After eating his fill, Shen Yuqing found himself with nothing to do again.
The recent plot points had decreased significantly. Sometimes, it was just minor events encountered by the protagonist, often leaving him with choices. For Shen Yuqing, this was much better than the forced plot progression at the beginning.
Lying on the sofa, Shen Yuqing felt Lucky the cat finally willing to snuggle up to him, purring like a motorcycle near his ear.
He reached out to scratch Lucky’s chin and mused, [At first, I thought the male lead’s later descent into darkness was entirely because of the original host.]
The system replied gloomily, [No. Human suffering isn’t shaped by just one person or one event. From disappointment to numbness to collapse, it’s a gradual accumulation. The original host was merely one of the more prominent links in countless incidents, serving to constantly oppress him.]
Shen Yuqing understood. [To be a protagonist takes real resilience.]
The system happily flashed its indicator light twice. [Alright, Host, I’m going into hibernation to recharge. If anything comes up, remember to call me a couple more times.]
Shen Yuqing yawned. [Go ahead.]
After a full meal, he was feeling drowsy.
Holding the cat, Shen Yuqing sat up from the sofa, planning to take a short nap in the bedroom.
When he entered the bedroom, he unexpectedly found Pei Yiyan changing clothes his upper body bare as he leaned slightly to pick up his pajamas from the bed. His arms were slightly tense, revealing well-defined muscles, his chest and abs perfectly sculpted.
Shen Yuqing couldn’t help but want to whistle appreciatively. Pei Yiyan had really put in the work. Though he’d seen it before, since starting rehabilitation recently, his muscles had become even more impressive.
Really, what man wouldn’t want a physique like that?
Shen Yuqing had some muscle too, but compared to Pei Yiyan, his was nothing to look at.
Lost in thought for a moment, Shen Yuqing snapped back when Pei Yiyan swiftly pulled on his shirt, buttoning it all the way to the top. Now, only his elegant collarbones and neck were visible.
Clearing his throat, Shen Yuqing felt a little embarrassed for staring so intently.
“I’m here for a nap. Are you resting too?” he asked.
Pei Yiyan, who had been listening to Shen Yuqing bustling around with the cat, gave a quiet hum. “A tutor is coming this afternoon.”
So, he needed to rest to stay sharp.
Shen Yuqing walked to the wardrobe and took out his own pajamas, tucking Lucky under his arm. The cat meowed in discomfort, prompting Shen Yuqing to bend down and let it go.
Lucky leaped onto the bed, settling between their pillows like a boundary line, its round eyes watching them as if silently urging something.
Glancing at the cat, Shen Yuqing picked up his pajamas and was about to head to the bathroom to change but after one step, he paused.
Pei Yiyan couldn’t see anyway, so why bother? And even if he could, so what? They were both men.
Yawning again, Shen Yuqing simply placed his pajamas on the bed and quickly pulled off his shirt.
He didn’t notice that after he undressed, Pei Yiyan turned his back, pretending to fumble while hanging up his own clothes.
Had Shen Yuqing always changed in front of him like this before?
Pei Yiyan took a deep breath. Although he knew the other’s body was also male, their genders were ultimately different.
Shen Yuqing quickly changed into his pajamas and glanced back to see Pei Yiyan standing in front of the wardrobe, struggling to hang up his clothes either missing the hanger or not securing it properly.
He walked over, silently took the clothes from Pei Yiyan’s hands, and effortlessly hung them up.
Shen Yuqing muttered, “You could’ve just said something. Why make it so complicated?”
Pei Yiyan watched as that hand swiftly withdrew. Facing the wardrobe, he seemed lost in thought before slowly turning around.
Shen Yuqing had already changed. His discarded clothes were much more casually tossed over a nearby chair. He stretched his arms upward, his shirt riding up slightly with the motion.
Pei Yiyan’s gaze darkened as he glanced at his waist, then calmly averted his eyes without a change in expression.
After stretching, Shen Yuqing felt much more relaxed. Without another thought for Pei Yiyan, he kicked off his shoes, leaped onto the bed, rolled around once, and settled neatly into his spot—all in one smooth motion.
Pei Yiyan watched as Shen Yuqing pulled the blanket over himself, half his face buried in the pillow and the other half obscured by Lucky’s rear. He couldn’t help but feel a twinge of doubt again.
Had Shen Yuqing always been like this?
It was completely different from how he’d imagined when he couldn’t see as if he were an entirely different person.
“Why are you just standing there? Aren’t you taking a nap?” Shen Yuqing propped himself up slightly, eyeing Pei Yiyan, who remained motionless by the bed.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Pei Yiyan finally lay down.
Lucky nuzzled his cheek before closing its eyes to sleep.
The two of them and the cat harmonious as could be.
By the time Shen Yuqing woke up, two hours had passed. Pei Yiyan had already finished his nap and was no longer in bed.
Lucky, however, was still there, its head now turned toward him at some point.
Shen Yuqing scoffed, “Now that Pei Yiyan’s gone, you remember you have another owner, huh?”
Lucky ignored him.
Shen Yuqing threw off the blanket and got out of bed. Still in his pajamas, he headed out to grab a glass of water. As he stepped into the hallway, he heard the sound of a lecture coming from the study.
Pei Yiyan had already started teaching.
He approached, raising a hand as if to push the door open and peek inside, but reconsidered and dropped it. What was so interesting about a lecture?
He hadn’t even digested what he’d learned that morning.
Still, he wondered how Song Wangzhuo’s part-time job was going.
Probably smoothly, right?
Shen Yuqing turned and walked toward the living room. Xiao Zhao had gone out to buy groceries. He grabbed a bottle of cold water from the fridge, twisted the cap off, but before taking a sip, his communicator buzzed.
He glanced at it Lin Sui was calling with a video request.
What did he want on a perfectly good weekend?
Shen Yuqing answered, and a virtual screen materialized.
Lin Sui grinned. “Come to Le Jin’s place! I brought a ton of good booze and ordered takeout. We’re drinking till we drop!”
Shen Yuqing was about to refuse, but the words died on his tongue. Instead, he asked, “You’re already there?”
“Yep, just arrived. Called you right away,” Lin Sui said cheerfully.
After he finished speaking, Song Lejin suddenly popped up from the side: “Yuqing, come join us for some fun.”
Then he added: “The more the merrier. Should we invite Brother Yiyan too? He’s nearby and it would be convenient for him to come.” Pei Yiyan.
Lin Sui couldn’t help but glance at Song Lejin, but also chimed in: “Yeah, why don’t you ask Pei Yiyan to come along?”
Shen Yuqing said: “I’ll ask him then.”
Holding his water, he walked to the study, first knocking on the door before pushing it open.
Wu Yi and the teacher both turned to look at him in unison, while Pei Yiyan seemed to be listening to something.
Shen Yuqing didn’t enter, just leaned against the doorframe and asked: “Pei Yiyan, Song Lejin wants to know if you’d like to join us for drinks.”
Pei Yiyan removed one earbud: “Thanks, but I’ll pass. Have fun.”
Shen Yuqing’s gaze fell on the virtual screen: “He’s not coming. I’ll join you later.”
With that, he hung up the call.
After hanging up, he turned around and heard someone behind him ask: “Who is Song Lejin?”
He was about to explain that this person was once your classmate and seemed to have some interest in you when Wu Yi interjected: “The youngest son of the Song family.”
Pei Yiyan nodded indifferently: “Got it.”
He didn’t seem to care.
Shen Yuqing blinked. Leaving aside other matters, wasn’t Song Lejin supposed to be quite famous in their rich second-generation circle and on social media?
How come no one remembers him.
Pei Yiyan doesn’t remember, and Song Wangzhuo doesn’t remember either.
