On the outskirts of the capital stood an opulent villa district, its grand halls illuminated by dazzling chandeliers. In the banquet hall, wealth and power mingled with every clink of a glass.
Servants in immaculate uniforms moved silently among the guests, their heads bowed in deference as they served the elite.
Yet among the glitter and glamour, one figure stood out, utterly out of place.
Leaning lazily against the second-floor railing was a young man, perhaps eighteen or nineteen at most. His obsidian eyes were half-lowered, the sweep of his long lashes like the flutter of butterfly wings, soft, fleeting, and inexplicably tantalizing.
At a glance, one might think the gods had poured all their favor into his creation. His beauty was breathtaking, so striking that even standing still, he commanded attention without trying.
Unfortunately, his clothes told another story.
He wore a limited-edition Gentleman spring suit, worth a small fortune, but paired it with a gaudy gold chain that could have come straight from a street market.
On each wrist gleamed an oversized gold watch, so large and so obviously displayed that he had fastened them outside his suit cuffs, one on the left, one on the right, perfectly symmetrical in their absurdity.
As if that weren’t enough, he’d rolled his trouser legs up an inch to reveal a pair of gold ankle rings that caught the light with every move.
If the designer who made that elegant suit were here, he would probably faint on the spot or rush forward and strangle the boy for defiling his art so spectacularly.
Standing under countless curious gazes, Bai Zhou wished he could bury himself in the floor but his assigned role demanded otherwise. He had to keep up the act, to hold himself with the arrogant air of a tacky upstart.
Worse still, his mission tonight required him to use this blindingly bad outfit to seduce the story’s main character, the male lead.
Yes, he had transmigrated.
Once upon a time, Bai Zhou had been a third-year art student. On his way to a nearby city for a painting competition, he had been crossing the street while talking on the phone, only to be struck by a car. He became a vegetative patient, trapped in darkness for who knew how long.
Then one day, a voice appeared in his mind, a system, calling itself 521.
It told him that if he completed a series of “side character missions” within various novels, he would eventually be able to wake up.
This was his first world.
In this story, the protagonist shou, Chi Shuyi, came from humble beginnings but had clawed his way up to become one of the capital’s brightest new elites.
The protagonist gong, Fu Linchen, was the archetypal powerful CEO, a man born with both money and influence. He had always admired Chi Shuyi’s business acumen, and the two had begun as simple partners.
Their relationship was destined to shift for the first time tonight.
And the catalyst for that change was Bai Zhou’s character, a country bumpkin with delusions of grandeur and a flair for green tea manipulation.
In the story, the original Bai Zhou had grown up in the same village as Chi Shuyi. When they were young, Bai Zhou’s parents had once helped Shuyi’s family, and after Shuyi became successful, he continued to return the favor by taking care of them.
Unfortunately, that kindness had been twisted into greed.
At some point, Bai Zhou’s parents learned that Chi Shuyi might be attracted to men. The idea festered. They began whispering to their son that Chi Shuyi was practically a “fiancé,” a man destined to support their family for life.
They urged Bai Zhou to go to the capital, seduce him, and secure a lifetime of luxury.
So the moment Bai Zhou got into a university in the city, his parents packed him off straight to Chi Shuyi’s home.
The unsuspecting Chi Shuyi treated him like a younger brother, kind, protective, patient but to Bai Zhou, that brotherly affection was just proof that the man was slow to take a hint.
Thus, tonight’s farce was born. The original Bai Zhou had begged and schemed to attend this high-society banquet, planning to flirt with one of Shuyi’s business partners to make him jealous and if necessary, use that partner as a backup plan.
He hadn’t expected to catch the eye of Fu Linchen himself.
And Fu Linchen, a man of strict self-control and sharp intuition, was not easily fooled. He saw through the Bai family’s scheming at a glance.
What began as an attempt to expose the manipulative “country boy” would later lead to Fu Linchen’s unexpected affection for Chi Shuyi and their eventual happy ending.
As for the original Bai Zhou?
When he’d asked the system what became of that version of himself, 521 had simply replied that the “original” didn’t exist. Everything here was just data.
But if this was only data, what was the point of him completing these missions?
The system, as usual, had fallen silent. It always did when faced with questions it didn’t want to answer.
That trait, Bai Zhou thought, was annoyingly similar to a certain person he’d once known.
He stopped thinking about it.
By the time his thoughts refocused, he was already standing in the banquet hall, waiting for Fu Linchen’s entrance. His first mission was simple: “Seduce the male lead”
“Excuse me, little mister, may I buy you a drink?”
The voice came from behind him. A man in a blue suit was looking him up and down with a gaze that was anything but subtle. Even his tone, with that falsely polite “little mister,” was laced with suggestion.
Bai Zhou had no interest in side characters. He turned to leave but the man grabbed his wrist.
“No need to play coy,” the man sneered. “I’ve seen plenty like you, not sure how you got in here but you’re clearly looking for a sponsor, aren’t you? Make me happy tonight, and I’ll buy you a dozen of those watches.”
His eyes darkened as his hand began to wander, fingers creeping toward Bai Zhou’s sleeve, only to stop short, thwarted by the ridiculous gold watch strapped too tight to move.
Annoyed, the man yanked hard, trying to pull Bai Zhou into his arms.
Instead of yielding, Bai Zhou’s leg shot up.
The man’s scream nearly drowned out the music.
Bai Zhou calmly lowered his foot, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeve, disgust twisting his lips.
“You little! You’re dead, you hear me? You think you can mess with me and walk away?”
The man staggered up, fury in his eyes.
Bai Zhou didn’t flinch. He stripped off his heavy gold watches one by one and hurled them straight at the man’s face.
Despite their tacky looks, the watches had real weight. Two hits later, the man’s nose was bleeding.
“Not bad quality,” Bai Zhou mused under his breath.
Seeing the man preparing to charge again, Bai Zhou yanked off his oversized gold chain, baring his teeth in mock ferocity.
“Come on,” He said sweetly, “I’ll smash your head in next.”
The man froze, face paling. “Y-You uncultured bumpkin! You’re not worth it! Grandpa won’t stoop to your level!”
He scrambled to his feet and ran off without looking back.
Bai Zhou crouched, retrieved the watches, and with perfect aim, flung one after the fleeing man.
“Medical fee,” he called. “Keep the change!”
When his “battlefield” finally quieted, Bai Zhou straightened his sleeves with satisfaction.
Sorry, but this cannon fodder doesn’t go down that easily.
He clapped his hands, turned and froze.
Standing a few steps away was a man whose presence seemed to darken the air itself. His face was strikingly handsome, his features carved and cold, and the sharp lines of his tailored dark suit emphasized every inch of his height and power.
[Main Lead, Fu Linchen, has appeared!]
Bai Zhou’s eyes twitched. “Really, 521? Couldn’t have told me sooner?”
So much for his delicate green-tea act.
He forced a sheepish smile. “I swear, he started it first. Do you believe me?”
Fu Linchen said nothing, merely studying him in silence. Just when Bai Zhou thought he’d melt under that gaze, the man gave a single, calm nod.
Bai Zhou exhaled in relief. Maybe he could still salvage this.
His eyes darted around for props to aid his seduction. A waiter passed by with a tray of drinks, perfect timing.
As the waiter approached, Fu Linchen still hadn’t moved away. Bai Zhou took a breath, feigned a stumble, and “accidentally” fell right into the man’s arms.
Fu Linchen caught him automatically. The faint scent of soap and wine enveloped him, and the soft warmth in his arms sent a strange jolt through his body.
He hadn’t meant to interfere earlier but when he’d seen the boy being harassed, something in him had reacted, an inexplicable discomfort that had pushed him forward before he could think.
He’d expected to find a fragile flower in need of protection. Instead, he’d discovered a little fire-breathing dragon.
“Oh no! I-I’m so clumsy!” Bai Zhou squeaked, his voice raised in a deliberately soft tone.
Fu Linchen’s lashes lowered slightly. The boy’s exaggerated act was nowhere near as natural as his earlier defiance.
“Be more careful next time,” he said quietly.
It was the first time he hadn’t brushed off such an obvious attempt at flirtation.
But Bai Zhou misunderstood his tone. His shoulders drooped, and his head bowed in what looked like disappointment.
Fu Linchen’s lips parted, he was about to say something when his body stiffened.
The boy’s hand, still gripping his sleeve, had slid lower. Slim fingers brushed against his pinky, warm, soft and then began to slowly slip into his palm.
Fu Linchen’s pulse jumped.
The touch was hesitant, tentative, like a kitten brushing against someone’s hand for the first time. Bai Zhou’s dark eyes flicked up now and then, gauging his reaction, wary and expectant all at once.
Fu Linchen’s entire body went rigid, but he didn’t pull away. His breath came shallow. For a man known for his composure and aversion to physical contact, the smallest brush of those fingers was enough to unravel him.
He’d never been close to anyone before and never allowed anyone near. This.. this clumsy, obvious seduction should have been laughable.
And yet, it stirred something primal inside him.
His heartbeat thundered in his chest. He knew exactly what it meant and exactly who had caused it.
Bai Zhou, misreading his silence, frowned slightly and gave his hand a small, testing squeeze.
Fu Linchen’s palm tightened in response before he suddenly released him, as if burned.
“What do you want?” he asked, voice low.
[Mission 1: Seduce the Male Lead — Completed.]
Bai Zhou glanced at the updated system screen, satisfaction blooming as a neat “+100 points” appeared. He hadn’t caught what Fu Linchen muttered afterward, but he was pretty sure it wasn’t praise.
Fu Linchen frowned. The boy wasn’t answering. Maybe he’d been too cold? Young men like this probably preferred warmth, not indifference.
Should he clarify that he wasn’t interested in casual relationships or just go along with it for now?
Before he could decide, a calm, familiar voice broke through the tension.
“Bai Zhou? President Fu?”
Both turned.
A man in an ivory tailored suit stood nearby. His frame was tall and elegant, his face refined, his smile polite but cool. Surprise flickered briefly in his light-colored eyes as he took in the scene.
“Brother Shuyi.”
Bai Zhou immediately ducked his head and peeked out from behind Fu Linchen’s shoulder, all innocence and charm.
“Brother Shuyi, I tripped just now,” he said quickly, “President Fu was kind enough to catch me. Please don’t misunderstand.”
Fu Linchen’s expression darkened. Misunderstand? What was there to misunderstand?
And why, exactly, did this “Brother Shuyi” have the right to question it?
Chi Shuyi inclined his head, polite as ever. “I see. Thank you, President Fu. I’ll take Zhouzhou home now. We’ll treat you to dinner another day to show our thanks.”
Fu Linchen’s jaw tightened. Home? They lived together?
He wanted to ask what kind of relationship they had, what gave this man the right to whisk the boy away after he had helped him.
But all he could do was watch as Chi Shuyi gently pulled Bai Zhou’s hand from his grasp.
Bai Zhou blinked up at him, torn between relief and confusion.
Fu Linchen, meanwhile, stood rooted in place, a storm brewing in his chest.
He wasn’t sure what this feeling was but one thing he knew for certain:
He, Fu Linchen, had no intention of being anyone’s third wheel.
✦ ✧ ✦
Vynellia
[Translator]
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Green Tea Bun (1)Chapter 2 · Green Tea Bun (2)Chapter 3 · Green Tea Bun (3)Chapter 4 · Green Tea Bun (4)Chapter 5 · Green Tea Bun (5)Chapter 6 · Green Tea Bun (6)Chapter 7 · Green Tea Bun (7)Chapter 8 · Green Tea Bun (8)Chapter 9 · Green Tea Bun (9)Chapter 10 · Green Tea Bun (10)Chapter 11 · Green Tea Bun (11)Chapter 12 · Green Tea Bun (12)Chapter 13 · Green Tea Bun (13)Chapter 14 · Green Tea Bun (14)Chapter 15 · Green Tea Bun (15)Chapter 16 · Green Tea Bun (16)Chapter 17 · Green Tea Bun (17)Chapter 18 · Green Tea Bun (18)Chapter 19 · Green Tea Bun (19)Chapter 20 · Green Tea Bun (20)Chapter 21 · Green Tea Bun (21)Chapter 22 · Green Tea Bun (22)Chapter 23 · Green Tea Bun (23)Chapter 24 Part 1 · Green Tea Bun (24)Chapter 24 Part 2 · Green Tea Bun (24)Chapter 25 · Green Tea Bun (25)Chapter 26 · Green Tea Bun (26)Chapter 27 · Green Tea Bun (27)Chapter 28 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (1)Chapter 29 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (2)Chapter 30 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (3)Chapter 32 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (5)Chapter 33 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (6)Chapter 34 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (7)Chapter 35 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (8)Chapter 36 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (9)Chapter 37 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (10)Chapter 38 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (11)Chapter 39 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (12)Chapter 40 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (13)Chapter 41 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (14)Chapter 42 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (15)Chapter 43 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (16)Chapter 44 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (17)Chapter 45 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (18)Chapter 46 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (19)Chapter 47 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (20)Chapter 48 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (21)Chapter 49 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (22)Chapter 50 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (23)Chapter 51 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (24)Chapter 52 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (25)Chapter 53 · The Fake Young Master in an ABO Novel (26)Chapter 54 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (1)Chapter 55 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (2)Chapter 56 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (3)Chapter 57 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (4)Chapter 58 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (5)Chapter 59 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (6)Chapter 60 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (7)Chapter 61 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (8)Chapter 62 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (9)Chapter 63 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (10)Chapter 64 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (11)Chapter 65 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (12)Chapter 66 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (13)Chapter 67 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (14)Chapter 68 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (15)Chapter 69 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (16)Chapter 70 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (17)Chapter 71 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (18)Chapter 72 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (19)Chapter 73 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (20)Chapter 74 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (21)Chapter 75 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (22)Chapter 76 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (23)Chapter 77 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (24)Chapter 78 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (25)Chapter 79 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (26)Chapter 80 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (27)Chapter 81 · The Poor Little One at the Noble Academy (28)Chapter 82 · Apocalyptic Lord (1)Chapter 83 · Apocalyptic Lord (2)Chapter 84 · Apocalyptic Lord (3)Chapter 85 · Apocalyptic Lord (4)Chapter 86 · Apocalyptic Lord (5)Chapter 87 · Apocalyptic Lord (6)Chapter 88 · Apocalyptic Lord (7)Chapter 89 · Apocalyptic Lord (8)Chapter 90 · Apocalyptic Lord (9)Chapter 91 · Apocalyptic Lord (10)Chapter 92 · Apocalyptic Lord (11)Chapter 93 · Apocalyptic Lord (12)Chapter 94 · Apocalyptic Lord (13)Chapter 96 · Apocalyptic Lord (15)Chapter 97 · Apocalyptic Lord (16)Chapter 98 · Apocalyptic Lord (17)Chapter 99 · Apocalyptic Lord (18)Chapter 100 · Apocalyptic Lord (19)Chapter 101 · Apocalyptic Lord (20)Chapter 102 · Apocalyptic Lord (21)Chapter 103 · Apocalyptic Lord (22)Chapter 104 · Apocalyptic Lord (22)Chapter 105 · Apocalyptic Lord (24)Chapter 106 · The Real World (1)Chapter 107 · The Real World (2)Chapter 108 · Extra 1