It Doesn’t Feel Good

Su Ran stood at the door, feeling like the conversation had circled back to that same topic. He touched his lips, avoiding Ye Qiao’s gaze, “Maybe it’s the cold outside, got me frozen…”

After saying that, Su Ran went back to his room, his heart pounding. Why did he always feel like Ye Qiao had seen through something?

Taking off his coat, Su Ran changed into his pajamas. Just then, there was a knock at the door. Opening it, he saw Ye Qiao standing there, looking unhappy.

“What’s wrong?” Su Ran asked.

Ye Qiao shook his head and then said, “Nothing, just wanted to chat.”

Su Ran was puzzled. Though Ye Qiao said it was nothing, it didn’t feel like it was really nothing.

“Alright, let’s chat. I’ll keep you company,” Su Ran offered, looking very considerate.

Aside from everything else, Ye Qiao was really good to him. He knew from the plot that Ye Qiao could be pretty shameless, but as a character in the drama, Ye Qiao had been nothing but good to him.

They leaned against the headboard. Ye Qiao was behaving today, usually he was all about “appreciating art,” but now he seemed restrained.

However, the things Ye Qiao said made Su Ran wonder… Was he being too sensitive tonight, or was something bothering him?

Ye Qiao snuggled up and mumbled, “Ran Ran, tell me… am I your favorite person?”

Su Ran saw a sentimental look on his face, as if he’d be heartbroken by any other answer, so he said, “Of course.”

“More than Jiang Yi?” Ye Qiao asked.

This question stumped Su Ran. Logically, how could anyone compare to Jiang Yi? But given the current rift between him and Jiang Yi, and Ye Qiao seeming to need his affirmation, Su Ran hesitated.

The long silence made Ye Qiao look even more fragile, softening Su Ran’s heart, who quickly affirmed, “Yes, that’s right.”

Hearing this, Ye Qiao still gazed eagerly at Su Ran, “And you like me more than Lu Jin too, right?”

Su Ran was startled, wondering why Ye Qiao suddenly brought up Lu Jin. He immediately responded, “Of course.”

“I’m your number one,” Ye Qiao said.

Su Ran rubbed Ye Qiao’s head, thinking maybe it’s just the artist in him? Sometimes emotions can be sensitive. Feeling like Ye Qiao really needed some reassurance tonight, he went along with him.

“Mhm, yes,” Su Ran agreed.

Ye Qiao moved closer, his nose buried in Su Ran’s neck, then stickily said, “Brother Ran Ran likes me the most.”

“Yes, yes, you’re right,” Su Ran pacified him like one would a child.

“Brother Ran Ran, your scent… it’s really like the perfume Lu Jin brought today,” Ye Qiao suddenly said, then looked innocently at Su Ran.

Su Ran froze, startled at how the topic had shifted!

Panicked, he suddenly became tongue-tied, forgetting to refute because it was indeed a spot-on guess!

Ye Qiao continued to deeply inhale his scent, then said, “It smells so good, really nice. Brother Ran Ran, was that perfume Lu Jin brought modeled after you?”

Su Ran’s heartbeat raced. He looked at Ye Qiao, who seemed contemplative, the feeling of a secret possibly being exposed making him anxious.

“It’s not…”

Before Su Ran could finish, Ye Qiao said, “Let me guess how he replicated the scent…”

Looking into Su Ran’s eyes, Ye Qiao asked, “Did he have to hold you close and smell, and,” he lifted a finger to Su Ran’s lips, “did he have to kiss your lips, suck the moisture from your mouth, taste the flavor inside?”

Su Ran’s eyes widened, his hairs stood on end—Ye Qiao had guessed it right! How did he know?

“No… it’s not me, don’t make wild guesses,” Su Ran said, head hanging, not daring to meet Ye Qiao’s eyes, his demeanor lacking in conviction but firmly denying it.

Ye Qiao moved closer to Su Ran, close enough to almost touch his lips, then said, “Brother Ran Ran, it’s good that’s not the case. If it were true, that man Lu Jin would be too wicked, tricking you into opening your lips for a kiss.”

Su Ran couldn’t control his nervousness and then said, “No… I wasn’t tricked.”

“Right, I thought so,” Ye Qiao said, then wrapped his arms around him. “Brother Ran Ran likes me the most after all, wouldn’t let others hold or kiss him.”

Su Ran sighed in relief, but also felt very strange! He checked the system plot again—no anomalies!

Then, Ye Qiao suddenly sat up and looked at Su Ran, “Brother Ran Ran, open your mouth and let me smell, see if there’s any difference from the perfume.”

Su Ran dove under the covers, eager to end this topic, muffledly said, “I want to sleep now, you should go back to your room too.”

Ye Qiao looked at the bulging covers, a smile tugging at his lips, whispered near his ear, “Brother Ran Ran, good night.”

•

Ever since that night when Jiang Yi had harshly spoken to him, Su Ran had grown cold towards Jiang Yi, not paying him as much attention as before.

Jiang Yi seemed to sense this and kept making his presence felt. While Su Ran was busy in the kitchen, Jiang Yi, just back from work, shed his coat and barged into the kitchen, patting Su Ran on the shoulder, “You rest, let me handle this.”

Su Ran watched him, then took off his gloves and stepped out of the kitchen.

The change in Jiang Yi stirred something in Su Ran’s heart; after all, he had liked him for so long, and now Jiang Yi was suddenly showing kindness, it was impossible not to be moved.

He stood outside the kitchen, watching Jiang Yi’s busy figure. This was indeed the happy scene he had imagined, but then Ye Qiao came over and stood beside him, breaking the spell by saying, “Like the last flicker before extinguishing.”

Su Ran was somewhat stunned. Ye Qiao, being closer to Jiang Yi, was not siding with him. After another look at Jiang Yi, Su Ran quietly returned to his room.

Once back, he called up System 555, “The progression of my character’s emotions is alright, right? They should all see my change now, from being completely infatuated to gradually waking up, then to the disappointment after being hurt.”

“Master Ran Ran, you’re doing great!” 555 praised, having recently taken a course on human EQ, and now his flattery skills were very polished!

Su Ran was pleased to be praised, but still a bit worried, “But now he suddenly starts behaving well… I can only get emotionally involved again. If it’s like what Ye Qiao said, a last flicker before extinguishing, that’s one thing, but if not, if he keeps this up, won’t that mess up the divorce plot?”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry,” 555 reassured, wobbling like a roly-poly toy, looking completely in control, “Whether he changes or not, a big thunderstorm is on its way, and he can’t dodge it. Your emotional change will then be irreversible.”

Hearing this, Su Ran’s eyes lit up, excited, “If that’s the case, is the plot nearing its end?”

“Not exactly… It’s just a major turning point; from there, it will head towards the finale,” 555 explained.

“Alright.” Su Ran felt reassured, and just then, his phone rang, snapping him back to reality.

It was He Zhiwen on the phone, his voice somewhat somber, “Ran Ran, come over for dinner later. Zhao Mingzhe’s mom is back, and they want to pick him up. Let’s have a family gathering before Zhao Mingzhe leaves.”

“Oh…” Su Ran felt a sudden pang of loss, truly fond of children and all things cute. Zhao Mingzhe was so well-behaved, and now he was suddenly being taken away…

But after a moment, he suddenly realized, “What do you mean by a family of three?”

Hadn’t he said his cousin was divorced? Why suddenly talk about a family of three?

He Zhiwen didn’t explain, instead changing the subject, “Just come over now. I’ve bought a new massage chair, let you experience it.”

“Oh… okay, I’ll come now, and help you cook,” Su Ran said.

After hanging up, he walked out. Jiang Yi was still in the kitchen, and Ye Qiao sat in the living room. Su Ran chose to ignore Jiang Yi, reporting directly to Ye Qiao, “I won’t be home for dinner tonight, going next door. President He’s cousin is back, and they’re taking Zhao Mingzhe away.”

“Okay, got it,” Ye Qiao said, his expression not showing any dissatisfaction. For him, Zhao Mingzhe being taken away was good news, “Brother Ran Ran, come back after you eat, it’s late and I’ll come pick you up.”

Su Ran was about to say there was no need for that, considering how close it was, but remembering the previous incident, his expression darkened. He glanced unconsciously towards the kitchen, and at that moment, Jiang Yi seemed to hear their conversation, turning around, his gaze meeting Su Ran’s.

Su Ran didn’t say a word to him, turning to walk towards the door. Jiang Yi watched Su Ran’s retreating figure, his movements faltering, a painful emotion welling up, and the feeling was not pleasant at all.