Save That Miserable Protagonist - Chapter 3

Pei Tingsong was completely bewildered by Lu Xun’s nonsensical, almost trembling question: “You hate me?”

Hate?

Of course he hated him. He hated the way these wealthy people toyed with others like ants, and he hated his own inability to resist despite that intense hatred. But for those words to come out of the mouth of Lu Xun, who had looked every bit the victimizer just moments ago, felt utterly absurd and eerie.

Staring straight at Lu Xun with dark eyes, Pei Tingsong pressed his pale lips together and remained silent. He now suspected that the high and mighty Young Master Lu might suffer from some sort of mental illness, given his terrifyingly extreme mood swings.

Although he did not answer, Lu Xun did not actually need him to.

A storm of emotions churned within those beautiful peach blossom eyes: fear, anger, confusion, and frustration. Eventually, they all transformed into a state of extremely reluctant resignation. Lu Xun stood up stiffly and took a deep breath, trying to dispel the phantom pain of shattered bones and the weightless sensation of falling from his mind.

[Please face the mission actively, Host. The mission target’s current state is extremely unstable.]

Watching the blue sphere floating in mid-air, Lu Xun cursed internally. Unstable? His own emotions were unstable too! Who was going to look after him?

However, Lu Xun only dared to swear in his head. On the surface, he dared not show a hint of it. He was scared to death of that Deep Perception Mode.

Fine. Salvation, right? He would save him!

Lu Xun shot a cold, angry smile at the system. But the system remained indifferent to his glare. Fluttering its wings, 888 vanished instantly.

With no outlet for his rage, Lu Xun irritably looked up at Pei Tingsong. At that moment, his gaze suddenly froze.

Pei Tingsong had just finished showering and was loosely wrapped in a white hotel bathrobe. The belt was tied carelessly, and the collar was slightly open, revealing clean, beautiful collarbones and a patch of fair chest. Due to the tension and the previous dispute, his skin still held a faint pink glow.

His damp black hair fell softly over his forehead, softening the sharp edges of his features and giving him a touch of vulnerability. The warm light from behind him filtered through the thin cotton robe, vaguely outlining a supple, slender waist and straight legs.

Pei Tingsong stood there, his posture still upright like a sturdy pine tree that remained unyielding despite being drenched by rain. He possessed a unique aesthetic that sat somewhere between youthful innocence and adult stubbornness. Combined with his dark, defiant eyes, he exuded an incredibly alluring charm.

It made one want to overpower him.

Lu Xun’s Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily. He had been too preoccupied with anger and fear to look closely before. Now that he did, he realized Pei Tingsong was truly top-tier.

In a flash, an idea struck Lu Xun’s mind, dispelling all his resentment.

Of course!

The system only told him to save Pei Tingsong. It never specified which method he had to use. The previous agreement was off the table, but what if he changed his approach? What if he pursued Pei Tingsong and started a romance?

If they were in a relationship based on mutual consent, he could treat his boyfriend well, provide him with resources, clear his obstacles, and solve his family’s burdens. He could pamper and spoil him. Would that not count as salvation?

More importantly, once they established a relationship, wouldn’t intimacy follow naturally? Surely the system wouldn’t interfere with the private lives of a couple. By then, the person would be saved, the mission would be complete, his life would be secured, and he would finally get to enjoy the prize right in front of him.

Perfect! It was a stroke of genius!

The more Lu Xun thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed. His eyes brightened instantly. The previous gloom and malice vanished, replaced by a new vitality. His gaze toward Pei Tingsong shifted from anger to a burning, interested look of determination.

Pei Tingsong did not know the complicated twists and turns of Lu Xun’s thoughts, but the sudden change in expression made his skin crawl. He instinctively took a half-step back and tightened his grip on the robe’s collar.

Seeing the defensiveness in Pei Tingsong’s eyes, Lu Xun did not get angry. He suddenly smirked. The smile was no longer a cold threat but had become suave and charming, even carrying a hint of well-timed apology and tenderness.

Stepping forward to get closer, Lu Xun intentionally kept his tone soft and slow. “I am sorry. Did I scare you just now?”

Pei Tingsong was speechless. Was this young master actually insane?

Pei Tingsong remained silent, but Lu Xun acted as if he did not see the suspicion in the other man’s eyes and continued his performance.

“I have not been sleeping well lately, and my temper got out of hand. Especially…” Lu Xun paused to look at Pei Tingsong with feigned concern. “Especially when I see beautiful people being bullied. That President Wang was abusing his power, and I could not stand by and watch.”

Lu Xun’s words were half-truths, conveniently omitting that his own behavior had been even more oppressive than President Wang’s.

“But everything is fine now,” Lu Xun smiled even more gently. He even took a step back to create space, proving his lack of malice. “I have already sent people to deal with President Wang. I promise he will never appear before you again, nor will he cause you any more trouble.”

Pei Tingsong could not keep up with Lu Xun’s erratic rhythm, so he simply watched him with heightened vigilance.

Looking at Pei Tingsong, Lu Xun felt a surge of wicked amusement and a desire for conquest. His gaze swept the room and landed on the large bed in the center. His tone became natural and considerate. “It is late. You should sleep here tonight.”

Hearing this, Pei Tingsong immediately spoke up. “No need! I…”

“Do not be in such a hurry to refuse,” Lu Xun interrupted him, his tone warm yet firm. “Do not worry, I will not be sleeping here with you. You are still a student, right? Aside from the hassle of going back, the dorms must be closed by now. It is not safe for you to be out alone this late.”

Lu Xun paused, looking at Pei Tingsong’s bathrobe. “I will have someone bring you new clothes tomorrow. As for the job at the bar, I do not think it is safe. Such a place does not suit you. My personal suggestion is that you should quit. What do you think?”

This was a total 180-degree turn from Lu Xun’s previous behavior. Pei Tingsong could not understand it, but alarm bells rang in his mind. There is no such thing as kindness without a reason. If someone is being nice to you, they must want something from you.

Watching Lu Xun with suspicion, Pei Tingsong asked directly, “Why?”

“Hmm?” Hearing the question, Lu Xun let out a soft sound of confusion. He lowered his eyes and asked with feigned innocence, “Why what?”

“Why do all this? What do you want to get from me?” Pei Tingsong stared straight at Lu Xun, stripping away all pretenses. “If you wanted to have sex with me, you could have done it just now. But you stopped. Why?”

Pei Tingsong truly did not understand. He knew these wealthy sons were never up to any good. Lu Xun’s current tenderness was a facade; the man who had looked down on him earlier and said he needed a plaything was the real one.

“Aside from my body, I cannot think of anything else you could want from me.”

“Yes.” Lu Xun nodded in agreement. He found it troublesome, but he sincerely appreciated Pei Tingsong’s sharp intuition. He quickly adjusted his expression and let out a somewhat helpless laugh.

He then spoke in a tone that was half-joking, as if he were too embarrassed to say it. “Alright, I knew I could not fool you. If you must ask why, I suppose the way you glare at me is very special. No one has ever looked at me like that before. So, I think I have fallen in love with you at first sight.”

Lu Xun nodded to himself in confirmation. “Yes, that is it. I like you and I want to pursue you.”

“What?” Pei Tingsong’s eyes widened. A massive sense of absurdity surged within him.

Pursuit? Pursuit through threats and baiting? Was it not enough to have his body? Did this man now want to toy with his emotions as well?

Pei Tingsong stood there, his fingers clutching the bathrobe belt so tightly that his knuckles began to creak. His face was pale, and the fire of resistance in his eyes was almost overflowing.

“Master Lu…”

“My name is Lu Xun.”

“Fine, Lu Xun. I cannot afford your pursuit. Tonight, thank you for helping me, but I must go back today.”

Seeing Pei Tingsong’s defensive posture, looking ready to fight to the death, Lu Xun immediately understood his concerns. He quickly lowered his eyes, projecting a look of hurt and helplessness. He even added a hint of grievance to his voice. “I understand what you are worried about. I sincerely apologize for all my previous offenses and rudeness.”

At this, Lu Xun bowed slightly. He lowered his stance and spoke softly. “But I guarantee on my honor as Lu Xun that every word I just said is true. When I say I fell in love at first sight, I mean it. When I say I want to pursue you, I mean it. There are no tricks or schemes. I will pursue you openly.”

Pointing at the bed and then at the door, Lu Xun continued, “Do not worry. You sleep here, and I will go to the suite next door. There are 24-hour security guards and butlers on this floor, so you can be completely at ease. If I step one foot into this room tonight, you can ring for help or call the police immediately.”

His tone became even gentler, almost pleading. “I am only asking you to stay because it is late and I want to ensure your safety. That is all. Please give me a chance to make up for my mistakes and prove my sincerity.”

Hearing this act, Pei Tingsong was not moved at all. However, Lu Xun had a point. If he went back to school now, the dorms would be locked, and he would lose points if he woke the supervisor. If he went to his rented room, the journey would be quite long.

After thinking it over, staying here seemed like the best option.

Lu Xun saw Pei Tingsong waver and immediately struck while the iron was hot. He pulled out a room card and placed it on the hallway cabinet. “You are a smart person. I am sure you know staying here is the best choice. This is the room card for this suite. I am leaving it here, so you have control over who enters or leaves.”

“Smart people think too much. Do not overthink it. Just have a good rest after I leave.”

Having done all this, Lu Xun said nothing more. He simply gave Pei Tingsong a reassuring smile, opened the door, and walked out.

A crisp click followed as the door locked. Pei Tingsong stood in place, his mind a mess. He could not figure out what Lu Xun was playing at, nor how much of his words were true. However, he knew the best choice right now was to lie down and get a good night’s rest. He was far too exhausted.

Outside, Lu Xun checked into another suite. Lying on the bed, he let out a long sigh of relief. The corners of his mouth curled up uncontrollably. He felt that the first step tonight was a success. He had corrected the disastrous first meeting and perfectly displayed his grace. He was a genius! A perfect man like him would surely be irresistible to Pei Tingsong.

Unfortunately, before Lu Xun could enjoy his triumph for long, the system’s annoying voice rang out again.

[Detected that the Host used strategic promises to lower the mission target’s vigilance. Let me remind you, Host: sincerity is the only way to succeed in this mission.]

Hearing this, Lu Xun scoffed. “How am I not sincere? If I was not sincere, would he have stayed tonight? Everything I promised is true. I definitely will not do anything to him tonight. As for later, if things happen naturally between a couple in love, how can you call that insincere?”

[…]

The static of 888 crackled a few times, seemingly choked by Lu Xun’s shameless logic. Finally, it issued a warning that was part truth and part threat.

[I hope the Host remembers the ending of the original timeline. Do not repeat the same mistakes and end up destroying yourself.]