After breakfast, Ning Guiqu wisely followed behind Lu Yuan as he patrolled the surroundings. When Lu Yuan saw their wedding photo in the room again, his footsteps halted. He stared intently at the wedding photo, as if trying to burn a hole through it with his gaze. Ning Guiqu leaned against the doorway, observing Lu Yuan.
It was Lu Yuan, yet not his Lu Yuan.
From the moment Lu Yuan woke up that morning asking who he was, to their subsequent chaotic communication, they had reached one consensus: the current Lu Yuan was not the one who had been with Ning Guiqu for years, but rather a Lu Yuan who had come from another timeline.
As for why he had come, Ning Guiqu didn’t know.
The Lu Yuan from the other timeline didn’t know either.
The Lu Yuan from the other timeline had been observing their home until now. Ning Guiqu inquired, “So, what do you think about being married to me?”
Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze and replied coldly, “I can’t accept it.”
Ning Guiqu: “…….”
Ning Guiqu said resentfully, “You’re so hurtful.”
Lu Yuan didn’t move. He was still processing the fact that in this timeline, he was married to a man. Suddenly, Lu Yuan’s body stiffened as his nominal husband abruptly rushed over and hugged him from behind, exclaiming loudly, “Lu Yuan, you’ve broken my heart!”
Lu Yuan’s soul found it extremely bizarre to be embraced by a man like this, but his body showed no signs of rejection.
So, Lu Yuan remained still. After all, this wasn’t his body. However, Lu Yuan still felt the need to remind the man behind him, “Be careful. I’m not your partner on the inside.”
Ning Guiqu nuzzled Lu Yuan’s head and mumbled, “Well, if my partner is gone, then you’re my partner now.”
“…”
Lu Yuan lowered his gaze to stare at Ning Guiqu’s hands on his abdomen, his brows furrowing. “So you’re not picky at all?”
Ning Guiqu replied matter-of-factly, “There’s nothing to be picky about. I don’t know where my Lu Yuan has gone. Aren’t you Lu Yuan too?”
Lu Yuan felt a headache coming on. Did the Lu Yuan here marry based solely on looks? Ning Guiqu was not only a man but also seemed fickle.
Encouraged by Lu Yuan’s silence, Ning Guiqu pushed further, “Hey, just accept your fate. I know what you’re thinking. You’re wondering how the Lu Yuan here turned gay and fell for me, right? It’s simple. I just got a little intimate with you, and you fell in love with me. The Ning Guiqu in your world just never paid attention to you. Otherwise, you would have fallen for me too.”
Lu Yuan flatly denied, “I wouldn’t.”
He forcefully removed Ning Guiqu’s arms from around him. Ning Guiqu jumped in front of Lu Yuan, raising an eyebrow. “Really?”
Lu Yuan averted his gaze. It should be… true, right?
Ning Guiqu felt an unprecedented sense of novelty and had some new ideas. He patted Lu Yuan’s shoulder and said maturely, “Regardless, you’re my husband now. Let me accompany you to work.”
Husband……
Lu Yuan’s soul shuddered.
Ning Guiqu had taken a day off. He wasn’t tagging along with Lu Yuan or working at Song Huai’s company. Instead, he had found a dream job with strict nine-to-five hours, weekends off, and overtime pay for any extra work!
When Lu Yuan arrived at the office, he found the company was the same, and the work content was similar. Even the ongoing project was identical. The difference was that the secretary didn’t recognize him, and he now had a clingy male spouse insisting on accompanying him.
Lu Yuan hadn’t been sitting in his office chair long when Ning Guiqu, who had disappeared somewhere, returned and approached him. Before Lu Yuan could react, Ning Guiqu had settled himself on Lu Yuan’s lap.
Lu Yuan: ??
Ning Guiqu said with a smile, “Go on, work.”
Lu Yuan: ???
Lu Yuan’s body still showed no signs of rejection, so there was no startled pushing away of his male spouse. However, his soul was questioning life itself.
“How am I supposed to work like this?”
Ning Guiqu revealed a mischievous grin, patting Lu Yuan’s face like a little rascal, and whispered, “This is how you’ve always worked.”
Lu Yuan didn’t believe it.
He retorted, “If I’ve always worked like this, what about your job?”
Ning Guiqu puffed out his chest, “I’m a house husband.”
Lu Yuan’s eyes were full of doubt.
Since this body was indeed familiar with this male spouse, and it wasn’t his own body anyway, he allowed Ning Guiqu to sit on his lap. But Ning Guiqu didn’t have much patience. After sitting for a while, he left, saying that as a house husband, he needed to go home and cook. He told Lu Yuan to return home on time for lunch.
Lu Yuan: “…….”
As Lu Yuan flipped through documents, he vaguely felt that this kind of life wasn’t bad. But when he returned home, he began to regret it.
His male spouse called him to the kitchen. Lu Yuan didn’t think much of it, assuming he’d help serve dishes and rice, planning to wash dishes after the meal. But when he reached the kitchen, he found a pile of takeout boxes.
Lu Yuan let out a soft hiss. So this was how house husbands cooked, by ordering takeout. If it was takeout, why wear an apron?
Ning Guiqu, who was wearing an apron, turned around seriously, “Baby, let’s do kitchen play today.”
Lu Yuan wasn’t sure which had a greater impact – being called “baby” or the suggestion of “kitchen play.”
Lu Yuan pretended not to hear, reaching for the takeout Ning Guiqu had ordered. Suddenly, Ning Guiqu grabbed his arm, saying gravely, “It’s not time to eat yet. You should come over and bully me while I’m cooking.”
Lu Yuan: ???
Lu Yuan stared at Ning Guiqu for a long while before finally blurting out in shock, “Ning Guiqu, is this how you and the Lu Yuan from here always are?”
Ning Guiqu replied without batting an eye, “Yes, that’s right.”
Lu Yuan: “……”
Lu Yuan didn’t play along. He simply took the takeout away.
After placing it on the table, he glanced back at the kitchen. His male spouse was now crouching on the floor, his back radiating a pitiful aura.
Lu Yuan felt truly helpless.
Since he was a guest in someone else’s home and this wasn’t his body, Lu Yuan returned to the kitchen and stiffly asked, “How do we play?”
Ning Guiqu quickly stood up. He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and placed it in Lu Yuan’s hand, trying his best to suppress an evil grin. “Hug me from behind and say the lines I’ve written here. That’s all you need to do.”
Lu Yuan felt the paper burning in his hand. For such a simple play, the lines were probably not very innocent.
As Lu Yuan unfolded the paper, Ning Guiqu set up his phone nearby, turning on the camera. The angle was perfect to capture Lu Yuan.
Ning Guiqu returned to stand in front of Lu Yuan, cleared his throat, and said, “Let’s begin.”
Lu Yuan’s expression was complicated.
The paper in his hand read: [Madam, since your husband isn’t home, allow me to savor this delicious cake.]
Lu Yuan’s silence was deafening.
Ning Guiqu turned back to urge him on, eyes sparkling, “Come on, hurry up.”
Under Ning Guiqu’s expectant gaze, Lu Yuan stiffly embraced him and robotically recited the line. After he finished, Ning Guiqu’s face turned bright red, and he gleefully saved the video.
Lu Yuan guessed Ning Guiqu’s intentions.
“Are you planning to use this video to blackmail your Lu Yuan when he returns?”
Ning Guiqu denied it with a flushed face, “How could it be blackmail? This is roleplay! We have other plays planned for tonight, too!”
At this point, Lu Yuan wasn’t opposed to the evening’s roleplay anymore.
This body wasn’t his, and he had a feeling he would leave sooner or later. By then, any embarrassment wouldn’t be his to bear.
So when evening came, Lu Yuan was prepared to go along with Ning Guiqu’s debt collection roleplay.
However, upon receiving Ning Guiqu’s note, Lu Yuan felt it might be too much. The content read: [Sir, is this intensity alright? If so, please pay up.]
Lu Yuan: “…….”
Ning Guiqu: “I’m not asking you to actually do anything with me, just hug me and say the lines.”
Lu Yuan let out a deep sigh.
Though the embarrassment wouldn’t be his to bear, the words would still be his to say.
Ning Guiqu now had two video clips, which he edited together that evening. Lu Yuan, who had intended to sleep in the study but was forced by Ning Guiqu to stay in the bedroom, could occasionally hear his male spouse’s evil laughter.
Truly, it was extremely evil.
So evil that if he could return to his world, he wanted to see if his Ning Guiqu was equally devious.
The next day, Ning Guiqu came up with a landlord roleplay and a mermaid roleplay.
For the landlord roleplay, Lu Yuan’s line was: [Master, I’m willing to be your penguin slave for life.]
Though he didn’t understand the penguin reference, the line was normal enough, so Lu Yuan said it.
However, for the mermaid roleplay, Ning Guiqu was in the bathtub, and Lu Yuan had to crouch nearby and say: [What a beautiful mermaid, let me fill you with **.]
Lu Yuan refused, criticizing, “That’s too vulgar. Have you become too depraved?”
Ning Guiqu hugged and nuzzled him, nearly rolling on the ground. Lu Yuan was no match for this version of Ning Guiqu. Gritting his teeth, he agreed, secretly vowing that when he returned to his world, he would find his Ning Guiqu and educate him properly to prevent him from becoming this shameless version. This Ning Guiqu was beyond saving, but his own shouldn’t be yet.
That evening, there was even a “bury-in-chest” roleplay.
Lu Yuan felt this play was purely for Ning Guiqu’s benefit, as he didn’t record a video this time. Lu Yuan wanted to refuse, but Ning Guiqu’s head was already coming closer.
Lu Yuan: “……”
Fortunately, on the third morning, Ning Guiqu stopped tormenting him. The photo printer he ordered had arrived. Lu Yuan watched as Ning Guiqu took screenshots from the videos, added some blush to his face with photo editing, and printed them out.
He then found a USB drive, copied the edited videos onto it, and finally put the USB and photos into a file envelope, sealing it officially. When Lu Yuan looked over, the mischievous Ning Guiqu said, “A grand gift package for when he returns.”
Lu Yuan: “……”
Lu Yuan inquired about another blank file envelope, “I suppose that’s not extra, is it?”
Ning Guiqu stroked his chin, growing even more devious, “Of course not. This folder needs to be filled, too. But I’m out of ideas for plays. Darling, can you think of some for me?”
Lu Yuan wanted to refuse, but seeing Ning Guiqu’s eager expression, he swallowed his refusal and said, “Let me think. It’s late today. We’ll continue tomorrow.”
The Lu Yuan from another timeline had become evil, too!
But on the fourth morning, Ning Guiqu woke to find that his Lu Yuan had returned.
Ning Guiqu felt a slight regret that the Lu Yuan from the other timeline hadn’t provided new plays, but in just a second, the regretful Ning Guiqu was replaced by the mischievous one.
“Husband, you’re finally back. There’s a big gift package waiting for you.”
Lu Yuan, who had just returned from another timeline, was clearly confused about the gift package Ning Guiqu mentioned.
Ning Guiqu excitedly got out of bed, retrieved his file envelope from the study, and tossed it to Lu Yuan, who was sitting up in bed. “Open it and take a look.”
Lu Yuan suspiciously opened it.
Ning Guiqu moved closer and opened a video on his phone.
[Baby, let’s do kitchen play today.]
[Sir, is this intensity alright? If so, please pay up.]
[Master, I’m willing to be your penguin slave for life.]
[What a beautiful mermaid, let me fill you with **.]
Photos spilled out of the envelope, all showing Lu Yuan in strange poses with his face edited to add blush. There was also the video on Ning Guiqu’s phone.
Lu Yuan realized something and looked at Ning Guiqu in disbelief.
Ning Guiqu smiled, “We didn’t do anything else. Husband, do you like this gift package?”
Lu Yuan’s hand trembled, and a small USB drive fell out of the envelope.
Ning Guiqu explained, “All the videos from my phone are on there.”
Lu Yuan’s mind was buzzing.
So, while he was in the other Lu Yuan’s timeline helping him find a wife and leaving a letter about the novel’s world, the other Lu Yuan was in his world doing this? Cooperating with his spouse to film such embarrassing videos!
Huh.
Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow as Ning Guiqu cockily rolled up a photo into a makeshift microphone and held it to Lu Yuan’s mouth, interviewing him. “Sir, do you have anything to say?”
Lu Yuan pushed away the fake microphone and said softly, “I didn’t know you knew so many plays. Why don’t you play them with me usually?”
Ning Guiqu thought to himself that he had only pretended to play with the other Lu Yuan, but with his own Lu Yuan, he’d probably have to do it for real. He couldn’t handle that, and he didn’t want to embarrass Lu Yuan either. It was only by stiffly saying these lines that Lu Yuan could be embarrassed!
But experience told Ning Guiqu to quit while he was ahead. He couldn’t stimulate too much at once; he had to save some to tease Lu Yuan slowly. So Ning Guiqu honestly said, “The almighty internet told me! Also, did you go to another timeline? Did you see me there? And why did you suddenly go to another timeline?”
Lu Yuan leaned against the bed, his tone somewhat sarcastic, “I thought you weren’t interested in these things.”
Seeing Lu Yuan’s expression, Ning Guiqu knew he seemed to know something. He obediently gathered all the photos, put them back in the envelope, and looked at Lu Yuan with puppy eyes, waiting for an explanation.
Lu Yuan didn’t hide anything. He explained the reason for his time travel and everything that happened in the other timeline.
Ning Guiqu understood.
He became excited again, “When that Lu Yuan goes back, he’ll have a gift package too! He’s still straight now, but when he returns, he’ll suddenly have a male wife!”
Lu Yuan reached out to pinch Ning Guiqu’s mouth, squeezing it into a chicken beak, and said irritably, “So shouldn’t you be more concerned about me marrying that Ning Guiqu?”
Ning Guiqu mumbled, “I did notice that. That’s why I mentioned the gift package.”
Lu Yuan’s voice turned dangerous, “You’re not jealous?”
Ning Guiqu, his mouth still pinched, struggled to speak, “Why should I be jealous? You’re back, aren’t you?”
Lu Yuan: “……..”
Lu Yuan released Ning Guiqu’s mouth and said coolly, “I’ve realized you don’t like me enough. You can stab for Song Huai, but for me, there’s nothing.”
Ning Guiqu, unaware of the impending storm, replied innocently, “Why are you bringing up Song Huai again? Does the Ning Guiqu from that world like Song Huai? He’s him, and I’m me. I don’t like him.”
In the next second, the world spun, and Ning Guiqu found himself pinned beneath Lu Yuan.
Ning Guiqu: ???
Only then did Ning Guiqu notice the possessiveness filling Lu Yuan’s eyes.
Not good!
Lu Yuan pressed against Ning Guiqu and said, “So what? I drank a vat of vinegar over there with no way to relieve it. So, I can only settle accounts with you. Conveniently, you’ve not only given me several bottles of vinegar but also so many gift packages. Ning Guiqu, this slave has completely turned the tables.”
Ning Guiqu: !!!!
As expected!!!
The penguin slave had indeed been biding his time, and now he was overthrowing him, the landlord!
“The videos! I have embarrassing videos of you. I advise you to let me go quickly.”
“I don’t care. Even if you post them online, I don’t care. I’ll just register an account and say you’re the other character.”
Ning Guiqu: “……”
Help, the dark Lu Yuan has appeared again!
Author’s Note:
The end of the full text. Thank you for following along. There’s a rating option on the homepage, hope you can give it a five-star review~
The follow-up story about Lu Yuan and Xiao Qu from the other timeline will be presented as a bonus extra chapter~
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