The bedroom was empty, and Shen Ju didn’t open his mouth to speak.
But the next second, a voice rang out in Shen Ju’s mind: 【Mm, not bad. The energy bar’s up a bit—to three percent now. Keep pushing hard, got it?】
Three percent!
Shen Ju clenched his fist, nodding excitedly: 【Got it. I’ll listen to Brother 996.】
Another “Ge.” Brother 996 couldn’t help but feel smugly pleased.
As a new system on the job, this was its first assigned task—it couldn’t afford to mess it up. Brother 996 had sworn to match the completion rate of its senior, 007! So this “loathed true young master turned vicious cannon fodder” role-play mission had to be gripped tightly, handled vigorously, executed rigorously—no room for any slip-ups!
【Host, you’re back in the Guan Family now. Always remember your character traits: vile, vain, fiercely jealous, stupid, malicious, brainless. You’re either stirring up trouble or on your way to stir up more. Your ultimate goal is to trip up the protagonist shou, Guan Mulin, and serve as his foil—to highlight his noble, righteous, and upright image. Understand?】
Shen Ju murmured in agreement: 【I understand.】
He flopped onto the bed, burying his head between his arms. His small face was hidden, making the back of his head look even rounder and smoother.
Brother 996 felt a twinge of pity but steeled itself: 【I know this is a tough mission for you, but think about the rewards once the energy bar fills up—doesn’t that motivate you? Besides, you were suddenly added to this family anyway. To the Guan Family, you’re just an outsider. One more mouth to feed isn’t much, and neither is one less. They won’t miss you.】
Shen Ju lifted his head again, nodding once more: 【I know, Brother 996.】
【Good, as long as you know.】
Brother 996 cleared its throat lightly: 【Right, tomorrow you’re all heading back to the Guan Family Old Mansion for a banquet. The family will officially announce your identity to the world. That’s our chance to make a big splash!】
【What kind of splash?】
【Making Guan Mulin look bad, of course!】
Brother 996 analyzed carefully: 【Think about it—the Guan Family’s formally acknowledging you to the outside world, but Guan Mulin will show up at the banquet too. What does that mean?】
Shen Ju: 【Wha… what does it mean?】
【Does it mean he’s attending the banquet too?】
Brother 996: 【…】
【Dummy! It means the Guan Family’s using this to tell everyone that even with their real son back—you—they’re not changing the fake young master’s status one bit!】
Shen Ju hurried to respond: 【Oh, oh.】
Brother 996: 【So when the time comes, you gotta vent your dissatisfaction—got it?】
Shen Ju nodded obediently: 【Got it.】
【Alright, mull it over some more then.】
【Okay.】
Shen Ju pondered obediently, deep in thought.
As he thought, he pulled out his exam papers from his schoolbag, ready to review his mistakes.
But after taking them out, something occurred to him. He grabbed his phone, opened WeChat, and messaged an avatar: [Ge, school’s out for you too, right?]
“You definitely won’t want to come to tomorrow’s banquet.”
Shen Ju muttered to himself, then typed: [I’ll come see you and Auntie when I’m free.]
A moment later, a reply came—cool and distant: [Don’t come. Stay home.]
Shen Ju glanced at it, unperturbed.
He spread the papers out on his desk, all set to study his errors seriously.
But minutes later, someone knocked on the door.
No studying now.
Shen Ju scratched his head and went to open it.
Standing there was a tall, rugged man with sharp features, towering half a head over Shen Ju. The hallway light cast a shadow that draped over him like a shroud.
Shen Ju’s throat tightened instinctively.
His lips moved a few times, but no sound came out.
This was his big brother, Guan Muya.
His biological big brother—same father, same mother.
Guan Muya took after their father in looks and height. By contrast, Shen Ju resembled Qin Soxi entirely: petite and delicate, with almond eyes, a small nose, fair skin, and rosy lips—like a well-behaved doll displayed in a shop window. Apart from not being short, everything else struck Guan Muya as “small.” Of course, the unseen parts were another story.
In short, Guan Muya always felt at a loss with this brother, newly recognized not long ago.
He seemed even smaller than Guan Mulin.
“Come with me.”
Guan Muya paused: “We’re delivering an invitation next door.”
“Delivering an invitation?”
The boy in front of him pouted, looking reluctant: “Why do I have to deliver it in person?”
Guan Muya glanced past Shen Ju into the room, spotting the papers on the desk. His tone softened a touch: “It’s to introduce you to people. It’s Pei Family’s old master’s youngest son—by seniority, you should call him ‘uncle.’ Dinner’s soon anyway, and you’ve got the seven-day National Day holiday ahead. You can relax a bit.”
Kids like this really are a handful to raise.
Guan Muya had never said so much in one go before.
Still, he dragged Shen Ju out.
Downstairs, Qin Soxi had ditched her short dramas and was now glued to Catch the Big Goose, frantically shaking her phone to rummage through the pot’s ingredients.
Shen Ju came down, and she looked over.
“Heading out?”
Shen Ju mumbled an uh-huh, reaching to pull up his hood—only to remember he’d changed into loungewear, just a jacket over it.
“Gotta wake up early tomorrow, baby. Want Mommy to call you?”
Shen Ju’s steps faltered. He mumbled vague affirmatives without looking at Qin Soxi, then quickened his pace behind Guan Muya.
Brother 996: 【Agh, this is when you should’ve refused—said you wanna sleep till you wake up naturally!】
【Sorry, Brother 996. I forgot.】
【Pay attention next time—stay in character!】
【Mm-hmm, definitely next time.】
Brother 996 checked the task data, sounding surprised: 【Perfect timing—the guy next door is the protagonist gong’s little uncle. You need to…！@#……%￥&】
【Huh? Need to what?】
【You need to…#￥%~！……】
【Brother 996? What are you saying?】
Brother 996 wondered: 【I said it—can’t you hear?】
Shen Ju affirmed: 【Can’t hear it.】
【Hang on, I’ll self-diagnose.】
Brother 996 muttered: 【New systems always have some glitches. Maybe our encrypted chat channel’s buggy. Lemme check.】
By then, Shen Ju had followed Guan Muya to the neighboring villa.
After ringing the bell, the door opened promptly.
Click—
The door swung wide, revealing the figure inside.
Shen Ju was still mulling Brother 996’s words.
From the day the Guan Family fetched him, Shen Ju had bound to 996 System. Per Brother 996, this world made Guan Mulin the child of destiny—one protagonist. The other was Pei Haochuan, Guan Mulin’s fated one. But without a “catalyst,” their relationship hadn’t progressed beyond good bros.
Shen Ju’s role was that crucial “catalyst.”
He was the key to pushing their bond forward.
With no detailed playbook from Brother 996, they’d play it by ear—but maintaining the character was non-negotiable.
Shen Ju figured: Sure, he was the “catalyst” for their romance, but he had to antagonize Guan Mulin relentlessly, trip him up—especially between him and Pei Haochuan. Even if they ended up together, Shen Ju couldn’t play matchmaker. Their feelings had to heat up through friction.
So, “flatter” Pei Haochuan? Then toward Pei Haochuan’s little uncle, he should…
That reminded him of what Guan Muya had said earlier.
So as the door opened, he blurted:
“Hello, Uncle!”
Then he looked up.
“…”
“…”
Pei Yan stood in the doorway, gazing impassively at the kid.
Beige cartoon bear pajamas, thick black hair tousled—who knew what he’d been up to. A faint red ring marked his face, like a stamp’s outline. Big eyes, but a gaze that made him look young. Skinny, though his cheeks had a pinchable softness. Eighteen at least, right?
Pei Yan said evenly: “I dare not accept that.”
He was only 22.
Shen Ju’s face flushed red.
Half a minute later, Guan Muya chatted aside with Pei Yan and Gao Chuanbai. Shen Ju sat on the living room sofa.
He couldn’t resist scratching his cheek, sneaking another glance at Pei Yan.
Who’d have thought the guy behind the door was so young… and so handsome. The handsomest Shen Ju had ever seen.
How to describe it?
Like a jade tree in the breeze, face like polished jade.
Features perfect to the extreme, peerlessly handsome—like a meticulously carved plaster statue. Striking at first glance, but cold and unapproachable.
Calling that “Uncle”? He’d actually said it.
Shen Ju patted his own mouth.
“Woof?”
Hm?
Shen Ju looked toward the sound, eyes lighting up.
A blue-gray merle Border Collie!
Blue-gray and white fur, face split half-and-half, ice-blue eyes—stunning and dashing.
Shen Ju instinctively reached to pet it.
Brother 996 popped up: 【No way—vicious character has no love for animals. Hates dogs!】
【Oh… okay.】
Shen Ju disappointedly withdrew his hand.
But with no move from Shen Ju, Little Stone acted first.
He glanced at Shen Ju, ears twitching, then trotted to his food bowl, chomp—head in.
Next second, mouth bulging, he dashed back.
Mouth open—a pile of kibble “poured” onto Shen Ju’s lap.
Then he sat beside Shen Ju, tail wagging: Eat up.
Probably ’cause he’d seen Shen Ju smacking his mouth earlier.
Shen Ju: “…”
The commotion drew eyes from Guan Muya’s side.
Guan Muya walked over: “What’s up?”
The boy on the sofa shot up, flustered and annoyed: “He fed me dog food—and it’s full of slobber!”
He pointed at the dog beside him.
“Woof!” Little Stone barked excitedly.
Shen Ju: “And he’s barking!”
Pei Yan’s eyes flickered to his still-wagging-tail dog.
“Sorry, he’s not usually like this.”
Pei Yan approached, pressing down on Little Stone’s head: “I’ll apologize for my Little Stone. That okay?”
“Su… sure.”
Shen Ju coughed lightly: “Since you’ve apologized, we’ll call it even.”
With the invitation delivered, Guan Muya took Shen Ju and left.
Gao Chuanbai eyed the closed door: “That kid the Guan Family took back… eh, nothing special?”
“Maybe.” Pei Yan said.
“Huh?”
Gao Chuanbai perked up: “Got more insights?”
Pei Yan didn’t reply, eyeing his dog instead: “Sharing kibble with a stranger?”
“Woof!”
A glance at the sofa—and Pei Yan paused: “Where’s the kibble you gave?”
The sofa was spotless. Not a crumb left.
No cleanup needed.
On the way back, Shen Ju dumped the kibble from his pocket into the trash, then clasped his hands in prayer before it.
This wasn’t wasting food.
He really couldn’t eat dog kibble.
