What Are You Playing At?

He had just reached the hotel when he spotted someone he disliked standing at the entrance.

Shao Yang had changed out of his afternoon suit and dress shoes into beige casual clothes. Tall, slender, and handsome, he made a lovely sight just standing there.

None of that, however, was enough to make Yan Ningke forget his ugly behavior.

His anger from that afternoon flared up instantly.

Well, well. I hadn't even come looking for you, and here you are, delivering yourself to my door!

Shao Yang noticed him approaching too. A smile immediately spread across his face, and he took two steps forward to meet him.

"Ningke, what took you so long? I've been waiting ages."

Yan Ningke's expression was cold. "Did you need something?"

Shao Yang had already noticed something was wrong. Looking concerned, he asked, "Ningke, what's wrong..."

"Stop!"

Yan Ningke raised a hand to cut him off. "First, I don't think we're close enough to be on a first-name basis."

From beginning to end, the original owner of this body had always addressed him as "Second Young Master." Shao Yang had never asked him to change that, accepting the adulation of someone beneath him without a qualm.

"Second, when did I ever tell you I was your fan?"

The original owner had indeed behaved somewhat like one, but he had never explicitly said he was Shao Yang's fan.

"Finally, Second Young Master Shao, people wake up when they've slept long enough. Don't use someone's naive feelings as something to show off!"

Having spent years in the entertainment industry, could he possibly not know that people would endlessly magnify and freely interpret a few suggestive remarks?

It was only because Yan Ningke had laid the groundwork beforehand. If those rumors had spread on the first day, he believed that no matter how well he did, he would still have faced plenty of prejudice.

The earth was round, and professional circles were circles too. When someone asked what a person was like, the people around them didn't even need to speak. A slight shake of the head could be enough to ruin someone's future.

Yan Ningke was certain he had done it deliberately!

Shao Yang froze, his eyes full of disbelief.

Was this really Yan Ningke?

The person who had once worn an ingratiating expression and agreed with everything he said was now utterly cold.

Perhaps it was because he had cut his hair short, but Yan Ningke's entire bearing had changed, his gaze sharp and piercing.

Shao Yang's thoughts wandered for a long time before he found his voice. "Ningke, aren't we friends? It really hurts me to hear you say that."

Yan Ningke had to admire his conviction. "Friends? Is a friend someone who watches coldly while you get bullied, then comes out to play the good guy once it's over?"

"Is a friend someone who already has a partner but still accepts your feelings without a shred of guilt?"

"Is a friend someone who freely steers other people's opinions of you without any restraint?"

This was the protagonist? A sanctimonious hypocrite who exploited the original owner's emotional vulnerabilities to psychologically manipulate him.

Once he achieved his goal, he would describe the man as a rat in a sewer and call for his destruction in the name of righteousness.

Then, after the man died, he would self-righteously say that he hoped he would be a good person in his next life.

Yan Ningke found it utterly disgusting.

Shao Yang frowned at him. "Ningke, have you been under too much pressure lately? I know my brother has a bad temper. You must have suffered a lot, but you know he's been unpredictable ever since my uncle and aunt passed away."

Yan Ningke stared at him strangely.

"Everyone in the family who went to see him got thrown out. I really had no other choice, so I asked you to help me look after him. Don't worry. Once he's doing a little better, I'll come rescue you. I won't let you keep getting hurt. Ningke, could you hang in there a little longer for me?"

How could anyone say something like that without having had a blood clot in their brain for ten years?

Yan Ningke could hardly believe his ears. "Wait. Stop being so moved by yourself."

"I only have one question. You knew he was unpredictable, yet you still sent me there. Weren't you afraid he'd get me killed? Shao Yang, what are you playing at?"

Shao Yang hadn't expected that question. Dazed for a moment, he hurried to explain, "You've misunderstood me. I never thought that."

"Stop! Don't say another word. Second Young Master Shao, I may be a little naive, but I'm not actually stupid. I know perfectly well whether we're friends."

Yan Ningke was sleepy and didn't want to keep talking in circles, so he spelled it out. "Keep your distance and leave me alone. Thank you."

With that, he turned and left. There was no getting through to someone pretending not to hear or understand.

The night was dark. Shao Yang stood rooted to the spot, humiliated and angry, confusion and panic surfacing in his eyes.

His prey was no longer under his control.

After a full night's sleep, he was in a good mood too.

Humming, Yan Ningke packed his luggage, checked out, and briskly set off on his journey home.

After leaving through the main entrance, he first ducked into a little shop nearby and browsed for a while. His ride arrived just as he came out.

Once aboard the high-speed train, he took out his phone, but after scrolling for ages without taking anything in, he propped up his chin and admired the scenery outside.

Yan Ningke might have been stingy, but when circumstances allowed, he still couldn't bear to make himself uncomfortable.

Before boarding, he had sent the family driver his arrival time. As soon as he left the station, he was picked up and driven home.

Whether it was because of what had happened on their last video call or because he grew nervous as home drew near, Yan Ningke never mentioned that man during the drive, chatting intermittently with the driver about amusing things from filming instead.

The journey that usually felt so long passed in the blink of an eye.

Standing at the front gate, even the hand he used to enter the code trembled a little.

The lock clicked open. Yan Ningke had barely stepped into the courtyard with his little backpack when he saw the man sitting in a wheelchair beneath the covered walkway.

Yan Ningke's heart skipped a beat. Forgetting all his shyness and awkwardness, he dropped his backpack and raced over.

"Mr. Shao, I'm back!"

Like a fledgling returning to its nest, he threw himself into the man's arms, excited and delighted.

Shao Ke sounded thoroughly disdainful, but his hand supported Yan Ningke's back steadily. "You're covered in dust. Filthy."

His indulgence emboldened Yan Ningke, who shamelessly pressed himself against him. From a distance, he looked as though he were sitting on Shao Ke's lap.

"Did you miss me?"

Shao Ke was just about to speak when a murmur reached his ear.

"I missed you so much."

Yan Ningke's courage lasted all of one second. Having teased him, he darted away.

"Oh dear, how did my backpack fall on the ground?"

Shao Ke gave an exasperated snort of laughter. With that tiny bit of courage, he still dared to tweak a tiger's tail.

He really had no fear of death.

The weather was so hot that even a brief stint in the sun left him drenched in sweat.

Yan Ningke went back to his room for a lightning-fast shower and changed into clean clothes.

When he came out again, Shao Ke was sitting on the sofa drinking tea, his wheelchair parked beside him. Yan Ningke automatically overlooked it.

He ran to peek inside the fridge and came back carrying half a watermelon.

After digging in with a spoon and taking several huge mouthfuls, he slumped bonelessly against the sofa. "Bliss!"

Because he was slouching, his shirt rode up a little.

Shao Ke glanced up at his pale waist and stomach and said in a low voice, "Sit properly."

He had just showered, the air conditioning was on, and he had eaten chilled watermelon, yet he still dared to leave his stomach exposed.

Yan Ningke pouted, then straightened up and sat properly.