Chapter 5: The Fish Takes the Bait — “Let Me Properly Host My Guest…”
Lu Xunye was so shaken that he didn’t even notice when the hand on his arm was withdrawn.
“Why didn’t you get that bandaged at the hospital?” Shen Yunqian noticed the bruise at the corner of his mouth first, then raised his eyes to meet Lu Xunye’s pitch-black gaze.
As their eyes met, Lu Xunye looked away as if he’d been electrocuted, stammering, “Uh… well, you see…”
“Sigh, I just…”
A flash of inspiration hit Lu Xunye, and he spoke with absolute solemnity.
“These are all mementos! It’s not every day I get to play the hero rescuing the beauty; I have to admire the evidence, don’t I?”
“This is a hero’s medal! A beauty wouldn’t understand.”
An indecipherable emotion flickered in Shen Yunqian’s eyes, vanishing in an instant as calm returned.
“Why did you save me? How did you know I was there?” What is your… objective?
“Well…” Lu Xunye thought to himself, I can’t exactly say a system gave me a survival mission to save you. Your life is literally both our lives right now.
“I originally made too much food and couldn’t finish it alone, so I thought I’d bring you some. But you weren’t home. I saw it was raining and guessed you went out to find inspiration.”
“So, afraid you’d get soaked, I came out to find you. And I just happened to see you…”
Lu Xunye didn’t finish the sentence. He curved his lips into a faint smile. “Consider it my chance to ‘draw a sword and help the injustice’?”
“Though, you still got wet.” Lu Xunye shook his own half-dried jacket. “Consider this my compensation.”
Shen Yunqian was about to speak, but Lu Xunye cut him off again.
Lu Xunye casually changed the subject. “I admit I’m very handsome, but don’t fall in love with me, okay? Acts of valor are just a necessary quality for any hot-blooded youth. Besides, we are neighbors who ‘share the same fate and meals’.”
“If you really want to thank me…”
Lu Xunye paused for a moment, then extended his hand, smiling brightly. “Then let’s be friends?”
Shen Yunqian lowered his gaze to the hand in front of him. Instead of shaking it, he turned and walked away.
Watching the young man’s back shrink through the gaps between his fingers, Lu Xunye slowly curled his empty hand into a fist.
He pulled the corners of his lips into a bitter smile, only to hear a voice from ahead call his spirit back like wind chimes stirring in the breeze.
Shen Yunqian stopped and glanced slightly sideways, his body still facing forward. “Are you going to buy medicine or not?”
Lu Xunye looked up in astonishment, then burst into laughter. He quickened his pace to catch up, cheerfully saying, “Mr. Neighbor, let me carry you.”
Shen Yunqian: “No need.”
Over the cobblestone path amidst the sprawling lawn, the sound of children’s laughter lingered in the air, accompanied by one person’s undying persistence and the other’s constant, decisive, yet cool rejections.
…
Ding—
Ding—
The middle-aged woman put down the scanner gun and pulled a transparent plastic bag from under the counter to pack the iodine, medical cotton swabs, and gauze. “Total is 30. Do you have a membership?”
“No.” Shen Yunqian held up his phone with the payment code displayed. “Scan me.”
Just as the clerk was about to scan it, Lu Xunye blocked Shen Yunqian’s arm.
Shen Yunqian looked confused. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Lu Xunye fished some loose change from his pants pocket. “I happen to have cash.”
He pulled out a twenty and two fives to pay.
The clerk took the money, tapped away on the computer, and remarked casually, “Not many young people use cash these days.”
Lu Xunye smiled. “Maybe I’m just nostalgic.”
Suddenly, something cold slipped from Lu Xunye’s palm and hit the floor with a crisp sound, drawing the gaze of all three people.
Shen Yunqian bent down, reached out, and straightened back up. A yellow, dull-colored 50-cent coin was pinched between his fingertips. He handed it back to Lu Xunye. “Here.”
Lu Xunye’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He slapped the coin onto the counter with the back of his hand and randomly plucked a lollipop from the display bucket next to the computer.
“Uh… I’ll take a candy.”
As he turned to leave, the auntie at the counter called out, “Wait, young man! The candy is one yuan.”
Lu Xunye calmly walked back, calmly dug out more loose change from his pocket, calmly paid, and calmly pushed the door open to leave.
Leaving Shen Yunqian staring in bewilderment at the medicine left on the counter.
“Have a nice day.”
Shen Yunqian grabbed the medicine and chased after him. The man was walking incredibly fast down the street. Despite the stinging pain in his ankle, Shen Yunqian shouted, “Stand still.”
Lu Xunye doubled back, standing before Shen Yunqian with an apologetic look. “Sorry about that.”
“Your medicine.” Shen Yunqian held up the bag for him, then stuffed the coin into his hand.
Lu Xunye looked at the 50-cent coin lying quietly in his hand, the metal warm with the residual heat of the other’s body.
His fingers twitched. He stuffed it into his pocket and thanked him, somewhat dazed. “Thanks.”
Shen Yunqian nodded slightly. “Let’s go.”
When they reached the bottom of the apartment building, a small tabby cat approached, rubbing against Shen Yunqian’s legs and purring comfortably in its throat.
Seeing this heartwarming scene, Lu Xunye silently moved away.
Shen Yunqian didn’t notice him. He crouched down to smooth the kitten’s fur; it was dry, implying it hadn’t been caught in the rain.
He scratched the kitten’s chin, negotiating with it in a soft tone, “I’ll bring you something delicious tomorrow, okay?”
The kitten seemed to understand, obediently arching its head against his hand. Shen Yunqian gently tapped its head. “Be good.”
The kitten rubbed against him reluctantly a few times, meowed, and ran off into the bushes, disappearing from sight.
Once the cat was gone, Shen Yunqian stood up and turned to look at Lu Xunye, who had subtly returned to his original spot. “Let’s go up.”
Lu Xunye asked curiously, “You like cats?”
Shen Yunqian’s hand, which had just been petting the cat, twitched slightly. He gave an ambiguous answer. “Not really.”
Liar. You obviously like them.
Lu Xunye didn’t believe it for a second but pretended he did. “Oh, I was thinking if you liked it, I’d help you catch it and take it home.”
Recalling his numerous failed attempts to abduct the cat, Shen Yunqian fell silent for a moment. “Maybe… it doesn’t like me.”
Lu Xunye looked up and saw the person had already walked into the building.
The two returned to their respective homes.
Lu Xunye placed the items on the coffee table. As he took off his canvas bag, he realized something belatedly.
He turned to look at the closed door, muttering to himself, “Better leave it for next time.”
Just as Lu Xunye finished showering and was drying his hair:
【Ding—】
【Congratulations Host on obtaining a valid item. Random Mission Triggered: Please return the painting to the Protagonist Shou within fifty minutes.】
【You must also say the following line to the Protagonist Shou’s face: “Your painting is the worst I’ve ever seen. No one will ever like it. You should give up early to save time.” This will unlock the side storyline “The Secret Corner.” Success Reward: Three hours of life span. Failure Penalty: Electric shock.】
Lu Xunye threw the towel in his hand heavily onto the floor. “If you’re sick in the head, just go die!”
“Do you know how much effort I put into making him less resistant to me? If I actually say that, what’s the difference between that and undoing all my work?”
Xiao Ai felt wronged: 【I can’t help it either; the missions are released randomly. Besides, by unlocking the side storyline, the Host can learn about the Protagonist Shou’s past, which will make the conquest doubly effective with half the effort.】
Lu Xunye calmed down slightly, picking up the towel at his feet. “If it’s really as you say, he has a secret in his past.”
“He loves painting so much. If I not only insult him but also rip open his scars… forget about capturing his heart, he’ll probably hate me to death.”
Sensing his firm stance wavering, Xiao Ai guided him patiently: 【How long do you think it will take to go from friends to completely capturing his heart?】
【The Host has personally experienced how difficult it is for the Protagonist Shou to open his heart to anyone.】
【But the Host really has no time left. Once a mission is missed, there’s no telling when the next one will be released. After today, you only have 29 days left.】
【Besides, the Protagonist Shou might not necessarily hate the Host. As the saying goes, there is no making without breaking. Breaking the barrier of friendship might actually bring you closer.】
Lu Xunye: “…” That actually makes sense, damn it.
Xiao Ai continued: 【Furthermore, does the Host really want to be punished? Since it’s a punishment, the intensity will be ten times that of before.】
Lu Xunye reacted instantly. “Oh, good. So the times you shocked me before weren’t punishments?”
【…Not entirely.】 Xiao Ai felt guilty. 【When the Host is uncooperative, I do take some… tiny measures.】
Lu Xunye: “Tiny?”
Xiao Ai immediately added: 【Host, rest assured! The punishment current only targets the soul; it will absolutely not cause physical harm to the Host’s body.】
Lu Xunye spoke coldly. “So I should thank you then?”
Xiao Ai acted shy: 【Heh, no need for that.】
“I wasn’t complimenting you,” Lu Xunye said bluntly.
“You can’t even tell the difference between good and bad words, acting like your brain is short-circuited with water, yet you dare teach me how to court someone? Can I really count on you?”
System: 【…】
Ten minutes passed. Lu Xunye sat in the living room, staring at the medicine on the coffee table, motionless.
When only forty minutes remained on the countdown, Xiao Ai began to panic: 【Host, Great Master, why aren’t you going to find the Protagonist Shou yet? There are only forty minutes left.】
“How much life span did you say the reward was?” Lu Xunye dug at his ear, interrupting impatiently.
Xiao Ai: 【Three… three hours.】
Lu Xunye slumped back, closing his eyes. “Then shock me to death and find a new host.”
“Aren’t you used to threatening me like this? To put it plainly, I’m tired of living anyway. Since you’re so capable, why don’t you turn into a human and court the Protagonist Shou yourself?”
“With your intelligence and wisdom, I’m sure the Protagonist Shou would fall in love with you at first sight. How wonderful.”
“Come on! Electrocute me.”
Water droplets slid from the tips of Lu Xunye’s hair onto his face, dripping down his jawline to leave a wet trail. His expression was resolute, as if nothing could move him.
The system finally understood. It apologized sincerely: 【I’m sorry, Host. I won’t speak carelessly anymore, nor will I interfere with your thoughts.】
“I know you might be worried about me,” Lu Xunye opened his eyes. “But you’d best remember your words.”
Xiao Ai hurriedly said: 【Mm-hmm… so what will the Host do next?】
Lu Xunye toyed with the bottle of iodine, uttering only one word: “Wait.”
Xiao Ai was confused: 【What? There are only thirty-five minutes left. Wait for what? Host, you…】
Before it could finish speaking, the doorbell rang.
Lu Xunye slammed the medicine bottle onto the table and stood up. As if he had expected this all along, he spoke to the system with a look of neither surprise nor joy, “See? Here he is.”
He opened the door, leaning half his body out. Sure enough, Shen Yunqian stood outside, his finger still hovering over the doorbell.
He smiled with feigned surprise. “Why are you here? Miss me?”
Shen Yunqian curled his finger. Hearing the words, he frowned, genuinely baffled. “Can’t you be normal?”
“What constitutes normal? I think I’m perfectly normal.” Lu Xunye pulled the door completely open, stepping aside to welcome him enthusiastically. “Come, come, come inside, quick.”
As the door opened, the layout and furnishings inside were revealed in their entirety. Shen Yunqian didn’t deliberately look, but he was still startled.
He froze. The scene inside wasn’t exactly magnificent, but compared to the “garbage dump” from before, it was like heaven and earth.
Clean, simple, and even the potted plants on the furniture and entrance cabinet exuded a warm elegance.
Shen Yunqian almost thought his eyes were failing him. His words of refusal stuck in his throat. “You… I…”
“You what?” Taking advantage of his daze, Lu Xunye quietly tilted his head and leaned in close. “My taste isn’t bad, is it?”
Caught off guard, a wave of heat sprayed against his ear. Shen Yunqian shuddered, turning his head only to nearly brush noses with the other man.
At such a close distance—perhaps because the man had just showered—the moist heat radiating from Lu Xunye, mixed with an unignorable aura of danger, seemed to envelop him.
Shen Yunqian’s reflex was to retreat.
Lu Xunye didn’t give him the chance. Pretending nothing had happened, he asked, “Am I a jackal or a tiger? Why are you leaving?”
He yanked the young man back toward him, locked the door with a backhanded twist, and trapped him between his body and the door panel.
“Since you’re here, let this host properly entertain his distinguished guest.”
Recommended Reads
