Hangover Soup

Inside the bar, the lights were dim, the music was loud, and people had to raise their voices just to have a conversation.

“Isn’t Jiang Yi married? Why is he still acting so careless?”

“Have you guys seen his wife? I sure haven’t.”

“I heard they didn’t even have a wedding. His marriage seems like it doesn’t even exist.”

“Probably because his wife is some ugly monster, too embarrassing to show off.”

A burst of laughter followed. Lu Jin looked over at Jiang Yi, who was talking to a young man not far away. The smile on Jiang Yi’s face conveyed an ambiguous vibe. The young man took out his phone and saved Jiang Yi’s number. The outcome was obvious.

A flash of disgust passed through Lu Jin’s eyes. Though such things were common in their circle, he still looked down on it.

As everyone was engrossed in their conversation, suddenly, a ringtone cut through the noise. Jiang Yi’s phone started ringing on the table.

“It’s Jiang Yi’s phone. Who’s Su Ran?”

“Could it be his wife?”

“Shh, didn’t you all say you’ve never seen his wife? Now you’ll get to.”

Yan Ze picked up the phone and put it on speaker. The room went quiet, and soon a voice came through. “Hello… A Yi, when are you coming home?”

The voice was soft and clear, making everyone pause. This pleasant tone was far from the “ugly monster” they had imagined.

“Jiang Yi is drunk at the bar. You should come pick him up.”

After the call ended, Yan Ze teasingly said, “Didn’t expect her voice to be so nice.”

“Yeah, from the sound of it, she doesn’t seem like someone who can’t be shown off.”

“Hey, haven’t you seen those online couples? Their voices and looks often have a huge contrast. Maybe she’s actually a rough, bearded guy.”

“….”

Another round of laughter followed. After all, Jiang Yi was a newcomer to their circle, a bunch of rich second-generation heirs. The group was tight-knit, and rarely would anyone new join. Jiang Yi, as a social elite, was the first to break in. What was surprising was that he could fit in with them and even provide a fresh kind of fun.

At their age—mostly around 25 or 26—most didn’t even have fixed girlfriends, let alone be married. Jiang Yi was already 28, and the more self-interested kind of elite like him made everyone curious about what his wife was like and what their married life was.

Yan Ze nudged Lu Jin with his elbow and grinned. “Aren’t you curious about what his wife looks like?”

Lu Jin’s tone was indifferent. “No interest.”

Yan Ze clicked his tongue. Just then, Jiang Yi returned. The chatter around the table softened. He was dressed in a suit and gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, looking both refined and sharp. “What are you guys talking about?”

“Just some casual talk…”

Jiang Yi passed by Lu Jin and sat next to him. Lu Jin furrowed his brow, once again catching that pleasant scent on Jiang Yi. It smelled like warmth from baked goods with a hint of sweetness. Lu Jin had always been sensitive to scents. He had once been the chief perfumer at his own company, and the most sought-after high-end perfumes on the market had his mark on them.

This hobby remained with him, and he couldn’t help but smell and collect scents that appealed to him. Back then, it had created a favorable impression of Jiang Yi.

But now, his scent was mixed with men’s cologne, which dulled the sweetness and gave off a sense of decay.

Meanwhile, Su Ran was in the kitchen, making hangover soup. Whenever Jiang Yi had a drinking session, he would always make a pot. It was the duty of a good wife.

The bubbles in the pot bubbled, and Su Ran turned off the gas. Just then, the system 555 in his mind spoke up, “Ran Ran, the plot is starting now!”

Su Ran was surprised. “Finally starting?”

“Yes! Soon you’ll meet one of the important characters in this world, Lu Jin. Your first task is to get him into the house.”

Su Ran raised an eyebrow. “You mean, have him come to the house?”

“Yes, Lu Jin is a crucial friend in Jiang Yi’s life, and their deep friendship starts with him entering the house.” 555 said seriously.

Su Ran suddenly understood. As a complete tool character, he wasn’t just playing a role in the main characters’ love drama, but also helping the protagonist rise to the top.

This was a dirty job.

“Does anyone want a role like mine?” Su Ran couldn’t help but ask.

Since being bound to 555, Su Ran had felt the miserable nature of his role. Not only was it embarrassing, but it also felt like stepping into a movie set, and the plot was unbearable to watch. From the standards of his original world’s clean internet, it was going to need a lot of editing.

555 sounded a bit sheepish but quickly regained its confidence. “Of course not! Though the role might not sound great, the rewards are the best. Many people competed and didn’t get chosen, but you, with your perfect qualities, were picked right away.”

Su Ran didn’t feel particularly honored, but instead, he lowered his head and looked at himself. He untied the apron from his waist and walked to his bedroom helplessly. Now, as a wife, he had to go get his husband.

The autumn night was a little chilly. As Su Ran got out of the car, the wind blew through his sweater. He looked up at the large bar sign and walked in.

This was his first time in such a place. The music was so loud it hurt his ears, and he felt completely out of place. The glances from people around him made him uneasy.

Following the directions given by Jiang Yi’s friends, Su Ran quickly found the table. But after scanning the area, he didn’t see Jiang Yi.

With the system’s reminder, Su Ran focused on one man at the table. Compared to the others’ casual clothing, this man looked a bit more formal—his suit jacket open, shirt buttons undone, and the dim lighting cast shadows on his sharp features. He looked cold and noble, like a rich young man who had just finished work at his company and was now socializing with friends.

That man was Lu Jin.

Su Ran scanned the area once more but still didn’t spot Jiang Yi. He walked over to Lu Jin. “Hello, I’m here to find Jiang Yi.”

The people around, who were chatting away, all turned their attention to Su Ran, falling silent.

They were all surprised. The young man in front of them had soft, fine hair and a delicate face, with a slender frame. Even in the noisy bar, he looked out of place but had a clean, gentle air. He wasn’t the strikingly beautiful type, but his presence still drew people’s eyes to him. Just standing there, it almost felt like you could smell the fragrance of his skin.

“You… you’re Jiang Yi’s wife?” Yan Ze was the first to react. He looked at Su Ran with some surprise.

Su Ran nodded. Outside, Jiang Yi never allowed him to call him that, but since everyone knew their relationship, he just went along. “I came to pick him up.”

Yan Ze stood up. “He should be in the restroom. Please wait here for a bit. I’ll go look for him.”

“Thanks,” Su Ran said softly, sitting at the far end.

Su Ran sat quietly, offering everyone a soft side profile as he waited for his husband. The idea of a wife quietly waiting for her husband to come home made everyone feel a little awkward. The more peaceful he was, the more curious their eyes became.

They couldn’t help but whisper.

“This is Jiang Yi’s new wife, huh? She looks pretty good. How come Jiang Yi looks like he can’t show her off?”

“It seems like Jiang Yi doesn’t like this type. Haven’t you noticed? All the women around him are strikingly beautiful. His wife looks too obedient, too simple.”

“Yeah, Jiang Yi seems to like eye-catching women.”

“Jiang Yi probably doesn’t even appreciate his wife. If it weren’t for Yan Ze running into him and his family at the restaurant, talking about marriage, no one would even know he was married.”

“He probably wants to keep it a secret, not ready to give up all the pretty girls outside.”

“Such a shame. His beautiful wife is pitiful.”

“….”

Su Ran could feel the probing glances on him. He wasn’t used to being the center of attention and lowered his head, fiddling with his fingers.

At this moment, Yan Ze came back and sat next to him. “Jiang Yi should be back soon. Do you drink?”

Su Ran immediately replied, “No, thank you.”

Yan Ze turned to look at him. Su Ran’s eyes were soft and innocent, giving off a harmless vibe. He looked so obedient, it stirred a protective instinct in men. If there were any men with bad intentions around, they’d love to tease someone like him.

For a moment, Yan Ze found himself staring a little too long. Su Ran felt uncomfortable under his gaze and looked away. Yan Ze cleared his throat to cover up. “Sorry, I spaced out for a moment.”

He stood up, grabbed a drink, and placed it in front of Su Ran. “Drink this. If you need anything, just let me know.”

Su Ran thanked him. Yan Ze gave a gentlemanly smile but didn’t even realize how natural he was in pretending.

Yan Ze returned to his seat next to Lu Jin. He loosened his collar and leaned in close to Lu Jin’s ear. “He smells so nice. So sweet.”

Lu Jin frowned, shoving Yan Ze’s head away with a look of disgust. “He’s Jiang Yi’s wife.”

Yan Ze’s smile faded. “I know. If he were single, I’d go for him. Too bad.”

Lu Jin shook his head. “At least you have some standards.”

Yan Ze grumbled in frustration, “People always say I’ve played around the whole city, but don’t you know me? I’ve always been picky. I like obedient, pure people, and only do one-on-one. What’s wrong with that?”

“Is your one-on-one measured by hours?” Lu Jin scoffed. “And do these two words even apply to a married man?”

Yan Ze paused, realizing his mistake. The type he liked wasn’t one to describe a married person.

His gaze turned back to Su Ran. Just as their eyes met, Yan Ze felt a jolt in his chest, and he quickly gulped down some ice-cold drink. “Jiang Yi’s such an idiot. He has a wife like that and still messes around outside.”

Lu Jin’s eyes darkened with disgust. His gaze went back to Su Ran, who was patiently waiting for her husband, unaware of what was going on. It was a sad scene.

Just then, Jiang Yi walked over with a cold voice. “Su Ran? What are you doing here?”

Su Ran looked up to see Jiang Yi standing in front of him. The flashing lights made his face look grim.

Jiang Yi’s voice silenced the room. Su Ran stood up, a little unsure. “I came to pick you up.”

Jiang Yi’s cold gaze swept across him, and noticing the attention around them, he lowered his voice. “When have I ever needed you to pick me up? Go home.”

Su Ran couldn’t leave yet. He still had a task. Hesitantly, he spoke, “Can we go home together? I’m just worried about you.”

Jiang Yi laughed in disbelief. “If you want to stay, then stay.”

With that, Jiang Yi ignored him and sat back down between Lu Jin and Yan Ze. The small scene passed quickly, but everyone whispered amongst themselves.

“Jiang Yi really doesn’t care about his wife.”

“Yeah, he doesn’t seem to have any feelings for her.”

“She looks so sweet and gentle. He’s wasting her.”

“….”

As the night deepened, Su Ran sat on the couch, feeling increasingly drowsy. He glanced at the time—it was already midnight.

He looked over at Jiang Yi, who was lounging on the couch, probably already drunk.

At that moment, Yan Ze waved at him. “Take him home.”

Su Ran immediately got up, calling Jiang Yi several times, but there was no response.

Then Yan Ze leaned in, playfully slapping Jiang Yi’s face, laughing. “Drank too much, huh? Should feel bad for a couple of days.”

Su Ran tried his best to help Jiang Yi up, but he was much taller. It took quite a bit of effort to get him standing.

Lu Jin, who had been silent the whole time, watched them closely, a flicker of thought in his eyes. He could smell a familiar scent, stronger than Jiang Yi’s—a pleasant, pure fragrance.

“Uh… could you help me? I can’t hold him up alone,” Su Ran asked Lu Jin.

Lu Jin’s thoughts were interrupted. Before he could react, Yan Ze stood up. “I’ll help you. Let me take you both home.”

Su Ran sighed with relief. He was hoping it would be Lu Jin helping, not anyone else. Otherwise, his task would be jeopardized.

Lu Jin stood up and, without a word, pushed Yan Ze back into his seat, shooting him a warning look. He then turned to Su Ran and said, “I’ll take you home.”

Yan Ze grumbled but didn’t argue, muttering under his breath. “Sure, moral saint… even don’t trust your own brothers.”

Su Ran didn’t catch the exchange, but as soon as he realized Lu Jin was going to help them, he immediately felt relieved. “Thank you.”

They exited the bar, getting into Lu Jin’s Maybach. Su Ran and Jiang Yi took the backseat while Lu Jin sat in the passenger seat.

The car ride was silent. Su Ran leaned back, tired from holding up Jiang Yi. His hair was damp from sweat, and he felt the warmth of the car, unwilling to move.

Lu Jin was almost certain now that the scent on Jiang Yi was from Su Ran. In this closed space, the fragrance was even stronger. He was sensitive to smells, and this one was a warm, baking scent that blended with a particular sweetness.

His fingers tapped gently on his lap. His gaze shifted to the rearview mirror, where Su Ran rested against the seat, his neck elongating with the posture, making his slender throat appear delicate.

As his gaze moved, Jiang Yi’s shoulder tilted toward Su Ran’s. The sight was harmonious, and Lu Jin looked away, lowering the window for some fresh air.

Jiang Yi’s home was in a relatively upscale neighborhood, located a bit north of the economic center. About half an hour later, they arrived.

Lu Jin helped Su Ran get Jiang Yi out of the car. The wind seemed to wake Jiang Yi up a bit, and he began to act up, drunk and unstable.

With much effort, they finally made it upstairs.

Su Ran unlocked the door, and as they entered, a light sweet baking scent greeted them. The three-bedroom apartment had an open kitchen. Lu Jin noticed the baking tools on the counter, suggesting that they often made pastries. Both he and Jiang Yi carried the same scent.

“Let’s get him to the bedroom first,” Su Ran said, his face flushed, a layer of sweat forming on him.

Inside the bedroom, Jiang Yi began to struggle. “I’m not drunk, don’t bother me.”

The moment they entered the room, Jiang Yi pushed Su Ran, sending him stumbling backward. Before Su Ran could react, Lu Jin instinctively reached out to grab him.

Jiang Yi’s eyes were hazy, his voice muffled but cold. “Why are you bothering him?”

The next moment, Jiang Yi lost his balance and crashed into Lu Jin, sending both him and Su Ran to the floor with a thud.

The room fell silent.

When Lu Jin regained his senses, he found himself lying almost entirely on top of Su Ran. Before he even realized what was happening, the warm, sweet scent of Su Ran’s skin filled his nostrils. His nose was buried against Su Ran’s neck, and the pleasant fragrance from his skin almost seemed to seduce him into a trance.

Lu Jin never thought he’d find a scent so captivating, let alone from a man’s body.

His nose glided across Su Ran’s pale neck, and with a slight bit of self-control, he propped himself up, though his gaze lingered on Su Ran. The other man was rubbing the back of his head, sweat-soaked hair clinging to his face. His eyes were slightly red and watery, looking vulnerable and pitiful.

Lu Jin’s heart tightened, and his voice softened unconsciously. “Does it hurt?”

He gently helped Su Ran sit up, his hand rubbing the back of his head. His fingers massaged through Su Ran’s soft hair.

Su Ran’s scalp tingled under his touch, and he quickly pressed down Lu Jin’s wrist. Although his eyes were still watery, he managed to speak. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Lu Jin pulled his hand back, giving a small nod. “Good.”

They both stood up, and by then, Jiang Yi had already collapsed on the bed. Su Ran leaned over to check if he was asleep.

The warm yellow light in the room cast a soft glow, making everything look even gentler.

Lu Jin’s gaze fell on them. Watching Su Ran take off Jiang Yi’s shoes and carefully remove his glasses made him notice the care and tenderness in every action.

“I’ll head out now,” Lu Jin said.

Su Ran immediately stopped playing the part of the good wife and turned to look at Lu Jin. His face was sharp and cold, but still beautiful. With no expression, he seemed even more unapproachable—more so than before.

Su Ran wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead and said, “Um… wait a moment. The hangover soup is still warm on the stove. Drink it before you leave. Thank you again for helping me get Jiang Yi home.”

The system’s progress bar flashed, showing that the plot’s speed was accelerating since Lu Jin had entered the room.

So it was because Lu Jin entered the room that his favorability was increasing? Su Ran felt confused but also certain that the longer Lu Jin stayed, the faster the progress bar grew.

The room was quiet, only Jiang Yi’s even breathing filling the air.

Lu Jin’s eyes were still on the two of them. He was supposed to leave quickly, it being their first time meeting, and Jiang Yi already asleep. He shouldn’t stay long.

But Su Ran was looking at him now, so docile, his eyes sparkling with a soft light. It was impossible not to feel a bit protective of him. It seemed like he wouldn’t resist even if he were bullied—just suffer quietly.

Lu Jin didn’t understand why he thought this way, but in the end, the words he had prepared to refuse turned into an agreement.

“Alright then.”

Just a bowl of soup.