04

 Song Yu never thought that Xie Zhiyan would reply to those messages.

If it were him receiving such a confession text message from a stranger, his first reaction would be to block it, and if it went too far, he would consider calling the police.

Let alone answering the question seriously like Xie Zhiyan, he probably wouldn't even have the courage to open it.

Song Yu's expression became dull when he was thinking, and he only came back to his senses when Song Xu handed him the phone.

He immediately put away the phone, and his tone was not very natural: "Thank you..."

Song Yu was not good at lying, nor was he good at doing bad things, especially when there were other people present. His fair cheeks would unconsciously burn, his lips would be tightly pursed, and his drooping eyelashes would tremble incessantly as if a switch had been installed.

He did not know how to hide it at all, and put his guilt and unease on the surface.

After a brief silence, Song Xu spoke first: "Get some rest."

Watching the man turn and go upstairs, Song Yu relaxed and answered softly: "Okay."

He guessed that Song Xu had not seen the message, or perhaps he had seen it but did not care—in any case, he had managed to fool Song Xu.

The real headache was with Xie Zhiyan.

Song Yu grabbed her phone and went back to her room, quickly glancing at the two text messages.

Xie Zhiyan's message was clearly a reply to the one she had just sent: "I like you so much. Have you ever dated anyone else?"

But would anyone actually reply to that?

Or had Xie Zhiyan already found out something?

Song Yu was extremely anxious, slumping weakly on the table: [009, did he find out something and is he warning me?]

As a mid-level AI, a cold machine, 009's program didn't contain anything like emotions. However, it subconsciously felt that the man who sent those two messages didn't seem to be warning his host.

Instead, it seemed more like he couldn't wait to confess his clean romantic history and even cleaner body to his host.

After a moment of silence, 009 spent some points to buy a transformation item in the shop.

Song Yu, who was slumped dejectedly on the table, widened his eyes in surprise when he saw the fluffy little ball floating beside him. "009, is this your physical form?" he exclaimed.

009 replied calmly, "No."

Whether it was real or not was no longer important to Song Yu. He reached out and gently stroked the little ball, the fluff slipping through his fingers.

009's body heated up from the stroke, and even its mechanical voice was louder than usual: "No texting tasks in the near future."

This comfort made Song Yu less uneasy. He turned off his phone and carried the little ball to his pillow to rest.

In another room on the second floor,

Song Xu shut down his computer and gently pressed his temples. He was a person who had no distractions while working, but for some reason, tonight, the two text messages on Song Yu's phone kept popping into his mind.

Never been in a relationship.

Never kissed anyone.

Would ordinary classmates say such ambiguous things?

Song Xu managed all the employees under the Song Group, but rarely paid attention to Song Yu. Besides communication issues, another major reason was that Song Yu was a quiet child who didn't like to play around outside.

However, these two text messages served as a wake-up call for Song Xu.

His younger brother had grown up and was old enough to be in a romantic relationship.

Song Xu's mood didn't lighten with this realization; instead, he felt a vague urge to do something.

*

Song Yu didn't wake up until noon the next day.

He had a dream where someone invited him to the grove behind the school, and upon accepting, he discovered it was Xie Zhiyan.

Xie Zhiyan seemed very angry, expressionlessly asking if he had sent the harassing texts, and even pinned him against a tree, saying he would repay him in kind, smelling his fragrance and taking pictures of him…

Then Song Yu woke up in fright.

Indeed, bad deeds have consequences.

After a quick wash, Song Yu was called downstairs for lunch by Aunt Zhang.

When he arrived in the living room, Song Xu was already there; he wasn't at work that day. Song Yu called out softly, "Brother," and found a chair in a corner. Just as he sat down, the man opposite him suddenly spoke, "When are you going back to school today?"

Song Yu looked up at him, "Noon, I guess." "

Not tonight?"

"Yeah... I made plans with a classmate." Song Yu was originally supposed to go back in the evening, but Zhou Yanming had sent a message that morning saying he'd bought a cake and was waiting for him. 

Song Xu remained silent. Song's parents lived abroad most of the time, and they would arrange for people to stay around Song Yu to keep track of their son's situation. 

Last night, he had called the bodyguard—Song Yu seemed to be inseparable from a boy lately. Were those messages exchanged with him? Aunt Zhang had prepared several home-cooked dishes and was plating them on the table. Song Yu was about to pick up his chopsticks to take a bite when he heard Song Xu's indifferent tone, 

"

Are you dating?" Song Yu was stunned, "...Wh-what?" 

"You're an adult now, dating is normal." Song Xu lowered his tone, portraying himself as a caring and open-minded parent. 

"You made plans with a classmate? Planning a date?" It turned out to be a misunderstanding. “It’s my roommate.” 

After all, he was her only family member in China, and Song Yu didn’t want him to worry. “I’m not dating.” Song Xu didn’t press further, casually saying things like, “There are a lot of bad people out there,” and 

“Tell your family if you’re dating, don’t get scammed.” Song Yu didn’t think much of it, just mumbled a couple of "uh-huhs" to brush it off. 

After lunch, Song Xu was heading back to the company, so he offered to drive Song Yu back to school. Along the way, Song Yu’s WeChat messages kept coming in, all from Zhou Yanming, asking where he was and what else he wanted to eat. Busy replying, Song Yu didn’t notice Song Xu’s eyes constantly on her. 

They arrived at school quickly. Song Xu sat in the back seat, watching his younger brother’s slender back as he carried his backpack. Soon, Song Yu ran to a boy. He was tall and handsome, carrying a cup of milk tea, and his eyes shone with undisguised joy when he saw Song Yu. 

Even if he wasn’t dating, that expression clearly showed he had feelings for Song Yu. After the boy had completely entered the school gate, the black sedan parked at the entrance slowly drove away. 

* Back in the dormitory, the other two roommates weren't there. Song Yu took a few steps inside and saw the cake on the table. 

"Didn't Chen Yue and the others misunderstand you before? They thought they'd buy you a cake to apologize." 

Zhou Yanming casually took the milk tea that Song Yu had only taken two sips from, his gaze unintentionally falling on the damp straw, his ears inexplicably burning. Song Yu's impression of Chen Yue was that of a big, muscular sports student who wasn't easy to mess with. 

However, the other party wasn't the type to bully people, and he had apologized to him after that incident. So he asked Zhou Yanming, "Are they coming later?" Zhou Yanming looked away from the straw: "Ah... no, they still have basketball practice, let's eat it together."

last night, Chen Yue came to see him, saying he had apologized to Song Yu before, but felt it wasn't sincere enough. So he asked him what Song Yu liked to eat so he could buy it for him.

Zhou Yanming simply paid for the cake for Chen Yue and the others himself, and didn't let Chen Yue come over, afraid of scaring him again.

The cake looked fresh and delicious, and Song Yu's eyes curved into a smile.

He cut two slices, gave one to Zhou Yanming, and the two sat together enjoying afternoon tea.

Song Yu loved sweets, and his attention was all on the cake.

Zhou Yanming's attention, however, was all on Song Yu. He watched the boy take small bites of the soft cream, looking so well-behaved and quiet.

His expression was clean and innocent, but Zhou Yanming always seemed to think of something else.

Looking at him like that, his little roommate's lips seemed very soft, and his tongue was pink.

...It's a bit hot.

Zhou Yanming looked away, but after a few seconds, he couldn't help but stare at Song Yu's profile again.

Desserts are easy to get tired of, and Song Yu was full after eating only a small piece, worrying about the rest of the cake. Zhou Yanming noticed: "It's okay, leave two pieces for Lao Zhao and the others, and distribute the rest to the other dorms. Oh, right, Xie Zhiyan is in the dorm too, I'll take it to him in a bit."

Song Yu was about to nod when 009's voice suddenly sounded: [Side quest triggered: Sneak a smell on the protagonist's clothes within half an hour.]

...That's too perverted.

But this wasn't the first time he'd done something bad, and Song Yu had learned to accept it, even finding excuses for himself.

—He was smelling the air, it was Xie Zhiyan's clothes that were deliberately left there.

Zhou Yanming was about to pick up the cake when his sleeve was gently tugged. He leaned down, and Song Yu was looking up at him with his beautiful face: "I'll go with you."

The boy's heart trembled slightly along with his sleeve.

Song Yu was a very introverted person, rarely taking the initiative. But it was precisely this occasional initiative that made him irresistible.

Like a cat that usually ignored you, suddenly jumping into your arms and rubbing against you.

Forget about refusing, even a second's delay in agreeing was for fear he would change his mind.

However, Zhou Yanming had barely uttered a "okay" when the phone rang.

It was about the basketball team, and Zhou Yanming needed to go over. Seeing that the chances of completing the task were much higher, Song Yu offered, "I'll deliver it for you, you go ahead."

Although Zhou Yanming was reluctant, he could only nod.

After the person left, Song Yu cut a large piece and brought it to Xie Zhiyan.

Xie Zhiyan's dormitory was the second to last room on the same floor. The door was ajar. Song Yu knocked twice, and a boy inside came to open the door. He looked like he had just woken up, but he seemed more alert after seeing Song Yu's face.

Song Yu: "Is Xie Zhiyan there?"

"He should have gone out to make a phone call." The boy saw the cake in his hand. "His bed is over there, come in and wait for him."

Xie Zhiyan's bed was by the balcony. He didn't have much stuff, and the desk was very clean, with only a few textbooks on it. It was

a stark contrast to the others.

The boy who had just left, seeing Song Yu's clean and pretty appearance and the fragrance he smelled, immediately blushed and tidied his desk, haphazardly tossing his dirty clothes into a basin: "Um... you sit and wait for him, I'll go to the washroom to do my laundry."

He then left.

This was a good opportunity.

Song Yu wasn't bold enough to open Xie Zhiyan's wardrobe. He picked up a jacket from the chair, slowly approached, and sniffed like a small animal.

Fortunately, the jacket didn't smell bad, with a faint scent of laundry detergent.

However, the thought of "mission accomplished" didn't pop into his head for a while

. He assumed he was too far away, so he simply pressed his entire face close and took a deep breath.

[Is being this close not okay?] Song Yu complained softly to 009.

The next second, the dormitory door was pushed open, the old iron door creaking, making Song Yu's shoulders tremble. He immediately stood up straight, put the jacket back, and looked towards the door.

Fortunately, it wasn't Xie Zhiyan.

But he wasn't exactly easy to talk to either.

Lu Xing had been looking at him as soon as he entered. Song Yu could sense that the other person's gaze wasn't friendly; perhaps they saw him as a rival in love.

With another person around, it was impossible to continue the mission.

Just as Song Yu was about to leave, he was stopped—

Lu Xing was a head taller than him, his muscles clearly defined and strong. This oppressive feeling made Song Yu's legs go weak; he instinctively backed away until his back pressed against the wardrobe.

*

When Xie Zhiyan returned to the dormitory, the door was half-open.

He walked to the door and saw Song Yu pinned tightly against the wardrobe.

From that angle, the boy's body was almost pressed against the other man's, his handsome face showing embarrassment as he looked up at the man beside him.

His nose and earlobes were flushed pink.

He was also lightly biting his lower lip, looking nervous.

Lu Xing, who had blocked his way, leaned down, his eyes lowered, and asked, "Why are you sniffing my clothes?

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