Gave off a “not ready to act old” vibe.
Overall, compared to Guan Jianshan, Pei Tai made Shen Ju feel more constrained.
With Guan Jianshan, it was the initial nerves of a junior facing an elder.
But now, under Pei Tai’s scrutiny, Shen Ju fidgeted uncomfortably.
“S-sorry.”
Shen Ju mumbled, “I don’t know how I ended up here. Got kinda lost.”
Pei Tai hummed, eyeing him. “You should’ve had a server show you around.”
As if Shen Ju shouldn’t roam alone.
Shen Ju’s cheeks flushed; he bit his lip, more nervous.
Pei Tai stepped closer.
“I hear you and Pei Yan are close?”
“Uh? Pei-ge?”
“Pei Yan actually tutoring someone.”
Pei Tai glanced at Shen Ju again, still appraising him like he was weighing something. “When I heard, I was floored. Wondered what could make Pei Yan…”
“What are you two doing here?”
Another voice cut in, followed by approaching footsteps.
Shen Ju turned—and his eyes lit up.
“Pei-ge…”
Pei Yan strode over, positioning himself between Pei Tai and Shen Ju. He glanced at Shen Ju, then at Pei Tai. “What are you doing here?”
The tone was sharp.
“This was your mother’s greenhouse before she passed. Can’t I come look?” Pei Tai shot back at Pei Yan.
Shen Ju blinked in surprise.
Pei-ge’s mom…
That little building next door?
“Nothing worth seeing.”
Pei Yan scanned the room. “I hardly ever come here.”
“But stay if you want.”
Pei Yan’s lip quirked. Then he grabbed Shen Ju’s arm. “His parents are looking for him. I’m taking him back. We’ll head out then.”
Pei Tai paused, glanced at the two of them, and finally let out an “Mm.”
Pei Yan pulled Shen Ju away.
Shen Ju let out a breath of relief and hurried after Pei Yan.
It wasn’t until they’d walked some distance away that he spoke up:
“Pei-ge, are my parents looking for me? Should I give them a call…”
“No.”
“Hm?”
Pei Yan led Shen Ju around another corner, stopping only when they reached a secluded, empty spot.
“It was me looking for you.” Pei Yan turned to face Shen Ju.
Shen Ju blinked in surprise. “Then why just now did you…”
Trick your dad like that?
“I didn’t want him to know.”
Pei Yan drew Shen Ju closer, reached out to stroke his hair, and murmured, “Don’t get too close to him.”
Who? Pei-ge’s dad?
Why?
Though full of questions, Shen Ju hesitated only a moment under Pei Yan’s steady gaze before nodding. He didn’t ask why.
“Good boy.”
Pei Yan reached out again, caressing Shen Ju’s cheek.
“You’re not afraid I’ll bully you?”
Shen Ju tilted his head. “Pei-ge wouldn’t.”
“How do you know I wouldn’t? What if I try to coax and deceive you?”
Shen Ju thought it over, then repeated, “Pei-ge wouldn’t.”
Pei Yan let out a low chuckle, sounding a touch helpless.
Then he opened his arms to Shen Ju. “Is it too late for a hug now?”
Not late.
How could it be late?
Shen Ju thought silently.
He spread his arms too, launching himself into Pei Yan’s embrace like a little sparrow.
Actually, I don’t think I’m the one comforting him. He’s the one comforting me right now.
Shen Ju hadn’t wanted to feel this way.
But the moment Pei Yan opened his arms, his emotions surged.
Earlier, when 996 had asked, he hadn’t cried.
But now, burrowed in Pei Yan’s arms, he wanted to cry.
But I have to hold it in.
I can’t cry.
So he burrowed even deeper into Pei Yan’s embrace.
Trying to smother the stinging in his eyes with the tightness of the hug.
Pei Yan keenly sensed something was off.
His brows furrowed abruptly as he pressed a hand to Shen Ju’s back.
“What’s wrong?”
Shen Ju shook his head.
But that reaction only confirmed it for Pei Yan—the kid in his arms was in an unusually low state.
“Shen Chirp.”
Pei Yan’s voice was low. “Didn’t I tell you before? No matter if it’s something big or nothing at all, you can tell me.”
He suddenly recalled the video call last time, when System 996 had hesitated, as if holding something back.
So, when I wasn’t around, that System finally told Shen Ju something?
What did it say?
Pei Yan’s brows knitted tighter.
He figured asking directly wouldn’t get Shen Ju to spill.
And sure enough, Shen Ju shook his head again, staying silent.
He seemed to be holding something back. It was a long moment before he spoke in a tone that sounded perfectly calm, as always: “I’m really fine.”
That means he really isn’t.
And it’s something even trickier than whatever’s already going on.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t react like this.
But Pei Yan had no idea what.
He didn’t know where to even start.
Ever since learning Shen Ju had this thing called System 996 bound to him, Pei Yan had been deliberately drawing closer—whether through tutoring sessions or just finding ways to bond. He never denied his initial purpose: curiosity. Shen Ju’s situation was beyond his understanding, tied to too many unknowns. He needed more intel.
But now, his desire to know more wasn’t about intel anymore. It was purely for Shen Ju himself.
Still, Pei Yan knew Shen Ju could be stubbornly tight-lipped.
If he didn’t want to say it, he wouldn’t— no matter what.
Pei Yan waited, but neither Shen Ju nor 996 spoke up.
No intel.
It left Pei Yan faintly irritated.
He’d spotted the “loophole.”
As long as he wasn’t by Shen Ju’s side, whatever Shen Ju and the System said or did was beyond his control.
And if Shen Ju stopped talking to 996, he’d never know.
Pei Yan’s brows twisted tight.
His expression darkened for an instant.
This lack of control…
He’d anticipated it could happen.
He just hadn’t expected it to grate on him this much when it did.
He couldn’t stand seeing Shen Ju like this.
Especially not knowing why.
Pushing harder wouldn’t help—Shen Ju wouldn’t budge.
Any way around it?
“Uh.”
“Little Uncle…”
Pei Yan looked up to see Guan Mulin and Pei Haochuan, who had appeared out of nowhere.
Guan Mulin was frowning; Pei Haochuan’s mouth hung open.
Neither had expected to walk in on this scene.
Shen Ju heard them too. He paused, gave a tiny sniffle, then lifted his head from Pei Yan’s chest.
Pei Haochuan was still processing. “You… uh, you two…”
Guan Mulin stepped forward, glancing at Shen Ju first. “What’s going on?”
Pei Yan caught the undercurrent and spoke up before Shen Ju could, his words pointed: “Shen Ju seems down. I asked what happened, but he won’t say.”
Guan Mulin froze, then pressed his lips together.
“I’m really fine,” Shen Ju murmured.
Guan Mulin glanced at him. “Maybe it’s because school’s starting soon and he’s in a funk about it.”
Shen Ju mumbled agreement.
But that excuse felt flimsy.
It’d only been days since the New Year holidays ended.
School was still weeks away.
Pei Yan seemed to buy it, though, and didn’t press.
Guan Mulin turned to Shen Ju. “Come on, your parents are probably looking for us.”
“Okay.”
Shen Ju pressed his lips together, shot Pei Yan one last look. He didn’t dare linger—afraid he’d crack and let something slip right there.
What do I do?
I’ve realized I’m way too dependent on Pei Yan.
I can’t keep doing this.
Gotta put some distance between us.
No more than the tasks require.
It’s better for everyone.
That was the plan, but it didn’t lift his mood much.
He told 996 it was fine—he’d adjust soon.
Shen Ju figured a change of scenery would help.
Not fleeing… just recalibrating his mindset. Once he was good, he could get back to tasks.
Staying home too long was “corroding” him.
He couldn’t slack off.
His body felt heavy; he needed to snap out of it.
So he called Jian Yi, asking if he could crash there for a few days.
“Not even a few—just… one or two days is fine.”
Shen Ju wheedled softly. “Can I, bro?”
Jian Yi frowned on the other end. “It’s not impossible, but why the sudden urge?”
“It’s not sudden. I miss you, okay?”
“Shen Chirp, don’t act spoiled.”
Jian Yi paused. “If your family doesn’t mind, come stay a few days. The top bunk’s… still usable. I’ll tidy it up for you.”
Shen Ju caught that, smiling. “You cleared out my little nest again?”
“What ‘little nest’?”
Jian Yi tsked. “We did a big cleanup recently. Less stuff to store after some decluttering, so your top bunk opened up again.”
“Perfect.”
Shen Ju perked up a bit. “Then I’ll come stay a few days.”
“Mm.”
No one in the Guan Family stopped Shen Ju from heading to Jian Yi’s.
But the moment he left, Pei Yan called Guan Mulin.
He seemed to know exactly where Shen Ju had gone, timing the call perfectly. His opening line:
“I know about that System 996. And I know about the tasks Shen Ju’s doing.”
Guan Mulin’s “Pei-ge, what’s up?” died in his throat. He sucked in a sharp breath.
“What?!”
Pei Yan’s voice stayed eerily calm. “Like you all, I can hear Shen Ju’s conversations with that System 996.”
Guan Mulin gaped, catching the “you all.”
He nearly stammered. “H-How do you…”
“So, do you and your family have time?”
Pei Yan ignored his shock, barreling on without pause. “I think we need to meet. I have things to say to you.”
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Dropping bomb-shells lmao