After Unbinding the Simp System, I'm Targeted by the Villain - Chapter 40

Crap, he actually recognized me.

Yu Chucheng’s expression froze, and his eyelashes fluttered violently.

His ears flushed instantly. The embarrassment of being caught red-handed made him want to vanish into thin air, and he turned an uncharacteristically bright shade of red.

The sofa and coffee table took up most of the space in the breakroom. Duan Huaijin had him cornered in the narrow aisle, looking down to catch a glimpse of the test strip clutched in Yu Chucheng’s palm.

He knew those strips; they were common medical-grade pheromone collection strips available on the market.

Duan Huaijin stared at Yu Chucheng’s crimson ears and the heavy dark circles under his eyes. “What do you want from me? I told you, you can come to me for any need you have.”

Those eyes should be bright and smiling, or even as vividly captivating as they were in that narrow gap between the wooden cabins last time—but they shouldn’t look this exhausted.

Still immersed in the misery and awkwardness of being discovered by the “target,” Yu Chucheng remained as stubborn as a dead duck. “Nothing! I don’t need you to do anything!”

Duan Huaijin shattered Yu Chucheng’s final line of defense with a deep voice. “Then why did you open my locker? Are you… a pervert?”

“Wh-what did you say?” Yu Chucheng’s tongue tied itself in knots; he felt like he had forgotten how to speak.

“When I first opened the door, you were standing in front of my locker. Only my locker was open.”

“…”

“You were holding my ID badge, and you only tossed it back after you saw me.”

“…”

Yu Chucheng had thought his reaction time was decent—it had only been two seconds from seeing Duan Huaijin to slamming the door—but he hadn’t expected Duan Huaijin to see everything.

Unwilling to answer, Yu Chucheng decided to go all in; he tried to shove past Duan Huaijin to get out.

But Duan Huaijin seemed to have anticipated this move. He reached out first, grabbing Yu Chucheng by the collar and pulling him back.

With his back against the breakroom wall, Yu Chucheng had absolutely no way out. He was forced to grit his teeth and look up at Duan Huaijin. Perhaps knowing he was doomed today, a sudden, inexplicable surge of courage rose from the depths of his shame.

He said stiffly, “Then let me smell your pheromones.”

After saying it, he felt it sounded a bit too much like a command, so he added a follow-up: “Just a little bit is fine.”

He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but he thought he saw Duan Huaijin chuckle softly. “Okay.”

A faint scent of fresh bamboo gradually bloomed in the air, carrying the sweetness of fresh vegetation mixed with a refreshing, green crispness.

Yu Chucheng’s fingers tightened instinctively. His previously agitated mood was gradually smoothed over. He completely forgot his earlier embarrassment, his mind focused entirely on savoring the scent for a while longer.

But when Duan Huaijin said “a little bit,” he meant it. Just as Yu Chucheng was about to lean closer, the surrounding pheromones receded like a ebbing tide.

“Don’t…” Yu Chucheng couldn’t help but grab Duan Huaijin’s clothes, a look of lingering desire on his face. His voice softened. “Release a little more.”

Duan Huaijin’s eyelids lowered slightly. “Any more and I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle it.”

“I will. I haven’t slept well in nearly a week. Hurry up,” Yu Chucheng urged anxiously.

However, when the overwhelming pheromones hit him a second time, Yu Chucheng’s knees buckled. He nearly slid down the wall. Duan Huaijin reached out just in time to catch his waist, reining his scent in slightly.

“Why haven’t you been sleeping well?” Duan Huaijin asked near Yu Chucheng’s ear.

Yu Chucheng felt lost in a vast sea of bamboo. He answered in a small voice, “The doctor said I have a pheromone dependency on you. He said it’s all your fault for biting me, otherwise I wouldn’t be like this.”

Duan Huaijin was stunned.

He realized that Yu Chucheng only revealed his true inner thoughts when he was in a daze. Though he was blaming him, the fingers gripping his clothes didn’t loosen at all—if anything, they held on tighter.

Duan Huaijin felt as if his heart had been flicked by a small branch. Perhaps it was the possessiveness stemming from the mark at work, but a certain “terrifying” idea began to rise from the depths of his soul. He couldn’t say it aloud, because if he did, the person in front of him would surely bolt like a rabbit again.

Suddenly, an abrupt voice came from outside the door. “I heard there’s a thief in the shop! Where’s the thief?!”

The next second, the breakroom door was shoved open. The door frame hit the wall with a thud and wobbled back. The internet cafe owner burst in aggressively without a word of greeting.

Yu Chucheng snapped back to reality. His pupils shook as he hurriedly stood straight and shoved Duan Huaijin away.

The owner, determined to catch a thief, froze on the spot, staring blankly at Yu Chucheng. Why was his esteemed VVVIP here? And with disheveled clothes, messy hair, and an unnatural flush on his face?

“This…” The owner opened his mouth, but after seeing Duan Huaijin next to him, he seemed to understand.

To this, he expressed total understanding. Young people, after all, were full of vigor; they naturally had energy that needed venting. Duan Huaijin was the “star” of the shop, so being favored by a VVVIP was his good fortune.

The owner gave Yu Chucheng a fawning smile. “So sorry. Please continue, continue, haha…”

Continue my ass!

Steam was practically rising from Yu Chucheng’s head. He picked up his hat, slapped it on his head, and said with forced composure, “We were just discussing something. Don’t misunderstand.”

The owner nodded understandingly. “Yes, yes, of course.”

If the room didn’t reek of Alpha pheromones, I might have believed you.

Yu Chucheng’s face was on fire. He couldn’t stay in this cafe for another second. Although he hadn’t collected any pheromones, at least he’d had a “full refill” while Duan Huaijin stood there. He was now full of energy, his previous fatigue wiped out.

“Thanks. I’ll treat you to dinner another day.” Yu Chucheng acted like a scumbag who discards someone after use, not daring to look Duan Huaijin in the eye as he left.

Duan Huaijin opened the locker and re-wound the lanyard of his ID badge. “No need. It’s what I should do.”

As soon as he got back to the apartment, Yu Chucheng collapsed onto the bed. It had been a long time since his mind felt this relaxed. He rolled over lazily, smelling the pleasant pheromones he’d brought back on his clothes, and slept until dark.

Buzz buzz—

The phone on the nightstand vibrated twice. Yu Chucheng, half-asleep, reached over and squinted at the message.

The private investigator he’d hired had sent a photo. Yu Chucheng clicked it; it was a very ordinary small teahouse storefront.

Private Investigator: 【Lin Mei didn’t go home after work today; she went here instead.】

Yu Chucheng rubbed his eyes, confused: 【What is she doing at a teahouse?】

Private Investigator: 【Not clear yet. She entered a small private room. There was no one inside when she entered, so I assume she’s waiting for someone.】

Intuition told Yu Chucheng that something fishy was going on. He suddenly snapped awake and sat up: 【Keep an eye on her. I’m coming over right now.】