Chapter 16

That night, Lin Zhi repeatedly flipped through the forum content, propping his chin on his hand with a very grave expression. In such a wise scene, the Romance Survival System could only hear its host’s mind repeating one sentence over and over: “Song Mian must think I’m a scheming perverted gay.”

Zero nutritional value.

The Romance Survival System grew annoyed from hearing it too much and spoke in an impatient electronic tone: 【Then go explain! Anyway, as long as you can quibble, the Male Lead will let you off.】

Lin Zhi felt bleak inside: “Explaining would just maintain surface decency. Bro System, show me the progress bar.”

This wasn’t something that needed to be hidden from the host, so the Romance Survival System instantly displayed it to Lin Zhi. The progress bar frame was mostly red, showing 90%.

Lin Zhi got excited: “It’s gone up again! Will one more main task unlock it?”

The system wasn’t optimistic: 【It might get stuck at 99%.】

Lin Zhi slipped under the covers, peacefully closing his eyes: “I’ll sincerely apologize to Song Mian once I survive successfully. Don’t make it too hard on us straight guys, okay.”

The system fell silent. It wouldn’t rashly promise what the A9901 system couldn’t achieve.

On Sunday after getting sick, Lin Zhi holed up in the dorm all day and didn’t have the nerve to ask Song Mian to bring him food. But Song Mian was cold-faced but warm-hearted, still taking good care of this young guy who’d just recovered from illness. At mealtime, he came back with a cold face carrying his food, even preparing post-meal fruit and watching him take his medicine.

Lin Zhi felt creeped out by the staring.

But Lin Zhi was genuinely touched. The bro was rich and good to him, even if the bro now thought he was a scheming gay. Lin Zhi couldn’t hold back and affectionately bumped Song Mian’s shoulder.

Song Mian glanced at Lin Zhi, his tone calm: “You really like this kind of physical contact?”

Lin Zhi behaved himself, sitting primly like a little chick as he unpacked the takeout box. Then he heard Song Mian chuckle, gone in a flash.

Lin Zhi turned his head and looked at Song Mian very sincerely: “Brother Song Mian, I was really delirious from the fever.”

Song Mian humored him: “Mm, I believe you.”

Lin Zhi’s face scrunched up like a seal’s: “You don’t look like you do.”

Song Mian turned back casually and countered: “You’re lying to me? Not delirious from fever?”

Lin Zhi shook his head guiltily: “N-no, not at all.”

Sigh

Lin Zhi sighed inwardly.

Lin Zhi tried to find Tong Xu again, but Tong Xu had met a girl at yesterday’s basketball game, and she agreed to go out to eat with him today. So Tong Xu’s replies to Lin Zhi were quite perfunctory.

Lin Zhi: [Did you check the school forum? Because of yesterday, they’re calling me a scheming gay on there. Bro, how do I prove to Song Mian that I’m straight?]

Tong Xu: [That sleepwear was pretty ugly-cute.]

Lin Zhi: [That’s not the point σσ!]

Tong Xu: [What’s done is done. Being gay isn’t bad.]

Lin Zhi frowned: [Why don’t you be gay?]

Tong Xu: [I’m straight. Not replying anymore. Playing on your phone during a date disrespects the girl. If you date guys later, remember not to always play on your phone.]

He was straight too!

Then… Tong Xu never replied to Lin Zhi again. With a yawn, Lin Zhi heartlessly fell asleep.

The next day, Monday, Lin Zhi sought out Zhu Muyun again.

They were dormmates, so it wasn’t like Lin Zhi had to catch him during class time. In the afternoon, he messaged the study god Zhu Muyun asking if he had time. Little study god said no, wait till evening to chat in detail when he got back. But the post-illness fatigue meant that when little study god returned, little straight guy Lin Zhi was already asleep.

Lin Zhi arrived in class and ditched Song Mian, squeezing to the second row next to Zhu Muyun.

Zhu Muyun pushed up his glasses: “You gonna actually pay attention in class?”

Lin Zhi lowered his voice: “Nah. Study God Bro, I’ve got a worry right now.”

Zhu Muyun was very reliable: “Spill. I can solve your problem.”

Lin Zhi looked like he’d found his savior. He still warily glanced around to ensure no third person heard. But he saw the guy sitting behind Zhu Muyun craning his neck over. Lin Zhi shoved the guy’s forehead, then pulled Zhu Muyun closer, whispering conspiratorially: “If a straight guy verbally harasses another straight guy, what do you say?”

Zhu Muyun thought for a second and whispered back: “He’s got a cheap mouth.”

Lin Zhi agreed: “Would an apology work?”

Zhu Muyun gave an answer based on objective experience: “Whether it works depends on if the other accepts, but recognizing your mistake means you should apologize.”

Lin Zhi was cautious: “But if apologizing makes the other straight guy think this straight guy is a scheming gay, how to break the deadlock?”

Zhu Muyun pondered for a full minute before speaking reliably: “Admitting fault is always better than dodging reality. There’s a saying: the innocent will clear themselves. If this straight guy isn’t gay, the misunderstanding is temporary. Straights and gays are on different tracks.”

Lin Zhi’s brows furrowed.

Zhu Muyun even gave an example: “Like you—if someone mistakes you for gay, so what? You’d show them with your actions that you’re straight.”

The example hit Lin Zhi right in the heart.

Lin Zhi sincerely: “Am I really that straight?”

Zhu Muyun nodded: “Undoubtedly.”

Lin Zhi thanked him solemnly: “Study God Bro, one word from you is worth two meals of advice. This straight guy will go apologize.”

Zhu Muyun was satisfied: “Knowing your wrong and improving is the greatest virtue.”

Lin Zhi went back.

Song Mian had grown colder. The moment Lin Zhi sat back down, he felt frozen and couldn’t help shivering. Song Mian coldly glanced at him: “Why’d you come back?”

Lin Zhi had been inspired to return. He faced Song Mian, rubbing his hands with utmost sincerity: “Brother Song Mian, I was wrong.”

Song Mian’s chill eased a bit: “Wrong how?”

The small classroom’s paired seats were individual chairs. Lin Zhi scooted closer to Song Mian, their chairs now touching. No one would come eavesdrop, but they still had to be careful. This was straight guy dignity!

Lin Zhi whispered: “Yesterday, I did it on purpose.”

Song Mian seemed dismissive: “And?”

Seeing no shock from Song Mian, Lin Zhi knew he really saw him as a scheming gay!

Lin Zhi clenched his fists, eyes bright: “I wasn’t delirious from fever. I just wanted to say those words purely!”

Song Mian paused, staring intently at Lin Zhi: “Why?”

Lin Zhi’s gaze dodged again: “Straights just love being mouthy.”

Song Mian wasn’t easily fooled, his tone sharpening: “Lin Zhi, being mouthy isn’t your specialty.”

Lin Zhi: “I-I bound…”

The Romance Survival System tensed up again. Then Song Mian’s expression tightened, his gaze darkening. Lin Zhi chickened out and swallowed the system talk, clenched his fists again—straight guys were straight guys, the innocent would clear themselves!

Lin Zhi lowered his head, ears bright red, but with straight guy righteousness: “I-I was just thirsty. You know how bad my fever was yesterday, mouth dry as dust, brain short-circuited, wanted a drink. Then I said those words.”

Song Mian stared at those ears, feeling parched himself: “Your real thoughts?”

Lin Zhi nodded like a chick, pitiful: “Yeah. Can you forgive this clueless straight guy?”

“Clueless… straight guy?” Song Mian repeated Lin Zhi’s words with a strange expression.

Lin Zhi nodded, lifted his head without guilt, meeting Song Mian’s eyes squarely—nod! But as they locked eyes, the eight o’clock bell rang, and the professor arrived right on time.

Lin Zhi, relying on sitting in the back, shifted his gaze but squeezed Song Mian and urged softly: “S-say something. Even a ‘mm’ works. I can hear it.”

Song Mian’s voice was hoarse: “Mm.”

Lin Zhi slumped on the desk in relief, then sneakily messaged Zhu Muyun:

[Fly kiss.jpg]

[Fly kiss.jpg]

[Fly kiss.jpg]

Zhu Muyun naturally wouldn’t reply during class. After pocketing his phone, Song Mian quietly withdrew his gaze: “You two are close?”

Lin Zhi blinked in confusion, glancing at Song Mian.

Song Mian’s face darkened: “I’m talking.”

Lin Zhi was novelized; he covered his mouth with his hand, teaching Song Mian classroom speaking etiquette: “Talk like this. Yours is too flashy!”

Song Mian coolly glanced at Lin Zhi.

Lin Zhi behaved, then affectionately bumped Song Mian’s thigh with his own, eyes crinkling: “It’s fine. You’re my number one.”

Song Mian’s leg stiffened: “Mm.”

Meanwhile, the girl sitting behind Lin Zhi was rapidly texting under the desk.

[Sisters! I finally overheard what Song Mian and Lin Zhi were talking about just now!]

[What? What? What?]

[Song Mian jealously asked if Lin Zhi was close to Zhu Muyun. Lin Zhi coquettishly said Song Mian was his number one, and Song Mian got smoothed down!]

[Really? Song Mian jealous?]

[Real! Tsundere cool gong x cute coquettish shou—I’m shipping it too!]

Lin Zhi was oblivious to this interlude. If he knew, he’d hang himself to prove his straight guy innocence! But compared to straight guy innocence, Lin Zhi felt Song Mian was still off.

At noon, Lin Zhi and Song Mian ate braised chicken rice together. Before Lin Zhi could ask for radish, Song Mian had already picked out all the white radishes for him. In return, Lin Zhi gave back two pieces of chicken for the first time.

Lin Zhi had a habit of napping at noon. When he was drowsily asleep, Song Mian came to his bed and grabbed his arm. Lin Zhi jolted awake, eyes wide: “Y-you gonna dislocate my arm?”

Song Mian just tucked Lin Zhi’s exposed arm back under the blanket, tone as usual: “You just recovered from illness. Don’t catch cold again.”

Lin Zhi found it extremely weird. He wrapped the blanket tighter. Th-this gentleness wasn’t like Song Mian at all.

“Big Alpha Male Mr., Song Mian hasn’t fallen for me, has he?”

The A9901 system’s electronic tone matched Lin Zhi’s heaviness: 【Mr. Lin Zhi, though I’d love for the Male Lead to fall for you now. But you’ve only done three tasks—it’s not that fast! He’s just taking care of the sick little chick!】

Lin Zhi sobered up.

But the next second, Lin Zhi was happy again: “Straight guys are all pretty overconfident. I’m no exception.”

Soon, Lin Zhi couldn’t stay happy.

That evening, Song Mian suddenly wanted to play basketball and specifically asked Lin Zhi to come along. Lin Zhi, feeling guilty, happily tagged along when Song Mian made a request for once, even proactively hugging the basketball.

The basketball court had no lights, so naturally few people at night, let alone players.

In the pitch dark, Lin Zhi squatted to the side, watching Song Mian play, feeling they both looked pretty stupid.

Ten minutes later, Lin Zhi sat on the grass, propping his face and half-heartedly yelling: “Brother Song Mian, done exercising yet?”

Song Mian stopped.

He placed the basketball under the hoop. Lin Zhi patted his butt and ran over to hug the basketball, acting as Song Mian’s little bro to take it back to the gym. Song Mian blocked the path of basketball-hugging Lin Zhi. Their distance was just that one basketball. Lin Zhi looked up puzzled, his gaze falling into Song Mian’s dark yet indifferent eyes.

Lin Zhi felt crowded and stepped back: “Not going back?”

Song Mian said: “I just played ball.”

Lin Zhi praised: “I watched. Super handsome.”

Song Mian’s gaze pressed on Lin Zhi: “My abs are sweaty now.”

Lin Zhi’s brain hadn’t caught up. A March cold wind blew, and as Lin Zhi was about to care, Song Mian hooked his lips, his voice drifting into Lin Zhi’s ear with the wind: “Lick.”

Lin Zhi: ???