You Nan was originally a member of the cannon fodder quick transmigration department, specializing in “exit scenes.” Due to his exceptionally outstanding performances in “getting written off” scenarios, he passed the assessment and was promoted to the sacrificial cannon fodder department.

The dedicated You Nan: “…”

Wait, what’s the difference between these two departments?

The newly appointed System 007, full of enthusiasm, felt its department’s dignity was being questioned. It snorted proudly and said, “Of course, it’s different!”

“Our department will give you a golden finger!”

You Nan perked up. “What golden finger?”

007 puffed out its chest and loudly replied, “The golden finger of childbirth!”

.

After You Nan entered the small world and followed most of the plot, he stared at his bulging belly and fell into deep thought.

He had only spent one intimate moment with his partner—how did he end up with such a big belly?

Just then, the man beside him reached out an arm, pulling him back into his embrace. His voice was deep and sensual: “Hmm? Is our baby bothering you again?”

— (A plethora of adjectives)

[The Gentle CEO, the White Moonlight in Everyone’s Hearts x The Pitiful Husband Abandoned by the CEO’s Pursuer]

You Nan transmigrated into the cannon fodder wife of the original male lead, Qi Yuwen. After being rejected by the male lead’s love interest, Yao Xianqing, Qi Yuwen gave up on himself and married You Nan, who had feelings for him.

You Nan diligently followed the plot to earn energy points, but why did his husband, who originally didn’t love him, start cherishing him? Why did the heartthrob male lead’s love interest pity him and repeatedly persuade him to break up with Qi Yuwen? Even the business rival, who had always loved the male lead’s love interest, seized every opportunity to subtly steal him from his husband.

______________________________________________

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"Phew, phew... just made it."

Fresh from the previous scene, You Nan didn't even have time to change out of his blood-stained clothes. Clutching the notice to his chest, he rushed desperately toward the department building. Fortunately, he was fast enough and arrived just before the staff left for the day.

Wiping his forehead, he staggered on legs gone jelly-like from running too fast and made his way to the counter. He handed over the notice and his ID.

"Hello, I’m here to apply for a department transfer," You Nan said softly, his voice trembling and breathless.

The staff member behind the counter glanced up at him. The man had a pale complexion, lips lacking color, and bright, gentle eyes. His features were neither particularly striking nor flawed, but when combined on the same face, they held a certain ineffable charm.

The staff member looked at his ID.

"Name: You Nan

Department: Extra

Home Address: Employee Dormitory, Building 3, Room 301, Longtao Community

ID Number: paolongtao0111"

She held the ID and compared it to his face, then checked the promotion notice written by the supervisor. She couldn’t understand why someone who looked like this was still just an extra or cannon fodder. With such good resources, he hadn’t managed to climb up. What a waste.

After a series of operations, the machine at the counter spat out a new ID.

"Name: You Nan

Department: Cannon Fodder

Home Address: Employee Dormitory, Building 2, Room 106, Paohui Community

ID Number: paohui0111"

The staff member took his old ID and handed the new one to You Nan through the window.

"This is your new ID. Congratulations, You Nan. From now on, you’re a member of the Cannon Fodder Department," the staff member said, offering a perfunctory congratulation.

You Nan was flattered. "Thank you."

After leaving the building, You Nan first returned to his old dormitory to pack his belongings before moving to his new dormitory that same day.

By evening, he finally arrived at the new community, lugging large and small bags, only to find a chubby blue cat lying in front of his door.

To his surprise, the cat was lying on a small mat, though its large size covered most of it, leaving only the edges visible.

Unsure whose cat it was, You Nan glanced around the empty hallway and decided to first drop off his luggage in his new dormitory before taking the cat to the dorm supervisor.

But as soon as he swiped his new ID to unlock the door to his single room, before he could even step inside, a black figure squeezed between his legs and dashed into the room, even dragging its mat along with it.

Startled, You Nan exclaimed, "Hey!" and hurried inside. "Little cat! Whose cat are you?"

The plump blue cat was now sitting on his bed, crouched properly with its thick tail tucked around its paws.

"You Nan!"

The cat spoke.

You Nan’s eyes widened in disbelief.

The mysterious cat continued, "I’m your Cannon Fodder Department System! Number 007! From now on, we’re partners!"

No sooner had it finished speaking than a hand reached out and stroked its precious fur—the same human who had been afraid of it moments ago was now touching it!

007 instantly leaped away, hissing instinctively, its two small front paws splayed open to reveal the sharp claws hidden within.

"What are you doing!"

The little cat bared its teeth, looking fierce and menacing.

But You Nan was no longer afraid. The moment he heard the cat say it was a System, he relaxed.

So the cat wasn’t some little monster after all!

You Nan had long heard from his seniors that once they accumulated a certain amount of contribution points, they could advance from the Extra Department and have a chance to be assigned a System.

These Systems served as golden fingers for entering small worlds, assisting them in collecting Energy Points to a greater extent.

The more Energy Points collected, the more contribution points earned, and the higher they could climb in status. Once the Energy Points reached a peak value, they could break free from their current work structure, gain freedom, and receive numerous benefits, supported by the societies they had served.

Everyone was striving desperately for freedom.

However, the assigned Systems varied in quality—some were good, others not so much. It all depended on one’s strength and luck.

Everyone started from the same baseline in the Extra Department. The faster one accumulated contribution points, the better the System they would receive later.

In the Extra Department, You Nan was only skilled at "receiving lunchboxes"—playing motionless corpses. His roles never even brought him into contact with the protagonists, and the Energy Points he could obtain from the worlds were dismally low.

After a year of work, he had finally accumulated enough contribution points to advance to the Cannon Fodder Department.

Those who were bold and skilled, unafraid of being discovered as anomalies by the natives, could earn dozens of Energy Points in a single small world, quickly accumulating enough contribution points to leave the Extra Department and climb higher.

Returning to his senses, You Nan apologized sincerely to the little cat.

"Sorry, I really like cats, and you’re just too cute! I couldn’t help myself. I really didn’t mean to startle you. Are you okay?"

007’s cat ears twitched. It would never admit that it had been frightened by the sudden gesture.

But since the human seemed sincere, it decided to forgive him.

007 relaxed its body and let out a dismissive "hmph" through its damp little nose.

Curious, You Nan asked, "007, can I ask what the difference is between the Extra Department and the Cannon Fodder Department?"

"The Extra Department is for playing background characters with few lines, and cannon fodder should... be pretty similar, right?" You Nan mused aloud.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he noticed that the plump blue cat, which had previously turned away ignoring him, was now staring straight at him with its amber eyes, as if angered by his words.

007, freshly appointed and full of enthusiasm, felt that its department's prestige was being questioned. It snorted indignantly and retorted, "The two departments are definitely not the same!"

Puffing out its chest, it declared, "Once you enter the Cannon Fodder Department, you’re on the right track! The department assigns a golden finger to each of you!"

You Nan’s eyes lit up, and his spirits perked up. This little cat seemed capable and impressive—surely its golden finger must be powerful.

Edging closer unobtrusively, You Nan eagerly pressed, "Then what kind of golden finger are you?"

007 grew even more excited, its fluffy little chest puffed up high. It answered loudly, nearly deafening You Nan, "A Childbearing Golden Finger!"

You Nan: "..."

You Nan: "What?"

You Nan couldn't help but shiver.

"Having babies in the Small World?"

The kitten nodded, looking smug. "Yes!"

But the kitten knew to add some clarification: "It only happens in the Small World that you'll have children. They won't be brought into the real world."

As it spoke, the kitten's voice gradually softened. It peered cautiously at You Nan's expression with its big cat eyes. "I've already been assigned to you. Even if you don't want me, there's no going back now."

You Nan frowned, his face still twisted with conflict. He was a man—though he also liked men—but having him give birth? That was something he couldn't quite accept.

His whole world was rocked.

But this Golden Finger was issued by the department. Although it was possible to change systems, that would require millions of contribution points. In his pocket, he had just over a thousand. There was no way he could afford a better Golden Finger.

You Nan’s face shifted through a rainbow of emotions as he wrestled with the dilemma. After a long while, faced with the harsh reality of his financial limitations, he reluctantly gave in. "Alright, I... can accept it," he said through gritted teeth.

007 perked its ears, feeling both guilty and relieved, but it still forced itself to maintain the dignity expected of a system. "Good then!"

It had detected the hesitation and discomfort in You Nan’s words, but what could it do?

It was just as helpless.

This skill wasn’t something it had chosen. Other systems came fresh out of production with impressive abilities, but it didn’t.

The "childbirth" skill was one that other systems had rejected, and it was only then passed down to a newbie like itself.

Skills like "Mind Reading," "Massive Library," or "Super Hacker" were clearly practical. In Small Worlds, they could easily help taskers gain the trust of protagonists or key supporting characters, thereby collecting more Energy Points.

The "childbirth" skill, on the other hand, was obviously useless.

Everyone started with minor cannon fodder roles—how could they possibly come into contact with important characters who carried the Small World’s luck energy?

007 couldn’t compete for those powerful skills. It had been shoved aside by other systems and ended up crumpled in a corner. Tears matted its fur as it sobbed, feeling wronged, before reluctantly picking up the scorned Golden Finger that had been discarded alongside it.

Remembering this now, 007 felt a pang of sadness. Its tail drooped listlessly behind it, and its furry face hid its mix of frustration and resentment.

It didn’t want You Nan to think it was useless, so it kept speaking loudly, pretending to be proud, not wanting You Nan to look down on it.

Fortunately, You Nan was kind and accepted it without a word of complaint.

Then it would treat You Nan well in return too.

The kitten lifted a paw to wipe its tears, secretly making up its mind.

You Nan moved into his new dorm, excited about having a new Golden Finger, and was buzzing with excitement for a long time.

.

After washing up, he was so exhausted that he collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.

As dreams often reflect one’s thoughts, he dreamed of giving birth to a whole crowd of children, which scared him awake.

You Nan bolted upright, breathing heavily, a cold sweat beading on his forehead.

He wiped it away and looked up, only to be momentarily stunned by the unfamiliar surroundings.

Where was this!

You Nan had been assigned a small single room, about forty to fifty square meters, where he could see the entire layout from the bed. But now, he found himself in a bedroom decorated with understated luxury.

This room alone was about the size of his entire studio apartment.

As You Nan looked around in confusion, the bedroom door creaked open from the outside. A chubby cat with a black bow tie around its neck walked in with an elegant strut.

The moment You Nan met its gaze, a flood of unfamiliar memories rushed into his mind.

"At Your Command, My Master" was a Small World materialized from a BL novel from the gong's perspective.

The protagonist, Qi Yuwen, had his parents divorce when he was young. Both remarried and abandoned him. He was taken in by a wicked uncle and lived as a dependant for over a decade, serving the uncle’s entire family, working like a slave.

Qi Yuwen grew up with an inferiority complex until he met Yao Xianqing, the protagonist who transferred to his high school in his hometown to accompany his grandmother.

Yao Xianqing was easygoing, with a young and handsome appearance, and excellent grades. Qi Yuwen inevitably fell for him.

When Qi Yuwen was bullied by classmates, Yao Xianqing gently resolved the conflict and drove away those ill-intentioned people.

In that moment, perhaps because of the other’s kindness or because of his own secret crush, Qi Yuwen poured out his sufferings to Yao Xianqing, begging for sympathy from this golden boy.

Yao Xianqing didn’t offer comforting words. Instead, he opened his wallet, took out a thousand yuan, and handed it to the helpless boy. "This is just a little something to help. I hope you can move forward."

Qi Yuwen took the money, repeatedly thanking him.

The next day, he ran away from his uncle’s house, dropped out of school, and never returned.

Years later, after Qi Yuwen had made it big, he went looking for Yao Xianqing, only to find that Yao Xianqing had joined his family’s business after graduation and had a girlfriend arranged for an arranged marriage.

Qi Yuwen was devastated. He tried to restrain himself, but he couldn’t hide his feelings in front of the person he loved, and eventually, Yao Xianqing noticed.

Yao Xianqing didn’t return his feelings and gave him two choices: either get married, with Yao Xianqing serving as his best man, or never see each other again.

Of course, Qi Yuwen refused to give up. He immediately found someone to marry and had a whirlwind marriage within a month. Yao Xianqing kept his word and attended as the best man.

After marriage, Qi Yuwen didn’t love his wife and never touched her.

Later, Qi Yuwen accidentally discovered that Yao Xianqing’s fiancée had cheated before the wedding because she couldn’t stand the loveless, stranger-like relationship with Yao Xianqing.

Qi Yuwen gathered all the evidence and presented it to the one he loved. The evidence was undeniable, and the two families called off the arranged marriage.

Qi Yuwen finally had a chance to pursue the one he adored.

At the end of the story, Qi Yuwen divorced his original wife and ended up with Yao Xianqing.

And You Nan was the cannon fodder wife forced into this tangled relationship.

You Nan came back to his senses. How could he not realize now that this fat cat had thrown him into the Small World ahead of schedule?

He had originally planned to rest for a couple of days before starting the task. Looking at the proud, overeager fat cat, he smiled helplessly. "Well, well, you little rascal!"

He grabbed the kitten, hugging it close, and relentlessly ruffled its soft, fluffy body, a look of bliss on his face.

"You Nan." Footsteps stopped at the doorway. Hearing his name, You Nan held the plump cat in his arms, his bright eyes looking up blankly at the person.

The man was tall and straight-backed, with handsome features and a well-defined profile. Dressed in a proper suit, he exuded the aura of a mature man.

Qi Yuwen’s tone was gentle, but his attitude was distant. He stood at the doorway, not intending to enter and comfort his wife—the one he was marrying today. "The styling team will be here soon. Don’t waste time."

Holding the cat, You Nan remembered the original character’s personality and quickly composed himself.

On his delicate, obedient face was a wary expression, his words tinged with a joy he didn’t want the man to notice. "Okay, Yuwen, I’ll get ready now."

Chapter 2

You Nan transmigrated into the scene where the minor cannon-fodder character officially appears for the first time in the original story—his wedding ceremony with the male lead, Qi Yuwen.

The original cannon-fodder character worked at the same hotel as Qi Yuwen, in accounting/clerical roles. He often needed to report to management and would occasionally see Qi Yuwen in the boss’s office.

Qi Yuwen was polite and kind to everyone, with elegant and handsome looks. Over time, the original cannon-fodder character, who had come alone to the big city to work, inevitably fell for him.

However, the original character was introverted and was overly concerned with what others thought. He was even more afraid that the person he liked would distance himself and become a complete stranger if he found out about his feelings.

So every time he saw Qi Yuwen, he was super careful, not daring to let the other person discover any hint of his unusual emotions.

But too caught up in his own world, the original cannon-fodder character never realized that the Qi Yuwen he liked had long been aware of his feelings.

Qi Yuwen already had someone in his heart and never complicated matters of the heart. He acted oblivious to others’ secret affections and never brought them up.

Armed with the story's plot, You Nan saw things from a god's-eye view: from the very beginning of this marriage, or even from the moment they met, Qi Yuwen had never felt anything for the original cannon-fodder character. It was all one-sided.

All of Qi Yuwen’s love, devotion, and emotions went to the one person he cherished most.

If Yao Xianqing hadn’t asked Qi Yuwen to move on, Qi Yuwen would never have married in this lifetime, much less chosen the timid cannon-fodder character for convenience.

The original cannon-fodder character didn’t know the truth. He only knew that the person he had liked for so long actually seemed to like him back and even proposed—it felt like winning the lottery. He immediately agreed, and the two quickly got married.

Even though Qi Yuwen never was intimate with him after marriage, the original cannon-fodder character never suspected his husband was the reason. Qi Yuwen played the part of a dutiful husband, being considerate and tolerant. In the original cannon-fodder character’s mind, there was only Qi Yuwen; nothing else mattered.

He simply assumed Qi Yuwen was being considerate of his poor health.

Even when Qi Yuwen worked through the night and didn’t come home, the original cannon-fodder character often worried inwardly but always melted at the expensive peace offerings Qi Yuwen gave him.

In the original cannon-fodder character’s world, Qi Yuwen could do no wrong.

And exactly as much as Qi Yuwen loved Yao Xianqing, the original cannon-fodder character loved Qi Yuwen.

Their wedding was a low-key affair. Neither family nor colleagues attended; the only witnesses were the wedding company and Qi Yuwen’s two groomsmen.

This left the original cannon-fodder character feeling unsettled and insecure, as if their wedding was a beautiful dream he'd imagined.

Later, they divorced.

After sitting awake all night, the original cannon-fodder character still signed the divorce agreement. With reddened eyes, he breathed a sigh of relief, drawing a close to this Zhuangzi’s butterfly dream.

Qi Yuwen gave the original cannon-fodder character a generous settlement. Devastated, the original cannon-fodder character finally understood that Qi Yuwen had probably never loved him.

The other party offered compensation, making a clean break and leaving no room for hope.

The bedroom door closed, and the man left. You Nan buried his face in the soft fur of the little cat.

.

"Ahh!" he muttered under his breath, a worried expression on his face. "Does the minor cannon-fodder character have this much screen time?"

There was even such a complicated emotional storyline. The pain of one-sided love seemed to leap off the page.

Back when he was a background character, a single scene was enough. Most of the time, You Nan was just background filler, with few lines.

The most impressive skill he learned in the background character department was playing a corpse.

He didn’t have to worry about the locals noticing anything off about him.

But now, as a cannon-fodder character, the plot was completely different from what he had imagined.

He thought it would just involve more dialogue than a background role, but he never expected there to be so much screen time.

And even opportunities to interact with the main characters.

You Nan took a deep breath to psyche himself up.

It’s okay, a new department means new challenges. He’s sure to get better and better!

The little cat had no idea what You Nan was thinking. It only knew that its fur was falling out strand by strand from being manhandled so aggressively, and it was distressed.

"Meow! Let go! Let me go, meow!" The little cat cried out, its short, chubby limbs flailing wildly in You Nan’s arms.

Unfortunately, it was too plump and rarely exercised, so it couldn’t break free.

You Nan was happily getting his energy from the cat with a giggle when there was another knock on the door.

"Hello, we’re the stylists here for you today. May we come in now?" It was the team arranged by Qi Yuwen.

You Nan was startled. He was still in his pajamas—how could he meet anyone like this?

He quickly scrambled to get up, calling out to the people outside while rummaging through the closet for clothes to change into. "Please wait a moment!"

You Nan got dressed, his hair a mess from just waking up, and hesitantly opened the door for the crowd outside. "Hello, I’m up…"

The moment he opened the door, he was stunned by the styling team’s setup.

About seven or eight people stood in the hallway. The two in front held large styling cases, while the others each pushed a mobile clothing rack filled with outfits for You Nan to choose from.

You Nan: "…"

You Nan saw stars. Is getting married this complicated?

Unfortunately, the heavens didn’t hear his inner thoughts. The people outside, seeing the door open, swarmed in and immediately started working on his styling.

While You Nan was being prepped like a mannequin upstairs, two people arrived downstairs.

Qi Yuwen had two groomsmen: Yao Xianqing and their mutual friend, the Shen family's young master, Shen Zihe.

Qi Yuwen sat in the living room, half his attention fixed on the entrance. Finally, he saw the person he most wanted to see.

Gazing at that face he had longed for day and night, his heart felt heavy.

Suppressing his emotions, Qi Yuwen stood up to greet them.

"You’re here," Qi Yuwen said, his smile as gentle as always.

Shen Zihe was genuinely happy for him. He punched Qi Yuwen’s chest playfully, beaming. "Of course! We had to come for our good brother’s wedding. Xianqing and I are probably early, right?"

Qi Yuwen’s eyes briefly swept over Yao Xianqing’s smiling face before quickly looking away. "Very early. You’re the first to arrive."

He led them inside. "The styling team is already waiting. Come, take a look at what outfits you like."

Shen Zihe said no need. "We both got ready at home before coming."

"But I have to say, bro, your marriage is really sudden. None of us were prepared. You just decided to get married—just like that! You’re something else."

Shen Zihe raised his hand and gave Qi Yuwen a thumbs-up.

"This whirlwind marriage of Qi Yuwen happened so fast! They hadn't even seen what the other looked like, and they’re already together. It must be true love—they must be so impatient!"

Qi Yuwen’s expression remained unchanged. "I'm at that age, and he's suitable."

As he said this, he naturally glanced at Yao Xianqing, who hadn't spoken much. The other man didn’t seem to detect the reluctance in his words and continued to calmly observe the already decorated, festively decorated house.

Qi Yuwen’s lips pressed into a thin line.

He still had this nagging feeling.

It was because Yao Xianqing wanted to see him married that he quickly found someone suitable and compliant to be with.

Shen Zihe, who could keep up with Yao Xianqing, quickly noticed Qi Yuwen’s attention to his good friend, and he grew concerned.

Something was off about Qi Yuwen’s behavior.

Why was he always looking at Xianqing on his own wedding day?

Shen Zihe began recalling their past interactions, but Qi Yuwen had always carefully concealed his feelings, leaving Shen Zihe with nothing out of the ordinary. Only today, with Qi Yuwen’s emotional state fluctuating, did a few hints slip through.

Shen Zihe took note of this odd behavior without mentioning it for now, his gaze shifting between his two friends. He had a feeling they were hiding something from him.

Not long after Shen Zihe and Yao Xianqing arrived, the rest of the wedding staff began arriving. Yao Xianqing glanced around and suddenly asked, "Has your wife’s groomsmen arrived?"

Among the various people entering, aside from them, no one else was dressed as a groomsman, and there were no unfamiliar elders present.

The bride’s family wasn't here.

At Yao Xianqing’s question, Qi Yuwen’s expression became more genuine. "Yes, they have."

He added, "They won’t appear until the wedding begins."

Shen Zihe grew curious. "That's mysterious."

Qi Yuwen didn’t respond. It wasn’t about mystery—the groomsmen for You Nan were from the wedding company.

The three men chatted downstairs while You Nan was finally ready upstairs.

Both Qi Yuwen and You Nan were men, so they wore red Western-style suits for the wedding.

You Nan had entered this mini-world, and the world automatically filled in plot holes and gaps. The appearance he now used was his own.

He knew what he looked like, but as he stared at his reflection, he still felt somewhat disoriented.

Was this person really him?

Why does it look so odd?

The wedding company and styling team Qi Yuwen spent good money on were truly skilled.

You Nan had nice features and fair skin, making even simple styling look attractive, let alone a meticulous makeover.

Now, the reflection in the mirror was like a pearl wiped clean of years of dust, revealing a radiant, luminous appearance that was captivating.

The makeup artist couldn’t help but admire him, secretly taking several photos. The photographer, already prepared, lifted his equipment and was snapping away enthusiastically.

Today's bride was truly photogenic—every shot turned out beautifully.

007, the chubby little cat, crouched on the floor, looking up at the mirror and licking its lips.

It had to admit—though this guy had annoying hands and was always petting it, his face was undeniably stunning.

Hehe! Then the Golden Finger it carried was surely secure!

Moreover, You Nan had landed such a well-positioned cannon fodder character and made contact with the protagonist. It guaranteed they'd have a baby!

With a child, how could the protagonist not shift his focus to You Nan? The protagonist’s Energy points would be within easy reach!

007 narrowed its cat eyes, grinning happily. Ah, this was what they called a power partnership!

"Is the bride ready?"

Someone urged from the doorway.

The styling team inside immediately responded, "Ready, ready!"

You Nan had entered many mini-worlds for work, but this was the first time he’d started off by getting married. Unfamiliar with the process, he followed the staff’s instructions, removed his shoes, and got on the bed.

He knelt on the bed, now covered with brand-new, festive red bed set, a wide, exquisitely patterned red blanket draped over his knees, concealing his legs. Though he wasn’t a girl, the staff carefully placed a head covering over his head.

Once everything was ready, the door finally opened, and Qi Yuwen, dressed in a red suit, entered with his two groomsmen.

The room Qi Yuwen had arranged for You Nan was spacious, easily accommodating over a dozen people without feeling crowded.

As soon as Yao Xianqing stepped inside, his gaze fell on the kneeling figure on the bed—someone else's wife, like a devotee ready for sacrifice.

Chapter 3

You Nan heard someone whispering, "The groom is here," and the room immediately erupted in excitement.

Swept up in the commotion, You Nan felt uncontrollably nervous and afraid.

Apart from not inviting more witnesses and being a private, rushed marriage, Qi Yuwen had arranged every other aspect of the wedding meticulously.

He had hired the best wedding planning company in the province, offering full-service perfection at a high price.

All the staff were invited to attend the wedding.

They gathered in the room, eagerly anticipating the ceremony as the most expectant audience of the day.

You Nan heard footsteps stop right in front of him. His heart pounded, and his hands, resting on the red gold-embroidered blanket, wrung together anxiously.

Dressed in a red wedding suit matching You Nan's, Qi Yuwen stopped before his wife in name. The wedding officiant, observant, handed him a prepared jade ruyi scepter on a tray.

Qi Yuwen took it, his gaze falling on You Nan’s clasped hands. A perfect, gentle smile was frozen on his face, though no one noticed the flash of darkness in his eyes.

"Groom, lift the veil!" the officiant announced loudly.

Using the jade ruyi, Qi Yuwen lifted the red veil, revealing the radiant, made-up face beneath.

Fair skin, red lips, and dark hair—his eyes, lifted and dazzling, captivated everyone. Even those who had already seen You Nan in the room were briefly breathless.

Shen Zihe’s eyes widened slightly. He wanted to say something to Yao Xianqing beside him but bit his tongue, remembering the importance of the occasion.

Well, well, no wonder Qi Yuwen had never been in a relationship before—his standards were sky-high.

He must have searched for a long time to find someone like this.

Indeed, after meeting someone who matched his ideal so perfectly, how could he ever settle for ordinary people?

Before the wedding, Qi Yuwen had kept everything hidden and hadn’t told them anything until he finally revealed the truth just before the ceremony. So he had been keeping a jewel hidden—treating his buddies like rivals, not brothers, to guard against!

As his friends, they would never have fallen for their brother’s wife.

Shen Zihe watched the ideal couple surrounded by the crowd, unaware of the longing in his own eyes.

Yao Xianqing’s gaze was also fixed on You Nan, and for some reason, it reminded him of past events.

Qi Yuwen had reunited with him at a banquet.

Running into an old classmate he hadn’t seen in years, Yao Xianqing had acted surprised and delighted, as was appropriate.

Qi Yuwen had played his part perfectly.

He gradually started showing up in Yao Xianqing’s life.

After their first meeting, they had two more brief encounters, with Qi Yuwen taking care to be discreet.

Even their new contact information was exchanged naturally some time after they met.

Qi Yuwen chatted with him about industry matters, occasionally thanking him privately and mentioning how Yao Xianqing had helped him in the past, saying that without that thousand yuan back then, he wouldn’t be where he was today.

Yao Xianqing had forgotten all about it and only vaguely recalled after Qi Yuwen brought it up, the memory dust clearing to reveal a blurry and unfamiliar scene.

Yao Xianqing politely replied that it was nothing really.

Qi Yuwen’s life had been a mess back then, and his current success was the result of his own hard work.

Yao Xianqing admired Qi Yuwen’s perseverance and decisiveness. As a gesture to an old classmate, he later took Qi Yuwen out twice and introduced him to some industry resources.

Yao Xianqing felt he had gone above and beyond as a friend, having done everything he could.

But he never expected Qi Yuwen to want more.

.

Yao Xianqing discovered Qi Yuwen’s feelings for him one night when drinks were involved.

That day, he had indeed drunk quite a bit, but with his high alcohol tolerance, he wasn’t easily drunk—though his face flushed easily. To avoid more toasts, he pretended to be drunk.

This little secret was known only to him. Others who saw him drinking assumed he had a low tolerance.

Qi Yuwen helped him into the lounge inside the private room.

Yao Xianqing lay on the sofa, eyes closed, pretending to sleep.

But soon, he couldn’t maintain the charade.

He never expected to hear Qi Yuwen confess his feelings in a low, emotional voice, reiterating that without Yao Xianqing, he wouldn’t be who he was today.

It was a raw emotional outburst, unlike Qi Yuwen’s usual self.

Fortunately, the other managed to restrain himself and didn’t cross any lines.

Right after Qi Yuwen finished confessing and left to fetch a wet towel for Yao Xianqing, Yao Xianqing opened his eyes—completely clear and sober, without a trace of drunkenness.

He finally understood the biggest secret behind Qi Yuwen’s willingness to stay by his side instead of going out on his own.

Yao Xianqing didn’t like Qi Yuwen and didn’t remain there. He left immediately.

When Qi Yuwen returned and found Yao Xianqing gone, he knew his secret had been discovered.

Though his feelings were exposed, Qi Yuwen didn’t hold back. In their subsequent interactions, he often found subtle ways to flirt with Yao Xianqing.

After two obvious attempts to probe his feelings, Yao Xianqing grew impatient.

He was a decisive person. Since he didn’t like Qi Yuwen, he wouldn’t lead him on.

This led to their direct conversation just over a month ago.

Yao Xianqing gave him an ultimatum: either Qi Yuwen marry someone, abandon any feelings beyond friendship, and keep a certain distance from him, so they could remain friends and part ways amicably.

Or they could simply part ways.

If they couldn’t be lovers, they couldn’t be friends either.

Yao Xianqing simply couldn’t stand a "good brother" who wanted to sleep with him maintaining a long-term relationship.

And Qi Yuwen was ruthlessly decisive.

Not long after that conversation, Yao Xianqing received a wedding invitation from him and knew he had chosen the first option.

Yao Xianqing snapped out of his thoughts and lowered his eyes, shielding his view of the person on the bed.

He could see the authentic happiness on You Nan’s face—the other sincerely loved Qi Yuwen.

Yao Xianqing thought about his conversation with Qi Yuwen and felt somewhat unable to face his best friend’s spouse at this moment.

.

The covering was lifted, and You Nan met Qi Yuwen's gaze amidst the laughter and blessings of the crowd.

Qi Yuwen, the main protagonist, was exceptionally good-looking with handsome, well-defined features. A successful man, he carried himself with calm confidence, yet remained gentle and gracious.

You Nan briefly made eye contact with him but quickly averted his gaze, feeling guilty and uneasy.

The emcee cleared his throat and began to kick off the ceremony.

A cameraman nearby was busy filming, enthusiastically capturing the two newlyweds and their two best men.

Shen Zihe didn’t know anyone in the room. Seeing so many people, he instinctively assumed many were relatives of the bride’s family.

Qi Yuwen hadn’t told him that everyone in the room was from the wedding company and had no relation to You Nan or himself.

Shen Zihe thought that with so many people present, he and Yao Xianqing needed to put on a good show to make a good impression for their brother and help Qi Yuwen gain the respect of the "bride’s elders"!

He nudged Yao Xianqing beside him with his elbow and whispered without moving his lips, "Those two must be the other best men. We can’t lose to them."

Yao Xianqing grunted in agreement.

"Now, let’s play a game! Inside this box are nine plastic balls, each containing a challenge written on a slip for the groom or best men to complete!"

The emcee’s voice got everyone’s attention again. "The three of you can each draw three balls. The difficulty depends on your luck."

As instructed, Qi Yuwen and the other two stepped forward one by one to draw the plastic balls.

Qi Yuwen drew first and stood still. Yao Xianqing walked past him without even a glance, as if he had completely gotten over his past crush now that he was married.

You Nan felt extremely nervous facing the two main protagonists and an important side character.

He was terrified of being found out as an imposter and being killed off by the protagonists.

This often happened—when a tasker was discovered as not native to the world, the locals would kill them.

And a dead tasker was truly dead, with no second chance.

That’s why everyone strived to climb higher, earn more contribution points, and earn their freedom, so they wouldn’t have to continue siphoning the protagonists' aura in these small worlds.

The little cat, 007, didn’t like crowded, noisy places. It had already slipped away through the crowd’s legs, stealthily taken a soft wool coat from You Nan’s wardrobe, and made itself a cozy bed.

It rolled around on the coat several times, immediately covering the light brown fabric with a layer of its loose fur.

The kitten stretched contentedly, then opened its big round eyes to observe the two protagonists from amidst the crowd.

007 twitched its whiskers and swished its tail. Sensing You Nan’s nervousness, it lifted itself up and, after a moment, overcame its dislike of crowds and charged forward.

It jumped onto the bed and nestled into the arms of the anxious newcomer.

You Nan felt a sudden weight in his arms—warm and furry—and knew without looking that it was 007. Its companionship comforted him.

007 wasn’t very large; he estimated the little thing weighed about eight pounds, not too heavy to hold.

The kitten’s arrival attracted everyone’s attention, drawing exclamations of delight from the onlookers. Meanwhile, the three men had finished drawing their balls and opened them one by one for everyone to see.

Qi Yuwen’s three challenges were different from those of his two brothers.

Of course, this was the emcee’s rigged game—he had purposely included some more intimate games for the groom to let the newlyweds have some fun in front of everyone.

Shen Zihe was already embarrassed by the games he had to do—the sexy dance made him shy. Young master Shen cared about his image, and his ears and neck turned red.

By then, he had completely forgotten his earlier promise to Yao Xianqing about putting on a good show. He directly refused, "Can I just give out red envelopes instead?"

Shen Zihe chose peace over embarrassment.

The emcee instinctively looked at You Nan, as such decisions were usually left to the bridesmaids.

But today’s newlyweds were in a special situation—You Nan’s best men were arranged by the wedding company, and their people didn't have authority for You Nan.

You Nan was momentarily stunned by his gaze but quickly snapped out of it and said hurriedly, "Of course, that’s fine."

Shen Zihe breathed a sigh of relief and promptly pulled out a thick stack of prepared red envelopes from his pocket. He distributed several to each person without counting, going purely by feel.

After one round, he still had half left. Shen Zihe closed his eyes and gave them all to You Nan, making a show of his sincerity.

You Nan instinctively leaned away to avoid his proximity, but the plump cat in his arms quickly used its chubby body to cover the red envelopes, hiding them completely from view.

This was all their money, hmph! With it here, even the main protagonist Qi Yuwen wasn’t allowed to touch them!

Qi Yuwen hadn’t started yet and was smiling as he watched his brother hand out cash when he noticed the suspicious look of the kitten in You Nan’s arms.

The smile on the man’s face faltered.

That morning, when he had given the cat a cat snack, it hadn’t been like this.