Who is Helping Me Win by Lying Down [Transmigration] - Chapter 67

Chapter 67

The spring water was slick, its buoyancy difficult to control as the surface surged toward them.

Yan Jingchuan lifted his hand several times before finally resting it on Chen Shu’s shoulder, which was glistening with nothing but water.

Chen Shu’s hand slid downward, settling at Yan Jingchuan’s waist as he helped him sit on the stone platform in the pool. Then, he swept his soaked hair back and looked toward Wangcai, but suddenly sensing something, he turned his gaze toward the door instead.

Yan Xinli, Wen Jiao, and Yan Jinqing stood in a row outside the glass doors, their hands pressed against the windows as they blocked the reflected light, watching them with rapt attention.

Caught red-handed by Chen Shu, there was no time to hide. Yan Jinqing immediately straightened up.

Yan Xinli and Wen Jiao awkwardly shuffled to the doorway.

The three of them crowded together in front of the door, looking around guiltily as if they had been caught doing something wrong.

The scene felt familiar.

Chen Shu couldn’t quite recall where he had seen it before, so he took another glance.

Yan Jingchuan followed his gaze and spotted them, but his eyes quickly shifted elsewhere.

From the opposite glass door, the reflection of the scene in the pool was almost fully visible.

The lower halves of their bodies were obscured by the rippling water, but their upper bodies were clearly entangled.

Chen Shu’s hand remained underwater, his arm wrapped around Yan Jingchuan’s back, making it evident how closely they were pressed together.

The gently swaying hot spring water lapped at their sides, accentuating the firmness of their embrace and lending an air of mystery and intimacy to the submerged scene.

Traces of disbelief still lingered in the eyes of the three at the door.

In their minds, such a scene would never, under any circumstances, involve Yan Jingchuan.

Yan Jingchuan looked at Chen Shu.

Chen Shu said, Let me help you.

Thank you. After speaking, Yan Jingchuan pressed his lips together and averted his gaze. As he raised his hand to brace himself against the stone platform, Chen Shu’s arm intercepted him, and his descending hand plunged through the water, landing squarely on the inner side of Chen Shu’s thigh.

The contour beneath his palm made Yan Jingchuan’s pupils contract sharply.

Chen Shu also stiffened slightly.

The next moment, Yan Jingchuan abruptly withdrew his hand.

His movement sent splashes of water flying, and Wen Jiao instinctively asked, What happened?

Chen Shu coughed lightly. It’s nothing.

With that, he rose from the pool amid the sound of rushing water.

He picked up the bathrobe from the lounger beside the pool, shook it open, and draped it over Yan Jingchuan before reaching for a towel.

No need to come out! Wen Jiao hurriedly said. We just came to say hello. You two can keep soaking.

Yan Xinli added, Yeah, we were about to leave when we saw the living room was empty, but Wangcai dashed in so fast. I thought we should come in and let you know, but we didn’t expect…

As he spoke, he winked at Yan Jingchuan.

He hadn’t expected these two young men to be so… youthful, giving them such a fiery scene right off the bat.

… Yan Jingchuan ignored his hint.

Yan Jinqing muttered under his breath, Disheveled and clinging to each other—what kind of behavior is this?

Yan Xinli whispered, Dad, peeping at others is even worse.

Yan Jinqing rewarded him with an elbow to the ribs to shut him up.

Then, he bid a stiff farewell to Yan Jingchuan and Chen Shu before leaving.

Yan Xinli clutched his once-again abused kidney and leaned against the door.

Wen Jiao said to the two of them, Sorry, this is our fault. We shouldn’t have come in directly. From now on, we won’t disturb you in the evenings.

As she spoke, she glanced at Yan Jingchuan and Chen Shu in the pool, feeling genuinely embarrassed, and quickly pulled Yan Xinli away.

Wangcai trotted out after them.

Faintly, the voices of Yan Xinli and Wen Jiao talking to him could still be heard from outside.

It had met with the Yan family earlier, so it seemed it had come just now to alert them that someone had arrived.

Recalling the earlier incident, Chen Shu turned to Yan Jingchuan. If you want to return to your room, I’ll accompany you upstairs.

Who said I wanted to go back? Yan Jingchuan took off the bathrobe soaked at the hem from the poolside and tossed it aside before sitting down again.

Seeing that he didn’t seem bothered by what had just happened, Chen Shu also removed his bathrobe and sat beside him.

The spring water was pleasantly warm.

Its soothing effect on both body and mind was remarkable.

Chen Shu rested his arm on the edge of the pool and leaned back slightly.

The backyard was open-air, and raising his eyes, he could see the moonlight.

As time passed, the rippling water gradually stilled.

Yan Jingchuan watched Chen Shu’s profile.

Yet, from his expression, there was still no trace of anything unusual.

Noticing the gaze from beside him, Chen Shu asked, What is it?

Yan Jingchuan replied, Nothing.

Chen Shu then asked, How is your injury?

Yan Jingchuan said, It still requires some time for rehabilitation exercises.

He had been discharged from the hospital early, and while being with Wangcai kept his mind clear, his physical condition remained weak. Daily rehabilitation exercises were necessary to aid recovery.

Chen Shu nodded. If you need anything, I’m here anytime.

Yan Jingchuan looked at him, the tension in his lips that had lingered for so long finally easing unconsciously, even softening. Okay.

Whether it was the thick steam or the restlessness after the repeated surprises, Yan Jingchuan frowned, sensing an impulse clamoring within him, refusing to subside.

This was an emotion he had never experienced before.

And it brewed an unprecedented hesitation.

Yan Xinli’s words echoed incessantly in his ears; the quieter the surroundings, the louder they seemed.

Yet, all his past experiences were useless when it came to Chen Shu. Nothing had ever been as difficult as this moment, leaving even the simplest confirmation wavering.

But he knew very well.

The only one who could make him waver was Chen Shu.

Yan Jingchuan averted his gaze, not wanting Chen Shu to see the inexplicable complexity in his eyes.

He wanted to talk to Chen Shu.

But negotiation required leverage.

Chen Shu’s career was already on track, and the Chen family’s debts were gradually being repaid. Soon, his contract would be worthless to Chen Shu.

And for Chen Shu, only the contract remained as a tie.

He never fought battles he wasn’t sure of winning.

Yet Chen Shu was the only thing he had no certainty about.

Taking a risk without any foundation—if Chen Shu realized he had ulterior motives, would he still insist on fulfilling his promise?

A negotiation destined to be unequal would come at a cost.

If Chen Shu didn’t want to accept it, the price he would most likely pay was losing the current tranquility. That was the outcome he least wanted to see.

Director Yan?

Yan Jingchuan pressed his lips together, not looking at him. Hmm?

Chen Shu asked, Are you feeling unwell?

No, Yan Jingchuan said. I was just thinking about something.

Thinking he meant work matters, Chen Shu said, Then I won’t disturb you.

Yan Jingchuan replied, It’s fine.

Only then did he turn to look at Chen Shu. From today on, just call me by my name.

Chen Shu raised an eyebrow and complied effortlessly. Jingchuan.

Yan Jingchuan said, Hmm.

Chen Shu said, Okay.

He had finally remembered why the earlier scene felt familiar.

Back at the Yan family’s old residence, the same three people had appeared in Yan Jingchuan’s bedroom.

The Yan family truly moved like ghosts; if they heard the words Director Yan, it would surely give them away.

After that, the two didn’t stay in the pool much longer and got up together.

Chen Shu reached the edge first and turned back to Yan Jingchuan. Do you need help?

Yan Jingchuan said, Mm.

Chen Shu reached out to hold his hand and pulled him close. Seeing his bathrobe was already soaked through, Chen Shu draped a towel over his shoulders before turning to walk out the door.

Hearing the commotion, Wangcai came running over from a distance.

The brief period of freedom had made him wild.

Chen Shu led him into the bedroom and gestured for him to return to his cage. One night of confinement.

Wangcai drooped his tail and crawled inside.

As Chen Shu closed the cage door, Wangcai bit onto two bars with his mouth, stretched out a paw to rest on the back of Chen Shu’s hand, and let out a whining sound from his throat.

Yan Jingchuan stood behind Chen Shu. He didn’t do it on purpose.

After setting out the dog food, Chen Shu said, He absolutely did it on purpose. You don’t need to indulge him.

Wangcai pressed both front paws against the cage, his whines sounding even more pitiful.

Chen Shu turned around.

Yan Jingchuan caught sight of his bare chest and instinctively averted his gaze. I’m going to take a shower.

After he left, Chen Shu also went to another bathroom to shower, changed into his sleepwear, and returned to the bedside.

Wangcai was already asleep, one front paw still sticking through the bars, pressed against the floor, testing the temporarily lost freedom.

When Yan Jingchuan came out, he glanced at Wangcai before walking to the other side of the bed and sitting down.

Chen Shu was leaning against the headboard reading a book.

Yan Jingchuan also used this last bit of time before bed to review the daily summary report sent by Zhang Shi.

After he finished reading, Chen Shu closed his book, turned off the light, and lay down.

Yan Jingchuan had long grown accustomed to lying beside him.

Chen Shu raised his arm and pulled the man into his embrace. The familiar hug suddenly brought to mind that unexpected incident.

He opened his eyes in the pitch-black night, looked at Yan Jingchuan again, and a faint, peculiar feeling quietly surfaced in his heart. But it vanished in an instant, too light to leave a trace.

Whine!

Wangcai’s dreamy whimper broke the silence.

Chen Shu glanced toward the dark corner, then closed his eyes and went to sleep.

The next morning, Chen Shu went for his usual jog.

Before he left, Yan Jingchuan, who was sitting on the sofa, suddenly spoke up. What is your relationship with Duan Xu?

Chen Shu paused slightly while opening the door and turned to look at him. Relationship?

Yan Jingchuan said, Yes.

Chen Shu said, Colleagues.

He and Duan Xu only had a few more episodes of Escape Room to film, and beyond that, they had no other interactions.

Yan Jingchuan set down the water glass in his hand and only then said, I don’t like Duan Xu. You are not allowed to get too close to him.

Okay. Chen Shu didn’t ask for a reason. Anything else?

As always, he agreed without hesitation, leaving Yan Jingchuan with nothing more to say. No.

Only then did Chen Shu continue out the door.

But perhaps Duan Xu had already left, as he didn’t run into him again on the road.

After returning, he showered and changed clothes. Wen Jiao gathered the team as usual, and they spent the day according to plan.

However, compared to the previous day, Yan Jingchuan was even more silent today and didn’t say a word on the way back to the villa.

Wen Jiao looked at the front seat.

The two figures were pressed close together just like yesterday, but neither of them exchanged a single word.

She and Yan Xinli exchanged a glance, both seeing the concern in each other’s eyes.

Yan Jinqing said unhurriedly, Young people’s passions are always fleeting. Once their abundant energy is spent, they go their separate ways. It’s not strange.

Yan Xinli, …

Fortunately, he had already learned to ignore the old man’s wishful thinking and changed the subject. Ah, Chen Shu, Jingchuan, you’ve arrived.

Yan Jingchuan said to Chen Shu, Go to the room first. I’ll be back soon.

Okay.

Chen Shu didn’t think much of it, but Yan Jinqing shot a glance at Yan Xinli.

…… Yan Xinli could see the disdain in his father’s eyes. After Chen Shu got out of the car and it continued forward, he simply asked directly, Jingchuan, do you have something to discuss with us?

Yan Jingchuan said, Yes.

Regarding the issues between him and Chen Shu, he had no experience to draw from, but that didn’t mean others didn’t.

Yan Jinqing was very interested in this: What do you want to talk about?

Yan Jingchuan said calmly, How to win someone’s favor.

Yan Jinqing: …

After a long pause, he asked through gritted teeth, Whose favor?

Yan Xinli couldn’t bear to watch and turned his face away, covering his mouth as he tried hard not to laugh out loud.

Yan Jingchuan said, Chen Shu’s.

Although the answer was clear, his tone sounded far too matter-of-fact.

Yan Jinqing’s face instantly darkened completely.

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