The villain turns into the infatuated second male lead

“Shh.” The light sound whispered into Qiu Yiyuan’s ear, accompanied by a warm breath brushing against his earlobe. The faint smell of disinfectant halted his elbow strike mid-air.

“Ling Su?” He croaked in disbelief.

“Yes, it’s me.” Yin Zhiyi pulled him away from the door, speaking softly.

The alley shop had only two vending machines, ensuring customer privacy with no attendant present. The narrow space was dimly lit by a single yellow bulb, making it hard to see faces clearly.

“You search over there. That brat ran in this direction,” a coarse voice echoed nearby.

Words stuck in his throat, Qiu Yiyuan’s body momentarily tensed. Yin Zhiyi quickly removed his hat and replaced it with a wig he had picked up from a roadside vendor, watching the male lead’s stunned expression.

“What are you doing?” Qiu Yiyuan gritted his teeth, pulling at the fluffy, curly wig. “It’s dangerous here. You know how I got injured.”

“We can’t go out now.” Yin Zhiyi steadied him, pressing him into a corner to reassure him.

The intimate gesture left Qiu Yiyuan momentarily stunned. He knew the pursuers were close; leaving the shop would be walking into a trap. The flimsy white curtain covering the door offered no real protection—they’d be found soon.

“Search every alley. We’ll find him eventually,” voices outside grew louder.

“This way is a dead end. I’ll check the next alley.”

The approaching voices did not alert Qiu Yiyuan to their suggestive posture. He looked seriously at the man beside him, clenching his fists. “You hide here. I’ll lead them away.”

Their target was him. If Ling Su didn’t witness the scene, he wouldn’t get implicated.

Yin Zhiyi raised an eyebrow, surprised by the male lead’s decision. A moment later, he smiled slightly, pulling the ready-to-leave person back. With Qiu Yiyuan’s confused gaze on him, he draped his oversized black coat over him, covering his men’s clothes. “No, I want us both to be safe.”

With his height and sharp features, he could easily pass for an attractive woman at a glance.

“They’re after me, not you.” Qiu Yiyuan’s heel pressed against the corner as he spoke through gritted teeth, anxiety and concern evident in his eyes.

In the brief moment of putting on the wig and coat, was he planning to disguise him as a woman?

What a joke. Even in the dim alley, his tall figure would be a dead giveaway to anyone with half a brain.

Thinking the idea absurd, he was about to persuade him otherwise when faint footsteps sounded outside the curtained entrance.

“Sorry, but I need you to bear with this.” Yin Zhiyi whispered, and before Qiu Yiyuan could grasp his meaning, his face was shadowed by the brown curly wig. A hand gripped his waist, pulling him close.

What was Ling Su planning?

The warm yellow light blurred his vision as he watched the approaching face. His breath caught, and as their distance closed, warmth brushed his face, igniting a suppressed desire.

As his pupils dilated, the curtain was lifted, revealing a burly man who hadn’t expected to see a couple passionately kissing in an adult store. There was a surveillance camera above!

Yin Zhiyi’s warm hand pressed against Qiu Yiyuan’s firm waist, his other hand on his shoulder, forcing him to bend slightly, effectively shielding him. From behind, only a glimpse of brown hair was visible.

Not even Qiu Yiyuan, let alone Yin Zhiyi, had ever been this close to anyone. As he leaned toward the pursed lips, he captured the fleeting daze in Qiu Yiyuan’s eyes.

Qiu Yiyuan’s breathing grew heavier, ears flushing red. Yin Zhiyi, however, remained composed, smiling slightly as he stopped just before their lips touched, maintaining the tension.

Their noses brushed, lips almost touching, but never quite meeting.

Qiu Yiyuan swallowed, unable to look away from Ling Su’s face. His instinct to lick his dry lips halted by their proximity, he could only awkwardly stop, disappointment spreading.

The curtain lifting drew his attention. His heart pounded violently, unsure if it was from Ling Su’s near-kiss or fear of being discovered. His heart had never beaten this wildly.

“Animals, really can’t control themselves,” the man spat, seeing Yin Zhiyi’s annoyed, handsome face protecting his “girlfriend.”

“Do you have any decency, interrupting others?” His hair was disheveled as if they had been in the throes of passion, frustration evident.

Qiu Yiyuan barely registered Ling Su’s words, only feeling the man’s steady heartbeat. The closeness made him uneasy, blood pulsing beneath his skin.

The thug, irritated by the interruption, scanned the shop but found no trace of his target. Staring at the conspicuously hidden “girl,” he asked, “Seen a man in a hat dressed oddly?”

“Not my problem,” Yin Zhiyi scoffed, ignoring him. Stroking Qiu Yiyuan’s wig, he coaxed, “Baby, didn’t I say not here? Let’s finish shopping and go home to avoid this nuisance.”

Qiu Yiyuan remained silent, licking his dry lips, ears burning. The usually gentle Ling Su’s words were shocking yet strangely alluring, stirring something within him.

His words were a deadly temptation. For a moment, he wondered if Ling Su would really play with him as he suggested if the man left.

Unaware of the hidden turmoil, the man could understand the annoyance of being interrupted. Seeing the “girlfriend” well-hidden, he assumed their clothes were half-off. Pressed for time, he impatiently demanded, “Talk, or you’ll regret it.”

Yin Zhiyi’s fleeting murderous intent vanished as he glanced at the man’s muscular frame, feigning fear. “I-I saw the man with the hat run towards the night market.”

“Smart move,” the man scoffed, thinking this pretty boy was all bravado. He looked at the trembling “girl,” cursed, and called his men to head to the night market, mumbling, “What a wimp.”

Once the footsteps faded, Yin Zhiyi released Qiu Yiyuan but remained blocking the corner, listening intently until the sounds disappeared.

“It’s safe for now,” he sighed, then awkwardly added, “Forget what just happened. Let’s get out of here.”

“It’s fine,” Qiu Yiyuan replied, avoiding his gaze. Letting Ling Su pull him away from their pursuers, he looked at the tall, upright figure ahead, eyes deepening.

The immediate danger had passed, but he felt drained, different from mere exhaustion. Maybe it was the close call, or maybe something else, his mind fixated on the almost-kiss, driving him mad.

He couldn’t describe the feeling, only knowing he desperately wanted him to get closer… just a little closer…

Ling Su had saved him again.

“Aren’t you curious?” Yin Zhiyi glanced at the expressionless Qiu Yiyuan, his tone meaningful.

Easy to please, little brother.

The warm voice echoed in the quiet alley, pulling Qiu Yiyuan from his thoughts. He paused, then said lightly, “Curious about what?”

“Like, why I’m here,” Yin Zhiyi pondered, speaking softly.

“Maybe I woke you, or you wanted a midnight snack. Anything is possible, but… those reasons don’t matter.” Qiu Yiyuan lowered his gaze, hiding his burning desire, withdrawing his hand from Ling Su’s grasp.

He shouldn’t harbor such dirty thoughts in this situation.

Yin Zhiyi’s gaze lingered on him, a confident smile playing on his lips.
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