been feeding it lately had gone.

It just wasn't growing.

You Nan’s gaze fell on its black, fluffy, chubby, little plum-blossom-like paws, and he took a deep breath. He crouched down and listened attentively to 007’s feline chatter.

"Xiao Nan! I have two pieces of news for you—one good, one bad. Which one do you want to hear first?"

007 lifted its round little head, its round cat eyes watching You Nan’s face.

You Nan pulled his thin pajamas tighter around himself. "The bad news."

007 filled him in on what happened the previous night.

You Nan: "..."

You Nan thought he must have misheard.

"You’re saying the main male lead pulled me out of the arms of the other male lead, then Yao Xianqing didn’t drink the water Qi Yuwen poured for him, and after Yao Xianqing left, Qi Yuwen just poured the entire cup of water out?"

This was unbelievable.

You Nan remembered that in the original story, Qi Yuwen was a creepy man and also an imitator.

The most typical example was that whatever personality Yao Xianqing had, Qi Yuwen would copy it exactly.

Previously, when Lu Chengwan hosted a dinner, he mentioned that the reason they found Qi Yuwen and Yao Xianqing so similar was precisely this.

Fortunately, Qi Yuwen only used what he copied as a mask to conceal his true self. Otherwise, aside from appearance, family background, and experiences, the two male leads would have been exactly the same.

Qi Yuwen also had an unhealthy obsession with Yao Xianqing.

Anything Yao Xianqing touched, Qi Yuwen had to acquire. The things he prepared for Yao Xianqing, even if Yao Xianqing never touched them, he would still keep them.

So, shouldn’t Qi Yuwen have secretly drunk this cup of water prepared for Yao Xianqing after the latter left?

You Nan was baffled. "Could it be that he saw Yao Xianqing holding me and got jealous, so he took his anger out on Yao Xianqing and gave him the cold shoulder?"

You Nan didn’t understand, and 007's cat brain understood even less.

007 shook its little cat head.

You Nan asked, "Then do you know how I ended up in these clothes?"

007 still shook its little cat head [.gif].

It was a bit unhappy, saying that Qi Yuwen found it annoying when it rubbed against their legs and ran around, so he simply didn’t allow it into the room.

Thus, it had no idea what Qi Yuwen did to You Nan in the room afterward.

You Nan fell silent.

You Nan could only reply flatly, "Alright."

The little cat wrapped its tail around You Nan’s calf. "But there’s good news too!"

007’s whiskers twitched mysteriously. "Last night, both male leads gave you thirty Energy Points for free!"

You Nan was extremely surprised. "Why?"

007 still didn’t know. It tried to sound smart by guessing, "Maybe they were in a good mood?"

You Nan sighed.

After all, 007 was just a little cat—what could he expect?

While You Nan and 007 were talking, someone knocked on the bedroom door. Qi Yuwen called from outside, "Xiao Nan, are you awake?"

You Nan paused for a moment, then immediately replied, "Awake! I’ll change clothes and come out."

Qi Yuwen outside said okay.

After You Nan changed and came out, two dishes and a pot of warm porridge were already on the dining table.

You Nan and Qi Yuwen finished eating, and then Qi Yuwen drove You Nan to work.

You Nan noticed that, starting from this day, Qi Yuwen had changed.

Specifically, no matter how busy he was with work or business trips, Qi Yuwen would compress his schedule to get everything done, pick You Nan up after work, take him to driving school, and wait there the whole time.

Only when he was tied up temporarily would Qi Yuwen ask the driving instructor to pick up You Nan, and he would also have the instructor report back to him.

Qi Yuwen’s sudden excessive "concern" was too much for You Nan, especially since it made him even more uncomfortable facing the driving instructor, who knew about their relationship.

The instructor's teasing looks every time made You Nan blush with embarrassment.

To avoid having Qi Yuwen pick him up and drop him off in front of other driving school students every day, You Nan turned his embarrassment into motivation. He quickly asked the instructor to sign him up, and a few days later, he passed the road test on the first try.

Now he didn’t have to go to driving school every day. And he no longer needed Qi Yuwen to pick him up or drop him off.

You Nan maintained his momentum and passed the final written test, successfully obtaining his driver’s license.

The speed at which You Nan got his license shattered the driving school’s record. Although part of it was due to it not being the peak exam season, making it easier to sign up, it was mostly because You Nan studied diligently and practiced seriously.

The driving instructor was overjoyed, beaming. Before You Nan left the driving school, the instructor kept saying they should grab a drink sometime when they were free.

You Nan agreed with a smile.

Both of them had forgotten what they were like after drinking.

With his driver’s license in hand, the car Qi Yuwen had parked in the garage specifically for You Nan’s commute finally got its use. On his first day driving, You Nan was nervous, but by the second day, he had already gotten used to it and even found it oddly satisfying.

Qi Yuwen didn’t stop You Nan from driving, nor did he continue to drive him around.

Now that his wife could drive, so no one else would have the chance to pick him up or drop him off.

.

Shen Zihe organized a guys' night over the weekend, inviting only close friends and no plus-ones.

Qi Yuwen, Yao Xianqing, and Lu Chengwan were all there.

Shen Zihe couldn't help but sigh when he saw Qi Yuwen. "It's really hard to catch you these days. You're either on a business trip or at the driving school with your wife while she practices. You're so busy."

Lu Chengwan drew a card. "He even gives You Nan rides home after work during his business trips."

Shen Zihe knew about this and deliberately exaggerated, teasing Qi Yuwen. "Who would've thought? You used to be so carefree, but after getting married, you've become a real 'whipped' husband."

Aside from Qi Yuwen, Lu Chengwan was the only other married person present.

Lu Chengwan chuckled. "Not me. My wife and I both have our own things to do. We're not as lovey-dovey as Qi Yuwen and You Nan."

Shen Zihe tsk-tsked, played a card, and labeled Qi Yuwen: "Seems like true love."

"I've heard before that whirlwind romances tend to be more passionate and stable. Guess it's true."

Qi Yuwen took a sip of his drink. He had driven here today, so he couldn't drink alcohol. "It's not that bad."

As he spoke, he glanced at Yao Xianqing, who had been silent. "I'm just worried about You Nan. He didn't used to drive. I asked the people at the driving school to pick him up after work, but I didn't expect there'd be an accident on the way. Thankfully, he was fine."

Qi Yuwen said jokingly, "He's my only wife. How could I not be careful?"

Qi Yuwen directly ignored Yao Xianqing's earlier suggestion of getting someone special to drive You Nan around.

Yao Xianqing picked up on it and glanced at him.

Qi Yuwen, being watched by the person he liked, remained calm and didn't show any telltale happiness that might give him away to the others.

This was how he had always hidden his feelings and fit into their group.

Seeing Yao Xianqing just smiling, Shen Zihe elbowed his buddy's hand on the table. "Look at him! So proud since getting married."

Yao Xianqing smiled and said, "Yeah."

As they were talking, Yao Xianqing's phone screen on the table suddenly lit up with an incoming message.

Yao Xianqing picked up his phone and replied to the message.

You Nan: "I said before I'd buy you bubble tea, but I haven't had the chance until now. Are you free to have some today?"

You Nan had added Yao Xianqing's contact that night in the hotel hallway, and they had been in touch off and on since.

You Nan found the male lead easy to get along with and generous with Energy Points, so he got a bit greedy and wanted to get some from him too.

Yao Xianqing was indeed very generous about this. Every time You Nan chatted with him, he could get one or two points.

Sure enough, he awkwardly sent a message in the chat, and System 007 immediately reported that Yao Xianqing had sent a point.

You Nan blushed, feeling a bit embarrassed for mooching off him.

You Nan lay on the sofa, waiting for Yao Xianqing to reply.

The bubble tea offer dated back to when they first added each other, and Yao Xianqing had treated him.

Although he hadn't finished that cup and it might have been thrown away, it didn't stop him from using it as an excuse to occasionally reach out to the male lead, saying he wanted to return the treat.

At first, the male lead said it wasn't necessary, but You Nan insisted. Later, Yao Xianqing said he was busy and would take him up on it when he had time.

And so, the "let's have bubble tea" conversation dragged on until today without You Nan ever making it happen.

It was clearly a hint that he didn't need to treat.

You Nan knew, but he had to play dumb, so he could have a topic to chat about with the male lead.

You Nan thought Yao Xianqing would definitely reject him again this time, but then a message popped up on his phone from the other.

Yao Xianqing: "Sure."

You Nan sat right up: "Then send me your address! And what flavor do you like?"

Yao Xianqing tapped a few times, sent his address, and mentioned his preferred flavor.

You Nan sent an "ok" gesture.

You Nan: "It's ordered! You should get it in about fifteen minutes!"

Yao Xianqing: "Thanks."

You Nan: "Little cat smiling.jpg"

A head leaned in next to Yao Xianqing—Shen Zihe popped up: "Who are you chatting with so enthusiastically? You weren't even listening to what we were saying earlier."

Yao Xianqing pushed his head away and opened a delivery app. "Don't feel like drinking today. Let's have bubble tea. My treat."

Who would say no to a treat from a good friend? Shen Zihe was the first to agree, and Lu Chengwan and Qi Yuwen also mentioned their preferred flavors.

Yao Xianqing said okay and started ordering on his phone. Shen Zihe didn't look closely and didn't realize Yao Xianqing only ordered three cups, not four.

Fifteen minutes later, Yao Xianqing's phone rang—the delivery had arrived at the door.

Yao Xianqing stood up to get it, and Qi Yuwen naturally offered, "I'll go with you. The corner store nearby is still open. I'll buy some snacks to bring back to You Nan. Otherwise, by the time we call it a night, the store will be closed."

Yao Xianqing's eyes flickered slightly. "No need. Just tell me what you want, and I'll bring it back for you on my way."

Since Yao Xianqing had said that, Qi Yuwen didn't insist, afraid that insisting might annoy him.

Qi Yuwen conceded: "Okay."

Yao Xianqing picked up the bubble tea You Nan had ordered for him at the door, took a photo, and texted it to You Nan with thanks. You Nan texted back a few little flowers.

Yao Xianqing went to a nearby open store to buy the snacks Qi Yuwen wanted, then brought back the three cups of bubble tea he had ordered later to the room.

By the time they called it a night, everyone had finished their bubble tea and thrown the cups in the trash.

They went their separate ways at the door.

Five minutes later, a car stopped at the entrance.

Qi Yuwen opened the door of the room, walked over to the trash can, and picked up the bubble tea cup Yao Xianqing had drunk from.

Just as he was about to stand up, another cup's order number stood out.

Qi Yuwen spotted something wrong right away. He took out all four cups and compared the order numbers on them.

Three of the cups had sequential order numbers, while the other one was separate.

The separate one was the cup Yao Xianqing had drunk, and the phone number on it was different from the other three.

Qi Yuwen squatted in front of the trash can, opened his phone, and pulled up his contacts.

His eyes darkened. Qi Yuwen had a hunch that the person who ordered the milk tea for Yao Xianqing and made him order three extra cups as a cover was someone he definitely knew.

Sure enough, when he entered the number from the label into the search bar of his contacts, as he entered the last digit, a familiar name popped up.

You Nan.

The person Yao Xianqing had specifically tried to cover up for was his wife.