03

What?!

Song Yu's lips parted slightly.

He couldn't believe that he had become so despicable that he had to support someone else.

His mind was a bit confused. After digesting this information, Song Yu was a little puzzled: [The protagonist is probably not the kind of person who would be willing to be supported.]

009: [This part of the plot is not described in detail. It only says that the protagonist agreed to your request due to some force majeure. But the host can rest assured that you are only the third male lead. These things are mainly to highlight the humiliation the protagonist suffered in the past and to make the character more three-dimensional and full.]

[The main emotional disputes are between the first and second male leads. You were already homeless at that time.]

"..."

Song Yu hesitated for a while: [Can I choose a different world?]

009: [Sorry.]

Song Yu sighed.

He couldn't choose a different world, so he could only comfort himself. Anyway, he had been a bad guy so many times, so one more time wouldn't matter.

Besides, he had already given money.

But he had also taken advantage of the situation... taking advantage of someone in distress.

Thinking about it this way, the protagonist's situation seemed so pitiful. Song Yu felt particularly uneasy thinking about the bastardly things he was going to do in the future: [Then, how much of a bargain am I going to get...]

009: [Including but not limited to touching hands, hugging waists, embracing, kissing cheeks, etc.]

It's alright.

Nothing too outrageous.

This isn't the first time he's stolen a kiss; there's no need to be nervous.

Song Yu stopped thinking about these things. Soon, the car stopped in the parking lot at the back gate of the Central Hospital.

Gu Zeshu was in a car accident the day before yesterday. After being taken to the hospital by passersby, only his younger brother, Gu An, came to see him once, but only to confirm that he was awake before leaving. It seems that since he's alright, there's no need to worry or feel guilty about

Gu Zeshu taking the fall for him. Two days have passed, and the Gu family hasn't come. Gu Zeshu is still in a regular ward.

The hospital was still packed at nine o'clock at night; the nurses on duty were all busy, and there was no need to register.

Holding flowers and carrying oranges, Song Yu, guided by 009, found Gu Zeshu's ward.

The ward was small, a three-person room, quite clean, filled with a faint smell of disinfectant.

Gu Zeshu was sitting on the innermost bed.

He was wearing a hospital gown, his face sickly pale. His face was exceptionally handsome, with deep-set eyes and a hint of melancholy between his brows.

Perhaps sensing someone's arrival, he glanced towards the door, his gaze lingering on Song Yu for a second before quickly looking away.

009: [Host, the protagonist doesn't know you yet.]

Song Yu whispered an "oh" to it, then walked up to Gu Zeshu.

After smelling a faint fragrance not belonging to this ward, Gu Zeshu looked up. The young man in front of him had delicate features, and even his dyed red hair didn't detract from his charm.

"It was Chi... Bo Chi who sent me." Song Yu thought for a moment, deciding he still had to introduce himself, "My name is Song Yu."

Gu Zeshu didn't speak, still looking at him.

Up close, the protagonist's eyes weren't completely black; his dark brown irises made him look distant, not particularly approachable.

Song Yu felt a little awkward, pursed his lips, and handed over the flowers in his arms: "Bo Chi gave these to you. He asked me to come and see how you are."

Gu Zeshu glanced at the bouquet indifferently: "Take them."

Song Yu: "Huh?"

"I don't need them."

In the original plot, Gu Zeshu woke up from the car accident and realized he was cannon fodder in this world, so now that the other party had awakened, he was naturally disheartened and unwilling to pay attention to Bo Chi anymore.

Besides, he had only sent his follower to visit him in the hospital, showing no sincerity.

Song Yu didn't say anything, looked around, and finally put the bouquet in the trash can at the foot of the bed.

...It could barely serve as a vase.

It wouldn't be enough to upset Gu Zeshu.

The other two patients in the ward were also not there, making it empty and quiet, which made people particularly uncomfortable.

Song Yu was not a social person to begin with, but before Gu Chengming, the eldest son of the Gu family, came over, he found a chair, sat at the bedside table, and put the fruit he had been carrying on it.

He saw Gu Zeshu glance at the fruit bag.

Afraid the other person would make him throw them away again, he quickly said, "I bought these."

He added, "Besides, there's no room in the trash can."

Gu Zeshu's gaze lingered on Song Yu's face for a few more seconds, then he noticed the white tips of his fingers from gripping the bag tightly. He

was hanging out with Bo Chi, so he couldn't be poor, especially since the boy was dressed expensively and seemed pampered.

Yet he cared about these few oranges.

Or was it because he brought them specifically?

Gu Zeshu quickly dismissed the thought, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips.

He was just cannon fodder in this world; even the Gu family didn't care about him, let alone a stranger.

It was far too presumptuous of him.

Gu Zeshu leaned back, closed his eyes, and a rare vulnerability appeared between his brows.

For the past twenty-odd years, he had lived for the Gu family. He seemed to have never been liked; even when he did things perfectly, no one praised or cared.

It was both laughable and pathetic.

He would never again have anything to do with the Gu family.

A jumble of memories pulled Gu Zeshu into a chaotic abyss. He wondered, after leaving the Gu family, where would he go? Would anyone still remember him?

Perhaps soon, he would leave this world like a lump of mud.

Having just been in a car accident, the man was extremely emotionally unstable; his chest heaved slightly, his lips were taut, and his face was even paler.

However, a faint, sweet fragrance in the air greatly soothed his emotions.

"Are you feeling unwell?"

the young man asked anxiously.

Gu Zeshu opened his eyes, meeting a pair of beautiful eyes.

The pupils were a unique light brown color, one he had never seen before.

"Let me call a doctor for you," Song Yu said, seeing his pale lips and worried. He was about to press the call button by the bed when his wrist was stopped.

"No need," Gu Zeshu said, quickly releasing Song Yu. Perhaps realizing his voice was too harsh, he added, "I'm fine."

Song Yu felt a pang of pity for Gu Zeshu.

But not wanting to trouble him, he sat back down in his chair.

The soft touch lingered on Gu Zeshu's fingers. He didn't close his eyes again, propping himself up.

The painful memories were thus interrupted.

Gu Zeshu couldn't help but glance at Song Yu. The boy sat in a chair, his hand supporting his chin, a small bundle that took up almost no space.

Seemingly sensing his gaze, the other person glanced in his direction, then suddenly stood up and walked outside.

Just as Gu Zeshu thought the other person had left, Song Yu returned, his fingers still wet with water droplets.

Perhaps Bo Chi had made him stay here.

Gu Zeshu ignored him.

A moment later, footsteps sounded at the door, and then a man in a suit entered.

Song Yu glanced at him.

009: [Host, this is Gu Zeshu's older brother, named Gu Chengming.]

[Gu Zeshu also has a younger brother named Gu An; the three of them are half-brothers.]

Song Yu: "?"

Perhaps seeing the host's confused expression, 009 explained in detail: [After Gu Zeshu's father married his childhood sweetheart, she left after giving birth to Gu Chengming. Gu's father then married his second wife, Gu Zeshu's mother. However, Gu Zeshu's birth mother was frail and sickly and died early. Later, Gu's father brought his illegitimate son, Gu An, home.]

So complicated.

Such family relationships are indeed quite oppressive.

Song Yu glanced at Gu Chengming again. Gu Zeshu was about to confront him, severing all ties with the Gu family.

This was a family matter, so he looked away, took an orange from his bag, and tried to minimize his presence.

"Dad asked me to ask you when you can be discharged?" Gu Chengming asked immediately, his tone more like he was addressing a subordinate than his brother.

Gu Zeshu looked up at him indifferently, without speaking.

After a long silence, Gu Chengming's expression grew impatient: "I'm asking you, Xiao An came to see you yesterday, did you drive her away?"

This attitude stunned Song Yu.

He couldn't help but think of Song Xu.

He and Song Xu weren't related by blood, and hadn't known each other for very long, yet the other had never been so harsh with him. Gu

Chengming spoke again: "What do you mean by not speaking?" Gu

Zeshu finally spoke, his tone flat: "It means I don't want to talk."

Gu Chengming's face turned cold.

He had dropped everything at the company to visit him, only to be met with such a cold shoulder. Ultimately, they weren't blood brothers, and their relationship wasn't close; he had no obligation to come.

"That project you're working on—"

"No need." Gu Zeshu interrupted him, his expression indifferent. "Didn't Gu An always want it? Let him take it over."

Gu Chengming was surprised. The project he mentioned was very important; Gu Zeshu had planned and followed it from beginning to end, and it was already more than half completed. If it went smoothly, Gu Zeshu would gain a foothold on the Gu Group's board of directors.

And now he was just giving it up like that?

Looking at the other's cold expression, Gu Chengming thought he was just saying it out of anger, and said in a deep voice, "What kind of temper are you throwing now?"

Gu Zeshu said, word by word, "From now on, nothing in the Gu family has anything to do with me."

Gu Chengming was stunned, and immediately understood what Gu Zeshu meant: "You're going to sever ties with the Gu family?"

There was no comfort, no concern, and he was even speaking up for Gu An at this moment. It seemed that in the Gu family's eyes, Gu Zeshu was worthless, and all his efforts would not earn him a single word of concern.

"Whatever, go tell Dad yourself."

Gu Chengming's words were like the last straw that broke the camel's back, making Gu Zeshu's temples throb uncontrollably.

He wanted to say something, but felt it was a waste of breath, and unconsciously, a hint of anger gathered between his brows.

The next moment, a faint fragrance suddenly wafted into his nostrils, accompanied by a refreshing orange scent.

Something soft touched his lips.

Gu Zeshu stared blankly at the boy who was holding a peeled orange to his lips, then the boy tilted his head: "Don't you like oranges?"

"Then what do you like? I'll bring you some next time."

Gu Zeshu's heart felt like it had been struck by something, a bitter feeling spreading to his limbs. He opened his lips, and a small segment of orange was stuffed into his mouth.

The sweet and sour juice filled his mouth, and Gu Zeshu's breathing became much easier.

After Song Yu successfully fed him the orange, he said to Gu Chengming, "The doctor said the patient needs to rest and shouldn't speak loudly."

The boy's voice was soft, and even though Gu Chengming knew the other was speaking up for Gu Zeshu, he couldn't get angry.

He had actually seen this boy as soon as he entered the room, but he thought he was a patient's family member, not a friend of Gu Zeshu.

The atmosphere was somewhat awkward for Gu Chengming. Firstly, he disliked publicizing his family affairs, and secondly, a handsome boy had witnessed his carefully cultivated image.

Finally, he could only awkwardly say, "I'll come see you again in a couple of days."

Gu Zeshu didn't speak, but the boy beside him called out, "Wait!"

Gu Chengming felt a chill run down his spine and stopped.

The boy handed him a plastic bag: "The trash can is full, could you help me take the oranges out?"

"..."

Gu Chengming left with a grim expression.

The boy was standing up for him.

This feeling of being protected stirred up an unprecedented emotion in Gu Zeshu. He looked up, staring directly at the other person.

Song Yu took his gaze and pointed to the oranges on the table: "I peeled a whole one, do you want some?"

Gu Zeshu opened his lips, wanting to say something, when the other person's phone rang.

Song Yu took out his phone from his pocket, glanced at the contact name, and immediately turned away.

His voice was soft: "Hey, Brother Chi."

"Hmm... I've arrived."

After being reminded by Bo Chi, Song Yu glanced at the time and thought it was indeed time to leave so as not to disturb Gu Zeshu's rest. "I'll go back right away."

Gu Zeshu's eyes darkened instantly.

Song Yu hung up the phone and didn't waste any more time: "I'm going back now. I'll come see you again when I'm discharged."

He didn't notice the man's sudden pause and left directly.

The ward fell silent instantly.

Gu Zeshu's gaze fell on the peeled orange on the table. Perhaps to keep the table clean, the peel hadn't been thrown away and was held underneath.

It was a small detail, but he couldn't bear to look away.

The door was pushed open, and Zong Fei came in, glancing at the person on the bed: "Not bad, you look quite energetic."

Gu Zeshu gave a faint "hmm," suppressing some hope in his eyes: "Why did you come so late?"

The two were college classmates, and Zong Fei was one of the few people Gu Zeshu could talk to. He looked around and said disdainfully, "Is this place even habitable? Come on, I'll upgrade you to VIP."

Gu Zeshu replied, "No need, I'll be discharged soon."

Zong Fei didn't say anything more, his gaze sweeping over the oranges on the table.

Knowing the Gu family's character, he figured they probably wouldn't want to come, so he asked in surprise, "They came? And brought you fruit? They didn't poison it, did

they?" "Someone gave it to me."

"Hmm?" Zong Fei raised an eyebrow, thinking of the red-haired boy he almost bumped into at the elevator entrance earlier. "Could it be Song Yu?"

Gu Zeshu's expression finally changed slightly: "You know him?"

"Of course, quite a few people in the industry know him. I saw him at the elevator entrance earlier, and I didn't expect him to have cut his hair so short." Zong Fei saw the puzzled look on Gu Zeshu's face. "At that young master's birthday banquet last time, didn't I ask you if you liked men with long hair?"

Gu Zeshu had a vague recollection.

He seemed to have answered—no.

"So Song Yu asked someone to ask you that." Zong Fei teased. "Wow, such a handsome young man cut your hair and came to the hospital to see you."

"He even brought you fruit."

Zong Fei became more and more jealous as he looked at the fruit. "They're all peeled, let me have a bite."

But as soon as he reached out, the orange was snatched away, peel and all.

Zong Fei: "..."

He's quite possessive of his food.

Gu Zeshu, expressionless, placed the peeled orange further away from Zong Fei: "Which 'yu' is it?"

Zong Fei: "Huh?"

"The 'yu' in Song Yu, which character?"

"Oh." Zong Fei smiled, "Interested? Give me an orange, and I'll tell you."

Gu Zeshu raised his chin: "The one in the trash can is for you."

Zong Fei: "?"

*

Song Yu completed the scene perfectly.

Next came the scenes of being discharged from the hospital as a hero and being kept as a mistress.

The people who helped act out the hero-saves-the-damsel scene were friends Song Yu knew before the Song family became rich; they were usually street thugs, so their acting was seamless.

009: [You've already discussed this with them; just send a message a few days before discharge to remind them.]

Song Yu nodded.

Next came the keeping.

Song Yu had 009 check his bank account.

A total of... 200,000.

Song Yu: "..."

He widened his eyes: [Does this look like a nouveau riche?] 009

: [Song's parents are very stingy, afraid their son will squander money, but they'll be very generous with gifts to please Bo Chi.]

Song Yu frowned, staring at the 200,000 yuan.

He might become the first sugar daddy who needs to work to support his mistress.

It was too late, and Song Yu's head was spinning. After washing up, he lay down to rest.

Gu Zeshu would be discharged in four days, so he didn't have any tasks for those four days. He only needed to send a message to Bo Chi every two days.

Bo Chi, with his bad temper, probably hated being clung to. Song Yu's messages were very short, one every two days, always asking questions like "Are you home?" or "Have you eaten?"

Although Bo Chi found him annoying, he seemed to reply every time.

"Yes."

"Haven't eaten."

After sending the message, Song Yu tossed his phone aside, worrying about how to make money. By the time he saw the message, two or three hours had passed.

It wouldn't be good to reply then.

After ordering and eating lunch, Song Yu started looking for job postings online.

It seems the highest hourly wage belongs to livestreamers or models.

Song Yu has no experience with either of these.

The fragments in the space kept making a fuss after seeing Song Yu's webpage, and 009 also felt it was inappropriate: [Host, it's easy to run into scammers online, and you might lose even 200,000.]

Song Yu: "!"

Upon hearing about being scammed, he immediately shut down his computer.

Just then, his phone rang.

It was Song Yu's parents calling. They didn't know where they found out about him offending Bo Rancen by going into the wrong room that day, and they insisted that he bring gifts to apologize properly. Even

if Song Yu was stupid, he could see that they wanted him to get close to them.

But Bo Rancen was a big shot that he couldn't just meet whenever he wanted.

He explained a few things to them, but they wouldn't listen at all. Song Yu was so angry that he wanted to hang up when the OOC warning sounded.

009: [You're very timid and don't dare to disobey your parents.] "I have no money! "

Song Yu angrily retorted.

"I'll transfer it to you in a bit. Buy a nice gift to apologize!"

Song's father was quite generous when it came to currying favor with powerful figures. After hanging up, he transferred four million to him.

He was rich!

Four million for a sugar daddy/sugar baby fee sounded reasonable.

009 reminded him: [Host, you still need to apologize to Bo Rancen, but he might not see you.]

Song Yu hummed in agreement.

His mood improved, and he changed out of his pajamas.

Thinking that the other party might see him, he carefully packed up the watch he'd only worn once from his drawer, intending it as a gift.

A watch worth tens of thousands of yuan—Bo Rancen definitely wouldn't like it, and would probably think he was tacky. He could just sell it and give Gu Zeshu a little more for the sugar daddy/sugar baby fee.

Thinking of Gu Zeshu's pale face in the hospital that day, and Gu Chengming's tone, Song Yu felt a pang of sympathy.

[I plan to save my monthly allowance for him from now on. What do you think, 009?] A few seconds later, 009

lost two rooms.

*

The Bo Group is located in the city center.

The tallest building in the city, soaring into the clouds, is a symbol of money and power.

Song Yu went inside and found the receptionist. The receptionist was a young and beautiful girl. Seeing the handsome man opposite her, she couldn't help but glance at him a few more times: "Do you have an appointment?"

Song Yu shook his head.

He then whispered to 009: [See, just like in your novel.]

009 nodded in agreement.

However, Song Yu knew that he was not the protagonist and would not have a chance encounter with Bo Ran Cen.

He was about to leave and go to buy a watch on the way when the receptionist suddenly received a phone call: "Are you Mr. Song Yu?"

Song Yu was stunned: "Yes..."

"President Bo said you don't need an appointment and can go up directly."

Song Yu's eyes widened.

What's going on?

He followed the receptionist to the private elevator in a daze, and only realized what was happening when he arrived at the president's office.

—Perhaps Bo Ran Cen was still holding a grudge about what happened last time and was waiting for him here.

After the assistant knocked on the door, a deep male voice came from inside.

"Mr. Bo, Mr. Song Yu has arrived."

"Come in."

As soon as the words were spoken, the assistant smiled at Song Yu: "You may come in."

Song Yu subconsciously pursed his lips.

After entering, the assistant closed the door behind him.

Song Yu's shoulders twitched, and he stood at the door, not daring to move.

Bo Rancen was dressed in a very formal suit today, looking even more aloof and ascetic. He sat at his desk and glanced at Song Yu: "Afraid of me?"

Song Yu shook his head.

Bo Rancen raised an eyebrow: "Then why didn't you come over?"

Song Yu wasn't afraid, he just felt the atmosphere in the office was too serious. He strode over and placed the bag he was carrying on the corner of the desk.

"I came to apologize. I'm sorry about what happened last time."

Bo Rancen raised an eyebrow: "You're only coming now?"

"...I'm sorry."

His voice was even softer.

In front of Bo Rancen, Song Yu was like a student being punished, standing there with his eyes downcast, his fingers tightly clenching the hem of his clothes. He looked

obedient no matter how you looked at him.

Of course, the boy didn't know that Bo Rancen had been watching the company's security camera for hours.

Just to catch this silly rabbit.

"For me?"

The man pointed to the bag on the corner of the desk, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible lightness.

Song Yu nodded.

"Can I open it now?"

"..." He nodded again.

Bo Rancen slowly stood up, and as he bent down, he could catch a glimpse of the boy's thick, curled eyelashes. He opened the box, his slender fingers picking up the watch strap and glancing at it. He

was probably disgusted. "

Give it back to him quickly, "

Song Yu prayed silently.

The man's voice interrupted his thoughts: "Worn?"

Song Yu froze, his cheeks immediately flushing red.

He hadn't expected the other to see through him so easily.

But he'd only worn it once, how could he tell…?

Perhaps guessing what Song Yu was thinking, Bo Rancen said, "It has your scent on it."

Song Yu didn't know what to say, so he just stared at his toes.

After waiting for a while, Bo Rancen didn't get angry and throw the watch at him. He thought he might as well pick it up himself, but when he looked up, the man's slender fingers were already through the watch strap.

The watch was adjusted to fit Song Yu's wrist; Bo Rancen couldn't wear it.

Looking at the watch stuck there, the man chuckled softly, "Such a slender wrist."

Song Yu's face was already burning red, even his eyelids were pink. He said awkwardly, "Then... give it back to me."

Bo Rancen lifted his eyelids to look at him, "You want back something you gave away?"

"No..."

He really had accepted the gift.

Song Yu watched helplessly as his tens of thousands of yuan disappeared, and lied, "I'll buy you an even better one."

"No need to trouble yourself."

Bo Rancen finished speaking and put the watch away in the drawer.

Song Yu pursed his lips, his expression a little pained, but he didn't say anything.

"Aren't your legs sore from standing?" Bo Rancen suddenly asked.

Song Yu's legs were not only sore, but also a little weak because of the other person's aura. He didn't want to stay here, "Mr. Bo, I, I want—"

He was halfway through his sentence when the assistant knocked on the door, "Mr. Bo, the vanilla cake you ordered has arrived."

"Come in."

After the assistant brought in the small cake, Bo Rancen observed the boy's expression.

He was dazed, a little slow, but his gaze was obviously following the cake.

As someone in a position of power, understanding someone's preferences is easy, but few are willing to put in the effort to cater to them.

Song Yu was the first person Bo Rancen wanted to do so.

He saw the boy's small Adam's apple bob, his tone cheerful: "I don't like cake."

Song Yu looked at him,

somewhat confused by his words.

But soon, a phone call interrupted his thoughts.

Seeing the nickname "Bo Chi" in the contact list, Song Yu said to Bo Rancen, "I need to go outside to take this call."

Bo Rancen's expression was much calmer than before: "Just take it here."

Song Yu didn't dare to refuse.

But the man's gaze on him made him particularly uneasy, and his voice was even softer than usual.

"Hey, Chi-ge."

Bo Chi's voice was as arrogant as ever, but what he said clearly didn't mean anything by it: "Where are you now?"

Song Yu's persona couldn't be used to fool the second-in-command he was trying to please, so he had to tell the truth: "At the Bo Group."

"The Bo Group? You went there—Song Yu, you didn't go to see Bo Rancen, did you?"

Song Yu knew Bo Chi was going to be unhappy, so he held up his phone without saying a word.

"You saw him?"

"No..." came the guilty voice.

Even so, Bo Chi's tone wasn't much better: "Have you forgotten the lesson from last time? You think my uncle is better than me, so you're trying to please him instead, right?"

Song Yu bit his lower lip.

Bo Chi didn't hear Song Yu speak and assumed he was admitting it. He was so angry he couldn't think straight, and the words blurted out without thinking: "A man in his thirties who's still single, what do you think could be the problem? Besides, even if he's impotent, he'll still try every way to play with you. You'll know how much it hurts when you cry!"

These strange words made Song Yu both embarrassed and scared.

His shoulders trembled, and his eyes were red and wet. He bit his lip until it was soft and raw, still not knowing what to say to the other person.

The next moment, a voice suddenly sounded behind him.

"It's fake."

Song Yu froze and turned around.

He didn't immediately understand what the other person was saying and could only look at him with his round, innocent eyes.

Bo Rancen met his gaze: "What he said is false."

"I have no problems in that area."

 

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