Lin Zhi climbed down from the bed dejectedly, his gaze still sneaking peeks at a certain spot on Song Mian. Caught by Song Mian’s glare, he immediately behaved himself.
Tong Xu also tried to get Song Mian to let Lin Zhi off the hook.
Song Mian looked at Lin Zhi with a wicked glint of amusement. “What do you think?”
Lin Zhi said, “No need to worry about me.”
Tong Xu: “Zhi Zhi…”
Lin Zhi generously embraced his fate: “Really, no need to worry.”
He definitely wouldn’t die—rich families couldn’t just kill people without breaking the law, after all.
He had checked, and given Song Mian’s size, there was no reaction down there right now. So it wasn’t like he had aroused any response from Song Mian. That meant Song Mian must have a ton of pent-up dissatisfaction and was plotting how to torment him alone. Lin Zhi wouldn’t judge the torment; he really had wronged his bro. If it came to a beating, that would actually be a pretty good outcome.
But Lin Zhi wasn’t willing.
Wrong was wrong, and fear of pain was fear of pain.
At midnight, Lin Zhi knelt on the hotel bed, shamelessly tilting his face up with hands clasped together in a pitiful plea. “I really am a straight guy!”
Song Mian stood with arms crossed, looking down at him skeptically. “A straight guy who bursts into my bathroom?”
Lin Zhi looked even more pitiful. “It was just a joke.”
“If it had been last night and you called it a joke, I might’ve barely believed you. But tonight,” Song Mian’s eyes darkened, “after knowing I’m gay, you still barge in?”
Lin Zhi hung his head. “sigh.“
“Song Mian bro, just punish me already.” Lin Zhi gave up.
“Accepted your fate?” Song Mian raised a brow.
Lin Zhi’s eyes lost their Ultraman sparkle as he nodded.
Song Mian hooked the corner of his lip. He bent down, hands braced on either side of Lin Zhi, and whispered lowly by his ear, “Go lie on the bed first.”
Lin Zhi sucked in a sharp breath, his gaze drifting to that spot again. Song Mian pushed his forehead, shoving him flat onto the bed.
Lin Zhi stubbornly crawled back up!
“If you don’t lie down properly, do you want to go viral on the forum?” Song Mian threatened leisurely.
Lin Zhi raised his hands in grievance. “Teacher Song Mian, before I lie down, I need to change into pajamas.”
Song Mian was silent for a few seconds, then rasped a low “Mm.”
A minute later, Lin Zhi emerged from the hotel bathroom in his pajamas again. He dawdled to smooth out the sheets, then elegantly lifted the covers and slipped in.
Immediately after, Lin Zhi shot up. “I brought your pajamas too—sleeping in pajamas is more comfortable.”
Song Mian played along. “Dragging out time for you.”
Lin Zhi silently rolled over and called out to the Romance Survival System in his mind.
“System bro, do you think Song Mian will let me off tonight?”
There was no response from the system in his head.
Ever since binding with Lin Zhi, the Romance Survival System had always responded instantly to calls—and even showed up uninvited. Now… Lin Zhi felt ashamed and furious. System bro must have bailed!
Was Song Mian really going to make a straight guy like him do that?
But clearly, Song Mian hadn’t gotten hard. Was it… to make him… do…
Damn!
The pure straight guy Lin Zhi didn’t dare think further.
Three minutes passed, and Song Mian lay down beside him. On the massive bed, he had to sleep sideways, his burning gaze fixed on Lin Zhi.
Lin Zhi didn’t dare move, not one bit. “Has Song Feng been bugging you lately?”
Song Mian said gloomily, “Mentioning him won’t help.”
Lin Zhi: “Zhang Yao, he…”
Song Mian suddenly poked Lin Zhi’s cheek. “What do you think?”
Lin Zhi’s cheek heated up. He quickly sucked it in, turned his head, voice trembling. “Bro, I really messed up!”
Song Mian propped his head on his arm. Compared to Lin Zhi’s panic and fear, he was utterly calm as he countered, “Where’d you mess up?”
Lin Zhi obediently admitted, “I shouldn’t have stolen your clothes while you were showering.”
Song Mian’s thin lips parted slightly. “Go on.”
Lin Zhi didn’t want to continue, but his cheek got poked again. Scared, he could only add, “I-I shouldn’t have stolen your socks for that masculine vibe.”
Song Mian huffed a laugh.
Masculine vibe.
Song Mian: “Anything else?”
Lin Zhi stammered, “I-I shouldn’t have… just because I was thirsty…”
Seeing Song Mian’s eyes grow more dangerous, Lin Zhi shut up. His eyes quivered timidly, like a bullied little wife. And Song Mian was the tyrannical husband.
The husband Song Mian said coolly, “You don’t actually think you did anything wrong.”
Lin Zhi touched his face, the pitiful little wife act on full display.
“I’ve realized it now.”
Song Mian’s tone was icy. “Dare to swear every word you said is true?”
Lin Zhi raised a finger.
Song Mian, like the devil incarnate: “Break the oath and starve to death.”
Lin Zhi shrank back, eyes dodging.
The apology was real, but the reasons had some embellishment.
“Song Mian bro, why don’t you just let me off? I swear, I had zero intentions of molesting you! If I did, may I starve to death.”
Song Mian’s face darkened further. Lin Zhi didn’t dare say another word, gazing at him with innocent, pitiful eyes.
After a long moment, Song Mian relented. “I won’t make things hard for you.”
Lin Zhi was delighted yet uncertain. “What does ‘won’t make things hard’ mean exactly?”
Song Mian shot him a glare.
Dumb Lin Zhi vanished. “Song Mian bro, I knew you wouldn’t do that to me!”
Song Mian sneered coldly.
Lin Zhi’s eyes crinkled happily.
Song Mian added, “But that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook.”
Lin Zhi shivered, lifting a corner of the blanket, only for Song Mian to press it down firmly.
Song Mian: “My grandpa’s coming back from vacation abroad next week. He wants me home for dinner—you come with me.”
Lin Zhi relaxed upon hearing it was serious business. Did he still have to gross out Song Feng over dinner?
Song Mian: “No.”
Lin Zhi’s face scrunched up like a seal, a bit depressed. “Gonna use me for fun again?”
Song Mian resisted the urge to poke his cheek again and explained, “Grandpa doesn’t believe I like men. He’s trying to set me up with blind dates. Go as my boyfriend.”
Lin Zhi was dumbfounded.
“But I’m a straight guy.”
Song Mian never doubted, his tone casual. “Not willing?”
Lin Zhi obediently replied, “Nah, I’m willing. Bro in need, I’ll help out.”
Song Mian chuckled lightly.
Lin Zhi furrowed his brows, scooting slightly to the other side of the bed to keep distance from the current Song Mian. Song Mian didn’t say anything, so Lin Zhi kept distancing, practically sleeping on the edge.
Song Mian’s brows knit. “Come closer.”
Lin Zhi scooted over a bit, utterly innocent.
Song Mian’s face blackened. After staring at Lin Zhi for a while, he finally got up with the excuse of “sparing the idiot,” turned off the light, and said nothing more.
The hotel room plunged into darkness. Lin Zhi was thoroughly safe now.
Lin Zhi called out to the system in his mind again. This time, it responded: [I’m here, host. Why were you still wearing clothes when I got back!]
The electronic voice dripped with regret.
Lin Zhi mimicked the system’s usual exaggerated sarcasm: “Because the Male Lead is such a noble, upright Male Lead!”
The system sighed helplessly.
Lin Zhi: “Show me the progress bar.”
The Romance Survival System displayed the progress bar: now at 99.99%.
Lin Zhi exclaimed, “Just 0.01% left!”
The Romance Survival System was a buzzkill: [Host, have you heard of Pinduoduo?]
Lin Zhi was silenced by the system for the first time.
He dropped it and asked, “Is it the affection value?”
The Romance Survival System finally answered: [No. I worked overtime to check for you—it’s not the affection value.]
Since it wasn’t, Lin Zhi relaxed. Tonight’s Song Mian had been a bit weird, but he was still pretty likable, after all.
The system snarked: [Typical deluded straight guy.]
Lin Zhi closed his eyes and fell asleep soon after.
Song Mian still propped his head on his arm, not sleepy at all. But then came rustling sounds—Lin Zhi, huddled in the corner, rolled right next to him under the covers.
Song Mian tugged the blanket, tucking Lin Zhi back in properly. Lin Zhi’s breathing was light and soft. In the darkness, Song Mian inexplicably craved a smoke. He went to the balcony to blow off the cold wind until the smell dissipated, then returned to bed with a chill on him.
Lin Zhi seemed to sense the cold, rolling away from Song Mian, only to be pulled straight into his arms. The irritation that smoking couldn’t fix dissipated in that moment.
The soundly sleeping Lin Zhi let Song Mian hold him, even nuzzling his face against Song Mian’s chest in an extremely intimate position. Only then did Song Mian close his eyes and drift off with Lin Zhi in his arms.
—
The alarm rang at seven. Lin Zhi rubbed his eyes groggily, feeling like he’d slept on something hard. Hard? He pinched it, forcing his eyes half-open. Looking up, he met Song Mian’s expressionless gaze looking down at him.
Lin Zhi’s eyes drifted lower. His hand moved faster than his brain, naturally patting Song Mian’s chest. “Nice pecs, huh.”
“Yeah?”
Lin Zhi snapped awake, bolting upright on the bed. Song Mian then got up to turn off the alarm.
Lin Zhi froze with his back to Song Mian, deep regret inside. Had he just been flirting with Song Mian? His voice muffled, Lin Zhi said, “Sorry.”
Song Mian didn’t ask what for. “Not accepting.”
Lin Zhi groaned in annoyance. “I’ll punish myself!”
Song Mian ignored that, throwing off the covers, his voice fading. “You can sleep five more minutes. Wash up after I’m done.”
Lin Zhi flopped back down instantly. Out of Lin Zhi’s sight, Song Mian’s lips quirked slightly.
Five minutes later, Lin Zhi heard Song Mian call “Lin Zhi” and dragged himself up groggily. He brushed his teeth listlessly, asking the Romance Survival System in confusion, “How did I end up on top of Song Mian during the night?”
The system’s electronic voice sounded weak: [No idea. This system needs rest too.]
Lin Zhi couldn’t detect the guilt in the electronic tone and felt even more guilty. He skipped breakfast—not even a single bun!
“You buy it for me then.” Lin Zhi shyly trailed behind Song Mian, eyeing the three buns and cup of soy milk Song Mian got. He tugged Song Mian’s hem. “But I’m still punishing myself.”
Song Mian took the buns and soy milk from the auntie and handed them to Lin Zhi. “I’ll buy it. Doesn’t interrupt your punishment.”
Lin Zhi couldn’t resist bumping Song Mian’s shoulder.
Song Mian, caught off guard, nearly stumbled. Irritated, he said, “Biting the hand that feeds you?”
Lin Zhi’s eyes crinkled as he took a huge bite of the bun.
Song Mian’s throat bobbed; he turned his head away.
Back in class, Lin Zhi had to face not just his roommates’ concern, but the gossip from the forum that had spread to classmates’ eyes.
Some vagrant had snapped a photo of him getting into Song Mian’s car late at night and posted it on the forum with the title “Campus Hunk and Roommate on a Late-Night Date,” leading to tons of sneaky stares when Lin Zhi entered the classroom.
Those drifting gazes were straight-up bullying!
Before the eight o’clock professor arrived, Lin Zhi slammed his desk in unbearable fury. The class quieted; the sneaky peeks turned blatant. Surrounded by stares, Lin Zhi bellowed, “Who dares look at Song Mian again? Try it!”
That shut everyone up—no more looks.
Song Mian furrowed his brows tightly. “What are you pulling now?”
Lin Zhi leaned close. “It’s for your innocence. You know what the forum’s saying about us?”
Song Mian: “What?”
Lin Zhi thought of the forum posts, face heating. He summed it up: “Stuff not fit for polite company! No need for details. Those people have been poisoned by the forum—they’re observing us.”
Song Mian stayed calm. “I don’t care.”
Lin Zhi nudged him closer, whispering sincerely, “I care! You’re gay, I’m straight. I have a duty to protect your innocence.”
Song Mian: ?
“Flare-up again?”
Lin Zhi puffed his chest. “Hospital checked—I’m fine.”
Song Mian cut him off coldly. “Then shut up.”
Lin Zhi pouted.
During class, Tong Xu sent a concerned message: [Did he beat you?]
Lin Zhi replied fast: [No way. How could Song Mian beat me?]
Tong Xu: [True. I spent all night dreaming you were crying snot and tears on the hotel bed, kneeling and begging for mercy. Still tired.]
The dream was wild, but the friendship real.
Lin Zhi poked his phone: [Free tonight? Dinner on me.]
Tong Xu: [You better. What the hell were you doing in the dorm this week?]
Lin Zhi felt guilty. It was for survival—he’d wronged his bros.
Zhu Muyun also took the time after class to check on Lin Zhi. He pulled Lin Zhi over and inspected him carefully. After seeing no wounds, he breathed a sigh of relief. “Good thing he didn’t beat you up. Don’t do that kind of thing again, got it?”
Lin Zhi stayed silent in refusal. It depended on the mission—he couldn’t promise that!
Zhu Muyun: “……”
Lin Zhi changed the subject. “Are you free tonight? Let me treat you and Tong Xu to dinner.”
Zhu Muyun was speechless. “I can make time. But can you give me back my key?”
Lin Zhi replied, “I’ll give it back when I get home.”
Zhu Muyun warned, “Don’t cause any trouble.”
Lin Zhi nodded.
Lin Zhi didn’t think any of his actions counted as causing trouble. He was just a guy doing what he had to do to survive.
Lin Zhi invited Zhu Muyun and Tong Xu, but notably left out Song Mian. Song Mian only found out at noon when Tong Xu asked Lin Zhi about the dinner location back at the dorm.
Song Mian didn’t say a word about it. It wasn’t until six in the evening, when Lin Zhi was about to head out, that Song Mian stopped him. He said flatly, “You’re treating them to dinner?”
Lin Zhi: “Yeah.”
Song Mian’s expression darkened. “What about me?”
Lin Zhi explained while changing his shoes, “This is to apologize to them.”
Song Mian laughed out of anger. “The person you should apologize to the most is me.”
Lin Zhi looked up and playfully bumped Song Mian’s shoulder in an affectionate gesture. “That’s why I’ll treat you alone the next day or the day after.”
Song Mian paused, and his tone softened considerably. He cautioned, “Don’t drink.”
Lin Zhi didn’t take it to heart. “Got it.”
Song Mian grabbed the back of Lin Zhi’s collar. “If you come back drunk and try to throw a drunken tantrum at me, everything that’s happened these past few days will end up word-for-word on the campus forum.”
Lin Zhi was startled. His eyes cleared up instantly, and he promised even more earnestly, “I won’t drink at all! You have to believe me!”
Song Mian straightened Lin Zhi’s little tiger collar with considerable force, his eyes brimming with thick menace. “You’d better not.”
Lin Zhi nodded vigorously right then, his eyes as innocent and pure as an amoeba.
