After the Straight Male Incubus Became a Heartthrob - Chapter 14

Gu Jiazhi nearly shattered his phone. Hearing Ye Lin speak to Liang Wenle in such a soft, gentle voice despite being weak from illness, as if he were truly fulfilling the duties of a devoted boyfriend, instantly soured his mood.

Ye Lin was exhausted and his eyes were barely open. He had no energy to deal with anything else and simply pointed to the spot next to his pillow. “Put the phone down. I need to rest.”

Gu Jiazhi caught a glimpse of the chat logs on the screen. He discovered that Ye Lin had been flattering Liang Wenle the entire time, acting spoiled and cute at every turn. It was a completely different persona from the one he showed Gu Jiazhi.

Ye Lin was willing to coax Liang Wenle while sick, yet when Gu Jiazhi tried to look after him, Ye Lin did nothing but act tired and drained. The double standard was infuriating. Furthermore, even if they were just acting, the messages seemed to overflow with dependence and affection.

The more Gu Jiazhi thought about it, the angrier he became. He shoved the phone toward Ye Lin and demanded, “Are you not supposed to be acting with Liang Wenle? Why are you saying so many romantic things? You make it look as if you are actually dating!”

Ye Lin took the phone, set it aside, and lay down comfortably. He offered a casual, dismissive reply. “That is exactly the effect I want. Everyone thinks we are a couple, which proves how good my acting is. Stop being so noisy, I want to sleep.”

Seeing him close his eyes, Gu Jiazhi felt a mix of anger and helplessness. He could only mutter, “Heartless.”

He was the one taking care of Ye Lin, living with him, and sharing every intimate moment, yet the rest of the world believed Ye Lin and Liang Wenle were the couple. Doubts began to sprout in Gu Jiazhi’s mind, but he quickly suppressed them. He felt he was acting irrationally. Why should he care so much? He was only letting Ye Lin stay here because he wanted to take advantage of him.

He did not dare to think about it further.

After whispering several more insults at Ye Lin, Gu Jiazhi sat down beside him to play on his phone. He found himself repeatedly checking the official announcement post on the social media feeds of Liang Wenle and Ye Lin.

By evening, the soft sunlight filtered through the screen window and cast a glow on the cream colored floor. Ye Lin’s high fever had finally broken. When he opened his eyes, he felt someone beside him. He turned his head and saw Gu Jiazhi. Gu Jiazhi was still holding him with his eyes tightly shut, sleeping soundly.

Honestly, Ye Lin felt that Gu Jiazhi had become excessively clingy lately. Even the younger neighbor he knew as a child had never been this attached. He wondered if this was just what happens when people become good friends.

Ye Lin tried to push Gu Jiazhi away, but the other man only gripped him tighter with his brow furrowing as if he were displeased. Fine. Considering Gu Jiazhi had taken care of him, he would let him hold him for now.

Ye Lin checked his phone. As expected, Liang Wenle had sent numerous messages questioning why he had suddenly hung up. Predicting this, Ye Lin sent over the pre-prepared excuses he had formulated to coax him.

“I am so sorry, Wenle. I was so exhausted that I just fell asleep. But regarding the banquet you mentioned, I will definitely be there on time.”

“I do not believe you! How dare you hang up on me!”

“It is the truth. Look, Wenle, I do not look well at all.”

Ye Lin sent a photo of himself. Gu Jiazhi was not in the frame, it was just Ye Lin. In the photo, his face was as pale as paper, his eyes were watery, and his face was buried in a soft pillow. He looked like a wounded little rabbit, appearing utterly pitiful.

Liang Wenle tentatively believed his explanation and sent another message.

“The phone I ordered for you has arrived. Come to school tomorrow.”

“Hooray! Wenle, you are the best person ever!”

Liang Wenle scolded him for being a flatterer, but he could not help wondering how this idiot had developed a high fever just from going out to dinner with him. Had he caught a cold because Liang Wenle had not driven him home after the meal?

He thought Ye Lin was truly stupid and fragile. He scrolled back to their official announcement post and fell into deep thought.

Excitement over the new phone caused Ye Lin to move restlessly, which woke Gu Jiazhi. Seeing Ye Lin chatting with Liang Wenle, Gu Jiazhi immediately pulled him over for a kiss and complained in a deep voice, “All you do all day is try to please Liang Wenle. Is he really that good to you?”

Ye Lin struggled to pull away, his face red as he poked Gu Jiazhi’s chest. “Are you sick? You just kiss me for no reason.”

Gu Jiazhi let out a cold snort, tempted to punish him further. Ye Lin quickly grabbed his hand. “It hurts! Do not be reckless.”

Since he was still recovering from his illness, Gu Jiazhi decided to let him off for now. He gave him a small kiss, then got up to find something to eat. Ye Lin followed behind him, noisily demanding various dishes. Gu Jiazhi, with a cold expression, ordered the takeout according to his demands before entering the bathroom.

They ate together, returned to the room together, and argued while playing games.

The morning grass was covered in dew, and the air was exceptionally fresh. The sun had not yet risen, and the wind carried a chill. For the sake of the new phone, Ye Lin woke up early and left with Gu Jiazhi.

Gu Jiazhi had initially thought Ye Lin was coming along to see him off to class, but when he realized the boy was actually there for Liang Wenle, his expression darkened. When they reached the teaching building, they saw Liang Wenle yawning lazily, looking as if he had not quite woken up yet.

Ye Lin ran over to him and rubbed his hands together in excitement. “Wenle, Wenle! Where is my phone?”

The noise woke Liang Wenle up instantly. He handed over the packaging box. “Remember to pin all my contact methods to the top. Specifically, I must be the first person on your speed dial. I want you to be available whenever I call.”

Ye Lin opened the box with his eyes shining. He excitedly began taking photos and testing out the various functions. Gu Jiazhi let out a disdainful click of his tongue. “You are this happy over a phone?”

Liang Wenle chimed in, “That is just how he is. Unrefined.”

Ye Lin showed his screen to Liang Wenle. “Wenle, look! I set my wallpaper, lock screen, and chat background to photos of you!”

Liang Wenle shouted, “Are you crazy? Why did you pick that photo?”

Ye Lin opened his gallery. “I am sorry, Wenle. Which one do you want instead?”

Liang Wenle looked down to select a photo with a focused expression while Ye Lin whispered suggestions beside him. Leaning together, they looked exactly like a couple in the honeymoon phase of a relationship.

Standing nearby, Gu Jiazhi felt entirely superfluous, as if he were glowing like a third-wheel lightbulb. He felt incredibly irritated. “Wenle, class is about to start. It is time to go.”

Liang Wenle looked up and asked as they walked, “By the way, why did you come to school with Ye Lin?”

Ye Lin was the first to answer. “I live near him. It just so happened that our paths crossed today. Since I get lost easily, I asked him to bring me here.”

Gu Jiazhi was stunned. He had not expected Ye Lin’s lying skills to be so polished. Ye Lin was clearly covering up the fact that they were living together. He wondered why Ye Lin would hide it. Was it because he thought Liang Wenle would mind, or because he thought their living arrangement could not be seen in the light?

Liang Wenle did not notice Gu Jiazhi’s strange expression. He simply poked Ye Lin’s cheek and mocked him. “Fine. You really are stupid and prone to getting lost. In the future, just wait for me at the school gate.”

Ye Lin leaned in habitually and offered a casual compliment. “Wenle, you are so kind!”

Liang Wenle laughed and mocked him a few more times, barely saying a word to Gu Jiazhi. After entering the classroom, Ye Lin sat to the right of Liang Wenle, while Gu Jiazhi sat to the left. Ye Lin whispered to Liang Wenle, treating Gu Jiazhi as if he were invisible.

Once class began, Liang Wenle suddenly said, “I want some fruit tea from Liuli Street. Go and buy it for me.”

Ye Lin nodded, noted the request, and slipped out the back door. Gu Jiazhi remembered that Liuli Street was six kilometers away. That fruit tea shop was incredibly popular and usually had long lines. The owner was a simple man who would not sell to people regardless of how much money they offered if they did not wait in line.

Usually, Liang Wenle hired people to buy it for him, but today he was ordering Ye Lin to do it. He was clearly trying to bully him. But that was not the most important part. What mattered was that Ye Lin was willing to be ordered around. Gu Jiazhi wondered why Ye Lin was unwilling to get him a glass of water at home, yet he was happy to run errands for Liang Wenle out here.

Gu Jiazhi gripped his pen so hard his teeth began to chatter. He radiated resentment, as if he were surrounded by a dark aura. Liang Wenle finally noticed his foul mood and asked, “What is wrong with you? You look very angry.”

Gu Jiazhi snapped back to reality and quickly forced a smile while scribbling in his book. “It is nothing.”

Liang Wenle did not notice anything amiss and continued to complain. “I am telling you, Ye Lin is so obedient. He is like a puppy. He does whatever I tell him to do.”

Gu Jiazhi could not manage a real smile. He twitched the corner of his mouth. “Is that so?”

Liang Wenle began to list examples of Ye Lin’s obedience: how he always considered things from Liang Wenle’s perspective, how he always praised him, how he always helped him insult others, how he replied to messages instantly, and how he satisfied every request regardless of the circumstances.

Gu Jiazhi responded with a blank face, wanting to hear none of it.

Forty minutes later, Ye Lin returned with two cups of fruit tea. He had specifically requested an extra insulated bag filled with ice to ensure the tea stayed cold. He had even bought an additional mousse cake. Ye Lin unpacked the bag, inserted the straw himself before handing the drink over, placed a fork on the cake, and used books to build a small screen to hide Liang Wenle while he ate.

Gu Jiazhi said coldly, “You certainly are attentive.”

Ye Lin, the master of flattery, looked at Liang Wenle and said, “Of course. This is what Wenle wanted to drink. I specifically tasted several flavors of cake. Only this one pairs perfectly with the tea.”

Liang Wenle took a sip of the drink and tried the cake skeptically. He immediately experienced a wonderful sensation and nodded excitedly. “It really does pair well! This is delicious.”

Ye Lin leaned in and agreed. “Right? Right?”

Liang Wenle offered a rare compliment. “Fine. I suppose you know how to shop.”

Ye Lin immediately followed up with more flattery. The two chatted while they ate and drank, finishing the cake and tea in no time. Gu Jiazhi felt as if they were soaked in the scent of fruit tea and cake. It was sickeningly sweet.

After a while, Liang Wenle put down his phone and complained that he was bored. Ye Lin drew a grid on a blank piece of paper and suggested they play Five in a Row. Liang Wenle gave him a look of disdain. “Who wants to play such a boring game? I am not a three year old.”

Ye Lin grabbed his hand and drew on the grid. “Oh, come on, let us play! Best two out of three. The winner gets to make a demand of the loser.”

Despite his vocal reluctance, Liang Wenle began to play. Perhaps he truly was bored, or perhaps it was because Ye Lin had leaned in with those watery, charming eyes that made him hard to refuse. After three rounds, Liang Wenle won and earned his demand.

Ye Lin looked at Liang Wenle with a look of feigned agony. “How will Wenle punish me?”

Liang Wenle pinched his face hard and whispered, “The punishment is for you to lie down and let me pinch you however I want.”

Ye Lin leaned into his arms as if he had no bones, lying flat and allowing himself to be pinched. He even said, “Stupid Ye Lin failed and must be punished by the smart Wenle.”

Liang Wenle nearly burst out laughing and leaned down to tickle him.

Gu Jiazhi watched the entire scene from the side. He felt only disgust, his stomach churning with the urge to vomit. He felt as if he could go to the school’s confession wall right now and post an anonymous complaint: “Stupid couples with no sense of boundaries are truly disgusting!”