Restricted Fantasy I Chapter 366: As Natural as Breathing

"Wee-woo! Wee-woo!!"

At this mont, outside the Golden Lion Mansion, an ambulance drove into the road blocked by countless fans on the outer periter.

The fans looked at each other, still unaware of what had happened inside.

However, watching the nurous reporters and dia personnel who had rushed over like sharks slling blood along with the ambulance, their instincts told them that sothing major had occurred.

Inside the venue, several security guards grabbed a stretcher and lifted the unconscious Lemon, planning to carry her to the entrance and hand her over to the dical personnel.

To the side, her assistant was extrely busy, answering phone calls that ca in one after another.

"Hurry up, file a complaint to get that video on the streaming site taken down!!"

"Ah, Mr. Otani, it's like this..."

The rest of the fans stood to the side, either looking in astonishnt at the video Yan Huan had uploaded, or staring blankly up at the young man leading the stunning girl away from the scene.

"So, Bai Yi really didn't plagiarize?"

"Miss Lemon, she..."

"No..."

Facing the forlorn and astonished gazes of the surrounding fans, the girl being led by the young man could not help but reveal a beautiful smile.

This was especially true when she secretly opened the live broadcast of that blogger from earlier. The chat was already flooding with questions from people who had learned about the situation here, making the blogger sweat profusely.

"Heh!"

Bai Yi's starry eyes lit up, and a victor's smile graced her face. Even her grip on Yan Huan's hand tightened a little.

"Hmm?"

Yan Huan, who was in the midst of leaving, felt the movent of her palm and could not help but look back at her.

However, when Yan Huan turned to look at her, Bai Yi's triumphant face instantly flushed slightly.

She imdiately pouted and averted her gaze, pretending to be aloof and cool without saying a single word, only letting out a huff.

"Hmph!"

Her aning was obvious:

'We haven't made up yet!'

Even so, she still did not let go of Yan Huan's hand.

"Click!"

"Excuse , are you Miss Bai Yi?"

They had not even made it out yet when, suddenly, a woman lowering her cara squeezed through the undispersed crowd of fans. She struggled to raise a microphone toward Bai Yi.

"I am a reporter from Linn Oishi Private Publication. May I ask if this boy is your boyfriend? Is the song you wrote earlier related to him?"

"..."

This was Yan Huan's first ti encountering such a situation, and he hastily looked at Bai Yi beside him.

Bai Yi was also surprised that the reporter had arrived so quickly; it had not been long since that girl Lemon was carried out.

"Um... excuse , please make way!"

Fortunately, Bai Yi reacted quickly. She imdiately pushed Yan Huan forward to keep moving.

The reporter still wanted to ask questions, but there were simply too many fans around. Blocked from moving forward, she could only watch helplessly as Yan Huan and Bai Yi continued walking out.

"Here, put this face mask on!"

As they walked, Bai Yi pulled another face mask from her bag and handed it to Yan Huan, urging him to wear it.

Yan Huan did not fully understand her intention, but he took the face mask anyway.

He did not know if it was because Bai Yi carried perfu or scented costics in her bag, but regardless, even the face mask carried a faint, pleasant fragrance.

"Click."

However, he soon realized why Bai Yi wanted him to wear the face mask.

As soon as they pushed the door open, the confused fans outside swarming the ambulance were in an uproar, passing around word of what had happened inside the venue.

At the sa ti, nurous reporters ford a circle, constantly keeping an eye out for anyone coming from inside.

Fortunately, the two of them wore face masks and kept their heads down, blending into the crowd of fans. With the sky already dark, no one noticed them for the ti being.

"Quick, this way, let's sneak out!"

Hiding behind Yan Huan, Bai Yi nudged his body and led him to slip away quietly through a side door, avoiding the attention of any reporters.

"Haha..."

It was only after running for a good while, reaching a sparsely populated area where they could no longer even hear the "Wee-woo" of the ambulance, that they finally stopped.

Yan Huan took off his face mask and took a deep breath.

Behind him, Bai Yi imdiately took hers off as well.

Panting heavily but with her starry eyes shining brightly, she sat on the steps nearby. Unable to hide her excitent, she waved her delicate feminine fists at Yan Huan.

"Wow! Did you see that? That Lemon was so mad she almost died! Serves her right! That's what she gets for stealing my song!"

"..."

"When did you secretly record the video of her talking to her financial backer? You're so bad, pfft—uploading it to the streaming site secretly like that!"

"..."

"And I couldn't tell, but you are really strong! Pinning them down one by one..."

Bai Yi spoke extrely fast, matching her words with animated hand gestures like a conductor directing an orchestra. It was obvious she was thrilled.

But as she rambled on, looking at Yan Huan who only smiled and did not say a word, she suddenly, albeit belatedly, realized sothing...

'We haven't made up yet!!'

And right now, it seed exactly as if she had already forgiven this scumbag...

"Ugh..."

Consequently, the excitent on her face was imdiately replaced bit by bit by a rosy blush.

Her previously dancing limbs shrank back as well. She gently covered the hem of her skirt and sat with her legs tightly together, taking on the appearance of a proper lady.

Moreover, she turned her head to look in the opposite direction from Yan Huan.

Though her head was turned away, her eyes would occasionally dart back to steal a secret glance at him, silently observing his every move.

"..."

Seeing her like this, Yan Huan was unable to help but laugh.

He also took a deep breath and sat down on the steps beside her.

Sensing that Yan Huan rely sat down without saying anything.

Bai Yi aloof and coolly pouted, quietly shifting her bottom to move a little further away from him.

"..."

But out of the corner of her eye, she noticed he was just looking at the street, making no move whatsoever to scoot closer and chase after her.

As a result, Bai Yi's pout grew even more pronounced.

"Hmph."

However, the very next second, she silently scooted back toward him just a little bit.

"..."

The two remained silent, gazing out at the bustling street filled with traffic.

Yan Huan was looking at the street, and Bai Yi was looking at the street, but also looking at him.

It was only after a long while had passed that Bai Yi simply could not hold back anymore and asked softly,

"Why... why did you... tonight..."

"Let

walk you ho."

However, Yan Huan spoke up at the exact sa ti, his voice overpowering her quiet words filled with confusion and shyness.

"Huh?"

Realizing she had spoken, Yan Huan turned his head to look at her.

Seeing her tidying her beautiful hair, pouting while looking back at him, Yan Huan asked,

"What did you say?"

"...Nothing. Hmph."

She suddenly got angry, for reasons unknown.

Yan Huan was not annoyed; he rely repeated,

"Let

take you ho... Shall we get a cab?"

"...I moved out to live alone for now. I'm not staying at ho anymore."

"I see."

"..."

Silence descended once again, and Bai Yi's pout kept rising higher and higher.

She seed to have so grievances over the fact that Yan Huan did not ask her why she had moved out.

'And I'm "alone"!'

'Living "alone" out here!!'

"Then where are you staying now? I'll escort you."

"...The hotel next door."

"Okay."

Yan Huan glanced at the fairly nice-looking hotel next door, gave a faint smile, and stood up.

Bai Yi's pout was practically reaching the sky by now, but she still reluctantly stood up and followed him toward the hotel.

"Hello, welco. Will the two of you be checking in?"

"No, I'm just dropping soone off."

"Oh~"

The receptionist swept her gaze over the teenage boy and girl before her, a knowing smile playing at the corners of her lips as she nodded.

It seed quite a few people in the past had used that exact excuse.

Seeing the receptionist's smile, Bai Yi's face grew even redder, and she fidgeted with the hem of her skirt.

But a second later, Yan Huan poured a bucket of cold water over the situation.

"Then we'll leave it at that. I'll be going now."

"..."

Hearing this, both Bai Yi and the receptionist's expressions stiffened slightly.

"Oh."

Bai Yi's stunningly beautiful face completely fell as she nodded.

Yan Huan turned to leave, but after just a few steps, he turned his head back to look at Bai Yi and said softly,

"That other song you originally wrote, I'd like to hear it soti."

"Ah?"

Bai Yi was slightly taken aback, wondering how he knew she had originally written two songs. She clearly...

But soon, she realized sothing, and her face turned bright red.

"Huh?!"

'He... he saw

connecting my mic with that blogger?!'

'Doesn't that an my frustrated and angry look, acting like a total clown, was entirely seen by him...'

"..."

However, Yan Huan did not say much else. Before Bai Yi completely overheated from embarrassnt, he waved his hand, turned around, and walked out of the hotel.

"Click."

The hotel's automatic doors opened. The night scenery of Kyogo Ward flickered with lights, far quieter than the South Ward.

Gazing at the nocturnal view before him, Yan Huan stretched his back, planning to hail a cab ho.

Yet, just as he walked to the side of the road and prepared to hail a ride, Myau-chan suddenly materialized on his shoulder, clicking its tongue in amazent.

"I get it now, ow, Yan Huan!"

"You get what?"

Glancing at the cat, Yan Huan asked in confusion.

"Hehe, I have already deciphered your strategy, ow..."

"?"

"You clearly did so much for Bai Yi tonight. Logically speaking, it should have been the perfect opportunity to make up... but you didn't!!" "..."

"Thinking carefully about it, it makes sense. If you had taken the initiative to make up, the power dynamic would have fallen into her hands. Right now, your relationships with An Le and Sakuramiya Hitomi are still ambiguous. If she had asked for proper status, would you give it to her or not?"

Myau-chan began to wag its head and sway its body, owing as it spoke,

"Therefore, I've reached enlightennt, ow. Sotis taking a step back opens up the vast sky!

"You obviously helped her so much, yet you left without saying a word, inevitably letting her imagination run wild.

"You preserved the spark between you two, leaving your current relationship unspoken yet incredibly ambiguous.

"And you prevented her from directly detonating an Asura's battlefield, especially when you are currently facing a pincer attack from Ye Shiyu! Brilliant, ow! Truly brilliant, ow!"

As it spoke, Myau-chan looked at Yan Huan, patting his face with its paw pads, and marveled,

"Yan Huan, you really live up to your reputation, ow!

"Your path as a scumbag has reached full mastery. You've cultivated the 'no initiative, no responsibility' mindset to the point where it's now as natural as breathing. You truly leave this cat astounded, ow!"

Yan Huan's eyes widened, wearing a shocked expression that scread, 'What is this boiling fog talking about?'

Having paused for a second, he finally said,

"You thought wrong."

"ow?"

"It's not as complicated as you think. I just... felt a bit guilty for deceiving her so much before, so consider this ti my compensation."

"ow?!"

Myau-chan's entire feline body turned ash-white as it froze awkwardly on the spot, though it still looked suspicious, as if wondering whether Yan Huan was simply playing dumb.

Yan Huan was so amused he was unable to help but laugh, and could not resist rubbing its head.

"However, you aren't entirely wrong either. My relationship with them right now is murky... and Bai Yi would absolutely never accept that fact as things stand."

"Ye Shiyu wouldn't either, ow."

"...Yeah."

Yan Huan flagged down a car and promptly opened the door.

Before getting in, he cast a glance in the direction of the hotel interior.

"..."

At this mont, inside the hotel, in Bai Yi's room.

Bai Yi had changed into her pajamas and sat on the bed, glaring fierce-looking at the pillow in front of her.

The next second, she took a deep breath and threw a punch straight into the pillow.

"I'll beat you to death! Beat you to death, slly Yan Huan!"

"Thump!"

"What are you pretending for?! I thought you coming to help

ant you planned to break up with Sakuramiya Hitomi and be with ! But in the end... in the end..."

"Thump!"

"Beat you to death, beat you to death!!"

After punching the pillow several tis, Bai Yi, her stamina failing, wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Soon after, she wearily hugged the "Yan Huan" pillow she had just punched countless tis and turned on her mobile phone.

Inside, there were only ssages sent by Jiang Xion, asking if she had checked into the hotel yet.

Bai Yi replied to a few ssages. After receiving the response, "Rest early, don't worry about your mom's side," she ended up staring at her Plane app for a long ti.

"..."

Having remained silent for quite a while, she pouted, hugged the pillow tightly in her arms, and rolled over.

At the sa ti, she opened her browser and searched:

"How to silently add back a deleted Plane friend without letting him find out?"

Below, a pile of tutorials popped up.

"As long as he hasn't deleted , clear out all the text in the friend request application box..."

Having learned the thod, Bai Yi followed the instructions exactly. Finally, with trembling fingers, she clicked "Send Application".

"Thump-thump... Thump-thump... Thump-thump..."

'Does this thod really work? Will he find out?!'

'If he finds out...'

Thinking about it, Bai Yi buried her slightly flushed face into the pillow.

"..."

But the very next second, when she raised her eyes again, the chat log confirming she and Yan Huan were friends again had already appeared in Plane.

And there had been absolutely no notification.

"It worked!"

Her starry eyes lit up slightly. Clutching the pillow, she rolled over on the bed, revealing a beautiful smile.

However, the next second, looking at the pillow held in her arms, she pouted again and gave it another punch.

"Slly Yan Huan..."

She murmured.

At this mont, in Kyogo Ward, inside a black sedan car.

A female reporter was driving, and on the front passenger seat rested a glowing laptop.

It was the very sa reporter from Oishi Private Publication who had just interviewed Bai Yi inside the venue.

She kept her eyes on the road while speaking to soone on her mobile phone connected via the car's Bluetooth.

"Ah, Editor-in-Chief... Yes, yes, I just ca from the hospital. Lemon's side declined all interviews, and with that video going viral online, I'm guessing many of our peers have already published their stories early..."

"..."

"But I was the first to squeeze into the inner venue and capture a different scoop... Take a look at Plane. I just put together a quick layout. I haven't drafted a headline yet, but I'll send it to you shortly."

"..."

"Mhm, sounds good."

She was still on the call with her so-called Editor-in-Chief. anwhile, on the laptop beside her, a newly taken photo was prominently displayed in a Word docunt.

In the photo, Bai Yi wore a sweet smile, tightly holding Yan Huan's hand, looking the very picture of 'blissful happiness' and 'total victory'...

And rightfully so. Not only had she made that obnoxious Lemon faint from rage on the spot, but Yan Huan had secretly been paying attention to her and stepped forward to defend her. Of course she was thrilled.

"Hum."

At that mont, the car stopped to wait at a red light.

The female reporter hung up the phone and glanced over at the "crucial photo" she had captured.

Imdiately after, she opened another tab.

Yezi AI.

Inside, an inquiry prompt was already typed out, ending with "help

draft an eye-catching headline."

"Understood, I have received your question. Please wait a mont..."

"..."

Having paused for a few seconds, a headline appeared:

"Controversial Female Singer's Mystery Boyfriend Revealed! The Sweet and Affectionate Couple Have Privately Committed to Each Other for Life!"

South Ward, Yan Huan's public rental housing.

"I'm sorry..."

In his seat, Yan Huan's face practically had "I'm back from fooling around" written all over it, which was why he could not help but apologize so contritely.

On the coffee table in front of him, Myau-chan was curiously inspecting the now-cold hot pot, trying to see if there were any leftovers inside.

To the side, Little Finger was stuffed to the brim. It watched Yan Huan with schadenfreude, constantly shaking its head.

Its aning was clear:

'So you get what's coming to you too?!'

"..."

Unsurprisingly, seated before Yan Huan were none other than An Le and Sakuramiya Hitomi.

An Le remained as sweet and warm as ever, looking as though her only concern was whether Yan Huan had eaten dinner or was hungry.

Sakuramiya Hitomi, on the other hand, rubbed the space between her eyebrows, looking quite angry.

That was to be expected. They both worked at the Golden Lion Mansion, so they must have co back together.

As a result, after arriving and waiting ages for Yan Huan, all they got was a ssage saying, "You head back first, Hitomi."

How could Sakuramiya Hitomi not be furious?

Moreover, they hadn't even gotten to eat the hot pot, despite having prepped the ingredients for so long!

"More importantly, Xiao Huan, are you hungry? Should I go make you a bowl of noodles?"

An Le asked, flashing a warm smile.

Sakuramiya Hitomi, however, shot her a glare and puffed out her cheeks as she demanded,

"President, what exactly did you go out to do tonight?"

"Bai Yi's song was plagiarized by soone from the old orphanage who beca a celebrity. She originally planned to use her modifier. I saw it, so I had no choice but to resolve it for her to prevent her from causing a disaster with the modifier..."

Hearing this, Myau-chan shot Yan Huan a look of pure exasperation, staring with dead-fish eyes.

Yan Huan, and you still claim your scumbag tendencies aren't as natural as breathing?!

That wasn't what you said on the way back!!

Upon hearing this, Sakuramiya Hitomi's expression softened a bit.

"Even if that's the case, President, please at least let

know on Plane..."

"I'm sorry, I..."

"Alright, alright. Hitomi, help

heat up the food. I'll boil a bowl of noodles for Xiao Huan. Xiao Huan, could you please help clear the things off the table?"

"No problem."

Sakuramiya Hitomi pouted as she watched An Le get up and leave, but she followed her anyway.

From over there, the sound of their whispered conversation drifted over,

"Wait, An Le, aren't you going to ask..."

"..."

"What do you an, 'we'll settle the score tonight'?!"

"..."

Over by the table, Yan Huan, who was clearing the dishes, shuddered slightly.

However...

He inevitably glanced back at the two girls squeezed together in front of the stove.

The refrigerator and the stove were both situated in a narrow corridor by the entryway. Thus, even just standing together, they had to constantly shuffle out of each other's way to turn around and grab things...

It was then that Yan Huan could not help but truly examine the surrounding apartnt for the first ti.

Although it was technically a one-bedroom apartnt with a living room, it was really only about three to four hundred square feet in size.

In the past, it was naturally more than enough for one person, but with three people now, it was undeniably much too cramped.

"..."

Setting down the dishes, Yan Huan sat on the sofa and pondered for a mont before suddenly looking at them and speaking up,

"An Le, Hitomi."

"What is it, Xiao Huan?"

"Hmm?"

Seeing the two of them turn their heads simultaneously, Yan Huan smiled faintly and suggested,

"What would you say to us moving and finding a new place to live?"

"Moving?"

Sakuramiya Hitomi blinked and subconsciously nodded.

"Sure, how about renting a place in Kyogo Ward, President? It's close to both the school and our internship, so it should be very convenient..."

"..."

anwhile, to the side, An Le did not say a word. She rely dried her hands and looked at Yan Huan.