The favorability value surpassed 30%, Song Yao obtained the third card drawing chance. Song Yao didn’t wait this time and immediately pulled.
The dark red screen appeared. The enormous, classic white cross was wrapped by the black snake and delicately gorgeous red roses bloomed everywhere.
Song Yao tapped his finger in the middle of the cross and the cross spun rapidly and at the same time, the snake wrapped around the red roses and narrowed its dark-gold eyes, awaiting the result.
Unbelievably, the roses turned purple again and a SR card appeared.
[Beauty isn’t meant to be buried, it should be shown to the world. The host with this card, the good points of their original appearance will gradually appear in the target person’s eyes. Effective immediately, no time limit.]
The hamster was stunned silly.
[Hamster: Host, are you a European emperor? You only drew three times and got two SRs…it’s gotten me wondering if there’s anything wrong with our system.]
[Song Yao: Even without this card’s effect, I could still capture the protagonist.]
[The hamster rubbed it tummy: Badass, but…he rejected you again, aren’t you worried?]
[Song Yao: In the first place, it wasn’t my plan to capture a man through romancing him. There’s plenty of other ways.]
[Hamster: Yes, yes, then good luck host.]
Inwardly, the hamster thought: Sigh, poor host, if you don’t romance him, the favorability value won’t increase in the late period! But this host is so straight, perhaps he’d already started the romance route, but he just hasn’t realized it…helpless.jpg
*
After returning from the rooftop, Shen Muhan kept feeling off. His head was all fuzzy and his body felt hot.
The scene from just now was magnified and it replayed in his mind like a movie.
Song Yao, who was dragged to the roof by him, was panting slightly and his cheeks were a little red. When he heard him firmly rejecting him, the large drop of tear fell from his eye, rolled past the mole beneath his eye and hung from his chin, like a clear crystal. He cried but he was still putting up a strong front, desperately trying to find an excuse for his tear, is it because he didn’t want to burden him?
Shen Muhan stared at his finger in a daze. Just now, his finger touched that person’s tear, it was hot. People say tears were salty, was it true?
Thinking this, he stuck out the tip of his tongue, wanting to taste it.
The bell for class to begin rang, startling him. He quickly put down his hand.
Oh god, what was he doing?
He clenched his hand, but it felt like something was still on his finger. It was difficult to forget.
*
After the afternoon break, Song Yao felt that Shen Muhan was purposely avoiding him.
Shen Muhan didn’t look at him again, even when he turned around to join the discussion, he wouldn’t so much as glance in Song Yao’s direction. After class, walking in the corridor, Song Yao saw Shen Muhan coming towards him, so he stopped to greet him, but Shen Muhan acted like he didn’t see him and walked past him after knocking against his shoulder. Even when he messaged him on Wechat, he didn’t read them.
Not only did Song Yao noticed these abnormalities, the students who always watched Shen Muhan through a magnifying glass also noticed it too and started wagging their tongues.
“That’s right, how could Shen Bro be close to crazy Song, he must have had a reason before. Now crazy Song has been abandoned, poor him, pfttt.”
“Isn’t that so and the funniest part is, when Shen Bro handed out the test earlier, he called out the names for all of them but he got quiet when he got to crazy Song’s paper…he just placed it on crazy Song’s desk and left, is his name that hard to say, pft.”
“Be quieter, did you all forget what crazy Song did last time, did you forget how we were all summoned individually for a talk, how our parents were called, how we had to write an 800 word apology, and how we had to compensate for his monetary losses?!”
As for other people gossiping about this, Song Yao didn’t care at all.
What he cared about was, right now he was rather far from Shen Muhan, so he couldn’t hear his inner voice.
Since he couldn’t hear it, he could only observe him closely.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
He didn’t think that Shen Muhan, after rejecting him, would just stop looking at him altogether. There must be another reason.
Ktf ijra mijrr bo atf joafgcbbc kjr qtsrlmr.
Vtfc Zetjc, ktb kjr jikjsr j wbvfi raevfca, jmaejiis ofii jriffq bc tlr vfrx.
Vbcu Tjb ogbkcfv, joafg byrfgnlcu tlw mjgfoeiis obg j ktlif, tf ecvfgrabbv.
Rb kbcvfg abvjs, tf ibbxfv j ilaaif gfv, tlr fsfr kfgf ifrr fcfgufalm, tf bcis rmbgfv bcmf lc usw, jcv tf vlvc’a fnfc ibbx ja tlr qtbcf…
He raised his hand and told the teacher, “Shen Muhan has a fever, I’ll take him to the infirmary.”
Saying this, he walked over and supported Shen Muhan who was boiling hot and helped him outside.
The students in the class were shocked and they couldn’t help gossiping in their group chats. Problem was, a few dumb huskies ran to the wrong place and they started texting in the class chat.
[Shen Lu: Shen Bro has a fever? I didn’t notice even though I was sitting right next to him, how did crazy Song know?]
[Ji Mengqing: That’s why you guys can’t pursue Shen Bro, crazy Song only has eyes for him, he’d know even if Shen Bro lost a strand of hair!]
[Liu Lei: Hey, hey, what are you guys being so gay for, what pursuing or not, Shen Bro is straight, got it?]
[Qin Chuan: Did Shen Bro secretly tell you he’s straight? I think he’s bi? Eatingmelonseeds.jpg]
[Ji Jing: Isn’t he gay? I saw the things written by Shen bot, if I’m wrong it wasn’t me.]
[Liu Lei: Fuck, did you forget about Yao Yao, Shen Bro is definitely straight!]
[Shen Lu: Sorry guys, I just realized we’re in the class chat…can I delete my texts? Scared.jpg]
[Old Wang: Brats, aren’t you guys in physics class right now, what are you guys doing in the chat? Do I need to take your phones?]
Song Yao supported Shen Muhan into the corridor.
Shen Muhan’s expression was cold: “Let go of me…”
Shen Muhan’s inner voice sounded weak: [My body’s cold, my head’s dizzy, I feel like I’m going to pass out…]
Song Yao inexplicably wanted to laugh, but he held back. He used the back of his hand to test Shen Muhan’s forehead temperature. It was burning badly.
He said: “Stop pushing yourself. Where’s the infirmary?”
Shen Muhan looked askance at him like he was looking at an alien.
[This guy doesn’t know where the infirmary is? Is he playing with me?]
Song Yao: “I never went, so I didn’t pay attention to where it is. You lead the way.”
Shen Muhan: “…Go to the first floor first.”
“Careful, stairs.”
As they walked, Shen Muhan asked rather weakly, “How did you know I have a fever?”
[Originally I thought since there’s 20 minutes left to class, I’ll wait it out first then ask for a leave. Who knew I’d be discovered by him…but he wasn’t near me, how did he know?]
Because you and my brother act exactly the same when having a fever. Song Yao thought.
Ren Ximing often got fevers when he was young and when he was feverish, when normally he cried and fussed, he became quiet and listless. He would quietly lie on the sofa or on the rug, and no matter the interesting cartoon, he didn’t watch them. If you picked him up at the moment, you’d realize that his cheeks were red, his eyes were spiritless, and his body was covered in sweat, but he still called out “brother, cold”.
Song Yao answered: “Because you didn’t look at me the entire afternoon and you didn’t read any of my messages. I thought you must not be feeling well.”
Shen Muhan stiffened.
[I didn’t look at him, that’s because…it’s awkward…his gaze burns when he looks at me, I keep thinking of that drop of tear…but it must be because I’m feverish, that’s why my head’s been a mess all afternoon.]
[So if I don’t look at him, it’ll affect him this much?]
Shen Muhan was clearly thinking this, but when he opened his mouth, he said something completely different, “You’re too full of yourself…haven’t you ever thought, it’s because I hate you so I purposely avoided you and didn’t reply to your message?”
Song Yao was silent for a while and asked, “Then do you still hate me now?”
Shen Muhan thought about it.
[This guy, when he was a kid he called me a sissy, he forced me to take off my pants to prove I wasn’t a girl. After he grew up, he stalked me, harassed me, he’s a bonafide pervert. I should hate him.]
[At least I did before…what about now?]
[Ughh, dizzy, can’t think…]
Shen Muhan opened his mouth but didn’t say anything.
They walked into the infirmary, the doctor took Shen Muhan’s temperature, it was 38.8 C. The doctor quickly had Shen Muhan lie down and prepared hot water and medicine for him. Right now, Shen Muhan was in a state where his body temperature was still rising. As more heat was produced while little heat dissipated, his temperature would continue rising followed with chills and tremors. Song Yao wrapped Shen Muhan with a thick blanket.
Song Yao thought, in the past days, it was either rainy or windy, no wonder he had a fever.
Shen Muhan saw Song Yao’s practiced look and asked, “Looks like you have experience.”
Song Yao reflexively said, “Because I have a younger brother at home.”
Shen Muhan, “I didn’t see him last time?”
Song Yao didn’t bat an eye, “Younger cousin. Drink some more water then sleep.”
“…Okay.”
Shen Muhan slowly closed his eyes.
Before he fell asleep, he said in a rather groggy and rushed voice, “I don’t hate you.”
Song Yao heard these words as clear as day. Turns out, Shen Muhan was answering Song Yao’s question from before.
Song Yao quirked his brow, seeing him all weak, he felt he was a little cute.
At the same time, the favorability value above Shen Muhan’s head lit up.
[God’s favorability increased by +5%, total favorability value is 39%. Reason: He cares so much about me, moved.jpg.]
*
In the dark space, amidst countless codes, Ren Ximing continuously replayed Song Yao’s inner thoughts and tears trickled down the corner of his eyes.
He thought Song Yao only felt disgust and hatred towards him.
When he was young, when it rained and thundered, he stuck to Song Yao and wanted to sleep together with him. It only took one command from Song Yao for the bodyguards to carry him away and Song Yao even locked the door.
After he grew up, he tried different ways to confess to Song Yao, but he was ignored and was treated as a joke; so much that on a certain morning, when he secretly and shakingly used his clean hand to touch Song Yao on the sofa, Song Yao said, “So dirty.”
These memories repeatedly tormented him.
When he thought the only light in his heart actually disdained and hated him, his heart shriveled and bled.
And as he kept on hurting, he then fell in love with the pain.
And now, he realized, the truth may not be like he thought.
As if it was as natural as breathing Song Yao would think of his habits, his favorite food and his feverish appearance. Song Yao’s care for him had already subtly seeped into his bones.
He was ecstatic, ecstatic to the point of crying.
—But he was also very clear minded. Song Yao’s feelings towards him were purely familial.
Once he thought of this, he became anxious again, his paranoia grew out of control. He wanted to use the most straightforward method to make Song Yao aware of his feelings, but he was afraid, afraid that he would scare the other, that he’d make Song Yao hate him even more, then he’d run away to somewhere he couldn’t find…
So he must be patient.
Using the world he devoted everything into creating, he would play a game of raising lovers with Song Yao.
He didn’t ask Song Yao to love him wholly, if Song Yao could love him even a tenth of the amount that he loved him, it would be enough.
*
When Shen Muhan slept, Song Yao went to buy congee and some side dishes. Bored with nothing to do, he went on Weibo to watch Shen Muhan’s tutorial videos.
The videos made Song Yao a little impressed, when Shen Muhan danced on the stage, his aura completely changed. Some people were born to be the king standing on the stage, their every move and every drop of sweat made the audience go wild. He was worthy of being the god of this world.
His dance told a story, as if it wasn’t a dance, but a movie. There was a part in the video that left a deep impression on Song Yao.
A white clothed, long haired girl had her eyes covered by a black cloth. Following the drumming rhythm, she began dancing with him.
He raised one hand, a gun sounded, the girl laid on the floor, and the entire world turned dark red.
He used a red ribbon to tie the girl’s wrists, pulled her up from the floor and into his arms.
The girl struggled again but was tied up by him and couldn’t move.
Song Yao was totally pulled into it, the performance’s name was “Bondage”.
He couldn’t help opening and closing the bullet chat.
When he took off his earbuds, it was almost 7. Song Yao heard Shen-pretending to be asleep-Muhan’s inner voice.
[He stayed by my side the entire time, what is he looking at, looking so focused.]
[He looks pretty nice with his eyes down. I didn’t notice before, the corner of his eyes are upturned, and his lashes are fine and long…they leave two shadows on his cheeks. And the mole in the shadow, it’s like the best thing in the world…]
[Ah, he saw me.]
[H-he laughed.]
[How can he laugh like that, that’s totally against the rule. When the smile gets into his eyes, it’s like on a cold winter day, accidentally opening the thick curtains and seeing brilliant spring colors, hearing birds chirping, and smelling flowers.]
[What’s wrong with me…this guy’s a pervert, how come recently I keep thinking this pervert is good-looking…it must be because…my fever’s too serious…]
Song Yao knew Shen Muhan was awake and he looked at him. Looking at his woozy appearance and listening to his confused thoughts, he couldn’t help smiling. He saw the other awkwardly turn his head away, and his cheeks and ears, because of the fever, were bright red.
Song Yao said, “I was looking at videos of your performance, your dancing’s amazing. The dance is made by you, the song is also made by you, you’re so awesome.”
The favorability above Shen Muhan’s head couldn’t take it anymore and it showed:
[God’s favorability value increased +4%, current favorability value 43%. Reason: I was praised, woah.]
Hearing his praise, Shen Muhan was energized. He glanced at Song Yao’s phone and said, “This dance is about the love and hate between the blind girl and the killer. The distressed killer was saved by the blind girl, and because she couldn’t see, the girl thought the other was an ordinary and clean boy. After the killer recovered, he continued his mission, but he was discovered by the blind girl. This is the scene where the girl heard the cruel sounds and wanted to run away in fright, but the killer who had long fallen in love with her would never let her go.”
Song Yao listened to this and was a little moved. He felt that the clean boy and the killer, two sides of the same coin, perhaps came from Shen Muhan’s own character setting. According to the original work, on one side Shen Muhan was the dazzling superstar, but on the other, he was the rotten-hearted and vengeful avenger.
“And the girl is?” Song Yao asked.
“It’s Yao Yao.”
What a guy. Yao Yao, wasn’t she the female lead of this novel world?
helpless.jpg; moved.jpg
oh my what a chapter full of unexpected things, first the og ren ximing i just LOVE when he appears and discover how song yao truly saw him all this years and second but not least our female lead is starting to appear, im so curious to see how the story will develop with her in it.
AND THIS “BONDAGE” PIECE THAT SHEN MUHAN DID IM 👀… 👩❤️💋👩💌 love it all to the name to the story being interpreted. and this classic “fever” episode that couldnt be out its soo sweet to see song yao noticing the tinniest things that no one else would and shen muhan being just him, thats it, shen muhan my silly little meow meow
THANK YOU FOR THE TRANSLATION. HAVE AN AWESOME WEEKEND 💋❤️❤️❣️
Thank you for the update ❤️💯
Plz next chp. prove me wrong, no plot following roles (like the MC shipping a failed canon between ML & some <insert name> chara) But knowing that MC is Straight in nature and treating an adoptive boy as a younger bro means that he could be more prone to being dense about his own feelings and not know if ML does something wrong to him.
The female leas is finally getting mentioned lol
Tysmm for the ch 🥤