14

 When Song Xu spoke with a cold face, he was very intimidating, like a strict and old-fashioned parent.

Song Yu didn't even dare to breathe loudly, let alone try to get away with being cute.

In the past, when his grandmother or friends were unhappy because of him, he would get away with being cute and frivolous, and the other party would soon stop being angry.

But he subconsciously felt that Song Xu wouldn't fall for that.

Moreover, according to his character setting in this world, he wouldn't act cute with Song Xu.

After a whole day of running back and forth, Song Yu, who was already tired, looked down: "We were just playing a game. I lost, so I can't just renege on the deal."

He was an adult, couldn't he even drink some fruit wine?

The more he talked, the more aggrieved he felt, and his temper flared up: "Even if it's not a game, I'm twenty years old and can date. Don't treat me like a child."

"I didn't care who you were with or whether you came home at night."

Song Xu was stunned and fell silent for a moment.

He didn't expect Song Yu to refute him.

The two had rarely clashed like this before, and Song Xu had never known the true thoughts of his non-blood-related younger brother. But after hearing the boy's words today, he realized that the other boy did care about him.

Song Yu hadn't thought before he spoke, and by the time he realized what was happening, 009's voice rang out: [Side quest completed, insulting Song Xu, 500 points.]

Song Yu: "?"

His expression was a little confused: [When did I insult him?]

009: [Song Xu has no dating experience; your words were judged as mockery by the system.]

Song Yu: "..."

Earning points with something so hurtful, Song Yu's anger vanished instantly, replaced by a feeling of guilt towards Song Xu. Moreover, his domineering older brother had been staring at him expressionlessly, probably plotting how to scold and punish him.

Song Yu immediately cowered, unsure what to say, and finally, with a fierce "I'm going to sleep," he slipped back to his room.

Song Xu stood there, his eyes lowered for a moment, the soft touch still lingering on his fingers.

*

Song Yu's luggage was also brought back by Song Xu's assistant.

He glanced at his phone; it was almost midnight.

Normally, Song Yu would be asleep by now, but today he was probably past midnight and not sleepy. He lay on his soft pillow and opened his phone.

There were many unread messages on WeChat, mostly from Zhou Yanming and Lu Xing. A few were from his teammates, asking if he had arrived home safely.

Zhou Yanming's messages were the most numerous and exaggerated. At first, they were normal, asking if he had arrived home and if his family had said anything, but then somehow the topic of truth or dare came up, and the tone suddenly changed.

【I really didn't mean to!】

【I don't usually play these kinds of games with other people!】

【Ahhhhh, I didn't even kiss her!】

Song Yu: "..."

He stared at those messages, finding them increasingly strange: 【Zhou Yanming seems drunk.】

009 chimed in.

Throughout the game tonight, it was once again blocked by that powerful force. The moment it was released, it saw Zhou Yanming implying to the host that he had no experience.

This time, 009 figured out the pattern of being blocked by this force—it seemed that anyone who wanted to have close contact with the host would kick it away.

Like, it would be the third wheel interfering with their interaction.

There was still no response from headquarters. Rumors circulated that the all-powerful god had suddenly disappeared, causing chaos from top to bottom, and temporarily leaving no energy to deal with these minor matters.

【009!】

The boy's exclamation made 009 immediately go into standby mode. Its mechanical voice held a hint of concern: 【Host.】

Song Yu pursed her lips: 【That person messaged me again.】

On the phone screen held by her delicate fingers were several messages from that number—

【Why did you choose Zhou Yanming?】

【Your face is all red】

【Do you really want him to kiss you that much?】

009 immediately added a mosaic to the messages. It had a guess about the sender. But he didn't dare tell the host.

Perhaps too much had happened tonight; Song Yu was immune to such news. He turned off his phone, intending to wash up and rest.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Through the heavy door, Song Xu's deep voice came: "Are you asleep?"

Song Yu got up to open the door.

Song Xu was only trying his luck, but after a few seconds, the door actually opened, and the barefoot boy on the thick carpet stood in the doorway looking at him.

He paused, unsure what to say.

After a while, Song Yu spoke first, calling out softly, "Brother."

Song Xu felt as if something soft had brushed against the depths of his heart, and the cold, serious aura gradually dissipated. Then, he handed him a card.

Song Yu was stunned, feeling as if the other party was about to kick him out, leaving him homeless tonight.

Seeing that Song Yu made no attempt to take it, Song Xu said, "Here, this is for you."

Song Yu immediately shook his head: "I don't want it."

Don't kick me out.

Song's father was often abroad, but he had never mistreated Song Yu financially. As for Song Yu's shares in the Song family, Song Xu would help him complete the transfer procedures when he reached an age where he could stand on his own.

But at this moment, the card in his hand had nothing to do with any of that.

It was simply something he, as an older brother, as... a caregiver, wanted to voluntarily give to the other.

"It's my card," Song Xu added, "It can be used indefinitely."

After a moment, Song Yu realized that the other party didn't intend to get rid of him, so he slowly took the card: "Thank you..."

"Thank who?"

"Thank you, brother..."

Song Xu was satisfied and got straight to the point: "I don't object to you dating, but you have to choose someone worthy of you."

At least not those few blond kids from today. The man continued slowly: "If you want something, just use this card."

His younger brother couldn't be fooled by a little favor.

Song Yu had been cannon fodder in two worlds, living a very poor life, and he always bought things using his points. But today, he suddenly became rich!

He could buy many things he wanted!

Seeing the boy's eyes brighten, Song Xu chuckled.

His gaze fell again on the tuft of hair on Song Yu's head, and he subconsciously reached out to smooth it, but stopped after remembering the boy's reaction earlier.

His hand froze in mid-air.

This time, before Song Xu could even retract his hand, he felt his palm covered in soft down. Song Yu, like a puppy, nuzzled against him, head bowed.

Song Xu froze.

He then realized that Song Yu's hair was incredibly soft. So soft that his entire being, from his hand to his heart, gradually warmed and melted.

*

That night, after Song Yu collected the card, the plot progress bar moved forward a small increment.

According to 009, in the original plot, Song Xu would also give him a card, but after their argument, he demanded it back.

Regardless, the system would recognize the completion of the task, so Song Yu didn't bother thinking about it.

After that, Zhou Yanming called him a few more times, chatting about random things, and started calling him "Xiao Yu."

Song Yu was initially uncomfortable, but after a while, he got used to it and let the other call him that.

But what was even stranger was Zhou Yanming's occasional behavior—one second he'd ask him out, the next he'd deny it, saying things like, "Never mind, he definitely doesn't want to go out with me."

Before he could even speak, Song Yu was speechless.

It was such a hot day, he didn't want to go out, so he stayed home buying comic books and puzzles, and the summer vacation passed just like that.

*

On the first day of school, Song Xu was still away on a business trip, and Song Yu only had his driver drop him off at the school gate. He and Zhou Yanming had agreed to meet at the school gate.

The September weather was still hot, and Song Yu didn't want to stay outside for long.

But 009 gave him a task that day.

【Humiliate Zhou Yanming, make him blush with anger, complete before 2 PM. 300 points will be awarded for completing the task.】

What kind of system would assign a task on the first day of school? And with such a small amount of points.

Song Yu: 【You can't deduct my salary just because my brother gave me a card.】

009: 【No, it's just that Zhou Yanming isn't worth much.】

Song Yu: “…”

After a while, Song Yu felt a sudden chill on his face. He turned to the side, and Zhou Yanming handed him a Coke and then took the suitcase from his hand.

In over a month, Zhou Yanming seemed to have become a bit more handsome. With his hair cut short and wearing a cool black T-shirt, Song Yu couldn't help but compliment, "You look pretty handsome today."

Zhou Yanming's tail practically wagging in his hands.

It was worth the hour he'd spent getting ready before leaving the house.

009 Reminder: [Host, mission.]

Song Yu gave him an "Oh." It was too hot, so he took a sip of cola, held it in his mouth, and slowly swallowed it after the bubbles subsided.

This made Zhou Yanming blush... Song Yu had rarely seen him blush. He blinked, handed him the bottle of cola, and tentatively asked, "Want some?"

Zhou Yanming hesitated. He subconsciously looked at the bottle opening; some broken liquid remained.

Song Yu's lips were also wet.

Zhou Yanming looked away, his Adam's apple bobbing, his tone a little stiff: "...No need."

Song Yu, being unreasonable, insisted on holding the Coke bottle to his lips, deliberately saying, "Are you disgusted by me?"

The boy was too close, and the aroma evoked memories of that day for Zhou Yanming, making his breathing heavier.

After a moment, he took the Coke and swallowed twice directly from the bottle.

[Mission Completed.]

Song Yu was also somewhat surprised. He hadn't had high hopes; after all, forcing someone to drink his water was rather unhygienic, but it shouldn't make him blush.

He glanced at Zhou Yanming.

...He really was red.

Even his ears were red.

Was he that angry? Song Yu felt a surge of joy; now he knew how to bully Zhou Yanming! He could use this method from now on!

The two returned to their dorm.

009 sent him the missions and main plot for this semester.

This semester, Song Yu's progress bar was mainly completed by bullying Zhou Yanming and Lu Xingxing, with relatively little direct contact with Xie Zhiyan. Aside from sending a love letter a few days later, there was a direct confrontation near the end of the semester when the other person found out he was the harasser.

Afterwards, Song Yu's harassment of Xie Zhiyan would be posted on the forum, leading to school disciplinary action and expulsion.

Time seemed to fly by.

However, the next day, Zhou Yanming and Lu Xing had to leave school for a while due to sports training. Because it was a last-minute decision, Zhou Yanming packed his luggage in a hurry, and Song Yu specially got out of bed to help him.

Lu Xing, who had come to say goodbye to Song Yu, felt incredibly jealous seeing the boy busy for another man, but could only suffer in silence.

He sarcastically remarked, his tone becoming sarcastic: "Can't you fold your own clothes?"

Zhou Yanming replied matter-of-factly, "Oh, no."

Lu Xing: "..."

He looked at the boy who had taken the clothes from the balcony and then helped fold them, his usual cool demeanor gone, his eyelids drooping listlessly.

Song Yu helped Zhou Yanming pack his clothes, and seeing Lu Xing arrive, thought he'd take the opportunity to tease him a bit, adding some progress to his progress bar.

So he lied, "Your clothes have dust on them."

Lu Xing immediately stood up straight: "Where?"

Song Yu reached out and pretended to pat him on the back twice: "It's gone."

The soft palm made Lu Xing's spine go numb. He stiffened and his voice was unsteady: "...Thanks."

Zhou Yanming saw this and immediately grabbed Song Yu's wrist: "It's not like he's never done this before. Don't get your hands dirty."

Lu Xing was annoyed: "What do you mean? I'm much cleaner than you."

Zhou Yanming: "I shower every day. Xiao Yu sees it."

He didn't see it... Seeing that the two were about to start arguing, Song Yu quickly pulled their arms and stopped them from bickering.

After the group went downstairs, Zhou Yanming was a little reluctant to leave, staring at Song Yu's face: "Don't play with other boys, don't play Truth or Dare, and don't let them drink your water."

This time Lu Xing didn't retort.

After the two left, it was much quieter around Song Yu. The progress bar wouldn't move anytime soon, so he could only complete the task of sending a confession letter to Xie Zhiyan first.

Song Yu had received many love letters, but he had never written one himself.

He found some templates online, pieced them together, and finally filled the light blue stationery with his writing.

After preparing everything, on a cool evening, he sent Xie Zhiyan a message:

【Nine o'clock, to the wisteria path.】

【I have something for you.】

This task was crucial; Song Yu was anxious all night. Around nine o'clock, he arrived at the wisteria path early and placed the love letter on a bench.

It was some distance from the teaching building, the streetlights were dim, and there was almost no one around at night.

Song Yu's task was to watch Xie Zhiyan accept his confession from the shadows. He waited for more than ten minutes, and seeing that nine o'clock had passed and Xie Zhiyan still hadn't arrived, he checked his phone.

【Aren't you here yet?】

Just after sending the text message, Song Yu seemed to hear a vibration around him.

He looked up to see if Xie Zhiyan had arrived, but someone grabbed his shoulder from behind.

A hot breath brushed against his earlobe.

Song Yu's legs went weak, and the next moment, he heard a familiar voice: "We've arrived." (

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