“I always find myself thinking of you.”
After his parents divorced, Gui Wen left the home he had lived in since birth and was raised entirely by his mother. Since she worked as a company sales representative and had zero connection to scientific research, she had nearly driven her son out of the house upon discovering that he had enrolled in the exact same university major as his father and was even conducting experiments in the university research lab.
Exasperated by the chaos, his mother went out to dinner with friends, drank a bit of alcohol, and returned home completely intoxicated. Having no other choice, Gui Wen dutifully took care of her all night, even checking his phone to learn about applying warm compresses and other precautions, while also teaching himself how to brew a hangover-recovering soup.
Right before falling asleep beside Zong Xian’s bed, Gui Wen thought to himself that it had genuinely been a very long time since he had taken care of another person like this.
Waking up meant it was almost time to return to school, and just as Gui Wen hurried to leave, Zong Xian called out to stop him.
It was not because Gui Wen suddenly loved studying, but rather because the academy was holding an art exhibition soon. The division of labor had already been assigned, and an unexcused absence would cause trouble for everyone else, not to mention that the course grade would probably look terrible.
Despite being completely baffled by Zong Xian’s request, Gui Wen casually lifted one of his legs and stepped onto the edge of the bed right in front of Zong Xian.
Zong Xian gently gripped Gui Wen’s ankle, causing the latter to tickle and instinctively try to pull back, only to be held more tightly by the other man. “Don’t move.”
Gui Wen managed to stay still. Zong Xian inspected his fair instep, confirming there were no visible marks, before saying, “The other side.”
“Oh.” Obediently, Gui Wen raised his other foot. Zong Xian’s thumb lightly pressed against his instep. “Doesn’t it hurt? Didn’t you bump it last night?”
Gui Wen shook his head. Only then did he realize that Zong Xian, despite being under the influence of alcohol the night before, had noticed him bumping his foot when he left the bedroom. “It’s not serious, just a minor knock. It’s completely fine now.”
“Alright.” Zong Xian let go and casually threw on the jacket resting at the head of the bed. “Let’s go downstairs. I’ll drive you back to school.”
Gui Wen quickly changed into a fresh set of clothes and headed straight downstairs to get into the car. The system happened to be in its active state, taking that exact moment to offer a friendly reminder. [The target’s current disgust value is 38%. Please be advised, Host.]
Why was this disgust value dropping lower and lower? Gui Wen felt a splitting headache coming on, as if he were the one who had drunk too much the night before.
Zong Xian climbed into the back seat as well and closed the door.
Intent on provoking a reaction, Gui Wen reached out to brush against the back of Zong Xian’s hand. “Brother Zong Xian, I was the one who brought you back last night. Don’t I get a reward?”
“A reward?” Zong Xian let out a light laugh. “You certainly have quite an imagination.”
“Who can blame me when I always find myself thinking of you?” Leaning close to Zong Xian’s ear, Gui Wen let his breath brush against the man’s auricle.
Zong Xian did not pull back, nor did he make any further movements. “It depends on whether you have the ability to earn this reward.”
“I’m not someone who can be brushed off with just any little trinket.” Gui Wen said, a sudden flash of inspiration prompting him to cement his persona as a vain gold-digger in Zong Xian’s eyes. “The diamond Madam Jiang wore in the private room was huge and gorgeous.”
Instead of answering, Zong Xian pressed his hand against Gui Wen’s shoulder and pushed him backward. “We’re here.”
Gui Wen considered his plan a complete success.
The car didn’t head toward the direction of the dormitories, instead stopping right in front of the art academy’s exhibition hall.
“Are you holding an exhibition?” Zong Xian suddenly asked.
“Yes, every student has to select their most satisfactory painting to display.” Gui Wen explained, taking the opportunity to mention the exhibition schedule as well.
Zong Xian didn’t reply. After Gui Wen got out of the car, he immediately instructed the driver to speed away from the campus.
Gui Wen had been living in the dorms lately, spending all his post-class hours at the school preparing for the exhibition.
The works on display were themes calculated by the system through big data, and the creation relied entirely on the system as well, making them completely devoid of genuine emotional expression, being both cold and mechanical.
On the day of the exhibition, Gui Wen arrived at the venue early, neatly arranged his framed artwork, and placed his name tag beside it.
Since exhibition spots were distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, Gui Wen had registered late and ended up with a corner space.
He didn’t think it was a pity, believing that prime locations should be left to students who created purely from the heart and expressed true emotions.
Confirming everything was in order, Gui Wen emerged from his little corner and spotted a familiar figure amidst the sea of people far away.
Or rather, it was hard not to notice him. Among a crowd of students and visitors dressed casually, Zong Xian stood out prominently in a dark brown suit, especially with a friend attending in formal attire right beside him.
That person existed in Gui Wen’s memories. Yan Guanbai had attended the same high school as Zong Xian, which was why he recognized that face on campus.
Chen Suluo was a friend Zong Xian had made in high school, and the two now maintained business partnerships.
“Look over there.” Chen Suluo said, tapping Zong Xian’s arm before Gui Wen could even get close. “Things didn’t go too well with the Jiang family, did they? It looks like your little junior brother caused you quite a bit of trouble.”
Uncomfortably, Gui Wen rubbed his fingers together.
Zong Xian didn’t react much. Shifting his gaze away into the crowd, he ignored the direction Chen Suluo was pointing and instead looked straight ahead toward Gui Wen, who was standing not far away.
Abruptly locking eyes with Zong Xian, Gui Wen instinctively walked toward him. “Brother Zong Xian.”
Chen Suluo glanced at Gui Wen and promptly excused himself.
The moment he left, Gui Wen couldn’t help but recall Chen Suluo’s earlier remark, prompting him to glance back in the direction Chen Suluo had pointed.
Sure enough, a sneaky figure was lurking about, persistently pulling down the brim of a baseball cap.
Before Gui Wen could get a clear look at the person’s face, Zong Xian stepped forward to block his view. “Pay no attention to it.”
“Brother Zong Xian, do you know what is going on?”
“I know.” Zong Xian said, studying Gui Wen’s face for a long moment before speaking again. “I’m not blaming you.”
The system chime sounded. According to the script, Gui Wen should have disgracefully spewed despicable remarks or pulled some obnoxious stunt, but the moment those words, I’m not blaming you, dropped from Zong Xian’s lips, Gui Wen suddenly forgot how to do any of it and simply stood frozen in place.
“Don’t overthink it. Just do what you’re supposed to do.” Zong Xian said, pressing a hand onto Gui Wen’s shoulder and giving him a gentle nudge to turn him around. “Where is your painting?”
Gui Wen hadn’t expected Zong Xian to take an interest in his work. With the topic abruptly shifting, he suddenly regained his motivation to annoy Zong Xian. “Brother Zong Xian, did you come to the exhibition specifically for me?”
“Take a guess.” Zong Xian didn’t look at him.
Gui Wen led the way forward. “If you won’t say, I’ll just assume you like me.”
“If thinking that makes you feel better, believe whatever you want.” Zong Xian clearly found Gui Wen’s statement ridiculous.
Gui Wen couldn’t help frowning slightly. What kind of attitude was that?
Two framed landscape paintings hung silently in a corner. Gui Wen had taken the extra step of wiping down their outer frames earlier as a sign of respect to any viewers.
“Where is this supposed to be?” Zong Xian’s gaze landed on the artwork.
Gui Wen recited the description the system had fed him in advance, sounding as formal and rigid as a student reciting a standard answer to a teacher. Zong Xian seemed about to probe further, but swallowed the words back down at the last second.
“Never mind.” Zong Xian said, sounding as though he hadn’t heard the answer he was hoping for, a trace of imperceptible disappointment slipping into his tone. “Give me your hand.”
Not quite understanding, Gui Wen nonetheless obediently held out his palm toward Zong Xian.
From the inner pocket of his suit jacket, Zong Xian produced a red velvet box, placing it flat onto Gui Wen’s palm.
Without immediately taking it, Gui Wen asked, “What is this?”
“Isn’t this what you wanted? Your reward.”
Words spoken were like water spilled on the ground, so Gui Wen couldn’t very well reject Zong Xian right then and there. Curling his fingers around the velvet box, he slid it into his pocket. “Thank you, Brother Zong Xian.”
Zong Xian didn’t react further, lingering in front of Gui Wen’s artwork for a brief moment before walking away.
Gui Wen didn’t care much. If Zong Xian had stayed behind to wait for his event to finish so they could leave together, that would have been the real miracle.
Curiosity finally won out, and he wondered what was inside the box Zong Xian had given him. Figuring that he was just a nominal younger brother with a poor relationship to the man anyway, Zong Xian probably wouldn’t bother gifting anything too valuable.
The packaging was exquisite. Gui Wen guessed it was just a random item casually wrapped at some luxury boutique.
Finding an empty backstage area, he opened the box and took out its contents.
It was a sparkling diamond necklace. While it wasn’t quite the size of a pigeon egg, Gui Wen could tell at a glance that the diamond was definitely not small.
Calling it a shock would be an understatement. The diamond he had casually blurted out in the car had actually been gifted to him by a target whose disgust value was still sitting at 38%.
[Let me correct the Host, the disgust value is now 35%.]
[Does he still hate me at least? Why would he give me a diamond, or is there some sort of trap attached to it?]
The system fell silent for a moment before replying. [Host, human emotions are actually very complicated. Having a disgust value doesn’t mean other emotional metrics cannot grow.]
To top it off, system O0O added a warm reminder. [There are no traps in the necklace; it’s a completely sincere gift. Host, please seriously consider how to successfully complete your mission next.]
Gui Wen thought to himself. [I would also love to know why, despite copying the original work with 88% accuracy, the results kept turning out so poorly.]
Before he could ponder any further, a classmate knocked on his backstage door to tell him someone was looking for him outside.
“Coming.” Gui Wen hurriedly stashed the necklace away, pushed open the door, and stepped out.
Chen Suluo, whom he had assumed had already left the premises, appeared before him without warning, greeting him with a wide smile. “You remember me, right? Zong Xian’s friend.”
“Brother Chen.”
“Why don’t I just call you Guanbai?” Chen Suluo tapped a few times on his phone screen. “Zong Xian sent me a message. He’s waiting for you up at North Mountain tonight.”
North Mountain was the highest peak in the city, located in the suburbs more than ten kilometers away from the school, meaning it was not too far, but not exactly close either.
“Did he say what it’s about?” Gui Wen couldn’t help hesitating for a moment. Before leaving earlier, Zong Xian hadn’t mentioned a single word about evening plans.
“He didn’t say, but you’ll find out once you go.” Chen Suluo jingled the car keys in his hand. “Don’t worry, once things wrap up, I’ll drive you back myself.”
Gui Wen had a nagging feeling something was amiss. If Zong Xian wanted to make plans with him, there was no need to go through such a roundabout method.
He originally intended to leave right after the exhibition ended, but Chen Suluo had no intention of giving him that opportunity, blocking his path right at the exit of the venue. “Guanbai, let’s go.”
“Wait, I need to think about this.”
“No time to wait, we’ll be late if we wait any longer.” Chen Suluo said, shoving Gui Wen directly into the back seat of the car. “Relax, your Brother Chen is a very steady driver.”
Gui Wen found it extremely difficult to feel any sense of safety.