Lin Zhi was completely dumbfounded. Lick… lick the sweat off his abs?
The corner of Lin Zhi’s mouth twitched. “This… this isn’t good, right?”
Song Mian’s eyes darkened deeply. “What’s not good about it?”
Lin Zhi wanted to say everything about it was bad!
No, Detective Lin Zhi was on the case! Song Mian… was most likely testing him.
If he happily went ahead and licked now, he’d definitely be pegged as gay—a lustful gay at that. It was Song Mian who had suggested licking the sweat off his abs, but if he kept making excuses to refuse, he’d still be gay—a scheming gay.
How could he break out of this?
Lin Zhi put on a serious expression. “Brother Song Mian, I was delirious with fever yesterday and desperate for anything edible. Now that I’m clear-headed, we can’t do this kind of thing.”
He bravely admitted his mistake!
Song Mian’s voice grew even colder. “So you’re lying to me again?”
The breakout failed. That word “again” hit hard.
“No.” Lin Zhi was utterly sincere. “I have to consider your feelings.”
Song Mian took a step forward. “I’ve already offered. You don’t want to?”
Lin Zhi suddenly wondered if this wasn’t a test at all—maybe his bro really wanted him to lick?
Lin Zhi retreated a little, appealing to emotion. “Brother Song Mian, it’s not that I don’t want to. But isn’t this a bit weird between two straight guys?”
Song Mian closed in unhurriedly. “You were the one who asked. I’m reluctantly agreeing now. No straight guy thinks it’s weird… or are you… not straight?”
Little straight guy Lin Zhi shook his head frantically. Song Mian advanced, he retreated, until he suddenly slammed into the basketball hoop’s support pole. There was nowhere left to go. Lin Zhi declared even more firmly, “I’m straight.”
Song Mian was quite a bit taller than Lin Zhi. His tall frame nearly enveloped Lin Zhi as he lowered his head slightly, gaze fixed on Lin Zhi’s lips, urging him. “Then hurry up. I’m in a good mood right now, so I can fulfill that wish of yours.”
Lin Zhi’s face scrunched up like a seal’s.
“Brother Song Mian…”
Lin Zhi had just opened his mouth when Song Mian cut him off. “So you’re not straight.”
Lin Zhi quickly tossed the basketball aside and yanked up Song Mian’s hoodie in one swift motion. Song Mian’s abs tensed, and he tilted his head back slightly. On the empty court, the clear sound of the basketball rolling away echoed.
Lin Zhi leaned in, his warm breath mingling with the night breeze like a feather tickling Song Mian’s taut abs. Song Mian’s Adam’s apple bobbed hard, his jawline tightening. Just as their noses were about to touch, Lin Zhi jerked upright as if scalded, his face beet red. He shouted loudly, “Brother Song Mian, I’m really not thirsty!”
Song Mian lowered his gaze and straightened his clothes. “Mm. Let’s go.”
Lin Zhi let out a breath of relief, noticing that Song Mian’s ears were red too. This abs-licking thing—no straight guy could handle it.
Song Mian had actually wanted to indulge him. Wasn’t that being too good to him?
The A9901 system sighed regretfully: [Even if you don’t lick, you could at least touch! Isn’t it normal for straight guys to touch abs? Don’t you even like the male lead’s hot body?]
Of course Lin Zhi envied it. But the shadow of “scheming gay” haunted him like a ghost. How could he touch?
Lin Zhi returned the ball and took a shower. Finally, he could lie on his bed and rest for a bit when the Romance Survival System’s enthusiastic electronic voice blared again: [Side Quest Four has been refreshed!]
Lin Zhi shot up from the bed.
“I just finished yesterday’s quest!” Lin Zhi protested.
The host’s protests couldn’t deter the A9901 system’s work ethic: [Finish the quests early, get free early! Side Quest Four: Showering is boring. To relieve the male lead’s boredom, the host must play a little prank on the male lead while he’s showering. Sneakily hide the male lead’s clothes so he can’t find them after his shower! Deadline: Five days. Fail, and the host dies to plot kill on the night of March 29, 2025.]
Lin Zhi was shocked. “You want me to sneak in while the male lead is showering and steal his clothes?”
Romance Survival System: [Yes!]
Lin Zhi: “And you gave me five days?”
Romance Survival System: [Yes.]
Lin Zhi crossed his arms, glaring fiercely. “Isn’t this another pitfall?”
The innocent Romance Survival System: [This system doesn’t know the details! Just follow the task requirements. The program will judge fairly and give reasons if you’re disqualified!]
Lin Zhi flopped back onto the bed in disbelief. “You guys don’t do any research for these seduction tasks? Who in their right mind likes a clothes thief—especially one who strikes while they’re showering?”
The Romance Survival System’s electronic voice turned serious: [Host, everyone has their own seduction method. These tasks were custom-made for the male lead by this system’s boss!]
Lin Zhi froze, rubbing his face. “You mean… the male lead actually likes this kind of thing?”
System: [Exactly! If there’s a task like this, it means the male lead eats it up!]
Lin Zhi was stunned.
So Song Mian hoped little ladies would seduce him this way? Song Mian… was such a closet perv?
Lin Zhi’s perception of his bro was shattered.
“Who’s your boss?” Lin Zhi gossiped on the side.
The system’s electronic voice was full of respect: [God.]
Lin Zhi kept gossiping: “What kind of god?”
The voice grew even more respectful: [The god who governs the novel world.]
Lin Zhi propped his chin, deep in thought.
The system’s voice lost its respect: [Lin Zhi, stop pretending to think! Keep dragging, and the male lead will finish showering. You’ll waste a day for nothing!]
Lin Zhi dragged his weary body off the bed. As he reached the bathroom door and heard the water running inside, he realized something. “The bathroom door is locked. How do I get in to steal?”
System: [Figure it out yourself!]
He actually had a way.
Because he just needed the key. And that bathroom key… was held by the dorm head.
Lin Zhi’s steps grew heavy. “System bro, the abs sweat-licking thing isn’t resolved yet. If I prank Song Mian like this now, my straight guy status is done for.”
The system cheerily: [Then don’t!]
Lin Zhi sighed.
Zhu Muyun stared at the silent Lin Zhi who was just extending his hand toward him, puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Lin Zhi turned his head, shameless. “Give me the bathroom key.”
Zhu Muyun was even more baffled. “What do you need the bathroom key for?” **
Lin Zhi would be embarrassed to say it. “To play a prank on Song Mian.”
Zhu Muyun pushed up his glasses. “That doesn’t seem right.”
Macho Lin Zhi wheedled. “Please, give it to me.”
Zhu Muyun hesitated as he pulled out the key but still warned, “Keep the prank moderate. If Song Mian gets mad, make sure to say it had nothing to do with me.”
Lin Zhi was loyal. “I’ll say I stole it.”
With the key in hand, Lin Zhi sneaked ghost-like to the bathroom door. He blocked the entrance, very gently inserting the key into the lock. The water sound inside didn’t stop. Lin Zhi bit his lip, turning the handle even more lightly.
The bathroom door opened silently, and the water sound grew louder. Zhu Muyun held his breath, peering over. The next second, Lin Zhi slipped inside, leaving the door ajar.
So scary!
Zhu Muyun looked up. Tong Xu was obliviously gaming and duoing with a girl, completely unaware of what Lin Zhi had done.
The bathroom was steamy, filled with a fresh sandalwood scent that hit him full force. Lin Zhi couldn’t help sniffing—his bro smelled amazing.
Behind the frosted glass, a tall, straight silhouette loomed vaguely in the mist. Straight guy Lin Zhi averted his eyes out of propriety, heart pounding wildly, but he still tiptoed to find Song Mian’s pajamas.
Someone suddenly entering the bathroom—Song Mian couldn’t miss that. The water stopped abruptly, and Song Mian’s voice, laced with steam, came out lower and huskier than usual. “Lin Zhi?”
Amid the fog, Song Mian didn’t spot Lin Zhi creeping along the wall at first. Lin Zhi edged toward the foggy glass door, then stopped, bent down, and snatched the clothes from the cabinet behind it. Song Mian confirmed the intruder. “Lin Zhi, what are you doing now?”
Lin Zhi didn’t reply. Clutching the clothes, he bolted out, so panicked that Song Mian heard a loud “bang”—Lin Zhi’s head had smacked the bathroom door.
Song Mian’s mouth twitched.
Lin Zhi’s head spun with stars from the bump, but he ignored it. Song Mian might not even know what he’d done yet. Gritting through the pain, Lin Zhi yanked the door open and slipped out. As he shut the bathroom door, Lin Zhi felt a hidden spark of pride holding all of Song Mian’s clothes—he didn’t dare show it.
Lin Zhi asked proactively, “Little A, what’s the verdict?”
