Chapter 61 - A Feverish Possession
Unable to offer any forceful resistance and failing to sway her with logic, Que Tang could only tearfully acquiesce to the dictates of the Shame Level. She was forced into a life of cohabitation, a routine where they entered and exited the world as a pair.
"At the board meeting the day before yesterday, a unanimous vote was passed to remove Song Aotian from his position as General Manager," Yu Luoyan remarked. She had become so intimately familiar with the layout of Que Tang’s home that she could likely navigate it with her eyes closed. She led the way inside, flicked on the light, and turned back to continue her report. "However, there are still those in the company who support him. These individuals will be the hidden thorns I’ll have to deal with once I officially take over."
When discussing business, Yu Luoyan still appeared to be a rational, functioning human being. Que Tang remained lost in thought, offering no immediate reply.
"Tang?" Yu Luoyan asked, her brow arching in confusion.
"I was just thinking..." Que Tang began, but her voice trailed off as she realized that Yu Luoyan, who had initially only been shedding her coat, was now unbuttoning her blouse with practiced ease. "Luoyan, what are you doing?" she cried out, hurriedly closing the front door. Fortunately, for the sake of privacy, the curtains were already drawn tight.
"I’m home. I’m changing," Yu Luoyan replied simply.
"Then don't just strip and toss your clothes everywhere! At least go into the bedroom..." If the sweat drops and black lines of a manga could manifest in reality, they would be etched across Que Tang’s face. She sighed, stooping to gather the discarded garments before gently pushing the other woman toward the bedroom.
Yu Luoyan allowed herself to be guided, a faint, knowing smile playing on her lips. Que Tang always fussed over the smallest details; anyone else might find it overbearing, but for someone who had spent so long at the center of a storm, being the object of such meticulous care was a sensation she had grown to crave.
Standing by the bed, Que Tang pulled a set of loungewear from the wardrobe and approached. But as she drew near, Yu Luoyan caught her off guard. With a sudden, firm movement, she pushed Que Tang back onto the mattress and pinned her down, kneeling over her.
"Tang..." Yu Luoyan’s long hair cascaded down, brushing against Que Tang’s cheeks as she looked down from above. The buttons she had been undoing in the living room remained open, the collar of her shirt splayed wide to reveal the deep blue lace of her provocative lingerie.
Que Tang’s face instantly flushed a deep crimson. Having been "pushed down" by the female supporting character so many times, she was pathetically accustomed to the sensation, yet she still maintained a shred of propriety by averting her gaze. "Luoyan... weren't we just talking about business?"
"Que Tang." Yu Luoyan straightened her back, her right hand resuming the task of undressing. "I’ve changed my mind. I originally intended to take things one step at a time, to let you accept me completely." The final button gave way. She pulled back the fine fabric of her shirt, exposing the pale skin beneath. "But I miscalculated my own patience. I can no longer stand Song Aotian constantly harrassing you. Just looking at you lying here, I can imagine you in every possible state, and it... drives me mad. So, I’m going to make you mine right now. I’ve decided to claim your body first; we can figure out the rest later."
Que Tang felt as though she might cough up blood from the sheer shock of the declaration.
"Meow! The female supporting character’s Shame Level has decreased by twenty. Current Shame Level: fifty," Xiao Xianggu’s voice suddenly piped up.
"Xiao Xianggu! Where are you?" Que Tang realized she hadn't seen the cat since they walked through the door. "Save me!"
"Meow~ The Great Female Lead put out so many dried fish snacks and cat biscuits at her place that she had me sent over here!" Xiao Xianggu let out a delighted trill. "She’s not like you, you stingy Host, trying to cut my rations under the guise of a diet just to save a few bucks. Meow~"
"What? Yu Luoyan actually did something so cold-blooded and calculated? She planned this whole food-based abduction..." Que Tang was incredulous. "And you, you stupid cat! You sold me out for a snack? Are you even human?"
"Nope, I’m a cat. Meow~"
"..." Que Tang realized she had asked a redundant question. "Xiao Xianggu... come back. It was my fault. I shouldn't have been so petty over a few hundred bucks. Look, come back, and you can scan as many fish snacks as you want. I’ll buy you all the cat biscuits in the world. I’ll leave Taobao open all day for you to order whatever you like! I beg you!"
"But the Great Female Lead bought me an entire dried fish factory. I get to pick the flavors myself. Meow."
"What? A factory? Is this the gap between the tycoon and the pauper?" Que Tang felt utterly defeated. Realizing that bribery wouldn't work, she immediately pivoted to a plea for sympathy. "Fish snacks... no, Xiao Xianggu, aren't we the most important partners? Do you really have the heart to watch my virtue perish here? Haven't we worked so hard together through so many worlds..."
"Meow~ That’s exactly why I arranged this for you! Promoting to General Manager, becoming a CEO, marrying a beautiful heiress, and reaching the pinnacle of life—Host, remember to thank me!"
"Forget it. Consider the matter closed. I hope you become the fattest cat in the universe!" Que Tang snapped, her tone shifting to one of gritted-teeth "blessings."
"Meow-u~"
"Luoyan!" Seeing that Yu Luoyan was about to reach for the clasp of her bra, Que Tang hurriedly spoke up to stop her. "I..." She turned her head back, her expression clouding with a long-absent sorrow. "It’s not that I won't give myself to you. It’s just... Song Aotian is still a shadow over my heart. And you... you’re his ex-wife. I just feel..." *Like a double NTR,* Que Tang added silently. She let her words trail off, her hesitant gaze perfectly conveying her feigned inner turmoil.
As expected, Yu Luoyan froze. She studied Que Tang’s furrowed brow and pained eyes. This wasn't how she should look. Her Que Tang should always be smiling gently, looking at her with warmth. To see her distressed because of her own actions...
"I understand." Yu Luoyan leaned down, pressing her forehead against Que Tang’s. Her gaze was focused and intense, as if she could no longer bear to desecrate something so beautiful. "I will make sure he never appears before us again. He will never disturb our lives again." She closed her eyes, gave Que Tang a light kiss, and then climbed off the bed to change into her loungewear.
Que Tang finally exhaled, mentally giving herself thirty-two thumbs up for her quick wit. In the end, one really had to rely on oneself.
To fulfill her promise—and to hasten the day she could truly possess Que Tang—Yu Luoyan began working as if she had activated a cheat code. After ousting Song Aotian, she took on the title of Vice President and began managing the company’s affairs. Whenever she encountered something she didn't understand, she consulted Que Tang. She was often so busy that she worked late into the night, even after returning home.
Inevitably, the exhaustion caught up with her. After catching a slight chill, she collapsed.
When Que Tang woke up the next morning, she found that Yu Luoyan, who usually got ready with her, was still buried under the covers. Concerned, Que Tang walked to the bedside and pulled back the duvet. "Luoyan?" There was no response, and the woman’s face was flushed an unnatural red. She quickly grabbed the ear thermometer from the nightstand. "Thirty-nine point five degrees..." Que Tang frowned as the device beeped. "Luoyan? Luoyan?"
"Mm?" Yu Luoyan opened her eyes with difficulty, looking miserable.
"You’re sick. Be good, I’m taking you to the hospital." After helping her into outdoor clothes, Que Tang supported her down the stairs and into the Yu family’s private car, instructing the driver to head straight for the clinic.
"There are no signs of pneumonia. It’s likely just a drop in immunity caused by excessive fatigue, making her susceptible to the change in temperature. Miss Yu needs more rest. Once you get back, supplement with Vitamin B complex and Vitamin C. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and avoid greasy or heavily seasoned foods for now," the doctor said impassively to Que Tang, while the patient leaned weakly against her.
"She has a high fever. Wouldn't it be better to admit her for observation?" Que Tang asked, placing a hand on Yu Luoyan’s forehead to confirm that the heat hadn't subsided.
"No need. She just needs a full day of sleep. If possible, get an ice pillow to help bring the temperature down. I’ll prescribe some antipyretics. If the fever persists tomorrow, bring her back." The doctor rapidly keyed the diagnosis into the computer.
"Alright... I understand. Thank you." Que Tang helped her to a chair in the lobby. "Luoyan, don't go into the office today. I’ll stay home and look after you." She watched the digital display at the pharmacy counter, waiting for their number.
"Were you just staring at the nurse?" Yu Luoyan suddenly muttered.
"Huh?" Que Tang blinked, taking a moment to process the question. During the consultation, she had subconsciously glanced at the nurse’s uniform a few times, triggered by the terrible memories of being forced into a nurse outfit by that damn game system.
"Back in the exam room. You were staring at the attending nurse." Despite her malaise, Yu Luoyan’s voice was low and laced with displeasure.
"Don't misunderstand." Knowing how terrifying Yu Luoyan’s possessiveness could be, Que Tang quickly moved to prove her loyalty. "It’s just that my mother used to be a nurse, so I tend to notice people in uniforms. I have a certain professional respect for them." She fabricated the excuse on the fly; fortunately, the original body’s mother actually *had* been a nurse, making the lie sound perfectly grounded in fact.
Having investigated Que Tang’s background, Yu Luoyan knew this was true and nodded in acceptance. However, the idea that Que Tang had a "favorable impression" of people in uniforms...
"Meow! The female supporting character’s Shame Level has decreased by twenty. Current Shame Level: thirty."
"What the hell happened now?" Que Tang was baffled. She had been so well-behaved, even closing her eyes to avoid looking at anything else. She couldn't fathom why the Shame Level had dropped again. "And do you have to drop it by twenty every time? Can't you just do five or ten?"
"Because that’s just how the Great Female Lead is, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Meow~" Xiao Xianggu’s schadenfreude was so thick that Que Tang couldn't ignore it even if she tried.
"You... you..." Que Tang suddenly let out a cold laugh. "Yu Luoyan is only being nice to you to get on my good side, isn't she? Heh. All it takes is a few words of acting spoiled, and that fish snack factory of yours will probably be shut down. I see your belly is back to dragging on the floor; it’s an eyesore. I’m embarrassed to even take you for a walk. Have you forgotten how you failed to jump onto that railing last time? Tsk, tsk."
"No! Host, you wicked, animal-abusing woman! Meow-u~"
"Heh." Que Tang ignored the cat’s wailing entirely.
