It was March 14, 2025, at 11:23 PM. Earlier that afternoon at 5:30, Lin Zhi had already promised Song Mian that he would attend the birthday banquet the next day. So, he climbed out of bed again, though his head still felt a bit dizzy afterward. Lin Zhi checked himself in the mirror first, confirming there were no injuries on his head, then walked over to Song Mian, who was fiddling with his computer.
Lin Zhi sat down nearby and leaned over to peek at Song Mian’s screen, only to get pushed away with a slap.
“What are you doing again?”
Lin Zhi felt a little guilty, but considering the illegitimate son’s banquet he had attended that day, Song Mian could handle it alone just fine. So, he decided not to go.
But the food…
Lin Zhi hesitated for a few seconds before tentatively saying, “For tomorrow’s banquet, maybe I shouldn’t go after all? I’ll just embarrass you.”
Song Mian continued typing on his keyboard and glanced sideways at Lin Zhi upon hearing this. Lin Zhi’s face was a bit red, his hands fidgeting restlessly. Noticing the gaze, he gave a silly grin.
“Okay?”
Song Mian’s fingers paused, and he reminded him ruthlessly, “Are you sure? After that, you won’t get any of my stuff to eat.”
He couldn’t be sure.
Lin Zhi scooted his stool closer to Song Mian. “But I’m a little scared, you know? The banquet’s full of big shots.”
Song Mian didn’t buy it and remained ruthless. “If you don’t go, forget about getting any food from me in the future.”
“Song Mian bro, I…”
Before Lin Zhi could finish, Zhu Muyun interrupted him. “Quiet.”
Zhu Muyun was another of Lin Zhi’s top-student roommates. Though Zhu Muyun and Tong Xu were rarely in the dorm, Zhu Muyun spent all his time buried in the library studying, always ranking first in his major courses and steadily securing scholarships. Truth be told, Lin Zhi admired him a bit.
Zhu Muyun was also their dorm leader. Back in freshman year, he had set a rule: after 11 PM, no talking, regardless of whether anyone was sleeping. Reading, homework, or gaming was fine, and he strictly enforced it on everyone.
Lin Zhi’s words cut off abruptly.
Song Mian typed a message on his computer for Lin Zhi to see.
“Choose dignity or food?”
Lin Zhi sheepishly walked over to the space under Zhu Muyun’s bed. Zhu Muyun was reading a book and pushed up his glasses. “No need to apologize.”
Lin Zhi wasn’t too happy. “I’m not here to apologize. I’m here for justice. Song Mian was talking too—why only call me out?”
Zhu Muyun was fair. “Because you went to talk to Song Mian.”
“Fine, bye then. Want me to pour you a glass of water?”
“Thanks.”
After pouring water for Zhu Muyun, Lin Zhi returned to his own bed. He lay there with his arm as a pillow, feeling endlessly miserable inside.
【Host, what now?】 The Romance Survival System gloated.
Lin Zhi was annoyed to death.
“Don’t talk! I have a plan.”
He absolutely could not go to the banquet—in fact, he couldn’t go anywhere tomorrow. He hadn’t died in the swimming pool but by slipping on cake. So, he’d stay in the dorm all day tomorrow!
He refused to believe he could die even in the dorm.
Lin Zhi typed to Song Mian: “If I catch a cold, do you still want me to go?”
Song Mian’s phone notification chimed in the quiet dorm.
Song Mian: [No need, but don’t even think about catching a cold.]
Lin Zhi raised an eyebrow lightly. Song Mian couldn’t control something like that.
Lin Zhi deliberately kicked half his blanket off. It was March, and the dorm had no AC on. With half the blanket off, cold air rushed into the remaining half. At that moment, Lin Zhi didn’t feel terribly cold.
He closed his eyes, hoping to fall asleep before the chill set in. But moments after shutting them, his bed creaked. When he opened his eyes again, Song Mian’s enlarged face loomed over him. Song Mian was tucking him back in. Noticing his gaze, Song Mian sneered coldly without a word.
Lin Zhi: “…”
After Song Mian left, Lin Zhi tried to quietly nudge the blanket open a bit, but as soon as he moved, Song Mian knocked on the bed frame and gave him a mocking half-smile.
Lin Zhi innocently pulled the blanket tight.
He’d have to fake being sick!
“Mighty System bro, can you give me cold symptoms? Like a hoarse voice and pale face by morning?”
The Romance Survival System came online: 【This system’s abilities are only for tasks. Faking illness isn’t one. Can’t you just not go? The male lead isn’t dragging you there.】
No way—then he’d never get to eat the white radish from those double portions of Braised Chicken Rice again. The chicken was average, but that radish was divine.
Six black dots floated in front of Lin Zhi— the system’s speechless reaction.
Sunday.
Lin Zhi didn’t get up. When Song Mian rose, he played dead and whined for Song Mian to bring him breakfast, his voice hoarse and groggy from just waking.
“I feel unwell.” After stewing in the blanket for a while, he poked his flushed face out to tell Song Mian below.
Song Mian stared at him expressionlessly.
Lin Zhi felt no guilt—facing death, a little deception was necessary.
“Really unwell?”
“Yeah.”
“Then just have some porridge.”
Lin Zhi wasn’t thrilled but nodded reluctantly. “Okay, I can’t stomach anything else.”
Song Mian stared at him again, making Lin Zhi’s hair stand on end. Tong Xu spoke up. “Did he catch this from the wind yesterday afternoon? Song Mian, he went out to the balcony in just a short sleeve and stood there blowing in the breeze. If he doesn’t catch a cold, who does?”
Lin Zhi agreed. “Yeah, exactly!”
Zhu Muyun finished packing, rummaged through his medical kit, pulled out some cold medicine, and placed it on Lin Zhi’s desk. “Eat this after breakfast.”
“Okay.” Lin Zhi’s eyes welled up.
The cold was fake, but the friendship was real.
Song Mian remained expressionless.
Lin Zhi covered his mouth and coughed. “Thanks, Song Mian bro.”
Song Mian: “…”
As Zhu Muyun headed out, Tong Xu slung an arm around his shoulders. “Take me studying with you today?”
Zhu Muyun adjusted his glasses. “You can sleep in the library, but snoring disturbs others.”
Lin Zhi was about to join in and tease Tong Xu from behind when he noticed Song Mian still watching him. “Ow!” Lin Zhi clutched his head, dove back under the covers facing the wall, and whimpered weakly, “My head hurts so much.”
“Xiao Zhu, that mouth of yours isn’t wasted.” Tong Xu gritted out through his teeth, tightening his grip on Zhu Muyun’s shoulder. “No sleeping from your bro today!”
Zhu Muyun walked toward the dorm door, half-disgusted. “Looking for a girlfriend in the library? Would any intellectual fall for you?”
Tong Xu: “…Don’t nag me—what does a bookworm know?”
Lin Zhi perked up his ears as his roommates’ voices faded. He couldn’t help chuckling, muffling his laughter in the blanket. But before he could stop, the bed dipped again. His smile froze. Song Mian’s ghostly voice sounded by his ear. “Really caught a cold?”
Lin Zhi: “…”
Lin Zhi emerged from the blanket, his face rosy from holding back laughter, which actually looked like a fever. He hummed. “Yeah, really.”
Song Mian touched his forehead—Song Mian’s hand was even hotter. Lin Zhi panicked, barely breathing as Song Mian’s intense gaze pinned him.
Song Mian had pale skin, sharp brows and eyes, thin lips pressed together, exuding an unapproachable chill—now even more terrifyingly cold. Lin Zhi’s lashes fluttered in fear, his breaths shallow. He thought: If Song Mian said he wasn’t feverish, he’d deny it to the death! If asked to take his temperature, he’d refuse flat out!
Song Mian felt for a long time; Lin Zhi tensed for a long time. Finally, Song Mian withdrew his hand. “Yeah, it’s a bit hot. Rest up. Breakfast is just a bowl of plain porridge—no more.”
Lin Zhi’s eyes widened. He whispered, “I probably can’t go to the banquet with you today.”
Song Mian shrugged indifferently. “If you’re unwell, no need.”
Lin Zhi: “What about food later…”
“Depends on my mood.”
That meant there was still a chance!
Lin Zhi suppressed his glee. After Song Mian left, he touched his own forehead—icy cold, yet Song Mian had warmed it up.
Song Mian had only bought one bowl of porridge, barely enough to tide Lin Zhi over. After eating, Song Mian didn’t push the medicine. But in the previous timeline, Song Mian had left the dorm after heading out—now he stayed put.
Lin Zhi, hoping for snacks, found no opening. He couldn’t play on his phone either, so he faked sleep. Before long, he actually dozed off.
By noon, Song Mian planned to buy him more porridge.
Lin Zhi had figured he’d snag snacks once Song Mian left, but Song Mian suddenly said, “Isn’t your snack stash under the desk?”
Lin Zhi was stingy. “Not sharing.”
Song Mian replied, “I took a photo. Eighteen kinds inside. You’re unwell—you shouldn’t eat that junk anyway, right?”
Lin Zhi hissed softly and grumbled in agreement.
Song Mian’s lips curved faintly. “I’ll go buy you porridge. Lin Zhi, rest well.”
Lin Zhi wanted to die.
But after Song Mian left, Lin Zhi got up to count—eighteen exactly. He couldn’t even sneak a bag of chips! Dejected, he crawled back to his “sickbed.” “System bro, I won’t starve to death, right?”
Romance Survival System: 【No, host! Humans won’t die from skipping one meal! But you’ll die before 7 PM tonight, so starvation won’t be the cause.】
Life was tough. Lin Zhi sighed.
The task was to kiss Song Mian. How could he kiss Song Mian?! He’d saved his first kiss this long not for Song Mian! He’d gone to such lengths to fake illness—how could he still die?
