Shen Ju’s vision swam, stars bursting everywhere—not exaggerating, everything sparkled and flashed.
But he knew he couldn’t let up yet.
He had 996 zap him again. Dragging his limp body, he crawled to find his phone and called Pei Yan.
“Pei-ge, help…”
Pei Yan, Pei Haochuan, Han Chengfeng, and Ke Sheng all rushed over together.
By the time Shen Ju called, he was already woozy, couldn’t explain clearly—just started with “Pei-ge, help.” Pei Yan gripped his phone and bolted upstairs. Pei Haochuan, knowing Guan Mulin was with Shen Ju, followed right behind. Han Chengfeng and Ke Sheng saw Pei Yan’s face change after the call and tailed them.
They thought something bad had happened.
But when they burst into the room…
Two guys on the floor—one familiar: Wei Tianxi.
Then at the bed, Shen Ju slumped against it, drenched in sweat, cheeks blazing red.
Obvious something was wrong.
Pei Yan rushed over, propped Shen Ju up, and felt his forehead. “What happened?”
Shen Ju leaned into Pei Yan’s chest, nuzzling instinctively, but forced himself alert. “Those two bowls… get them tested…”
“Where’s Mulin?!”
Pei Haochuan didn’t see Guan Mulin anywhere and demanded of Shen Ju.
Shen Ju: “…I wasn’t sure I could take them both, so I hid him in the bathroom first…”
Pei Haochuan charged into the bathroom.
Guan Mulin was even more out of it.
The second Pei Haochuan loosened his grip, Guan Mulin lunged at him.
“Guan Mulin! It’s me—look!”
Pei Haochuan dragged him to the bathroom door and looked to Pei Yan. “What now?”
In this state, hospital?
Could the drugs even be flushed out?
Han Chengfeng and Ke Sheng improvised ropes from whatever was around, tying up Wei Tianxi and the other guy. No need to guess—they knew Shen Ju and Guan Mulin had been drugged.
Fuck, there was even a camera on the floor! It was obvious what they were trying to do!
Wei Tianxi sure had some balls.
Han Chengfeng and Ke Sheng cursed under their breath as they glanced at Shen Ju and Guan Mulin.
“How are those two doing?”
Not good at all.
This drug kicked in fast, and its effects were intense.
Pei Yan’s face darkened. “Wake one of them up and make him spill what drug it was!”
Han Chengfeng slapped Wei Tianxi a few times.
He didn’t wake up…
Frightened, Han Chengfeng quickly checked under Wei Tianxi’s nose with his finger. Good, he was still breathing.
The other guy, though, got slapped awake by Ke Sheng. He’d supplied the drug, and he stammered out the name, saying they’d have to get their stomachs pumped if they didn’t take something for it.
“No…”
It was Guan Mulin who spoke up.
He’d barely come to his senses and knew exactly what state he was in. Getting carted off to a hospital like this—even a private one—would be mortifying.
He couldn’t lose that kind of face!
Guan Mulin gripped Pei Haochuan’s arm tightly and gritted out, “Take me to another room. I can handle it myself…”
Pei Haochuan’s gaze flickered.
The look he shot Guan Mulin turned predatory in an instant.
“You sure?”
Guan Mulin felt like he was about to lose it. He cursed lowly, “Quit yapping!!”
“Alright.”
Pei Haochuan didn’t waste words. He shrugged off his jacket, wrapped it around Guan Mulin, and half-dragged, half-carried him out the door.
Halfway down the hall, Guan Mulin remembered something. “Wait, what about Chirp…”
“Don’t worry about him.”
Pei Haochuan growled through clenched teeth, “Worry about yourself!”
If Shen Ju hadn’t taken down those two, if they hadn’t gotten there in time—God knows what would’ve happened to Shen Ju and Guan Mulin!
A surge of rage boiled in Pei Haochuan’s chest, churning with no outlet.
Han Chengfeng and Ke Sheng didn’t dare block his path.
Ke Sheng knocked the woken guy out cold again, then both turned to Pei Yan.
Pei Yan scooped Shen Ju up into his arms.
“You two lock these bastards in this room. Investigate what happened, get those two bowls tested, and wait till Shen Ju and Guan Mulin are clear-headed before calling the cops.”
“Got it.”
They didn’t dare ask questions and just watched as Pei Yan carried Shen Ju away.
Afterward, Han Chengfeng and Ke Sheng exchanged glances.
Surprised?
Yeah, they all were.
But thinking it over…
It made sense…
Fuck.
What a mess!
They glared at the unconscious Wei Tianxi and the other guy on the floor, each kicking one—especially Wei Tianxi. He was done for.
Pei Yan had hesitated for a moment.
He’d considered taking Shen Ju to the hospital.
But 996 had private-messaged him, saying Shen Ju had hugged Guan Mulin and taken down the other two—”way too much exertion,” making the drug hit even harder. Stomach pumping probably wouldn’t work now.
996 grumbled to itself about it.
How is the host getting more protagonist treatment than the actual protagonist?
Pei Yan carried Shen Ju to his own room.
He knew this was the room Shen Ju had given up.
Han Chengfeng had told him when they arrived.
He wasn’t too surprised.
Last time, he’d told Shen Ju he thought he liked someone.
Given Shen Ju’s personality, he’d definitely “avoid suspicion.”
Or run away from it.
What Pei Yan hadn’t expected was Shen Ju getting himself blackout drunk.
It hurt his heart.
Whether it was because of him or not, it hurt.
He should’ve cleared things up right then—no giving Shen Ju time to react.
“Pei-ge, it hurts…”
Shen Ju murmured, nuzzling into Pei Yan’s chest in his arms.
He’d stayed clearer-headed than Guan Mulin earlier, thanks to 996 zapping him, but now the drug surged back fiercer. His legs twisted together helplessly, sweat soaking him through.
“Hang in there.”
Pei Yan murmured low, carrying him into the room and heading straight for the bathroom.
He paused abruptly. “You’ll know everything that happens next?”
Shen Ju blinked through the haze. “Huh?”
Pei Yan pulled him closer. “Not talking to you.”
996: “Me?”
“Who else?”
Pei Yan frowned. “Does your system respect this kind of privacy?”
Hey, who you looking down on?
996: “Of course! I’m about to get locked in the timeout chamber!”
“Good.”
996: “…”
It was about to say more, but as Pei Yan pushed open the bathroom door, 996 automatically got shut away.
“…”
This shitty program has never been this smart before!
Pei Yan called out a few more times with no response from 996. Realizing it confirmed what the system said, he relaxed.
He turned on the shower, and hot water poured out soon after.
Pei Yan stripped off Shen Ju’s sweat-soaked clothes, glanced down, then pinched his chin and asked gravely, “Can you?”
Can what?
Shen Ju’s mind was foggy, his body burning and weak. He leaned on Pei Yan to stand—when Pei Yan told him to lift his arms, he couldn’t, so Pei Yan held him close to peel them off. Pants next, down to the last layer. Luckily, he’d already changed out of the thermal underwear, so it went smoothly enough. Shen Ju kept burrowing into Pei Yan’s arms.
Slippery as hell. Pei Yan simply sat on the edge of the tub and pulled Shen Ju onto his lap.
His voice had gone hoarse without him noticing. Ever the gentleman, he bounced Shen Ju lightly and asked again, low, “Can you?”
What the hell can or can’t I do?!
Shen Ju gasped, feeling so pent-up.
Pei Yan grabbed the showerhead and rinsed him down. The hot water helped, washing away the sweat and easing things a bit.
He’d flicked on the heated air system on the way in, so the bathroom warmed up fast—no risk of Shen Ju catching a chill from the sweat.
Pei Yan was sweating too, his shirt clinging to his chest.
He ignored it, slicking back his damp hair to reveal sharp brows and eyes, dark and intense as he stared at Shen Ju. His throat bobbed, like a predator sizing up where to strike.
The hot water jolted Shen Ju somewhat alert.
It took him three seconds to grasp his situation—then panic sharpened his senses further.
“Pei-ge…”
“Mm.”
Pei Yan said, “I’m asking if you can.”
“If you can’t do it yourself, I’ll help.”
“No…”
Shen Ju blurted “no” without thinking, even pushing at him with both hands.
Pei Yan’s eyes darkened further. “Why?”
“You can handle it yourself?”
Even as he spoke like a gentleman, seeing Shen Ju regain some clarity, his hands told another story. He reached down, easily brushing aside Shen Ju’s hands, then pressed close—feeling Shen Ju shudder instantly. He murmured again, “This what you mean by handling it yourself?”
“No…”
Still that word from Shen Ju.
Feeble, though—useless.
He felt like Pei Yan was bullying him.
Pei-ge already likes someone else…
Shen Ju kicked his feet, pissed and wanting to bolt. His ass lifted—then plopped right back down, sliding even deeper into Pei Yan’s lap.
He sensed it instantly.
Shen Ju’s eyes flew wide.
The next second, he blurted, “No shame…”
Pei Yan: “…”
“Shameless, waa…”
Tears spilled from Shen Ju’s eyes as he cursed, feeling utterly wronged.
“You’ve got someone you like… You were talking to the class president…”
“Old cow eating tender grass.”
“Thinking with your dick…”
“Pervert!”
“Annoying, waa…”
Pei Yan couldn’t take it anymore. He crushed his mouth over Shen Ju’s, gripping his head and yanking him flush against his chest.
He devoured Shen Ju’s every breath.
Shen Ju’s eyes bulged, shock clearing his head a bit more.
Just a few seconds. Pei Yan eased back slightly, forehead to forehead, and murmured low, “The person I like is you, baby.”
