Chapter 25 Misunderstanding Cleared Up? No, it's Heart-Fluttering!

Yun Zhan's "Best Actor" career lasted for about ten days. Every day, he diligently played the role of a technical backbone who "reformed his mistakes and served the people wholeheartedly." However, he was secretly plotting something, waiting for Yan Linye to completely lower his guard so that he could find an opportunity to slip away.

That day, he was engrossed in drawing a new waterwheel improvement plan on the table, so absorbed in it that he didn't even notice when Yan Linye came in.

"What are you drawing?" Yan Linye's voice rang in my ears, gentle and smiling.

Yun Zhan's hand trembled in fright, and the pen left a long, dark mark on the paper. He looked up and met Yan Linye's face, which was inches away from his own. His heart skipped a beat. When did this guy get so close?!

"N-nothing... just doodles." Yun Zhan subconsciously tried to cover the drawing with his hand, feeling a little guilty.

Yan Linye reached out and pressed down on the hand Yun Zhan was trying to cover. His fingertips were slightly cool, and the touch was distinct. Yun Zhan felt as if he had been burned and tried to pull his hand back, but Yan Linye gently held it.

"Well done." Yan Linye's gaze fell on the drawing, his tone full of approval. Then he looked at Yun Zhan, his eyes deep. "Yun Zhan, you've been doing very well lately."

His voice was deep, with an indescribable magnetism that made Yun Zhan's ears itch. Especially since he was still holding his hand! This...this...isn't this workplace sexual harassment?! (Yun Zhan's inner monologue)

"It's...it's alright." Yun Zhan's eyes darted around, avoiding eye contact. He tried to pull his hand away, but the other's grip was loose yet strong, and he couldn't manage it.

Yan Linye looked at Yun Zhan's expression, which was trying to appear calm but couldn't hide his panic, and his smile deepened. Instead of letting go, he gently stroked the back of Yun Zhan's hand with his fingertips.

Yun Zhan froze, feeling a jolt of electricity run through his body from the back of his hand, his cheeks instantly turning bright red! Holy crap! Were these ancient methods of flirting so sophisticated?!

“That day…” Yan Linye suddenly spoke, his voice lowered, “Liu Yingying of Drunken Spring Breeze, she was my spy, responsible for passing on intelligence. In that purse were fragments of the map of the Imperial Guards’ deployment in the capital.”

Yun Zhan suddenly raised his head and stared at Yan Linye with wide eyes.

He... he was explaining himself? He was offering an explanation voluntarily?!

Seeing his surprised expression, Yan Linye continued, "This matter is of great importance, and the fewer people who know about it, the better. So at the time... I was unable to tell you the truth."

His tone was calm, but his eyes held a subtle hint of... apology? and expectation?

Yun Zhan's heart felt as if it had been struck by something, a mix of bitterness and tenderness. So… it really was a misunderstanding? He wasn't going to a brothel, nor was he having an affair with a courtesan; he was doing serious business, absolutely serious business!

Thinking about his previous sarcastic and unreasonable behavior, and how he almost ran away and got into danger because of it... Yun Zhan felt his face burning hot, feeling embarrassed, guilty, and a little bit wronged, all sorts of emotions mixed together.

"I...I don't know..." He lowered his head, his voice barely audible, his ears bright red. "I thought you..."

"What did you think I was?" Yan Linye leaned closer, his warm breath almost brushing against Yun Zhan's ear. "You thought I was a womanizer and that my feelings for you were fake?"

Yun Zhan was so ashamed that he wanted to disappear into the ground. He tried to pull his hand back, but Yan Linye let go of it this time.

When his palms suddenly felt empty, Yun Zhan felt a sense of emptiness in his heart as well.

"I'm sorry..." he apologized softly, this time sincerely.

Looking at his flushed ears and lowered head, like a little animal that had done something wrong, Yan Linye felt a sudden dissatisfaction arise from his previous distrust of Yun Zhan, and the resentment he had felt instantly vanished. He reached out and gently ruffled Yun Zhan's hair, his gesture filled with comfort and affection.

"It's alright." His voice was so gentle it could melt your heart. "From now on... trust me more, okay?"

Yun Zhan's heart pounded even faster as he was being rubbed, and he nodded haphazardly, not daring to look up at him.

With the misunderstanding cleared up and a heavy weight lifted from his heart, Yun Zhan felt much lighter. Even the two guards behind him seemed more agreeable (for now).

The days that followed felt like a sweet acceleration.

Yan Linye seemed to have completely let down his guard, and his care for Yun Zhan became even more meticulous, and... he would often make some "overstepping" little moves.

For example, when they read together, he would naturally lean over, his arm against Yun Zhan's arm, pointing to the contents of the book and explaining in a low voice. His warm breath tickled Yun Zhan's neck, making it impossible for him to concentrate on reading a single word.

For example, when Yun Zhan was tinkering with his little inventions in the courtyard and got his hands covered in dust, Yan Linye would come over, pick up a handkerchief, and carefully wipe his hands clean, one finger at a time, with such focused expression that it was as if he were handling some rare treasure.

For example, when Yun Zhan woke up from his afternoon nap, he would find himself covered with Yan Linye's outer robe, which still retained the man's fresh and pleasant scent, leaving him holding the robe in a daze for a long time.

The most disastrous time was when Yan Linye was teaching Yun Zhan to write. He wrapped his arms around Yun Zhan from behind, his large hands enveloping Yun Zhan's hand holding the pen, guiding him stroke by stroke. Yun Zhan was completely enveloped in his presence, his back pressed against his warm chest, able to clearly feel the other's heartbeat and breath. His own heart pounded like a drum, his hands trembled so much he could barely hold the pen, and the characters he wrote were crooked and messy, worse than a dog's scribbles.

"Focus." Yan Linye's deep, chuckling voice rang in my ears, tinged with teasing.

Yun Zhan was on the verge of tears; how could he concentrate now?! Beauty can ruin a nation! The ancients were right!

He was completely bewildered and disoriented. His grand plan of "getting the points and running away" and "preserving the skull is the most important thing" began to crumble under Yan Linye's increasingly gentle offensive.

"System! System! Help!" Yun Zhan cried out in his mind when he was alone, "I feel my willpower crumbling! The enemy's firepower is too strong, our position is about to fall!"

[Abnormal levels of dopamine and adrenaline detected in the host. Warning: Suspected indulgence in romantic love will severely impact the progress of the main quest.] System Xiaoqi issued an alert.

"I didn't want to either! But he... he's too good!" Yun Zhan covered his face. "System, give me some advice! What should I do? Should I continue with the escape plan, or... turn the tables on him?"

[This system is officially called the 'Tyrant's Self-Saving System.' Its core function is to assist the host in escaping death, and it is not a 'Man-Chasing Guide System' or a 'Relationship Counseling Center.' Host, please have some self-respect.]

The system ruthlessly severed ties.

Yun Zhan: "..."

What use are you!

Looking at his own pathetic, blushing face in the bronze mirror, and then thinking about the swaying skulls on the city wall, he was caught in an unprecedented internal struggle.

On one hand, there's a cold, hard escape plan, but one that can save your life.

On one side lies a warm, inviting trap that could lead to skull artworks.

This multiple-choice question is way too difficult!