Chapter 19

The task had failed again, and in an utterly depraved way at that. Lin Zhi burrowed under the covers on his bed, hiding himself completely. After tonight, he had no face left to see Song Mian!

He didn’t want to live anymore.

The Romance Survival System followed him relentlessly: 【Want to try infinite looping death?】

Lin Zhi said in grief and indignation, “It’s like this already—how am I supposed to complete it?”

The Romance Survival System remained optimistic: 【The Male Lead didn’t blame you. He even laughed.】

Laughed.

Was that the mocking laugh from Song Mian after he said, “I’m just envious”? The purpose of breaking into the bathroom for three straight days was just to…

Lin Zhi squeezed his eyes shut and pricked up his ears.

【Host, stop eavesdropping. This system can see what data the Male Lead is reading. He’s working hard to become a business overlord~】

Lin Zhi rolled over and stared at the bare white ceiling, pondering, “I’ve done all this to him, so why doesn’t Song Mian show any reaction at all? A straight guy getting harassed like this by me—shouldn’t he be angry?”

If someone burst into the bathroom while he was showering, clearly to peek at his junk, he’d probably call the cops without a second thought.

“You don’t think… Song Mian isn’t straight?” Lin Zhi ventured boldly.

The system’s electronic voice drawled slowly: 【This system isn’t clear on that.】

Detective Lin Zhi mulled it over more and more, convinced that Song Mian might really not be straight. Song Mian had never claimed to be straight, after all. And—

If Song Mian were straight, why would the system make a guy like him pursue Song Mian?

Holy crap.

Lin Zhi had uncovered a massive bombshell!

He stopped lying on the bed pretending to be dead. Climbing down the ladder, he noticed Zhu Muyun and Tong Xu sneaking glances at him. The sight of him fleeing red-faced from the bathroom and then clamming up afterward was unforgettable for them.

Lin Zhi sat down next to Song Mian.

Song Mian asked, “Got a new excuse this time?”

That was his reputation talking.

Lin Zhi wanted to puff out his chest, but it just wouldn’t cooperate: “You’re wronging me. I have another question for you. Wanna step outside and chat?”

Song Mian didn’t budge.

Lin Zhi had no choice but to type a message on his phone and shove it in Song Mian’s face. The text read: 【Are you straight?】

Song Mian glanced at it, the corner of his mouth twitching almost imperceptibly. His tone was utterly nonchalant: “No.”

Lin Zhi was just starting to breathe a sigh of relief when his pupils shrank. No!

Song Mian wasn’t straight??

Lin Zhi’s eyes widened as he stared at the now-most-unfamiliar roommate, then ducked his head and shakily typed another message, thrusting it at Song Mian: 【So you’re gay? You like men! Why didn’t you tell me?】

Song Mian turned his face slightly, utterly frank even with the others in the dorm—no effort to lower his voice: “Is that something worth making a big fuss over?”

It really wasn’t.

Lin Zhi couldn’t hold back: “Then why didn’t you say anything every time I bumped into you or groped you?”

Song Mian arched a brow lightly, his tone carrying a hint of confusion: “Why should I? Have I ever bumped into you or groped you on purpose?”

Lin Zhi was convinced.

Song Mian was a pure, upright gay who knew his boundaries. It was he… who had been molesting a gay guy.

【Host! Don’t slap such heavy labels on yourself!】

Lin Zhi’s mood sank heavily. He habitually reached to pat Song Mian’s shoulder but stubbornly pulled his hand back: “I’ll keep it secret.”

Song Mian shrugged indifferently: “Whatever.”

Those two words depressed Lin Zhi even more.

Song Mian truly had no intention of hiding his orientation. It was straight-guy Lin Zhi who had unilaterally assumed that a clean-living, handsome rich boy like Song Mian couldn’t possibly be gay.

Lin Zhi walked over to Zhu Muyun’s bed and looked up gloomily: “I spoke after eleven again.”

Zhu Muyun adjusted his glasses: “It’s fine, but don’t scare the dorm leader.”

Lin Zhi slunk away in gloom.

Back on his bed, Lin Zhi held up his phone and sent Song Mian another message.

[Since you’re gay, why’d you let me lick the sweat off your abs? Wasn’t that too intimate?]

In the quiet dorm, Song Mian’s phone pinged softly.

Soon, Lin Zhi got a reply from Song Mian: [Wasn’t it what you wanted?]

Lin Zhi shoved his phone against his stomach. Yeah, it was all his fault.

He rolled over to face the wall, tears silently slipping from his eyes.

The Romance Survival System finally spotted its host “secretly crying”—so pitiful!

The Romance Survival System comforted him: 【Host, don’t cry. Crying won’t change the fact that you need to complete tasks and pursue the Male Lead. Him not being straight is a good thing—it makes pursuing him easier! What you need to do now is figure out how to complete Side Quest Four! Only two nights left!】

Lin Zhi shed a few more silent tears, wiped them with the back of his hand, then rolled over to face the brightly lit ceiling. His brows furrowed tight. It wasn’t about pursuing or not anymore.

Song Mian not being straight meant he liked guys. Substituting a girl for Song Mian, everything Lin Zhi had done lately was straight-up sexual harassment.

Sneaking a midnight kiss from Song Mian girl, stealing Song Mian girl’s socks, bursting into the bathroom while Song Mian girl was showering. Every single one deserved a firing squad.

Lin Zhi glanced at his wrist, guiltier than ever. Song Mian girl… had even given him such an expensive watch! What the hell was he doing?

The Romance Survival System was baffled: 【Where does the Male Lead look like a girl?】

Lin Zhi realized the situation was extremely dire now. He couldn’t continue with this task.

The Romance Survival System turned cold: 【Looping death forever.】

But then again, Song Mian wasn’t a girl—he was the Male Lead, taller, buffer, and older than him.

And just like that, it was Thursday.

Lin Zhi started recreating their past interactions to observe Song Mian’s reactions. For instance, he didn’t ask Song Mian for a white radish!

Sure enough, Song Mian didn’t give him one.

Lin Zhi’s head drooped hard. Confirmed: it was his problem.

During class, Lin Zhi sat away from Song Mian all twisty and shy. After class, he restrained his hands from patting Song Mian. Back in the dorm, he stopped himself from dumping water down Song Mian’s back every other minute.

Lin Zhi figured he was showing Song Mian girl the utmost respect now. But oddly, no one even asked what was up.

“Have you noticed that things between me and Song Mian aren’t the same as before?” Lin Zhi asked Zhu Muyun first.

Zhu Muyun was squatting on the floor emptying the trash bin and countered, “Huh? I saw Song Mian buying roasted sweet potato at the supermarket entrance tonight. He brought it for you, right?”

Lin Zhi looked up, pretending he hadn’t asked.

But he couldn’t entirely blame himself for the sweet potato—Song Mian had suddenly said, “Want a roasted sweet potato?” How could he refuse?

Lin Zhi poked Tong Xu next. “Bro, noticed anything different between me and Song Mian lately?”

Tong Xu dropped a bombshell: “You two going gay?”

Lin Zhi snapped, “Filthy mind!”

And just like that, it was time for Song Mian’s shower. The Romance Survival System cheered in Lin Zhi’s mind: “Only one night left after tomorrow, Host! Use your brain!”

Lin Zhi gritted his teeth. For survival, sorry, bro! He’d have to be this shameless.

This time, Lin Zhi blocked Song Mian at the bathroom door ahead of time.

Song Mian, pajamas in arms, was stopped outside the bathroom. He drawled leisurely, “Telling me not to lock it again?”

Lin Zhi thickened his skin: “More than that. When you shower, can you not be so guarded against me?”

Amusement flickered in Song Mian’s eyes: “Specifically?”

Lin Zhi’s head drooped hard, voice pained: “Just shower normally, no guarding against your bro. Leave the bathroom door ajar—that’s fine.”

Song Mian’s gaze lingered on Lin Zhi’s flushed ears as he reminded him slowly, “So after learning I’m not straight, you still want to burst into my shower?”

Lin Zhi raised one hand, not daring to look up, and made a fake promise: “N-no bursting in. Song Mian bro, please?”

Taking advantage of Lin Zhi not seeing, Song Mian’s eyes gleamed wickedly, his voice pleased: “Sure. So can you move now?”

Lin Zhi wasn’t fully convinced: “Really? You’ll really shower normally?”

Song Mian: “Mm.”

Lin Zhi scurried off.

Zhu Muyun reached out: “Can I have the key back now?”

Lin Zhi pretended not to hear.

Zhu Muyun tugged at him and whispered, “If you go in again today, that’ll make four days in a row bursting into Song Mian’s shower.”

Four days.

What a terrifying stinky pervert.

Zhu Muyun: “So give me the key.”

Lin Zhi refused, face grave: “Maybe there’s a fifth day.”

Zhu Muyun: “……”

Three minutes later, Lin Zhi crept to the bathroom door. The sound of running water continued inside. He slowly pushed open the bathroom door and slipped in.

Zhu Muyun’s heart nearly stopped. He had no heart for studying now—watching one roommate sneak into another’s shower was way more interesting than books?

Lin Zhi went in.

This time, he’d learned. He first peeked at Song Mian’s vague silhouette behind the frosted glass door, confirming the posture looked like showering, before stealthily grabbing one of Song Mian’s shirts. Then he bolted out.

Standing outside the bathroom, Lin Zhi’s heart pounded like mad.

Zhu Muyun was puzzled: “Gonna swap it for thick pajamas again? Zhizhi, you’re wearing short sleeves yourself today.”

Lin Zhi: “Nope.”

He had no time for explanations and waited quietly for Song Mian to emerge.

Ten minutes later, Song Mian exited the bathroom, shirtless. Lin Zhi, dazedly clutching the shirt, snapped alert. He coughed lightly to get Song Mian’s attention. Once Song Mian looked over, Lin Zhi stood, walked steadily to him without letting his eyes wander, and quickly handed over the pajamas. Feigning cheer, he said, “Couldn’t find your pajamas, huh? Haha, I stole ’em! Just kidding.”

The Romance Survival System chimed in triumphantly: 【Side Quest Four completed successfully! No death until the next task refreshes! Confetti! Who knew a sneaky task like this could get the Male Lead to cooperate ahead of time? Host, the road ahead will be smoother!】

Lin Zhi felt no joy at completing the task, only a bitter smile.

Song Mian said nothing, his gaze locked on Lin Zhi, laced with emotions Lin Zhi couldn’t read.

Lin Zhi dodged Song Mian’s stare, stammering, “P-put on some clothes.”

Song Mian chuckled lightly, slipped on the pajamas casually, and left Lin Zhi behind. Just as Lin Zhi thought this despicable task was done, Song Mian changed into casual clothes.

Going out?

Lin Zhi didn’t dare ask, but soon his bunk was knocked on. He poked his head out fully, his doe-like innocent eyes fixed on Song Mian.

Song Mian: “Change and come out with me.”

Lin Zhi blanked out, stupefied.

Tong Xu couldn’t stay calm either. He looked up from his game: “Song Mian, you aren’t gonna beat up Lin Zhi, are you?”

Zhu Muyun tensed too.

Lin Zhi was even more scared. B-beat him up?!

The Romance Survival System piped up amid the chaos: 【Host, you only die from plot kills. No worry about getting beaten to death by the Male Lead!】

Lin Zhi clutched his blanket tight: “Wh-what for?”

Song Mian’s dark eyes shifted. “Want me to say it here, or text it to you?”

Lin Zhi answered in a second: “Text me.”

Soon, Lin Zhi got a message from Song Mian: [I’m gay, and after your four nights of nonstop teasing, I’ve finally reacted to you a bit.]

Lin Zhi went even more blank.

H-he hadn’t!

Song Mian’s long fingers kept tapping the screen.

The phone pinged again. Lin Zhi tremblingly looked down: [Get up and come out, or your dirty deeds go public to the school.]