Chapter 2

Yan Zhimo had never imagined that he could be a character in a novel.

The world he lived in was actually an angst novel. He was the scumbag gong who entered a contractual marriage with the protagonist shou, Jian Anmian. In the future, he would torment the protagonist shou physically and emotionally before ultimately dying with him in a double-suicide ending.

This was absurd. Absolutely absurd.

Yan Zhimo’s first reaction was that the accident had damaged his brain and given him delusions.

Yet half an hour later, Yan Zhimo stared at the medical report in his hand, which showed that nothing was seriously wrong with him. He rubbed his head in disbelief, his brows tightly furrowed. “There’s nothing wrong with my brain?”

Dressed in a white coat, Changsun Yong’s mouth twitched. “You have a mild concussion. Is that not enough for you?” He muttered, “You certainly seem pretty sick to me right now.”

For once, Yan Zhimo didn’t retort. The report in his hand had been crumpled beyond recognition, and his expression shifted repeatedly.

Changsun Yong looked horrified. “Why aren’t you arguing with me? Are you all right?!”

Yan Zhimo’s mouth twitched. “Something is wrong.”

Changsun Yong broke down. “With your head?”

Yan Zhimo stared at him coldly. “I strained my lower back during the accident. Prescribe me some more muscle and joint pain-relief patches.”

Changsun Yong: “…”

Several minutes later, Changsun Yong grumbled and cursed as he lifted the back of Yan Zhimo’s shirt and applied a pain-relief patch. At that moment, Yan Zhimo’s phone suddenly rang.

Yan Zhimo picked it up and glanced at the screen, open disgust and revulsion written across his face.

Changsun Yong went to wash his hands and casually asked, “Your dad?”

Yan Zhimo was about to deny it when Changsun Yong corrected himself first. “No, it must be that cheap mother of yours. As if your father would personally call to check on you.”

Yan Zhimo sneered and answered the call.

His stepmother’s gentle voice came through the phone. “Zhimo, I heard you were in a car accident. Are you all right? Were you injured?”

Yan Zhimo gave a few perfunctory answers and ended the call in less than a minute. Both sides had put on a flawless show of concern and civility.

Changsun Yong dried his hands and sighed. “Adults are such a pain. You both clearly wish the other would explode on the spot, yet you still go through all unauthorized copythese empty formalities in the name of morality and etiquette. Isn’t it exhausting?”

Yan Zhimo scoffed. “No matter what Bai Murou truly thinks, at least in front of Yan Zuyi, she maintains the image of a gentle and kind mother.”

Yan Zhimo’s family situation was both melodramatic and painfully cliché.

There was his scumbag father, who had driven his biological mother to her death; his vicious stepmother, who had risen from mistress to wife; and his illegitimate younger brother. Then there were his sister-in-law and Second Uncle’s family. Every last one of them was trouble.

Changsun Yong lowered his voice. “Is it possible your stepmother arranged that accident?”

Without even thinking, Yan Zhimo denied it. “No. She may not be particularly intelligent, and her character leaves much to be desired, but she’s a coward. She wouldn’t dare hire someone to kill me.”

Changsun Yong curled his lips. “That leaves your Second Uncle.”

Yan Zhimo’s gaze darkened. “I already asked Hanzhou to investigate. If it really was him, then he’ll have no choice but to pay for what he did…”

At that moment, a knock sounded from outside the room, bringing their conversation to an end.

Yan Zhimo said quietly, “Come in.”

Jian Anmian pushed open the door. When he looked up and saw a doctor in a white coat inside the [bailiantales.com]room with Yan Zhimo, he nervously lowered his head and whispered, “Hello.”

“Oh my, how obedient!” Changsun Yong’s eyes lit up, and he rubbed his hands together lecherously. “So you’re the little wife Old Yan just married? You look so young. Are you really an adult? Old Yan didn’t commit a crime, did he?”

Startled, Jian Anmian instinctively cast an imploring look toward the only man he knew. “Mr. Yan…”

Yan Zhimo’s mood instantly brightened. His lower back no longer ached, and his head no longer hurt. He beckoned to Jian Anmian. “Come here.”

Jian Anmian immediately hurried over with quick little steps. His slender body pressed close to the side of Yan Zhimo’s bed as his large, dark eyes secretly peeked at Changsun Yong through his lashes.

Holy shit. Where did that dog Yan abduct such an obedient little thing from?!

Changsun Yong sucked in a breath at the sheer cuteness, only to hear Yan Zhimo introduce him. “Changsun Yong. He’s just a pervert and a playboy. Good children shouldn’t talk to perverts. They’re filthy.”

“Fuck, you dog Yan, you fucking—”

Yan Zhimo leisurely interrupted him. “Good children shouldn’t listen to filthy things.”

Jian Anmian met Yan Zhimo’s commanding gaze and reflexively covered his ears.

“…You win.” Changsun Yong gave Yan Zhimo the middle finger, then smiled and held out a hand toward Jian Anmian. Yet no matter how one looked at his smile, it appeared lecherous. “Hello, Xiao Jian. My name is Changsun Yong, and I’m your husband’s private physician. You can call me Brother Yong. Don’t listen to that dog Yan’s nonsense. I might look a little flirtatious, but I’m actually very innocent. You can count all the relationships I’ve had on two hands!”

Jian Anmian blinked. So this was the standard-issue doctor friend every domineering CEO had in this kind of novel.

As everyone knew, the male lead of every domineering-CEO novel was guaranteed to have a doctor friend like this—

Every week, he would dutifully visit the CEO’s villa to treat the CEO’s chronic stomach problems. He never turned off his phone, ensuring that whenever the shou was left half-dead by the CEO, a single call from said CEO could wake him up. He would then rush to the villa in rain or shine to treat the shou—and, of course, it always had to happen in the middle of the night.

He was the ultimate thankless tool in any domineering-CEO novel. The other standard tools included the CEO’s lawyer friend, his private-investigator friend, the housekeeper or maid at his villa, and the special assistant who always remained at his side…

Jian Anmian looked at Changsun Yong’s outstretched hand, then instinctively turned toward Yan Zhimo.

Yan Zhimo smiled and lifted his chin slightly, indicating that this was a hand he was permitted to shake.

Changsun Yong: Damn it!

Just as Jian Anmian was about to extend his hand, Yan Zhimo added unhurriedly, “You’re not allowed to touch him.”

Now that they were legally married, Jian Anmian belonged to him. He hadn’t even shaken Yan Zhimo’s hand yet, but he dared touch another man?

Changsun Yong couldn’t take it anymore. ​bailiantales.com​Yan Zhimo had called him the pervert, but which one of them was the real pervert here?!

Jian Anmian paused and glanced down at his clothes. Then he pulled his long sleeve over his fingertips, quickly poked Changsun Yong’s palm, and turned back to look at Yan Zhimo.

Smiling, Yan Zhimo raised a hand and crooked his finger at Jian Anmian.

Jian Anmian blinked slowly, then tentatively crouched beside Yan Zhimo’s bed and obediently offered up his head.

Was he supposed to… do this?

Like someone rewarding a puppy, Yan Zhimo gave Jian Anmian an approving pat on the head. “Mm. Good boy.”

The tips of Jian Anmian’s ears instantly turned red. All he lacked was a wagging tail and two little barks.

Fuck, what kind of live-action puppy romance was this?!

The display put on by that dog Yan made Changsun Yong’s scalp tingle. Unable to remain there for another second, he cupped his hands in farewell. “I’m leaving!”

The door closed once more. In the blink of an eye, only Jian Anmian and Yan Zhimo remained in the room.

Jian Anmian secretly glanced at Yan Zhimo. Although the man was sitting on the bed, his imposing presence hadn’t diminished in the slightest. His fingers rhythmically tapped the blanket as he lowered his brows, deep in thought.

Although the man had affectionately stroked his head just now and smiled so gently, Jian Anmian was still afraid of him. He didn’t dare disturb him, much less move carelessly. He simply crouched beside the bed and stared expectantly at the fingertips tapping against the blanket, once, then again.

After a long while, Yan Zhimo suddenly curled his lips into a smile. He threw back the blanket and stood, straightening his clothes at a leisurely pace. Pushing the back of Jian Anmian’s head to make him rise, he drawled, “Come on. Accompany me to see how Secretary Liu is doing.”

Jian Anmian hurriedly stood and followed closely behind him. He suddenly remembered that Secretary Liu was the first source of torment in this novel.

Secretary Liu’s true identity was a corporate spy sent by the protagonist gong’s Second Uncle. That morning’s car accident had also been deliberately arranged by the Second Uncle. Its sole purpose was to allow Secretary Liu to protect the protagonist gong at a crucial moment, earn his trust, and infiltrate the inner workings of his company.

In the novel, Secretary Liu relied on her status as the protagonist gong’s savior to bully the protagonist shou repeatedly. The scumbag protagonist gong stood by and allowed it to happen. Later, at a banquet, Secretary Liu even drugged the protagonist gong, nearly causing him to sleep with another woman. At the critical moment, the protagonist shou caught them in the act.

What followed was the classic exchange of “Listen to my explanation!” and “I won’t listen! I won’t listen!” Jian Anmian’s blood pressure had skyrocketed while reading it, and he had nearly died on the spot. Even now, he couldn’t understand how he had managed to finish the entire novel.

So was he about to witness the beginning of the beautiful secretary’s affair with the scumbag gong?

He hadn’t expected the torment to begin so soon. He suddenly felt a little nervous.

While Jian Anmian was recalling the plot, they unknowingly arrived at Secretary Liu’s hospital room.

Yan Zhimo knocked on the door. After hearing a response, he unauthorized copy pushed it open and politely asked, “Secretary Liu, how are you feeling?”

Secretary Liu’s face was pale. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing a slender section of her neck, and smiled weakly. “Thank you for your concern, President Yan. The doctor said nothing is seriously wrong. I should be able to leave the hospital after resting for a few days.”

“That’s good.” Yan Zhimo nodded, wrapped an arm around Jian Anmian’s waist, and sat with him on the sofa opposite her. His fingers naturally brushed over the shell of Jian Anmian’s ear as he watched that nearly translucent patch of pale skin gradually turn pink.

Jian Anmian, who had intended to quietly watch the drama unfold, instantly went rigid.

No, wait… Mr. Scumbag Gong, aren’t you touching the wrong person?

Secretary Liu is the one seducing you, not me!

Yan Zhimo asked gently, “What’s wrong, baby? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

The man’s deep voice sounded beside Jian Anmian’s ear, as rich and resonant as a subwoofer. His breath was warm, making Jian Anmian’s head buzz. The redness at the tips of his ears deepened as he stammered, “N-No…”

Yan Zhimo’s lowered eyes overflowed with affection. “If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, call for me at any time, all right?”

Jian Anmian was about to faint. “Mm…”

What exactly was happening? Gong, what are you doing, gong?!

Only then did Yan Zhimo look at Secretary Liu. “Secretary Liu, I haven’t properly thanked you yet. If you hadn’t risked your life to save me, I might have suffered far more than a mild concussion.”

Secretary Liu smiled stiffly and discreetly drew the strand of hair she had tucked behind her ear forward again. “You’re too kind, President Yan. Everything happened so suddenly. My body reacted on instinct. All that matters is that you’re safe.”

Yan Zhimo neither agreed nor disagreed. “Speaking of which, how long have you worked at our company, Secretary Liu?”

Secretary Liu froze. Realizing what he meant, she immediately sat a little straighter and inclined her head. “President Yan, it has been two years.”

“Two years…” Yan Zhimo’s fingers instinctively tapped the sofa’s armrest twice. He continued unhurriedly, “You certainly deserve a reward.”

Secretary Liu’s breathing immediately grew slightly heavier.

Her current position was that of a personal secretary. To put it plainly, she was little more than an errand runner.

She had pursued a combined master’s and doctoral program and graduated from a prestigious university. Believing herself to possess both beauty and talent, she had long been dissatisfied with her current position. Now that a promotion seemed within reach, she couldn’t help becoming excited.

“I’ll personally reimburse all your expenses during your hospital stay. Focus on recovering. Once you return to the company, come to my office first and collect your transfer paperwork. After that, you can help out in the administrative department.”

Secretary Liu inhaled softly.

The administrative department was primarily responsible for drafting company documents and receiving and distributing materials and reports exchanged between the company and outside parties. It could be considered a formal entry into the company’s inner workings. If handled well, she would gain access to a great deal of information.

With her current qualifications, she genuinely wouldn’t have been able to get in. These injuries had certainly been worthwhile.

Secretary Liu looked at Yan Zhimo and said earnestly, “Thank you for your trust, President Yan. I will make sure I live up to your expectations and strive to secure greater benefits for the company.”

Jian Anmian couldn’t help thinking that it would already be good enough if she didn’t funnel President Yan’s money out of the company.

“No, I’m the one who should be thanking you.” Yan Zhimo took Jian Anmian’s hand and stood. “Rest well, then. I won’t disturb you any longer. I wish you a speedy recovery.”

Jian Anmian stared blankly at the hand holding his. Although the process had been somewhat strange, the result really was the same as in the novel.

Once they reached the corridor, Yan Zhimo released his hand. He lowered his eyes and looked impassively at Jian Anmian. “I’m going back to my room. I’ll have the driver take you home. Is that all right?”

Although phrased as a question, his tone allowed no refusal. It was as if he were saying—you have no right to choose.

Yan Zhimo’s face was expressionless, his eyes lowered. The sharp angle of his brow bone was like the edge of a knife, while his thin lips exuded cold indifference. Not a trace remained of the tenderness he had displayed moments earlier.

Jian Anmian’s heartbeat quickened slightly. This was the temperamental scumbag gong from the novel. He treated the protagonist shou like a plaything. Whenever the mood struck him, he dragged the shou into bed and toyed with him, coaxing him with sweet words. When he lost [unauthorized copy]interest, he could kick him aside without hesitation, coldly watching as various people connected to him tormented the protagonist shou. Only at the very end did he ironically come to his senses.

But by then, everything was already too late.

Jian Anmian was terrified. He wasn’t afraid of death; he was merely afraid of the man’s cold expression and powerful body. It seemed as though Yan Zhimo could crush his arm with a single hand. He obediently nodded in agreement.

He would behave even more obediently than the protagonist shou in the novel. Hopefully, when Yan Zhimo tormented him, he would be a little gentler.

Still, most of the suffering in the novel had been emotional. The physical suffering occurred either because the protagonist gong was too rough in bed or because the protagonist shou fell ill.

Jian Anmian didn’t care about emotional torment. He couldn’t possibly be hurt by it anyway.

As for physical suffering… he had already endured twenty full years of illness in his previous life. No matter how terrible the protagonist gong’s skills were, surely they couldn’t inflict more pain than his illnesses had?

How could Yan Zhimo possibly know that he, a pure thirty-year-old virgin, had already been officially branded terrible in bed by his own wife?

After sending Jian Anmian away, Yan Zhimo opened his phone and first sent a message to his private-investigator friend.

Yan Zhimo: [File] Secretary Liu’s personal information

The thought of how Secretary Liu had flaunted herself seductively in front of him inside the hospital room filled Yan Zhimo with disgust. stolen contentThat was why he had deliberately acted intimate with Jian Anmian—to embarrass Secretary Liu.

Yan Zhimo: Investigate this person for me. Pay particular attention to any contact she has with my Second Uncle’s people. This morning’s accident is probably connected to all of them.

Xiao Hanzhou: Understood.

Yan Zhimo returned to his hospital room and massaged the space between his brows, composing himself as he began to think.

Although he had awakened, all he possessed were the novel’s events from an omniscient perspective. Moreover, this was a romance novel told primarily from the protagonist shou’s point of view. Very little had been written about the protagonist gong’s career. Most of it had been summarized in passing. Yan Zhimo only knew which people were problematic; he would still have to deal with them himself.

Secretary Liu was merely insignificant cannon fodder in the novel and couldn’t cause much trouble. The truly difficult people to handle were the Second Uncle and cousin behind her.

He had been fighting that family of lunatics for years, and neither side had ever managed to gain the upper hand. Yan Zhimo had no idea how the novel’s version of him—a lust-addled man who spent every day doing nothing but sleeping with the protagonist shou—had managed to defeat them.

At the thought of the protagonist shou, Yan Zhimo’s brows immediately knitted even tighter.

Most of the novel’s chaotic events had been caused by the protagonist shou. Naturally, the most direct way to avoid all of it was to stay away from the so-called protagonist shou.

Known fact: If he remained married to the protagonist shou, he would die in the ending.

Conclusion: As long as he got divorced, he wouldn’t die.

Having worked through this simple logic, Yan Zhimo immediately called his lawyer friend. “Old Fu, please draft a divorce agreement for me. I’ll need it later.”

“A divorce? Didn’t you just get married? Why are you divorcing so soon? Yongzi told me you and your little wife were acting pretty affectionate.”

Yan Zhimo laughed. “As long as we remain legally married, he belongs to me. Provided it’s within the law, anything I do to him is perfectly justified. As for the divorce, you don’t need to concern yourself with that. I have my own plans.”

“…Damn, what a scumbag. I misjudged Yongzi. Compared with you, he should be ashamed of himself.”

“That’s enough. Hurry up and prepare it. I’ll send someone to collect it later.”

Yan Zhimo lowered his phone, and Jian Anmian’s clear, innocent eyes flashed through his mind.

He shook his head, got out of bed, and put on his shoes. At the same time, he sent the driver a message and prepared to leave the hospital.

He wasn’t a good person either. What did it matter to him how deeply his actions might hurt the protagonist shou? All he needed to do was ensure his own survival.