Chateau Delphi places great importance on customer privacy.
To access the guest room department on the fourth floor, not only does the elevator require a key card, but even the stairwell is secured with a magnetic door that also needs one. However, this posed no difficulty for Chen Zemian.
He returned to the third floor, found a lounge, stepped onto the iron railings at the edge of the terrace, and climbed directly to the fourth-floor observation deck using the outer wall for support. Fortunately, he had been working out deliberately ever since he arrived in this world. Although the height was intimidating, he gritted his teeth and managed to pull himself up with his core strength.
At one point, due to a lack of leg strength, he slipped twice and nearly fell.
Regardless, he made his way along the terrace of the fourth floor and, relying on memory, located the guest room near the stairwell.
The room’s lights were off. From the terrace, the interior looked completely dark — nothing could be seen.
It wasn’t even ten o’clock yet, and a cocktail party was still underway downstairs. Given modern sleeping habits, it was unlikely anyone would be in bed this early.
But then again, if no one was sleeping, why would the lights be off?
Chen Zemian was torn. An empty room meant he wouldn’t find Lu Zhuonian, but if someone was inside and it wasn’t Lu Zhuonian… he’d probably end up spending the night at the police station.
In terms of best-to-worst outcomes, ideally Lu Zhuonian would be in the room, followed by no one, then a man.
But if it was a woman — he’d definitely be mistaken for a pervert and get arrested.
Chen Zemian hesitated in the cold wind for three minutes. During those 180 seconds, he missed Lu Zhuonian more with each passing moment.
He sent a message to Xiao Kesong for confirmation.
Xiao Kesong and his friends still hadn’t managed to contact Lu Zhuonian, and the Lu family was considering calling the police.
Chen Zemian felt that was a bit extreme.
Xiao Kesong replied, “You don’t understand. Back in junior high, Zhuonian suddenly went missing — he was basically kidnapped. It was serious. His mysophobia is a lasting consequence of that incident.”
Lu Zhuonian’s mysophobia?
Chen Zemian paused with his thumb hovering over the screen.
The original novel never mentioned anything about Lu Zhuonian being kidnapped in junior high, which made Chen Zemian question the book’s reliability once again.
He’d previously assumed that because Chen Zhe was just a side character with little influence on the plot, the author had changed his details slightly. But if even something as significant as the male lead’s kidnapping had been omitted… something was definitely off.
A chill passed through Chen Zemian as his concern for Lu Zhuonian deepened.
Better safe than sorry. If Lu Zhuonian really was in danger and the book didn’t account for it, the consequences could be dire.
After all, Chen Zemian wasn’t omniscient. He only clearly remembered the parts of the book he had analyzed closely — and even those memories were beginning to fade with time.
You can’t trust memory too much. He needed to go back and organize the original outline and key events — before he forgot everything.
Beijing had already entered winter. It was December, and nighttime temperatures had dropped close to zero. Chen Zemian wore only a shirt and a suit jacket. After standing on the terrace for a while, the howling cold wind began to pierce through him.
He covered his mouth and coughed twice, thinking for a few seconds.
In the end, concern for Lu Zhuonian’s safety outweighed his fear of being arrested.
He texted Xiao Kesong. “I think Mr. Lu is in the guest room on the fourth floor. I’m going in to check. If I get caught, please bail me out.”
After sending the message, Chen Zemian put his phone back in his pocket.
He leaned against the wall and slowly pushed the window open a crack. Reaching inside, he unlocked the terrace door from within, then carefully pressed down on the handle and opened it.
The superior features of the high-end guest room’s design were fully apparent at this moment —
Smooth. Silent.
The room was equally quiet.
Crouching low, Chen Zemian entered the guest room.
No lights were on. Outside, the moon was hidden behind dark clouds. Only a faint, misty glow filtered in through the window, casting dim light near the bed.
Everything before him seemed veiled in a gauzy mist — unclear and shadowy.
He paused for a moment. After his eyes adjusted to the dark, he looked around in the moonlight and vaguely made out a lump on the bed — like someone was lying there.
Oh no, someone is there!
Chen Zemian’s heart rate skyrocketed.
He silently called out Lu Zhuonian’s name, praying earnestly. Please let it be you, Lu Zhuonian. I really don’t want to end up in the police station.
Whether it was adrenaline kicking in or just how badly he wanted to see Lu Zhuonian, Chen Zemian stood frozen in place, his eyes locked on the silhouette. The more he stared, the more it resembled Lu Zhuonian.
Just then, a strong wind blew outside.
The powerful north wind swept away the clouds shrouding the moon. A bright silver light poured down, casting a beam onto the headboard — and illuminating the handsome profile of the man.
It was really Lu Zhuonian!
Chen Zemian rushed to the bed. “Lu Zhuonian!”
Lu Zhuonian lay flat on the bed, eyes closed. His fine bangs were slightly disheveled, brushing across his furrowed brows. His breathing was slow and deep — he was clearly fast asleep.
“Oh my god…”
Chen Zemian was momentarily speechless. He grabbed Lu Zhuonian’s shoulders and shook him. “Bro, why are you still sleeping here? I’ve been looking for you everywhere!”
No response.
Was he drunk?
Chen Zemian leaned in and sniffed. There was a faint scent of alcohol on Lu Zhuonian’s breath.
Drunk and unconscious from just that? Didn’t the book say the male lead had a high alcohol tolerance?
Could Ye Chen have been right — maybe Lu Zhuonian had sampled a type of alcohol he was particularly sensitive to, and that made him pass out faster?
Alcoholic beverages contain more than just alcohol — they’re brewed from different ingredients: grain for baijiu, malt for beer, grapes for wine. During fermentation, these ingredients can produce compounds that trigger allergic reactions.
Ye Chen had said Lu Zhuonian was sensitive to some alcohols. Maybe he was actually allergic to a particular type of grape.
But if it’s an allergy — could it be dangerous?
Chen Zemian shook him harder, “Wake up.”
Lu Zhuonian’s brows twitched slightly. His eyelashes trembled.
Chen Zemian patted Lu Zhuonian’s face again.
He swore that he didn’t mean to take the opportunity to slap Lu Zhuonian.
When Lu Zhuonian opened his eyes, Chen Zemian repeated the same thing to him.
“…”
Lu Zhuonian just looked at Chen Zemian without speaking for a long time. He seemed either confused or simply didn’t believe him.
What bad luck.
Chen Zemian had been calling Lu Zhuonian for a long time, but failed to wake him. Just as he raised his hand to increase the intensity of his call, Lu Zhuonian suddenly woke up.
It made one suspect that some kind of world consciousness was protecting the male protagonist.
This guy really cheats. I want to report him.
“I just wanted to wake you up. Are you allergic to alcohol?”
Chen Zemian touched Lu Zhuonian’s face and explained, “Your body is so hot, and I called you for a long time just now but you didn’t wake up.”
Lu Zhuonian’s eyes were still a little unfocused, and his body lacked strength — but his quick-witted brain was functioning just fine.
“You were just trying to slap me,” Lu Zhuonian said clearly, seeing through everything. “You raised your hand so high — I saw it all.”
Chen Zemian said righteously, “I was worried! You weren’t waking up no matter how I called you. I even alarmed Xiao Shao and Ye Shao. Who would’ve guessed you were just sleeping here?”
“I wasn’t sleeping.” Lu Zhuonian’s eyes moved slightly and fell on Chen Zemian’s face. “Someone spiked my drink. I passed out, Chen Zemian.”
Chen Zemian’s pupils shrank slightly. “Someone spiked your drink?”
Lu Zhuonian nodded, his voice weak. “I have no strength in my body now. Where is this? How did you get in?”
“Ah? No strength?”
Chen Zemian was experiencing this kind of novel plot for the first time. He panicked, not knowing what to do.
He touched Lu Zhuonian’s forehead and spoke incoherently. “Are you okay? No wonder you’re so hot. I — I climbed over the terrace to get in. Who drugged you? What kind of drug? What do I do now? Should I call the police? An ambulance?”
Lu Zhuonian raised his hand and covered Chen Zemian’s mouth. “Keep your voice down. Don’t let anyone find you here.”
Chen Zemian immediately held his breath.
Seeing Chen Zemian’s dumbfounded expression, Lu Zhuonian couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
Chen Zemian was stunned and whispered, “It’s already this late, and you’re still laughing?”
Lu Zhuonian’s entire body was burning up, and the heat from his palm was intense. His hand covered Chen Zemian’s mouth. As Chen Zemian spoke, his breath warmed Lu Zhuonian’s hand — it was cool, itchy, and felt like it pierced through the skin, straight into his bones, making him feel weary and light-headed.
He should have removed his hand.
But he didn’t.
Lu Zhuonian looked at Chen Zemian and said in a hoarse voice, “Don’t be nervous. I’m okay.”
Chen Zemian felt his face growing hotter and hotter — just like when he had the flu.
As a senior game planner, he had read widely and was no stranger to the “drugging” trope.
Common drugs in plots usually fell into three categories:
- Addictive drugs – often used when a villain wants to control or frame the protagonist. The subsequent drug rehabilitation arc showcases the protagonist’s strong will and moral integrity.
- Sedatives – typically appear when the villain kidnaps or incapacitates the protagonist. The escape sequence that follows highlights the protagonist’s intelligence and defiance.
- Aphrodisiacs – usually involved when a villain wants to create a “done deal” situation, or when a side character tries to force intimacy. The protagonist either accidentally sleeps with their love interest or resists the effects, showcasing self-restraint and integrity — ultimately gaining affection and admiration.
Now, based on Lu Zhuonian’s weakness and feverish state, the answer seemed clear.
Chen Zemian, full of confidence, concluded, “You must have been drugged with an aphrodisiac.”
“…”
Lu Zhuonian said flatly, “It’s not an aphrodisiac.”
Chen Zemian raised his eyebrows and reached under the quilt. “Impossible. If it’s not an aphrodisiac, then is the thing under the quilt against my thigh the air conditioner remote?”
Lu Zhuonian grabbed his hand and said firmly, “It’s an aphrodisiac.”
Upon hearing this, Chen Zemian was furious. “They actually gave you that kind of drug? They clearly had evil intentions.”
He leaned in and asked, “How do you feel now? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”
As Chen Zemian moved closer, Lu Zhuonian noticed he was wearing his coat. And his tie — loosely draped around Chen Zemian’s neck.
In the moonlight, the small mole on the side of Chen Zemian’s neck appeared red and conspicuous. The end of the tie dangled, swaying with his movements, brushing across Lu Zhuonian’s face and neck — like an unspeakable link between them.
At the same time, Lu Zhuonian picked up a familiar scent — the perfume he usually wore — now mixed with Chen Zemian’s own. It formed a strange, enticing fragrance.
It was too alluring.
To Lu Zhuonian, in this moment, the scent was more aphrodisiac than any fragrance.
The drug in the wine was nothing special — just a basic formula. What truly triggered his arousal was the unaware Chen Zemian in front of him… and his own overly sensitive body.
Lu Zhuonian would’ve preferred to blame it on the drug.
The drug’s effects were temporary, no matter how intense — they would eventually wear off.
But the desire and secrets buried in his heart? Those would never fade. They were shameful.
Chen Zemian, clueless and bold, approached him again and again — teasing, unguarded, unaware of the danger.
Why did he have to be straight?
If he were gay, even if he didn’t realize he was addicted to sex, he wouldn’t be snuggling in bed like this, rubbing against him, suspecting he was drugged while getting even closer.
Lu Zhuonian lay on the pillow, completely drained. He had nowhere to escape. He could only close his eyes, resigned, and sigh softly.
Chen Zemian heard the sigh and moved even closer. “Why are you sighing again? Where do you feel uncomfortable?”
Lu Zhuonian told the truth. “Headache.”
Chen Zemian, ever imaginative, instinctively asked, “Which head?”
…Some people are speechless. Others laugh.
Lu Zhuonian laughed in disbelief. “Why are you asking that? Are you planning to rub it for me?”
Chen Zemian was about to respond when there was a beep outside the door — the sound of a key card being swiped.
Someone was coming!
Chen Zemian reacted instantly — he threw back the quilt and dove under it in a flash.
“…”
*****
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Author: LazyHermitGal
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