Help! I'm the Plot Device: Just Here to Save the Heroes

Three Offerings and a Very Stressed System

Yan An stepped closer, his presence filling the space between them. His voice was low, teasing, as he asked, “Why? Can’t you walk at my side?”

Xu Ming pressed his palms together like he was praying, eyes glistening. Side by side! The chemistry! The tension! Then under his breath, he whispered, Even if I die in this form… it’s worth it just to witness this.

Jerry faltered, caught off guard, his words failing him. He turned his head away to hide the heat in his face.

Yan An’s mouth curved almost imperceptibly. He took Jerry’s hand with quiet finality. “Come.”

As he pulled him forward, Jerry glanced back—just once—to see Xu Ming peeking from behind the bamboo poles, waving his arms in exasperated panic. Jerry only sighed, lips quirking, and gestured for him to follow.

Xu Ming gave him two thumbs up. Best third wheel ever.

🐱🧶🐱

Capital City Street

The festival streets were alive with sound and light. Drums and flutes wove through the chatter, the air thick with the scent of roasted chestnuts, fried cakes, and syrup. Lanterns swayed above in streams of red and gold, their glow spilling over stalls bursting with trinkets.

Jerry walked a little ahead, eyes darting everywhere. It wasn’t often he saw so much color gathered in one place, and for once, he forgot to guard his expression.

Yan An followed at his own pace, steady and silent—until Jerry stopped short at a hawthorn stall.

Rows of candied fruit glistened like jewels, sugar catching the lantern-light. Jerry leaned closer, almost pressing to the counter, his eyes bright. But before he could say a word, Yan An stepped forward.

“Two.”

The vendor grinned, passing over the skewers. Yan An held one out without looking at Jerry.

Jerry blinked, startled. “…You bought me candy?”

“You were staring.”

Jerry bit into it, crunch loud in his ears. The sweetness was almost too much, but his lips betrayed him with a smile anyway. He didn’t see the way Yan An’s gaze lingered, calm but unreadable.

Jerry licked the last bit of syrup from his fingers, then asked casually, “So… why did you meet with Liang Fei secretly- earlier?”

Yan An gave him a sidelong look. “Why? Were you worried?”

Jerry blinked, caught off guard. “Worried? About what? You meeting someone? Please.”

A faint smile tugged at Yan’s lips. “I meant—are you worried your sister-in-law won’t marry your brother… because of me?”

Jerry nearly tripped over his own feet. “Wh—what kind of ridiculous thing is that?!” His voice pitched higher than he intended.

Yan tilted his head, watching him with calm amusement. “You seem nervous.”

Jerry’s ears burned. “Nervous? Me? Tch—nonsense.” He spun around abruptly, pointing at the nearest stall as if it were the most important discovery of his life. “Waaah, look! Lanterns!"

He moved on. Lantern stalls dotted the street, delicate silk painted with blossoms, koi, even phoenixes. Jerry stopped again, eyes tracing one particular lantern—pink petals drifting across pale silk.

Yan followed at an unhurried pace, hands clasped behind his back, watching the red tips of Jerry’s ears with open amusement.

When Jerry dared to glance back, Yan was smiling faintly. The sight made his chest tighten, so he snapped his head forward again, muttering, “What are you grinning at…”