The first class in the afternoon was Basic C Language. The instructor was a bespectacled old man with a surprisingly low and rapid voice that somehow still managed to rattle off code at lightning speed.
Bai Zhou, with the mindset that “more skills never hurt,” listened attentively and tried to follow along. But every time he thought he’d finally caught up, the teacher’s lecture had already jumped three slides ahead.
His notebook was a mess, his pen flying across the page, yet his mind remained completely blank.
With a soft sigh, Bai Zhou gave up on forcing his artistic brain to comprehend the mysteries of C programming.
Even so, his eyes stayed glued to the teacher at the front of the room. Not once did he glance in Fu Linyi’s direction.
Because he was furious.
Fu Linyi had gone too far this time!
Bai Zhou had already forgiven him once. He had even promised he wouldn’t pick fights again. Yet here they were.
Before coming to class, Bai Zhou had clearly taken a shower. And yet Fu Linyi had said he smelled bad. That he smelled like a dog!
If it had been anyone else, Bai Zhou would have decked them right then and there for saying something so insulting.
He pressed his pen to the desk and drew an invisible boundary line between the two of them. If they hadn’t been in the middle of class, he might have thrown the pen straight into Fu Linyi’s face and told him who the real dog was.
For once, Fu Linyi didn’t try to smooth things over. He kept his head down, silent and unmoving beside him.
Tang Mingyuan and Chen Feng, who had arrived late and taken seats behind them, didn’t know what had happened, but they could sense that something was off.
Otherwise, how could a dog ignore the bone right beside him?
Tang Mingyuan whispered, “What did Fu-ge do this time to make him angry again?”
Chen Feng shrugged. “Who knows? Probably acting up again.”
Tang Mingyuan looked like he wanted to say more, but at that moment, the bell rang for the end of class.
Almost the second it sounded, Chen Feng leaned forward and poked the stiff figure sitting in front of him. “There’s an empty seat to my left. Wanna come sit?”
Tang Mingyuan was speechless. Seriously, how could someone be even better at butting in than he was?
Since the next class was also in the same room, most people didn’t move. But Bai Zhou still stood up, hugging his bag to his chest.
“Excuse me.”
Fu Linyi’s hands tightened into fists, but he said nothing.
Neither of them moved.
They stayed locked in silent stalemate for almost two minutes before Fu Linyi finally gave in, standing up stiffly to let Bai Zhou pass.
Chen Feng had originally intended for Bai Zhou to take the seat beside him, but at some point, Tang Mingyuan had swapped places with the person next to him. Now he was smiling and patting the seat between them. “Here, sit here.”
Chen Feng’s mouth twitched.
There was a faint crackle in the air.
Fu Linyi’s knuckles whitened, veins bulging, the sound of bone shifting sharp in the quiet classroom.
See? Bai Zhou was never lacking company.
Even without him, there were always others lining up, eager to get close, ready to take his place.
He had never been irreplaceable. Never the only one.
Fu Linyi had never felt so humiliated. He wasn’t someone who had always gotten his way, but he’d never had to swallow down this much frustration either.
The person he liked had gone out with his own brother for an entire day, stayed out all night, and come back smelling like someone else, faint marks still visible along his collarbone.
And he hadn’t even dared to ask.
Even if he did, what right did he have? What was he to Bai Zhou anyway? A roommate? A friend? Someone chasing after him without an answer?
He was the one who’d said he didn’t care about titles, who’d agreed to be close without definition. And now he was the one jealous to the point of madness.
If he were smarter, he’d apologize right now. Bai Zhou had a temper, yes, but he was easy to coax once his anger cooled. One good apology, and things would go back to how they were.
They could continue that messy, undefined thing between them.
But he didn’t want to.
He refused to be that pathetic.
Neither of them spoke for the rest of the day.
Even at dinner, they sat across from each other in silence.
Chen Feng had followed Bai Zhou to the cafeteria and now sat beside him, diligently picking out the shredded carrots he didn’t like.
Fu Linyi still said nothing, his dark aura thick enough to chill the air.
Chen Feng, on the other hand, looked like he’d just won the lottery. He barely ate anything but still seemed absurdly cheerful, humming under his breath all the way back to the dorms.
Over the next few days, the distance between Bai Zhou and Fu Linyi only grew wider. They went an entire week without exchanging a single word. Fu Linyi’s face grew darker by the day.
Bai Zhou didn’t feel much about it.
He was used to people coming and going. He himself was the kind of friend who might disappear without a word. How could he expect others to tell him when they left?
Still, as the weather grew hotter, an odd restlessness began to stir in him.
Finally, he decided he was done waiting for the story to move on by itself. He’d push it forward.
Finish the task early. Go home early.
Because back in his original world, even though he had nothing else, at least he still had a friend who would never leave.
So that night, Bai Zhou sent out messages to both Fu Linchen and Chi Shuyi.
……..
Saturday night. School gate.
He told Fu Linchen to meet him at seven. Chi Shuyi at seven-thirty.
When Chi Shuyi arrived, the performance would begin.
There was only one small hiccup: Fu Linchen’s name looked too much like Fu Linyi’s. Bai Zhou accidentally sent the message to the wrong person, but quickly deleted it. Hopefully, it won’t cause any trouble.
Thinking about what he’d have to do tomorrow, Bai Zhou couldn’t fall asleep.
He was someone who feared silent treatment more than anything.
His parents had raised him in it. They’d never hit him, only acted like he wasn’t there, watching with cold eyes while he flailed helplessly for attention.
They’d stand above him, detached and calm, and ask, “Do you know what you did wrong?”
And the most painful part was realizing, once he grew up, that he’d turned into the same kind of person.
Every time he got truly angry, he couldn’t speak.
Like that time when Fu Linyi said he smelled like a dog, he’d wanted to throw something, shout, tell him just how cruel those words were.
But he hadn’t done anything. Hadn’t said anything.
Just like his parents. Silent.
Then a voice echoed in his mind.
“This isn’t your fault.”
Before he could react, something under his blanket stirred. A small bump, rising and shifting.
A little white cat poked its head out.
Bai Zhou immediately yanked his bed curtain shut, ironically, the same curtain Fu Linyi had pestered him to install, saying it would help with changing clothes in privacy.
“System?” he whispered.
“Meow,” the voice replied.
In its animal form, the system looked startlingly real. When Bai Zhou reached out to touch it, his hand didn’t pass through.
Soft white fur brushed against his palm. Smooth and silky. If not for the cat’s deep blue eyes filled with flickering data streams, it would be impossible to tell it apart from a real one.
The little white cat padded closer and gently rubbed its head against Bai Zhou’s cheek.
“Do you want to see a cat do a backflip?” the system asked.
“You can do that?” Bai Zhou blinked in surprise.
The system didn’t answer. The cat trotted to the middle of the bed, crouched low, and suddenly leaped into the air,
Almost falling straight to the floor.
Bai Zhou hurriedly caught it with both hands.
The cat had no expression, yet somehow Bai Zhou could sense pure despair radiating from its body.
He couldn’t help but laugh.
Rubbing its ears, he whispered softly, “You’re so cute.”
The little cat froze. Its entire body went stiff, pink ears turning visibly red.
After a long pause, it gave a small, dignified meow.
“Meow.”
Bai Zhou chuckled, lifted the cat into his arms, and slipped under the blanket with it, his small night lamp glowing faintly beside him.
“Thank you,” he murmured.
This time, not only its ears but its whole body seemed to turn pink. The cat lay down, belly exposed, tail swishing lightly against Bai Zhou’s leg.
He poked at its soft stomach. The cat let out a sharp little sound, twitching like it had been shocked.
After a while, as Bai Zhou continued to play, the system’s voice echoed once more in his mind.
“If you don’t like him, I can delete him for you.”
“Delete who? Fu Linyi?” Bai Zhou blinked.
“Yes. You don’t need to keep anything that makes you unhappy.”
“You can do that?”
“Not completely. But erasing one or two things isn’t that hard.”
“No… that’s not necessary,” Bai Zhou quickly said.
Fu Linyi didn’t deserve to die, after all. Even knowing he was just data, the thought of deleting him made Bai Zhou uneasy.
“Then don’t be afraid,” said the system. “If anyone ever hurts you again, say what you want. Hit them back. If they dare to fight back, I’ll delete them.”
“Whatever you want to do, do it, Bai Zhou. Don’t be afraid. I’m always here.”
Don’t fear speaking up. Don’t fear confrontation.
“Next time you’re angry,” the system added gently, “just tell him you’re sad.”
Be brave. Take the first step.
Bai Zhou didn’t reply. He just reached out and tickled the cat’s belly again.
The little white cat purred softly and nuzzled closer, rubbing against his leg before finally curling up on his lap.
The system didn’t speak again. The cat stayed there all night, sleeping in his arms until morning.
When Bai Zhou woke up and whispered a sleepy “good morning,” the cat gave a soft meow and slowly faded away.
“Meow.”
The next morning, Bai Zhou and Fu Linyi still didn’t speak.
But what startled Bai Zhou was something Tang Mingyuan said.
“Hey, did you guys hear a cat meowing in our dorm last night?”
Bai Zhou froze. “N-no. You must’ve heard wrong.”
He’d closed the curtain out of habit, never expecting that someone might actually hear the system.
Thank goodness for that curtain, and for Fu Linyi, who had insisted on installing it.
Tang Mingyuan frowned, scratching his head. “Really? I could’ve sworn I heard it.”
“Maybe… maybe it was a stray outside,” Bai Zhou said awkwardly.
“Yeah, maybe.”
When Tang Mingyuan didn’t press further, Bai Zhou finally exhaled in relief.
“I’m not a stray cat,” the system grumbled.
“Yes yes, you’re an adorable little cat,” Bai Zhou replied quickly.
“Meow.”
Perhaps because he had a task that evening, the day seemed to pass in a blink.
……….
By six thirty, he was already heading out.
Fu Linyi sat in the dorm room, phone clenched tightly in one hand, veins standing out against his pale skin as his dark gaze followed Bai Zhou’s retreating back.
When Bai Zhou reached the school gate, Fu Linchen was already there, holding two paper bags and smiling as he waved.
He looked like he had been waiting a long time.
✦ ✧ ✦
Vynellia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The translator would like coffee. This message contains no further arguments.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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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