Chapter 114 Undercurrents

Chapter 114 Undercurrents

Yan Zhoubai hadn't anticipated things would escalate to this point.

Before coming, he’d considered staying the night, given how long it had been since his last visit home. When Zhan Jiayu asked, he’d said his plans were uncertain—never imagining they would be settled so quickly. After this lunch, he would be leaving.

Seeing Yan Zhoubai’s unyielding attitude, Bu Qiran threw caution to the wind: "You're not allowed to leave! Not today, not ever! You're staying with the Yan family—no more going to Zhan Jiayu’s place!"

He didn't care about that damn villain Zhan Jiayu. Since the system declared him the male lead, the one favored by destiny, he was determined to see what would happen if he snatched someone away from the so-called great villain.

Bu Qiran gripped Yan Zhoubai’s arm tightly, refusing to let go. As his emotions intensified, so did the pressure of his hold. Yan Zhoubai felt a sharp pain and struggled to break free.

"Hey, now that's a true male lead. Though this system thinks there's no point in fighting a villain for such a minor character, if you like him that much..."

"Besides, as the original story’s sole male lead, it’s only natural for you to take things from the villain."

Surprisingly, Bu Qiran’s system reacted to his emotional outburst with an unexpected optimism this time.

It had no choice but to be optimistic—it was already at its wit's end. What appeared to be optimism was, in fact, sheer helplessness.

There was simply no stopping its host’s infatuation with this petty character. If it pushed too hard and the host stopped listening altogether, it would be over.

So, as a fallback, going against the villain would have to suffice—just completing his mission as the male lead. At this point, it couldn’t ask for more.

"He's a person, not an object."

Despite his anger, Bu Qiran still found the presence of mind to retort to the system.

If his system had a physical form, it would have shrugged and said, "Sure, whatever you say."

Bu Qiran had changed dramatically over the past month. Though the same age as Yan Zhoubai, his unconventional fashion had always made him seem more unreliable.

Yet, in just one short month, Bu Qiran had shed his earlier immaturity. As long as he wasn't being flippant, his overall demeanor now carried the same sharp edge as Yan Anxuan’s.

This was Yan Zhoubai’s most immediate impression of Bu Qiran. He could already sense a subtle pressure emanating from Bu Qiran’s angry face.

He truly was stronger than him. Both were interns, and both his elder brother and Zhan Jiayu were highly capable, but their growth rates were entirely different.

When he had accompanied Zhan Jiayu to business meetings, he’d heard that Bu Qiran was already nearly capable of working independently, and the directors of Yan Group were very satisfied with him.

Compared to Bu Qiran, he was indeed far behind.

But so what? He had no intention of competing with Bu Qiran, and Bu Qiran had no business grabbing his arm.

Did he think Yan Zhoubai would stay just because he said so? Who would listen to him? Did he think he was God?

Yan Zhoubai struggled, trying to free his arm, but the more he struggled, the tighter Bu Qiran held on. It was summer, and he was wearing short sleeves; Yan Zhoubai felt Bu Qiran’s grip had already left red marks on his arm.

In the end, it was Yan Anxuan who freed Yan Zhoubai’s arm from Bu Qiran’s grasp.

Another large hand clamped onto Bu Qiran’s wrist, forcing him to release his hold.

"What are you doing? Can't you see you're hurting Xiaobai? Let go!"

Yan Anxuan’s tone was displeased, his gaze cold as he looked at Bu Qiran, as if suddenly realizing something.

Bu Qiran met Yan Anxuan’s gaze directly, showing no sign of backing down. His face was etched with defiance, as if his current retreat was merely a temporary tactic.

Since Bu Qiran started interning at Yan Group with Yan Anxuan, the relationship between the two brothers had significantly softened. Yan Anxuan had witnessed the astonishing learning ability and strong determination hidden beneath his long-lost younger brother’s seemingly unreliable exterior.

It made him marvel at the power of blood ties. He saw the similarities between Bu Qiran and himself. Bu Qiran also seemed to understand him better, no longer being so hostile toward him.

So, it had been a long time since he’d seen Bu Qiran look at him with such defiance.

And it was because of Yan Zhoubai, because of Yan Zhoubai…

Yan Anxuan felt a strange atmosphere flowing between him and Bu Qiran. It seemed they had reached an unspoken understanding about certain thoughts regarding each other.

Yan Anxuan instinctively reached out and pulled Yan Zhoubai toward him, even shifting Yan Zhoubai’s chair closer to his own.

Seeing Yan Anxuan’s action, Bu Qiran seemed to jolt awake. He hadn’t fully grasped the meaning behind his elder brother’s look earlier, but now, seeing this gesture, he thought he understood.

Yan Zhoubai, caught between the two brothers, was completely unaware of the peculiar atmosphere. He was busy rubbing his arm.

Sure enough, Bu Qiran had left red marks. Yan Zhoubai’s skin was pale and sensitive, so even slight redness was very visible. And since Bu Qiran had lost control and used too much force, the mark looked particularly alarming.

He knew nothing good ever came from crossing paths with Bu Qiran! Yan Zhoubai silently complained to himself as he rubbed his arm.

When Bu Qiran shifted his gaze to Yan Zhoubai, he finally noticed the obvious red mark left by his excessive force.

Now that his emotions had cooled, his face showed a mix of embarrassment and guilt. He wanted to apologize to Yan Zhoubai.

But he didn’t get the chance. Yan Anxuan had already taken Yan Zhoubai’s arm and was gently rubbing it for him.

"Qiran, you’ve gone too far. Look what you’ve done to Xiaobai’s arm. Don’t handle him roughly like that anymore. His skin is delicate—even a light touch can leave a mark."

Bai Rong also saw the red mark on Yan Zhoubai’s arm. Only now did she fully understand why Yan Zhoubai had been so badly injured when he fell in the courtyard that time. Bu Qiran really had no idea how to hold back.

Yan Zhoubai let Yan Anxuan massage his arm, paying no attention to Bu Qiran.

With that, the atmosphere at the table temporarily calmed down.

Yan Zhoubai finished his meal quietly, remembering to send a message to Zhan Jiayu during a break, asking him to come pick him up later.

"Good job, baby. I also think there’s no need for us to keep getting entangled with the Yan family anymore. Our original plans never relied on the Yan family’s influence anyway. Now that we’re out, their disapproval of you and Zhan Jiayu is their problem—what does it have to do with you?"

"They never cared about you growing up, and now they suddenly want to control who you date? That’s so unfair. What right do they have to interfere in your life?"

The system had originally planned to stay silent and observe today, but it hadn’t expected Yan Zhoubai to lose control emotionally. In that case, there really was no need to stay with the Yan family any longer.

The Yan family was too annoying. What right did they have to stop their host from being with Zhan Jiayu?

This was Zhan Jiayu they were talking about! If they couldn’t offer any help to their host’s career, at least they shouldn’t stop him from clinging to Zhan Jiayu’s coattails. This was completely unreasonable!

Of course, the most important thing was that Zhan Jiayu liked their host, and their host liked Zhan Jiayu. For the Yan family to interfere like this was nothing but splitting up a happy couple!

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The red wine Yan Anxuan had opened remained untouched on the table. It was only after the meal was mostly finished that anyone remembered it.

Yan Ren also noticed the wine and asked Yan Anxuan to pour a small glass for everyone, saying that a family meal should end with a toast.

Yan Zhoubai had been really looking forward to that bottle of wine. He wasn't good with alcohol, but occasionally he wanted a taste.

He'd tried a sip of the reserve red wine from the family cellar during New Year’s two years ago and remembered it tasting amazing, so he had been looking forward to it.

But after arguing with his father, Yan Zhoubai had long since lost any excitement for that bottle of wine.

Perhaps the reason that bottle of red wine tasted so good back then was also due to the mood.

It was during the New Year, with the whole family gathered together. At that time, he craved family connection, which made even the red wine he drank back then seem exceptionally flavorful.

But now, everything has long since soured, and that bottle of red wine no longer tastes as good as it once did.

Yan Zhoubai really wanted to just sit still, not drink the red wine, and not raise his glass. But then it occurred to him that this might be his last time with the Yan family—a chance to draw a final period.

How bitter. Though the wine itself tasted fine, it couldn’t mask the puckering bitterness that soured his heart.

Yan Zhoubai’s raising his glass was meant to mark an end to his life with the Yan family. But to the others at the table, it seemed like a sign that the tension was easing.

It suggested that Yan Zhoubai’s emotions were gradually softening, meaning there was still room to discuss what he had been so stubborn about earlier.

What they wanted to talk about now was no longer Yan Zhoubai’s relationship with Zhan Jiayu—that issue had taken a back seat. Now, they were more concerned about Yan Zhoubai saying he intended to leave the Yan family.

“Xiaobai, Fengqing is famous for its natural hot springs—it’s a great place for a vacation. I went ahead and booked a hot spring resort there. How about we head out this afternoon and relax there as a family?”

It was Yan Ren who spoke.

Fengqing is a county just outside Jing City. Known for its beautiful natural environment, it primarily focuses on tourism development, with its hot springs being the most famous attraction.

Of course, Yan Ren hadn’t really booked any hot spring resort in advance. He was just trying to ease the tension after things got so tense.

If Yan Zhoubai agreed, he would immediately have someone make the booking—it would also be a good opportunity for the whole family to take a break.

Today’s events made him realize that he hadn’t handled family matters as well as he thought he had.

“I'll pass. No need, Dad. I’ll be leaving soon—Zhan Jiayu is coming to pick me up.”

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Author's Note: [Let me see]