Pretend to be crazy - Chapter 84

Warren had thought about having an affair with Shen Yan more than once.

But he was very resentful and didn’t consider his behavior as cheating.

Regarding Shen Yan and Ruan Zhixian being together, even after the two returned to Black Star and publicly showed their affection, he still couldn’t really accept it.

Anyone would have trouble accepting it.

It was just ridiculously absurd!

They took him to find Shen Yan, even gave him advice and strategies on how to pursue Ruan Zhixian, and yet Shen Yan ended up in a relationship with Ruan Zhixian!!!

He found it hard to accept.

The one who had been kissed countless times by Shen Yan was him; the one Shen Yan held and whispered sweet words to was him; the one Shen Yan called “husband” was also him—

Though much of it was acting, he always believed these were just small episodes in his and Shen Yan’s love story. No matter what, the one who would ultimately be with Shen Yan had to be him.

Who would have thought that out of nowhere, Ruan Zhixian would appear?

Warren had always slept well, but after learning about this, he experienced unprecedented insomnia, lying in bed wide awake, replaying everything in his mind.

There were many things he couldn’t understand.

Most of all, why Shen Yan would be with Ruan Zhixian.

Being with him (Warren) was only natural; being with Blaze was at most a brotherly relationship gone wrong; even with Falson, Warren could somewhat understand.

Shen Yan was soft-hearted and might have reluctantly agreed to Falson’s excessive demands out of pity.

But only with Ruan Zhixian?

He and Shen Yan were like strangers; even when they met, they barely spoke. Their hatred was unrelated to love—it was simply a pure dislike because Shen Yan had schemed against him.

He found it very hard to accept.

He thought about it for days. After confirming he didn’t have the ability to be the “other woman,” he resolved to kill Ruan Zhixian.

This idea found an ally in Falson.

Finally, the opportunity came.

Fully prepared, he easily beat Ruan Zhixian badly, leaving him seriously injured.

The conference room was in chaos; Warren was focused solely on beating Ruan Zhixian, while others had long fled.

Blinded by his murderous intent, he suddenly sensed something was off as Ruan Zhixian didn’t resist the attack.

During the time Shen Yan was at Red Star, Warren had worked for Ruan Zhixian for two years on the front line and knew well how much people in District One valued their lives.

It was impossible no one had come to arrest him after so long.

Even more absurd, how could Ruan Zhixian suddenly be so weak?

On the cruise ship, he had confronted Ruan Zhixian once and was defeated by just a glance; even if Ruan Zhixian had been out of practice for two years, it was impossible for him to be so easily beaten now.

Warren’s thoughts didn’t slow his punches, and when Shen Yan suddenly appeared at the door, it was already too late to stop.

Bang!

Centered on Ruan Zhixian, a huge impact cracked the floor of the conference room like a spiderweb, shaking the ground.

Ruan Zhixian’s head was not crushed, but his face was disheveled yet handsome, carrying a certain battle-worn charm.

Shen Yan’s steps were fast and silent as he walked toward the scene of the attack.

Seeing Shen Yan’s hidden urgency, Warren suddenly understood Ruan Zhixian’s intention and opened his eyes wide in disbelief.

He saw the faint mocking smile on his lips.

His lips moved silently, forming two words:

—“Trash.”

Warren clenched his fists hard, but before he could hit him again, Shen Yan stood between them.

At the same time, fully armed soldiers Shen Yan brought surrounded Warren and gradually closed in.

Ruan Zhixian, barely conscious, weakly grabbed Shen Yan’s pant leg, leaving a dirty bloodstain on the clean fabric, gasping:

“Brother… I’m in pain…”

Warren sneered coldly: “Pain my ass.”

A trace of fresh blood leaked from Ruan Zhixian’s mouth; his eyes half-closed as if dying.

“Funny,” Warren deliberately ruined the atmosphere, “If you’ve got the guts, die now.”

Ruan Zhixian’s eyes fully closed, his hand fell limply.

Medical personnel followed and arrived; Shen Yan stepped aside to let them in. Warren obediently stood up and made way, wary of the guns aimed at him.

Realizing he had been tricked, Warren stopped struggling and lowered his head in surrender.

Being held down, he brushed past Shen Yan without daring to look at him.

He was afraid of seeing disappointment and disgust in his eyes.

Returning to prison felt like coming home to Warren.

He lacked a sense of order, frequently broke laws, and became even more reckless after teaming up with Falson. To get to the Red Star spaceship, he set a record of being imprisoned twenty-five times in two months.

He kept escaping and getting caught. Because of his experimental body traits, it was extremely difficult to kill him by ordinary means.

Eventually, the guards became familiar with him, greeting him with a smile: “Bro, it’s you again. Still haven’t caught your wife? Need our help?”

No one could help him.

Warren’s heart burned with fury as he stared at the prison ceiling and sighed softly.

When he got out, he’d try killing a few more times.

If he really couldn’t kill anyone…

He’d be the other woman.

It wasn’t a noble role, but not entirely disgraceful either.

In District One, views on marriage and love were quite open.

Technology had extended their lifespans, and in the bombardment of entertainment, pure one-on-one love was hard to maintain. Everyone was wildly chasing pleasure, and love, as a key ingredient of pleasure, naturally adapted to the spirit of District One’s people.

Open marriages became mainstream; everyone legally had multiple partners.

Calling someone “another half” didn’t fit anymore—it was more like “a third,” “a quarter,” or even “a tenth” of a partner.

Moreover, Shen Yan hadn’t even married Ruan Zhixian yet. What was wrong with Shen Yan having multiple partners?

Gradually, Warren’s thinking became twisted but justified as he began thinking about ways to seduce Shen Yan.

A summons from the prison guard interrupted his thoughts.

“Someone wants to see you.”

He lazily got up.

He guessed it must be Ruan Zhixian, who wasn’t done pretending and was probably eager to come brag to him again.

Let them come.

He was ready.

—

Just kidding, he wasn’t ready.

He tightened his jaw, pressed his lips, and gripped the tea Shen Yan poured for him, drinking it all in one go and slamming the cup down.

The cup cracked, and when Shen Yan poured again, the amber tea seeped out in thin streams.

Shen Yan couldn’t help but laugh, teasing: “Nervous? Afraid I’m coming for revenge?”

“No.” Warren said in a low voice.

Shen Yan didn’t ask further, sighed while holding the cup, but said nothing.

In the eerie silence, Warren summoned courage to look at him, his heart uneasy but his expression cold and emotionless, “Why aren’t you talking?”

“I don’t know how to say it to you.” Shen Yan said helplessly, “It would sound too narcissistic and embarrassing.”

“Say it.”

Warren was straightforward, and so was Shen Yan: “Warren, can you please stop liking me?”

Warren’s heart pounded heavily. His mouth moved faster than his brain, coldly: “Who likes you?”

Shen Yan’s eyes widened, then relaxed, smiling happily: “Really?”

Warren stared at him straight and interrupted: “I love you.”

Shen Yan: “…Stop.”

“You were the one who seduced me first, Shen Yan.”

Warren lowered his head, hiding his reddening eyes, “You lied so much to me, fooled me completely, easily walked away with someone else, and now you won’t even allow me to say I love you—”

“You might as well kill me. I’d rather die by your hand.”

After saying this, the atmosphere instantly turned cold.

The tea on the table cooled down, the steam vanished.

Only then did Shen Yan speak seriously:

“I have a boyfriend, so I can’t return the same feelings. These are all truths, I’m not lying to you.”

Warren’s eyes flickered: “If you broke up with Ruan Zhixian…”

“That’s not the point,” Shen Yan cut him off.

Warren’s slightly raised emotions quickly fell again.

“Warren, look forward.” Shen Yan didn’t continue the topic, got up, and patted Warren’s shoulder encouragingly, “I arranged a new identity for you. You’ll be released tomorrow and sent to District Three. Someone will be waiting for you there.”

“You will start a new life and find a more suitable lover. It won’t be worse than now.”

Shen Yan didn’t give him a chance to respond, and after a moment of silence, poured him a cup of tea.

“I’m leaving now. Goodbye.”

His footsteps faded away, leaving the sound of the door closing.

Warren bowed his head; his features shrouded in darkness and unclear.

That night, he escaped prison again.

He refused to accept the ending Shen Yan arranged for him.

Earlier, Ruan Zhixian taught him: if you can’t win Shen Yan’s love, then deep hatred is good—at least you occupy a place in his heart.

In the brief dark cell, he thought of many torturous ways. One hour before meeting Shen Yan, he gave himself silent encouragement:

“Come on, Warren, you’re a cold-blooded, ruthless killer. Make him hate you, hate you the most.”

But when Shen Yan called him “husband,” all preparations collapsed. Cold? Cool? None of that existed. Words in his dictionary broke down, swept away.

Only after Shen Yan left his sight did he manage to repair them.

Now, it was the same.

He couldn’t bring himself to harm him.

He’d kill Ruan Zhixian instead.

If Shen Yan really loved Ruan Zhixian, killing him would make Shen Yan hate him—mission accomplished.

If Shen Yan didn’t love him?

Wouldn’t that be even better?

Warren thought more and more that this made sense.

Ruan Zhixian was just a plaything between him and Shen Yan. How could he lose?

Warren was an experimental subject from the Perfect Human Branch Project, discarded as defective due to data errors. Researchers never expected that Warren’s condition was actually closest to what District One’s people wanted.

His healing ability was too strong; he couldn’t die even if he wanted to.

Pain was almost negligible. When he gave up his humanity, he became a perfect weapon.

No matter how powerful District One’s rule was, Ruan Zhixian couldn’t suppress some rebellious sparks. The enemy of his enemy was a friend; Warren eagerly accepted the olive branches thrown by those enemies and wildly targeted Ruan Zhixian.

Three months later, he met Shen Yan again.

He was labeled a serious criminal, imprisoned for the sixth time, restrained in a cyberpunk-style mechanical cage that controlled even his blinking frequency.

Shen Yan stood outside the cell.

His position had recently changed, and this time his attitude was different from before—his uniform was sharp and cold, his expression unreadable and distant, his face expressionless, cold and aloof.

Two guards in similar uniforms flanked him.

Shen Yan said: “Open the door.”

The man on the left slightly bowed his head, “Mr. Shen, he…”

Shen Yan cut him off, “If anything happens, I’ll take responsibility. Open the door.”

The two men exchanged glances. The one on the right went to verify the identity. After a complex and tedious process, the transparent door slowly slid open on both sides.

Shen Yan entered, the door closed behind him, soundproof, so no one would hear their conversation.

Warren stared at him as he came closer and closer. A twisted feeling was born in his heart. He fixed his gaze on Shen Yan’s face, trying to find what he wanted to see.

But there was nothing. Shen Yan’s expression was very calm. He silently stopped half a step before him. They locked eyes, and after a brief silence, Shen Yan spoke first.

“Warren, your death sentence is set for one week from now. Due to your special constitution, this execution will be extremely cruel. You will be injected with the research institute’s newest drug, which can dissolve your muscles within three seconds of injection.”

“You will be torn apart piece by piece by machinery. After death, no one will claim your body. Your corpse will become research material for the institute…”

Shen Yan paused, his gaze flickering: “Is this the ending you want? Honestly, it’s pathetic.”

Warren gave a hoarse laugh: “So? Should I regret it? Regret not choosing the more stable path you arranged for me?”

Shen Yan: “Yes.”

“No!” Warren struggled angrily, and the restraints around him discharged high-voltage electricity. He stared straight at Shen Yan, speaking each word clearly: “Shen Yan, don’t be so arrogant. Who asked you to care?”

“Don’t waste your kindness on me. Want to save me? Who do you think you are? The Virgin Mary?”

Shen Yan’s expression didn’t change: “Anything else to say?”

Warren smiled even more crazily, his eyes full of madness, “Hahaha, Shen Yan, my dear, come kill me. I don’t care if I live or die, but if you don’t do it yourself, I’ll never forgive you!”

Shen Yan: “…Wow.”

Shen Yan twitched at the corner of his mouth, “So passionate, bro.”

He made a gesture at the indoor surveillance. The red light on the camera dimmed, and the two men who accompanied him quietly left.

Warren: “What are you doing?”

Shen Yan sighed and said like chatting about everyday matters: “You just like me that much?”

Warren coldly: “I don’t.”

“Oh no,” Shen Yan pretended to be disappointed, “I don’t need a bodyguard who hates me.”

Warren’s heart stirred a little. “How come you’re short of bodyguards?”

Shen Yan: “Of course I’m not short of them.”

As he spoke, Shen Yan moved closer, the distance between them no longer safe. His finger tapped on Warren’s chest, his brows hiding a mischievous tease.

“What I’m missing is you, Warren.”

—

After becoming a bodyguard under Shen Yan’s guidance, Warren gradually understood everything.

It turned out he was just a part of someone’s play.

The forces that pushed him to attack Ruan Zhixian actually partly belonged to Ruan Zhixian himself.

When Warren attacked him, he could go to Shen Yan to play the victim, using the opportunity to test Shen Yan’s true feelings — whether Shen Yan would completely cut ties with him for Ruan Zhixian.

Ruan Zhixian was forcing Shen Yan to kill him.

But Shen Yan did not. Instead, he kept him close.

That was punishment for both him and Ruan Zhixian.

Every time Shen Yan appeared with Warren, Ruan Zhixian’s expressions were very interesting.

He knew he had become a tool Shen Yan used to manipulate him, turned into a clown.

Yet when Shen Yan suggested leaving again, he chose to stay.

No other reason.

He enjoyed being the “third party.”

Although Shen Yan always rejected him, keeping a distant and indifferent relationship, that didn’t matter.

At least he was close to him, at least he could see him every day.

Warren’s mindset had completely twisted.

So much so that his mental state stabilized as a result.

Being the third was about enjoying the current state.

Fighting and striving too hard would end up with nothing, just like Blaze and Falson.

At the wedding, Warren calmly clinked glasses with Shen Yan, sincerely wishing him a happy marriage.

Warren downed his drink. Something inside him gradually collapsed.

Yes, he would.

Be satisfied with the status quo.