The Shifting Battlefield and the Whispered Truth

The wind outside had picked up significantly.

Chu Ci’s pupils shrank as he turned his head to look at Ji Yanli. The dazzling remnants of the sunset spilled across the youth’s profile, making his skin appear even more translucent and white.

In front of them, Bai Yu seemingly hadn’t expected Ji Yanli to speak so bluntly. He froze, feeling the grip on his wrist gradually tighten.

Meeting those deep, dark eyes again, Chu Ci felt as if sparks were crackling in the air—the dense aura of a “cremona” field (a clash between love rivals) instantly enveloped him.

Chu Ci was dumbfounded.

[Why does this scene feel so familiar??]

[In the original novel, Bai Yu seemed to use this kind of excuse often to invite Ji Yanli to spend time alone. Coincidentally, one of those times was witnessed by Song Qichen. Because the two leads were having a conflict then, Bai Yu and Ji Yanli’s overly intimate behavior made Song Qichen direct all his jealousy toward them.]

[But… the characters are wrong right now!!]

Chu Ci looked nervously at Bai Yu, then at Ji Yanli. The two tall youths were locked in a staring contest. He didn’t know what kind of mental warfare they were engaged in, but Ji Yanli’s expression was becoming increasingly grim. To avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings, Chu Ci had to intervene.

He forced a smile and wedged himself between Ji Yanli and Bai Yu. His slightly cool palm gripped Ji Yanli’s arm and tugged. But Ji Yanli, who was throwing an inexplicable tantrum, was as stubborn as an ox; no matter how much Chu Ci pulled, he wouldn’t let go.

Chu Ci had no choice but to pry Ji Yanli’s fingers open one by one. Under the weight of two piercing stares and with cold sweat breaking out at his temples, he laughed awkwardly to break the tension. “Oh, come on, it’s just going to see Xiao Bai. It’s not a big deal.”

“So you’re agreeing to go, right?” Bai Yu quickly caught the keyword and followed up immediately.

“I…” Chu Ci stammered.

Ji Yanli narrowed his eyes, his gaze as sharp as a cunning fox. He curled his lips, his tone chilly. “How come I didn’t hear that?”

With one sentence, the temperature in the room dropped again. The other youth’s expression turned even worse at being shut down. Ji Yanli arched an eyebrow, preparing to continue his provocation when—

He received a threatening look from Chu Ci.

[You talk too much!]

Chu Ci gnashed his teeth in frustration.

[You just have to have the last word, don’t you!]

He stared wide-eyed at Ji Yanli without blinking. He wasn’t sure if Ji Yanli “heard” what he said, but the other’s gaze suddenly shifted. He lowered his eyes to meet Chu Ci’s, the corners of his eyes drooping slightly, completely sweeping away the aggressive aura from a moment ago.

His expression now looked incredibly aggrieved, as if Chu Ci had wronged him.

Chu Ci frowned in confusion.

Must be an illusion.

He forced himself to ignore the strange thoughts popping up in his mind. “What I meant was… let’s go together.”

“Ji Yanli has been nagging me about wanting to see Mochi lately.”

[Haha, genius! Look at me prying this plotline back on track!]

Chu Ci didn’t dare look Ji Yanli in the eye as he said this, but the other didn’t expose his lie. He only tilted his head slightly and nodded in agreement. “That is indeed the case.”

Only then did Bai Yu breathe a sigh of relief. He twisted his wrist to break free from Ji Yanli’s grip. “In that case, let’s go.”

As Bai Yu turned around to lead the way, Chu Ci tried to follow, but Ji Yanli grabbed him by the collar.

Chu Ci’s heart thudded. A shiver slowly climbed up his spine. He swallowed and asked, trying to remain calm, “W-What’s wrong?”

Ji Yanli pursed his lips and didn’t speak immediately. After looking deeply at Chu Ci for a few moments, he answered gloomily, “Nothing. I just suddenly feel like there are too many people around you.”

“It’s annoying.”

He knit his brows, his tone clearly laced with a sour, jealous edge.

Chu Ci blinked blankly.

However, Ji Yanli’s gaze didn’t look like he was teasing, so Chu Ci quickly looked away and found a random excuse. “You… you have plenty of people around you, too.”

The words were barely out before Ji Yanli’s expression changed. He let out a soft laugh. “So, are you jealous?”

“If you are, I’ll stay away from them.”

The youth’s soft voice brushed against Chu Ci’s heart. His steady heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably in an instant. His body was always a step faster than his brain in reacting, though Chu Ci always attributed this to the original host’s instincts—the lingering subconscious of the original “Chu Ci” causing these strange feelings.

His small Adam’s apple bobbed. Chu Ci froze for a few seconds before lifting his eyes to say something. But right then, Ji Yanli reached out a finger and poked his chest, as if touching his burning heart through his ribs.

“But, do you really not know?”

His sudden proximity felt like tearing through a veil. Chu Ci snapped back to reality. The other’s pupils were dark and deep, always appearing deceptively clear. He watched unblinkingly as Ji Yanli whispered something under his breath.

Chu Ci couldn’t hear it.

The next second, Ji Yanli patted his shoulder twice, his tone returning to normal. “Let’s go.”

As he spoke, his hand slid down, his slender fingertips grazing Chu Ci’s palm. The dense itch left ripples in its wake.

[What else does he know?]

[Besides my mission and the fact that I’m not the original host, what else does he know??]

Chu Ci’s lashes fluttered. He looked up slightly, gazing at Ji Yanli’s back. He suddenly remembered a certain bleak night when he had looked at Ji Yanli’s shadow just like this. In that moment, he had realized the depth of the original host’s obsession.

And what about now?

The sight of the other’s back inexplicably stung Chu Ci’s eyes. He awkwardly looked away, trying to avoid this unusual emotion.

Then, Chu Ci realized something.

The goal of “capturing” Ji Yanli was within arm’s reach. He could succeed just by playing along with the flirtation, yet why was he pushing Ji Yanli away over and over?

He wanted to push the plot toward Ji Yanli’s romance with other characters, yet he felt miserable the moment he saw them actually get close.

He didn’t want to be too close to Ji Yanli, but he didn’t want to be too far, either. He was afraid Ji Yanli liked him, and yet afraid he wouldn’t.

Chu Ci had never seriously considered why he had become so conflicted and powerless.

He raised his hand and pressed it to his chest. His racing heart made his palm feel numb. Perhaps Ji Yanli was right—he truly needed to see himself clearly.

His fingers, still held by Ji Yanli, trembled slightly, his fingertips grazing the other’s skin.

What should he do?

This was a feeling Chu Ci had never experienced before.

Was he gradually being assimilated by the original host, starting to develop an obsession with Ji Yanli?

Or, to put it another way…

Did he…

Like Ji Yanli?

[I like Ji Yanli?]

The light thought struck Ji Yanli’s eardrums, making his back stiffen for a split second.

Chu Ci didn’t see this. He kept his head down, hesitantly biting his lower lip.

I shouldn’t be moved.

I don’t want to be moved.

I don’t dare to be moved.

After all this time, Chu Ci had never asked himself: had he long ago developed a different kind of feeling for Ji Yanli?

The sunset glow on his body felt slightly scorching, as if it were burning through his veins. A thin drop of sweat slid down his temple, vanishing into the cold air.

His lips moved, mimicking the shape of Ji Yanli’s lips from moments ago. After a few tries, Chu Ci’s lashes trembled violently.

What Ji Yanli had said was—

“Little liar.”

Mochi pounced the moment Bai Yu opened the door, accurately landing right in the arms of Chu Ci, who was sandwiched in the middle.

The increasingly plump, light-brown cat curled up in the crook of Chu Ci’s arm, contentedly resting its chin on his forearm as its long, thick tail flicked gently.

Bai Yu, who was changing his shoes, couldn’t help but laugh. He reached out to rub the kitten’s head. “You ungrateful thing. As soon as Chu Ci shows up, you forget who feeds you every day.”

Standing behind Chu Ci, Ji Yanli leaned over slightly and gave a shallow smile, nodding toward the cat. “Mochi? Do you still remember who I am?”

The cat lazily opened its eyes, glanced at Ji Yanli, and let out a “Meow” in response.

“Xiao Bai won’t forget; he’s very smart,” Bai Yu answered casually. He put down his backpack and took two pairs of brand-new slippers from the shoe cabinet. “Come in and sit.”

Saying that, he turned to Chu Ci. “There’s fruit in the kitchen. I bought the grapes you like. Help yourself if you want some.”

Bai Yu’s words sounded overly familiar, as if Chu Ci visited often—to the point where he even knew exactly which fruits he liked.

It was unclear if he was actually telling Chu Ci or saying it on purpose for Ji Yanli to hear.

“Okay.” Chu Ci’s focus was entirely on the kitten. He held Mochi and picked up a cat teaser. After setting Mochi on the floor, he waved the teaser in front of the cat’s eyes.

The cat’s attention was quickly captured, pouncing back and forth after the feathers. Bai Yu watched from the side, his gaze falling blatantly on Chu Ci’s face, the smile in his eyes deepening. The sunset glow spilled over their shoulders, accompanied by bursts of laughter—a warm and harmonious scene.

Only Ji Yanli sat on the sofa with his arms crossed, his expression growing colder.

The person hovering next to Chu Ci was a total eyesore. Ji Yanli couldn’t help but let out a soft “Tsk.”

The hands on his lap unconsciously squeezed his own skin, his curved nails digging into his palms. A faint, stinging pain invaded his brain—only this could slightly soothe the loud irritation deep in his heart.

He glanced to the side, his gaze landing on a cabinet where an unopened cat treat sat.

Mochi, who had been rolling around biting the teaser, seemed to catch a scent. With a “Whoosh,” the cat leapt onto the sofa, moving so fast it was almost a blur. The next second, it eagerly burrowed into Ji Yanli’s arms.

Chu Ci looked over and saw Ji Yanli—who was usually indifferent toward small animals—cradling the cat intimately and feeding it the freshly opened treat.

“It’s been so long, and you’re still as greedy as ever.” Chu Ci stared at Mochi’s pink tongue licking the meat puree, feeling his heart completely melt. He scurried over to Ji Yanli’s side and tapped the cat’s furry head.

The cat toy in Bai Yu’s hand shook a few times, the crisp sound of the bell lingering in the air. He stepped forward, intending to move over, but before he could, he felt the warning gaze projected by Ji Yanli.

Ji Yanli narrowed his eyes, his dark pupils like a snake coiling around its prey. Bai Yu’s spine stiffened, and he abandoned the idea of approaching.

In that second, he realized that Ji Yanli seemed to harbor the same intentions as him.

Seeing that Bai Yu was willing to stay put, Ji Yanli quietly withdrew his gaze. He looked down at the top of Chu Ci’s head, then frowned and took a sharp breath: “Hiss—”

As expected, Chu Ci’s attention was instantly drawn by the sound. The youth lifted his head, his round eyes blinking in confusion. “Mm?”

“When Mochi pounced just now, I think he accidentally scratched my face.”

Ji Yanli knit his brows, a hint of pitifulness in his voice.

“Let me see.” Chu Ci took the bait immediately, leaning in close to Ji Yanli to inspect him carefully.

His gaze scanned the other’s flawless cheek inch by inch. After looking back and forth several times, Chu Ci couldn’t find the so-called wound. “Where did he scratch you? I don’t see anything.”

Then, Ji Yanli took the opportunity to catch Chu Ci’s finger and press it against the corner of his own mouth.

“Feel it. You might be able to feel it.”

After speaking, he deliberately looked up at the ill-intentioned gaze of Bai Yu on the other side.