After the incident that day.
Zhou Yu'an began to enter and leave Chu Liuyue's room much more openly.
Their relationship seemed semi-public.
Just as Chu Liuyue had said, she allowed him to be her man.
So, would there be more?
Zhou Yu'an began to worry about personal gains and losses. Not only did he have to guard against Li Xichen and Yan Qingdu, but he also had to watch out for any men with even a hint of good looks.
One day.
After finishing his experiments, Yan Qingdu took the initiative to approach him.
"You haven't seemed quite right lately," Yan Qingdu got straight to the point.
Zhou Yu'an was taken aback.
He then shook his head slightly.
"I'm fine."
In truth, they hadn't been close at first, but after surviving the dangers and desperate situations along their journey, they could be considered casual friends who could at least hold a conversation.
Yan Qingdu scoffed.
"Stop lying."
"Now that you have her, you're even more afraid of losing her."
"After all, she is so outstanding." Yan Qingdu's tone carried a hint of schadenfreude as well as hidden envy.
He paused for a moment.
Then he continued, "How long will Yueyue be out on her mission this time? Ten days, or half a month? Li Xichen is also in the ability-user squad, isn't he?"
"That kid has been itching to make a move. I'm afraid... when they return from this mission, you're going to have another brother."
Zhou Yu'an could no longer hold back, and the gentle mask on his face instantly shattered.
He glared at him through gritted teeth.
"Yan Qingdu, what do you mean by that?"
"Don't think I don't know about your little schemes regarding Liuyue."
Yan Qingdu spread his hands in a carefree manner and said:
"That's right, I've never tried to hide it."
"It's just that, as you all know, Yueyue hates me."
"Perhaps it's because she couldn't have me in the past. Of course, hate lasts longer than love." His tone still carried that punchable smugness.
Zhou Yu'an had vaguely heard about their shared history in school.
The girl who was rejected after handing over a love letter, the aloof student council president, and that troublemaker, Gu Man.
"Yan Qingdu, what exactly are you trying to say?"
He smiled.
Facing the increasingly irritable Zhou Yu'an, his tone became much more patient.
"It's impossible for Yueyue to only have you by her side."
"That won't happen." Zhou Yu'an's pupils trembled, but the way he tightly gripped his cuffs betrayed his inner panic.
Yan Qingdu chose to stab him in the heart once again.
"She is a strong person, so naturally she has the right to choose more partners."
"If it's not Li Xichen or me, there will be others."
"Therefore..."
He paused deliberately, then gave a feigned relaxed smile and said:
"Rather than having her favor stolen by some random men from the outside, shouldn't you accept me?"
Zhou Yu'an fell silent.
He stared at him quietly for a long time.
Unable to refute it.
Although every word Yan Qingdu said was harsh, it was the reality.
"She is the queen of the apocalypse."
"It's impossible for her to only have you as her man forever."
"Think about it carefully, then come find me."
Yan Qingdu turned and walked away with light steps. Suddenly, he paused, raised his hand with his back still turned, and waved at him.
Then he left, humming a little tune.
Leaving Zhou Yu'an standing there, thinking quietly for a long time.
That night.
Chu Liuyue hugged his waist from behind and asked softly:
"An'an, what's wrong?"
"You've been a bit distracted lately."
Zhou Yu'an turned around and looked at her, a hint of struggle flashing in his eyes.
"Liuyue, will I be your favorite man?"
"Hmm..."
Chu Liuyue deliberately dragged out the sound. Watching his expression grow increasingly panicked, she finally rubbed the top of his head and said:
"Of course."
"I've spent the most effort on you."
This was the truth, of course.
After all, he was her conquest target.
Hearing this, the uneasy look on Zhou Yu'an's face gradually faded.
It was as if he had made some kind of resolution.
He turned and hugged Chu Liuyue tightly in return, whispering in her ear:
"Then, I won't be afraid anymore."
Just as Chu Liuyue was feeling confused.
Zhou Yu'an suddenly released his embrace and walked toward the door, explaining:
"It's good to drink some milk before bed, I'll go get it."
Chu Liuyue nodded.
After a while.
Hearing footsteps, she looked up.
But the person who appeared at the door holding the milk was Li Xichen.
"Xiao Chen?"
"Why is it you?"
Li Xichen had originally come over excitedly.
He thought of what Zhou Yu'an had told him: rather than letting other men potentially steal Xiaoyue away, it would be better for them to cooperate.
Li Xichen felt it made sense.
As for why Zhou Yu'an chose to cooperate with him instead of Yan Qingdu.
He absolutely refused to admit that it was because he was easier to manipulate, while Yan Qingdu had too many tricks and was hard to figure out.
Yet the first thing Xiaoyue said when she saw him was actually 'Why is it you?'
The corners of his lips instantly drooped.
However, he handed her the warm milk and slowly crouched down.
"Xiaoyue, drink it while it's hot."
Just as Chu Liuyue took it and tilted her head back to drink the milk, she heard the sound of the door latch falling into place.
She put down the cup.
With a trace of milk still on the corner of her lips.
She saw that Li Xichen had already closed the door.
She was stunned for a moment.
"Why did you close the door?"
Li Xichen didn't answer immediately, but simply walked step by step until he was in front of her.
His tea-gray eyes stared at her unblinkingly.
After a moment, he spoke:
"Xiaoyue."
His tone carried a hint of grievance.
"Why can he do it, but I can't?"
"What?" Chu Liuyue didn't realize what he meant.
Li Xichen spoke again: "Your man."
His eyes accused her of being heartless.
Chu Liuyue couldn't help but laugh, rubbing her forehead with a sigh.
"Xiao Chen, I already have a partner."
"An'an is very good."
Li Xichen took another step forward.
Pressing closer, he said:
"I'm very good too."
"Xiaoyue."
"I want to be your man too."
The wolf cub no longer hid his emotions.
Just as Chu Liuyue thought he would forcefully press forward.
Li Xichen suddenly stopped in his tracks.
He lowered his head.
And then silently shed tears.
His eyes grew red, and without saying a word, he just stared at her stubbornly.
This, this...
What strong woman could withstand this?
Especially with his eyes all red from crying.
Staring at her with such stubborn defiance.
