episode_0018

Blackmail. Undoubtedly blackmail.

One might even call it a blatant threat.

“You’ve got some nerve.”

The faint smile at the corner of Li Huayu’s lips vanished as she fixed Lin Yi with a cool stare.

Lin Yi met her gaze unflinchingly, refusing to back down from this youthful tempest of a woman who was several years his junior.

“Fine, though. I accept your proposal.”

Li Huayu’s smile bloomed again.

Interesting. This was getting more and more interesting. The man refused to go to the hospital but was willing to let her examine his body.

Then I’ll have to prepare thoroughly. After all, even a little pet’s preferences deserve to be indulged.

The door opened.

Zhuang Yayun, her cheeks rosy, stepped lightly into the living room from the hallway, dressed in a floral-patterned skirt.

“Dr. Li, have my husband’s test results come back?”

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious. Just a minor psychological hurdle. Spending more time with your little pet should do the trick,” Li Huayu replied.

“Dr. Li, my husband isn’t in the ‘little pet’ category yet,” Zhuang Yayun said seriously, staring at Li Huayu.

“Oh? I thought he was already your little pet. Didn’t realize he hadn’t reached that level yet.”

Li Huayu looked slightly surprised, studying Zhuang Yayun with a strange expression.

“I don’t like keeping men as pets. Besides, he’s my husband now.”

“You’re quite good to him, then. I hope you’ll always treat him this well.”

“Of course. My husband belongs to me. I’m his wife—naturally, I’ll be good to him. I love him. I love him very, very much.”

Hearing Yayun declare her love so bluntly, Lin Yi didn’t know whether to laugh or hide under the covers and cry.

“Hubby, do you want to do it again tonight?”

Back at home, Zhuang Yayun wore the same smile she always did, as if nothing were out of the ordinary.

“Not tonight. I’m tired,” Lin Yi shook his head. He still needed to figure out the system tonight.

He hadn’t quite grasped how it worked yet.

The smile on Zhuang Yayun’s face stiffened for a moment before she gently stroked Lin Yi’s cheek. “Then would you like to sleep in the bedroom tonight, or on the sofa? If you say you’ll put in some effort tonight, I’ll let you sleep in the bedroom. How does that sound?”

Lin Yi couldn’t hold back.

Seriously, Yayun? Even in a matriarchal world, you’re copying Earth’s “marital duties” routine?

But a real man never goes back on his word.

“Nope. I’m tired.”

Lin Yi lay down on the sofa without hesitation.

“Fine. Be tired, then.”

Zhuang Yayun pouted, lifting her delicate little foot to press against Lin Yi’s chest. Her soft, pink toes pinched his flesh lightly—a playful punishment before letting him off the hook.

This was just one of the little games they played. After all, who didn’t like cute feet?

Anyone who didn’t was clearly part of some weird cult.

Watching Zhuang Yayun turn off the living room lights and retreat to the bedroom, Lin Yi was left alone in the dim room with nothing but the sound of his own breathing.

Yayun still loved him.

But her way of loving was shaped by this matriarchal world.

He had originally planned to tell her about Shen Xixi and Luo Tianyou, but now, it seemed impossible.

Lin Yi saw things clearly now.

From this moment on, he could no longer naively believe this world was as simple as it appeared on the surface. With women like Li Huayu around, every woman was a potential wolf in sheep’s clothing.

What he needed to do now was carve out his own place in the world of writing.

That way, even if Yayun eventually revealed her twisted side, he could still survive independently in this society.

Wrapping himself in the sofa blanket, Lin Yi settled in to study the system.

But no matter how hard he concentrated, the system remained completely unresponsive.

Like a husband lying motionless beside his cheating wife.

It seemed he’d have to complete the “colt collides with the chariot” mission first.

After another futile attempt, Lin Yi had no choice but to give up and go to sleep.

—

The next day.

Golden light spilled across the sky, the morning sun melting into molten gold.

The day grew brighter.

The weather was perfect.

Lin Yi woke up early and finished his writing tasks by mid-morning.

Today was the day he’d agreed to meet Yun Ling—and his ex-girlfriend, Shen Xixi—to discuss the cover illustrations for his novel.

“Have a safe trip.”

For some reason, Zhuang Yayun, who should have returned to work by now, was still at home. She smiled sweetly as she saw him off.

Probably the company hadn’t finalized her new role yet.

After all, the recent layoffs had cut deep, and a major corporation needed time to reorganize.

The hallway was quiet, yesterday’s scattered boxes all gone.

Lin Yi got into the car.

Traffic lights, vehicles, pedestrians, asphalt roads…

The light turned green. He made a left turn and parked in an open lot.

Beneath a sprawling grove of cherry blossom trees, pink petals drifted down or spiraled upward in the breeze.

Stepping out of the car, Lin Yi walked as cherry blossoms rained around him, some landing on his shoulders.

He held out his hand, and a single pink petal settled into his palm, stirring a ripple of memories…

Back then, he had met Shen Xixi under cherry blossoms too.

Back then, Shen Xixi had been like a fairy-tale housekeeper, taking perfect care of him—until the colors of her basement were exposed.

Following the address Yun Ling had sent, Lin Yi arrived at a business-oriented Chinese restaurant.

Named “Elegant Gatherings,” it was priced at around 700 per person—not expensive for a business meal.

Lin Yi stepped inside, left his umbrella in the rack by the door, and after a brief word with the staff, headed upstairs to a private booth by the window. He knocked.

“Come in.”

Yun Ling and Shen Xixi were already seated, chatting amicably.

“Mr. Lin, we were just discussing whether your current work draws inspiration from your own married life,” Yun Ling said as Lin Yi took his seat.

“Yes, my wife is a wonderful person—gentle, kind, and graceful. I love her very much,” Lin Yi replied, deliberately emphasizing the last part as his gaze flickered briefly toward Shen Xixi.

Compared to her professional attire from their last meeting, Shen Xixi was dressed more casually today—a blue-and-white blouse over a cream-colored dress, giving off an innocent, first-love vibe.

The booth was spacious, designed for six, with three leather chairs on each side of the table. Lin Yi sat alone on one side, while Shen Xixi and Yun Ling sat across from him.

Shen Xixi smiled, her lips curving. “But don’t you think the story, as it is now, lacks a bit of life’s turbulence? Without conflict, how can readers truly appreciate the value of happiness?”

“What are you getting at?”

“Wouldn’t introducing an ‘old flame’ make the plot more engaging? A little drama to break up the monotony of domestic bliss. After all, even the coziest routines can grow stale for readers.”

Her eyes gleamed as they roamed freely over Lin Yi’s face.

“I could be your muse, Mr. Lin. For inspiration—whether physical or otherwise. Feel free to use me as reference.”