Chapter 37

At eight o’clock on Saturday morning, Butler Sun led a man in a suit to Song Mian. Lin Zhi was still groggy when Butler Sun urged him to come over as well.

It took Lin Zhi a beat to remember that Song Mian had mentioned yesterday about hiring someone to teach them about being pregnant husbands!

The man had slicked-back hair and wore a suit—he looked like the epitome of an elite professional.

Lin Zhi perked up. “Teacher, we’re counting on you! I just love learning, so don’t think too much of it.”

Expert Liu smiled warmly. “Loving to learn is a good thing. I’ll teach you both seriously.”

Lin Zhi felt quite nervous. He—he was about to become a qualified pregnant husband!

The lesson took place in a dedicated room equipped with a massive screen. Lin Zhi and Song Mian sat on the sofa.

But after the formal lesson began, Lin Zhi went from sitting ramrod straight to gradually looking utterly bewildered.

“Rabbits are highly social animals that require a lot of human companionship…”

Lin Zhi rubbed his ears.

Why was he talking about rabbits?

Lin Zhi glanced bewilderedly at Song Mian, who was listening attentively.

“After the first sexual encounter or sexual stimulation, female rabbits exhibit pseudopregnancy. In pseudopregnancy, even without actual conception, elevated progesterone levels cause the female rabbit’s body and behaviors to mimic those of pregnancy exactly. For example, nesting behavior, and…”

Lin Zhi sat there in a daze, his messy bedhead making him look even more lost, as the elite teacher lectured. It was a one-on-two session, and Song Mian beside him listened very seriously, while Lin Zhi was just confused. After a whole morning of lessons on female rabbit pregnancies, Lin Zhi’s mind was filled with images of bunnies.

After the lesson ended, Expert Liu chatted a bit more with Song Mian. When Expert Liu said, “See you tomorrow morning,” Lin Zhi obediently nodded and said, “Goodbye, Teacher Liu.” Only after Expert Liu’s car had driven out the gates did Lin Zhi immediately go to confront Song Mian.

Lin Zhi was incredulous. “That was a lesson for pregnant husbands? That was about rabbits! Did you hire the wrong person?”

Song Mian leisurely pinched Lin Zhi’s doughy cheek. “No mistake. First learn about animals, then about humans. Step by step.”

Lin Zhi didn’t get it. “Why?”

Song Mian: “Humans evolved from animals.”

Lin Zhi’s eyes widened.

Holy crap?

Such words had actually come out of Song Mian’s mouth??

Lin Zhi squatted on the ground, sulking. “I don’t want to listen. I’d rather play games. I’m skipping tomorrow’s lesson!”

“Then why did you say ‘see you tomorrow’ to him?”

He might be a poor student, but he respected teachers!

Lin Zhi glared at Song Mian.

Song Mian was charmed again by how cute he was.

Song Mian patted Lin Zhi’s head. “If you don’t want to listen, I’ll go alone tomorrow.”

Lin Zhi was satisfied!

But then Lin Zhi noticed a piercing glare. He glanced around and spotted Butler Sun lurking stealthily behind a pillar.

Lin Zhi locked eyes with Butler Sun.

Lin Zhi immediately went over to him.

Butler Sun said snarkily, “The young master hired an overseas animal expert at great expense to teach you, and you won’t even listen?”

Lin Zhi was shocked!

What a waste!

Lin Zhi wailed in grief, “I really don’t deserve it.”

Butler Sun: “You’re not completely undeserving.”

Lin Zhi’s eyes lit up, and he started wheedling and coaxing, trying to pry some wealthy family gossip out of Butler Sun. Butler Sun went off to wipe the windows.

Lin Zhi followed, persisting with his soft begging until Butler Sun finally relented. “What gossip do you want?”

Lin Zhi actually thought about it. He wasn’t that curious about Song Feng anymore. Rubbing his chin, Lin Zhi pondered for a moment before asking curiously, “Why did Song Mian spend time in the countryside? Isn’t he a rich young master?”

Butler Sun’s expression turned odd. “You like the young master that much?”

Lin Zhi scratched his face. “Not really?”

Butler Sun: “Then why are you curious about his past? Doesn’t he have enough money for you to spend?”

“I’m just purely curious.”

Whenever he wanted the tea, the Romance Survival System would always show up on cue, chiming in silently: 【Host, being curious about a man is the start of liking him! You’re gay.】

The super-sensitive Lin Zhi wavered a bit but still didn’t believe it.

Butler Sun was a talkative one by nature, and with few people left to chat with these days. Since Lin Zhi asked, he pulled Lin Zhi to the back garden, where the two whispered together. “The young master’s time in the countryside goes back to Song Jiancheng’s affair.”

Lin Zhi nodded eagerly, giving full emotional investment.

Butler Sun: “Song Jiancheng cheated just a year after marrying the madam. He even sent the child from his affair to the kindergarten where the young master attended. The young master was in the older class, and Song Feng was in the younger one—just two years younger. The young master was of noble status and good-looking too. That illegitimate son trailed after him constantly, and back then, the young master wasn’t as aloof as he is now, so he let him follow.”

Lin Zhi sat cross-legged on the lawn, listening raptly.

“But one time, when I went with the driver to pick up the young master, I noticed that kid. He looked just like Song Jiancheng, so I told the madam.”

“Holy crap, so you were the one who discovered it?” Lin Zhi was shocked.

“Even without me, someone else would have. Song Jiancheng was too brazen.” Butler Sun crossed his legs too. “The madam acted decisively. After investigating, she had Song Jiancheng stripped of his company position and took over herself. Song Feng was forced to transfer schools then—we don’t know where. But we all kept it from the young master; he had no idea. That illegitimate brat, before transferring, ran over and hugged the young master crying. The young master patted his head and told him to study hard elsewhere. I still get heartbroken thinking about that scene!”

Butler Sun fumed.

Lin Zhi felt a pang too and wisely said, “Song Feng probably fell hard for Song Mian right then.”

“Disgusting. As if he’s worthy?” Butler Sun sneered in disdain. “Because of the family and company upheaval, the madam didn’t want it affecting the young master, so she sent him to the countryside for half a year, cared for by a couple. That’s when the young master raised a rabbit.”

Lin Zhi nodded. “I know! A really fat one.”

Butler Sun glanced around and whispered, “Don’t say that in front of the young master. He treasured that rabbit.”

Lin Zhi awkwardly scratched his face again—he really had said it.

Butler Sun continued: “The young master raised it for months, fattening it up nicely. When the madam found out, she was strict with him and wouldn’t let him waste energy on a rabbit. She planned to poison it. When I learned, I went to the countryside myself and had the young master give me the rabbit to care for.”

That rabbit had been very lively.

Butler Sun still remembered the scene vividly: the chubby little rabbit frantically digging carrots in its pit, then scampering to the young master with muddy front paws propped on his pant leg, eyes sparkling bright.

Song Mian had told Butler Sun that it wanted him to wash the carrots because the rabbit needed them clean.

After washing the carrots, it wanted its paws washed too. The Song Mian back then didn’t have the polished aloofness he had now; he smiled as he washed the little rabbit’s paws. The rabbit munched on carrots while Song Mian propped his chin, watching.

Song Mian was alone in the countryside, introverted, and kids his age wouldn’t play with him. Only that rabbit kept him company every day. But Butler Sun took it away. Song Mian shed big teardrops back then, but there was no choice—it would have been poisoned otherwise.

Butler Sun wiped his tears, and Lin Zhi’s eyes welled up too as he listened.

But Lin Zhi asked sincerely, “Uncle Sun, could you even raise a rabbit?”

“No.” Butler Sun was honest. “But the young master told me: rabbits sleep in rooms, doors can’t be closed, wash their face and paws every night, they like carrots and spinach. He instructed me on so much, but…” Butler Sun’s eyes filled with regret as he recalled something from over a decade ago. “Once I got it home, it stopped eating and drinking, pacing by the door wanting out every day.”

That was the most human-like rabbit Butler Sun had ever seen. Whenever the young master called, the rabbit would press close to listen, though it couldn’t understand, just making “squeak squeak” noises.

Butler Sun later realized it was in distress. When he thought to let it out to relax, the rabbit escaped on its own. So fat, yet it ran so fast.

And back then, not everywhere had cameras, so once lost, it was gone for good.

Lin Zhi frowned, a bit anxious. “Just like that? Wasn’t Song Mian heartbroken?”

Butler Sun still choked up thinking about it. “When the young master found out, he searched for days. Some places cars couldn’t reach, so he ran shouting. His voice went hoarse, but no rabbit answered. Then he fell ill and never mentioned rabbits again.”

Lin Zhi comforted him, wiping tears.

He really hadn’t known. If he had, he wouldn’t have called the rabbit in the photo fat.

Butler Sun sighed. “The young master has had it rough. Song Jiancheng never cared for him. After the affair, the madam wanted to prove her genes were superior, so she pushed him to learn everything under the sun. When the madam passed later, the young master didn’t shed a tear, and everyone said he was heartless. But I know he just couldn’t cry anymore. Then he met you. So even if you can’t have kids, I can’t truly hate you.”

Lin Zhi felt guilty, but Butler Sun suddenly looked at him squarely. “A big reason the young master is with you is your eyes—they’re just like that rabbit’s. The first time I saw you, I knew he wouldn’t be able to let you go. You’re too similar. He might be using you as a stand-in for the rabbit.”

Lin Zhi’s heart suddenly ached. He recalled when he was dressed as a doll, Song Mian asking if the rabbit’s eyes looked familiar. So it wasn’t random.

The ever-blunt Butler Sun comforted him: “But it’s nothing. The young master’s white moonlight is a rabbit—no threat to you.”

Lin Zhi’s expression grew grave.

After Butler Sun left, Lin Zhi sat there pondering. After a long while, he pulled out his phone and found a number.

He scrolled to a harassing message Song Feng had sent long ago: [You think he values you? You’re just his toy! He lost a rabbit as a kid, and you look just like it.]

Lin Zhi’s face grew even graver. Back then, he’d been quite pleased to be such a cute creature in Song Mian’s heart.

Now—

“System bro, you there?”

Romance Survival System: 【Here, host.】

Lin Zhi said seriously, “Did Song Mian originally play with me because he saw me as a rabbit stand-in?”

Romance Survival System exclaimed: 【Host, you’re actually buying into that nonsense? How could a person be a rabbit’s stand-in?】

Lin Zhi felt sad.

【Host, what are you overthinking? The Male Lead has no weird fetishes. Just ask him! He super loves you, okay? How could you be a stand-in?】

Lin Zhi said firmly, “No, I won’t ask. This is fine!”

Romance Survival System: 【Host, you clearly want to ask! You have a baby too! You’re tough on the outside but hurting inside—others might not know, but the baby in your belly will.】

True enough.

Lin Zhi could only wipe his tears secretly again and go find Song Mian.