Lin Zhi had his pride too. After being called a pervert multiple times, he woke up early with his face scrunched up like a seal’s. Song Mian glanced at him a few extra times but said nothing.
During breakfast, Lin Zhi only bought one steamed bun—and it was the triangular kind. Song Mian finally spoke up. “Will that fill you up?”
Lin Zhi answered eagerly. “I’m punishing myself.”
Song Mian fell silent.
Once they reached class, his arch-nemesis Jiang Chaohua plopped down at his desk. “What’s with you? Acting cute again? No one’s buying it.”
Lin Zhi was furious at being underestimated like this!
Lin Zhi said, “I’m not in a great mood today. Don’t provoke me.”
Jiang Chaohua shrugged it off. “And what if I do?”
Lin Zhi narrowed his eyes and said slowly, “I’ll make Zhu Muyun study. If he slacks off even a little, I’ll tell him you’re about to surpass him. You… won’t get that scholarship.”
It was a lethal threat.
“Don’t pull that crap! Scholarships are about fair competition.” Jiang Chaohua got off Lin Zhi’s desk.
Lin Zhi smirked maliciously.
Jiang Chaohua: “…”
Zhu Muyun suddenly sneezed for no reason but brushed it off and kept flipping through his books.
After class started, Lin Zhi—who had only eaten one bun—felt his stomach growling loudly. He ducked his head, then elbowed Song Mian’s arm.
Song Mian glanced at him. Lin Zhi leaned in. “Did you hear that?”
Right on cue, his stomach growled again.
Song Mian: “Mm.”
Lin Zhi glanced at the professor, cupped his hand over his mouth, and whispered, “I’m going to starve myself into fainting!”
Song Mian: “Then starve.”
“Fine!” Lin Zhi said. “It’s a deal. Once I’m done starving, we forget all about last night.”
Song Mian: “…” He hadn’t agreed to anything with Lin Zhi.
Thursday mornings were light, ending at ten. Song Mian planned to head to the library but deliberately detoured past the cafeteria. As the aroma of food wafted into Lin Zhi’s nose, his stomach started singing.
Song Mian slowed down even more and asked casually, “Not eating?”
Lin Zhi steeled his resolve. “Nope.”
The Romance Survival System suddenly listed cafeteria options: 【Jianbing guozi, beef noodles, fish noodle soup, burgers, dao xiao mian, and low-fat meal sets】.
After they left the cafeteria, Lin Zhi’s stomach growled even louder.
Song Mian reminded him, “I’m going to the library.”
Lin Zhi: “Me too.”
Song Mian: “You’ll disturb others.”
Lin Zhi clutched his stomach, looking solemn. “I can hold it in!”
Song Mian: “…”
In the library, Lin Zhi was too hungry to sleep, his stomach rumbling occasionally. Thursdays weren’t busy; most four-person study tables had only two people. A girl sitting behind him moved to the seat beside him and offered a bag of bread, her face red. “Here, you seem really hungry.”
Lin Zhi sneaked a peek at Song Mian, who was focused on his phone and didn’t spare him a glance. Lin Zhi tentatively reached out a hand, but Song Mian lifted an eyebrow and snatched the book Lin Zhi had set down.
Lin Zhi yanked his hand back and politely refused. “I’m on a diet.”
The girl blinked in surprise. “But you’re not fat.”
“Not perfect enough,” Lin Zhi said.
She couldn’t very well force high-calorie bread on someone dieting, so she clutched the bag without leaving. Seeing Lin Zhi propping his chin and zoning out, she mustered her courage. “C-can I add you on WeChat?”
“Sure.” Lin Zhi didn’t refuse and added bluntly, “But I don’t chat with strangers.”
She hadn’t expected it to be so easy. Excited, she said, “That’s fine! Just don’t block me from your Moments!”
And so, Lin Zhi inexplicably gained another WeChat friend.
The girl blushed again as she glanced at Song Mian. Lin Zhi said, “He doesn’t add people.”
“Oh, oh, okay.” Her face turned even redder.
Having gotten his WeChat, she tiptoed back to her spot.
Lin Zhi slumped over the desk, yawning and on the verge of dozing off, when Song Mian’s flat voice cut in. “You’re pretty popular with girls.”
Lin Zhi had thick skin. “I’ve always been popular.”
But Song Mian pushed back his chair, shouldered his backpack—which he’d packed at some point—and left.
Lin Zhi was stunned. He hastily stuffed his textbook back into his bag to use as a pillow, then caught up to Song Mian at the elevator. As the doors opened, he followed him in.
Lin Zhi: “Why’d you leave so suddenly?”
Song Mian coolly replied, “Didn’t want to cramp your style with the ladies.”
Lin Zhi scratched his cheek and stared at Song Mian for a while. After the elevator doors opened, he said, “Bro Song Mian, you’re acting weird.”
Song Mian stopped in his tracks, his expression darkening, his voice laced with warning. “You’d better mean that ‘masculine aura’ thing.”
Lin Zhi looked innocent. “I do!”
Song Mian looked away. “Go eat lunch.”
Lin Zhi hurried after him. “You’re really going to forget my feudal antics from last night?”
Song Mian: “Mm.”
Lin Zhi let out an “Aiyo!” and draped his head on Song Mian’s shoulder. “I’m starving to death!”
He quickly pulled back, eyes crinkling with mischief as he leaned in. “Bought some famous dao xiao mian. Not dead yet—back to life!”
Song Mian turned his face away, suppressing a smile, refusing to meet Lin Zhi’s eyes.
Not many people knew about Lin Zhi’s new watch. His classmates, with Song Mian around, could only envy silently and not gossip. Even forum posts from fellow computer science majors knew better than to trace IPs carelessly.
Other majors weren’t so restrained.
By evening, the campus forum had a dedicated thread for Lin Zhi titled “Added the Super Handsome Lin Zhi on WeChat!”
The post read: The handsome guy is so approachable! I really wanted to share my bread with him, but a handsome guy like that must have insane self-control. Here’s a sneaky pic I took.
The photos showed Lin Zhi in the library: side profile with chin propped up, sleepy face while dozing on the desk. Blurry pixels, but he still looked stunning.
Comments started normal—some said he’d added them too, that he posted “emo texts” on Moments, an abstract pretty boy. But then someone mentioned the watch on his wrist, and things spiraled.
【Sleeping his way to it? Song Mian’s loaded, casually gifting millions. No wonder Lin Zhi clings to him.】
【What’s so hot about this guy? Do you girls have any taste?】
【Is he a duck?】
…
【I’m done. What are you guys so jealous of? That Song Mian didn’t gift you one? A watch is pricey for us poor losers, but for Song Mian, it’s just a friend’s gift. Lin Zhi’s great—good-looking, mild-mannered, no temper. Song Mian’s the cold one all day. Song Mian lucked out making friends with him. Plus, Lin Zhi’s family isn’t poor!】
…
【OP here. I’ve requested deletion. Stop attacking Lin Zhi baselessly!】
【Total gold digger. How’s he gonna get a wife?】
【Wife? He’s already been passed around!】
…
Tong Xu scrolled the thread and told Zhu Muyun, who’d just returned. “You know the admins. Can you get them to delete it now? It’s after hours; his request won’t process till tomorrow.”
“Sure.” Zhu Muyun glanced over. “Why are they saying this about Zhizhi? Spreading rumors has legal consequences.”
Tong Xu: “Don’t worry about that. Contact the admin quick. Zhizhi still browses the forum.”
“Got it.”
As Zhu Muyun searched for the admin’s WeChat, a shadow loomed. He looked up—Song Mian.
Song Mian: “What did you say?”
Tong Xu explained the post. Song Mian’s brows furrowed. “This happens often?”
Tong Xu didn’t hide it. “Yeah. Your status is different from ours, so people target Zhizhi a lot. First time he saw one, he hid in the bathroom crying. I found him, pried it out of him. Me and Xiao Zhu delete them when we spot ’em by contacting admins. But he didn’t want me telling you—too embarrassing. Don’t say I snitched, okay?”
Song Mian hadn’t known.
Crying in the bathroom? Why not tell him? Song Mian felt inexplicably irritated.
Three minutes later, Tong Xu refreshed—the post was gone. Zhu Muyun marveled, “Admin that fast?”
Tong Xu glanced at Song Mian, who was fiddling with his phone, eyes downcast. Song Mian had handled it. He’d brought it up in front of Song Mian on purpose. If he truly saw Lin Zhi as a friend, he’d act.
With Song Mian stepping in, no more rumors about Lin Zhi on the forum. Tong Xu itched with envy. This kid’s luck is unreal.
Oblivious, Lin Zhi dried his hair while grilling the Romance Survival System in his mind. “Little System, you really didn’t peek while I showered?”
The system sounded wronged: 【I didn’t! Human bodies don’t interest me!】
Lin Zhi argued logically. “Then why do you pop up every time I call during a shower?”
Romance Survival System: 【Eyes covered!】
Lin Zhi grabbed the hairdryer and squatted on the balcony. Curious, he asked, “You have eyes? Aren’t you just code?”
The system’s electronic voice brimmed with pride: 【Of course!】
It generously projected its true form in Lin Zhi’s mind: a white ghost floating in space.
No eyes.
Romance Survival System explained: 【Back in system space, I regain my body. Here in your consciousness, I’m data.】
Lin Zhi stayed quiet.
Romance Survival System: 【Host! Stop pretending to think deep!】
Lin Zhi: “Not that. Just wondering—where are your eyes?”
The system’s voice trembled with anger: 【Don’t mock this small-eyed system! No interest in human bodies! Wouldn’t peek at showers.】
Lin Zhi magnanimously: “Whatever, whatever. Won’t argue with a ghost.”
The A9901 System went offline in a huff.
After drying his hair, Lin Zhi rolled into bed and doomscrolled the forum, yawning but refusing to sleep.
The Romance Survival System piped up quietly: 【Host, the male lead’s staring at you.】
Lin Zhi moved his phone—Song Mian sat on his bed, arms crossed, watching him. He didn’t look away when caught, just furrowed his brows deeper.
Lin Zhi innocently: “Bro Song Mian, I didn’t do anything.”
Song Mian: “Mm.”
Lin Zhi figured Song Mian was still mad—stealing socks wasn’t trivial. Flexibly, he flipped onto Song Mian’s bed. “Bro, how about I warm your bed tonight? I’m super toasty.”
Song Mian grabbed Lin Zhi’s proffered cheek, pinching hard. Lin Zhi froze, afraid of pain. “What’re you doing?”
Tong Xu looked over, alarmed. “Song Mian, you aren’t gonna hit Zhizhi, are you?”
Song Mian released the reddened cheek.
His dark eyes fixed on Lin Zhi. “Why didn’t you tell me about crying in the bathroom?”
Tong Xu: “…”
Tong Xu slipped away quietly. I’m the fool.
Lin Zhi rubbed his face, pondering. Freshman year? He’d forgotten.
The Romance Survival System chimed mournfully: 【Host, you didn’t forget! You’re plotting laxatives for Tong Xu.】
Lin Zhi whispered, “Kinda embarrassing. Crying over something so small.”
Song Mian: “You cried losing at games too. Wasn’t embarrassed then.”
Lin Zhi fell silent.
He suddenly flopped onto Song Mian’s bedding.
“I’m dead.”
Song Mian pressed: “Come back to life.”
Lin Zhi mumbled, “Can’t.”
Song Mian: “…”
In the end, Lin Zhi promised to tell Song Mian everything from now on. Only then did Song Mian let it go. After Lin Zhi returned to his bunk and slept a round, with the dorm quiet, he suddenly realized: Wait, I was the one who cried. Why am I the one he isn’t holding a grudge against??
He thought for just a second before overwhelming drowsiness hit him. He slept straight through until morning when the alarm rang, having forgotten everything.
It was Friday, his most relaxed day! Lin Zhi had already planned out how he would spend it.
Sleep in the morning, sleep in the afternoon, and sleep in the evening too.
The Romance Salvation System sighed: 【Host, you’re so idle when there are no tasks. No wonder you’re cannon fodder!】
Lin Zhi, who had gotten out of bed for an early eight o’clock class, said, “March and April are my sleep months. Once they pass, my energy will come back. Then I’ll get some real work done.”
The system was puzzled: 【Why are you so sleepy in March and April?】
Lin Zhi went to brush his teeth. “I don’t know. Actually, it wasn’t like this at first. It seems like it started around my eighteenth birthday after I came here.”
As soon as he finished brushing his teeth, Lin Zhi let out a yawn.
The system figured the host was just too lazy!
The overly lazy Lin Zhi was putting away the phone on his desk when he noticed a message from his mom: [Awake yet? Zhang Yao’s mom contacted me. Zhang Yao’s in Tonghe Hospital, room 311. She’s messaged me multiple times after I blocked her, asking you to go see him. It’s a hospital anyway—why not grab some fruit and drop by casually? See him and leave.]
He leaned against the desk, hesitating for a long time before poking at the phone screen. [Fine… (crying emoji pack).]
The Romance Salvation System spoke up in confusion: 【Host, I’m detecting major emotional fluctuations. What happened? Who’s this Zhang Yao your mom wants you to visit?】
Lin Zhi shot back, “You don’t know?”
The system replied: 【This is off-book plot not mentioned in the novel. My database has no record of a Zhang Yao.】
Lin Zhi’s expression fell. “Then forget it.”
His good mood was completely gone.
After his Friday ten o’clock class ended, Lin Zhi dawdled and didn’t leave with Song Mian. He lingered in the classroom for a while, and when he finally went out, he found Song Mian waiting for him.
Lin Zhi scratched his cheek. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Song Mian said, “What are you feeling guilty about? Doing it on purpose?”
Lin Zhi really had done it on purpose. He didn’t want Song Mian to know about Zhang Yao’s existence.
Song Mian headed to the library again, but Lin Zhi didn’t follow. He stammered, pointing toward the dorm, “I-I’m heading b-back to sleep, okay?”
Lin Zhi walked off with his hands and feet getting tangled. Halfway there, he suddenly turned back and, seeing Song Mian was gone, immediately headed for the school gate instead. The Romance Salvation System sensed the Male Lead’s presence and asked Lin Zhi in confusion: 【Host, are you deceiving the Male Lead?】
Lin Zhi said gravely, “System bro, everyone has a dark past, and Zhang Yao is mine. I can’t let Song Mian know—it’ll ruin my noble and upright image in his eyes.”
Noble and upright? Did Lin Zhi even know? The system held off on questioning that for now and was shocked instead: 【The novel author set you up with no ex-girlfriends!】
Lin Zhi said with disgust, “He’s a guy.”
Ex-boyfriend?
The Romance Salvation System decided to hide the fact that the Male Lead was secretly tailing the host. It wanted to watch the Shura field!
