Chapter 3.5

Although Fan Yuan was a bit tipsy, he wasn’t drunk to the point that he wasn’t conscious of his surroundings. Being tightly locked by the waist and pressed into Pei Qi’s embrace, his cheeks were pressed into his warm chest, and he felt a type of feeling unconsciously develop, as if his world had been turned upside down.

It had flashed across his mind before, yet he had quickly thrown this thought to the back of his head. Unexpectedly, it had resurfaced.

He lifted his eyes to look at Pei Qi. His cold visage was full of murderous intent, unlike Gao Yu’s gentle pampering; unlike Gu Qi’s accommodating personality that had no bottomline; it was also different from Fang Xu’s domineering and almost perverted possessiveness. But why did he feel such a strong sense of familiarity?

“Ding, in principle, the possibility of this is almost zero. Every person from a smaller world, even if it were the male lead who has the blessing of all the luck from the entire world, wouldn’t have this kind of capability. Master feeling a sense of familiarity, may be because their styles of doing things were all eclectic, hence messing up the plot.”

Of course, Fan Yuan knew the possibility of this was close to nothing. Logically, he also felt that these kind of thoughts were simply too ridiculous, but the thing was, people’s feelings were something that could not be defined very clearly, even he himself felt bizarre.

“Maybe I’ve gotten drunk. Xiao Wu, help me exchange a bottle of sobering medicine ba.”

“Ding, the sobering medicine has been successfully exchanged. In the next ten seconds, Master will recover to your sober state.”

Fan Yuan felt his mind become much clearer. This position was too ambiguous, so he used his strength to try and push Pei Qi away. Of course, he didn’t budge an inch.

As a scholar who was physically unable to even truss up a chicken, to want to push aside a 1.9 metre tall man who had trained in martial arts for years, it was practically like a mayfly shaking a tree. Not to mention, this rascal was the male lead! The male lead daren who possessed the golden finger, golden thigh, and protagonist’s halo! He should just save his strength ba………

At the side, the female lead pointed at them while blushing, “You, you, you two………”

Like this, she went “You, you two” for practically half a day without even saying a sentence. At the moment when Fan Yuan thought she was so angry to the point she could no longer speak, he only heard the female lead accuse angrily, “You two are shameless!”

Fan Yuan: “………” Why did he feel something was off?

Pei Qi let out a snort, finally letting go of Fan Yuan. He turned his body to face the female lead without a single shred of expression, and said in a cold tone, “This is this prince and Xiao Yuan’s matters, it is not other people’s place to intervene. Even if the An Le Marquis was here today, he wouldn’t dare to be so bold. I am not sure where Young Miss Xiao got the right to criticise your own elder brother. Usually I hear people say that the Xiao Family has a daughter who is pursued by hundreds of families, but from what I can see today, the so-called virtuous daughter of an eminent family is nothing but this.”

How could Xiao Mo Li withstand being wronged to such an extent? Because she had the Crown Prince as a backer, even the favoured concubines in the palace would be all smiles around her. Not to mention, which family’s gongzi didn’t pursue her?

Yet today, she had actually been reprimanded by a man in such a way. It made her feel like a big disgrace, and also extremely wronged and aggrieved. She clearly was reminding him out of the kindness of her heart. Even if Xiao Yuan didn’t appreciate it she could let it pass, but he had actually colluded with an outsider to bully her, this was simply too much!

Her almond-shaped eyes stared at Fan Yuan as she said, “Today, will you repent and turn over a new leaf, and follow me home to admit your wrongdoings to Father, or will you still follow Duan qinwang, and continue to be his………his………”

Simply from hearing her speak, Fan Yuan felt anxious for her. Wasn’t it just turning on his own people to become Pei Qi’s advisor, what exactly was so hard to say! Your ambiguous statements will cause people’s imagination to run wild very easily ah!

He interrupted Xiao Mo Li’s words, speaking in a severe tone, “I will absolutely never abandon wangye. As for Father’s side, I will go to ask for his forgiveness at a later date.”

As soon as he stopped speaking, a gasp let out from all around. Moreover, Xiao Mo Li looked at him with an incredulous look. Pei Qi raised his fist to his lips and started laughing in a low voice.

Fan Yuan （(⊙_⊙)？）: “………” Did he say something wrong?

Xiao Wu: “………” This is too horrible to look at.

Pei Qi curved his lips and said to Xiao Mo Li, “Xiao Yuan’s choice, I believe Young Miss Xiao has heard clearly.”

Xiao Mo Li was already staring blankly, clueless on how to respond. Unexpectedly, she obediently gave a nod.

After that, Fan Yuan was pulled out by Pei Qi all the way till they exited the door. It was as if he could still feel the burning gazes of everyone else from behind, like he had said some incredible things. However, where exactly did he say something wrong?!

They got on the horse carriage, and the clatter of the horse hooves went ‘da, da, da’ as it proceeded towards the prince’s manor. He furrowed his brows and gazed at the male lead daren who had shallowly quirked the corners of his mouth, feeling that something was not right.

“Xiao Wu! Tell me what exactly is happening, I clearly acted according to the script, why was his reaction so weird ah!”

“…………” It chose to play dead.

Fan Yuan anxiously said, “Xiao Wu! Quickly speak!”

“Ding, actually Master does not need to care about these fine details. Although the male lead blocked the assault for Master, Master’s plot did not fundamentally go askew. As long as you keep putting in effort, very quickly, this world’s mission will-”

Fan Yuan interrupted him, solemnly saying, “Don’t change the subject, I want to hear the truth!”

Xiao Wu remained silent for a while, gradually speaking, “Ding, actually when Master got drunk today, the female lead………”

“Xiao Yuan! Do you still have any sense of shame? Now the entire capital is spreading your slanderous words, saying you are Duan qinwang’s kept man. You aren’t even avoiding suspicion, swaggering through the streets with him. Now, you two are exchanging such flirtatious glances at the banquet, acting extremely intimate! Where have you placed our An Le Marquis Family’s reputation?”

After listening to that, Fan Yuan’s entire person was completely stunned. This, this, this was different from what was agreed upon, wei!

Female lead daren, how could you take advantage of when I was tipsy to change the lines in the script! It’s despicable! It’s shameless! It’s simply creating trouble out of nothing!

How did he reply? With no refutation, no explanation, and full of only sincerity and ardour, his every word was said sonorously with conviction, “Capable men choose the right leader to serve………I will absolutely never abandon wangye………”

F*ck! Fan Yuan covered his face, practically wanting to sob. In front of half of the officials of Great Xia’s imperial court, he had announced that he had come! Out! Of! The! Closet!

As Pei Qi turned his head, he saw that Fan Yuan had an expression that was completely devoid of life and full of grief—it really made people feel a tender kind of pity.

He lowered his head and moved closer to Fan Yuan to meet his gaze. There was a gleam in his eyes, making it hard to distinguish what he was feeling. Fan Yuan only heard him say, “Saying those words, do you regret it?”

Of course I regret it! My intestines are turning pale with regret, okay?! However, he could only nod his head lightly, and spoke guiltily, “This subordinate drank some wine today, so my mind was not clear. My unscrupulous words have added to wangye’s troubles.”

Pei Qi replied, “This prince only cares about this—were the words you said today words from your heart?”

“………” Fan Yuan swallowed his saliva. The script didn’t say when the original host felt his heart move for the male lead, so he didn’t worry about it for the time being.

He only said, “Wangye is joking, both you and I are straight men. Those were merely rash words spoken by this subordinate when I was in a daze, I didn’t think it would be such a huge mistake. I’m afraid that the Crown Prince will use this rumour to suppress wangye tomorrow………”

Pei Qi pressed his lips shut with his forefinger, preventing him from speaking more. He sneered disdainfully, “You need not worry about Pei Yu, that piece of rubbish. What you mean is that your shocking words today, were only because you were dazed?”

Fan Yuan nodded his head and replied, “Precisely so.”

“What if wangye said, I don’t love women, and have a preference for the other side.”

“………”

Fan Yuan went pale, shocked to the point he was speechless. The male lead was bent again?!?!?!

Pei Qi gazed fixedly at him for a moment, leisurely smiling gently, “So scared till you look like that, this prince is merely joking with you.”

Merely making a joke……You scared people to death you know!!! Within that short instance, Fan Yuan’s heart had experienced sharp ups and downs. He felt extremely exhausted, but still flattered, “Wangye really knows how to jest………”

Pei Qi pulled his hand and gently called out, “Zi Fei.”

The fine hairs on Fan Yuan’s body went cold. Zi Fei was his name. Normally no one said it either, so he almost didn’t respond at first.

He took a glance at the male lead and saw him furrowing his eyebrows, but between his brows, something tender and fragile could be seen. The feeling was somewhat similar to when he was asking to be spoiled when drunk.

Fan Yuan softened his voice reflexively, “What matter does wangye have?”

He only heard the male lead gradually reply, “Do you know, you are different from others in my heart. Even if it is not love, it is also not too far from that.”

Fan Yuan was briefly stunned, and spoke after a long time, “To be regarded as important by wangye, it is this subordinate’s fortune.”

Pei Qi relaxed his eyebrows and smiled, “This prince had guessed that this would be your reaction. On the surface, you seem to not care, but actually you are the same as this prince. We both desire to be cherished by others, isn’t that right?”

Fan Yuan was silent. He couldn’t determine whether Pei Qi was sober or drunk right now. He simply had to play along with Pei Qi when he was drunk, and everything would be fine. However, if he wasn’t drunk, he needed to worry about it much more. For example, was he testing him, or did he have other intentions? After all, the original host died because of him in the end.

Pei Qi lifted Fan Yuan’s chin to meet his gaze. His face was still wearing a smile, yet his voice carried a sense of bitterness.

“You have no need to be afraid. This prince can promise you, as long as this prince is still alive, I will protect you. May it be the An Le Marquis or the Crown Prince, and even the Emperor of today, no one can touch you.”

Fan Yuan was inwardly shocked. These words had originally come from Pei Qi after he ascended the throne. It was practically equivalent to getting a gold plate that granted exemption from death.

Why did he have to make such a promise, was he simply afraid that Fan Yuan didn’t believe in him? He really was getting more and more confused.

After a pause, he began to test the waters, “What does wangye think of my family’s little sister Mo Li?”

Pei Qi coldly said, “No.”

After speaking, Pei Qi let go of him, and found a comfortable position to lie down, not saying a word.

Uh, this meant that he didn’t want to speak. Could it be that he was scared after the female lead’s fierce performance today, ruining her perfect image in his heart? That shouldn’t be ah!

Although the words said in the original plot were different, the female lead’s performance was actually not too far off. Could it be that because he was accused of being a cut sleeve, he was disillusioned? The probability of this was slightly higher.

However, how the male lead and female lead’s relationship progressed was none of his business. As long as Pei Qi was not bent, and he got a cup of poisoned wine down his belly, they could do whatever they wanted.

He was imagining this perfect image, but when he got off the horse carriage, his initial confidence was dispelled by one sentence from the male lead.

He only heard the male lead casually walking in front of him, dropping a sentence, “Come to this prince’s room, and help serve this prince in the bath.”

The………bath………

The accompanying guards immediately lowered their heads, not daring to look at them. Fan Yuan’s stomach lurched. He almost forgot to kneel in front of the male lead daren. You motherf*cker, you were playing with fire, you know?!

From ancient to modern times, when it came to bathing there would inevitably be stripping of clothing. To face each other so honestly was already quite uncommon. Although they were all men and there wasn’t much to think twice about, but the main point was………how Gu Qi became bent was still fresh in his memories!

# The supporting gay male who brought a glow of seduction was heartbroken! #

# Which family’s advisor would incidentally provide bath services ah, angry! #

# Even if I get a raise, I don’t want to work anymore ah (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻ #