05

 W-what...

After Song Yu slowly realized what was happening, his alabaster-like face flushed red. He was always tongue-tied and didn't know what to say.

After all, in Chu Zhouyan's eyes, he was already a bad man who couldn't wait to go out and have fun after his wife died.

Song Yu simply ignored him and tried to push him away. But Chu Zhouyan didn't budge, and his fingers pressed against the other's chest were squeezed out of the soft flesh.

Chu Zhouyan didn't seem to have any intention of ending the topic: "The people you found, are they for money?"

Song Yu's shoulders trembled. After realizing what kind of person he had become in the other's mind, he was both angry and ashamed: "What nonsense are you talking about? Kids should go back to sleep and not meddle in adults' business."

There was a noise downstairs. It was Si Ling's voice: "Mr. Song?"

Song Yu immediately said: "It's nothing, you go and rest."

After saying that, he glanced at Chu Zhouyan again. The boy was facing away from the corridor light, and his expression was unclear. He just lowered his head and looked very aggrieved.

"I'm not a child."

With that, Chu Zhouyan turned and went back to his room.

Song Yu lingered for a moment before also returning to his room. He lay on his bed, discussing with 009: [Has Chu Zhouyan started to hate me?]

009: [Not detected yet.]

Song Yu sighed: [Hopefully, he won't retaliate too harshly in the future, considering I cut his hair.]

009: ...

After that day, Song Yu noticed Chu Zhouyan started avoiding him. Specifically, he wouldn't make eye contact, wouldn't eat with him, and would lock himself in his room whenever possible.

It seemed he really hated him.

Song Yu could understand; after all, Chu Zeyan was his brother, and his actions had indeed wronged his deceased wife.

But his "raising a child" plan was coming to an end.

Song Yu felt a little sad.

Unable to complete his mission with Chu Zhouyan, he had to turn his attention to Si Ling.

When Si Ling used to follow Chu Zeyan around, she spent most of her time at the workplace. But after Chu Zeyan's death, Si Ling's only task was to take care of her husband.

So she almost always stayed at the villa, ready to be at his beck and call.

Song Yu only knew a few tricks for ordering people around, like cutting fruit or massaging legs. Even if he kicked Si Ling's shoulder with his calf, Si Ling would only ask if he hurt him. She

didn't get angry at all.

Song Yu was too embarrassed to do anything naughty anymore.

However, the progress bar remained stuck there.

It seemed he really had to gain points from the protagonist's side.

*

Chu Zhouyan had been dreaming about Song Yu for four consecutive days.

In his dream, the young man sat at the bar, his lips reddened by strong liquor, his eyes also red, and his gaze was hazy when he looked at him, like a beautiful but dangerous rose.

Then, the scene changed.

Back at the villa, he was cornered by a young man a head shorter than him. That face, which looked extremely beautiful, had an expression that was pure and innocent.

When he opened his mouth, the fragrance inside was intoxicating.

"Then I'll come find you, okay..."

Chu

Zhouyan got out of bed with a cold expression, changed his clothes, grabbed his dirty clothes, and left the room.

The corridor was quiet.

Usually, Song Yu would have someone call him over for dinner at this time, but they hadn't eaten together for several days.

Ever since he said those things to the young man that night, the other seemed to feel offended, ignoring him and even abandoning his usual banter.

Chu Zhouyan felt a sharp pang of bitterness.

He would rather Song Yu point his finger at him and yell at him than have the other ignore him and only spend time with other men when shopping or eating out.

He lowered his eyes, clutching the dirty clothes in his hand, and was about to step into the bedroom when he heard a soft, gentle voice.

It came from Song Yu's bedroom.

Chu Zhouyan's heart trembled slightly. He turned around, threw the dirty clothes into the room, and walked towards Song Yu's bedroom.

The young man was still muttering, "Why has it turned out like this again?"

Just hearing Song Yu's voice now made Chu Zhouyan think of those blush-inducing dreams. He tensed, peering through the crack in the door, only to meet the young man's gaze directly.

Chu Zhouyan's shoulders stiffened, and before he could retract them, Song Yu spoke first: "Did you touch my things?"

His tone carried the familiar displeasure, just like always.

Half of the bitterness in Chu Zhouyan's heart subsided, and he leaned against the door: "I didn't touch them."

The young man pursed his lips, then said: "Then who is it..."

It seemed he believed him.

The bitterness completely vanished.

Chu Zhouyan's breathing became easy, and he pushed open the door, walking to the bathroom doorway.

He had grown quite a bit taller during his time at the Chu family home, his head almost touching the door frame, completely blocking the entrance.

"What's wrong?"

Song Yu pointed to the toothbrush next to the sink. "It was wet when I used it this morning, and the towel looks like it's been used too..."

"It's been several days."

Chu Zhouyan paused. "Did someone use your things?"

"Who knows?" Song Yu's face fell. He picked up the used items with his slender white fingers and threw them into the trash can, his expression somewhat disgusted.

"So filthy..."

Chu Zhouyan thought for a moment. "Maybe the cleaning lady washed them."

The young man frowned and turned away, not wanting to talk about it anymore. "I'm going out for a bit. Will you come with me?"

Chu Zhouyan's heart fluttered, and he gave a shaky "Mmm."

"Let me out." Song Yu pushed him away. "Change into something nicer. Don't dress so casually."

Chu Zhouyan: "...Okay."

Watching the young man's back as he went downstairs, Chu Zhouyan stood there for a moment, then picked up the items from the trash can.

*

Ever since he asked Chu Zhouyan to help him carry things while shopping, the other person seemed to be more clingy than before.

Song Yu thought this might be part of the future big boss's plan.

—First, endure humiliation and disguise yourself, then retaliate when you've grown stronger, all to lower your guard.

009: ...

It paused for a few seconds: [Host, your character in this world is very innocent. Even if Chu Zhouyan didn't disguise himself, you wouldn't take him seriously.]

Song Yu said "oh," and muttered to herself: [I've already started secretly bullying him, but the progress bar isn't going up. Looks like I really have to go and provoke the protagonist?]

Thinking about the protagonist's aura, Song Yu didn't dare to call him directly, and simply delayed doing something else.

It was already midnight when Fu

Yuan finished work, and he dozed off wearily in the back seat of his car.

His personal terminal suddenly rang.

Fu Yuan opened his eyes; it was his friend Shang Xu calling. Shang Xu was a playboy who was never home; he figured it was about a party.

Sure enough, after answering, Shang Xu got straight to the point: "Why haven't I seen you lately? Which vixen have you hooked up with?"

Fu Yuan ignored him: "Spit it out."

"Didn't your classmate get into trouble recently? I'm worried you're suppressing your emotions and ruining yourself." Shang Xu was a very insightful person. "Besides, he's married; there are people heartbroken for him. Don't get involved."

Almost everyone thought Fu Yuan and Chu Zeyan were a perfect match, and even their superiors had tried to set them up, but their personalities clashed drastically. Forget being together, even being good friends would be difficult.

Fu Yuan felt that although he looked like a scoundrel on the outside, he was actually a normal person at heart. But he couldn't see through Chu Zeyan's thoughts at all.

Unfathomable.

Fu Yuan wasn't keen on being friends with people like that, so even though they went from classmates to colleagues, their relationship remained merely nodding acquaintances.

"I wasn't involved, I've been busy with training lately."

Shang Xu immediately became annoyed: "Why is it always work? Is a few dollars worth dedicating your whole life to? You haven't even seen your best friend like me?"

Fu Yuan pondered for a moment, realizing it had indeed been a long time since they'd seen each other, and finally relented: "Then where do you want to go?"

Shang Xu asked: "Where are you now? Don't bother me, I'll come over."

Fu Yuan glanced out the car window: "Four Seasons."

"Four Seasons? Isn't that next to that bar?"

Fu Yuan frowned.

Knowing his temper, Shang Xu immediately said: "I didn't say we were going to a bar, but that bar's been really popular lately. I heard everyone's going to see a widowed Alpha."

"I didn't believe it at first, what's so interesting about an Alpha, but after seeing the photos, no wonder."

"I've never seen such a beautiful Alpha."

A beautiful Alpha, widowed.

A face Fu Yuan had recently seen suddenly flashed into his mind.

He lowered his eyes, intending to ask Shang Xu, "Do you have a photo?"

"Holy crap! Old Fu, you wouldn't—!" Shang Xu chuckled twice, "I didn't expect you to like this kind of thing! Okay, I'll send you the photo right away."

Fu Yuan hung up the phone, and soon, Shang Xu sent the photo.

He looked down, and when he saw the young man's face in the photo, his brows furrowed even more.

*

Bar.

The crowd was bustling, and almost everyone's eyes were on the handsome young man at the bar.

Song Yu was sullen, stirring his ice-free cola with a straw.

*Beep! Deposit -120.

* Song Yu didn't want to waste money like this. But he didn't dare to provoke the main character, so he could only continue to increase his progress bar by going to the bar.

He took out his personal terminal and opened the chat box with Fu Yuan.

After adding each other as friends last time, he only sent one emoji and then stopped chatting.

"Chatting with someone?" The bartender behind the counter looked over. He'd been waiting for Song Yu for days before finally getting him to come over, but the other guy hadn't even given him a second glance.

He was unhappy inside, but outwardly he acted cheerful and outgoing: "Chatting with your boyfriend?"

"No." Song Yu put away his phone and glanced at the bartender. "Tony, have you ever tried to chat up someone who looks really fierce?"

The bartender looked at the "Toky" badge on his chest and was silent for a few seconds: "You like guys who look fierce?"

Song Yu shook his head: "I need to please him."

The bartender's eyelids twitched at that.

Please… He thought of things he shouldn't be thinking.

Seeing that he was speechless, Song Yu asked: "Then what should you talk to them about so they won't be fierce to you?"

"Hmm… they shouldn't be fierce, right?" Tokyo smiled. "Who would be fierce to you? Besides, if they really are fierce to you, you just coax them, if that doesn't work, praise them, and if all else fails, pretend to cry."

Pretend to cry?

Song Yu thought about the scene of pretending to cry in front of Fu Yuan and couldn't help but shudder.

Fu Yuan would just have someone kick him out, right?

Although the method was a bit unreliable, Song Yu still expressed his gratitude: "Thank you, Tony."

Toky started thinking about whether to change his name. Seeing Song Yu about to leave, he mustered up his courage: "Then let's exchange contact information."

Song Yu was about to refuse when he heard the other party say again—

"I'll give you a discount."

Song Yu shamelessly took out his personal terminal: "Add me."

Everyone: ???

They had been waiting for so many days without getting Song Yu's contact information, and now they all looked at Toky behind the bar with resentment.

After exchanging numbers, Song Yu handed over the glass: "Could you pour out the rest for me?"

The bartender nodded.

He had mentioned to Song Yu that someone wanted to buy the drinks he hadn't finished.

There are all kinds of people these days.

Song Yu left his seat with peace of mind, but just as he was about to leave, he was stopped by an Alpha. It was the same Alpha who had pestered him last time.

Song Yu, his eyelids drooping, said, "Don't do this, I'll call the police."

But the more serious the young man was, the more excited the other man became: "Fine, go ahead and call! Let's see if I'm faster than the police!"

He then reached out to grab Song Yu's thin wrist.

Although the Alpha had been harassing him before, he had never laid a hand on him; he was probably just hurt because Song Yu had given someone else his contact information.

No one had time to react.

Luckily, 009 warned him beforehand, giving Song Yu time to react. He took a step back, casually grabbed a glass of red wine from a passing waiter, and poured it directly onto the other man's shirt.

The Alpha was truly enraged this time: "You fucking bastard—ah! ah!"

He screamed twice in pain, his cries particularly loud in the noisy bar.

Song Yu snapped out of his daze and looked at the man next to him.

The ambiguous lighting shone on his handsome face.

"...Fu... Fu Yuan?"

Fu Yuan glanced at Song Yu, and after confirming that the other party was alright, he relaxed a little: "Who were you cursing just now?"

A crowd of people had gathered around, all there to watch the commotion, and soon someone recognized Fu Yuan.

"Holy crap! Isn't that the youngest general?"

"I heard he has a great military record, but why would he come to a place like this?"

"Can't you tell? He's obviously here to play the hero and save the damsel in distress."

Everyone immediately understood that this general hadn't simply intervened out of a sense of justice; he had clearly come to save Song Yu.

All their romantic thoughts vanished.

Of course, they couldn't even dream of someone Fu Yuan had his eye on!

It was this Alpha who was going to be in trouble!

"Ah… I'm sorry! I was just joking with him…" the Alpha apologized, his face contorted with embarrassment and covered in cold sweat.

Fu Yuan released him.

He had only come to give a warning; he hadn't actually intended to break anyone's arms or legs.

After being released, the Alpha saw Fu Yuan's true face and was terrified by the powerful mental energy emanating from him. He apologized repeatedly and swore he would never come again before running away in a panic.

Song Yu stood there, dazed, until his wrist was gently tugged, and he realized Fu Yuan was going to take him away.

"Wait a minute..."

Fu Yuan's expression softened considerably when he looked at him. "Aren't you leaving?"

"I spilled the red wine."

"Okay, I'll pay."

*

It wasn't until he sat in the back seat of the man's car that Song Yu truly felt this powerful aura.

His pheromones were weak, but he could sense other people's pheromones; for example, many people in bars deliberately released them, making him dizzy. Logically speaking, Fu Yuan's pheromones should be stronger, but Song Yu didn't feel any discomfort sitting next to him.

He leaned close to the car window, looking at the man's profile, thinking about how to start a conversation.

In the end, Fu Yuan spoke first: "Have you been spending a lot of time in bars lately?"

Song Yu explained haltingly, "I... just went there for drinks, I didn't do anything else."

After hearing this, Fu Yuan's expression relaxed for some reason.

He had been observing Song Yu the whole time.

The young man sat obediently, his legs together against the car window, occasionally stealing glances in his direction.

His eyelashes would tremble from time to time.

Blinking, blinking.

Fu Yuan sat up straight, his back tense.

His spiritual form was a white tiger, and white tigers, as apex predators, would only deliberately stand erect in two situations:

when encountering prey and preparing to attack,

or when courting.

The two sat in silence the entire way.

Just as they arrived at the gate of the Chu family villa, Song Yu was about to get out of the car when a mechanical voice in his head sounded: [Side quest triggered. After completing the task "Invite the protagonist in for tea," reward points 800.] Song Yu paused

, his hand on the car door he was opening, and after a moment's thought, said to the other man, "Are you thirsty? Would you like to come in for tea?"

Fu Yuan paused, looking at him with slight surprise.

The quest didn't require the other man's consent, and Song Yu immediately opened the car door after hearing the system's approval: "Then I'll go back first."

Fu Yuan: "..."

He stared at Song Yu's face: "Next time you go to a bar, remember to bring someone with you."

The young man's face held a fawning expression: "Mm..."

Fu Yuan suddenly realized that he didn't dislike Song Yu's clinginess.

Chu Zeyan is dead, and Chu's relatives will definitely make things difficult for Song Yu. It's understandable that he wants to find someone with strong connections to rely on.

He's a general, with a strong background, and he was Chu Zeyan's colleague—Song Yu's choice of him as a backer is insightful.

After a moment of silence, Fu Yuan said, "Next time."

Song Yu was slow to react: "Huh?"

"Let's go to your house for tea."

"Hmm..."

He actually agreed, but then avoided eye contact.

A faint smile played on Fu Yuan's lips.

*

Finally, I've earned some points from the protagonist; this is the first step.

It's getting late, so Song Yu went to the bedroom to get a change of clothes. However, as soon as he entered the room, a chill enveloped him.

He shivered involuntarily.

What's going on... the air conditioner isn't even on.

Song Yu touched his arm, closed the windows and curtains, and, not thinking about it anymore, grabbed his bathrobe and went out.

He quickly took a shower, and when he opened the door, he noticed a red mark on his wrist.

Did Fu Yuan do that when he took him out of the bar?

"So strong..." Song Yu rubbed his wrist, closed the door, and muttered softly, "Are all Alphas this strong?"

But why wasn't he?

Song Yu released his wrist, but the next moment, he was pulled onto the bed by a force.

"Ugh—"

Someone's in his room...

Song Yu struggled desperately in fright, his bathrobe even coming undone, but the back of his neck was gripped tightly.

An indescribable feeling surged up, a little painful, a little numb.

Who...

Soon, Song Yu was turned over, and he was finally facing the other person.

It was a very tall figure.

There was a general outline, and the surroundings were faintly misty, but he couldn't make out the face at all.

A ghost? Or a demon...

Chu Zeyan easily restrained the young man. He had been hiding in this room these past few days, waiting for Song Yu to come back every night.

However, each time, the young man would be covered in different pheromones.

Although the smell was vague, as if they had never been this close before, Chu Zeyan still couldn't help but feel jealous.

Had her husband gone to the bar again? Who was he fooling around with? What had they done? Had they said anything flirtatious?

He couldn't see or touch his husband, so he could only manipulate his body to touch the things the other had used.

Toothbrush, towel, underwear… all had a strong fragrance.

He waited every day, like a lonely wife waiting for her husband to return home.

He gradually became more restrained, but his possessiveness grew stronger day by day.

Until just now, after smelling a very strong Alpha pheromone on Song Yu, his entire mental body began to heat up.

The next moment, when the young man pushed open the door with the hand that the man had left red marks on, his anger and jealousy reached their peak.

He had only been dead for less than a month.

His husband had already found someone else.

Had the love disappeared so quickly?

Or had it never existed in the first place?

Chu Zeyan gradually saw his own body, fingers, torso… slowly materializing. He almost instinctively pounced on the young man on the bed.

Then, he pinched the soft cheeks, forcing the other to open his mouth.

It smelled good. That was his first reaction.

Then, he pressed his long fingers against the tongue.

After confirming that no other man had touched his mouth, the anger that had been building up in his chest gradually subsided.

His gaze rose.

When he saw Song Yu, half her face buried in the pillow, her eyes red and docile, submitting to his every whim like a pitiful kitten, Chu Zeyan froze.

His philandering husband, who had countless lovers outside, had been brought to tears by two fingers.

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