09
In the sweltering summer heat, Song Yu felt a chill run down his spine.
He tried to convince himself that the text message had been sent to the wrong number, and mustered the courage to call back. However, the two messages that followed made him give up completely—
[Your light blue shirt looks especially cute today.]
Song Yu's eyelashes trembled as he looked down at his shirt.
It was hot today, and he was outdoors, so he hadn't buttoned it all up as usual, but had left the top two buttons undone.
But it was still normal attire.
Seduce someone... Song Yu's face turned pale, and he frowned as he asked 009: [Can you find the number?]
After a while, 009 finally spoke: [Sorry, host.]
Song Yu gripped his phone tightly and looked around. Everyone's attention was focused on the upcoming ball game, and he couldn't tell who was suspicious.
But he also felt that everyone was a suspect.
Song Yu was a little devastated.
He felt that this might be karma—he had treated Xie Zhiyan like that every day, and now he was being targeted.
In the original world, there was no plot involving Song Yu being harassed. 009 vaguely guessed what was going on: [Host, I've noted down the number. This is currently a B-level world; there won't be any danger or supernatural events.]
[You can block them or ignore these messages.]
009's comfort didn't make Song Yu feel better. He quickly finished taking photos and threw his phone into his bag.
*
The competition ended with Zhou Yanming's team winning.
As soon as Zhou Yanming finished, he ran to Song Yu, sweating profusely, and put his arm around his shoulder. After chatting for a few minutes, he noticed Song Yu's pale face and immediately touched the boy's forehead: "Did you get heatstroke from being in the sun too long?"
"It's nothing..." Because it wasn't part of the original plot, Song Yu didn't dare tell anyone about it, pretending nothing had happened. "Are you having dinner together tonight? I want to go with you."
At least, being with Zhou Yanming was safe.
"Okay, wait for me a bit."
Song Yu followed Zhou Yanming to the changing room. Everyone who was changing was a little embarrassed, taking their clothes and going into the stalls or bathrooms. Seeing the fine beads of sweat on Song Yu's pretty face, Zhou Yanming took out a wet wipe and a shirt from the closet: "Would you like to change your clothes too? This one is too small; I haven't worn it at all."
"Thank you..." Song Yu had sweated a lot that afternoon, and the shirt was sticking to his back, making him uncomfortable. Besides, he also wanted to change out of the light blue shirt that had been described as "cute."
He took the shirt, only to find that the stalls were already full. Zhou Yanming noticed this too and pulled him to a corner: "Just change here; I'll block the view, no one will see."
Song Yu didn't waste any more time and slowly unbuttoned the shirt with his fair fingers.
Zhou Yanming's eyelids twitched violently.
He immediately turned around, and despite the noisy and chaotic surroundings, the sound of fabric rubbing against his back was incredibly clear.
It was like feathers burrowing into his ears, tickling his heart along his veins. It
wasn't until the boy tugged at his shirt and said he was done that Zhou Yanming came back to his senses and awkwardly took the shirt into the bathroom.
Song Yu put the shirt he had taken off into his backpack, and then his phone vibrated.
He clicked on the number with a sliver of hope, hoping it wasn't that unfamiliar number.
However—
【You're beautiful.】
*
Zhou Yanming noticed that Song Yu had become less clingy lately.
She was still willing to spend time with him in class and at meals, but refused to accompany him to the team anymore.
He asked his two roommates, and Song Yu hadn't made any plans with anyone else; she was simply staying in the dorm.
Zhou Yanming was a little annoyed, wondering why his feelings had suddenly faded. He lost interest in training, listlessly leaning against a corner, his eyes downcast as he searched for questions like "Are men easily fickle?" on his phone.
Seeing the overwhelmingly affirmative answers, his mood worsened.
For some reason, Zhou Yanming retyped the question—"Is it feasible to win back a partner with one's body?"
A few moments later, replies appeared.
Some said love-struck individuals were incurable, some told him to go dig for wild vegetables, some expressed respect and blessings, and wished him well, but cautioned him not to die on his doorstep.
…
Zhou Yanming scoffed.
These people must not have as good a physique as him, nor as big a chest.
Just jealousy. Since receiving those two messages in the locker room that day, Song Yu hadn't been there again.
He was certain the harasser was someone from the team. But the guys he knew were all good people and didn't seem like the type to do something like this.
Song Yu became depressed, spending his days either in class or hiding in his dorm. He stopped sending text messages, but the plot progress remained stuck. 009 knew he was scared and didn't urge him to do the mission.
But then the crucial plot point arrived. [The protagonist has a rental apartment off-campus. You need to find out the specific address. You have three days.
The countdown starts now.] [This mission has 1500 points.] The harasser was someone close to him, so it was safer off-campus. Song Yu convinced himself to accept the mission. According to the clues 009 gave him, Xie Zhiyan would go to rent an apartment the next morning.
Song Yu took leave and took a taxi to the vicinity of the apartment complex. It was an old neighborhood with poor security. Xie Zhiyan came from a wealthy family and wouldn't normally rent such a place.
009 Explanation: [Xie Zhiyan had a falling out with his family recently, and the house he found was just something he asked someone to find.] Song Yu slowly nibbled on the osmanthus cake he had just bought, making a muffled "hmm" sound.
A short while later, Xie Zhiyan arrived. Song Yu immediately stood up. There were many alleys around, and the roads were difficult to navigate. He had expected to be left behind by the tall, long-legged protagonist, but unexpectedly, the other person wasn't walking very fast.
Song Yu gradually slowed his pace, following Xie Zhiyan through several alleys. Just as he was about to turn, he felt a force pulling him down from behind— "Ugh—" Song Yu's entire back was pressed against the other person's chest. This person was very tall and strong, one hand pressing on his waist, the other covering his mouth.
The boy was terrified, and after realizing what was happening, he made a "woof woof" sound, trying to push the other person's hand away with his tongue because he couldn't breathe. The person behind him visibly stiffened for a moment, then released him the next second.
Song Yu opened his mouth, breathing rapidly, and the person restraining him came in front of him. He looked up— it was Lu Xing. "Why are you following me?" Lu Xing asked. Song Yu hadn't expected him to be there and stammered, "I wasn't following you..." Lu Xing gave an "Oh," his tone unreadable. Perhaps he didn't care that Song Yu had been following him, because his attention had already been diverted to other things.
The two were very close, and Lu Xing could clearly see the finger marks he had left on Song Yu's cheek, as well as the water stains left on her lips when she tried to break free of his hand.
Lu Xing clenched his fist; the soft, damp touch seemed to still linger.
With the protagonist here, the mission probably wouldn't be completed today. Song Yu pursed her lips, intending to leave, but Lu Xing stopped her: "Where are you going?"
"Back to school," Song Yu said truthfully.
Lu Xing: "I'll take you."
Song Yu was about to suggest taking a taxi when she looked in the direction Lu Xing pointed. A motorcycle was parked at the intersection not far away; the body looked modified and exceptionally cool.
Song Yu's eyes lit up.
Seeing Song Yu's expression, Lu Xing's heart soared: "Let's go."
On the way, 009 suddenly said: [Host, you haven't forgotten you're here to do a mission, have you?]
Song Yu covered her ears: [I don't want to hear it.]
009: ...
009 didn't say anything more; he knew Song Yu had been cooped up in the dorm these past few days.
The two arrived at the motorcycle. Song Yu seemed quite interested in it and became more talkative. After letting him get on, Lu Xing didn't start the motorcycle immediately. Instead, he turned to the side and said, "I've never carried anyone on this motorcycle before."
Song Yu was taken aback for a moment before reacting, "Um... thank you..."
"I was originally saving it for my future girlfriend," Lu Xing added abruptly.
Song Yu didn't know what to say, so she moved her hand on Lu Xing's waist, reminding him, "I have class this afternoon..."
Lu Xing's shoulder stiffened.
Speeding was one of Lu Xing's hobbies, and with Song Yu on board, he didn't dare to drive too fast. Even so, Song Yu was still very happy, hiding behind Lu Xing and watching the scenery of the city rush by.
Half an hour later, the two arrived at the school gate. Song Yu thought they would part ways at the school gate, since Lu Xing seemed to be quite independent, but they actually decided to go back to the dormitory together.
On the way, Lu Xing, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "How do guys date?"
Song Yu was taken aback: "W-what?"
"Well... what do you usually do together?"
"Eat out, watch movies, things like that."
Lu Xing hummed in agreement, then asked, "No hugging or kissing?"
Song Yu's eyes widened, and it took him a while to realize what the other person meant by "things." He hadn't expected the topic to shift so suddenly, and replied evasively, "Probably..."
"Have you dated anyone?"
"No..."
Lu Xing stared at Song Yu's pink earlobes.
True.
It's unlikely anyone dating Song Yu wouldn't hug and kiss.
His lips were so soft, his eyes so beautiful, and he always spoke in a coquettish way.
The two didn't continue the conversation. Back at the dormitory, Lu Xing left with the words, "Take any photos you want from now on," and went back.
Song Yu was bewildered. Pushing open the door, he found Zhou Yanming in the dorm. Seeing him return, Zhou Yanming immediately stood up: "You went out with Lu Xing?"
Song Yu answered truthfully, "No, we met on the way."
"Oh." Zhou Yanming looked somewhat disappointed. "I bought you a small cake."
Song Yu wasn't very hungry; he had classes in the afternoon and planned to take a nap. However, his phone on the table vibrated several times.
The number that hadn't messaged him for several days lit up again.
[Do you like Lu Xing?]
[Why are you so close?]
[Song Yu, I'm uneasy.]
Song Yu read the message with trembling eyelashes. Because there was a possibility of being reported to the police later, he didn't dare delete or block it, and could only let the other party act so brazenly.
Despite his fear, Song Yu had no choice but to go out again on the third night.
With only a few hours left before the mission deadline, Song Yu followed the route he had taken last time, walking a short distance into the residential area before waiting for Xie Zhiyan. The streetlights were dim at night, and after the daytime vendors had left, Song Yu couldn't recognize the roads and had to rely on 009's guidance.
【Take 300 meters to the left, then turn right.】
The alley was unusually quiet; Song Yu could only hear his own footsteps. He felt uneasy.
【After turning right…after turning…Host—】
The system's voice suddenly became erratic, as if it had been interfered with. Song Yu stopped: 【009?】
【Host…stop…stop…】
009 fell completely silent.
Song Yu was a timid person to begin with, and without 009's company in this environment, he was immediately terrified and started to cry: 【009, what's wrong?】
He bit his lip, abandoning his mission, and quickly turned around, intending to return the way he had come.
However, another set of footsteps appeared in the alley.
One step at a time, very steady, very slow.
In that instant, countless scenes from horror movies flashed through Song Yu's mind. He quickened his pace, but the footsteps behind him also quickened; he slowed down, and the footsteps behind him slowed down.
Song Yu's breath almost stopped.
Even if he was slow-witted, he realized one thing—there was someone behind him.
Song Yu's legs went weak, and he stood there taking out his phone to call the police. Her fingers trembled, and she couldn't unlock the lock.
Fortunately, the footsteps quickly faded into the distance.
Song Yu breathed a sigh of relief.
However, the next moment, her phone vibrated twice.
【Baby, you're so clumsy.】
【Are you confused?】
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