The Cold Side Character from a Male-Lead Novel is Pregnant - Chapter 1

“Yan Yu, when I first became friends with you four years ago, I thought everything about you was perfect. Your temper, your personality, your professionalism: I even thought I was so lucky to have met such a flawless person. But now I understand.” The gentle, sorrowful male voice on the phone paused for a long time before letting out an incredibly soft, self-mocking chuckle. “It was all a lie. You are the most cold-blooded kind of person there is.”

The sound of suppressed sobbing came from the other end of the line.

Yan Yu stared expressionlessly at the autopsy report in his hand, as if the crying had nothing to do with him.

A moment later, Fang Rong seemed to have reached a decision. His voice carried a lingering sob. “I apologize for always asking you to go on blind dates in my place; it was thoughtless of me. But I hope you understand, I was only forced to ask because my family pushed me so hard, and I never lied to you! The reason I always mentioned my dates to you was because I treated you like a wishing well. I really felt like you had some sort of mystical energy about you.

“Sometimes, when I told you about dates I did not want to see and gave you their details, they would just automatically disappear. My mom never mentioned them again. I did not realize that just complaining a bit would disturb you so much, or make you this angry. I am truly sorry, Yan Yu.”

Yan Yu’s delicate brows furrowed slightly as he subconsciously put down the autopsy report.

He had been a bit irritated by that man, Xiang Wenyuan, earlier, so his voice had been a bit loud and his attitude a bit poor when speaking to Fang Rong.

But was it really enough to be called “this angry” as Fang Rong described?

Fang Rong’s voice grew quieter, eventually becoming a mere murmur. “Let’s not be best friends anymore. We can just be regular acquaintances. I promise I will never mention my blind dates to you again. Please do not hate me.”

“Fang Rong,” Yan Yu started to say, but the moment he called out the name, the call was disconnected.

Yan Yu sighed, took off his gold-rimmed glasses, and rubbed the bridge of his nose. After sitting quietly for half a minute, he put his glasses back on and immersed himself in his work.

He did not touch his phone again until he finished his shift.

Fang Rong was his only friend since he had transmigrated into this book. Being “accused” in such a manner did not leave Yan Yu entirely unmoved.

However, throughout his life, he had watched many friends and relatives come and go, and he had never once spoken up to ask them to stay.

What Fang Rong did not know was that this indifference was not innate; it was a survival instinct. In this strange world inside a book, investing too much emotion was no different from seeking self-destruction. He was like a cautious hedgehog, using cold spikes to protect a soft heart, letting no one get close.

Precisely because he feared trouble, when this pampered young master spent four years wheedling and pestering him to go on blind dates, Yan Yu would only listen quietly. He never easily committed or promised anything to his face. He enjoyed the ease of being able to retreat at any time. Without an agreement, there was no heavy sense of responsibility. Looking back, perhaps it was this lukewarm attitude and lack of direct response that finally broke Fang Rong’s heart.

But Yan Yu did not regret it.

He firmly believed that the most comfortable relationship between people was one that maintained a proper distance.

He was merely a “Mob” character who had transmigrated into the story. If he provoked someone he should not, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Since entering this male-oriented novel, I Am the Peak of Urban Leisure, Yan Yu’s life had been filled with daily tasks issued by a system, all of which were trivial matters unrelated to the main plot. Consequently, he had simply used the “help a friend” tasks as an opportunity to quietly solve Fang Rong’s troubles. He used Fang Rong’s name and identity to meet those blind dates while he remained in the shadows, playing the part of a non-existent person.

He acted with such caution that he was almost never caught. After meeting “Fang Rong,” most people would voluntarily withdraw for various reasons. Yan Yu knew exactly how to be everything they disliked.

Faced with a picky date, he would describe the gruesome details of forensic work; faced with a controlling one, he would show his inherent stubbornness; faced with an egocentric one, he would be even more self-centered than they were.

He executed this process flawlessly. In four years, only two people had seen through his disguise.

The first was Chen Kan, three years ago. Chen Kan was too sharp; he saw through the fake identity during their first meeting. The two of them had then gone with the flow, evolving from friends-with-benefits to lovers. They dated for six months, realized they were not a good match, and broke up peacefully.

The second was the recent Xiang Wenyuan. This man had used unknown means to not only find out Yan Yu’s real identity but also refused to leave him alone, which was truly annoying.

As soon as it was time to clock out, Yan Yu packed his things and left punctually. He sat in the driver’s seat, and just as he started the car and drove out of the unit gates, his phone rang.

A glance at the caller ID showed it was Xiang Wenyuan. Yan Yu answered and switched to speakerphone, his tone flat:

“I have a good temper. My temper is actually great.”

Yan Yu floored the accelerator, sharply cutting off a car that had illegally tried to overtake him. With one hand on the steering wheel, he spoke to the phone:

“However, I deal with the dead. Whether my temper is good or my character changes does not really matter. You are different; you are climbing the social and political ladder. We have only met a few times, and you are already trying to tell me how to do my job. What? Am I your subordinate?”

On the other end of the line, Xiang Wenyuan’s voice faltered, his tone clearly apologetic:

“Yan Yu, I did not mean it like that. Think about it, did I not ask you to build a good relationship with your superiors for your own good? And Yan Yu,” Xiang Wenyuan’s tone became increasingly earnest, almost like he was brainwashing him, “I am wholeheartedly planning for our common future, not trying to boss you around! I am just advising you to adjust your temperament; am I wrong for that?”

Yan Yu did not answer immediately. He watched the curtain of rain on the windshield in silence. Indifferent.

Only after a long silence did Yan Yu speak with a cold, thin voice:

“Xiang Wenyuan, let’s just forget it.”

When Xiang Wenyuan heard the rejection, his tone took on a hint of disappointment in someone who will not listen, as if he truly regretted it:

“Yan Yu, I hope you think it over carefully. I really do like you.” He paused, intentionally emphasizing his next words: “Moreover, for someone like you who has been single since birth, finding someone like me is already very good!”

After Xiang Wenyuan finished his heartfelt speech, Yan Yu’s car passed under a streetlamp, and warm yellow light flooded the cabin for an instant. In the rearview mirror, a sharp look of displeasure surfaced on Yan Yu’s calm, indifferent face.

“Who told you I have been single since birth?”

“Your mother said so.”

“You talk to your mother about dating and hookups?”

“…”

Xiang Wenyuan choked for a moment, and then heard Yan Yu’s voice turn icy:

“I am not as ‘proper’ as you imagine. I have had more partners than I can count.”

“Yan Yu, there is no need to make up lies that even you do not believe just to reject me.” Xiang Wenyuan’s apologetic voice turned serious, carrying a certainty of “I know you well.” “I know how decent your lifestyle is. Every day is just work and more work; you barely even socialize.”

This “understanding” was actually something he had gained through a private investigation.

Yan Yu heard this and, rather than getting angry, his tone became even more indifferent, as if discussing something trivial. “Why would I lie to you? Why don’t you check again? My last one is still working in the same building as I am. What, can’t you find that?”

Hearing this, Xiang Wenyuan’s tone became more inquisitive, carrying a trace of undetectable contempt. “The last one? An ex? The kind you slept with?”

“If I said we did not sleep together, would you believe me?”

“I would believe it,” Xiang Wenyuan answered quickly, as if he had already decided on the answer.

As he spoke, Yan Yu pulled the car steadily into a parking space, turned off the engine, and reached into his pocket for a cigarette pack. His thin, long arm rested on the car window as he lightly rubbed the empty pack, a sneer forming in his heart.

This man certainly had a “purity complex.” He was a grown man, yet he was chasing people down to ask if they were “clean” or a virgin. Did he think he was a high schooler who had not graduated yet?

“Then I will have to disappoint you. Before confirming a relationship with any of my partners, I ask for their medical reports. Then we have sex. Only after that do I decide whether or not to date them.” He paused, deliberately slowing his speech as if stating a common fact. “Mr. Xiang, do you know why I did not ask you for a medical report?”

Xiang Wenyuan did not speak, but his breathing on the other end became noticeably heavy.

Yan Yu’s pleasant, crisp voice continued leisurely, “Because you look like you would be no good at it. If I am going to date someone like you, I might as well go back to my ex.”

What man could stand being told he was “no good” by someone he was interested in?

Xiang Wenyuan’s angry voice was forced out through gritted teeth. “Your last one was ‘good’? Is his spiritual power stronger than mine, or is his rank higher?”

Yan Yu remained expressionless, but his voice betrayed his impatience. “Can’t you investigate? Go look it up yourself. Why are you asking me?”

Without waiting for Xiang Wenyuan to reply, Yan Yu hung up.

Some people think they can run wild over you if you speak to them nicely. You have to say something harsh before their miserable bones feel comfortable.

Yan Yu’s slender fingers unconsciously squeezed the empty cigarette pack, crumpling it into a ball. He took a deep breath and tossed it into the glove compartment.

Bang!

A heavy sound echoed. The glove compartment was slammed shut.

Yan Yu’s mood lately had indeed been far from pleasant. His thin, pale wrist pressed firmly against the black steering wheel, revealing a patch of skin that was bloodlessly white.

And there, at the crease of his wrist, a thin line of crimson blood, as if alive, wound its way up that beautiful wrist.

Yan Yu thought about it but decided not to smoke. He picked up his phone to look at coffee delivery, then switched to milk tea, but in the end, he ordered nothing. He walked back into the Criminal Investigation Department building through the rain. After getting a cup of hot water in the pantry, he walked into his office, still damp.

He locked the door.

He took out some painkillers, three pills, and swallowed them with the hot water. He leaned back in his chair to rest for a while until the pain in his wrist subsided. Only then did he pull out a case file from his desk to review the morning’s work from start to finish.

He had gone to a scene at noon and was now continuing his unfinished tasks.

Meanwhile, in the cafeteria of the Criminal Investigation Detachment.

Zhu Que, the captain of the Second Brigade, was slowly stirring a cup of soy milk next to his tray, his eyes occasionally glancing toward the cafeteria entrance.

Seeing Chen Kan stride past holding two lunch boxes, his nearly 1.9-meter tall frame standing out prominently in the crowd, with two young subordinates following behind, Zhu Que reached out and quickly stopped him.

“Tsk! Kan, do not be in such a hurry to leave. I have something to tell you!”

Zhu Que nudged Chen Kan toward a nearby seat where there were fewer people. “Just now, Xiang Wenyuan from a certain department in the capital called me, saying he wanted to know more about the situation here.”

Being pulled into a hug by the older colleague, Chen Kan frowned slightly. “Xiang Wenyuan? What connection could he have with our work?”

Zhu Que took a sip of soy milk. “Aha! No connection in work, but there is in romance. Do you know who he was asking me about?”

Chen Kan was long used to Zhu Que’s habit of dragging out a story. “If you are not going to say it, forget it. I am not interested in gossip.”

He turned to leave.

“He asked about Yan Yu!” Zhu Que could never keep a secret. Seeing others lean in, he added, “Is it not a coincidence? Those two have nothing to do with each other, yet they actually went on a blind date a few days ago!”

As soon as he said this, several colleagues from the Second Brigade who were eating nearby perked up their ears and leaned in with wide grins.

The two team members behind Chen Kan widened their eyes and exchanged a look.

The half-step Chen Kan had already taken forward was imperceptibly pulled back.

“My god! Is it really that much of a coincidence?”

“They matched? What does matched mean?”

“Is it that Section Chief Xiang?”

“Goodness, how could our Director Yan ever be interested in someone like him?”

Zhu Que quickly corrected them. “It is not that Yan Yu is interested in him. It is just that they ran into each other on a blind date. This Section Chief Xiang just called me to ask about something. He said he heard that there is one of Yan Yu’s exes right here in our office building! I thought about it carefully, and I am the person who knows best who is seeing whom in this building. Since Yan Yu started here, he has never been in a relationship. Even we have not heard a whisper of such a thing, so how could he have ‘heard’ it?”

Someone chimed in while half-chewing their food. “Could it be that someone outside is spreading rumors?”

Brother Li also joined in the fun. “Or maybe it was someone Director Yan dated before he came to work with us?”

“No, no,” Zhu Que waved his hand. “Knowing Yan Yu’s personality, I bet he just found that man named Xiang annoying. They were probably chatting and he just made up a lie to brush him off, inventing an ex-boyfriend right here in our building.”

Chen Kan’s hand tightened around the handle of his takeout bag. No expression could be seen on his well-defined face, but the lines of his shoulders and back tensed imperceptibly.

He asked in a lukewarm tone, sounding as if he did not care at all:

“So, what did you tell him?”

Zhu Que was at the age where he loved playing matchmaker for young people, and his bias toward his own colleagues was obvious. “Tsk, how could that man Xiang ever be a match for our Little Yan? Naturally, I just went along with what Yan Yu said!” He raised his arm naturally to sling it over the shoulder of Chen Kan, who was half a head taller, and spoke in a conspiratorial tone. “So, Kan, I used you as a shield. In the heat of the moment, I just let it slip and told him that you were Yan Yu’s ex.”

?

…

Chen Kan’s gaze turned sharp.

His Adam’s apple moved visibly, his lips pressed into a tight line, and his brow furrowed deeply.

However, those listening to the gossip had already burst out laughing.

Seeing Chen Kan’s expression, Zhu Que chuckled. “Hey, I know you and Yan Yu are not close and your relationship is pretty average. But your old brother here has lived long enough to see that you actually have quite a good impression of Little Yan.”

“Wait, wait, wait! That is impossible! Those two are the least compatible people here!” Before Old Zhu could finish, he was interrupted by Brother Li standing behind Chen Kan. “During the last team-building event, I tried to set them up. Do you know what our Captain Chen said when he was drunk?”

“What?”

“He said: ‘Yan Yu? Even a dog wouldn’t date him!'”

Old Zhu gasped. “Tsk, you brat, how could you say that? Do you know how many people out there are waiting in line to be Yan Yu’s dog?”

Chen Kan raised an eyebrow at that, a faint, cold smile playing on his lips, though his eyes remained devoid of warmth.

“Is that so? He certainly has plenty of dogs out there.

“You all enjoy your chat. Team One still has work to do, so I will not be staying.”

Before his voice had even faded, Chen Kan took his two lunch boxes and strode out the door.

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