The Male Leads Who Are Becoming Stranger and Stranger [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

After the birthday banquet that night, the relationship between Jian Yan and She Yi appeared even closer, or rather, it was Jian Yan’s one-sided, thick-skinned intimacy.

Ignoring She Yi’s protests, there was a morning kiss and a bedtime kiss each, and he was not allowed to refuse.

In front of the servants, their interactions became even more unscrupulous. However, in the eyes of the servants, they only sighed that the relationship between the Eldest Young Master and the Second Young Master was getting better and better.

Of course, this “relationship” was not that “relationship.”

However, the maid Xiao Xia seemed to have noticed something. Given the hazy adoration she held in her heart for She Yi, looking at the Eldest Young Master’s behavior toward the Second Young Master, it seemed strange no matter how she looked at it just like… the attitude toward a lover.

Until one day, taking advantage of Jian Yan’s departure, Xiao Xia hesitantly came before the Second Young Master. Seeing his confused gaze, she hesitated for a moment before suddenly gritting her teeth.

“Second Young Master, do you… do you like men?”

She Yi’s expression stiffened.

“Why… why do you ask that?”

It was as if a hammer had struck her head; Xiao Xia simply went all in: “Does the Second Young Master like the Eldest Young Master?”

This time, She Yi’s cheeks quietly flushed red.

“How, how could…”

The little maid’s face went blank. She felt her first love drifting away from her, impossible to chase back. However, after learning the truth, she didn’t feel the expected shame-induced anger or resentment toward male-male love.

Looking at the Second Young Master’s kind and pure appearance, Xiao Xia sighed.

“No matter who the Second Young Master chooses, even if the other party is the Eldest Young Master, it doesn’t matter. As long as you feel happy, I will support you.”

From the look of it, the Eldest Young Master should also be interested in the Second Young Master; that was good.

Seemingly having her mind read, She Yi’s cheeks instantly turned red, and he stammered, trying to explain: “Xiao Xia, it’s not what you think, Xiao Yan, he…”

“The Eldest Young Master likes the Second Young Master too, right? You two look very well-matched.”

Xiao Xia showed a faint smile. She decided to bury her feelings deep within her heart; seeing the person she liked happy and joyful was enough for her.

From the beginning, she never expected her love to have a result. She only wanted to stay by his side now. Fortunately, the other party was the Eldest Young Master, who had always cherished the Second Young Master, so there was no need to worry about the Second Young Master suffering.

One moment he appeared somewhat flustered because his heart’s desires had been peeked at, but upon hearing that phrase “well-matched,” he couldn’t help but feel delighted.

“Re-really?”

He stared at the little maid with sparkling eyes.

“Yes, truly well-matched.”

Although she didn’t quite want to admit it, the Eldest Young Master and the Second Young Master indeed looked very harmonious standing together. Saying they were well-matched was not just a temporary platitude.

She Yi couldn’t help but beam with joy, then rubbed his nose, looking at the little maid with a slight plea.

“That… Xiao Xia, could you please not tell anyone? I’m afraid people will talk about Xiao Yan…”

At this moment, Xiao Xia wished she could grab him and shake him twice. Damn it, can’t he think about himself for once?!

While her heart was frantic, her face responded gloomily: “Yes, my lips are sealed.”

“Thank you, Xiao Xia.”

However, looking at the Second Young Master’s bright smile without a trace of worry, the little maid pressed her hand against her heart and felt that this was not a difficult thing to do.

Yes, it’s decided. In the future, she would watch over the Second Young Master properly and never let anyone bully him!

However, in less than three months, Xiao Xia completely regretted her previous matchmaking. Saying the Eldest Young Master would cherish the Second Young Master was nothing but a false facade!

…

Recently, apart from S City gradually returning to the prosperity of the pre-apocalyptic era, the topic that caused the most discussion among people was the internal strife in S City.

The Bai family and the Redeemer Base quickly formed an alliance and destroyed the other four major powers with lightning speed. The methods were shockingly fast. But for the residents of S City, it didn’t matter much; as long as it didn’t affect them, it was just a transition from being under the name of one power to another.

In all fairness, they actually hoped for fewer powers, as that meant fewer conflicts. After the chaos of the early apocalypse, most people still yearned for a peaceful life.

While Jian Yan was organizing the many subsequent affairs, She Yi unexpectedly received an invitation from Bai Mu. That pure white letter evaded layers of eyes and ears, quietly arriving in She Yi’s hands, which also meticulously showcased the confidentiality Bai Mu had promised him.

She Yi took the white paper and glanced at it twice, then opened a lighter. The suddenly rising faint yellow flame licked a corner of the paper, quietly burning it to ashes.

She Yi checked the time. There was still one hour until the “tryst,” but to thank the other party for the help he had promised and delivered, She Yi decided to head over a bit early.

But before that…

“Xiao Xia, could you please do me a favor?”

Hands clasped together, his handsome brows slightly furrowed, and a slightly pleading tone—it was enough to make anyone unable to refuse.

Using the same disguise as last time, She Yi slipped out of the villa undetected. After thinking for a moment, he set off toward the Bai manor.

At the same time, a hidden message landed in the hands of Jian Yan in the distance.

…

Perhaps because Bai Mu had given orders in advance, no one came out to stop She Yi when he walked into the Bai manor. Having asked for Bai Mu’s location, She Yi refused the servant’s guidance and walked toward Bai Mu’s direction alone.

It was a study.

Walking to the door, the finger that was about to knock paused suddenly upon hearing the voice inside. A trace of curiosity flashed across his face; She Yi withdrew his hand and leaned in to listen.

“…This emotional card was played quite well, but do you really intend to let him stand alongside you as one of the two major powers in S City?”

This was an unfamiliar male voice he had never heard before.

“Heh, how is that possible? Using his hands to clear away the extra obstacles—next, it will naturally be his turn. One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers; S City will only have one ruler.”

The “him” in those words didn’t require much guessing to identify.

She Yi’s expression was somewhat dazed, such that the subsequent words entered his ears like they were passing through a thick gauze curtain, drifting and distant.

“…What do you plan to do?”

The person asked Bai Mu.

“In a few days, isn’t he going to hold a banquet? Celebration, joy, relaxed vigilance, many people, chaos it’s just right for an assassination.”

A low, mellow laugh spilled out, carrying his usual noble elegance.

She Yi suddenly retreated, shock, anger, and helplessness intertwined on his face, eventually turning into deep fear he was afraid of the “assassination” Bai Mu spoke of!

Right, he had to tell Xiao Yan quickly!

Beware of Bai Mu!

…

In his panic, the retreating She Yi bumped into a wall of flesh. A not-unfamiliar voice rang in his ears.

“Are you… She Yi?”

The owner of the voice was one of the objects She Yi once hated, because he was clearly a roommate of Xiao Yan for two years, and their feelings shouldn’t have been strangers, yet at that moment, he had abandoned them without mercy.

But She Yi had no time to question anything now; his head was filled with the words he just heard: banquet, chaos, assassination!

Seeing him not responding, Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow. Regarding his behavior of abandoning his roommate back then, although he felt some regret, given the situation at the time, he could only choose that way.

“Are you here to find Bai Mu?”

As if hearing a forbidden word, She Yi suddenly woke up from his chaotic thoughts. He thought of the current situation, and his face turned slightly pale.

His fingers twisted together unnaturally. She Yi lowered his eyes, as if trying his best to hide the unease in his heart. After a long time, his lips trembled slightly.

“Ye-yes, I came to find Bai Mu…”

Zhou Yi found his reaction a bit strange, but thinking of his cowardly personality, he felt at ease with it.

At this moment, the study door was opened from the inside. Bai Mu walked out. Aside from him, there was no one else in the study behind him, as if the conversation She Yi had eavesdropped on earlier was just his hallucination.

A meaningful gaze swept over the head-bowed She Yi. Bai Mu smiled warmly:

“Why are you here so early?”

The words carried an obvious tone of intimacy.

Then, his gaze fell upon Zhou Yi nearby: “Do you have some business?”

The purpose of his visit rolled on the tip of his tongue. Zhou Yi stared into Bai Mu’s eyes, then shrugged.

“Nothing now.”

Glancing at She Yi beside him, Zhou Yi followed up tactfully: “In that case, I will take my leave first.”

Bai Mu nodded.

She Yi did not notice Zhou Yi’s departure, or rather, he had no time to care. Bai Mu was approaching him. Under the other’s gaze, his body was so stiff it didn’t feel like his own. It wasn’t until he felt the other’s hand seemingly touching his cheek that he took a large step back as if startled.

The raised finger paused in mid-air. Bai Mu didn’t seem to care as he looked at She Yi, the smile on his face still warm and refined.

“Why… is your face so pale?”

“No-nothing!”

Perhaps afraid of him seeing through things, She Yi spoke up hastily.

“The weather has suddenly turned cold lately; you should take good care of your health, otherwise I will be heartbroken…”

As Bai Mu spoke, amid She Yi’s frantic nodding, the topic shifted: “Speaking of which, did Xiao Yi just arrive?”

His breath hitched, and his body tensed up instantly. She Yi pursed his lips tightly and stole a glance at Bai Mu’s expression. That expression, which was no different from usual, allowed him to quietly relax his tensed nerves a bit.

“Yes, I also just arrived.”

Bai Mu smiled: “That’s good. Let’s set off a little early then.”

She Yi hesitated. He wanted to get away from Bai Mu quickly before Bai Mu discovered his abnormality and then go back to tell Xiao Yan about Bai Mu’s conspiracy, yet he feared that his temporary change of mind would arouse Bai Mu’s suspicion…

However, before he could make a decision, Bai Mu, who had walked ahead for a distance, noticed he hadn’t followed. He looked back at him in confusion.

“What’s wrong?”

That somewhat suspicious look made She Yi’s heart tighten. He hurriedly jogged over and said with a stiff smile: “Nothing, let’s go.”

There were still a few days before the banquet; no need to rush. The key now was to deceive Bai Mu first.

Only, She Yi seemed to have overestimated his own acting skills. In front of a cunning fox draped in warm, noble fur, the emotions he desperately tried to hide were completely transparent in the fox’s eyes.

Bai Mu’s eyes darkened slightly, and his smile deepened a bit more.

…

Upon receiving the news that She Yi had once again gone to the Bai manor behind his back, Jian Yan suddenly crushed the fountain pen in his hand. Taking his coat from the wall, ignoring the confused look thrown by Sun Haiman, Jian Yan left the base with a grim face and large strides.

“Where is he now?”

Seemingly frightened by Jian Yan’s icy expression, the subordinate answered hastily: “Just received the latest news. The Second Young Master and Young Master Bai have entered a high-end restaurant.”

Feeling the pressure inside the car continue to rise, the subordinate wiped sweat for himself in his heart, while also not quite understanding what the master wanted to do. From the look of it, it seemed a bit like going to… catch an affair?

Shaking his head, the subordinate kicked his bizarre thought away, not knowing that he had actually hit upon the truth.

“I command you to arrive in the shortest possible time.”

Jian Yan’s gaze was very heavy, very dark, permeating a bottomless and powerful pressure. The subordinate, who felt it most intensely from a close distance, wiped tears in his heart while flooring the gas pedal, not daring to act up at all.

The distance was a bit far. Even taking shortcuts with the engine at full throttle, more than half an hour had passed by the time they arrived at that high-end restaurant.

When Jian Yan stepped into the restaurant, another subordinate who had been waiting there hurried over to meet him and told him the private box number.

The waitress who was about to come forward was blocked by the subordinates. These people who had burst in and clearly looked difficult to mess with made her hesitate to scold them; she could only watch helplessly as the handsome leading man led a dozen subordinates up to the second-floor private box.

At this moment, what was She Yi doing?

Because of the prior agreement to spend three hours with the other party, She Yi did not refuse when Bai Mu suggested having lunch first. It would be best if the three hours had passed by the time they finished eating.

Being with Bai Mu, every second felt like an ordeal.

Though he didn’t know how he found out, every dish Bai Mu ordered happened to be something he or rather, “She Yi” liked to eat. However, She Yi, with things on his mind, appeared somewhat absent-minded toward Bai Mu’s attentiveness.

And the consequence of being absent-minded was accidentally knocking over the red wine on the table. The crimson liquid soaked the snow-white shirt, blooming into a large, seductive stain on his chest.

Bai Mu’s eyes darkened quietly, yet he feigned a cry of surprise on his face: “How could Xiao Yi be so careless?” Simultaneously, he took a handkerchief and leaned over, about to wipe it for him.

“…Eh? No, no need…”

She Yi dodged in a panic, but unexpectedly tripped on the table leg. His body lost balance and fell onto the sofa behind him.

Unsure of the motive, Bai Mu’s movements did not stop at all. Instead, he reached across the table, one hand bracing against the sofa beside She Yi’s face, supporting his entire person above She Yi.

The distance between the two was extremely close; a vague ambiguity quietly permeated the surroundings.

At this time, before She Yi could react, the door was kicked open with a bang—

At the door, Jian Yan’s face was as cold as ice!

“Xiao Yan?”

A flash of surprise flickered in She Yi’s eyes. He hurriedly struggled to stand up, then suddenly remembered Bai Mu’s conspiracy. He urgently wanted to speak but was mindful of Bai Mu’s presence.

At this moment, his heart filled with worry for his friend, he completely forgot that he should have hidden the fact of his “tryst” with Bai Mu.

Slap—

The loud sound of a slap plunged the atmosphere into complete dead silence.

She Yi’s head tilted. On his jade-like fair cheek, a bruised redness spread across half his face at a speed visible to the naked eye.

She Yi slowly turned his head, his movements stiff. The gaze looking at his friend revealed an irrepressible astonishment and disbelief, his lips trembling slightly.

“Xiao… Xiao Yan?”

At this time, Bai Mu walked over. His gaze swept over She Yi’s bruised and beginning-to-swell half-face, eventually resting on Jian Yan, with a slight smile.

“Chief Jian, have you… misunderstood something?”

“Shut up!”

A sharp gaze swept over Bai Mu, the voice cold as frost.

Bai Mu moved his lips and silently closed his mouth.

Jian Yan turned to look at the person he loved deeply. His dark eyes were brewing an astonishing storm.

What rationality!

What a misunderstanding!

The moment he saw this person lying defenselessly beneath the enemy, it seemed as if something instantly exploded in his mind, leaving only full-blown rage.

Jian Yan knew what that was; it was the dark past buried in the deepest part of his heart that he didn’t dare to touch!

The feeling of a sharp blade piercing into the heart and being ruthlessly crushed bit by bit surfaced before Jian Yan’s eyes once again, so clear, so distinct, never erased by time.

He should have known!

No matter how history is altered, the trajectory of fate will not change!

Ha.

Jian Yan gave a self-deprecating laugh, his eyes full of coldness.

“Take the Second Young Master back.”

He heard himself giving such a cold order.

He turned and left.