A University 203 Dormitory.
Lin Zhi jolted awake from the bed. His first action was to flip back the covers and scramble over to climb onto the only other occupied bed in the dorm—Tong Xu’s.
It was a four-person dorm where Lin Zhi lived. Tong Xu was one of his roommates, though from the Sports Institute. Due to a shortage of dorm space there, he’d been assigned to their Computer Science dorm. Tong Xu was tall and burly, with a decent personality but a bit of a playboy. He was hanging out in the dorm right now because he’d just broken up with his latest girlfriend.
Tong Xu was in the middle of a gaming session when he glanced sideways and spotted Lin Zhi peeking out like a ghost. He jumped. “Why aren’t you sleeping? What are you doing creeping over here?”
Lin Zhi had already observed Tong Xu for a full three minutes—long enough. He gave a gloomy reminder: “Bro, you’re a side character.”
“You’re the side character.”
Lin Zhi shot him a wise look. “You actually guessed it. Not just you—Zhu Muyun and Song Mian are side characters too. But Song Mian’s the male lead! Here’s a tip: fawn over the male lead, and you’ll upgrade from random extra to important side character!”
Tong Xu: “…..”
“Song Mian’s not here right now, so butter him up next time in person. Now scram, you’re creeping me out.”
Lin Zhi narrowed his eyes. Foolish human.
As he walked back, he muttered, “Random extra, huh.”
Tong Xu: “……”
Lin Zhi wasn’t just talking nonsense. He’d awakened in his sleep! He actually lived inside a wealthy family novel about a male lead’s rise to power… as cannon fodder.
To be honest, he had it even worse than Tong Xu and Zhu Muyun. He was the cannon fodder who died.
Lin Zhi leaned against the balcony alone, letting the cold March wind blow over him as a wave of tragic novel protagonist vibes washed through his heart. He’d died! But the sorrow lasted less than three seconds—there was some good news too. His roommate Song Mian was this novel’s male lead! It was a classic upgrade power fantasy centered on Song Mian.
Lin Zhi pieced together the novel’s plot from his mind. It went something like this:
Song Mian was the eldest son of the Song family in A City, but after his mother’s death, his relationship with his father soured, so he kept his distance from the family. Song Mian studied Computer Science and had zero interest in inheriting the family business, letting the illegitimate son get all uppity. But then Song’s father threw a birthday banquet for that illegitimate son, and by chance, Song Mian brought him—his roommate—to the party. He… slipped and drowned in the swimming pool.
Song Mian didn’t believe it was an accident. He swiftly seized power, investigated the truth behind his death, and though it turned out to be accidental, Song Mian had already plunged deep into the world of fame and fortune. He swallowed up major companies in A City and rose to become a business overlord.
So, Lin Zhi stroked his chin. He was actually that important to Song Mian? Song Mian always pulled that stern face around him, but who’d have thought he was the white moonlight in Song Mian’s heart.
Tch.
Song Mian was such a tsundere.
But—
Why did he have to go with Song Mian to that illegitimate son’s banquet? And the book said it was March 15th. Lin Zhi shouted at the top of his lungs: “Tong Xu, what’s today’s date?”
“March 14. Don’t tell me you’re reborn now. Lottery numbers?”
Lin Zhi sighed regretfully. “No idea.”
“Then get back from the balcony. It’s practically spring—why stand there in a short sleeve pulling some abstract stunt?”
Lin Zhi was freezing and burrowed back into his covers. Tong Xu seemed to have lost his game again and was in a foul mood. Lin Zhi didn’t dare make eye contact with him. He lay in bed, feeling utterly dejected.
He had to die tomorrow. Just like that?
【Ding! Novel contents fully uploaded to host’s brain. If host wants to survive, just capture the male lead Song Mian!】
Suddenly, an electronic male voice rang in Lin Zhi’s mind. He froze, then warily climbed out of bed and looked around.
【No need to look for me, host! I’m in your brain. Allow me to introduce myself: I’m the Romance Survival System! Here to save your life. Scan complete: host has 25 hours left to live.】
Lin Zhi stayed silent.
【Host?】
Lin Zhi still said nothing.
【Host, hello? You there?】
“I’m here. Thinking.” Lin Zhi finally spoke.
“Lin Zhi, quit scaring people.” Tong Xu shot him another warning.
The Romance Survival System spoke: 【Host, just reply in your mind—no need to speak out loud. Too much muttering and people might think you’re crazy!】
Lin Zhi thought: Handsome Lin Zhi.
The Romance Survival System responded enthusiastically: 【Heard that. Host, you really are handsome!】
Lin Zhi recovered and sat up on the bed eagerly. “I’m cannon fodder, huh? Even cannon fodder gets a system? Does it want me to reverse my fate and become the new male lead?”
The Romance Survival System’s electronic voice brimmed with passion: 【Of course not! Though I’m bound to you, I serve the male lead! The book’s only flaw is no romance line. So HQ assigned me the task of finding the male lead a partner. If host wants to live, bind with me. Complete the romance capture tasks, and you’ll get survival time. But scan shows host’s a lazy go-with-the-flow type. Will host work for their own life?】
Lin Zhi stroked his chin again and stayed quiet.
The Romance Survival System asked curiously: 【Host, thinking again?】
“Of course!”
【Then why can’t I hear your thoughts?】
Lin Zhi: “Because I’m faking it.”
The Romance Survival System paused, probably encountering a host like this for the first time.
【So, host? What’s the verdict?】
Lin Zhi: “You mean I have to woo Song Mian, make him fall for me, date him?”
The Romance Survival System sincerely: 【Yep! Host, I know you’re straight, but it’s your only shot at survival!】
Lin Zhi: “Who said I’m straight? I like Song Mian.”
The Romance Survival System short-circuited: 【But the author set you as straight? Have you always been charmed by the male lead?】
Lin Zhi: “Nah, just started liking him. His temper sucks, he’s rude, looks down on me a bit. But to survive, I can be gay.”
The Romance Survival System went silent for several seconds before asking: 【Host, bind?】
Lin Zhi’s mood turned heavy: “I’m straight.”
The Romance Survival System: 【…You just said you could be gay.】
“Straight guys are stubborn like that.”
Lin Zhi agonized for a moment, then had an epiphany: “Tomorrow’s banquet—why should I go with Song Mian? If I don’t, I won’t die!”
The Romance Survival System: 【Host, you’re plot-mandated cannon fodder. Without my help, you’re doomed no matter what!】
Lin Zhi crossed his legs optimistically: “Don’t worry.”
The Romance Survival System snorted: 【Keep being optimistic!】
About ten minutes later, the dorm door pushed open. It was Song Mian. Tall with long legs, decked in designer clothes, he carried a bag of fish noodle soup that didn’t quite fit his image—and… a carrot. He glanced at Lin Zhi, still lounging cross-legged on his bed, and slammed the fish noodles and carrot onto Lin Zhi’s desk. His voice was icy: “Here’s the food you begged for shamelessly.”
Lin Zhi, mid-chat with the system, whipped his head around. Upon seeing Song Mian’s sour face, he auto-ignored it: “Song Mian, I love you!”
Tong Xu, unfazed, quipped: “You should love him. Carrots aren’t even on campus—you had to go out to buy them.”
Lin Zhi, touched: “Song Mian, I—”
“Shut up.”
Lin Zhi clammed up.
The Romance Survival System chimed in: 【You straight guys are so direct. Host, bind me—my tasks fit right into your daily life.】
Lin Zhi: “I’m a straight guy with straight guy pride, after all.”
The Romance Survival System couldn’t figure out what was up with this host—somehow managing an oily vibe in his thoughts!
As Lin Zhi slurped his fish noodles, he noticed an intense stare. He glanced over—Song Mian leaned against the nearby cabinet, gazing down at him. Lin Zhi blinked innocently: “Something up?”
Song Mian finally spoke: “Tomorrow, come with me back home for my dad’s illegitimate son’s birthday banquet.”
Oh ho!
Demanding he tag along so brazenly?
Lin Zhi matched his brazenness: “Why should I? Tomorrow’s Sunday—I wanna sleep.”
Seeing Song Mian’s gaze drift to his fish noodles, Lin Zhi circled the bowl protectively, afraid he’d snatch it. “This fish noodle is rightfully mine. You know how tiring typing is?”
Song Mian reminded him darkly: “Yesterday at lunch, we had braised chicken together. You begged me for the white radish in it. Remember what you said back then?”
He’d promised to be Song Mian’s slave.
Lin Zhi mumbled weakly: “It was just side dish—not like I took your chicken nuggets. Don’t be petty.”
Song Mian leaned over the desk, close to Lin Zhi’s face, and threatened lowly: “From now on, no more of my stuff for you.”
Lin Zhi: “…..”
Tong Xu chimed in: “Zhizhi, stand up for yourself.”
Song Mian added: “The banquet’ll have all-you-can-eat buffets.”
No standing up for himself now.
Lin Zhi turned his head away from Song Mian. “Fine, I’ll go! But why me specifically? Scared the illegitimate son’ll sabotage you?”
Song Mian leaned back, expression neutral: “Nah. Bringing you will just gross him out.”
Before today, Lin Zhi had known about Song Mian’s illegitimate half-brother—not from Song Mian himself, but from rampant wealthy family gossip. Some even said the half-brother killed Song Mian’s mother! But it was personal, so Lin Zhi never pried. Now that it came up, he asked: “Why?”
“That’s none of your business.”
Lin Zhi pouted and asked the Romance Survival System instead.
The Romance Survival System: 【Host, I only know the novel plot. The illegitimate son’s a living cannon fodder!】
He was the dead white moonlight!
The Romance Survival System: 【Host, looks like you have to go to tomorrow’s banquet. Bind with me!】
Lin Zhi retorted: “Does going mean I’ll definitely die? You haven’t seen how smart I am. System buddy, I’ll show you—you picked a super clever human!”
The Romance Survival System had nothing to say. Reality would teach the host.
Lin Zhi wolfed down the rice, crunched the carrot, then buddy-buddied up to Song Mian: “Song Mian, let’s go fetch water together!”
“No.” Song Mian booted up his computer.
Lin Zhi nudged Song Mian’s shoulder, grinning sleazily.
Song Mian scowled: “What now?”
Lin Zhi mysteriously: “I’m super important in your heart, right?”
Song Mian: ?
“Sick?”
Lin Zhi ignored the sharp tongue soft heart: “If I died, I’d be the white moonlight who died in your heart, huh? Bro, I’m touched.”
With that, Lin Zhi headbutted straight into Song Mian’s chest.
Song Mian took the heavy hit and grunted. Lin Zhi, ever the deep mastermind, scampered off to grab Song Mian’s water bottle, grinning: “Song Mian bro, I’ll fetch water for you.”
Song Mian: “…….”
After Lin Zhi left, Tong Xu sighed: “Song Mian, I’m jealous. You’ve got a friend like Lin Zhi who’s all eyes for you. If only I were in your major.”
Song Mian rubbed his chest.
“Want him? He’s yours.”
Tong Xu: “Don’t—Lin Zhi’d be heartbroken.”
Song Mian was done.
