Save That Miserable Protagonist - Chapter 6

The weather in Jiangcheng was always temperamental. Light drizzles or torrential downpours would strike without the slightest warning.

It had been a sunny morning, but by evening, the moment Pei Tingsong stepped out of the library, the chilly late-autumn wind lashed his face, carrying a fine, dense mist of rain.

Subconsciously flipping up the collar of his worn-out jacket, Pei Tingsong hugged his books tightly, preparing to bolt into the rain. He had a tutoring session to catch and could not afford to wait for the weather to clear.

However, just as he was about to take a step, a sleek, all-black Bentley glided silently to a halt in front of him. He watched coldly as the passenger door swung open, and as expected, Lu Xun’s voice drifted through the hazy mist.

“The rain is getting heavier. Where are you going? I will give you a lift.”

It was not a question; it was another one of those damned, condescending statements.

This had been going on for a week now. Over the past seven days, Pei Tingsong had “accidentally” run into Lu Xun in all sorts of places. It seemed the young master’s declaration from a week ago was not a joke; he had truly begun “pursuing” him.

Lu Xun’s methods were not exactly high-profile, yet they felt like a finely woven net, suffocating Pei Tingsong. He would appear out of nowhere, offering expensive items Pei Tingsong had never even heard of, such as high-end electronics, designer clothes with unrecognizable logos, and, more often than not, exquisite delicacies.

Pei Tingsong was poor, and he did indeed lack these things, but he did not need anyone’s charity.

He loathed this superiority wrapped in a polite shell. Although Lu Xun masked it well, Pei Tingsong, who had grown up seeing looks of pity and charity his whole life, could never mistake that feeling.

It was a sensation like being cut by a blunt knife, which was more suffocating than direct humiliation. Every time Lu Xun appeared, he served as a silent reminder of the class chasm between them: a gap Pei Tingsong might never bridge in his entire lifetime.

Hearing that voice, Pei Tingsong shot a frigid glance at Lu Xun, who could not even be bothered to step out of the car. Without a word, he quickened his pace and walked away.

The car followed him for a few steps before suddenly accelerating. With a sharp swerve, it swung sideways directly in front of Pei Tingsong, completely blocking his path.

Pei Tingsong finally stopped. Rainwater slid down his coarse, black hair. He looked up, his eyes burning with unconcealed rage as he glared at the man inside the car.

The hazard lights blinked rhythmically in the mist, illuminating the tiny droplets of rain. Inside the car, Lu Xun spoke again.

“Do not be stubborn. Get in.”

Ignoring him, Pei Tingsong let out a cold laugh and simply walked around the vehicle.

Watching that thin silhouette vanish into the rain without a single backward glance, Lu Xun’s long fingers tapped impatiently on the steering wheel. A crisp clicking sound accompanied his nearly inaudible “tsk.” Finally, Lu Xun pushed the door open and got out.

He did not have an umbrella. The fine rain quickly left dark patches on his priceless cashmere coat. Within a few strides, he was in front of Pei Tingsong, his height casting a shadow that completely enveloped the other man.

“Pei Tingsong,” he began, his voice cold. His tone remained civil, but his amber eyes betrayed the impatience of being repeatedly rejected. “Must you use such a childish way to express your ‘lofty’ integrity? Refusing resources is just plain stupid. Get in the car. If you stay out here, you will catch a cold.”

As Lu Xun spoke, he naturally reached out to take the professional textbooks huddled in Pei Tingsong’s arms, which were already damp from the rain.

It was that same tone of entitlement that Pei Tingsong detested.

Just as Lu Xun’s cool fingers were about to touch the books, Pei Tingsong violently swiped his hand away and recoiled. He moved as if he were avoiding a plague.

Because the movement was so abrupt, Pei Tingsong’s elbow slammed into the car door with a dull thud.

The sudden noise caused both men to pause.

The air instantly froze. The fine mist turned into heavier droplets, pitter-pattering against the car roof and the asphalt between them, serving as the only soundtrack to this subtle confrontation.

Due to Pei Tingsong’s sudden movement, the distance between them had vanished. They were now standing far too close.

They were close enough that Pei Tingsong could see the thick lashes wet with rain and those amber eyes that were usually unreadable in bright sunlight. Now, against the gloomy gray backdrop and reflected in the car’s lights, he could see that Lu Xun’s eyes actually had a faint green tint, a cold, deep-pond green that carried a dangerous, soul-snaring allure.

He was close enough to smell Lu Xun’s scent: a cold, crisp fragrance of cedar mixed with a faint hint of tobacco. Without asking for permission, the scent forcefully invaded his senses, clashing with the smell of rain and the damp, musty odor of his books. It was, irritatingly, a very good scent.

But the most intrusive thing was the body heat. At this proximity, Pei Tingsong could clearly feel the warmth radiating from Lu Xun, which was a stark contrast to the freezing rainy day.

His heart skipped a beat, and his Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily. A strange, invasive tension suddenly overwhelmed him. His scalp tingled, and Pei Tingsong took a small, cautious step back, desperate to escape this feeling of being besieged.

Lu Xun had not felt much initially, but his sharp eyes caught Pei Tingsong’s retreating movement, and he instantly sensed the shift in the atmosphere.

A slight smirk tugged at the corner of Lu Xun’s mouth. He narrowed his eyes at Pei Tingsong, looking at the faint redness at the corners of his eyes and his soaked, pathetic, yet defiant appearance, like a creature baring its thorns. In that moment, Lu Xun’s annoyance vanished, replaced by a strange curiosity.

To him, Pei Tingsong looked exactly like a stray kitten caught in the rain: completely drenched and shivering, yet still hissing and baring its teeth at anyone who approached. He thought his claws were sharp, unaware that in the eyes of the beholder, he looked like a harmless, fluffy kitten.

Intrigued, Lu Xun felt a surge of interest. He took a step forward, closing the gap again and leaning down, effectively pinning Pei Tingsong between himself and the cold body of the car.

He lowered his voice to a lazy, breathy whisper right by Pei Tingsong’s ear. “What are you hiding for? Am I going to eat you?”

The tips of Pei Tingsong’s ears turned beet red from the heat of Lu Xun’s breath, but Lu Xun remained nonchalant. He added with a wicked, teasing tilt of his lips, “Or rather, are you actually afraid of me?”

The moment he finished that sentence, a cold, mechanical voice exploded in his mind without warning.

Warning! Detection indicates that the host’s behavior is triggering intense emotional fluctuations in the mission target. Please watch your words and actions.

The playfulness in Lu Xun’s eyes was instantly replaced by irritation. Here was that damn system again!

Suppressing his frustration, Lu Xun shouted back in his mind, “What the f*** did I even do? What is wrong with giving him a ride because I do not want him to get rained on?”

Host, as you know, pure kindness and condescending charity are not the same thing.

Lu Xun almost laughed in anger. “If someone gives you something, just take it. Do not f***ing play hard to get with me. How much is dignity even worth?”

He, Lu Xun, could buy a dozen people’s dignity.

Anger surged in his chest. Lu Xun clicked his tongue in annoyance, unwilling to argue further with the dense system. He turned back to Pei Tingsong.

Pei Tingsong’s clothes were not made of high-quality material. The rain had been absorbed entirely, causing the thin fabric to cling to his body. He was too thin, and his sharp bones poked through, but his gaze was as cold and sharp as a sword.

That single look managed to puncture the balloon of Lu Xun’s rising arrogance.

The aggression in his eyes softened slightly, and at this close range, he suddenly raised his hand.

Pei Tingsong’s body tensed instantly. He thought Lu Xun was going to do something, but to his surprise, Lu Xun merely used his finger to flick away a wet strand of hair from Pei Tingsong’s forehead with a touch of playfulness.

His fingertips inevitably brushed against Pei Tingsong’s icy skin. Goosebumps erupted, followed by a slight shiver.

“Sorry.”

Lu Xun withdrew his hand and apologized smoothly. His tone was so sincere it was flawless, as if he had not been the one radiating danger moments ago. “Because I was afraid of you getting sick, I was just a bit worried.”

He took a step back of his own accord, breaking the suffocating proximity and reverting to his usual persona of a refined, aloof young master. Only a trace of darkness remained in his green-tinted eyes, a lingering sign of his spoiled mood.

“Wet clothes are uncomfortable.” Opening the car door, Lu Xun pulled out a jacket as if nothing had happened. “Wear my coat for now. At least it will block some of the rain.”

He held the garment out, but Pei Tingsong did not even glance at it. Instead, he turned and walked steadily back into the rain.

“No need. Thanks.”

The icy words accompanied the straight-backed silhouette as it disappeared into the downpour. Seeing this, Lu Xun frustratedly loosened his collar.

He sat back in the car, tossed the jacket onto the passenger seat, and cursed under his breath, “Ungrateful brat.”

Host, you know that kindness mixed with hypocrisy is easily detected.

The system, 888, flew out and stared directly at Lu Xun.

Sincerity is the only antidote for everything.

Lu Xun looked at the system with weary eyes, started the engine, and said coldly, “Shut up.”

What did a heartless machine know about sincerity?

He was fing sincere when he offered that coat!*