The Cold Side Character from a Male-Lead Novel is Pregnant - Chapter 14

Housekeeper?

What housekeeper?

Xiang Wenyuan suspected he had misheard. He spent a long time trying to process it, failing to understand what “He’s the housekeeper” meant. Chen Kan, however, fell into deep thought because of the phrase “My dad spent so much money.”

Hearing Yan Yu say “I’m almost there” and preparing to hang up, Xiang Wenyuan wanted to press further about the housekeeper comment, but Chen Kan simply took the phone and hung up for him.

Xiang Wenyuan glanced over, looking utterly speechless and visibly displeased. “Hey, I say, don’t you think your desire to control other people’s phones is a bit too strong?”

“Oh, my apologies,” Chen Kan apologized without a hint of emotion. “I was afraid he’d get distracted while driving. Anyway, he’s almost here.”

Xiang Wenyuan “tsked” and didn’t pursue it further, instead asking Chen Kan: “But what did he mean by ‘housekeeper’ just now?”

Chen Kan intended to use Xiang Wenyuan as an important medium to “test” Yan Yu, both to figure out if Yan Yu truly cared more about money and to avoid having to enter the fray himself. Thus, he “translated” to comfort Xiang Wenyuan:

“A housekeeper is someone who manages the big and small affairs of a household. He used to call me that too.”

Xiang Wenyuan nodded thoughtfully, appearing to believe it to some extent. Just then, a set of headlights approached from a distance. A low-key Audi pulled up, and Yan Yu stepped out.

His expression remained cold, with a trace of imperceptible fatigue at the corners of his eyes. Seeing the two men facing off at the door, his brow knit slightly.

“What are you two doing standing at the entrance?”

His voice was chilly as he walked straight between them toward the door. In one hand, he carried a cloth bag, seemingly containing new purchases; with the other, he reached into his pocket, naturally going for his keys.

Chen Kan, however, had already opened the door.

Xiang Wenyuan glanced at the keys and followed closely behind Yan Yu into the house, only to see a large dog locked in a cage, barking at them.

Xiang Wenyuan stood in the foyer. He watched Chen Kan close the door behind them, skillfully change into slippers, and naturally walk over to pet the dog and let it out of the cage. He finally couldn’t help but speak: “Xiao Yu, did you invite him too?”

“I didn’t invite him.”

“Then why is he here?”

Yan Yu looked up at him, his tone flat but his eyes showing a hint of confusion: “This is his house. Where else would he be?”

“No… you two… you didn’t break up cleanly? Aren’t you supposed to be separated? Why are you still living together?” Xiang Wenyuan’s voice rose subconsciously, his composure finally slipping. Hearing this, Yan Yu’s expression grew even colder:

“Do what you’re supposed to do and don’t ask extra questions. Go to the study, organize those few boxes of materials, and move them directly to the car.”

The smile on Xiang Wenyuan’s face froze instantly. “What do you mean by that? How long have you two been together? Can’t I even ask?”

This time, Yan Yu replied with extreme impatience: “Didn’t you already know? Ten years. We’ve been together for ten years. What else do you want to ask? Can you ask it all at once and then hurry up and pack? It’s getting late.”

Yan Yu’s tone was critical. He primarily couldn’t understand why his father would hire such a fool, someone with absolutely no cultivation as a housekeeper.

Unaware of Yan Yu’s internal thoughts, Xiang Wenyuan was also dazed by the phrase “ten years,” his face turning shades of green and white. He opened his mouth as if to argue or ask more, the fire of being belittled and toyed with rising in his chest.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Chen Kan went to open the door; it was the moving company. They had sent a team of six men, all in uniforms.

Chen Kan stepped aside to let them in, asking casually: “Oh, you’re working so late. Do you need an extra fee?”

The leader pulled out a receipt: “Two hundred extra per person, twelve hundred total. Wasn’t that agreed upon?”

Xiang Wenyuan, feeling irritable, waved his hand at the receipt. “Just add it, no problem. Start moving immediately.” He spoke lightly, as if those twelve hundred dollars were just a trivial number.

Standing to the side, Yan Yu’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly. He lowered his eyes, his thoughts unknown, but his hand reached up to touch his neck. The bloodline, which had almost reached his heart, sent a sharp, tiny sting of burning pain.

He looked at Xiang Wenyuan with a clear look of disapproval in his eyes, his lips pursed. Ultimately, he said nothing, turning instead toward the stacked book boxes, his silhouette looking tense.

When the workers began sizing up the boxes, Yan Yu suddenly crossed his arms and said coolly: “I only have three boxes in total, and you brought six people to move them?”

Xiang Wenyuan froze, pulling at the corner of his mouth awkwardly. “I thought there was a lot of stuff. Whatever, they’re already here. You guys hurry up, be nimble, move them fast.”

Yan Yu didn’t respond, simply staring at the workers with a stony face. A few seconds later, he dropped his arms: “Forget it. We’re not moving.”

The leader grew anxious: “Sir, we’ve already brought the truck out. This…”

“Fees will be paid as agreed,” Yan Yu interrupted him, his tone steady.

He walked to the foyer cabinet, pulled out a drawer, and took out his wallet, counting out bills. Instead of giving them to the leader, he walked up to each worker and handed the money over personally. “Thank you for the trip. This is two hundred per person for your time.” His movements were deliberate, his voice clear. “There was a communication error on my end today. My apologies.”

The workers took the money, their expressions softening. The leader wanted to say something, but Yan Yu had already turned to him, handing over three bills. “This is three hundred to compensate for the truck’s fuel. Is that enough?”

The leader nodded quickly. “Enough, enough.”

Yan Yu gave a slight nod and opened the front door. “I’ll see you out.”

The workers filed out one by one. Xiang Wenyuan was still standing there. Yan Yu walked up to him, his tone very thin: “You leave too.”

“What?”

Yan Yu said, “You’re fired.” There was no expression on his face, only a very displeased command: “Now, get out.”

Xiang Wenyuan’s eyes went wide, but Yan Yu had already reached out and grabbed his upper arm. The force wasn’t great, but the direction was clear as he led him toward the door. Xiang Wenyuan was pushed into a stumble, and before he could even find his footing, the door closed behind him.

“Yan Yu!” Xiang Wenyuan slammed the door. “What do you mean?! Are you playing me? You’re someone who’s been toyed with for ten years, I haven’t even started to judge you—”

Before he could finish, the door suddenly opened again.

Chen Kan stood inside, looking at Xiang Wenyuan. The words died in Xiang Wenyuan’s throat as he met Chen Kan’s gaze, suddenly stuck. Chen Kan didn’t speak; he just looked at him for two seconds and then let out a very slight laugh. The mirth didn’t reach his eyes, and it sent a chill down Xiang Wenyuan’s spine.

“Mr. Xiang,” Chen Kan spoke, his voice low. “What did you just say?”

Xiang Wenyuan opened his mouth.

Chen Kan took a half-step forward, the porch light casting sharp shadows across his face. “Just a reminder,” he said. “Whether Yan Yu wants you or not is his business. But if you say one bad word about him—” He paused, his tone as flat as if discussing the weather. “I’ll make sure you can’t speak again.”

Xiang Wenyuan froze in place.

Chen Kan stepped back inside and closed the door. The sound of the lock clicking was quiet but distinct.

The house fell silent. Yan Yu stood in the center of the living room, eyes downcast, his thoughts unknown. Chen Kan walked over and stopped in front of him.

“He’s fired. You don’t have to contact him anymore,” Chen Kan said.

“Mm,” Yan Yu looked up at him. “I’ll tell my dad myself tomorrow.”

Chen Kan nodded and didn’t ask more. He turned toward the kitchen. “Want some hot milk?”

“Okay.”

Yan Yu watched his back and suddenly spoke: “Chen Kan.”

“Hmm?”

“I’ll move myself tomorrow. I’ll just stay here with you for one more night, okay?”

Chen Kan looked back at him. The warm light from the kitchen shone behind him, silhouetting his frame. The microwave gave a “ding.”

“Okay.”

Chen Kan placed the hot milk on the nightstand, beside a dark blue hardcover bankbook. Yan Yu was leaning against the headboard reading; his gaze swept over the bankbook and paused. He set the book down, picked up the book, and flipped it open. Inside was a transfer slip; the latest record was from this afternoon, showing a balance of over ninety million.

He looked up at Chen Kan.

Chen Kan leaned against the doorframe, holding another cup of milk, his expression normal.

“Your money,” Chen Kan said.

Yan Yu didn’t speak, simply looking at the numbers. The account name was clearly “Chen Kan,” and the opening date was three years ago. Yan Yu frowned and set the milk down, his finger resting on the edge of the paper as he looked at Chen Kan, confused. He heard Chen Kan’s flat tone: “Come to the bank with me tomorrow. I’ll transfer it all to you.”

The air was quiet for a few seconds.

Yan Yu closed the bankbook, his gaze showing a touch of incomprehensible emotion. “Why?”

There was a doorframe’s distance between them. The living room light shone through the door, drawing a line between light and shadow on the bedroom floor.

After a long while, Chen Kan said, half-truthfully: “Didn’t you say you wanted to separate? Back then… I worked hard to earn money specifically to save up for a life with you. Later anyway, it’s useless just sitting there.”

Yan Yu didn’t know how much he understood. He looked down at the bankbook and then back at Chen Kan. Chen Kan was still standing there, half in light, half in shadow.

Yan Yu watched him for a good while before reaching out and taking the bankbook…

He gripped it very, very carefully in his hands.

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