After accepting the task, Lin Zhi was about to return to his own bed but paused while holding the ladder for a moment. Then he turned around and sat back down next to Song Mian. He typed a string of words into his phone’s notes app and held it up next to Song Mian’s computer. Song Mian glanced over, and the phone screen read: [Song Mian bro, can I sleep with you tonight (^▽^)?]
Song Mian shot Lin Zhi a look. Lin Zhi flashed a fawning simp smile. Song Mian turned back to his computer, choosing to ignore him.
Lin Zhi thrust the phone right under Song Mian’s nose again. The screen now read: [You’re cool with it by default? Awesome, Song Mian bro, I’m coming over!]
Before Song Mian could react, Lin Zhi shot to his feet in a second, only to be stopped by Song Mian’s firm voice: “No.”
Lin Zhi sat back down and sprawled over the desk, tirelessly messaging Song Mian. Song Mian’s voice rang out repeatedly. Song Mian was too lazy to even open them, but when he glanced at Lin Zhi again, Lin Zhi pleaded pitifully: “Please!”
Song Mian couldn’t comprehend it: “What are you up to now? Planning to assassinate me?”
Of course, it was to sneak a kiss on Song Mian’s lips while he was asleep. This was the most dignified way Lin Zhi had just thought of to complete the task! And it was for Song Mian’s own good too.
Lin Zhi wouldn’t disturb Zhu Muyun while he read, so he typed again: [I watched a horror movie and I’m a bit scared.]
“What horror movie?”
Lin Zhi was used to Song Mian’s back-and-forth questioning. Song Mian always dug into his affairs relentlessly, as if afraid he was lying. But this time, he really was lying.
Lin Zhi kept typing on his phone: [Recalling it will make me even more scared.]
“Then be scared.”
Lin Zhi buried his head into Song Mian’s shoulder like a burly guy acting cute: “Please! Just let me sleep with you!”
Lin Zhi’s plea came out loud this time.
Song Mian impassively pushed Lin Zhi’s head away: “No.”
“Come on! Come on! Come on! Song Mian bro, Sonnnnng——Miannnn——”
Before “bro” could leave his mouth, a stone-faced Song Mian clamped his hand over it. “Are you trying to wake up the whole neighboring dorm?”
Lin Zhi shook his head innocently, his eyes still begging.
Song Mian grew irritated: “Just this once.”
Lin Zhi happily dashed to Song Mian’s bed.
Tong Xu sighed: “That wheedling guy has all the luck.”
Song Mian: “……”
Lin Zhi turned toward Zhu Muyun instead: “Want some water?”
Zhu Muyun: “No.”
Lin Zhi: “I won’t talk anymore.”
Zhu Muyun: “Go ahead, it’s fine.”
But Lin Zhi really shut up. His goal was achieved! Now he just had to wait until night to sneak the kiss from Song Mian!
The Romance Survival System was displeased: 【Humans are so cunning—they actually plan to kiss the Male Lead while he’s asleep. Once he’s out cold, how are you supposed to pursue him?!】
“System bro, no pursuit starts with a smooch right off the bat. If I kiss him while he’s awake, I’d be a total creep! He’d hate me.” Lin Zhi went to his bed to grab his pillow and blanket.
The system retorted: 【Kissing him while he’s asleep isn’t creepy?】
“Fair point.” Lin Zhi was always easygoing. “But this is straight-guy deception. Song Mian doesn’t know, so this straight dude will pretend it never happened!”
The Romance Survival System was dumbfounded.
After getting onto Song Mian’s bed, Lin Zhi considerately unfolded Song Mian’s neatly folded tofu-block blanket and spread it out on the outer side. He laid out his own blanket on the inner side. Lin Zhi slipped under the covers. Even though the blanket and pillow were his, the sandalwood scent was even stronger—Song Mian’s unique aroma.
Bro, it smells so good!
Song Mian didn’t return to bed until after eleven. The single dorm bed had been split in two by Lin Zhi. Lin Zhi was covered up and sleeping on the outside, while his rolled-up blanket lay flat. When Song Mian lifted his own blanket, Lin Zhi suddenly opened his eyes beside him and whispered: “Song Mian?”
Song Mian pretended not to see and closed his eyes after getting under the covers.
Lin Zhi scooted over with his blanket. Song Mian shifted away a bit, and Lin Zhi squeezed inward. Song Mian was pushed until his shoulder pressed against the wall. Finally losing patience, he said: “Don’t push your luck.”
Lin Zhi flashed an innocent smile, speaking almost in a breath: “This is the first time I’ve ever slept with a guy since I became aware of myself.”
A vein throbbed at Song Mian’s temple. He rolled over, turning his back to Lin Zhi, clearly done engaging.
Lin Zhi scooted closer and poked Song Mian’s back. “For real! Am I your first guy?”
Song Mian: “……”
“Song Mian bro, what’s my rank?”
Zhu Muyun set down his book and adjusted his glasses. Tong Xu, gaming away, seemed utterly unfazed by the exchange.
Song Mian finally spoke: “First.”
Lin Zhi’s voice carried a hint of pride: “Knew it! You don’t get along with your dad, hmph! Song Mian, I’m your first guy.”
Zhu Muyun’s hand trembled.
Song Mian finally turned to look at Lin Zhi, his first expression a glare: “Shut up.”
Lin Zhi’s eyes curved happily as he bumped his head against Song Mian’s in affection.
Song Mian’s head spun from the impact. He wanted to discipline Lin Zhi, but those ridiculously dumb eyes made him let it go: “Sleep.”
“Got it, Song Mian bro~”
Lin Zhi closed his eyes and started snoring softly within minutes.
Song Mian: “……”
In the dead of night, Lin Zhi groggily fought off sleep and opened his eyes. It was pitch black, and the dorm was so quiet he could hear his roommates’ breathing from the opposite bunk.
Song Mian’s breathing was steady—he was asleep. Time to kiss! But when it came down to it, Lin Zhi couldn’t cross that mental hurdle. He was straight; his kiss was meant for his future wife!
Song Mian was straight too! He might be saving his first kiss for his future wife, and now Lin Zhi was stealing it.
The more Lin Zhi thought, the more he felt like a monster.
The ever-present Romance Survival System chimed in: 【Host, be a real man—wall-slam him in broad daylight!】
No way.
It was for survival too! Male Lead, sacrifice a little!
Lin Zhi took a deep breath, propped himself up on the bedsheet, and held his breath—though his pounding heartbeat betrayed him. The bed creaked. Lin Zhi guessed at the position of Song Mian’s lips and leaned in, unsure what he touched.
His lips burned on contact. Lin Zhi yanked back and mentally asked the Romance Survival System.
The system replied primly: 【Task not complete! Host touched the Male Lead’s cheek. Lips must fully cover lips. I’ll announce it automatically upon completion! Sneak-kissing isn’t gentlemanly—suggest waiting until the Male Lead wakes up.】
Lin Zhi ignored the advice.
First time’s the hardest. Lin Zhi sat up fully. Listening to Song Mian’s steady breaths, he reached out. He found Song Mian’s nose first—mouth right below!
His fingers lingered on the lips to pinpoint them. He leaned down, lips about to cover… when Song Mian’s hoarse voice cut in: “What are you doing?”
Lin Zhi jolted. But with the arrow nocked, he had to loose it—he planted the kiss! Then he promptly played dead beside him.
The Romance Survival System announced immediately: 【Branch Task One complete. Host gains a life chance. No death until the next task!】
Lin Zhi relaxed. But Song Mian’s icy voice came: “So this was your reason for sleeping with me?”
Lin Zhi’s heart raced, but he stayed silent. Then Zhu Muyun’s sleepy, confused voice rose: “Middle of the night—are you messing with Song Mian again, Zhi Zhi?”
Lin Zhi held his breath. Song Mian ignored Zhu Muyun. Soon, Zhu Muyun lay back down, and the dorm fell quiet again.
Lin Zhi silently rolled over. Then he heard Song Mian’s chilling cold laugh.
Lin Zhi shrank like a quail, not daring to move. The Romance Survival System was thrilled: 【That’s more like it! No more sneaking. Now the Male Lead knows! How will you face his questions tomorrow morning?!】
Lin Zhi felt a twinge of fear: “This is really pursuit, right?”
The Romance Survival System seemed to read his mind: 【Yes, this system’s tasks are to pursue the Male Lead, but whether you succeed depends on you! How you complete them isn’t up to the system!】
Lin Zhi pondered.
【Host, stop pretending to think!】
Lin Zhi went to sleep.
Romance Survival System: 【……】
Song Mian’s biological clock woke him at seven. He sat up and pinched the nose of the soundly sleeping Lin Zhi, rousing him abruptly.
Lin Zhi drowsily tried to close his eyes again, but Song Mian’s cold voice rang out: “Not gonna explain?”
Lin Zhi snapped awake.
Last night, he’d planned to sneak-kiss Song Mian, but Song Mian had woken up. Lin Zhi squeezed his eyes shut, lashes trembling. Song Mian mocked: “Don’t play dead.”
Lin Zhi opened his eyes, feigning innocence: “What’s up?”
“You tell me.” Song Mian shot back.
Lin Zhi amped up the innocence: “I dunno.”
Song Mian stared silently. Zhu Muyun, an early riser, overheard and joined in: “Zhi Zhi, what were you doing last night? You don’t sleep properly.”
Song Mian smirked faintly, as if to say: Witness confirmed.
Sweat beaded on Lin Zhi’s forehead. He could admit it, but who would believe a guy who sneaks kisses on his roommate was straight? Plus, Song Mian would make him pay.
In desperation, wits sharpened. Lin Zhi sat up slowly, looking annoyed: “But I really don’t know. Was I sleepwalking or something?”
Even sleepy Tong Xu piped up curiously: “You sleepwalk?”
Lin Zhi hung his head low, avoiding Song Mian’s gaze, voice puzzled: “I don’t know. I was clearly sleeping. But you and Muyun say I was causing trouble—I don’t remember a thing.”
Zhu Muyun pondered: “Actually, I didn’t hear you moving.”
He’d heard Song Mian’s voice and assumed Lin Zhi was the one fooling around. Song Mian wasn’t the type to talk randomly at night.
Lin Zhi saw his opening and turned puppy-dog eyes to Song Mian: “Were you the one dreaming?”
Song Mian laughed in exasperation.
Lin Zhi backpedaled: “Or maybe I really was sleepwalking?”
He peeked at Song Mian, saw the awful expression, and looked away, smacking his forehead in regret: “Why would I sleepwalk? Did I do something? If I did, it wasn’t on purpose!”
“Song Mian bro, forgive clueless me.” Lin Zhi clasped his hands pleadingly.
Song Mian sneered: “Fine, sleepwalking.”
Song Mian neatly folded his bedding and got off the bed. Lin Zhi hesitantly asked the Romance Survival System: “Did he buy it?”
Romance Survival System: 【The Male Lead isn’t dumb—he just chose not to hold it against you. As expected of the protagonist!】
Lin Zhi felt guilty.
“Is the Male Lead’s first kiss…?”
Romance Survival System: 【Yes! This book has zero romance lines!】
Lin Zhi’s guilt deepened. He’d stolen the Male Lead’s innocence just to survive! And Song Mian let it slide.
The Romance Survival System wanted to say something but fell silent seeing how guilty the host was.
