Chapter 40: Into a Political Intrigue Novel, Day 18

Chapter 40: The Eighteenth Day of Transmigrating into a Political Intrigue Novel

His expression turned cold, every muscle in his body tensing instantly. Without hesitation, he began to retreat and call out for help.

But the man was faster. A hand clamped over his mouth, hot breath brushing against his earlobe in an ambiguous whisper: "Hands up!"

"Hand over all your valuables, pretty boy."

The voice was deliberately low, carrying a roguish, insolent tone. "If you've got nothin', then I'll just have to take you instead."

An Yi: "!!!"

A surge of fury shot straight to his head. Ge Lian!

This absolute bastard!

Flames of rage blazed in An Yi's eyes. Muffled, furious grunts escaped from behind the palm that covered his mouth as his body thrashed violently. His free hands smacked hard against Ge Lian's corded arm, producing dull, rhythmic thuds. "Let... mmph... go!"

Ge Lian felt the force of the blows on his arm but showed no sign of annoyance. Instead, he pressed his scorching lips even closer to An Yi's earlobe, his burning breath coating it completely. He said with a malicious grin: "You think I'll just let go that easily, pretty boy? What's in it for me?"

An Yi let out a muffled grunt and drove his elbow backward fiercely, striking Ge Lian hard in the stomach.

"Urgh—!"

Caught off guard, Ge Lian let out a low groan, stumbling back a step as he clutched his abdomen. His face twisted into an exaggerated expression of pained torment, and his voice took on a whining, aggrieved tremor: "Urgh... such a cruel heart, my beauty!"

Breaking free, An Yi spun around and kicked without mercy at the outside of Ge Lian's thigh. "Ge Lian! What the hell are you playing at?!"

As if unable to withstand the "hit," Ge Lian dramatically reeled backward, his back slamming—*bang*—into the antique shelf behind him. The jade ornaments on the shelf rattled precariously, emitting a nerve-wracking creak.

"Milord?!" A guard's alert voice immediately sounded from outside the door, accompanied by the sound of approaching footsteps.

An Yi took a deep breath. "It's nothing."

"Yes, Milord." The footsteps outside hesitated for a moment before retreating.

Once silence returned outside, Ge Lian instantly shed his pretense of suffering. He straightened up casually, brushing nonexistent dust from his black stealth suit. Adjusting his collar, he clasped his hands in a proper bow toward An Yi, wearing an expression of utmost seriousness. His voice returned to its clear, crisp tone: "Lord An, my apologies for the late-night intrusion! Your humble subordinate Ge Lian pays his respects to Lord An. Good evening, Lord An!"

An Yi: ...

An Yi couldn't be bothered to respond and simply asked, "What do you want? Who gave you the audacity to break into a private residence and inner chamber?"

He hadn't forgotten Ge Lian's all-too-obvious intentions.

Seeing this, Ge Lian curled his lips into a smile. Instead of retreating, he stepped closer until he was almost pressed against An Yi's side: "Lord An, between you and me, why must we draw such clear lines?"

"If you don't like me entering your room, that's fine. My door is always open for Lord An, awaiting... your honoured presence."

An Yi's expression remained unchanged: "I respectfully decline."

Seeing An Yi's unyielding and unflappable demeanour, Ge Lian suddenly let out a soft laugh, a far more complex emotion surging in the depths of his eyes: "Lord An, An Yi, An Junheng..."

He stared intently at An Yi's face. "I hear that Lord An has been visiting the Chief Grand Secretary's residence quite... frequently lately?"

He deliberately slowed his speech, enunciating each word. "The gossiping tongues outside have it all figured out, saying that... Lord An's happy occasion is drawing near?"

He ground his teeth: "Lord An, can this Marquis ask what the happy occasion is?"

When Ge Lian had received this news from his spy, he felt as if his very organs were being incinerated, sour jealousy bubbling up and threatening to drown him. He was utterly consumed with jealousy.

An Yi turned around, meeting Ge Lian's nearly blazing glare with a calm, unruffled expression. He lifted his eyelids and looked placidly at the man drowning in jealousy: "The Junior Marquis oversteps his bounds."

Ge Lian let out a cold, sardonic laugh: "Overstep my bounds?!"

His chest heaved violently with rage, a hint of viciousness creeping into his eyes. "Lord An, don't forget our plans. What exactly are you doing now?"

An Yi's tone was impatient, edged with sarcasm: "You know the answer very well, so why bother asking?"

Of course, Ge Lian knew it was only a temporary expedient for An Yi. But knowing it with his head and enduring it in his heart were two very different things!

The mere thought of An Yi possibly getting close to another woman—even if it was only a pretence—felt like needles stabbing his heart and lungs, sour and painful.

His face turned cold: "I just want to know—does Lord An perhaps intend to marry?"

Thinking of the original novel's plot, An Yi suddenly laughed: "The Junior Marquis has a short memory. Hasn't Lord An always wanted to marry?"

Ge Lian: ...

Shao Li.

He had once been betrothed to Shao Li.

Thank goodness... thank goodness he'd messed that marriage up.

A tremendous wave of relief washed over him. Good, good that he'd butted in back then! Otherwise, he couldn't bear to imagine the sight of An Yi marrying someone else!

At this thought, the taut nerves in Ge Lian's body relaxed oddly. A smile even resurfaced on his face, and his voice dropped to a gentle murmur: "That's right. Good thing it didn't happen."

Seeing his expression, An Yi found it strange: "The Junior Marquis certainly has a way with words."

"An Yi, An Junheng..."

Ge Lian offered no further explanation. Instead, he lunged forward, planting one hand on the wall beside An Yi's ear while the other snaked around An Yi's slender waist, instantly trapping him between his own burning chest and the cold wall.

His warm breath spilled fully onto An Yi's face as he lowered his voice: "You're too smart not to see what I'm getting at."

He dipped his head, burying his face in An Yi's neck, and let out a cold laugh: "As long as I'm alive, you can forget about marrying. I mean what I say!"

A sinister smile curled at the corner of his lips: "Unless you kill me."

"Otherwise, I'll haunt you forever."

The cramped space was instantly saturated with Ge Lian's intense masculine scent and blazing body heat.

An Yi felt his breath catch. The air around him seemed to grow thick and scorching, carrying an oppressive suffocation.

He sucked in a sharp breath and shoved hard at Ge Lian's chest with both hands, trying to break free from this suffocating trap.

But Ge Lian was ready. He easily caught An Yi's slender wrists and pinned them against the wall above his head.

This movement pressed their bodies even closer together.

Ge Lian lowered his head again, burying his face deep in An Yi's slightly dishevelled collar, inhaling deeply. A hoarse, satisfied sigh escaped his throat, mixed with a low laugh: "An Junheng... you smell so good."

An Yi: ...

This fucking pervert!!