10

 After Gu Linwei left, Song Yu was alone and finally completely relaxed.

The room was filled with the faint smell of cooking. The trash had been packed up and taken downstairs by Gu Linwei. Song Yu slumped on the sofa for a while before he had the energy to review things with 009.

He felt that this world was getting stranger and stranger. What was originally a normal urban rich family canary being targeted by his brothers was now a plot that he had never expected.

Wasn't Zhou Qiao from the orphanage? How come there was suddenly a twin?

Compared to this, Song Yu had something more to worry about.

[009...]

Song Yu was a little embarrassed to say: [Was the other one also by my side?]

009 didn't want to scare the host, so he answered after a few seconds of silence.

After getting a positive answer, Song Yu's face turned white and then red, showing a bit of embarrassment.

What kind of thing is this... He pretended to be Zhou Qiao's husband to take advantage of her, which was already dramatic enough, but the person was not Zhou Qiao.

Suppressing his shame, Song Yu carefully recalled the strange things that had happened between him and Zhou Qiao recently. He hadn't thought about these things at the time, so he hadn't paid much attention, but looking back, he could still sense something was different.

It must have started from... the day he spent the night at Zhou Qiao's house.

The easiest way to tell was that the other person was quiet and their tone wasn't gentle. Obviously, the shirtless apron, the fever... for the next three or four days, it was the same thing.

As if he had thought of something, Song Yu suddenly sprang up from the sofa.

009 saw that its host's eyelids were flushed pink, as if they had applied rouge.

Song Yu had indeed thought of something embarrassing.

What was wrong with this person?

They didn't even know each other, yet they pretended to be Zhou Qiao and did that kind of thing to him.

Thinking back to that night when the other person had put those rough, large hands under the covers and tormented him for a long time, the sheets beneath him were soaked with dirty water, and his thighs were muddy and disheveled.

And so, he had to have his hand held by the other person, his palm scalded for a long time and stained with dirty water before they finally lifted him off the bed.

...Song Yu didn't want to recall it anymore.

His back went numb as he remembered how this pervert had deliberately scared him in front of the wardrobe earlier that day.

It seemed this person was also related to the main plot. Song Yu sighed; he regretted trying to get ahead of himself by choosing this S-level world.

So there was a hidden plot.

009: [Host, there is currently no information about Zhou Qiao's twins. For the next few days, when you're not doing missions, you can rely on Gu Linwei.]

Song Yu nodded.

Actually, he didn't want to involve Gu Linwei either.

Even if he was slow-witted, he could tell that Gu Linwei liked him.

Another plot deviating from its original course.

In the past, Song Yu would definitely not contact Gu Linwei again, letting the plot slowly come back together. But now, he didn't trust anyone and didn't want to easily fall out with Gu Linwei.

Song Yu suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

After completing the mission, he would repay Gu Linwei properly.

009 thought to himself, "That kid Gu Linwei's biggest wish is to take you home as his wife."

That night, two people messaged Song Yu. One was Zhou Qiao, who said his friend had an accident and he had to leave urgently without telling him.

Song Yu found this a bit absurd.

Didn't he even have time to knock and say he was leaving?

He discussed it with 009 and roughly guessed what was going on.

There really was an emergency, so Zhou Qiao had called his twin brothers to impersonate him, but they weren't cooperating and even deliberately scared him.

He wasn't sure if Zhou Qiao knew about this from them, but judging from Zhou Qiao's messages, even if he did, he was pretending not to.

Thinking about the mission he would have to do with Zhou Qiao later, Song Yu pretended not to know, only telling him that he had encountered a pervert at his house and taking the opportunity to vent his anger.

Zhou Qiao's attitude immediately softened. He called him directly, saying he would be home the next day, that there were security cameras at the door and inside the house, and asked if he had encountered anything wrong and if he should call the police.

His attitude was so sincere that Song Yu felt he had wronged an innocent person.

He changed the subject: "Then I'll come see you on the 18th."

The 18th was the day Song Yu went on his mission. Zhou Qiao responded, his usually gentle and steady voice trembling slightly: "Ayu, don't hate me."

Song Yu was taken aback.

He felt his outburst earlier had been a bit excessive.

He pursed his lips: "I don't hate you."

Zhou Qiao's voice had recovered somewhat, but it did sound a bit tired: "There's been another accident at the apartment recently, don't come over, I'll go to your place."

Song Yu paused, but before he could say anything, the background noise on Zhou Qiao's end became noisy, as if many men were talking.

"I have something to do, Ayu, be careful these next few days, don't go out unnecessarily."

Zhou Qiao hung up after giving his instructions, looking rather mysterious.

Song Yu suppressed his unease and put the matter out of his mind for the time being. Then he opened Gu Linwei's messages. Gu Linwei said he couldn't find any information about Zhou Qiao and that twin brother, and that he needed to go out of town and couldn't accompany him for the next few days.

If even Gu Linwei couldn't find anything, the information was probably deliberately erased.

Song Yu thought for a moment: "Can I come with you?"

Seeing how clingy Song Yu was, Gu Linwei on the other end of the line wished he could pack her up and take her with him, but considering the unsafety outside, he gave up the idea.

Song Yu gave a disappointed "Oh."

Gu Linwei's heart softened, and the next day before leaving, he specially came over to fill Song Yu's refrigerator and snack cabinet. He

could have easily left this to his assistant, but Gu Linwei preferred to come himself, and also see Song Yu. He felt he was becoming increasingly dependent on Song Yu; could he be the legendary "henpecked husband"?

Then he thought, being a henpecked husband isn't so bad.

Gu Linwei had lived independently for a period during his studies abroad, and his self-reliance was stronger than most rich kids. After helping Song Yu organize the groceries, he reminded him not to go to Zhou Qiao's place recently.

"His identity is suspicious; maybe his face blindness is just a lie."

Song Yu wondered, face blindness shouldn't be a lie… This was just a character setting; if he didn't have face blindness, mistaking him for Lu Baiyu wouldn't be any good.

Seeing Gu Linwei's expression, Song Yu obediently nodded.

He stood inside the door, wearing a loose, light-colored sweater, his eyes sparkling in the light, making one's heart flutter.

Gu Linwei resisted the urge to cup that face and kiss it all, hoping to suck all the water away, and said nothing; his tall figure was blocked by the elevator doors.

*

Song Yu had originally planned to stay at home for a few days, then go directly to Zhou Qiao on the 18th without notifying her.

The day before, 009 issued another mission.

009: [Another intentional assault has occurred at Xin'an Apartment. The police are investigating. Please go to the apartment and gather useful information.]

Remembering the protagonists' instructions, Song Yu instinctively felt something big was about to happen.

He didn't really want to go out, but after hearing 009 say there would be punishment if he didn't complete the task, he quickly changed his clothes, went downstairs, and took a taxi to Xin'an Apartment.

The weather had been bad lately; it had just rained, and the ground was wet.

The roads inside the apartment were difficult to navigate, so Song Yu got off at the entrance.

In just a few days, none of the people who usually loitered and chatted in the apartment had come out; it was unusually quiet. Even the thugs who often stood at the door whistling were gone.

It seemed the series of murders had plunged everyone into panic.

Song Yu wrapped his coat tighter and, following 009's directions, found the crime scene.

Although everyone was afraid, some people couldn't resist their curiosity. A crowd still surrounded the police tape.

Song Yu walked over; this time, the crime scene was clean, with no bloodstains or signs of a struggle.

He stood to the side, listening to the conversation.

After about ten minutes, he finally overheard something useful.

The victim was the director of a well-known private hospital in Wucheng City, a man of high status who also had connections with the Lu and Gu families.

He was currently in the hospital, unconscious.

It seemed the victim was extremely wealthy and powerful; was someone harboring resentment towards the rich?

But why would a rich person come to a place like this? Song Yu didn't understand, so he asked an elderly man with gray hair next to him, "Is he very rich?"

The old man, seeing that he was a handsome and well-behaved young man, became more kind: "The hospital makes so much money every year, of course he's rich. And their hospital charges so much, who can afford it?"

The old man's words drew sighs from those around him; everyone said that it was impossible to get an appointment at a regular hospital, and private hospitals were unaffordable, leaving the poor with no choice but to wait to die when they were sick.

Song Yu, somewhat dejected, continued, "If he's so rich, why would he come to a place like ours?"

"To do charity, I guess. He comes to the apartment complex every month to treat the elderly here, always bringing a bunch of reporters. After taking photos, he makes an excuse to leave, leaving his interns to stay."

"Everyone outside says he's a benevolent doctor, but only we know the truth. Last time, a relative of mine knew he was coming and begged him to help treat his leg, but he ignored her."

Song Yu pursed his lips, continuing to listen to the others' conversation.

"So everyone says these rich people do charity, but who knows if it's true or not."

"It's just for show, to take photos." He'd also heard he sponsors people—impoverished college students, welfare homes…it's in the news every year.

…

Amidst the discussion, Song Yu's eyes lit up when he heard the word "welfare home."

Finally, he'd heard some useful clues.

He stepped out of the crowd, found a bench, and searched for Director Qian's name and charitable deeds.

There were many deeds listed, but Song Yu skipped the others and went straight to the names of several welfare homes.

—Among them was the orphanage where Zhou Qiao had spent his childhood.

Song Yu's heart skipped a beat. Was the protagonist also involved in this case because of this? Or did he see something he shouldn't have when he was very young?

His heart pounded. Song Yu felt as if he had found a thin rope in the dark, and if he slowly followed it, he would eventually find an exit.

Of course, there was no exit at the end, or he could never reach the end.

[The host has completed the mission and found the connection between the protagonist and the case.]

Song Yu turned off his phone, got up from the chair, and before he had taken two steps, 009's voice sounded again: [Host, you are being followed.]

Song Yu's heart tightened: [Is it...the twins?]

009 immediately detected: [No, it's a group of bodyguards, all from the Lu family.]

The Lu family? Lu Baiyu?

009: [The plot has deviated, and the people who came are not friendly. Please shake off these people immediately.] Song

Yu's heart pounded. He turned to the side and found that the group of people had brazenly appeared within two hundred meters to his right and behind.

They seemed to be there to capture him.

Song Yu's face turned pale. He called Lu Baiyu while quickening his pace.

The call didn't go through, and he didn't have time to call back. In his panic, he wasn't paying attention to where he was going; muscle memory made him walk straight towards Zhou Qiao's house.

But the group was moving faster and faster, and they were now less than ten meters away. Song Yu's legs were numb, almost losing all feeling, and he was practically dragging himself along. The next second, a piercing screech of brakes filled his ears—

Song Yu stopped, his chest heaving, his lips slightly parted, his breath hot.

A van had separated him from the group, the back door facing him.

Song Yu glanced into the van, and upon seeing the familiar woolen hat, he held his breath, braced his weak legs, opened the door, and got in.

The group of bodyguards in black suits swarmed in, surrounding the car windows like zombies. Some even blocked the hood, completely encircling it.

Unfortunately, the driver wasn't intimidated. He floored the accelerator, ramming the men who were blocking his way!

Song Yu closed his eyes in fright. Luckily, the men were reckless; seeing the driver was even more aggressive than them, they stopped blocking the way and turned to run off in a certain direction, probably to find the car.

The car quickly drove out of the residential area, heading down a road Song Yu had never been before.

Song Yu leaned back in his seat, his body aching, and breathed a sigh of relief when no one followed.

"Thank you,"

he said, addressing the shopkeeper directly, not knowing his name.

The man didn't speak, only nodding slightly.

Song Yu didn't know where he was and didn't dare give the man his address, so he sat silently in the back, resting and watching to see if anyone was following.

The man drove fast, choosing back roads, finally stopping in a quiet alley.

Song Yu glanced around: "This is—"

But the next second, the person in front of him took off his hat and mask, revealing a face he knew very well.

*

Song Yu didn't know he would be so unlucky.

Maybe today was just not a good day to go out.

He had just shaken off a group of bodyguards chasing him, but the person who helped him

turned out to be another pervert. In the not-so-spacious back seat of the car, Song Yu was forced to straddle the man's lap, his arms pressed hard against the other's chest, seemingly resisting the embrace, but his trembling body only made him more lovable to bully.

"What...do you want to do?" Song Yu's eyelashes trembled uncontrollably, and he began to breathe through his mouth in unease.

The other person, however, seemed to be comforting him, holding him tightly and stroking his back gently, like patting the back of a child who was choking.

Song Yu was even more frightened; the image of him being scared outside the wardrobe last time was still vivid in his mind. He trembled all over, his legs shaking so badly he wanted to clench them together.

Then something burned the soft flesh above his knees, making him extremely uncomfortable.

Song Yu didn't dare look, but he roughly guessed what it was. He tried to speak, but only mouthed the shape; no sound came out.

"I missed you so much." The man hugged him tightly, rubbing his forehead against Song Yu's.

It was a very intimate gesture, like lovers, without any hint of lust.

Seeing that the other man wasn't making any extreme moves, Song Yu suppressed his panic: "You're Zhou Qiao's brother..."

The man looked up, his dark pupils fixed on him, as if trying to engulf him.

Song Yu's heart skipped a beat, and he continued, "Still the older brother?"

"Zhou Yun." The other's voice was low and husky, but filled with more joy and excitement. "My name is Zhou Yun."

Song Yu stopped dwelling on who was the older brother. He realized Zhou Yun meant him no harm, not even a hint of amusement or mischief in his eyes; he was simply staring intently at him.

The temperature in the car gradually rose, and Song Yu felt uncomfortable against the pressure on his stomach. "Put me down first."

Zhou Yun didn't let go; instead, he pressed his fingers against Song Yu's lower back, drawing him even closer.

"When my brother hugs you, you don't let him go."

Fine, he wouldn't let go… he could tolerate the discomfort. Song Yu felt that some things were better asked directly rather than investigated: "Did you and Zhou Qiao both grow up in an orphanage?"

Zhou Yun was fairly cooperative: "Give me a kiss, and I'll tell you."

Song Yu: "…"

He'd heard that countless times. Did he really look like the kind of person who would kiss men indiscriminately?

Noticing Song Yu's displeasure, Zhou Yun didn't ask for a kiss, simply saying, "Yes."

Seeing his cooperation, Song Yu followed up with a few more questions, such as whether he and Zhou Qiao grew up together and were adopted together.

Zhou Yun told him everything.

Gu Linwei hadn't found this obvious information, suggesting the orphanage might not have Zhou Yun's file.

But why?

Were both twin brothers connected to the case?

Song Yu would bite his lower lip when concentrating, a small habit he'd researched online; some said it was a mild form of oral fixation, a fondness for biting things.

Song Yu didn't know if he had this condition, but the force with which he bit his lip varied with his level of concentration.

Right now, his lips were raw and red, yet he seemed oblivious.

Until his lips touched something.

Song Yu looked surprised, and by the time he reacted, the other man had already extended his finger.

"Xiao Yu, you'll bite your lip raw."

Song Yu wanted the man to stop, to stop biting, but he couldn't make a sound.

The foreign object in his mouth made him very uncomfortable; his tongue began to ache, and his eyes gradually welled up with tears.

He tried to hold his saliva in, but because his mouth was too small, it dripped down in a trickle.

His lips and chin were wet, and Zhou Yun's rough fingers were also damp.

Song Yu felt his skin burning pink with shame, almost burning up, but the next second, something even more unacceptable happened before his eyes.

Zhou Yun slowly licked the saliva off his fingers, very meticulously, occasionally glancing up and saying how fragrant it was.

Song Yu was stunned, then his expression turned angry and ashamed: "...Pervert!"

He had just finished cursing when he felt Zhou Yun's shoulder stiffen. His expression didn't seem angry, but he couldn't quite understand what it meant.

"Xiao Yu," Zhou Yun's voice was low and hoarse, "Have you ever cursed my brother like that?"

Song Yu: "..."

He didn't know what to say, feeling like his brain couldn't keep up with the other person's train of thought.

"You've only ever scolded me, haven't you?" Zhou Yun's brows relaxed for once. "Xiao Yu, no one has ever dried my hair, or put a towel on my face when I was sick."

He didn't know whether Song Yu would respond or not, as if taking advantage of a rare opportunity to pour out his love: "I miss you so much, Xiao Yu, I haven't seen you for so many days."

"But you must not miss me, right?"

"You treat me well because you see me as my brother, you only like Zhou Qiao."

His voice gradually turned from pleasant to dejected. Song Yu felt his body being held tighter and tighter, as if he were wrapped in a cold vine, making it impossible to breathe.

"Zhou Yun... let go of me..." Song Yu uttered a weak voice, as if it could evoke the most greedy and dirty side of the man's heart.

"Can you tell the difference between me and my brother?"

The obsession and madness in Zhou Yun's eyes spread little by little, making Song Yu's heart pound with fear, his thin shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

"If you can't say it, I can only make Xiao Yu remember me completely."

Wh-what...

Song Yu's breathing became shallow.

Even if he didn't quite understand what "completely remember" meant, he knew it wasn't a good thing.

He had to stay calm and make Zhou Yun happy to have any chance of being let off the hook.

Something to make him happy. Fragments of memories from previous worlds flashed through Song Yu's mind, and then he cautiously said, "Yes."

Zhou Yun's shoulders stiffened, seemingly not expecting Song Yu to realize that he had replaced Zhou Qiao: "...What?"

"When you...kissed me." Song Yu's cheeks were burning hot, and his voice was barely audible—

"It felt even better."

Zhou Yun didn't know how to describe the feeling; it was like being nuzzled on the face by a spoiled cat, his blood boiling.

His fingers curled uncontrollably, veins bulging.

But people are always greedy; after getting one benefit, they want more.

"How exactly does it feel better?" He leaned close to Song Yu's ear and shamelessly asked.

Song Yu stammered for a long time, unable to answer.

Then, another voice sounded in his ear—

"Let me think of something for you."

*

At least, today's mission was completed, and he was safely sent home.

Song Yu lay on the sofa at home, looking much the same as before he left.

If you ignored his swollen lips.

After Zhou Yun took him home, he told him not to go out recently and to call him if he needed anything.

Song Yu also saw his phone, a heavily worn keypad phone, an old model from many years ago.

He guessed it must have been a gift from someone important. Feeling

oxygen-deprived and with a numb mouth, Song Yu wrapped himself in a blanket and lay on the sofa.

His last thought before he died was that the convenience store owner wasn't mute after all.

这一觉睡了两个小时，宋郁几乎都在做梦。他梦见自己躺在病床上，管子插满全身，旁边的机器响着他心脏跳动的频率。

随后画面一转，有什么人也在病床上，被推到了他身边。

宋郁猜这可能是暗示他要回家了，毕竟他是在病床上被系统绑定的。

要回家了。

宋郁给自己打了个鸡血。洗了个脸清醒后，他点开手机。陆柏遇给他发了两个电话，大概是看他不接，又发了一条消息。

一个看起来很欠揍的“有事？”。

宋郁都想象到他开口说这两个字时的语气和表情。

退出去后，他点开顾林维发来的消息。

对方去了周乔长大的福利院，问了好几天才问出来一些情况。

宋郁划着他发来的消息，有一部分是他在周允那里已经得知的，还有一部分是有关这个福利院的。

宋郁点开福利院每年的赞助者，惊讶发现——顾家和陆家掌权者的名单都在其中。

His heart skipped a beat. Perhaps things were simpler than he imagined, just involving more people.

Thinking of the bodyguards who had chased him earlier that day—they were from the Lu family—Song Yu's thoughts became clearer. He wasn't sure if Gu Linwei could answer the phone, so he sent a message explaining the situation.

Gu Linwei quickly replied: "I'll be back tomorrow night. Don't go out before then."

Song Yu didn't reply.

The next morning, he took a taxi to Xin'an Apartment again.

This time, before getting out, he had 009 check the area for the group from yesterday. Only after confirming there was no danger did he jog to Zhou Qiao's house.

Zhou Qiao opened the door quickly. Seeing Song Yu, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, then he frowned, his tone becoming serious: "Didn't you say I was coming to see you?"

A normally gentle person can be terrifying when angry.

Although Zhou Qiao's voice was only slightly raised, Song Yu could sense the emotion.

Zhou Qiao then led him into the house, knelt down to change his slippers—not the soft slippers with rabbit ears.

He was dressed in fluffy clothes, looking like a kitten.

Zhou Qiao made him tea and washed fruit as usual, then led him to the bathroom to wash his hands, gently rinsing off the foam.

She seemed meticulous and caring, but Song Yu didn't dare say a word.

Zhou Qiao's anger had clearly not subsided.

Until 009 reminded him: [The protagonist is downstairs.]

Song Yu nervously swallowed.

But Zhou Qiao's expression was unusually indifferent; he didn't dare to even sit next to her, let alone kiss her.

Thinking about the mission, Song Yu moved closer to Zhou Qiao.

Something soft bumped against his leg, and Zhou Qiao glanced at the person beside him.

Song Yu had curled eyelashes and slightly puffed lips, looking like a delicate and obedient doll.

That's why Zhou Qiao was afraid he might encounter danger; their next step in the plan was only a week away.

He didn't want to involve Song Yu.

"Are you angry?" Song Yu knew how to coax people. "I didn't mean to, I really missed you."

Zhou Qiao's eyelids twitched slightly.

Anyone would find it hard to remain unmoved when such a handsome young man leans close to them, looks up, and says he misses them.

He swallowed hard: "Trying to make up for it with sweet talk?"

Song Yu: "?"

He thought to himself, "I'm trying to comfort you, when did I start being sweet talk? "

But at this moment, he didn't want to argue, so he whispered something in Zhou Qiao's ear.

Zhou Qiao's pupils instantly contracted: "What...did you say?"

Song Yu suppressed his embarrassment, pretending not to care: "Isn't this what married couples do?"

"If you don't like it on the sofa, I'll go draw the curtains— um—"

Before he could finish, he was pulled up onto her lap.

*

Lu Baiyu received two phone calls on the way, which delayed him a bit.

After quickly finishing his business and hanging up, his gaze swept down to the call Song Yu had made yesterday.

He was at the Lu residence at the time, his phone wasn't with him, so he missed it. He tried calling and messaging Song Yu afterward, but she didn't reply.

Was she deliberately picking a fight again? Or was she angry and ignoring him?

Lu Baiyu turned off his phone and expressionlessly strode up the steps.

Upon reaching the third floor, he suddenly stopped, took out his phone, and opened Song Yu's chat window: "[What's wrong? Say it.]"

The slight itch from the feather tickling subsided somewhat.

Lu Baiyu felt something was off.

Reaching Zhou Qiao's door, he took out his key, turned the lock, and made a crisp sound.

Opening the door, before his gaze even swept into the living room, Lu Baiyu smelled a familiar scent.

Immediately following was a very soft, short sob, suppressed in his throat.

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