Seduced the Obsessive NPC and Ran - Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Inside the hotel.

After a vigorous bout of exercise, Jing Wenjie let out a long, heavy breath.

The fear he had felt when Third Master Jing questioned him earlier, and the desire sparked by Yan Jinge’s backward glance-it had all been vented out. Jing Wenjie’s mind finally settled, allowing him to think calmly about his next steps.

He leaned against the headboard. The duvet had slipped down, revealing a torso covered in scratch marks from the recent frenzy.

Jing Wenjie didn’t care in the slightest.

He reached out, grabbed a glass of water from the bedside table, and drained it in one go before lighting a cigarette.

The sound of the shower in the bathroom stopped.

A man who looked seventy to eighty percent like Yan Jinge walked out. His features were full of charm, but it felt heavy-handed-he didn’t even compare to Yan Jinge.

Jing Wenjie only spared him a glance before looking away.

His interest had evaporated.

If he hadn’t been thinking of someone else just now, Jing Wenjie wouldn’t have been able to go through with it at all.

He only wanted to get rid of this person as quickly as possible. Narrowing his eyes, he said, “Babe, my brother just called. He said he needs to see me, so I gave him the hotel address. You know I can’t go public with us yet-”

Jing Wenjie’s expression was one of feigned apology.

The man froze, then gave a forced smile. “It’s okay. I’ll head out first, then.”

“Alright, babe. I’m really sorry. It’s just been so long since I saw you, and I missed you so much I couldn’t help calling you over. I’ll treat you to dinner next time…”

“It’s fine.”

Hearing Jing Wenjie’s sweet talk, the man’s face flushed slightly. He finished dressing and left.

The door closed with a soft thud.

Jing Wenjie was left alone in the hotel room.

He couldn’t help but scoff.

One or two sweet words and the guy loses his head.

What an idiot.

Some people are just born with a ‘romance brain.’ They shouldn’t blame others for deceiving them because they bring it on themselves. If he weren’t so love-struck, I wouldn’t be able to lie to him, would I?

Thinking this, Jing Wenjie sank back into the blankets and relaxed.

He felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him and drifted off to sleep before he knew it.

When he woke up, Jing Wenjie reached for the glass. Seeing it was empty, he moved to pour himself more water, but a sudden sense of emptiness-as if he had lost something-hit him.

He paused, his fingers pressing lightly against his chest over his heart.

“Xiaohua?”

“Xiaohua?!”

Though he called out, Jing Wenjie couldn’t feel any connection to Xiaohua.

His expression sharpened.

How could Xiaohua be gone?

…And this feeling in his heart didn’t feel like Xiaohua was just being playful or wandering off. It felt like the connection had been severed entirely.

Although Jing Wenjie had always looked down on his Familiar, thinking Xiaohua was useless and couldn’t help with anything, he was still a Familiar. Having one was a matter of prestige.

Jing Wenjie scrambled out of bed, intending to see if Xiaohua was hiding somewhere, when his phone suddenly rang.

It was a very specific ringtone.

Jing Wenjie froze for a moment before ultimately choosing to answer the call.

“Wenjie.”

A gentle, refined voice sounded from the other end. “I’ve arrived home. It’s been a while since I saw you. Do you want to come over to my place tonight for a get-together?”

“You’re home?”

Jing Wenjie’s thoughts were immediately diverted. He asked in surprise, “You’re back? Why didn’t you tell me in advance? I would have picked you up at the airport.”

As he spoke, Jing Wenjie walked into the bathroom and checked the marks on his neck in the mirror.

…The marks were too severe; there was no hiding them.

Anyone with eyes would know exactly what had been happening to him.

Jing Wenjie’s brow furrowed slightly. He turned around, seeing his mangled back reflected in the mirror. “As much as I’d love to see you tonight for dinner and catch up, I really have something more important to deal with today. I’m sorry. How about in two days? I’ll take you to that private kitchen you like so much.”

***

The Jing Residence.

Third Master Jing stared gloomily at Yan Jinge, who was kneeling on one knee beside him.

This person’s emerald eyes were slightly wide, their gaze as clear as lake water. He truly seemed not to understand what the Third Master had intended by grabbing his tie just now.

Third Master Jing paused, then withdrew his hand as if nothing had happened.

“What are you looking for me for?”

As soon as the question was asked, Yan Jinge’s attention was instantly diverted back to the matter at hand. “I have a Familiar with me. I found him when I woke up from my nap. He seems to have lost his master; he started calling me ‘Master’ the moment he saw me.”

Yan Jinge placed Xiaohua in front of Third Master Jing.

Third Master Jing’s brow furrowed.

The Familiar looked terrified, clinging tightly to Yan Jinge’s finger.

In a tiny, thin voice, he protested, “I… I didn’t… I felt happy the moment I saw you, so you must be my master…”

Xiaohua’s words were ignored by both men.

Third Master Jing asked, “What is his name?”

Yan Jinge hesitated for a moment. “Xiaohua.”

“Xiaohua?”

A trace of disgust flickered in Third Master Jing’s eyes.

Xiaohua was clearly very sensitive to such looks. He immediately pulled Yan Jinge’s finger up and hid in his palm, peeking cautiously at the Third Master through the gaps in Yan Jinge’s fingers.

Yan Jinge cupped Xiaohua loosely. “Do you recognize him?”

Third Master Jing didn’t speak.

Yan Jinge prompted, “Xiang Gong?”

Third Master Jing stiffened and looked up at Yan Jinge.

Every time Yan Jinge called him “Xiang Gong,” there wasn’t a hint of awkwardness. He said it so easily…

Did he not feel embarrassed at all?

Or was it that this title held no special meaning for Yan Jinge, and was just like calling someone by their name?

Third Master Jing felt a sudden surge of displeasure. He said coldly, “He is the Familiar that stays by Jing Wenjie’s side.”

Yan Jinge: “…”

It was actually him?

Yan Jinge was genuinely surprised.
Who would have thought that a scumbag like Jing Wenjie would have such a cute Familiar?

Yan Jinge’s hand twitched, a look of awkwardness crossing his face.

Technically, it was Yan Jinge’s own slick maneuvering-drugging Jing Wenjie in a reverse-trap-that had caused the Familiar to be separated from its master. He hadn’t expected the little guy to seek him out, let alone claim that Yan Jinge was his true master…

Yan Jinge remarked, “…Recognizing a thief as his father?”

Third Master Jing: “…”

There was really no need to describe himself that way.

“So, what now?”

Yan Jinge blinked. “I sent Bai Cheng to drug Jing Wenjie. Once that dose hits, the connection between Xiaohua and Jing Wenjie will be completely severed.”

“…Do you want to keep him?”

Third Master Jing’s voice tightened, as if he were thinking of something specific.

This topic made Xiaohua a bit anxious; Yan Jinge could feel him shifting uneasily in his palm.

Yan Jinge hesitated.

He had no resistance to cute things, so of course he wanted to keep him, but he still had reservations…

Third Master Jing’s fingers curled slightly as he said in a flat tone, “When you’re playing a game and manage to snatch an enemy’s pet through sheer skill, is there really a need to overthink it? Besides, this pet seems to like you quite a bit.”

Yan Jinge: “???”

He was completely convinced!

Yan Jinge thought for a moment and said to Xiaohua, “Your previous master was named Jing Wenjie. You are his Bonded creation-”

Yan Jinge’s intention was to let Xiaohua choose for himself, but he didn’t expect Xiaohua to nuzzle his finger and say pitifully, “Master, don’t mention that name… I’m scared.”

Scared?

Yan Jinge frowned.

Jing Wenjie was someone who cared deeply about profit.

Although he had a Familiar by his side, the Familiar’s power level was extremely low, so he rarely mentioned the little guy to outsiders.

Judging by Xiaohua’s reaction, their relationship hadn’t been a happy one.

Realizing this, Yan Jinge simply said, “Then I’ll take care of you.”

His finger gently rubbed Xiaohua’s body as he whispered, “Don’t worry. Before I leave, I’ll find you another good master.”

Xiaohua was too innocent to understand what Yan Jinge meant and just kept calling out, “Master.”

Third Master Jing lowered his eyes, his gaze fixed on the silk thread around Yan Jinge’s ankle.

He remained composed, continuing to look at the documents in his hand.

“Yan Jinge!”

A high-pitched, childish roar suddenly erupted from the doorway.

Yan Jinge was startled and turned around just in time to see an anklet floating in mid-air, charging straight at him. A second later, a tiny figure lunged and hugged Yan Jinge’s head, fuming, “You actually went behind my back and found another Familiar!”

Yan Jinge: “…”

Xiaohua jumped in fright. “Master…”

When Bai Cheng heard that title, he exploded. “I’m so mad! I’m absolutely livid!”

How long had he been gone?

Yan Jinge had already played the fickle lover and found a replacement! That Familiar was already calling him ‘Master’! Was one of him not enough to satisfy Yan Jinge?

He had done everything Yan Jinge asked him to do!

Bai Cheng dove toward the table, intent on showing the little Xiaohua under Yan Jinge’s hand who was boss.

Yan Jinge quickly covered the little guy with both hands. “Chengcheng, stop it. This is your younger brother.”

“Brother?”

Bai Cheng froze. “Then what do you think he is to you?”

Yan Jinge was confused, not knowing why Bai Cheng was asking this. “…A son, I guess?”

“!!!”

The air suddenly went still.

Even Third Master Jing couldn’t help but freeze, lifting his eyes to look at Yan Jinge.

In the next second, the anklet floating in the air was yanked down and slammed onto the table with a loud *thud*. Bai Cheng was clearly beyond furious as he screamed, “Who wants your stupid anklet! Don’t you ever think about ordering me around again!”

Yan Jinge was stunned.

…Why was he so angry?

“Ma-Master…”

Xiaohua’s soft, frightened voice chirped.

“Don’t be afraid.” Yan Jinge looked around. Not sensing that usual, slightly uncomfortable gaze, he guessed that Bai Cheng had left in a huff. He comforted Xiaohua, “Your older brother is actually very nice. Today was just an accident…”

“Yan Jinge.”

Third Master Jing suddenly interrupted the conversation between the two.

Yan Jinge looked up. “What is it?”

“…Bai Cheng is my Bonded.”

Third Master Jing’s long fingers tapped gently on the table twice. He said softly, “He and I are one and the same. Whatever I am to you, he is to you. Do you understand?”

Yan Jinge: “…”

Yan Jinge blinked, then nodded thoughtfully.

He opened his control panel and searched for a long time before finding a tiny ‘Report’ button. He mashed it immediately-how big was a Familiar? Not even the size of a palm, and yet it could be Yan Jinge’s lover?

Wasn’t that a blatant violation of… something?!

In a world that censored NPCs with mosaics, how could they allow this?!

Report, report, report!!!

[Hello, Mr. Yan Jinge. Regarding your report, we have forwarded the details to the higher-ups. If the situation is found to be true, we will immediately rectify the developments within this Small World.]

[Thank you for your report.]

Yan Jinge felt refreshed after seeing the reply.

Then he thought of something, and the look he gave Third Master Jing became quite strange.

If he followed Third Master Jing’s logic, then Bai Cheng’s thoughts should represent Third Master Jing’s thoughts. If Bai Cheng was unwilling to let him take Xiaohua as a Familiar, the Third Master should have been unwilling too.

…But not only did the Third Master show no sign of it, he had even encouraged him to take the little guy in.

Footnote:
1. Xiang Gong(相公): A term used specifically in ancient China to refer to one’s own husband.