Chà Chà Novel

Tang Wan’s sudden surge of anger sent his mental power slipping out of control. Veins stood out on his hands, and blue light gathered at his fingertips, taking the shape of flames before hurtling toward Qi Yan.

Wen Shilan’s eyes widened. Almost instinctively, he turned and wrapped his arms around Qi Yan. His mind went blank; there was no time to think.

Tang Wan had never expected Wen Shilan to move in front of him. By the time he realized what was happening, he could no longer call the attack back. Terror flashed in his eyes.

Wen Shilan was an ordinary person now. Years of fighting had left his body weaker than most after the loss of his mental power. A direct hit would kill him.

Qi Yan was perhaps the only one who remained calm. Contempt rose in his eyes when he saw the flames formed from Tang Wan’s mental power. He raised a hand, and a flash of silver-white light dissolved the attack before shooting straight at Tang Wan.

Wen Shilan held Qi Yan with his back to Tang Wan, braced for a pain that never came. Instead, he heard an impact, followed by the sound of something heavy falling. He turned to find Tang Wan on the ground, blood at the corner of his mouth. There was no anger on Tang Wan’s face, only the lingering fear of someone who had narrowly escaped disaster.

Qi Yan drew Wen Shilan into his arms and looked down at Tang Wan. His expression grew even more disdainful, a mocking smile touching his lips. “Who do you think you are? As if you could hurt me.”

His borrowed clothes fit badly, yet he radiated a commanding presence. To Wen Shilan, he finally looked every bit a prince: proud and regal.

Wen Shilan’s heart still clenched at the thought of Tang Wan attacking Qi Yan without warning. Thank goodness Qi Yan was stronger. Otherwise, even if he survived the blow, it could have left him half dead.

For once, Wen Shilan couldn’t contain his anger. A fathomless chill filled his beautiful eyes. “Tang Wan, what business is it of yours who he is? And who are you to attack someone who’s with me?”

Someone who’s with him…

Tang Wan stared at Wen Shilan in disbelief. Hadn’t that werewolf deceived him? Wen Shilan’s reaction a moment ago had made it obvious he hadn’t known the cub was a werewolf.

“He’s a werewolf! He took animal form to hide at your side. He lied to you, Wen Shilan! He’s deceiving you!”

The words tumbled out of Tang Wan, frantic and urgent.

Why was Wen Shilan defending a liar?!

Wen Shilan had never spoken to him the way he had tonight. The mockery earlier, the anger now—he had never directed either at Tang Wan before. Once, Wen Shilan hadn’t been able to bear speaking so harshly to him…

Tang Wan braced a hand against the ground and slowly got to his feet. His spleen was probably injured; pain tore through his body. Yet none of it hurt as much as Wen Shilan’s words.

He desperately wanted Wen Shilan to see Qi Yan for what he was. Silan and the Werewolf Planet had never been at war and were on reasonably friendly terms, but werewolves had always been deeply suspicious of outsiders. They rarely mixed with other people. Why would one willingly curl up in Wen Shilan’s arms and play the part of a pet?

“Whether he lied to me is none of your business. Werewolves have never been enemies of the people of Silan, yet you attacked him without asking a single question. I brought him here. Whether he’s a werewolf, someone from another planet, or even just my dog, you have no right to lay a hand on him.”

Even if he were Wen Shilan’s dog, Tang Wan would have no right to touch him…

Was Tang Wan worth less to Wen Shilan than a dog now?

Had Wen Shilan truly given up on him?

Everything Wen Shilan had said tonight conveyed the same message: he no longer wanted Tang Wan. He would never treat him the way he used to.

Tang Wan was no longer the one person Wen Shilan favored, no longer his exception. He had become someone ordinary, someone Wen Shilan could take or leave.

No—perhaps he mattered even less than an ordinary person. Wen Shilan seemed to hate him now…

Qi Yan gave a little hiss without sparing Tang Wan a glance. The menace he had radiated moments ago vanished completely when he turned to Wen Shilan, as though it had never been there. His mocking smile disappeared, too. Frowning, he said, “I’m not a dog. I’m a wolf.”

He was the best-looking, strongest wolf on the Werewolf Planet. One day, he would be its new leader!

“Be quiet.”

“…”

So mean. Wen Shilan was so mean!

Wen Shilan pushed away the arm Qi Yan had around him and walked up to Tang Wan. Looking him in the eye, he said, one word at a time, “Tang Wan, treating you as an ordinary former comrade is already the greatest concession I can make. If you cross the line again, we need never see each other after today.”

Never see each other again?

No. How could Wen Shilan never see him again? He had come all this way for Wu Yi’s birthday. They shared comrades, the same ideal of protecting Silan, and much of the same social circle. They understood each other so well. How could they simply never meet again?

Tang Wan opened his mouth, but before he could speak, a soldier on guard duty rushed into the garden. His face was panicked, his words quick and urgent.

“General! Our detectors have picked up insectoid activity in both the north and south of the city!”

Wen Shilan turned sharply toward the soldier and was about to speak. Then he realized the report was addressed to Tang Wan, who still had blood at the corner of his mouth. Wen Shilan stopped himself.

Tang Wan fixed his gaze on the soldier. “How is that possible?”

Once the insectoid queen fell asleep, her species was left without a leader. They couldn’t launch a war. That was how it had always been.

Wen Shilan had fought the insectoids countless times. Whenever their queen went dormant, all of Silan celebrated, because none of them dared come looking for a fight.

This was the first time the detectors had found traces of insectoids while the queen was asleep. Tang Wan’s first thought was that it was impossible.

Wen Shilan paused and looked at Tang Wan, as though he wanted to say something. In the end, he remained silent. He took Qi Yan’s hand and said softly, “Let’s go.”

Tang Wan started after them, wanting to stop them, but he couldn’t leave now. Gritting his teeth, he ran toward the detection station in the opposite direction from Wen Shilan.

Wen Shilan said goodbye to a thoroughly drunk Wu Yi. He wasn’t worried that the drinks would keep the others off the battlefield. Once they put their mental power to work, they could easily break down the alcohol in their bodies.

Qi Yan drove them home. Wen Shilan asked him several times whether he knew how to drive, and only relaxed after Qi Yan had handled the car smoothly for a stretch of road. He leaned back in the passenger seat, drowsiness creeping over him. He had been drinking, and without mental power to clear the alcohol from his system, he could only wait for the buzz to wear off on its own.

“Open the roof.”

The button was right beside Wen Shilan’s hand. He was simply too lazy to move. All he wanted to do was tip his head to one side and doze.

Qi Yan looked at his hazy expression with a touch of displeasure, but pressed the switch. The rigid roof folded almost halfway into the body of the car, leaving it a sleek convertible.

He drove slowly, perhaps mindful that Wen Shilan had been drinking and afraid a faster ride would make him feel sick. The car moved so steadily that the wind brushed softly against Wen Shilan’s face.

The night air held a hint of coolness, drawing a contented sigh from him. Alcohol left a person a little warm, and the breeze felt just right. It even seemed to carry away some of the irritation he felt over Tang Wan attacking Qi Yan. Eyes closed, a faint smile on his lips, he murmured lazily, “Good puppy.”

Qi Yan took a deep breath. He shouldn’t argue with someone who was drunk, he told himself. Besides, he was almost used to the nickname by now. Still, Wen Shilan didn’t even know his name, and that needed fixing.

“My name is Qi Yan.”

Qi Yan’s voice was clear and bright. He glanced sideways at Wen Shilan, whose head rested at an angle against the seat. From here, Qi Yan could see only his finely sculpted profile and one side of his long, porcelain-white neck. The alcohol had left a faint flush on Wen Shilan’s skin, a paler trace of pink extending down his neck. His lips were vivid, and his long, curled lashes cast fan-shaped shadows beneath his closed eyes. He looked almost innocent, yet desire suddenly stirred in Qi Yan.

For some reason, Qi Yan thought of strawberry cake. Flushed pink and carrying a hint of wine on his breath, Wen Shilan looked like a slice of strawberry cake, freshly made and delicious.

Qi Yan didn’t like strawberry cake. It was too sweet, too rich. He preferred meat; that was the nature of a werewolf.

But at that moment, he found himself thinking strawberry cake must taste wonderful. At least, he very much wanted a taste right now.

His heart began to pound, and he hurriedly looked away. The moment he did, Wen Shilan slowly raised his head and tipped up his chin, indicating that Qi Yan should turn left.

A fork lay ahead. The road to the right led home; the other led to the farm Wen Shilan had visited a couple of days earlier.

Qi Yan had no idea Wen Shilan had been to the farm. Thinking he was too drunk to recognize the way home, he said with a helpless note in his voice, “Home is to the right.”

Wen Shilan yawned. A thin sheen of moisture gathered in his eyes, lending his already alluring gaze another layer of temptation. Resting his cheek on one hand, he looked at Qi Yan.

“Who said I was going home?”

If Qi Yan hadn’t taken human form today, he really would have gone home. But Qi Yan had transformed at just the right time.

What a devoted, considerate ex-husband. Whenever Wen Shilan needed a pillow, there he was to offer one.

Qi Yan met Wen Shilan’s gaze. There was no trace of drunkenness in it, yet it sent his thoughts into disarray. As if he’d been burned, he immediately looked away and steered left.

The farm was only twenty minutes beyond the fork.

It was nearly nine at night. Most of the farm’s lights had gone dark, but the sign still showed that it was open.

Wen Shilan put on a mask as he got out of the car.

“You’re back, young man.”

Wen Shilan had worn a mask on his last visit, so the farm owner had never seen his face. Still, he recognized him at once. Wen Shilan had been here only a couple of days ago, dressed much the same way. The owner saw plenty of people come and go every day, but Wen Shilan’s bearing stood out. Most people who came to the farm weren’t well-off; those with money drank nutrient solution instead. So one glance was enough to identify him.

“That’s right. Could you get me the same things I bought last time?”

Qi Yan had noticed back at the villa that Wen Shilan didn’t like nutrient solution. How strange.

Didn’t everyone on Silan drink it? It was convenient, replenished their energy, and tasted good.

Qi Yan liked meat. That was simply in a werewolf’s nature. He used to wonder why anyone on Silan with a bit of money chose nutrient solution instead. After drinking it for a few days, he understood: it restored energy quickly, came in good flavors, and saved them the trouble of cooking. What wasn’t to like? Why did Wen Shilan insist on making his own meals?

Though “liked cooking” wasn’t quite right. Wen Shilan looked put out every time he had to cook or wash the dishes.

A thought suddenly struck Qi Yan. “Wen Shilan, don’t tell me you’re a picky eater at your age.”

Wen Shilan ignored him and took the vegetables from the owner. Today’s greens were even fresher than the ones he’d bought last time, their tender leaves bright and crisp. But as he looked at them, his expression changed. He quickly took out his phone and called Wu Yi.

“Which way did you go? The south or the north of the city?”

Whenever the insectoids launched a surprise attack, they split into two groups to confuse the detection station. One was the main force. The other consisted of only one or two insectoids, constantly releasing energy. That made every abnormal reading a crucial choice. There were so many insectoids that the Federation’s soldiers could only deploy to one location, and the general decided which one.

Wen Shilan had always made that decision before. This time, it was Tang Wan’s.

In the original timeline, Tang Wan had chosen the north. With his mental power gone, Wen Shilan couldn’t sense the enemy and make the call himself; he had no choice but to leave it to Tang Wan. Unfortunately for the original Wen Shilan, that became the first failure associated with his name. More precisely, it was Tang Wan’s mistake. The insectoids emerged in the south and inflicted heavy casualties. Wen Shilan held the title of chief commander at the time, and although he had given Tang Wan no orders, the blame still fell on him. Tang Wan initially explained that the misjudgment was his and had nothing to do with Wen Shilan. But people had always relied on Wen Shilan, so whether something went right or wrong, he was the first person they thought of.

For the first time, people began to question Wen Shilan’s undefeated record.

Tang Wan, delayed by his wrong assessment, eventually arrived and wiped out the insectoids. It was the first time his name lodged itself in the public’s memory.

That was how people were. No matter how much you had given or what you had accomplished, one small mistake could erase every good thing you had done before it.

And, absurdly, as time went on, Tang Wan himself came to believe that Wen Shilan had made the mistake and that he was the hero who had saved the people of Silan. He forgot that his own lack of ability and his own bad call had caused the casualties in that small battle.

Wu Yi said they were almost at the north side of the city. Wen Shilan closed his eyes and spoke through gritted teeth.

“Get to the south as fast as you can. Tang Wan made the wrong call.”

He ended the call. When he opened his eyes again, the huge, ugly creature he had just spotted was coming toward him, with a dense swarm of smaller, equally ugly creatures at its back.