Chapter 417: Day 22 into the Mary Sue Story

Chapter 417: The Twenty-Second Day in the Mary Sue Novel

"Nothing." An Yi finally just repeated, picking up his chopsticks again. "Let's just eat first."

Lu Lu was full of doubt and worry, but seeing that An Yi didn't want to talk about it, he dutifully dropped the subject.

After dinner, Lu Lu drove An Yi home.

The car was quiet, with only soft, soothing music flowing through the air.

Lu Lu occasionally stole glances at An Yi through the rearview mirror, watching him gaze at the dazzling lights receding rapidly outside the window. His profile, flickering in and out of light and shadow, had an almost surreal beauty.

He finally couldn't help himself. While waiting at a red light, he spoke softly, "An Yi, are you... feeling down?"

An Yi turned at the sound, looking at him with clear, calm eyes, not avoiding the question. "Yes."

His blunt admission caught Lu Lu off guard, making his heart clench with a dull ache.

He quickly asked, "Can you tell me why? Is it... did I do something wrong?" He racked his brain, trying to guess what might be wrong.

"No, it's not about you." An Yi interrupted, his voice still gentle but carrying a reassuring certainty. "And it's not about anyone else either."

He turned his gaze back to the neon lights flashing by the window, as if talking to those fleeting lights. "I've just... made up my mind to do something."

"What is it?" Lu Lu's heart tightened.

What was An Yi up to? It sounded serious—serious enough to bring him down.

"But first, I need to ask someone's opinion." An Yi continued, his tone holding a trace of near-cold calculation.

Ask someone's opinion? Who was he talking about?

Lu Lu's heart dropped, and a bitter, sour feeling welled up out of nowhere.

Who was so important to An Yi that he had to ask them first?

That person... were they that important to An Yi? More important than... more important than Lu Lu himself?

His fingers tightened on the steering wheel, knuckles going white.

He wanted to push further, to blurt out, "Who?"

But the words caught in his throat.

An Yi hadn't gone into detail, so he couldn't push.

He didn't want An Yi to think he was pushy or overstepping.

He swallowed the bitterness and unease, took a deep breath, and said as steadily as he could, "Whatever it is, if you need help, just tell me. I... I've got your back."

An Yi turned to look at Lu Lu seriously.

In the dim car, Lu Lu's face was a little blurry, but his eyes were steady.

The irritation An Yi felt toward Ye Ming seemed to ease a little, warmed by the intensity in Lu Lu's eyes.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of An Yi's mouth.

"It's nothing major for me." An Yi's voice softened, carrying a calm, matter-of-fact tone. "I just have a knot in my head."

"A knot in your head?" Lu Lu didn't quite understand.

"Mm." An Yi nodded, his gaze distant. "It's like seeing a pesky rock in the middle of the road. No need to make a big deal, just..."

He paused, using a more direct phrase. "Clear it out, and let my mind be at ease."

Lu Lu didn't fully get it, but he understood that An Yi's plan was about getting rid of something that bugged him.

He nodded firmly. "Then let's clear it out! I'll help you!"

Whatever the rock was, if An Yi wanted it gone, he'd help get rid of it!

An Yi looked at him, his eyes crinkling into a smile.

The car pulled into An Yi's neighborhood.

Lu Lu parked and killed the engine.

"Thanks for the ride and for dinner." An Yi unbuckled his seatbelt, ready to get out.

"I'll walk you in!" Lu Lu said immediately, quickly unbuckling his own seatbelt.

He didn't just want to walk him to the door—he wanted to go inside, to... linger a little longer, even if only for a few more seconds.

An Yi glanced at him, didn't protest, and just nodded. "Okay."

They both got out of the car and were about to head in when they both stopped dead. A figure leaning against the wall by the door, clutching a huge bouquet of bright red roses, suddenly caught their eye.

Dark purple hair glinted eerily under the light, a flashy, over-the-top dark suit with bold patterns, collar open, a peculiar silver necklace hanging around his neck.

That face, carefully arranged into a "smoldering and soulful" look—who else could it be but Ye Ming?

Wasn't he just harassing the female lead earlier?

Ye Ming had clearly been waiting a while. When he saw An Yi and Lu Lu show up together—especially An Yi—his deep purple eyes lit up instantly, blazing with undisguised fervor, determination, and a sickening possessiveness he tried to pass off as affection.

He totally ignored Lu Lu, flowers in hand, and strutted toward An Yi with a swagger he thought was smooth.

An Yi stood still, his face going completely cold. His usual gentle vibe vanished in an instant, replaced by a suffocating sense of distance.

Ye Ming's steps faltered. He felt that An Yi right now... was dangerous.

That powerful, dangerous, commanding aura of someone above everyone else was now on full display.

Ye Ming's heart raced, and he had the urge to bolt.

But he quickly squashed it. Who was he, Ye Ming? Was he really going to be scared of An Yi?

It's all a bluff!

An An like this... wasn't he even more irresistible?

He stopped about two steps from An Yi, gave a slight bow, and shoved the garish bouquet of red roses at him. Dropping his voice, he spoke in a greasy, almost theatrical tone:

"An Yi, I've finally waited for you."

An Yi didn't even bat an eye, his gaze not even touching the flowers.

But Ye Ming kept up his act, flashing a "soulful" smile with a hint of "bad-boy charm." "Ever since that day in the library, your figure, those cool eyes, and the way you took me down—that stunning move—has been burned into my memory, impossible to shake."

He leaned in a bit, trying to close the distance for some intimacy. "I know some of my past actions might have given you the wrong idea, like with that woman Leng Bingning..."

He curled his lip in disgust. "That was just a moment of weakness, a cheap little interest. It wasn't until I met you, An Yi, that I learned what real attraction is, what... real love is."

He stared at An Yi with what he thought was deep affection, looking for any sign of emotion, shyness, or even a flicker of surprise on that face.