Lin Zhi picked out a bunch of rotten fruits at the fruit shop. The shop owner said to throw them away, but Lin Zhi insisted, grinning wickedly to himself as he imagined Zhang Yao eating them.
Unable to dissuade him, the shop owner gave them to Lin Zhi for free and warned, “Don’t come crying to me if you get a stomachache.”
Lin Zhi grinned wickedly again. “I won’t.”
The Romance Survival System grew even more curious: [Host, do you hate this Zhang Yao that much?!]
Lin Zhi: “Yeah!”
Lin Zhi took a cab to Tonghe Andrology Hospital, the most renowned men’s clinic in the city—and the entire country.
The lobby reeked of strong disinfectant. The men there were quite self-conscious; most wore masks or stared at their phones, avoiding eye contact with anyone.
Lin Zhi entered with a heavy heart, clutching his black bag of rotten fruits without a word.
The receptionist, a patient and kind nurse, asked proactively, “How can I help you?”
Lin Zhi’s mood grew heavier. “You can’t.”
The nurse seemed to understand instantly, her eyes filling with pity as her voice softened. “Our hospital is the top andrology clinic in the country. As long as it’s not completely severed, there’s hope for recovery!”
Lin Zhi perked up a bit. “What about the kind where a 17-year-old got kicked and ruined?”
The nurse encouraged him. “That requires a doctor’s diagnosis. You look young—there’s a good chance of full recovery!”
Lin Zhi’s eyelids drooped. “That makes me feel even worse.”
The nurse: ?
Lin Zhi thanked her solemnly. “Thanks, sis. I wanted to share some fruit with you, but it’s all rotten.”
The nurse watched as Lin Zhi headed deeper into the hospital.
Was he… visiting a patient?
Room 311.
Lin Zhi peeked through the window and caught sight of a face he loathed with every fiber of his being. His breathing quickened. Just as the person inside was about to spot him, Lin Zhi sidestepped and dodged out of view.
He removed his watch first to avoid damaging it in a potential fight, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.
“Come in.” It was a raspy female voice—one Lin Zhi could never forget, sharp as ever.
Zhang Yao’s mother, Li Xiu.
Lin Zhi entered.
Zhang Yao, munching on an apple in bed, cracked a smile at the corners of his mouth. He wasn’t surprised by Lin Zhi’s visit; his malicious eyes even held a hint of delight. Suddenly, Li Xiu—who had been holding the remote—stood up, glaring viciously at Lin Zhi and pointing at the door as she shrieked, “Who let you in? Get out!”
Lin Zhi glanced at Zhang Yao on the bed, walked over, set the fruits aside, and said with a taut face, “Your son.”
Li Xiu rushed over, shoving at Lin Zhi as if afraid he’d harm her son again, trying to chase him out. Lin Zhi was more than happy to leave, but Zhang Yao stopped her. “Mom, don’t worry. If he tries anything now, we can send him straight to jail. Go out first—I have words for him.”
Li Xiu reluctantly withdrew her hands, fuming.
Lin Zhi felt a pang of regret.
Facing Zhang Yao again stirred up long-buried ugly emotions. He absolutely couldn’t let Song Mian know about his past!
“System bro, is Song Mian still at the library?”
The system’s electronic voice echoed faintly: [I’m just a task-dispensing system—how would I know where the Male Lead is?!]
Lin Zhi: “Baka.”
The system silently swallowed the host’s insult.
Once Li Xiu left vigilantly, Zhang Yao crossed his arms and smiled. “Lin Zhi, I didn’t expect you to come.” His tone was intimate, like chatting with an old friend.
Lin Zhi placed the rotten fruits on the bedside table. “Didn’t you message my mom? Hope the surgery goes well.”
Liar. I hope you’re a eunuch for life!
Lin Zhi turned to leave after dropping off the fruits, but Zhang Yao patted the bed. “Old friends reunite—no chit-chat?”
Lin Zhi ignored him.
“Your mom has no idea it was on purpose.”
That stopped Lin Zhi. He sat down, his voice laced with disgust. “What do you want?”
Zhang Yao leaned back against the pillow, arms behind his head, grinning arrogantly. “Now that your mom’s got a little sister, do you think she’ll still want a cold-blooded foster son like you?”
“None of your business. Provoke me after you’re cured.” Lin Zhi shot back coldly.
The Romance Survival System didn’t dare make a sound!
Zhang Yao stared intently at Lin Zhi’s face, then laughed suddenly. He sat up, his voice slithering like a snake. “Success rate for this surgery? Five percent. Thanks to that kick from you three years ago, I’ve run all over the country—and abroad—and nothing works. Meanwhile, you’re living it up: A University, graduating next year to land a job at a Fortune 500?”
Lin Zhi suppressed a smirk, feigning cowardice. “Won’t happen.”
Zhang Yao didn’t care. “If this surgery fails, I’m done for good. If I’m miserable, you won’t have it easy either. Three years ago, I was caught off guard. Think I am now? Guess how I’ll ruin you?”
Lin Zhi sneered.
Ignored repeatedly by someone he’d once dismissed, Zhang Yao suddenly grabbed Lin Zhi’s chin viciously, forcing him to look up. The moment Lin Zhi raised his eyes, he landed a solid punch on Zhang Yao’s eye.
“Fuck!” Zhang Yao clutched his eye in pain.
Li Xiu burst in at the noise. Seeing her son writhing, she screamed and swung to slap Lin Zhi, but he caught her wrist.
“Ah—” Lin Zhi wrenched her wrist down hard; cold sweat beaded on Li Xiu’s forehead as her other hand flailed. “Let go! Let go, you motherless bastard!”
Lin Zhi flung her hand away, sending her stumbling to the floor. He looked down coldly. “If you wanna tell my mom, go ahead. She’s my mom, not yours—see who she believes. Zhang Yao, you’re already crippled. Still think I’m some sissy you can bully?”
The Romance Survival System cheered: [Host, he has no strength to fight back—his leg’s still in a cast!]
Lin Zhi’s momentum surged.
Zhang Yao glared with his good eye, then burst into laughter, malice spilling over. “Lin Zhi, if I really end up crippled, how about you compensate me by being my wife?”
Lin Zhi felt a wave of nausea and left the hospital.
Flashes hit him: rainy days in dark alleys, all sorts of pranks in the school building, and… him at the police station giving a statement.
“I just kicked randomly—didn’t know where I hit.”
“My son’s manhood is ruined! Why isn’t he in jail? Lock him up!”
“Our Zhi did nothing wrong. So many people bullied him—can’t we let him fight back?”
“Brother, don’t cry. Let’s go home.”
Lin Zhi sat on the stone lion outside the hospital, head down as tears dripped onto the sunlit ground.
Mom loved him so much, and his little sister was adorable. How was he cold-blooded?
The Romance Survival System, used to its abstract host, felt at a loss now. It tried to comfort: [Host, don’t cry. Your halo will fall.]
Lin Zhi: “Electrocute him!”
His mental voice choked with grievance.
The system admitted: [Host, truth is, I can’t even electrocute you. The system lied.]
Lin Zhi kicked his legs and wailed skyward: “Everyone bullies me!”
His cry sent a sneaky man lingering at the hospital entrance scurrying away.
“Another one cracked.” A passing cleaning lady sighed.
“Yeah, they say 99% success rate, but if it fails, it’s that 1%.”
Lin Zhi wiped his tears, ears perking up to eavesdrop on the aunties’ gossip.
The system whispered weakly: [Host, bad news—the Male Lead’s here!]
Lin Zhi jolted. He looked up, squinting against the blinding sun. A figure approached steadily, casting a shadow as he neared.
It was Song Mian.
Song Mian wore the latest black coat, looking down at him expressionlessly.
Lin Zhi’s face was still tear-streaked, utterly dazed. He turned away quickly to wipe his eyes, voice muffled. “You stalking me?”
Song Mian’s voice was as even as ever. “Went to buy chestnuts, passed by and saw a familiar back. Crying like that—your junk busted?”
Still sharp-tongued.
But—
Lin Zhi turned back after wiping his face, latching onto the key point. “You don’t even like that stuff. Buying it for me?”
Song Mian glanced down. “Mm.”
Lin Zhi was surprised and a bit thrilled. He really was the Male Lead’s dead white moonlight!
Song Mian added, “So, touched enough to tell me the truth?”
Lin Zhi pondered.
He was seriously considering it this time.
The Romance Survival System assisted: [Host! The Male Lead is upright and noble—he won’t think you’re awful because of this! I still don’t know what happened, but my intuition says you’re the victim! He’ll feel sorry for you, and your relationship will heat up!]
Lin Zhi hesitated, touching his face. Song Mian noticed his bare wrist and the slightly reddened knuckles. “Where’s the watch?”
That opened the floodgates.
Lin Zhi pulled the watch from his pocket and put it on, explaining softly, “Took it off before punching someone—didn’t want to break it.”
Song Mian hesitated. “You punched someone?”
Lin Zhi hummed. “He was lying in bed, not very mobile, so I gave him one. His mom was old, no match for my strength.”
Song Mian was a bit shocked. “You punched his mom too?”
“Nah. She tried to hit me; I just stopped her.” Lin Zhi pointed to his face. “Or I’d have a handprint here.”
“Well done.” Song Mian’s gaze lingered on Lin Zhi’s slightly reddened chin for a few seconds.
Lin Zhi relaxed a lot. He stood, tilting his chin up and gazing pitifully into Song Mian’s eyes. “He grabbed my chin first—that’s why I punched him.”
Song Mian frowned slightly. “Would’ve punched him anyway.”
Lin Zhi blushed, a bit happy.
Song Mian: “Come with me.”
Lin Zhi followed Song Mian to the car. Song Mian had a medical kit inside. As he opened it, Lin Zhi said sincerely, “I don’t have any cuts.”
Song Mian pulled out alcohol wipes, opened one, and handed it over. “Disinfect your chin.”
Lin Zhi obeyed.
Song Mian opened another for his hands.
Lin Zhi followed suit.
Song Mian was terse: “Anywhere else?”
Lin Zhi bowed his head, voice small. “Back in high school, he got people to bully me. When I fought back, I kicked his manhood—hard. Ruined it. He dropped out for treatment. No idea where, but it didn’t work. Now he’s at Tonghe. My mom asked me to check on him.”
Lin Zhi skimmed the heavy details.
Song Mian’s voice chilled. “How’d he bully you? Why?”
Lin Zhi scratched his cheek. “Thought I was a bit effeminate, plus the school flower liked me. Started with pranks. I ignored him, so he got guys to corner and beat me. Bullying’s bullying—how else?”
The Romance Survival System chimed in softly: [Host, your past is so pitiful!]
Song Mian: “You were the victim. You shouldn’t have come today.”
Lin Zhi mumbled, “But he’s crippled, and I’m fine.”
Song Mian fell silent, his gaze turning scrutinizing.
In the quiet moment, Lin Zhi confessed. “Okay, I came to see if he was really done for. Hoped this hospital wasn’t that good. But he seems to have a shot.”
Song Mian finally spoke. “Need my help with anything?”
Under those pitch-black eyes, Lin Zhi had nowhere to hide. He hesitated, then nodded.
“Yeah.” Lin Zhi said, “I want him crippled for life.”
He watched Song Mian’s reaction closely. Song Mian showed no expression and agreed. “Can do.”
Lin Zhi fidgeted anxiously. “You don’t think that’s too much?”
Song Mian seemed in a good mood. “Nope.”
Lin Zhi still fretted. “But… I did something even worse.”
Song Mian only asked, “Did you get the short end?”
Lin Zhi shook his head. He just feared Zhang Yao’s injury wasn’t clean and had done some shady follow-up.
“That’s your secret. You don’t have to tell me,” Song Mian said.
Tears welled up in Lin Zhi’s eyes again. He wiped them away himself, his voice choked with emotion. “Am I still the white moonlight in your heart? From today on, I’ve fallen into the dust in your eyes, haven’t I?”
Song Mian’s brows furrowed.
Lin Zhi knew it—from that day forward, everything had changed.
The Romance Survival System spun in anxious circles: 【Host, what are you overthinking? You were never the Male Lead’s white moonlight! The Male Lead doesn’t even have a white moonlight in his heart!】
Song Mian looked incredulous. “Did you feed your IQ to a dog?”
Lin Zhi’s face scrunched up like a sad seal’s.
“I’m already like this, and you’re still launching personal attacks.”
Song Mian replied, “Let’s head back, dust.”
