Shou-Switching System Has Been Bound - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Madman

 

The autumn wind was bleak. Ji Lianyi, walking from a distance in a camel-colored trench coat, looked like a drifting leaf, exuding a gentle sense of being at peace with the world.

 

As soon as he stepped into Building 2, he heard the barking of a dog.

 

A Rottweiler, tethered by its owner, ran toward him the moment it saw him.

 

Ji Lianyi smiled and crouched down, raising his hand to stroke the dog’s head. “Back early today, aren’t we?”

 

He toyed with the dog’s ears and looked up at the owner.

 

Living in the same building, they bumped into each other often and had become somewhat acquainted. The owner looked at her dog, who was clearly enjoying itself, and thought, ‘What a spineless creature’.

 

“I came back early because it looks like it’s going to rain soon.”

 

Ji Lianyi rubbed the dog’s jowls. The dog felt so good its tongue lolled out. His gaze fell upon the leash around the dog’s neck—a thick, braided cord of black and red.

 

He touched it. “You changed the leash.”

 

The owner gave the leash a tug, pulling the dog’s head back slightly. Behind his lenses, Ji Lianyi’s amber pupils narrowed ever so slightly.

 

The owner said helplessly, “Yeah, this one is sturdy. He broke the last one.”

 

Ji Lianyi took his hand off the leash. “Naughty fellow.”

 

Inside the elevator, he clicked on a voice message just sent by Xia Xu: “Gege, when will you be home?”

 

The dog owner glanced over. She clearly saw the gentle smile on the man’s face. She knew that the person calling him “Gege” was his little boyfriend.

 

She ran into them often.

 

The two seemed to have a very good relationship. The little boyfriend was always chirping away, lively and cute. Whenever someone else entered the elevator, he would lower his voice and continue whispering. At those times, the man before her would lean down slightly, tilting his head toward his boyfriend to keep listening.

 

His occasional responses were never dismissive.

 

It was a beautiful picture indeed.

 

From the snippets she had overheard, she gathered that the man was a professor at some university. No wonder he had such a refined aura. He looked to be around thirty truly young and successful.

 

Ji Lianyi typed a reply to Xia Xu.

 

The elevator stopped. The owner pulled her dog out. The dog looked back at Ji Lianyi longingly, and Ji Lianyi smiled and waved at it.

 

The owner thought: What a man with an incredibly good temperament!

 

Isn’t the state encouraging marriage? Then they should arrange a boyfriend of this caliber for me!

 

By the time Ji Lianyi arrived home, Xia Xu had already prepared three dishes and a soup. The aroma of food wafted through the warmly decorated house while the autumn rain tapped against the windows.

 

“Gege, you’re back.”

 

Xia Xu went to the door to greet him, taking his overcoat and hanging it on the rack.

 

As a “canary,” he was highly qualified considerate, attentive, and excellent at providing emotional value. For instance, right now, he stood on his tiptoes to wrap his arms around Ji Lianyi’s neck.

 

“Gege, I haven’t seen you all day. I missed you so much~”

 

That look of having his heart and eyes full of only Ji Lianyi was indeed endearing.

 

Ji Lianyi held his slender waist. “I missed you too.”

 

Xia Xu happily gave him a loud “smack” of a kiss on the cheek. “Gege, go wash your hands, then we can eat~”

 

He pitter-pattered off to the kitchen to serve the rice.

 

At the dinner table, Ji Lianyi brought up Xia Xu’s internship. “I’ve made arrangements with the film crew. You can head over once your break starts.”

 

Xia Xu was so excited he didn’t know what expression to make. After a moment, he calmed down slightly, looking like a pitiful little thing with teary eyes. “Thank you, Gege.”

 

Students like him graduated by the thousands from film academies every year; very few actually got onto a real film set.

 

Ji Lianyi cupped his face, using his thumb to wipe away the tears at the corners of his eyes. “Actually, you don’t have to work so hard. I told you before, if you’re willing, I can open a company just for you. If you don’t want that, I can place you in a top-tier talent agency.”

 

Xia Xu shook his head. “It’s already enough that Gege helped me get into the crew. I want to walk the rest of the path on my own strength.”

 

Ji Lianyi gave a doting smile. “Our Xia Xia is so ambitious.”

 

Xia Xu looked a bit shy and a bit proud, a very cute sight.

 

Ji Lianyi lowered his hands from the boy’s cheeks, his fingertips sliding across his slender neck. “Alright, let’s eat.”

 

Xia Xu wiped his tears and ate obediently. “Gege, you stayed at the boxing gym for a long time today.”

 

“Yeah, I was in a good state today.”

 

Ji Lianyi went to the boxing gym four times a week. He found boxing much more interesting than the gym. Initially, he only stayed for an hour, but now it was usually an hour and a half. Today, he had stayed for two full hours, returning only after he had exhausted nearly every ounce of strength in his body.

 

Xia Xu was very supportive of this hobby. Because of it, the man’s physique was maintained at a peak level, making him very pleasing to the eye.

 

Before bed, Xia Xu brought a bowl of soup into the bedroom. “Gege, I heard your voice was a bit hoarse. I boiled some snow pear soup; drink it before you sleep.”

 

Ji Lianyi took the bowl. Without his glasses, the color of his pupils seemed even lighter, like emotionless glass beads, yet they currently held a warm smile.

 

“Thank you. It’s good to have you,” he sighed.

 

Under Xia Xu’s watchful eye, he finished the bowl. “Very delicious.”

 

Xia Xu took the empty bowl to leave but stopped at the door. He didn’t turn around. “Gege.”

 

“Hmm?”

 

Ji Lianyi looked at him. His canary was thin and fragile; even his back looked like it could break at a touch.

 

“Gege, you have to know that I love you.”

 

“Yes, I know.”

 

Xia Xu left.

 

They had been together for two years. The things Ji Lianyi heard most from Xia Xu were: Gege is the best, I like Gege the most, Gege I love you, Gege I can’t live without you.

 

Not long after, Ji Lianyi fell asleep.

 

“Shou-Switching System has been bound.”

 

“Hello, I am System 66. ’66’ as in ‘Everything goes smoothly.’ I am from the Anti-Lick-Dog Gong Alliance. Detection shows that your canary, Xia Xu, is betraying you. Based on your previous behavior, there is an 80% chance of you becoming a ‘Lick-Dog’ Gong. I am here to stop you.”

 

Ji Lianyi fell silent for a moment, processing the information. He extracted the point he cared about: “You said Xia Xu is betraying me?”

 

“Yes, and it is happening right now, right beside you.” 66’s tone was full of sympathy. This was simply not treating Ji Lianyi as a human! Too much!

 

“So you must never degrade yourself into being his ‘Lick-Dog’, forgiving him, accepting him, and still loving him. Let’s switch to a different Shou, shall we?”

 

“Secretly, let me tell you: there are rewards for switching! Very generous rewards!”

 

Ji Lianyi: “I need to see the truth of what you say with my own eyes.”

 

66: “Your body is currently under the influence of drugs. We are a newly established small department with limited power, so I can only restore your consciousness for about two minutes.”

 

Ji Lianyi: “That is enough. Thank you.”

 

66: “You’re welcome, but make sure you hold steady!”

 

Ji Lianyi soon regained consciousness. Before he even opened his eyes, he heard the sounds of moaning it was Xia Xu’s voice.

 

High-pitched, excited.

 

Usually, when the two of them did it, Xia Xu was always very shy, making at most some uncontrollable whimpers. He was never like this. His canary was like a fragile mimosa plant that would break if handled too roughly, so Ji Lianyi was always extremely gentle and never stayed at it for too long.

 

He opened his eyes and saw a stranger’s face.

 

A naked young man appeared in his bedroom. Under the light, beads of sweat rolled down his firm pectorals to his abdominal muscles like diamonds.

 

66: “He’s the one cuckolding you!”

 

Qi Youli: “Shh, keep it down. Don’t wake your old man. I don’t want to finish fighting you in bed only to have to fight your old man out of it.”

 

Xia Xu hooked his arms around his neck. “It’s fine. I gave him sleeping pills. He won’t wake up before dawn.”

 

The Xia Xu before him was someone Ji Lianyi had never seen like a cunning and flirtatious fox, rather than the innocent and cute fawn he knew.

 

Xia Xu leaned in with blurred eyes toward Qi Youli’s lips.

 

But Qi Youli tilted his head to avoid him. The silver stud in his earlobe flashed. “Old rules: we do it, but no kissing.”

 

Ji Lianyi repeated the words “old rules” in his mind.

 

66: “You see? I didn’t lie to you. So let’s not be a Lick-Dog Gong. Switch the Shou, okay?”

 

Ji Lianyi stared at the young man who was cuckolding him. Unlike his canary, this man looked solid. As his body thrust forward, even the strained veins on his neck were full of power.

 

“Okay.”

 

He agreed so readily that 66 didn’t react for a moment, continuing to persuade: “Lick-dogs end up with nothing in the end, let’s… wait, what did you just say?”

 

Ji Lianyi: “I said okay. I choose this man.”

 

After answering, he lost consciousness again.

 

66: This man? Which man?

 

Qi Youli suddenly felt a shiver. An inexplicable chill crawled up from the base of his spine. He rolled his eyes and looked around the room.

 

His gaze returned to Ji Lianyi’s face.

 

Xia Xu had a boyfriend but still hooked up with him, so Qi Youli had always assumed the “old man” was some greasy, ugly middle-aged guy.

 

He hadn’t expected…

 

The man had handsome features. Sleeping there quietly, he gave off a sense of peaceful time like autumn sunlight shining through a window, a refreshing warmth mixed with a bit of cold air.

 

Near the left side of the bridge of his nose, there was a small mole.

 

Cold white skin, red mole.

 

Very eye-catching.

 

His body and looks were passable. Too bad Xia Xu said he wasn’t very good “in that department” and that men were useless after 25. But the man was already 30 when he met him.

 

So, an unsatisfied Xia Xu chose to cheat.

 

2:40 AM

 

Qi Youli’s pool hall was finally empty. He put away his phone and walked out from behind the counter.

 

He was ready to go home and sleep.

 

There was movement at the door.

 

“Sorry, we’re clos—” Qi Youli turned his head and swallowed the rest of his words upon seeing the newcomer.

 

Although they had only “met” last night, he recognized him instantly.

 

It was Xia Xu’s old man.

 

Standing up, he looked even more well-proportioned than when lying down.

 

What was that saying on the internet? 18 is fresh, 30 is double the fresh.

 

Though he knew the man didn’t come with good intentions, he acted as if he didn’t recognize him, eyes squinting into a smile. “Sorry, we’re closed.”

 

Ji Lianyi said nothing, simply continuing toward Qi Youli, who was standing by the side of the counter.

 

Qi Youli didn’t dodge. It was just a cuckold situation; the guy wasn’t going to kill him. At most, he’d get a beating. He had slept with the man’s boyfriend, so taking a beating was fair.

 

One has to have some principles.

 

Besides, an old man who wasn’t even good in bed—how hard could his punches be?

 

He watched calmly as Ji Lianyi approached him. The man smelled of cologne not so much a fragrance as a sharp, cold scent. If you inhaled deeply, it felt like snowflakes landing on the tip of your nose, a tiny cold sting that would sweep through the whole body.

 

For a moment, neither spoke.

 

Ji Lianyi observed the young man who had cuckolded him. He was smiling, showing neither guilt nor apology.

 

Thick brows, deep-set eyes, three-dimensional features. A thin layer of skin was stretched tight over his skull.

 

Black curly hair.

 

Like a world-weary model in a magazine.

 

Or an unlikable dog.

 

The corners of his eyes slanted downward, exuding a sense of gloom, but because he had to look up at Ji Lianyi, the rounded inner corners of his eyes were magnified, giving him a touch of innocence.

 

Seeing that he just stared without speaking, Qi Youli feared the older man might make himself sick from repressed anger. He spoke nonchalantly: “Uncle, you can beat me up. I promise not to hit back.”

 

Ji Lianyi actually moved. The hand that had been in his coat pocket came out.

 

Qi Youli pressed his tongue against his cheek, ready for the fist.

 

The moment his hand came out, Ji Lianyi’s speed suddenly accelerated. Before Qi Youli could react, his neck was tightened by a dog leash. Both ends of the leash were gripped tightly in Ji Lianyi’s hands.

 

Qi Youli’s face changed instantly. He instinctively grabbed Ji Lianyi’s arms while raising his leg to kick him.

 

Ji Lianyi, who had struck first, controlled the situation. Before Qi Youli’s kick could land, he drove his knee heavily into the other man’s abdomen.

 

In an instant, Qi Youli doubled over like a shrimp being de-veined. He felt as if his internal organs had shifted. The pain was so intense his half-raised foot dropped back down.

 

Cold sweat slid from his forehead. The cough he tried to release was strangled in his throat like a whimper.

 

Ji Lianyi expressionlessly yanked the leash, dragging the swaying Qi Youli toward the full-length mirror attached to a pillar, like dragging a disobedient dog.

 

The mirror reflected their figures.

 

Ji Lianyi was behind Qi Youli, just enough for his eyes to be visible.

 

Their gazes met.

 

Having recovered slightly, Qi Youli looked through the lenses and saw the clear pleasure in those eyes.

 

F*ck!

 

Madman!

 

The leash tightened. Qi Youli’s face was rapidly turning red. He desperately tried to pull Ji Lianyi’s hands away, leaving scratch marks on them, but Ji Lianyi’s hands were like iron.

 

Qi Youli’s eyes were bloodshot as he glared at the person in the mirror. He could only try to claw at the leash strangling him, his fingers digging in so hard he scratched his own neck until it bled.

 

From the mirror, Ji Lianyi took in every bit of Qi Youli’s struggle.

 

The man’s sturdy body twisted. The hem of his black hoodie rode up, revealing a section of lean waist. Beneath the flat abdomen, a few veins branched upward.

 

His features were distorted.

 

The gloom was gone. He was so vivid that Ji Lianyi thought he was beautiful.

 

Suddenly, Qi Youli stopped struggling. He looked at Ji Lianyi in the mirror with utter disbelief.

 

This madman…

 

He…

 

He actually had a hard-on!