Chapter 16

Yan Zhimo froze, then took Jian Anmian’s hand and crouched halfway down before him, looking up at him. “What’s wrong, Mianmian?”

“I… I wanted to say…”

Catching sight of Secretary Liu’s wary expression nearby, Jian Anmian opened his mouth hesitantly but didn’t dare speak.

If he said anything now, he would undoubtedly alert the enemy.

Of course, more importantly, he had already made up his mind not to interfere with the main plot and simply watch quietly from the sidelines…

Yan Zhimo glanced at his phone. Xiao Hanzhou had already obtained Secretary Liu’s chat history with Miss Rong, and the two had still been in contact only a few minutes ago.

He squeezed Jian Anmian’s hand and coaxed him gently, “Mianmian, be good and let Yuwen Chi take you to get something to eat. Come find me when you’re finished, all right?”

Jian Anmian lowered his head. Listening to the man patiently coaxing him in that gentle voice, he gritted his teeth and reluctantly released the man’s sleeve. “All right…”

He should… leave it alone.

He was only a salted fish who had given up on trying. The only thing he needed to do was sleep to his heart’s content every day, then wait for the protagonist gong to torment him.

The novel’s main plot wasn’t something he should interfere with.

Yuwen Chi smiled at Jian Anmian. “Mr. Jian, please come with me. President Yan needs to rest.”

Jian Anmian followed Yuwen Chi away with his head lowered, his retreating figure somehow resembling an abandoned puppy.

Yan Zhimo looked back at Jian Anmian’s retreating figure. An abrupt urge to rush after him and hug the boy rose within him, and he found himself reluctant to part with him as well.

Realizing what he was thinking, Yan Zhimo shook his head helplessly.

When had he become so sentimental?

Besides, there was no other choice. He had to send Jian Anmian away so Secretary Liu could make her move.

“Secretary Liu, lead the way,” Yan Zhimo said calmly, withdrawing his gaze.

Secretary Liu looked at Yan Zhimo, her vivid red lips slowly curving into a smile. “President Yan, please follow me. I’ll take you to the lounge right away.”

…

Meanwhile.

After arriving at the dining area, Jian Anmian restlessly ate the food Yuwen Chi had carefully selected for him. Even after his plate was empty, he continued mechanically stabbing his fork at the air, looking as though he had completely lost his appetite.

It was all right. According to the novel’s plot, nothing serious would happen to the protagonist gong. At most, he would ingest a little of the drug, and his body would metabolize it by the next day. Jian Anmian merely had to go with the flow…

Wait.

Jian Anmian suddenly remembered something extremely important!

How had the protagonist gong ultimately gotten the drug out of his system?

Oh. Because the protagonist shou had caught him in the act, Miss Rong, as a minor cannon-fodder character, had immediately exited the stage, leaving the married protagonist gong and shou alone together in the room.

And at that moment, the protagonist gong had still been under the influence of that kind of drug.

So naturally, the protagonist shou’s body had ultimately been used as the antidote…

Jian Anmian: !!!!!

…

When Secretary Liu entered carrying a tray, Yan Zhimo was leaning back on the sofa, resting with his eyes closed.

The corner of her mouth lifted slightly before she quickly suppressed it. She gently knocked on the door, walked inside, and bent down respectfully to set the tray on the coffee table before the sofa. In a soft voice, she said, “President Yan, I’ve placed the hangover soup here. Please drink it while it’s still hot.”

“Mm,” Yan Zhimo responded in a low voice. His sharply defined brows were faintly furrowed with fatigue, and he didn’t open his eyes.

Secretary Liu waited quietly, but Yan Zhimo didn’t move for a long time. She glanced at her phone. That Miss Rong truly was impatient—it had only been a few minutes, yet she had already sent another message urging her to hurry.

Secretary Liu irritably switched off her phone. Looking at Yan Zhimo sitting motionlessly on the sofa, she inevitably grew anxious as well. She pursed [Read on BaiLianTales]her lips and called out softly once more.

“President Yan, the hangover soup is getting cold.”

This time, Yan Zhimo finally opened his eyes. His indifferent gaze swept over the hangover soup on the coffee table, then over Secretary Liu’s face. He casually asked, “Where’s your bowl?”

Secretary Liu paused, not expecting Yan Zhimo to remember hers. She smiled faintly. “Thank you for your concern, President Yan. I’ll have mine later. Please drink the soup now—it’s getting cold.”

Yan Zhimo leaned forward and picked up the bowl. Holding it in one palm, he gently swirled its contents and lowered his eyes to the golden reishi-and-honey infusion inside. Suddenly, he said, “Is this soup really so miraculous?”

Secretary Liu didn’t understand. “What?”

Yan Zhimo raised his dark eyes and looked at her with an indifferent yet piercing gaze. Expressionlessly, he said, “You’ve urged me three times since you entered this room.”

Secretary Liu’s heart clenched violently, and cold sweat instantly poured down her back. Struggling to compose herself, she forced the corners of her stiffened lips upward. “I’m sorry, President Yan. I was too concerned about you and didn’t notice.”

Yan Zhimo stared at her for several moments, then suddenly gave an ambiguous chuckle.

Every hair on Secretary Liu’s body stood on end, and her heart began hammering wildly.

Just as the tension was about to suffocate her, Yan Zhimo finally lifted the bowl to his lips.

Her gaze remained fixed on his throat. She watched his Adam’s apple visibly bob up and down as he gradually tilted the bowl higher, and she couldn’t help swallowing nervously herself.

Yan Zhimo took several sips and put down the bowl, droplets of liquid clinging to his pursed lips.

Secretary Liu hurriedly lowered her eyes, concealing the flash of excitement within them.

Yan Zhimo elegantly wiped his mouth with a tissue, picked up his phone, and checked his messages. Then he raised his head and smiled at Secretary Liu. “You should drink some too. The soup was prepared quite well. It tastes good.”

“All right. Thank you for your concern, President Yan. I’ll leave now, so please rest well.”

Just before Secretary Liu closed the door, she saw Yan Zhimo pick up the bowl again and tip it toward his mouth.

The next moment, Secretary Liu turned around, immediately took out her phone, and sent Miss Rong a message.

Secretary Liu: In ten minutes. Room 5203. The door is unlocked.

Miss Rong: Got it. Thank you, Sister Liuliu~

Miss Rong: [Heart]

Upon seeing Miss Rong’s reply, Secretary Liu’s expression instantly turned scornful and contemptuous.

She put away her phone, turned, and headed toward the dining area, preparing to summon Yan Zhimo’s lawful wife to catch him in the act.

If Miss Rong genuinely succeeded, she might even become pregnant with Yan Zhimo’s child. Secretary Liu couldn’t possibly let such a wonderful opportunity benefit that big-breasted, brainless white lotus for nothing.

She still hoped to find an opportunity to take the position for herself someday.

…

Inside the room.

Once Secretary Liu had left, the apparently intoxicated Yan Zhimo immediately walked over to the cabinet and took out an empty glass. With a look of disgust, he poured the hangover soup from the bowl into it, his dark eyes perfectly lucid.

He had known about Secretary Liu’s plan all along. He hadn’t swallowed a single sip of the soup just now. He had merely pretended to swallow, putting on a show to deceive her.

To make the act more convincing, he had even deliberately gotten the disgusting stuff all over his lips. It was revolting. Blech!

Yan Zhimo hid the filled glass, then suppressed his disgust and returned the bowl to its original position, making it look as though he had finished the soup. Next, he removed his suit jacket, hooked a finger around his tie, and yanked it off. He roughly undid the buttons at his collar and deliberately mussed up his shirt and hair. Only then did he lie down on the sofa again, close his eyes, and quietly wait for the fish to take the bait.

…

In the dining area.

Jian Anmian picked at his food without any appetite, repeatedly lowering his head to check the time on his phone as he waited in burning anxiety.

It had already been so long. Why hadn’t Secretary Liu come to summon him to catch them in the act?

Could something have happened to the protagonist gong?

Yet when he thought about what he might face after [unauthorized copy]going over there, Jian Anmian felt his entire body heating up, his heart accelerating beyond his control.

…Suddenly, he wasn’t quite so eager to catch them anymore!

While Jian Anmian was still struggling with his conflicting thoughts, Secretary Liu finally arrived belatedly.

“Mr. Jian, President Yan asked me to bring you—”

Before Secretary Liu could finish, Jian Anmian shot to his feet with a whimper like a puppy whose tail had been stepped on.

It was finally happening!

He was going to be… tossed around like a rag doll. QAQ

Jian Anmian took a deep breath. With his face burning scarlet, he shakily embarked on the path to catch his husband in the act.

He hoped… he hoped the protagonist gong would be gentler with him later, considering it was his first time. Sob, sob.

Secretary Liu: “…?”