32 : kicked it

 

Yin Luo's brain was spinning from the kiss, but not to the point of being stupid.

He had resisted so much just now, unable to push Duan Muze away. If he agreed... Yin Luo didn't dare to think about the consequences.

He pursed his lips, and after a while, said, "No."

Duan Muze looked down at him. The boy's face was a mixture of red marks and tear stains, wet and glistening, looking incredibly endearing. But he didn't dare to get any closer.

"I don't believe you. You kissed me so hard just now."

"And you were so mean."

"So, I won't let you kiss me."

Yin Luo spoke slowly, probably because he was damp and sticky, so his refusal sounded like a pout.

Duan Muze didn't dare to talk back, afraid that Yin Luo would get angry and ignore him: "Hmm."

Then he asked urgently, "So, does that mean we're dating?"

Yin Luo was stunned: "...What?"

Duan Muze's black hair was damp, and the contours of his face were clear and deep: "You said last time that you can only kiss when you're dating, does this count?"

Yin Luo didn't listen carefully to the rest of the sentence; he was still stuck on when he had said "you can only kiss when you're dating."

System reminder: [Host, you said that.]

Yin Luo: [I have no recollection of it at all.]

System: [I'll rewind it for you.]

Then, the system immediately created a large screen in Yin Luo's mind, showing Duan Muze holding his legs, pressing him against the wall, and kissing his neck.

Yin Luo was so embarrassed that he didn't dare to blush.

At that time... he actually put his legs on Duan Muze's waist and even made that strange sound...

System: [Sorry, Host, I poured too much.]

Yin Luo: [...]

Yin Luo urged: [Hurry up.] The scene

shifts slightly forward to the part where he's discussing with Duan Muze whether they can use a camera trick. He seems to have said something like, "You can only kiss if you're dating."

He didn't expect Duan Muze to remember.

Although a kiss would raise his affection level to ninety, and dating would benefit his future mission progress, Yin Luo still firmly refused: "It doesn't count."

"You forced me. It'll only count as dating if I let you kiss me."

After carefully saying this, Yin Luo glanced at Duan Muze. Surprisingly,

there wasn't a trace of annoyance or anger on the other's face—according to the system mission, he was the one who provoked Duan Muze first, and then the other refused when he said he wanted to date.

Most people would be angry,

right? "Then how about pursuing you? Is that okay?"

A deep voice suddenly sounded. Yin Luo doubted his ears. He couldn't blame him, because this sentence was even more surprising than the previous "dating."

The usually aloof and arrogant Duan Muze was now acting like a love-struck fool.

From being provoked to willingly becoming a simp, the role reversal happened in an instant.

Lost in thought, Yin Luo felt her mouth still hurt, and unconsciously licked her lips. Suppressing the murky emotions in his eyes, Duan Muze finally dared to approach the boy.

Then, his nose was filled with that familiar, sweet fragrance.

Especially after being kissed, it became even more intense.

Duan Muze's eyelids twitched uncontrollably, and he repeated, "Is it okay?"

Yin Luo was a little annoyed; her completely soaked clothes and her still numb and sore tongue made her temperamental: "Help me put on my shoes, then carry me down."

Duan Muze paused.

Yin Luo raised an eyebrow at his expression, looking like a spoiled young master: "You've never pursued anyone before?"

"...No."

Yin Luo knew he hadn't, which was why she dared to act recklessly, taking advantage of his inexperience: "Pursuing someone involves doing this: serving tea and water, having to listen to everything I say, and coaxing me."

"Also, you absolutely cannot kiss me unless I say yes."

System: [...Host, the male lead is very smart, he won't—]

However, the system was slapped in the face before it could finish. Duan Muze bent down, held Yin Luo's fair and slender ankles, and carefully slipped on his slippers, then lifted him down with one hand.

Perhaps the male lead really is a masochist.

Yin Luo's lower back hadn't recovered its strength, and he had vented his anger. He didn't have a habit of abusing others; he just wanted to take a shower, so he told Duan Muze to leave.

The man retreated to the doorway, his tall frame blocking the door completely. He opened his lips, looking like he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Yin Luo said generously, "Do you have anything else to say?"

Duan Muze gave him a deep look down his neck. His vision had been obscured by the mist, but now Yin Luo was almost completely visible.

Porcelain-white skin, pink knees and toes, and... the

fading .

"Would those men who pursue you kiss you or do anything more outrageous if you didn't agree?" "

..." Yin Luo's face flushed. "No!"

No one would do that.

Duan Muze finally left.

After the figure outside the door disappeared, Yin Luo went to lock the door and breathed a sigh of relief.

Five more points of favorability, hurry up and increase them.

*

After taking a shower, Duan Muze had already closed his eyes and lay down.

Whether he was asleep or not, at least he was quiet, which meant that his words had worked.

System: [Ding—There is a mission the day after tomorrow, host.]

Although Yin Luo was unwilling, he accepted it.

System: [You need to lure Lu Ran to the swimming pool, then hide and push him into the water when he's not looking.]

Yin Luo hesitated: [But Lu Ran can't swim, right?]

System: [That's why you need to push him in, host, you're the villain!]

Yin Luo: [...]

If the system hadn't reminded him, he would have almost forgotten he was the villain—but these people had bullied him quite a few times.

But Yin Luo didn't really want to do this task. He himself couldn't swim, and had accidentally fallen into the water before; that suffocating feeling was particularly unpleasant.

He thought for a moment: [What happens after I push him into the water? Can I pull him out immediately?]

System: [Don't worry, host, someone will rescue him. You just need to push him into the water.]

Yin Luo said "Oh."

While reminding himself that this was just a book, he took off the towel from his head to find a hair dryer, when he heard a voice behind him: "Want to dry your hair?"

Yin Luo turned around, and Duan Muze was already half-sitting up: "Um... I'll go to the bathroom to dry it."

“Here it is.” Duan Muze stood up. “I’ll help you.”

Yin Luo was surprised, but considering their 90% goodwill towards each other, it was normal for him to want to help him dry his hair. He was too lazy to do it himself anyway, so he handed over the hairdryer.

Duan Muze didn’t make any extra movements, and Yin Luo was almost asleep by the end.

Then his phone rang again—

it was Lu Ran calling, but Yin Luo was too sleepy to answer. After hanging up, he sent a message saying “I’m going to sleep” and didn’t reply again.

Several minutes later, Lu Ran replied: [Then you should get some rest.]

*

For the next two days, Yin Luo spent almost all his time in the ward with Duan Muze.

He discovered that although Duan Muze was a patient, he didn’t need his care at all; on the contrary, he was quite attentive to others.

The young man recovered quickly, and Duan Muze would be discharged soon. Before leaving the hospital, the man stopped Yin Luo and asked him questions like, “Will you answer my calls?” and “Will you come to see me on set?”

Yin Luo hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

Only then did Duan Muze let him go.

Although the kiss during the trip was uncomfortable for Yinluo, it was at least beneficial to the mission.

So… consider it a win-win situation.

Back at school, taking advantage of the daytime free time, Yinluo reviewed all the homework and notes Lu Ran had left on his desk. The dorm was empty; the two sports students were busy training. Lu Ran had messaged him yesterday saying there was an exhibition invitation and he wouldn't be back until tonight.

Back tonight… he'd be going to the swimming pool.

Yinluo spent several hours catching up on his homework. When he finished and wanted to check the time, he realized his phone was off. After charging and turning it on, a flood of messages appeared—

besides Duan Muze's "Are you back in the dorm yet?", the rest were from Lu Ran.

Lu Ran: [There are lots of fun things here, I'll take pictures for you, is there anything you want?]

Lu Ran: [Are you back at school yet?]

Lu Ran: [Didn't you say you'd be back today?]

Lu Ran: [Never mind, if you don't want it, I won't bring it.]

Just as Yinluo was scrolling down, another message arrived: [Are you that concerned about Duan Muze? I mean, you're not even doing your homework?] "Aren't you going to class?"

Yin Luo didn't delve into the question of what kind of jealous, even hysterical, man had sent those texts. He simply pursed his lips, pondering how to invite the man to the swimming pool.

After much consideration, he couldn't come up with a particularly good reason, but he couldn't abandon his task, so he went straight to the point: "Are you coming back tonight? If so, do you want to go to the swimming pool?"

The other party quickly replied: "Are you back in your dorm?"

Yin Luo: "Yes."

Just after he sent the message, Lu Ran made a voice call.

After the call connected, a familiar, slightly tired male voice came from the other end: "Why do you suddenly want to go to the swimming pool?"

Yinluo casually made up an excuse: "Well... I haven't exercised for several days, and there aren't many people there at night, are there?"

Lu Ran: "Did you invite anyone else?"

"No," Yinluo

repeated , "I only invited you."

Of course, he didn't know how much damage those words would do to Lu Ran, but he continued in a soft voice: "I'm so bored by myself, can you come with me?"

Lu Ran only reacted after agreeing: "But I can't swim, I can only keep you company on the shore."

"It's fine, just come."

The two agreed on a time, and Yinluo stayed in the dormitory for a short while before heading to the swimming pool. Since it was autumn, the water was cool at night, so there weren't many people.

He asked the system to turn off the nearby surveillance cameras and waited for Lu Ran to arrive in a changing room cubicle.

About ten minutes later, a message came from the other party: [I've arrived, where are you?]

Yinluo: [I'll be there soon, change your clothes and wait for me by the pool.] Soon

, he saw Lu Ran sitting by the swimming pool on the large screen displayed by the system.

There weren't many people around, but there were some physical education students who had come to exercise. When Yin Luo came out, Lu Ran was looking down at his phone, seemingly completely unsuspecting.

Yin Luo hesitated, but finally decided to give up this plot point.

[If I don't do the task, will I lose points or be punished?]

He was discussing this with the system when he heard a "splash"

—water splashed everywhere.

Lu Ran had been accidentally bumped into by someone next to him.

[Bullying value +20!]

[Plot point completed, +20!]

Yin Luo was a little dazed, but when he came to his senses, he immediately ran to the side of the swimming pool—Lu Ran really couldn't swim, he didn't even struggle, he was completely submerged in the water, not moving at all.

The person next to him hadn't noticed anything wrong and apologized, "Sorry, brother!"

Yin Luo said urgently, "He can't swim, quickly help me get him out!"

Lu Ran was quickly rescued by several students who had come to swim.

But he lay on the ground with his eyes closed, not waking up.

Yin Luo's heart skipped a beat. He asked the system, "Didn't you say that once the others were rescued, everything would be fine? Why haven't they woken up yet?"

The system was also at a loss: "That's how the plot is in the book..."

Having been in this world for so long, this kind of situation where the plot doesn't follow the original book has happened several times already, which is why Yin Luo didn't dare to do this task.

He saw several people surrounding Lu Ran, discussing and hesitating whether to call 120 on their phones.

The rescuer was a tall,

dark-skinned, and muscular boy. The ambulance had been called twice but hadn't been connected yet. Just as he was about to make a third call, he felt a tap on his shoulder.

Turning around, he saw a very handsome young man.

He was wearing black swimming trunks, and the rest of his skin was whiter than the incandescent light bulb above his head. His eyes looked red at the corners, and he was breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling: "Excuse me... could you please move aside a little?"

The boy hesitated for a moment, his throat hoarse: "Oh, okay."

He then stepped aside.

Yin Luo didn't notice the other people's gazes and looked down at Lu Ran's condition. His face was pale, and his lips were tightly closed, making him look like he was drowning.

They should be pressing water out of his chest.

But Yinluo hadn't learned these techniques and didn't dare to do it carelessly. He was so anxious he was almost in tears. The system immediately said, "[Host, we have medicine specifically for drowning. But…]"

Yinluo thought they were talking about points: "[It's okay, any number of points is fine, hurry up and exchange it.]"

System: "[No… this medicine is free, but someone needs to feed it to him mouth-to-mouth.]"

Seeing Lu Ran lying motionless on the ground, Yinluo couldn't care less. After asking the system to exchange the medicine, he immediately bent down.

Yinluo didn't treat this act of saving someone as a kiss, quickly pressing his lips to Lu Ran's.

The boy's lips were icy cold, making him shiver involuntarily.

Simply applying the medicine wasn't enough; he had to feed Lu Ran the pill from his mouth. But Lu Ran's mouth remained tightly closed, and Yin Luo frantically tried to pry it open with his tongue.

He had no experience with this, and after trying for a long time, it was to no avail.

The people around him blushed, their gazes involuntarily falling on Yin Luo's face.

His once clean, palm-sized face was now wet with sweat, his eyes were red, his lips were rubbed raw, and his chin was glistening with excess saliva, making him look… strangely astringent.

It was just CPR, wasn't it?

Finally, the boy who had tried to save Yin Luo, seeing that he hadn't succeeded in saving the man and had only made his own face look so bad, coughed and awkwardly reminded him, "Um… classmate, are you going to give him CPR?"

Yin Luo turned to look at him, and because of the pill in his mouth, he mumbled an "Mmm."

The boy's face turned a dark red: "If… if you're going to give him CPR, you… you have to keep his airway open, you have to pry open his mouth and blow air in."

Pry open?

Yin Luo lowered his head again, this time pinching Lu Ran's chin firmly beforehand, finally

opening his mouth a little. Using this small gap, he pried it open little by little with his tongue.

Finally, when a layer of fine sweat appeared on his face, he fed him the pill.

Soon, Lu Ran choked on water and coughed violently.

"It seems okay, he should be fine now that he's coughed up the water..."

"He seems to have opened his eyes!"

Yin Luo was so frightened that he immediately stood up. Because his skin had just been touched by someone, his legs were weak, and he hid in the changing room. He didn't even care about the shouts behind him: "Hey, classmate, what's your name?"

He had finally saved the person, mission accomplished, and without ruining the original plot.

Yin Luo belatedly felt that his mouth was numb.

Lu Ran usually seemed to have a good personality, but his mouth was so stubborn... He worried while changing his clothes: [If he's awake, he should be fine, right? Wasn't it me who pushed the original book? How come he was touched even though I didn't push it?]

Because of his worry, a layer of fine sweat appeared on his forehead, and the corners of his mouth drooped, making him look like a child who had done something wrong.

The system comforted him: "Don't worry, host. Aside from not being the one to push it, the plot follows the original book perfectly. The third male lead's drowning scene is also similar to the one in the book. You were just too hasty..." "

And the points have been added, which means they approve of your actions. Now you should be worried about him waking up and remembering that you gave him CPR..."

Yin Luo: [...]

He shifted all the blame to the system: "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Lu Ran, being a straight man, would probably still be furious if he remembered that he was the one who gave him CPR.

If he ignored him, there would be nowhere to fleece him.

Yin Luo thought for a moment: "Do you have any drugs that can cause amnesia?"

System: "...No, we don't have that."

System: "However, we sell a drug called 'Drunken Life, Dreamlike Death' in our store."

Yin Luo: "What does that do?"

The system explained: "It's a drug that causes memory confusion. If he has any recollection of what just happened, your face will become blurry, making him unable to remember."

That seemed pretty good.

Yinluo tentatively asked, "[How many points?]"

The system replied, "[This medicine is free (#^.^#), it should be newly developed.]"

Yinluo asked, "[Are there side effects?]"

The system replied, "[There might be, but it's harmless to the human body, I can guarantee that!]"

Yinluo thought for a moment, then

heard a voice outside: "[Use it.]"

The system replied, "[Usage successful! Congratulations to the host for completing the mission!]"

Yinluo breathed a sigh of relief, feeling like he was almost dead.

After changing his clothes, he left the swimming pool with his backpack, making sure to use a different door to avoid bumping into Lu Ran .

*

Back in the dormitory, his two roommates had already returned. Yinluo, exhausted, casually greeted them and went to the bathroom. While showering, he was worried about Lu Ran.

When he came out, Lu Ran had already returned to the dormitory.

However, his expression didn't look good.

"Hey, Yinluo, have you been to the swimming pool?" Zhang Chu put down his game. "Lu Ran said he waited for you at the swimming pool today but didn't see you, and instead encountered something bad."

Yinluo's heart skipped a beat.

Had the "hedonistic lifestyle" failed?

He still tried to maintain his composure: "The teacher called me, so I left."

Then, turning to Lu Ran, he said, "My phone died, so I didn't text you."

Lu Ran's jawline was sharp and taut, his lips pressed together, making him look much colder and more serious than usual. He hummed in agreement, his gaze sweeping over Yin Luo's ankles.

The weather was cool, and Yin Luo was wearing long pants, but even that made her legs weak: [Is he trying to break my legs?]

System: [He won't recognize you, don't worry, host.]

Sure enough, Lu Ran didn't say anything else, only giving Yin Luo the small gift he'd brought back from the next city from his backpack.

Yin Luo felt even more guilty.

Zhang Chu and Li Xun, on the other hand, were quite curious.

"What bad thing happened? Your wallet was stolen."

"Yeah, should we call the police?"

Yin Luo: "..."

Don't arrest me, sob sob.

Lu Ran didn't say what it was about, but his face darkened as he said, "Don't let me catch him. If I do, I'll teach him a lesson."

Yin Luo's fingers, clutching the gift, clenched tightly together.

Afterward, Lu Ran went to take a shower and didn't mention the matter again, and the atmosphere began to return to normal.

Yin Luo breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the "Drunken Life, Dreamlike Death" drug must have taken effect. Since it was still before bedtime, Li Xun suggested that everyone watch a horror movie together that night.

"A horror movie?" Yin Luo hesitated.

He was the kind of person who was terrible at horror movies but had a huge addiction to them, and he would never dare to watch one alone, but

since there were many people around, he agreed.

Li Xun chose the classic "Ju-on."

Zhang Chu turned off the lights and curtains, and the four of them gathered together. After watching for only five minutes, Yin Luo couldn't take it anymore: "You guys watch, I'm going to bed. Just keep the volume down, I'm wearing headphones."

After saying that, he climbed into bed.

System: [Host, are you afraid of ghosts?]

Yin Luo: [...]

He was hit where it hurt, so he chose to remain silent with his headphones on and slowly fell asleep.

That night, Yin Luo dreamt of many terrifying things that haunted him. He didn't wake up until dawn, only occasionally talking in his sleep.

Lu Ran was woken by the alarm clock. He glanced at the time and, remembering that Yin Luo had class that morning, decided to wake him up.

He stood by the bed and called out twice, but the person in bed, wearing headphones, didn't move.

So he simply climbed up and called out.

Although Yinluo's sleeping face was beautiful, his sleeping posture wasn't very good; his shirt had been rumpled up to his chest, revealing his supple, slender waist.

Lu Ran laboriously shifted his gaze.

Looking at the still-awake boy, he didn't call out, but instead lifted the blanket and raised one of the other's legs—

he wanted to see if Yinluo had a mole on his ankle.

This was important for what happened at the swimming pool last night.

*

Yinluo wasn't sleeping soundly, vaguely feeling something touching him. He thought he was being entangled by something strange in his dream. So he kicked the other with all his might.

He heard a muffled groan.

This time he was awake.

Yinluo looked at Lu Ran sitting at the foot of his bed, belatedly realizing that he hadn't kicked a monster, but this person.

He was somewhat embarrassed, his voice filled with apology: "Are you... alright?"

Lu Ran, at this moment, was leaning against the wall, his long legs bent, his expression hidden in the darkness because there was no light.

After a moment, he said in

a hoarse, strange voice: "...I'm fine."

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