Lin Zhi’s face was still quite flushed as he went downstairs to grab his phone. When he returned to the bed, he saw Song Mian’s gaze fixed on his face. Lin Zhi hurriedly covered his cheeks, frowning. “If you pinch it again, it’ll fall apart! Even if you want revenge, this isn’t the way.”
Song Mian’s eyes flickered slightly. “Revenge for what?”
Lin Zhi felt guilty. “For barging into your bathroom.”
Song Mian leaned against the bed’s edge, quite magnanimous. “We settled that last night. I won’t hold it against you anymore.”
Lin Zhi summed it up. “Fine. Then you’re just being petty.”
Song Mian: “……”
The competitive game Lin Zhi often played had ranks in order: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, Extraordinary King, and Shining King.
Lin Zhi was still at Gold rank. Song Mian’s season hadn’t updated yet, so his rank hadn’t carried over. The last time he’d played was a few months ago, when Lin Zhi had been cursed out by teammates, snuck off to cry, and got caught by Song Mian. After asking about it, Song Mian had queued up with him for a few games.
The experience wasn’t great. Lin Zhi stopped crying, but Song Mian ended up getting called trash by him.
After the update, Song Mian’s inherited rank was a plastic Gold—the same as Lin Zhi’s. Song Mian glanced at Lin Zhi’s rank and let out a mocking chuckle.
Lin Zhi could be very sensitive at times. “What are you laughing at?”
Song Mian teased on purpose. “Nothing.”
Lin Zhi wasn’t pleased. “Sure, I’m Gold too, but I’m at the top of Gold. You’re at the bottom. There’s a huge gap between us.”
Song Mian humored him. “Mm-hmm.”
Lin Zhi: “Hmph.”
Half an hour later, Tong Xu came back alone. Lin Zhi coughed loudly. At the sound, Tong Xu looked over.
Tong Xu was surprised but held back his curiosity about why Song Mian was sleeping on Lin Zhi’s bed. “You’re gaming with Song Mian?”
Lin Zhi acted tsundere. “Yeah! Tell Muyun for me. Where is he?”
Lin Zhi only saw the tightly shut dorm door.
Tong Xu poured himself a glass of water. “He said I pissed him off so much he had to go to the library to read some classics to calm down.”
Lin Zhi sighed. “That’s such a niche way to cool off. Take a photo and send it to him.”
Tong Xu was speechless but complied.
After washing up, Tong Xu wanted to join them too.
Lin Zhi refused. “You call me trash. Song Mian’s trash too.”
Song Mian shot Lin Zhi a glance. Lin Zhi bumped Song Mian’s head like they were bros, then saw Song Mian flash into a wall. He couldn’t help but chuckle mischievously.
Lin Zhi realized gaming with Song Mian was pretty fun. They were both trash—no one calling the other big brother. And sometimes, watching Song Mian’s clumsy plays next to that face created a weird contrast.
Song Mian gripped his phone tightly and threatened coldly. “Laugh again, and I’ll make this game disappear.”
Lin Zhi instantly stopped laughing.
Tong Xu was startled too. “Zhizhi, don’t laugh!”
Lin Zhi behaved.
At ten-thirty, Zhu Muyun returned. Lin Zhi raised his brows at him. Zhu Muyun spoke up. “From now on, just game when you’re free. It’s way better than doing other stuff.”
Lin Zhi pretended not to hear and dove back into the game. After one match ended, he yawned. He’d wanted to keep playing, but Song Mian quit, so Lin Zhi did too.
Once the game was off, his bodily senses sharpened again. He was sleeping next to Song Mian again. Lin Zhi had just closed his eyes for a few seconds when he suddenly opened them wide, lifted the blanket, and glanced downward—only for Song Mian to yank it back down. Song Mian had reached his limit. “You really that eager to see it?”
Lin Zhi yelped and clamped a hand over Song Mian’s mouth, his eyes darting sneakily to the opposite bed. He leaned to Song Mian’s ear and whispered, “Don’t say that stuff in front of the roommates.”
Song Mian’s breathing grew a bit heavy. He grabbed Lin Zhi’s wrist. When Lin Zhi looked up, his foolish eyes met Song Mian’s head-on. He whispered again, “Don’t be mad. I’m just curious.”
Lin Zhi tugged at his hand, and Song Mian let go—but his gaze was dangerously intense.
“Curious about what?”
Lin Zhi lay back down, his face even redder. He squirmed on the bed. Song Mian probably knew nothing good would come out of that mouth and cut him off. “Don’t say it. Look up.”
Lin Zhi blankly lifted his head. Then Song Mian’s arm came over, pressing his forehead down until Lin Zhi was fully pillowed on Song Mian’s arm. With a scoop, Song Mian pulled him entirely into his embrace—close enough that looking up showed Song Mian’s face.
Lin Zhi tried to wriggle away like a small animal, but Song Mian held him fast. Song Mian tilted his head and whispered threateningly, “Move again or say one more word, and everything you’ve done to me goes public on the forums.”
That was a massive threat.
Lin Zhi froze. Sure, he’d shared a bed with his parents as a kid, but Dad never hugged him to sleep, and Mom? Lin Zhi figured real men didn’t cling to their moms. So this was his first time being held like this by someone.
Lin Zhi’s heart warmed, like reclaiming a bit of childhood. His pulse raced, and his face burned.
Hearing the host’s inner thoughts, the Romance Survival System silently reminded: 【Maybe not childhood.】
True, his childhood never had Song Mian! Lin Zhi mumbled stubbornly, “Can I say one more thing?”
Song Mian hesitated a second, then relented. “Say it.”
Lin Zhi: “You(╯▽╰) smell so good~~.”
Song Mian: “……”
Song Mian looked down to see Lin Zhi sniffing at his chest. His own breathing hitched for a few seconds. “Can’t you show a little restraint?”
Lin Zhi looked up blankly. Before he could speak, Song Mian said, “Shut up.”
Lin Zhi sighed.
For several nights in a row, Lin Zhi slept with Song Mian. At first, he felt awkward sharing a bed with “Song Mian the girl,” but after the system roasted him multiple times—saying Song Mian was taller, buffer, bigger, and more girly—Lin Zhi got over the embarrassment.
Song Mian was gay, but he was a guy, and he didn’t like Lin Zhi anyway.
Soon, it was Saturday.
Lin Zhi dug out the suit Song Mian had given him for that illegitimate son banquet. Though Song Mian said casual was fine, the savvy Lin Zhi insisted on formality for a first parent meet—and made Song Mian suit up too. Unusually, Song Mian complied fully.
Nervous Lin Zhi wanted to back out at the last minute, but Song Mian soothed him. “Just stick close with some physical contact. No one will see through it. Even if they do, the fallout’s on me, not you.”
Lin Zhi nodded pitifully, like a bullied wife too scared to fight back—until Song Mian pinched his cheek. Under threat, the wife act vanished, and he nodded with firm resolve.
Once in Song Mian’s car, Lin Zhi called out to the Romance Survival System to ease his nerves.
“Big Bro System, no new tasks? I’ve been stuck at 99.99% for a week. Living on pins and needles every day.”
The Romance Survival System snarked: 【You’re just slacking off. You’re still wondering how Grandpa Song will host!】
Lin Zhi closed his eyes to nap. “Not talking to you. Nothing I wanna hear.”
But less than three minutes later, the Romance Survival System announced: 【Host, Side Quest Five has refreshed!】
Lin Zhi squeezed his eyes shut, waiting!
The Romance Survival System declared passionately: 【Side Quest Five: To further capture the Male Lead, soak in a hot spring with him for half an hour! No skin contact required, but stay close! Deadline: Midnight tonight.】
No skin contact?
Lin Zhi rubbed his face with eyes closed. “This quest is too easy. Pinduoduo bargain?”
Romance Survival System: 【This system thinks there’s a catch, Host.】
Then, like discovering a new continent, it got excited: 【Host, there’s also a plot about your death this time. Wanna hear?】
Lin Zhi was curious. “Yes!”
The Romance Survival System’s electronic voice turned grave: 【At the Male Lead’s grandpa’s banquet, the illegitimate son Song Feng drugs the chicken soup, aiming for a fling with the Male Lead to latch on. But the gluttonous Lin Zhi drinks it all. Unaware of the drug’s effects, he jumps into the pool to cool his heat—but forgets he can’t swim and drowns. After Lin Zhi’s death, the Male Lead investigates, swiftly takes control of the Song Family, and upon learning Song Feng did it, keeps him in prison for life. Male Lead Song Mian ultimately becomes A City’s business overlord.】
Lin Zhi was shocked!
Drowned in the pool again
No—Song Feng drugged Song Mian? And he ate it by mistake? Ignoring his absurd death, Lin Zhi turned to Song Mian, stammering. “Song Mian! Y-you… what’s your deal with Song Feng?”
Song Mian was baffled. “Are you an idiot?”
Lin Zhi’s face grew serious. “Can we pull over at the next gas station? I’m scared you’ll crash if I say it.”
Song Mian: ?
The Romance Survival System panicked: 【Host, what are you gonna tell the Male Lead?】
Lin Zhi ignored the system, not overthinking.
After Song Mian pulled over, Lin Zhi grabbed his arm, brows furrowed tight. “Do you know Song Feng has the hots for you?”
Song Mian couldn’t follow Lin Zhi’s train of thought.
“What are you getting at?”
Lin Zhi tilted his head, unable to bear his bro’s innocent look. His eyes filled with pain, voice more pained. “Song Mian, I’m so sorry for you! To have a brother like that. Song Feng… he’s no human!”
Song Mian: ?
