Chapter 25

On Sunday, after Song Mian dropped Lin Zhi back at the dorm, he pinched Lin Zhi’s cheek and leaned down to kiss him. Lin Zhi yelped in fright, “We’re at the dorm!”

Tong Xu turned his head.

Song Mian glanced at Tong Xu, who immediately looked down. “You can pretend I’m not here.”

Song Mian instructed, “Don’t overthink it, and don’t stir up trouble. I have to go handle some things.”

Lin Zhi huffed.

After giving his instructions, Song Mian left. Lin Zhi lay on his bed, lost in thought.

At noon, after Zhu Muyun left, Lin Zhi jumped out of bed and sidled up to Tong Xu, who was eating lunch. He asked furtively, “Can I ask you something?”

Tong Xu replied casually, “Go ahead.”

Lin Zhi asked, “Do you have any gay friends?”

Tong Xu turned his head in surprise. “You trying to go gay?”

Lin Zhi explained loudly, “I’m straight! I just have something I want to ask a gay guy about.”

Tong Xu set aside his food. “What is it? I’ll see if I can answer.”

Lin Zhi said gravely, “What kind of guys do gay men least want to date?”

He couldn’t clarify that he wasn’t gay anymore, so he had to make Song Mian give up on him. He was straight—how could he date a gay guy!

“I really can’t answer that,” Tong Xu said as he swiped away a video on his phone. “But I do have a gay friend. Let me ask him.”

Lin Zhi rubbed his hands together.

Tong Xu’s gay friend was also from the sports academy. After Tong Xu phrased the question and sent it over, the reply came back succinctly: [Ugly ones].

This answer put Lin Zhi in a tough spot. He might have a bunch of flaws, but he wasn’t ugly.

Lin Zhi leaned over to peer at the phone screen. “Ask him again—besides ugly ones.”

Tong Xu typed it out, and the response was equally brief: [None].

Lin Zhi fell silent.

Tong Xu remarked curiously, “So ugly guys can’t even be gay?”

Lin Zhi didn’t think that was the case.

“Ask again: What about stinky straight guys?”

As Tong Xu typed, he asked Lin Zhi, “Are you being harassed by a gay guy?”

Lin Zhi said mournfully, “No.” He had just sinned! Song Mian wasn’t harassing him.

Soon, the gay friend replied: [Love forcing good men into prostitution. If they’re hot, even more so 〈lewd.jpg〉].

Lin Zhi sucked in a sharp breath. Tong Xu quickly explained for his friend, “Gay guys talk bluntly like that.”

Lin Zhi’s expression grew solemn.

Song Mian wasn’t like that!

But Song Mian did care about looks. He’d taken a liking to him just because he was good-looking and put in some effort. Sigh Right now, he was exactly the type of stinky straight guy gay men loved most. Making Song Mian fall out of love with him wouldn’t happen anytime soon.

Lin Zhi fretted.

“Any more questions? If not, I’m eating.”

Lin Zhi had one more. “Ask him another one.”

Tong Xu warned warmly, “My friend talks straight.”

Lin Zhi nodded.

Tong Xu said, “Shoot.”

Lin Zhi asked, “Why would one guy want to date another guy? Isn’t being friends good enough? Friends can hang out 24/7 too.”

Tong Xu typed while looking down. “Honestly, I’m curious too. You and Song Mian, two straight guys, sleep in the same bed and haven’t hooked up. If you were straight and she was a girl, you’d have kids by now.”

Lin Zhi felt extremely guilty.

Soon, the reply came: [Can fuck].

Lin Zhi was shocked. “Holy shit!”

Tong Xu was shocked. “Holy shit!”

Lin Zhi trembled. “Ask—ask again. If two guys are good friends, why does one have to turn it into dating?”

Tong Xu asked.

The gay friend replied: [Can fuck with a title].

Lin Zhi recoiled in shock.

Tong Xu murmured, “I’ve learned something new.”

Then another message followed with a phone ding, and both looked over: [Sounds like you’re asking for your dormmate Lin Zhi. He’s glued to Song Mian all day, like Song Mian’s little wife. Those two? My gut says neither is straight.].

Lin Zhi got angry and slammed the table. “Slander!”

Tong Xu soothed him. “Gay guys are like that—they see everyone as gay.”

Under Lin Zhi’s strong insistence, Tong Xu replied, “My two roommates are both straight.” Then Tong Xu asked Lin Zhi, “You’re so curious today. Did you fall for some guy?”

Lin Zhi’s eyes widened. “You saw through me?”

Tong Xu coughed lightly. “I’d advise against it. If Song Mian finds out, he’ll be pissed. His possessiveness is already so strong he makes you sleep with him at night. You think he’ll let you sleep with someone else?”

Lin Zhi’s face reddened a bit. “What are you saying?”

Tong Xu stared at Lin Zhi’s flushed face and teased, “Song Mian’s rich and treats you well. You’re all soft and tender like a pretty boy. Looking at it that way, you really do seem like his little wife. But as a bro, here’s some advice: luxury families are full of pitfalls.”

Lin Zhi only heard the front part and protested loudly, “I’m a guy!”

Tong Xu changed it. “Little husband, then?”

Little husband worked—at least it was a “husband.” But Lin Zhi was still scared by Tong Xu’s gay friend’s words.

He had witnessed Song Mian’s prowess firsthand.

That evening, right before Song Mian was due back at school, Lin Zhi immediately invited him to eat at the school cafeteria. Lin Zhi had spicy hotpot, while Song Mian got his meal from the window, with an extra serving of egg custard that he gave to Lin Zhi.

Lin Zhi felt a bit guilty again. After hesitating several times, Song Mian set down his chopsticks. “What do you want to say?”

Lin Zhi fidgeted. “I—I’m coming clean. Actually, I’m a follower of Plato.”

Song Mian’s expression turned subtle. “A follower of… Plato?”

Lin Zhi nodded. “Yeah.”

Song Mian asked, “Where was he from?”

Lin Zhi said wisely, “Ancient Greece, Athenian. 427 BC to 347 BC!”

Song Mian pressed, “His works…”

Lin Zhi blurted, “‘The Republic.’ It’s a great book.”

Song Mian had actually asked, “How many volumes?”

Lin Zhi blanked.

Song Mian said darkly, “If you’re his follower, you should know how many volumes it has. I’m not even a follower, and I know.”

Lin Zhi didn’t know!

“sigh.“

Song Mian was both annoyed and speechless. “What are you up to now? Didn’t I tell you not to overthink?”

“Smart brains run on their own,” Lin Zhi retorted unhappily.

Song Mian: “…”

Song Mian asked, “So what do you want?”

Lin Zhi ducked his head and scurried to sit beside Song Mian. He tugged obediently at Song Mian’s arm. Song Mian turned his head, his gaze landing on Lin Zhi’s flushed cheeks and plump lips. Recalling last night’s sensation, his heart itched.

Lin Zhi lifted his eyelids innocently. “I learned a bit about gay guys today.”

Song Mian was puzzled. “Gay guys have knowledge?”

Lin Zhi whispered, “Of course. You gay guys are all so horny. Do you want to… sigh.“

Lin Zhi couldn’t say it.

After three years as bros, how could he ask his bro if he wanted to do that to him?

Lin Zhi’s face turned beet red without uttering a word. Song Mian finally asked, “Afraid I’ll bully you?”

Lin Zhi corrected, “Can’t call it bullying.”

He was a proud straight guy—how could he be bullied?

Song Mian understood and said directly, “Without your permission, we’ll just cover up and sleep purely.”

That answer worked.

Lin Zhi was about to slink away satisfied when Song Mian cupped his hot face and pinched it gently like a stress ball. “Next time, just say it straight. Why drag Plato into it? You think you’re clever?”

Yeah.

Exactly.

Click.

A sudden camera shutter sound. Lin Zhi reacted faster than his brain and shot to his feet. “Who’s taking a picture of Song Mian?”

Song Mian: “…”

The second-floor cafeteria wasn’t crowded, and it was past seven. A girl awkwardly put away her phone. Lin Zhi spotted her with his sharp eyes, ditched Song Mian, and rushed over. Before she could apologize, he clasped his hands pleadingly. “Please delete it! The school forum’s already a mess—this photo can’t go up there!”

The girl blinked. “Oh, okay.” She deleted it. Lin Zhi, still worried, begged her to empty the recycle bin too.

Once it was gone, Lin Zhi returned to Song Mian satisfied.

Seeing Song Mian, he explained coolly in a low voice, “Someone was sneaking pics. I handled it.”

The ambiguous atmosphere was gone.

Song Mian said, “Mm. Eat.”

For insurance, Lin Zhi added, “Record what you said earlier?”

Song Mian lifted an eyebrow. “You don’t trust me?”

Lin Zhi shook his head frantically!

Song Mian said, “Give me your phone.”

Lin Zhi hesitated but handed it over. Song Mian opened the recording app, looked at Lin Zhi expressionlessly, and recorded softly, “Without Lin Zhi’s permission, I only sleep purely under the covers with him.”

Lin Zhi now had his guarantee.

Song Mian said flatly, “People have feelings too. I’m no exception. Your actions can hurt me.”

Lin Zhi felt guilty.

“I’ll delete it.”

“No need,” Song Mian said. “Just compensate me.”

That night, Song Mian forwarded a video to Lin Zhi. Unwary, Lin Zhi opened it in the dorm. An AI female voice blared: “Ten Things a Man Who Loves His Husband Should Say.”

Lin Zhi closed it instantly!

Tong Xu and Zhu Muyun whipped their heads around.

Tong Xu rubbed his ears. “Did I hear that right? Zhizhi, play it again.”

Lin Zhi refused to!

Then a follow-up message arrived: [Pick one and say it to me.].

Lin Zhi: [Why?]

Song Mian: [Compensation.].

Lin Zhi: [Sigh.].

Nearly midnight, Song Mian squeezed into Lin Zhi’s bed. Lin Zhi squeezed his eyes shut. Song Mian pulled him into his arms and said, “Go on.”

Lin Zhi’s eyelashes fluttered.

Song Mian threatened softly, “If not, everything you’ve done lately goes on the forum.”

Lin Zhi opened his eyes, propped himself on Song Mian’s chest, and looked up to complain, “Muyun, Song Mian’s talking!”

Zhu Muyun pushed up his glasses. “It’s fine. None of us are asleep yet.”

Lin Zhi pouted and had no choice but to roll over, prop himself on one elbow, lean to Song Mian’s ear, scrunch his face, and whisper almost inaudibly, “Hus—husband, good work today.”

Then he burrowed into the sheets and vanished.

Song Mian’s lips curved. “Mm, not hard.”

Lin Zhi fumed, his face blood-red from the humiliation of a straight guy. He rustled around in the covers, nearly burrowing to Song Mian’s abdomen. Song Mian’s whole body tensed, his Adam’s apple bobbed hard, and the next second—pain on the back of his hand.

Song Mian: “…”

Song Mian lifted his hand. A deep bite mark gleamed on the back, with saliva still wet. Lin Zhi poked his head out, glanced at Song Mian, then lay back down innocently and closed his eyes. In truth… he couldn’t suppress his grin.

Song Mian pinched Lin Zhi’s face. “A little dog?”

Lin Zhi: “Woof!”

Song Mian’s heart was suddenly scratched. He yanked Lin Zhi into his arms.

Monday morning.

Lin Zhi came up with a way to make Song Mian stop liking him. The inspiration came from Tong Xu.

Tong Xu never initiated breakups, but all his exes were dumped by him. Lin Zhi knew because once Tong Xu sighed in the dorm, “Too troublesome, too hard to deal with. Dating her any longer, and I’d go neurotic.” He noticed Lin Zhi’s big curious eyes nearby.

Tong Xu immediately warned him not to tell anyone, including Zhu Muyun and Song Mian.

Lin Zhi didn’t know exactly what the ex did, but he understood “troublesome” and “hard to deal with.” He didn’t plan to drive Song Mian neurotic—Song Mian was his best bro. He just needed Song Mian to find him troublesome!

After washing up, Lin Zhi demanded Song Mian piggyback him to class.

Zhu Muyun’s foot froze at the dorm door. Tong Xu had no early class and was still asleep.

Lin Zhi lifted his chin stubbornly. “I’m just that troublesome. If you won’t carry me, I ain’t going.”

Song Mian’s gaze swept over Lin Zhi’s reddened ear tips, then settled on his wide eyes. As if understanding something, he grabbed Lin Zhi’s backpack, turned, and knelt halfway with bent knees in front of him.

Lin Zhi pounced forward mischievously.

“Let’s go!”

Zhu Muyun was extremely, extremely puzzled.

When they reached the cafeteria entrance, Lin Zhi still didn’t let Song Mian put him down. The last time Song Mian had carried him on his back was when he was sick, but the forums had blown up with rumors about it back then. Lin Zhi had concluded that it was because he hadn’t spoken up that time. This time, he learned his lesson—whenever he noticed someone staring, he immediately said his foot was sprained.

Song Mian jostled Lin Zhi lightly. “Do you think they believe that?”

Lin Zhi replied, “Why wouldn’t they? They don’t know you’re gay.”

Song Mian corrected him, “It’s ‘we.’ You’re gay too.”

Lin Zhi slammed his forehead hard against Song Mian’s shoulder.

“Ow!” Lin Zhi clutched his forehead.

Song Mian: “……”

Song Mian set Lin Zhi down at an empty table in the cafeteria. After they finished breakfast, he hoisted Lin Zhi onto his back again. Lin Zhi asked, “Am I troublesome?”

Song Mian murmured lowly, “Is this round of teasing rubbing up against my back? It’s not exactly perverted.”

Lin Zhi was shocked!

He slunk off Song Mian’s back in embarrassment.

Sigh.*

Song Mian had gaydar through the roof.

Once they reached the classroom, Lin Zhi lay flushed-faced on his desk. For some inexplicable reason, his arch-rival Jiang Chaohua shot him a glare, so Lin Zhi inexplicably switched to the other side of the room.

The Romance Survival System, which had vanished for an entire day, suddenly spoke up in Lin Zhi’s mind just as he was starting to doze off during class: [Host…]

Lin Zhi snapped awake instantly and yelled inwardly, “You finally show up! Do you have any idea what kind of days I’ve had without you?!”

Romance Survival System: [Good days! Host, the Male Lead’s been carrying you to school every morning.]

Lin Zhi deflated. “I’ve been hoisted by my own petard. You’re back because the main storyline quest refreshed?”

The system’s electronic voice sounded faint: [Yes.]

Hearing the system’s suddenly subdued tone, Lin Zhi sensed trouble and panicked. “It can’t be…”

The Romance Survival System immediately blared in an impassioned electronic tone: [Main storyline quest unlocked: Have sex with the Male Lead seven times! Host, you will face death on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 8:00 PM. Complete the main quest before 8:00 PM on Thursday to permanently avert your cannon fodder fate.]

Sex sex sex… seven times!

Lin Zhi… stopped thinking altogether.

He—he—he was straight!!!