Yan Chuan buried his face in the blanket.
The next day, his husband went to work as usual.
Yan Chuan was preoccupied with thoughts of the previous night, feeling a mess inside, and his eyes were a bit red when he got up.
Feeling guilty, he was unsure if his nominal husband had discovered his affair with someone else, and he had tossed and turned all night without sleep.
Yan Chuan could not recall if he had dated anyone before his memory loss; regardless, he had never experienced such anxiousness before.
He secretly observed the tall man sorting his clothes.
His “husband” was the boss in the escape variety show, and unlike ordinary people, it was impossible to comfort himself that his husband was unaware of any commotion.
The man, however, seemed unfazed; after returning, he held Yan Chuan while they slept and told him he would work hard to move to a better place to live and would no longer make him feel wronged.
Yan Chuan lowered his eyelids.
It was strange.
Moreover, what baffled Yan Chuan was that he had yet to notice any abnormalities in his “husband.”
Breathing, body temperature, heartbeat—everything that could confirm human identity was normal; their communication was smooth, and he behaved entirely like a normal person.
But he was just too “normal.”
Their time together was only at night, and his husband appeared to be the ideal partner, working and earning money to support his pampered and extravagant wife, sparing even a harsh word.
During the day, his husband went to “work,” and nothing strange happened in the 13th apartment.
Was even the boss in the escape variety show this dedicated?
Or perhaps the plot points had not yet unfolded; his “husband” had not transformed into a monster… What event would trigger his husband’s transformation into the boss?
Was it related to his “infidelity”?
Various speculations tangled in Yan Chuan’s mind, leaving him anxious.
“Get off work and come home early,” Yan Chuan stepped forward, tiptoeing to adjust his husband’s bowtie, his voice soft: “I’ll wait for you at home.”
His husband was significantly taller, and upon seeing him approach, he kindly bent down, allowing his beautiful wife to fix his bowtie.
Delicate, white fingers reached near the man’s eyes, warm breath carrying a hint of fragrance.
The man’s dark, soft hair slightly hung down, revealing a snowy white neck, dazzlingly pale.
The handsome, brooding-faced man responded with an “Mm,” extending his hand to caress that snow-white neck gently: “I’m on my way.”
The slender neck trembled slightly under his touch.
After tidying up his clothes, he placed a light kiss on Yan Chuan’s forehead: “I’ll be back early.”
Yan Chuan’s eyelashes fluttered as he accepted the kiss: “Okay.”
His husband then meticulously reminded Yan Chuan about the meals he had prepared in advance, telling him to eat on time and that he would cook dinner that evening.
Yan Chuan nodded in agreement.
At the door, before leaving, his husband asked again: “What do you want for dinner? I’ll go buy it.”
Yan Chuan felt a slow blush rising on his cheeks as he casually mentioned a few items.
He didn’t know if the other contestants in the escape show had to cook daily, but his meals were all prepared by his husband.
Being able to eat meals prepared by the NPC daily… that must be unique.
Watching his husband leave the building, Yan Chuan planned to return to the apartment.
He had just turned around when he bumped into someone.
Instinctively, Yan Chuan took a step back, swaying unsteadily, before a large hand grasped his wrist.
The owner of that hand was very strong, effortlessly pulling him into an embrace, his arm like iron, almost leaving a red mark on the delicate skin of Yan Chuan’s wrist.
Yan Chuan was nearly pushed into the man’s chest; once he recognized who it was, he felt confused: “Shan Qi…”
When did he arrive, and why hadn’t he noticed earlier?
Had he been awake so early, squatting at his door to watch how he said goodbye to his husband, adjusting his clothes and kissing him?
What an odd quirk Shan Qi had.
Yan Chuan felt perplexed, slightly furrowing his brows, and, with the daylight, he saw Shan Qi’s current appearance.
One of his lovers, the plumber who had come over to fix the pipes last night, seemed like he hadn’t changed clothes all night.
The short-sleeved shirt was haphazardly thrown on, fitting poorly and outlining his muscular physique. Due to physical exertion, the veins on his wrists stood out.
Dark circles under his eyes made him look dishevelled but could not hide his sharp, handsome features, instead adding a sense of unruly wildness.
Yan Chuan’s gaze shifted from Shan Qi’s face to the hand gripping his wrist.
His wrist was delicate and white, with faint blue veins visible. Now, it was covered with a pair of light brown hands, rugged and tightly holding onto him.
What was he trying to do?
Yan Chuan inquired with his eyes.
He didn’t speak, and Shan Qi remained silent, pulling him into a corner.
This was a corner of the corridor; whether it was a repair error or intentional design was unclear. This extra space was unnoticed unless one looked closely.
Shan Qi quietly dragged Yan Chuan into this secluded spot.
“What are you doing?” Pushed into the corner with his back against the cold wall, Yan Chuan could no longer hold back.
Why did he pull him here?
Shan Qi pressed his lips together; from Yan Chuan’s angle, he could only see his tense jaw and the fury burning in his eyes.
Fury…? Yan Chuan blinked in confusion.
He used his one still-free hand to touch his sore back, not quite understanding Shan Qi’s intentions.
Was he here to hold him accountable, to see if he could complete the task?
Then why was he angry?
“Stop looking,” Shan Qi suddenly covered Yan Chuan’s eyes, his tone harsh, teeth clenched: “Is this how you interact with NPCs in the escape show?”
Yan Chuan blinked in confusion again, his eyelashes brushing against Shan Qi’s palm.
“Adjusting his clothes,” Shan Qi repeated slowly, “and acting spoiled with him… and letting him kiss you.”
“Were you also doing that kind of thing with him last night?”
Shan Qi felt a deep bitterness inside.
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