Chapter 32 Part 1

Lin Zhi was petrified. Song, Song Mian really had memories.

Lin Zhi’s pupils trembled as he gazed at the infuriatingly composed Song Mian beside him. He was scared to death. But the Romance Survival System still hadn’t returned, leaving Lin Zhi to face the perverted Male Lead alone. Lin Zhi instinctively tried to shift toward the other side of the bed, but he had only moved for a second when his body ached fiercely again.

Song Mian helped Lin Zhi lie down and pinched his cheek. “I’ve applied the medicine. Don’t move. And don’t mention breaking off ties again.”

Lin Zhi had just been touched that Song Mian had applied medicine for him, but the next sentence hit like a flood of grievances from when he was treated like a doll.

Lin Zhi glared at Song Mian resentfully. “When I was your doll and you did all that to me, shouldn’t I break off ties with you? If you ever saw me as a brother, would you have done that to me?!”

Song Mian propped himself up on his elbow and looked at Lin Zhi, his face showing no guilt whatsoever. “How could I see you as a brother? You’re my almost-boyfriend. As for the doll thing, it was to fulfill your seven wishes.”

Under Lin Zhi’s deeply skeptical gaze, Song Mian added, “I had some selfish motives too, but I think we were mutually consenting at the time. At most, it was just some fun between lovers.”

Lin Zhi’s face flushed red.

Only then did Lin Zhi remember that before his death this time, he and Song Mian had that layer of ambiguity between them. During the period he was a doll, Song Mian probably thought he liked him a lot.

Lin Zhi, who had been ready to settle scores, deflated. He muttered softly, “I’m a straight guy. I came back because of the Romance Survival System. All those tasks I did weren’t to flirt with you—they were to survive! Including the seven times. Now, do you finally believe me?”

Song Mian’s breathing hitched, but he seemed indifferent. “Does it matter if I believe you? Flirting with a gay guy like me—wasn’t that you?”

Lin Zhi clenched his fists, but Song Mian gently grasped them. Lin Zhi stubbornly made a finger-gun gesture, aiming to “shoot” Song Mian.

“Zhizhi, every time you make that gesture, it kills me how cute you are.”

Lin Zhi stopped—no more! He tucked both hands under the blanket, but he couldn’t help himself. He lifted his head. “But you said you were going to use that dirty thing to make my soul reek of your scent. Isn’t that your problem?!”

By the end, Lin Zhi was utterly mortified. He yanked the blanket over his face to hide. He had no idea how Song Mian could say such things with a straight face. Even during the act, Song Mian had said “first irrigation,” “second irrigation,” and stopped after the third time. But he’d said it twice—how could Song Mian say it out loud?!

Song Mian was a total pervert!!

Under the blanket, Lin Zhi heard Song Mian’s matter-of-fact voice: “Shouldn’t I? How else would I find you without marking you? Who knew if we’d survive?”

So this guy planned to go all out if he died?

Lin Zhi poked his head out, his face beet red as he cursed, “Pervert!”

Then he hid his face again.

Cute.

Song Mian’s heart itched. He asked again, “Really breaking off ties?”

Lin Zhi said firmly, “Yeah!”

After a moment, Song Mian’s voice came: “Fine.”

Huh??

Lin Zhi turned his head hesitantly to look at Song Mian. “You’re agreeing just like that?”

Song Mian lowered his gaze. “Yeah.”

Lin Zhi felt a bit unhappy now. “You never saw me as a brother before, did you? That’s why you’re agreeing so readily to cut ties.”

Song Mian: “Wronged.”

Lin Zhi: “Hmph.”

Song Mian’s lips curved up. “In that case, I won’t be so agreeable. I have conditions. If you can’t meet them, no breaking off ties.”

Lin Zhi was unhappy again.

“Why are you like this? Didn’t you just agree?”

Song Mian pinched Lin Zhi’s cheek, like a devil incarnate. “I gave you a chance, Zhizhi.”

Lin Zhi was on guard. “What are the conditions?”

Song Mian said without batting an eye, “Do it with me once a week.”

“What the—!” Lin Zhi jolted in shock, his whole body aching. “Ow!” Song Mian quickly held the blanket to keep him from moving.

“Don’t move. Hurts again, right?”

Lin Zhi’s reddened eyes widened. “I told you, I’m straight!”

Song Mian: “Non-negotiable.”

Lin Zhi frowned. “Fine, non-negotiable then. I’ll stay far away from you. I don’t need your permission anyway.”

Lin Zhi stubbornly reached out and slapped Song Mian’s hand hard, without holding back. Then, at a turtle’s pace, he shifted to the edge of the bed with the blanket, even grabbing his pillow.

Lin Zhi buried his face in the pillow again, silently shedding tears over his perverted brother.

Song Mian chuckled lowly. “Baby, how are you so cute?”

Lin Zhi turned his head in horror. “Brother Song Mian! Act normal—I’m human now!”

Song Mian poked Lin Zhi’s flushed cheek and changed his words. “Zhizhi, how are you so cute?”

Lin Zhi despaired. “It’s not the nickname—it’s that you shouldn’t say stuff like that at all!”

Song Mian asked patiently, “What should I say then?”

Lin Zhi: “You should say, um…”

Song Mian’s thin lips parted, his eyes full of mischief. “No.”

Lin Zhi was depressed.

His brother wasn’t pretending anymore!

Song Mian tugged at Lin Zhi’s blanket and lifted his hips, positioning him to sleep on his side. The moment Lin Zhi saw Song Mian, he squeezed his eyes shut.

Song Mian soothed, “Sleep. No more fussing. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Lin Zhi felt as wronged as a little wife. He closed his eyes but opened them again moments later, calling out to Song Mian as he got out of bed. “I didn’t take leave.”

Song Mian: “I took care of today and tomorrow for you.”

Lin Zhi obediently: “Oh.”

Then he added indignantly, “I’m going back tomorrow.”

Song Mian reminded him darkly, “If you want to go back covered in hickeys, be my guest.”

Lin Zhi sighed.

Water ran in the bathroom. Lin Zhi sighed. Why did other straight guys get straight bros while he ended up with a gay one? He didn’t discriminate against gays, but why did it have to be a perverted gay?

Lin Zhi even thought that if he’d completed the first task proactively, Song Mian’s perverted side might still be hidden. Hidden harmony on the surface was better than this.

The system bro still hadn’t returned. Lin Zhi didn’t think it was the type to leave without a word after a task. Could it be… Lin Zhi worried. Surviving wasn’t that simple? Had system bro gone to absorb new knowledge?

If so, maybe system bro shouldn’t come back. He was breaking off ties with the Male Lead!

When Song Mian emerged from the shower, the other side of the bed was still. As Song Mian approached, Lin Zhi’s eyes were closed, breathing steadily. Song Mian stared at his face, couldn’t resist reaching out to poke his nose—suddenly, Lin Zhi’s eyes snapped open. He lifted his head and bit Song Mian’s finger viciously.

Then, “Pah!” He spat it out and closed his eyes. Song Mian’s index finger bore a deep tooth mark, slick with saliva.

“Scared ya?”

Song Mian: “…”

“That’s the price for messing with me!”

Song Mian: “…”

Song Mian said nothing.

When Song Mian returned to bed and habitually tried to pull Lin Zhi into his arms, Lin Zhi turned and bit his arm—not too hard, but not lightly. When he released it, another tooth mark remained.

Song Mian: “…”

Song Mian couldn’t take it. “Are you a dog?”

Lin Zhi: “Hmph.”

Song Mian didn’t hug him, letting Lin Zhi sleep peacefully. Under Lin Zhi’s vigilant gaze, he promised not to sneak a hug. Lin Zhi finally said “oh.” Song Mian turned off the light, plunging the room into darkness.

With sight limited, hearing sharpened.

Song Mian listened to Lin Zhi’s irregular breathing. Just as he was about to speak, Lin Zhi hesitantly beat him to it. “How do you know Soul Summoning?”

His uneven breaths weren’t from fear—he was curious.

Song Mian: “Wanna know?”

Lin Zhi hesitated: “Will you tell me?”

Song Mian’s voice was low: “Kiss me, and I will.”

Lin Zhi pursed his lips. “Then don’t tell me.”

Song Mian chuckled lightly and truly said nothing.

Moments later, Lin Zhi rustled. “When did you make that doll?”

Song Mian reused the line: “Wanna know?”

Lin Zhi covered his ears. “Then don’t tell me.”

Song Mian’s brow arched.

But minutes later, Lin Zhi piped up again, voice mumbling: “Did, did you have your eye on me from the start?”

Song Mian: “Wanna know?”

Lin Zhi grumbled unhappily. “You won’t answer a single question! How could you!”

This time, Song Mian didn’t disappoint. “Yeah, I’ve had my eye on you for a while. Don’t get mad yet—having my eye on you is one thing, but I didn’t cross any lines. I just customized a doll, originally just to collect and change outfits on. Believe it or not, I only ordered it recently.”

Lin Zhi fell silent.

Change outfits—such a niche phrase. That princess dress really came from Song Mian’s twisted side!

“Throw it out!” Lin Zhi said fiercely.

Song Mian refused: “No. If I throw it away, I’ll dress you up instead.”

Lin Zhi wilted.

Sigh.