04

 What…

Song Yu’s ears were burning from such serious and bold words. Before he could say anything, the person on the other end of the phone spoke first.

“You’re next to my uncle?”

“…”

On one side was the aggressive tone, and on the other side was the oppressive aura, which made Song Yu’s already dull mind go blank. In the end, he could only mumble a “hmm”.

Bo Chi on the other end of the phone paused for a moment and said fiercely, “Didn’t you just say you didn’t see him?”

“Song Yu, very good. Now you can lie to me.”

Song Yu pursed his lips.

He didn’t understand why Bo Chi didn’t apologize to an elder like Bo Ran Cen first in this awkward and urgent situation, but instead pursued his lying.

But he didn’t dare to say these things.

He felt that neither the uncle nor the nephew was in a good mood.

Song Yu was a person who was good at showing weakness. He knew that going head-to-head with the other party at this time would only provoke him, so he softened his voice: “Brother Chi, don’t be angry with me, okay?”

The soft tone that seemed to come from his nose made the man’s eyelids twitch slightly. He felt a chill run down his spine just hearing it on the phone, let alone with Bo Rancen there.

He was a little annoyed: "What do you want with him?" He

wouldn't even call him "uncle" anymore.

Seeing that her coquettishness was useless, Song Yu pouted and told the other party that she had come to apologize.

Bo Chi paused.

No one in the industry publicly spread rumors about Bo Rancen. At most, people would talk about it in private, but it wouldn't be brought up in public, much less reach Song's parents.

If it did, there could only be one possibility

—Bo Rancen deliberately let these rumors run rampant.

Bo Chi's face darkened.

He didn't dare to think any deeper and immediately asked Song Yu, "What are you planning to do now?"

Song Yu: "I'm going back."

He didn't see that Bo Rancen's expression behind him had become somewhat indifferent.

Bo Chi breathed a sigh of relief: "Let's leave Bo's first and find a coffee shop to sit in. I'll pass by in a bit and bring you back."

Song Yu wanted to say he could go home, but didn't dare to object: "Okay."

After hanging up, Song Yu said to Bo Rancen: "Mr. Bo, Brother Chi probably needs to see me, I have to go now."

The man had already regained his composure and didn't insist on keeping him, just casually said: "You and Bo Chi have a good relationship."

Song Yu was stunned.

Bo Rancen didn't have a good impression of him, so naturally he didn't want his nephew to hang out with some random people. He thought for a moment and still said a few words for Bo Chi: "Mr. Bo, it's all because I insisted on sticking to him, Brother Chi doesn't really pay attention to me."

He didn't know why, but he felt that after he finished speaking, the atmosphere around Bo Rancen became even more oppressive.

Maybe he thought he talked too much...

Song Yu didn't say anything more and planned to leave directly, but was stopped.

"Wait a minute." Bo Rancen got up, "Take the cake back, I don't like sweets."

"Okay..."

Song Yu was still thinking about how to take the small cake back when the man left the office. He returned shortly after, carrying a cake box.

He tried to take it, but Bo Rancen had packed it himself.

The cake looked even smaller in the man's large, calloused hands.

Perhaps he thought Bo Rancen was too slow…

Once finished, Song Yu, carrying the cake box, was escorted downstairs by his assistant.

Outside the building, he glanced around; there were many coffee shops.

Song Yu had originally intended to go to a coffee shop and order a coffee, as Bo Chi had suggested, but remembering he needed to save money for his employer, he stopped and sat on a nearby bench.

Bo Chi's villa was only a seven or eight-minute drive from the Bo Group. Upon arrival, he called Song Yu: "Which shop?"

Song Yu looked around: "On the chair in front of 'One Corner'."

Bo Chi paused: "You didn't go to the shop?"

Song Yu hummed in agreement.

"Didn't I tell you to wait inside?" The early autumn afternoon sun was still strong, and the thought of Song Yu's delicate skin getting sunburned made Bo Chi irritated. "Now you're not even listening to me?"

Song Yu pursed his lips: "It costs money to go in..."

Bo Chi: "?"

The Song family has earned quite a bit in recent years, and Song Yu is their only son. They can't even afford coffee?

Thinking about it, Song Yu isn't usually the type to spend money extravagantly.

"Park the car near the first stall." Bo Chi opened the car door, intending to get out and go into the store to buy Song Yu a cup of coffee, only to realize that he didn't know what the other person liked to drink.

Song Yu always researched his preferences, and he was too lazy to care about the other person's.

A strange feeling welled up in Bo Chi's heart, and he was too embarrassed to ask Song Yu what he wanted to drink: "You get in the car and wait, or you'll complain to me if your skin gets sunburned."

Song Yu thought to himself that he wasn't that stupid to sit in the sun on purpose.

He obediently said "Mmm."

He got up and walked a short distance before seeing a black luxury sedan. Upon reaching the car, the driver opened the door for him, but Bo Chi wasn't in.

The driver said, "Young Master Bo seems to have something to attend to. Please wait in the car for a while."

Song Yu got in; the air conditioning was at a comfortable temperature, and he sprawled out comfortably in his seat. After about ten minutes, Bo Chi returned, carrying six cups of coffee.

Song Yu had barely called out "Brother Chi" when the other man placed all the coffees in front of him: "Choose whichever flavor you like."

Hmm?

So he went downstairs to buy him coffee?

Song Yu had never heard of someone running errands for a lackey. He looked through the coffee flavors and finally chose a latte, squinting his eyes: "Thank you, Brother Chi!"

So he likes sweet things.

Bo Chi casually picked up an iced Americano, handed one to the driver in front, and placed the rest beside him.

For some reason, buying things for Song Yu made him feel exceptionally good.

Especially after seeing the other man's surprised little expression.

Bo Chi's heart tingled, filled with a sweet and sour bubble, making him feel like he was floating in the air.

However, when he saw the cake box in Song Yu's other hand, the bubble suddenly burst, his expression turned cold, and he became wary as if by instinct: "Bo Rancen gave this to you?"

This was the second time today that Bo Chi had addressed an elder by their first name.

He probably hadn't even realized it himself. In some ways, he no longer regarded Bo Rancen as a family elder, but as a competitor with superior qualifications.

After receiving Song Yu's affirmative answer, the sour feeling that welled up in Bo Chi's heart extinguished his previous joy.

He reached out and picked up the cake box, placing it beside him.

Song Yu, who was about to open it and enjoy afternoon tea, thought, "..."

Does Bo Chi like cake too?

He shouldn't leave him nothing.

Oh well, he probably wouldn't eat cake he'd touched anyway. Song Yu lowered his eyes and took a big gulp of his latte.

Looking at the boy's pitiful expression, Bo Chi felt a little uncomfortable: "This kind of cake isn't good."

Song Yu looked up at him: "But it smells so good."

Still a glutton.

"I know which place is good, I'll take you to buy some later." Bo Chi didn't know why, but he blurted out those words without thinking. After saying that, he didn't even leave Song Yu a way out, giving the cake Bo Rancen had given him to the driver.

Driver: "?"

Don't you think about me with diabetes when you want to date?

Song Yu was skeptical of Bo Chi's words, but halfway there, Bo Chi took him to a bakery.

There was a long queue outside, but Bo Chi could get several of the freshest cakes as soon as he went in.

Song Yu stood behind him, tilting his upper body to the side, revealing a fluffy head: "Brother Chi, are you a member?"

Bo Chi: "I'm the boss."

"..."

Song Yu seemed thoughtful.

The boy's eyes were round and bright, and his cheeks looked very soft. Bo Chi had an instant urge to pinch them.

He gritted his teeth and took the cake bag.

Song Yu followed behind him like a little tail.

This feeling captivated him.

So, after buying the cake, Bo Chi didn't let him go, but took him back to the villa.

After Song Yu finished his afternoon tea, he finally revealed his true intentions: "Song Yu, don't go see Bo Rancen again. If you're with me, then focus on your work."

The butler next to him: "?"

The word "with" didn't sound quite right.

Song Yu didn't notice and quietly said "Oh."

This uncle and nephew seemed to have a good relationship, both afraid that the other would associate with bad people.

They never imagined that they would become enemies because of Gu Zeshu.

After a while, 009 reminded him: [Host, the protagonist is going to be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.] Song

Yu immediately understood, took the initiative to clear the trash off the table, and then ran to pour Bo Chi a cup of tea.

Bo Chi knew that this was another favor he needed: "Tell me, which banquet do you want to attend this time?"

Song Yu looked at him questioningly, then shook his head: "Brother Chi, I don't want to go out lately... Gu Zeshu is being discharged from the hospital tomorrow, I'll go see him for you."

Upon hearing Gu Zeshu's name, Bo Chi showed an impatient expression: "Didn't you go see him last time? What, he's still not giving up? Does he want me to go and make things clear with him?"

"..."

Song Yu felt that Bo Chi really couldn't win over Gu Zeshu.

But that wasn't his concern.

"He's being discharged alone, he just had a car accident, and he still needs to complete the discharge procedures. I'll go see him for you, and while I'm at it, I'll make things clear about annulling our engagement."

"Is that alright, Brother Chi?"

His words sounded somewhat pitying towards Gu Zeshu. Bo Chi raised his eyelids: "You went for so long last time and still haven't made things clear?"

Song Yu shook his head.

It seemed Gu Zeshu was also quite resistant to Bo Chi; after throwing away the flowers, he didn't dare mention it to him again.

Bo Chi wanted to call him stupid, but seeing Song Yu's expression, he swallowed his words. He felt lightheaded from Song Yu's clinginess, not knowing why, so he waved his hand: "Whatever."

Song Yu finally moved the plot forward and was in an exceptionally good mood: "Then, Brother Chi, I'm going home. You should get some rest."

Bo Chi: "?" He

was leaving after eating?

He glanced at Song Yu; the other hadn't even turned his head once.

"Little ingrate."

The man thought to himself, annoyed.

*

That night, Song Yu sent a text message to the leader of the group helping with the act.

【Don't forget about tomorrow.】

The other party quickly replied: 【I know.】

【Take the person to the alley west of the hospital; we'll wait there.】

Song Yu was a little hesitant and asked 009: 【Which way is west?】

He recognized the road signs, but couldn't distinguish east from west.

009: 【Host, I will guide you to your destination.】 Relieved, Song

Yu quickly washed up and lay down to rest, preparing for tomorrow's important task.

He didn't know exactly when Gu Zeshu would be discharged, so he took a taxi early in the morning, only to find himself caught in rush hour.

A half-hour journey turned into a two-hour wait. As soon as Song Yu got out of the taxi, he jogged to the inpatient building, almost bumping into someone as he entered.

The other person was tall, but didn't have the pungent smell of disinfectant found in hospitals; instead, he had a clean, refreshing scent.

Song Yu looked up, surprised: "...Gu Zeshu?"

The boy's panting made Gu Zeshu pause for a moment. He composed himself and gave a faint "Mmm."

"Luckily, I made it..." Song Yu arrived at the hospital after ten o'clock. Afraid that the other person had already been discharged, he explained, "Didn't I say I'd come see you when you were discharged? The traffic was terrible today."

Gu Zeshu didn't say anything more. The weather wasn't cold; everyone around him was wearing short sleeves, but he was wearing a black jacket.

Soon, he took a wet wipe from his jacket pocket and handed it to Song Yu.

"Thank you."

Song Yu took it, tore open the packaging, and wiped the fine sweat from his nose. He looked around; no one was with Gu Zeshu.

Song Yu felt a little sorry for Gu Zeshu. Seeing that the other was carrying a suitcase, he reached out to help.

Gu Zeshu dodged: "I can carry it myself."

The protagonist had just realized he was cannon fodder, so he was wary of everyone around him, which Song Yu could understand. He immediately withdrew his hand: "Have you completed the discharge procedures?"

"Yes."

Song Yu thought for a moment: "Are you going back to your place?"

"Yes."

Song Yu felt no wonder the other person didn't like him. At a time like this, instead of letting him go home and rest, he arranged some kind of hero-saves-the-damsel-in-distress scene to scare him.

He began to waver because of guilt.

009: [Host, your mission deadline is before noon. Don't worry, this is just data from a small world, and your fate will be very tragic.] "

..."

The thought of being driven homeless by Gu Zeshu's future suitors made Song Yu's guilt lessen considerably. He then used the excuse he had prepared beforehand: "I know where it's easy to get a taxi. I'll go with you."

Afraid that Gu Zeshu would refuse, he added, "The traffic is terrible. You just got out of the hospital; a long car ride will definitely make you uncomfortable."

This was true; Gu Zeshu's face was pale, clearly still recovering from a serious illness.

He thought that given Gu Zeshu's aloof and cold personality, he would need to persuade him a bit more, but the other quickly agreed: "Take me there, thank you."

Song Yu said "Oh," and turned around.

He was still holding the wet wipe he had just used to wipe his sweat, wanting to find a trash can to throw it away, but there weren't any trash cans at the hospital entrance.

"Give it to me,"

Gu Zeshu suddenly said from behind.

Song Yu turned to look at him, not understanding: "What?"

"The wet wipe in your hand."

"Hmm..."

Song Yu handed over the wet wipe and its wrapper, which the other put in his pocket.

Song Yu was a little surprised, but didn't waste any more time, leading the other towards the alley on the right.

After the two left, the nurses on duty at the entrance began to discuss.

"I was saying this handsome guy had already finished his discharge procedures, but he stayed in the lobby for over an hour without leaving. He must be waiting for someone."

"They're definitely a couple! Didn't you see how he was collecting tissues? Who wouldn't mind if they weren't dating?"

"But he's really pretty, and his voice is so soft."

"I think he was here a few days ago too."

...

Song Yu didn't actually know the way; he was just following 009's directions.

The two first exited the hospital gate and then came to a narrow, sparsely populated alley. Aside from a few vendors, they didn't see anyone.

009: [Those people are very close to us.]

Song Yu was a little nervous, his face tense as he continued walking towards the group.

Afraid of an accident, he had 009 put a protective umbrella on Gu Zeshu.

Soon, seven or eight young thugs with various chains on their bodies, looking like hooligans, walked out of the alley.

Each of them looked like they wanted to cause trouble.

Song Yu instinctively grabbed Gu Zeshu: "Let's take another route."

Gu Zeshu: "What's wrong?"

Song Yu: "They all have dyed yellow hair, it's scary."

Gu Zeshu looked at the boy's red hair, paused for a few seconds, and agreed: "Okay."

Song Yu turned around, only to find three or four more people behind him.

Damn it.

They're being surrounded...

Even though he knew it was a coordinated attack, Song Yu couldn't help but feel scared. Soon, the two groups gathered together and cornered them in an alley.

The leader was a tall boy, not very old, and although his style was a bit unconventional, he was quite good-looking.

009: [This is their leader, Chen Fei, the one who messaged you last night.]

Song Yu pursed his lips and glanced at Chen Fei.

The other man was also looking at him, a mocking smile on his face. But soon, his gaze shifted to Gu Zeshu.

"Hey, buddy, you look pretty good dressed, designer brands, give us some money so we can spend it!"

The lines certainly sounded convincing.

Song Yu wrote it down.

He could learn from it if he ever played a thug in another world.

Gu Zeshu's expression remained unchanged.

He didn't take these thugs seriously; they weren't armed, so a fight should be quick.

But…

he glanced at the person next to him.

The boy appeared calm, but his lips were marked with teeth, his fingers gripping his clothes so tightly they were white, and his eyelashes trembled incessantly.

Gu Zeshu abandoned his defensive thoughts and took out a watch from the outside of his suitcase. It was a birthday gift from his father when he was a child, which he planned to return to the Gu family.

But then he thought, it didn't matter whether he returned it or not.

He handed it over: "Is this enough?"

Chen Fei's underling, a connoisseur, exclaimed: "Holy crap, bro, this watch is worth a fortune! Enough for us to buy a house!"

Chen Fei was surprised, then quickly regained his composure and smacked his underling on the head: "Have you no ambition?"

Gu Zeshu, unwilling to interact with others, was about to throw the watch back when a pair of warm, white hands snatched it away.

Then, Song Yu shielded him behind him.

Song Yu put the watch in his pocket and said to Chen Fei, "Open your WeChat QR code, I'll transfer the money to you."

Everyone: "..."

This was the first time they'd heard of a robbery requiring a transfer.

Song Yu heard the "mission accomplished" voice in his head: "How much do you want?"

After saying that, he glanced at Chen Fei again.

Chen Fei received the signal but hesitated.

Song Yu, who had grown up in the same backwater, had suddenly become a nouveau riche and was even asking him to do things for him. Various emotions accumulated, causing Chen Fei to sneer.

He looked at Song Yu and said mockingly, "What? Protecting your husband, huh?"

Song Yu was stunned: "Wh-what?"

The surrounding henchmen burst into laughter.

Chen Fei leaned down, his tone flippant: "Since you're so protective of your husband, I can't really ask for money. How about this, you kiss your husband, and I'll let you go, how about it?"

Chen Fei knew that Song Yu had asked him to act out this scene because he must like Gu Zeshu.

He wanted to watch the show on one hand, and embarrass Song Yu on the other.

The surrounding crowd began to jeer, growing increasingly noisy, with someone even saying, "Brother Fei, why be polite with them? If they don't want to, just attack them!"

A group of people echoed, "That's right, that's right."

Chen Fei stared at him, his dark eyes filled with malicious intent.

Song Yu was still somewhat dazed, and after realizing what was happening: [009...]

009 didn't respond.

Song Yu pursed his lips, looking at the group opposite him in horror. The noise around him made it impossible for him to concentrate.

Seeing Chen Fei's patience waning and his tendency to attack, Gu Zeshu was about to step forward with a calm face when he heard Song Yu's muffled, wet voice—

"I know..."

"You, you don't hit me..."

Soon, he saw Song Yu turn around, looking up at him.

That beautiful face was covered in a thin layer of sweat from unease, soft and damp, his bitten lower lip glistening and bright red.

Gu Zeshu's back stiffened.

He saw Song Yu's face getting closer and closer, the fragrance growing stronger.

Her breathing seemed to have stopped, or perhaps it had become entangled with the other person's.

Then, when they were still some distance apart, Song Yu suddenly stopped.

The boy looked uneasy, turning to face the group behind him, his voice pitiful: "How do I kiss..."

A few seconds of silence followed, then voices rose again.

"No way, young master hasn't even kissed before?"

"He doesn't even know how to kiss."

"With such a handsome face, he must have dated quite a few."

"How about I teach you..."

...

Song Yu's cheeks burned from their comments. He didn't know who started it, but he was being pushed around, and his face collided with

Gu Zeshu's—Song Yu's lips pressed against Gu Zeshu's, his soft lips stinging from the impact, tears welling up and making his eyelashes sticky and wet.

His cheek slammed into Gu Zeshu's straight nose, sinking in and quickly turning red.

A rich fragrance filled the air, Gu Zeshu froze, his mind blank.

So fragrant.

So soft.

He uncontrollably stuck out his tongue and licked Song Yu's lips.

"Ugh..."

Song Yu let out a soft whimper, like a bullied animal.

Gu Zeshu froze, as if realizing what had happened, and took a step back, then carried the flushed, wet-faced boy to the wall.

The group of thugs opposite were also shocked; they hadn't expected the handsome young man to be kissed like this.

They were all flushed with excitement.

Even Chen Fei stared, swallowing hard.

Gu Zeshu's expression turned cold, and he channeled all his energy into the fight. Soon, Chen Fei was knocked down by Gu Zeshu's swift movements, howling on the ground.

Seeing that Gu Zeshu was not someone to be trifled with, none of the other henchmen dared to approach, and after dragging Chen Fei up, they all scurried away.

Gu Zeshu turned back.

Song Yu stood by the wall, his expression somewhat dazed.

His lips and cheeks were red from the impact.

The soft touch still lingered on his lips. Gu Zeshu walked over and bent down to examine Song Yu's face carefully.

“It’s not broken.”

Gu Zeshu said, about to ask if it hurt, when he heard a tearful voice on the other end: “…It’s broken.”

Gu Zeshu was slightly taken aback.

Song Yu opened her mouth, sticking out a small tip of her tongue.

She quickly withdrew it.

Her voice was incredibly delicate: “My tongue hurts so much.”

*

Bo Chi never expected that there would be a day when he couldn’t contact Song Yu.

This morning, he thought about how she was going to accompany Gu Zeshu home from the hospital, and he felt incredibly jealous, so he sent her a message saying he didn’t need to go.

Song Yu didn’t reply, and no one answered the phone.

Bo Chi couldn’t sit still. First, he went to Song Yu’s apartment and searched there, but no one was home. Now he was near the hospital.

He didn’t know what he wanted to do; he was just incredibly annoyed that he couldn’t contact Song Yu.

Bo Chi got out of the car and asked a nurse in the inpatient department. He heard that Gu Zeshu had already been discharged and left.

"Are you his friend?" The nurse had a strong memory for good-looking people. "He just left, with his boyfriend."

Bo Chi's expression froze: "Boyfriend?"

The nurse thought to herself, "Such a good-looking guy, how can he have such a bad temper?" "Yes, the one who's very pretty, very fair-skinned. He even brought flowers a few days ago."

Bo Chi's expression grew increasingly stiff. He returned to his car and asked the driver to look for him nearby.

Just then, his phone vibrated twice.

Bo Chi thought it was from Song Yu, but it turned out to be from someone in his circle trying to curry favor with him.

He didn't even bother to click on it, but then the other person sent another message.

【Young Master Chi, is this your little follower? I'm not mistaken, am I?】

Bo Chi frowned and finally opened the chat box.

The other person had sent a video.

Bo Chi clicked on it, and his expression changed instantly when he saw the two people in it.

*

"Thank you..."

Song Yu took the water Gu Zeshu handed him, took a small sip, and held it in his mouth, which relieved his discomfort a little.

His cheeks were puffy, his lips were wet, and the tears on his eyelashes hadn't completely dried. He looked both delicate and pitiful.

“It’s not broken,”

Gu Zeshu suddenly said.

Song Yu still had water in his mouth, just staring wide-eyed at the other man.

“The tip of your tongue isn’t broken, it’s just red.”

Song Yu hummed in acknowledgment.

He slowly swallowed the water in his mouth and handed over the watch from his pocket.

“I’m sorry.”

The information said that this watch was a gift from Gu’s father when Gu Zeshu was very young, so it must be very meaningful.

It was almost taken away because of him.

Gu Zeshu paused for a moment, then said, “I wasn’t hurt.”

It seemed the other man had misunderstood…

He wasn’t apologizing for that.

But he should apologize for this too…

Song Yu felt guilty and forgot for a moment that Gu Zeshu was actually quite good at hitting people. He took out his phone: “I’ll call you a taxi, you should go home and rest.”

But as soon as he opened the taxi app, Bo Chi called.

Song Yu hesitated for a few seconds before reluctantly answering.

“Hello…”

“What’s wrong with your voice? Where are you—I see you.”

The call was quickly hung up.

Song Yu stood there, somewhat dazed. Soon, a familiar black sedan stopped in front of him.

The car door opened, and Bo Chi's face was frighteningly dark.

His tone was cold: "Get in."

Song Yu, his face downcast, glanced at Gu Zeshu beside him: "Then I'll go first."

Gu Zeshu nodded, his gaze turning to the man inside the car.

A tense undercurrent swirled in the air.

Song Yu was oblivious to this; he had just reached the back door when he was grabbed around the waist.

The man in the car, as if impatient, used his strength to pull him directly into the car.

Song Yu lost his footing and landed directly on Bo Chi's lap.

The man's skin was very hot; his shoulders trembled, and he tried to get down, but was held tightly around the waist.

The car door slammed shut,

blocking Gu Zeshu's view.

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