Chapter 5 Part 1

On the evening of March 15, 2025, at five o’clock, Song Mian returned to the dorm to grab his car keys and prepared to leave, but Lin Zhi, who had already put on his little tiger shirt, blocked him. “Brother Song Mian, you forgot about me!”

“I didn’t forget. You don’t need to come.”

Lin Zhi felt like the sky had fallen. He could live! He could go to the banquet and eat like a king, but Song Mian wasn’t letting him go?

Lin Zhi followed closely behind Song Mian out of the dorm. “Why? Does that mean I can’t eat double portions of chicken anymore?”

“No.”

Lin Zhi’s expression went blank, but he still trailed after Song Mian. Song Mian didn’t chase him away and only stopped at the school gate when Lin Zhi finally halted. “I’ll see you off here, Brother Song Mian. I’ll starve myself to atone for my sins.”

Song Mian: “……”

Song Mian stopped too and pressed him. “Atone for what?”

Lin Zhi turned his head away, his voice muffled. “You don’t need to ask about that. Go on. I’ll starve myself.”

Lin Zhi lifted his head again, punishing himself right there at the bustling school gate. Lin Zhi wasn’t embarrassed, but Song Mian found it disgraceful. “I don’t have a habit of starving my roommates. Let’s go together.”

Lin Zhi timidly glanced at Song Mian, looking just like a bullied little wife.

Song Mian furrowed his brow tightly. “Make that face again, and go back to the dorm.”

Lin Zhi broke into a grin in an instant. But just as he reached for the back door, Song Mian grabbed his collar. “Sit in the front. Want me to be your chauffeur?”

Lin Zhi turned around and revealed the little tiger on his collar, sincere as ever. “But I’ve got this little tiger here. Did you prepare clothes for me?”

Song Mian was surprised too and hesitated before letting Lin Zhi sit in the front passenger seat.

“No,” Song Mian said. “Go to the banquet like that and turn into a tiger rampaging everywhere.”

“Are you mocking me?” Lin Zhi obediently buckled his seatbelt.

Song Mian shot Lin Zhi a sidelong glance. “Don’t you deserve it?”

He did.

Lin Zhi pointed to the clothes in the back seat again. “Aren’t those prepared for me?”

Song Mian’s lips twitched. “Prepared for my dog at home.”

Dogs don’t wear suits. He was calling him a dog! But Lin Zhi didn’t argue—he deserved it.

When they arrived at the Song Family estate, Song Mian still made Lin Zhi change out of the little tiger shirt. The reason: it was embarrassing.

But Lin Zhi still couldn’t tie a tie. After fumbling for ages, Song Mian stepped in and tied it for him very roughly. Lin Zhi scratched his cheek. “Brother Song Mian, give me a smile.”

Song Mian didn’t offer even one smile.

At the banquet venue, Lin Zhi made a beeline for the food like he owned the place, no guidance from Song Mian needed. Song Mian chatted with the guests while keeping an eye on where Lin Zhi had scampered off to. When he strayed too far, Song Mian dragged him back with a dark expression.

The banquet was filled with the same people from the previous timeline he’d encountered. Lin Zhi knew most of their gossip. But gossip was endless, especially when he spotted a familiar capitalist in the corner. Lin Zhi nudged Song Mian. “That kinda handsome guy— is the scandal with Wu Ting real?”

Wu Ting was the hot new Best Actor.

Song Mian gave Lin Zhi a baffled look and ignored him.

Lin Zhi was genuinely curious. “Is it true? Got any gossip to share?”

Song Mian looked even more baffled. “How would I know about entertainment circle stuff?”

Lin Zhi thought Song Mian was being unfair!

Just because he’d sneaked a kiss on Song Mian at night, he wouldn’t even share gossip anymore? On second thought, Lin Zhi fell silent. He really didn’t deserve it—he wasn’t human.

Lin Zhi stopped talking.

He went off to grab more food again. While furtively stuffing fruit in the corner, he noticed the illegitimate son heading toward Song Mian.

Oh ho!

Disgusting illegitimate son!

Lin Zhi hurried over and heard Song Mian irritably snap, “Scram.”

Song Feng was about to speak, but Song Mian’s gaze grew even colder, a chill radiating around him. Song Feng slunk away silently.

Damn!

Lin Zhi was truly puzzled. “You can handle the illegitimate son on your own!”

Song Mian said nothing.

Lin Zhi stood in front of Song Mian and pointed at himself. “Then why did you need me there last night?”

Was it because of the plot where he died in the book??

Song Mian lowered his gaze and explained generously, “To improve my mood. But now it seems having you around makes me feel worse.”

What the hell?

Lin Zhi hung his head and popped a grape into his mouth.

Song Mian: “……”

During the segment, just like the previous timeline, an attendant called Song Mian away and told Lin Zhi not to eat or wander recklessly.

Lin Zhi ate recklessly but didn’t wander. After Song Feng finished his speech on stage and toasted those around him, Lin Zhi glanced at his watch: 6:55 PM.

Seven o’clock was his death time. But now, he wouldn’t die!

Song Feng, having ended his speech, walked toward him. Lin Zhi narrowed his eyes and, for safety’s sake, asked the system, “You’re sure I won’t die, right?”

The system popped up instantly: 【No, Host. Your task is complete. You’re completely safe now!】

Lin Zhi relaxed completely.

As Song Feng reached him, before he could even speak, Lin Zhi raised his wrist and said eerily, “A gift from my brother.”

Song Feng’s smile twisted instantly, the words forced through gritted teeth. “Why bring that up?”

Lin Zhi grinned cheekily. “Just wanted to tell you, your brother and I are the best in the world. You…”

Lin Zhi trailed off, shaking his head with a deliberate “tsk tsk tsk.”

Song Feng’s face turned ashen. “How could my brother have a friend like you?”

Lin Zhi puffed out his chest. “At least I’m a friend. You? Trying to steal his family fortune?”

“I didn’t!” Song Feng snapped angrily. “I’ve never thought of that. If not for my brother, I wouldn’t have come back to the Song Family at all! I just want to be his brother!”

Lin Zhi blinked.

“Really?”

Song Feng stared fixedly at the watch, his face contorted. “So why does he look down on me but befriend an airhead like you? What merits do you have besides being good-looking?”

Lin Zhi got insulted, then complimented.

“Give it to me!” Song Feng lunged for Lin Zhi’s watch.

Lin Zhi instinctively stepped back without defense, startled because there was cake behind him—but he stood steady.

Lin Zhi even looked back. The floor was spotless. He rubbed his eyes. “System, where’s the cake?”

The Romance Survival System came online, confused: 【Calling me again? The cake was the item meant to kill you. Now that the system helped you survive, it’s gone.】

Lin Zhi finally got it—the novel’s author was out to get him!

【Host, forget that. The Male Lead’s watch gift got snatched!】

Lin Zhi snapped back. His left wrist was bare. Song Feng smirked sinisterly, clutching the watch tight. “You don’t deserve my brother’s things!”

Lin Zhi rubbed his wrist.

【Host, snatch it back!】

“Wait. System, my wrist is bleeding.”

The watch had left an imprint on Lin Zhi’s wrist from the violent yank, rubbed raw and even bleeding in one spot.

“Bro, I’ve worn this for two years. If you want a new one, have Song Mian buy you one. Why snatch mine?” Lin Zhi had wondered this in the previous timeline too. Why did this illegitimate son fixate on his watch?

Song Feng’s expression twisted further, as if Lin Zhi had stepped on his tail.

The Romance Survival System fretted: 【Host, you don’t want the watch?】

“Give it back.” Lin Zhi reached out.

“It’s mine now!”

Lin Zhi narrowed his eyes and spotted Song Mian coming from the stairwell in the corner. Lin Zhi bolted toward him, while Song Feng still gripped the watch tightly.

The stairwell was dimly lit; Lin Zhi spotted Song Mian thanks to his sharp eyes. Song Mian saw the eye-catching Lin Zhi running toward him from afar and was about to complain, but when Lin Zhi arrived panting and thrust out his arm, pointing to his bare wrist: “Song Feng stole the watch you gave me!”

Song Mian didn’t know what had happened, but there was a deep red mark on Lin Zhi’s wrist, even with dried blood.

Song Mian frowned slightly. “How are you so useless?”

Lin Zhi sighed. “He’s taller and stronger than me. How could I fight back? Help me get it back.”

Song Mian had no intention of helping but led Lin Zhi in another direction. “He took it? Get a new one.”

Lin Zhi: “Would you look down on me for wearing a cheap watch?”

“Yes.”

Lin Zhi: “Then help me get it back. I realized Song Feng might not be after your family’s money. He doesn’t seem that smart.”

Song Mian was incredulous.

“Who’s dumber than you?”