The Beautiful Idiot Is Forced To Play The Villain [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Lin Yangsi hadn’t actually decided what he was going to do once he found the person, but a voice in his heart kept urging him: once he found the person, he could do whatever he wanted.

How could a “bad student” ranked dead last disobey an order?

First, he should drag the person out from behind this narrow toilet partition, let him collapse into his arms, and then take him to a spacious and comfortable place to finish what was left undone.

He wanted to see if the little school bully was truly pink all over, just as he imagined.

When this thought popped up, Lin Yangsi startled himself. According to his previous mindset, he should be wanting to hack Lan Zhen into a thousand pieces right now, not obsessing over whether he was “pink” or not.

But once the thought appeared, it circled his mind, refusing to leave.

Before, it was a case of “the butcher and the lamb”—he had no choice. Now that Lan Zhen’s ranking had plummeted, it was the perfect opportunity to realize his fantasies.

He had a premonition: if he missed this chance, he would drift further and further away from Lan Zhen, perhaps remaining obscure forever while watching someone else take Lan Zhen away.

Lan Zhen felt the current situation was a bit familiar. Previously, Mo Changfeng had cornered him in a restroom; now it was Lin Yangsi.

But this time was clearly more lethal. With just one word from the other party, he would be like a lamb already washed clean and waiting for the pot, without even the room to resist.

But even a lamb slated for slaughter must struggle. Lan Zhen moved backward bit by bit. Although he was barely faster than a snail, he was moving.

There wasn’t much space on the toilet lid to begin with. With his slow retreat, more than half of his bottom was hanging in the air. One more inch and he would lose his balance and fall headfirst.

Lin Yangsi grabbed him before he could dig his own grave. It should have been a good deed to regain some favor, but his face wore an exaggerated smile, and his words were piercing.

“Coming with me is better than going with that mob of people, isn’t it?”

He was somewhat dissatisfied that Lan Zhen was still struggling. Was he not even as good as those “trash” from earlier?

After all, he was a roommate. They had lived together for so long; they should be more familiar with each other’s roots.

He subconsciously ignored the fact that he used to wish he could live outside forever just so he wouldn’t have to see his so-called roommate.

His hands didn’t stop moving, and his mouth kept talking. Lan Zhen’s brain, subjected to continuous shocks, was nearly in standby mode, unable to process so much information at once.

He simply didn’t know how to deal with this kind of person. Did people have to give themselves a high-sounding reason even when they were bullying others now?

The broken door panel was tossed aside. Both of Lan Zhen’s wrists were pinned by a single hand, while the other arm hooked around his waist, lifting him entirely.

Before he could react, his vision shifted to a direct view of the harsh lights and the restroom ceiling. With no support for his legs, he could only kick helplessly in mid-air.

He was being carried in a bridal carry.

Lan Zhen was still dazed. He had been subdued by one hand, and the other person even had the strength to lift him up.

“Wait.” Seeing Lin Yangsi walking toward the door with him, Lan Zhen began to struggle violently again, more agitated than at the start.

This bit of strength was nothing to Lin Yangsi, but he was afraid Lan Zhen might kick something and hurt himself. He stopped and asked, “What is it?”

“I was standing on the toilet lid just now… the footprints haven’t been wiped clean yet.” Lan Zhen’s voice was thin and small, but he was very persistent about this.

Lin Yangsi had no choice. He carried the person back into the stall, pulled out a tissue, and carefully wiped the toilet lid.

“Better now?”

Lan Zhen nodded, feeling very embarrassed. He tucked his face into his oversized school uniform like an ostrich; the small section of his forehead that was visible turned red, like a cooked shrimp.

Lin Yangsi didn’t know what to say in this situation, but his heart was thumping wildly in his chest, and his face began to heat up.

How can he be so obedient?

Before Lin Yangsi could take him away, a figure came running in, looking left and right. When he saw Lin Yangsi, his eyes visibly lit up.

“Brother Lin, I finally found you. Teacher Nie is looking for you for something.” The newcomer leaned over, hands on his knees, gasping for air. Judging by the sweat on his forehead, his urgency didn’t seem faked.

Unlike the other students, he didn’t spare a single glance for Lan Zhen, who was being held by Lin Yangsi. This actually made Lan Zhen curious; he poked his head out of his uniform, his round eyes darting around.

The newcomer was hunched over, making it hard to judge his height, but he seemed to be about the same as Lin Yangsi—tall and sturdy. However, he was very beautiful, with delicate features like a crescent moon in the sky. One look gave the impression of someone gentle and harmless.

“He Xuefeng, what are you doing here?” Lin Yangsi’s brow furrowed. He hadn’t expected a hitch just as he was about to leave.

In this situation, if anyone else had come to tell him there was an emergency, he certainly wouldn’t have believed it. However, this person was a former roommate who had shared hardships with him—someone who could even be said to have shielded him from a disaster.

True friendship is found in adversity. Hardship often strengthens bonds. They had supported each other through those difficult days; there was no reason for He Xuefeng to lie to him now.

Hearing the name, a relevant memory surfaced in Lan Zhen’s mind. Isn’t this the former roommate who was bullied every day in the dorm until he couldn’t take it and moved out?

He Xuefeng continued, “I came looking for you. Teacher Nie has something for you. He looks very angry; you should head there quickly.”

Nie Liang always appeared as gentle as a spring breeze to the students. Though he didn’t know what could make the teacher flare up, it had to be something serious. Lin Yangsi racked his brain but couldn’t recall doing anything outrageous lately.

“But…” He looked at Lan Zhen in his arms, still hesitant.

“Go on, I’ll watch him for you.” Seeing Lin Yangsi still wasn’t moving, He Xuefeng said helplessly, “I won’t do anything to him. Don’t you even trust me?”

If there was one person Lin Yangsi trusted most in this school, it was undoubtedly He Xuefeng. Hearing this, he put Lan Zhen down, clenched his fists, and left.

Only Lan Zhen and He Xuefeng remained in the restroom. Whether it was Lan Zhen’s imagination or not, he felt the atmosphere was a bit eerie.

To him, Lin Yangsi was at least someone he knew; He Xuefeng was a total stranger. But in the other’s eyes, he was likely an unpardonable monster.

Lan Zhen’s lips trembled, unable to decide what to say for a long time.

Logically, He Xuefeng must hate him. The things the original owner had done were absurd; every second He Xuefeng spent in the dorm had been a nightmare. The original owner had even threatened him after he moved out.

If Lan Zhen hadn’t transmigrated at a lucky time, it was questionable whether He Xuefeng would be standing here normally today.

Putting himself in He Xuefeng’s shoes, if he had such a perfect opportunity, even if he didn’t “kick a man while he was down,” he certainly wouldn’t let it go.

“It’s fine. You can go.”

He Xuefeng’s words cut through all his conjectures. Lan Zhen’s pupils dilated involuntarily, unable to believe what he was hearing.

As if guessing what he was thinking, He Xuefeng patiently repeated himself, then added: “What I just said was a lie. I came to help you.”

Lan Zhen’s head went into a daze for a second. It took a while to understand what was happening, but he was still puzzled.

“Shouldn’t you hate me? Why are you helping me?”

He Xuefeng: “I do.”

Before he spoke, Lan Zhen had made many assumptions—maybe the guy had a sudden bout of madness and felt the past didn’t matter, or maybe he had a new plan to start over. He hadn’t expected this answer.

If he still hated him, shouldn’t he be taking revenge? Why was he thinking about helping him?

The little system-turned-human’s brain stalled again. His thoughts felt like they had entered a massive maze, and after circling for a long time without finding an exit, he just felt dizzy. He stood with his mouth slightly agape, not knowing what to say.

He already had a pair of round, large “puppy eyes” with slightly downcast corners. Now, with his mouth slightly open, he looked even more harmless.

He Xuefeng hadn’t expected himself to use the word “harmless” to describe Lan Zhen. After privately scolding himself, he felt a bit of admiration: no matter how much one disliked the person in front of them, one had to admit he was beautiful.

His face was tiny, his features exquisite. He might not fit everyone’s aesthetic, but he was definitely a rare beauty in most people’s eyes. It was hard to feel genuine disgust while looking at that face.

“You’re different from before. I want to watch a bit longer.” He didn’t hide anything, speaking very bluntly.

“Oh, oh.” Lan Zhen nodded dazedly. He lowered his eyelashes and whispered, “Then can I leave? It’s too dangerous here.”

The campus at night was quiet. Dim yellow lights hit the asphalt road. A light breeze blew, lifting a few strands of hair by his ears.

Lan Zhen could hardly believe he had actually made it out.

When he was caught by Lin Yangsi, he thought he was a dead man. He hadn’t expected such a turn of events.

[370, where do you think I should go now?] Lan Zhen looked at his surroundings and first found a spot near some bushes to hide.

Wei Chengyang’s attitude was unclear. In his current situation, he was like a walking time bomb; going back to the dorm might even bring trouble to Mo Changfeng and Xu Gu.

370: [Dorm 315.]

He paused for a long time before answering. Lan Zhen vaguely felt this was an answer 370 had given after deep deliberation. Without a shred of doubt, he walked straight toward it.

After a long time, as Lan Zhen was beginning to get used to the dark, silent environment, 370’s cold voice suddenly rang in his head.

[Watch out for He Xuefeng.]

“F*ck, this dungeon is so stifling. This Wei Chengyang guy is a total lunatic. It would’ve been better if the little sister was the rank one.” Back in the dorm, the tattooed man cursed as he flipped on the light. The damage wasn’t obvious in the dark, but under the lights, the dense scars on his face were particularly glaring.

The long-haired man was also covered in injuries. He agreed, “He’s sick in the head. Let’s just finish this dungeon as soon as possible.”

They hadn’t expected that as players, controlling a single high school boy like Mo Changfeng would be so difficult. They had been beaten into this state, and the guy still got away.

Wei Chengyang had only spared them a glance after learning the person had escaped, saying nothing.

But they still remembered the feeling—that spine-chilling sensation of being locked onto by a cold-blooded animal.

They had a premonition: if Wei Chengyang hadn’t been busy chasing someone, their fate would have been miserable.

Pei Ran and Xing Shixi followed behind, their expressions terrifyingly grim.

No matter how strong they were, they couldn’t openly defy the dungeon rules. It had been a long time since they’d felt this stifled.

The moment Pei Ran stepped into the dorm, his breath hitched. He instantly sensed someone else was in the room.

A faint, lingering fragrance drifted in the air—like a camellia that had just bloomed, still carrying a bit of dew. It was subtle but incredibly alluring.

A group of grown men like them certainly wouldn’t use such perfume. That meant someone had come here while they were out.

The scent grew stronger as he moved inward. The strongest concentration was at his wardrobe. It could be concluded that the visitor hadn’t left but was hiding inside his wardrobe.

Seeing him move inward, Xing Shixi, who was still leaning against the doorframe, didn’t bother to raise his voice even though Pei Ran was far away. He spoke with a slight air of flippancy: “Pei-shen sure is lucky with the ladies. A day apart and someone is already jumping into your wardrobe. If the little bully finds out, he’ll be heartbroken again.”

He emphasized the words “Pei-shen,” and since the relationship between the two had always been poor, it was a blatant provocation.

The latter part of his sentence clearly indicated he intended to tell the little bully about this, likely adding some “flavoring” to make the little bully lose all hope in Pei Ran.

Pei Ran ignored him, his eyes tracing the wardrobe, his dark brows furrowed.

The mere thought of someone touching his clothes made him want to throw the entire wardrobe out—ideally, burning it to ashes.

When the other players saw several sparks suddenly appear in the dorm, hovering between the wardrobe and Pei Ran, they immediately realized what he intended to do and rushed forward to stop him.

“Pei-shen, you can’t! We have so many clues now; we’re just one step away from finishing the mission. We can’t have any more accidents!”

“Even if you don’t care, think about us! we can’t take any more trouble!”

Such a big commotion would inevitably cause a stir in the school, and things might spiral out of control. At this critical juncture, any minor incident was a major issue for them. They couldn’t let him go wild.

At first, they just held onto his legs and wailed. Later, for some reason, they started crying as if their hearts were breaking, snot and tears everywhere. After a moment’s thought, Pei Ran decided it was best to stay away from them.

With a sour face, he pulled open the wardrobe. Seeing the person inside, one of his eyebrows arched, and his expression softened significantly.

Harsh light flooded in. The figure curled in the corner of the wardrobe woke up in a daze. He seemed to want to stand up, but having been curled up for so long, his blood circulation was poor. His legs gave out, and he collapsed back onto the soft pile of clothes.

His eyes weren’t fully open yet; he was just struggling out of instinct.

His smooth hair was a mess, with a few strands standing up dorkily. His face was flushed pink, and he was still fighting with the clothes. After the wardrobe opened, the fragrance intensified; one could practically imagine the clothes inside being saturated with the scent.

Pei Ran felt like he was losing his mind. He had said he wasn’t interested, yet now his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would leap out of his chest.

The person still hadn’t realized who was standing in front of him. Bound by several pieces of clothing, he looked pathetic and cute, like a completely harmless little animal.

The fabric of some clothes in the wardrobe wasn’t particularly smooth. The delicate skin was soon rubbed red. It was one thing for him to look like a girl, but even his every movement was so “delicate”—no wonder the chat called him “little sister.”

Is this what people outside call a ‘dummy beauty’?

Realizing the audience in the live stream could also see this, Pei Ran didn’t know how to feel. He wasn’t very comfortable, in any case.

As it turned out, the audience not only saw it but also launched into a heated discussion.

What a god-tier Omega! Stinky dog, are you tempted or not? If you’re not, I am!

His eyes are practically glued to the little sister, and you’re asking if he’s tempted? His mouth is the only thing that’s tough. After he’s cremated, only his mouth will be left.

The baby is still rubbing against the clothes. Heavens, his face is so pink. I can’t imagine how good those clothes must smell.

There were so many people in the auditorium. The little sister barely managed to escape; she must be scared to death. You dead man, hurry up and go comfort her!

Pei Ran gave a rough glance, almost unable to tell if this was his live stream or Lan Zhen’s.

When Lan Zhen wasn’t around, they called him “Big Boss” or “Pei-shen.” Now, the only names left for him were “stinky dog” and “dead man.”

He asked himself: in an Infinite Flow dungeon, any normal person would be wary of an oddly behaving NPC. He had encountered such things many times before, and the audience always said he was rational. Why were their “three values” following their “five senses” now?

His gaze shifted to Lan Zhen’s reddened eyelids and his pale, almost transparent face. Pei Ran didn’t realize that his own “unsuccessful” expression—the way he couldn’t control his eyes—was exactly like that of his audience.

But it had to be said: Lan Zhen truly had the capital for it.

Lan Zhen felt like he was being crushed stupid by the clothes. He finally managed to push them off and sat up tremblingly, only then seeing the tall figure before him.

Pei Ran was much taller than him to begin with. Now that he was sitting on a pile of clothes and the other was standing outside, the man looked even more like a giant.

His face was strikingly handsome—the kind that makes one’s eyes light up—but he also looked like someone not to be messed with.

“I didn’t mean to. I picked a gap and made sure not to touch the clothes, but they fell over on their own.” Lan Zhen knew that saying this while sitting on a pile of clothes carried zero weight. He felt a bit lost.

“I’ll help you wash them,” he said.

The image of a gentle “house-wife” washing clothes for her husband automatically surfaced in Pei Ran’s mind. However, if it were him, he probably wouldn’t let Lan Zhen do such things. Such a delicate person would probably hold up his reddened hands after washing halfway to act spoiled.

Then he could take over the task entirely, but the cute little “wife” would have to pay a certain price in exchange…

Thinking this, he clenched his right hand into a fist and coughed twice against his lips, as if that could cover up the messy images in his head.

“Why are you in my wardrobe?” Pei Ran leaned down, stooping in front of Lan Zhen. “There are so many other places to hide.”

So many places, yet he chose his wardrobe. So many places in the school, yet he always “happened” to run into him.

Is it because he likes me too much?

The words Lan Zhen said before being driven away in the lab surfaced again. This time, they weren’t spoken by the person himself but were just his own groundless imagination—yet the skin on his face continued to heat up, feeling almost scalding.

It’s over. It’s really over. I think I’ve fallen for an NPC with an unclear attitude.

“Sorry, I didn’t know this was your wardrobe. If I had, I definitely wouldn’t have crawled in,” Lan Zhen explained softly. “Lots of people are looking for me, and your door wasn’t locked. It wasn’t safe to stay outside.”

“If you had known, whose wardrobe were you planning to crawl into?” Pei Ran sharply caught the detail in his words, his face suddenly turning very ugly.

The other players, including Xing Shixi, were all waiting for his answer.

Lan Zhen, who just wanted to explain to avoid being scolded: “…”

Is that the point? Why does this sound like a scene where a playboy is being interrogated by his alert girlfriend who smelled another woman’s perfume on him?

The little system who had never experienced such things felt a bit helpless.

Seeing him not respond for a long time, Pei Ran gritted his teeth, his words forced out through them: “You better not be the type who crawls into any wardrobe.”

It’s just finding a place to hide. Since when were there so many rules?

Lan Zhen took two seconds to process this, then waved his hands frantically. “No! It’s because you said you were looking for me that day and mentioned the dorm number, so I came.”

He likely knew he couldn’t let the wardrobe topic continue, so he found a vaguely related topic to gloss it over.

Unexpectedly, Pei Ran’s mood improved significantly upon hearing this, and his rationality returned to normal levels. Seeing Lan Zhen squeezed into the narrow wardrobe, looking up at him with those darting eyes and trembling lashes—a pathetic sight—he knew he must have scared the boy.

A wave of regret washed over him. He first picked the person up out of the wardrobe, then softened his voice to explain, “Sorry, I was too impatient.”

So this guy can apologize. He had thought the man was like those proud large dogs who would never lower their heads even when wrong.

Lan Zhen pursed his lips and said softly, “It’s fine.”

After chatting aimlessly for so long, there seemed to be zero progress. Even if Pei Ran appeared easy to talk to now, in Lan Zhen’s heart, he was still that fierce guy, and he didn’t dare ask directly.

So, he looked at the wardrobe he’d made a mess of, turned red, and knelt on the floor to start tidying up.

Beautiful, with a good personality—Pei Ran could hardly imagine how happy he would be if he could marry him and take him home in the future.

“Do you plan on staying here tonight?”

The question was practically asking the obvious. If he planned on returning to his own dorm, why would he be here?

Pei Ran just wanted to hear Lan Zhen say he would stay. Ideally, he would hesitate for a long time, shyly saying he had nowhere else to sleep. That way, he could naturally share half the bed, and the two of them could sleep together.

He would also mention, seemingly casually, that he had showered today, had never had a sex life, and his body was very clean—so the boy could lie beside him at ease.

A man’s “purity” is like being six feet tall; if you have it, you want to announce it to the world with a megaphone. Only a fool would keep it hidden.

Of course, if Lan Zhen was truly unwilling, he could sleep on the floor. As long as they were close, he could even sleep under the bed.

Xing Shixi watched from the side, his eyes nearly rolling into the back of his head.

Pei Ran was always straightforward; his emotions were practically written on his face. Right now, “daydreaming” was clearly written all over him. Only a dummy like Lan Zhen wouldn’t see it.

“No, I have something to take care of back there.” Though he didn’t understand why the man was asking, Lan Zhen answered honestly.

The urge to push further died on his lips. Pei Ran pursed his thin lips, seeing Lan Zhen’s pathetic look and not knowing what to say.

Thin-skinned, obedient, and so delicate—he was afraid that if he spoke even a few more harsh words, he would scare the boy away like last time.

“Ahem, ahem.” Xing Shixi coughed twice, interrupting the scene that was practically making his teeth ache. He said gently, “You should stay. So many people are looking for you; it’s dangerous to go back to the dorm.”

“Pei Ran probably means the same thing. He just doesn’t know how to talk; don’t misunderstand.” With a bit of “white lotus” energy, he shifted the topic. “About that fax machine incident—we found some info. His attitude toward you seems unusual. Do you want to know?”

Lan Zhen nodded, his eyes lighting up significantly.

Xing Shixi is more reliable after all. He knows exactly what I want to find out.

Pei Ran didn’t quite approve of telling Lan Zhen. It was too dangerous; it would be better to share it once they’d resolved everything.

“Didn’t you want to tell me about this that day?” Lan Zhen looked at him, stunned.

“It’s about that.” Pei Ran didn’t look him in the eye.

In truth, he had impulsively gone to apologize, but in that situation, he couldn’t bring himself to say it. Between apologizing and being stubborn, Pei Ran had ultimately chosen to be stubborn.

As he turned, his neat school uniform showed a few wrinkles. Xing Shixi walked to the balcony to close the window, then looked down and smoothed those wrinkles, saying flatly: “The records state that Xie Ningqing died by jumping off a building. There were eyewitnesses at the time. If that’s the case, then the one using the fax machine that day… was a ghost.”

Th—there really is a ghost.

In that case, wouldn’t he be dodging classmates by day and ghosts by night? Even a 996 worker wasn’t this busy.

Everyone else in the room knew a lot of info. Only Lan Zhen was anxious and panicked, wishing Xing Shixi would finish the sentence in one go.

Instead of continuing, Xing Shixi adjusted his glasses and asked back, “Have you felt anything wrong in the dorm lately? Especially at night.”

Lan Zhen was going to say “nothing,” but Xing Shixi’s expression was so grave and serious that he had to recall every detail.

“My pajamas always seem to roll up. Does that count?”

He slept soundly every night and couldn’t remember anything important. The most vivid memory was of 370 saying one day that his pajamas were too short.

His pajamas were so long; how could they be called short? It must have been that 370 couldn’t speak plainly due to rules and was giving him a subtle hint at the time.

Pajamas rolling up… the exposed parts must be just like the person: white and pink.

Soft leg-meat wrapped in pajamas… one squeeze would likely leave a mark.

The faces of both men simultaneously took on an expression of dignified solemnity as they moved closer to Lan Zhen.

Lan Zhen’s thin arms and legs were no match for them. Squeezed in the middle, if Xing Shixi on the right were a few shades darker, it would look very much like an Oreo cookie.

“This is very important. Tell us in more detail.” Pei Ran’s voice was somewhat raspy, his tone serious as never before.

“Wh—what is there to say?” The three of them were too close. Everywhere he looked there were bulging physiques. Lan Zhen didn’t know where to put his eyes, and his toes kept curling against the floor.

If one of them moved just a bit closer, his face would likely end up pressed right against a chest muscle.

Thinking of that image, Lan Zhen felt like he was going to faint.

“Xie Ningqing’s attitude toward you is very ambiguous. What if he’s the one quietly lifting your clothes every night…” Xing Shixi understood that ambiguous words could better spark the imagination; he didn’t continue.

Oh boy, if I hadn’t been following them and knew what was going on, I’d be fooled too. Two grown men tricking the little sister into revealing private secrets—how shameless! (Face turning yellow)

I can imagine what’s going on without the baby saying anything. I’ll just lick lick lick.

These aren’t ‘Big Bosses’; they’re clearly obsessive ‘dream-men’. I’m too ashamed to even say what you guys are thinking.

“I didn’t feel anything. The clothes were only up to my thighs the next day.” Lan Zhen followed his words and thought about it. Aside from some stuttering, his voice was fairly steady—little did he know his face was so white that any reaction would be obvious. Right now, his entire face was scarlet.

Seeing that the trick had worked and fearing the boy might try to dig a hole and bury himself if it continued, Xing Shixi’s brows knit as if he were deep in thought, returning to the main topic.

“Maybe I’m overthinking, but this might also prove that the other piece of news is true.”

Lan Zhen didn’t realize he was being subtly led. His whole mind followed Xing Shixi’s words as he immediately asked, “What news?”

Xing Shixi could barely maintain his troubled expression. How can he be so obedient and easy to trick? A few words could whisk him home.

“Xie Ningqing… might still be alive,” Pei Ran took over.

A person who was confirmed dead, who even had a death certificate, might still be alive.

Lan Zhen was still thinking about this on his way back to the dorm.

[Every single one of them is a riddle-maker. Not one is willing to speak clearly.] He kicked a small pebble by the road and grumbled to the system.

370 expertly smoothed his “fur.” [They are players; you are an NPC. It’s normal that some things can’t be told to you.]

At the second half of the sentence, his mechanical voice became urgent. [Someone to the left. Hide.]

Though it was very late, to avoid being caught on the way back, Lan Zhen had specifically chosen a path with many covers. Hearing the system, he nimbly dove behind a small bush.

The sound of footsteps approached. Lan Zhen was too scared to even breathe heavily; his ankles wouldn’t stop shaking. Half a day of fear and hiding had left him dizzy, and his body swayed as if he were about to fall into the bush.

370 sighed. Lan Zhen felt a gentle force steadying him as the footsteps faded into the distance.

[370, was that you just now? How much longer do I have to live like this?] Lan Zhen touched his head. The residue of that force seemed to remain. As he touched his hair, he pulled out a few leaves.

370: [It was me. Soon.]

With those words, Lan Zhen felt much more at ease. He became even more cautious on the way back, avoiding many people.

The lights in the dorm were off. He cautiously poked his head in to scan the room. Lin Yangsi wasn’t there. Only then did he enter the dorm with peace of mind.

“You’re back.”

A single sentence in the darkness turned Lan Zhen’s face deathly pale. Sweat broke out in the palms of his hands pressed against his legs. When he turned back, the door he’d just closed wouldn’t open after several tugs in his panic.

It’s over. It’s like a steak jumping into the pan by itself; anyone who saw it would say “good job.”

Lan Zhen leaned against the door, his hands and legs weak. His mind was a mess, feeling like he was that steak in the pan, just waiting for the other person to turn on the heat and close the lid.

The person in the dark didn’t turn on the light, nor did he quiet his footsteps. He walked boldly up to Lan Zhen, looking down and staring at the boy’s face for a long time.

The face was likely only as large as his palm, looking pathetic and helpless. Yet the character was unspeakably “vicious”—he would arrogantly bully others. Now, because there was no one left to protect him, he showed the soft, helpless side that had no power to resist.

The hand by his side trembled repeatedly. He kept his head lowered, his face unreadable.

“Fortunately, you’re fine. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know what to do.”

Lan Zhen was suddenly hugged. The voice was low. It happened so fast he couldn’t immediately recall who it was, but his instinct told him it wasn’t Lin Yangsi.

The person used a lot of force, as if trying to merge the boy into his flesh and blood. Lan Zhen reached out and pushed twice, but it had zero effect; instead, it only made it easier for the other to squeeze him until he could barely breathe, his head spinning.

Hearing a muffled, tiny whimper, the man belatedly let go.

Lan Zhen stared blankly for a long time before realizing the person who had scared him half to death was Xu Gu.

He looked around again, confirming Xu Gu was the only one in the dorm. He whispered, “Is Mo Changfeng not here? Why didn’t you turn on the light?”

The veins bulging on the back of his hand from restraint were very obvious. Xu Gu’s fingers fumbled with the fabric of the school uniform; the craftsmanship wasn’t exquisite, but on Lan Zhen, it appeared very expensive.

“Do you want him to be here?” he asked in a raspy voice.

Lan Zhen alertly glossed it over. “No, just asking.”

Xu Gu’s locked brows didn’t loosen. Fortunately, they hadn’t turned the light on, otherwise Lan Zhen would have seen his dark expression, which looked like a brewing storm.

“Why are you back? I thought you’d be staying in Pei Ran’s dorm.” He didn’t mention Mo Changfeng again, switching to someone he cared about more.

Although logic told him Lan Zhen was safe in Pei Ran’s dorm and coming back was dangerous, he couldn’t control the ugly jealousy that slowly overflowed.

Mo Changfeng, Pei Ran, maybe even Xing Shixi… when facing danger, Lan Zhen’s first reaction was to seek help from those people instead of him, the “underling” who had always been by his side.

Despite being angry enough to want to kill all those people, he still maintained the persona of the worried underling who always looked out for Lan Zhen.

“Because of something very important.”

Lan Zhen spoke seriously, and Xu Gu listened intently. The emotions he had barely managed to control were about to be driven insane.

What could be more important than his safety? There were only a few people in this dorm—could it be because of Mo Changfeng…?

Lan Zhen lowered his head and rummaged through his locker. Seeing him struggle to find it, Xu Gu reached out and flipped the main light switch. He stood behind him, his expression inscrutable.

“Found it!” Lan Zhen held out a box to Xu Gu, a smile on his face. Small dimples appeared on his cheeks, looking exceptionally sincere. “Happy Birthday.”

“I’ve wanted to give it to you for a long time, but the right time never came. Fortunately, I made it.”

With the light on, Xu Gu saw that Lan Zhen’s face was covered in dust. Although it didn’t affect his beauty, his normally fair and tender face looked dusty—likely rubbed on while hiding along the way.

Even so, he had insisted on returning, disregarding his own safety just to deliver a birthday gift.

Xu Gu’s fingers curled. He opened the box. Inside was the ugly alien doll they had gone out to buy together before.

Because he was jealous that Mo Changfeng had received such treatment, he had chosen a gift that was hard for normal people to accept—and in the end, it returned to his own hands.

After waiting for a long time without a response, Lan Zhen stared fixedly at Xu Gu, waiting for him to say something.

“I…” Before Xu Gu could finish, the dorm door made another loud bang. Then, a dozen tall male students poured in.

The red-haired boy in the front held a cigarette. After taking a few puffs, he casually flicked the ash onto the floor.

“You’ve been arrogant for so long. Did you ever think you’d end up like this today?”

The red-haired boy crooked a finger. Xu Gu was pinned to the ground by his neck. His muscles were taut; he was quite strong and physically outstanding among his peers. After he struggled fiercely, the three or four high school boys holding him nearly lost their grip.

Lan Zhen instinctively wanted to go help, but his strength was minimal. Not only did he fail to help Xu Gu, but he also ended up drenched in sweat.

Seeing him struggle, the red-haired boy grinned and said proudly, “You should give up resisting. I came with a backer this time.”

Black mist representing school rules appeared around them. Xu Gu immediately understood that someone in this group had a higher rank. Now, they were intentionally using school rules to suppress him. His face twisted for a moment before he stopped struggling.

“One of you grab him too, then pin him onto this mad dog. Let them kiss; I want to see what the reaction will be.” The red-haired boy shouted, pointing at Lan Zhen.

Unexpectedly, the person he commanded stood in a daze and didn’t react. After he repeated it, someone finally responded slowly.

“Maybe we should skip it. Look at those thin arms and legs; what if something happens to him?”

“Brother, there are rumors that the mad dog likes Lan Zhen. If you do this, you might even be making him happy. Why not let me do it instead…”

“Let you do it? Kiss the mad dog or Lan Zhen? Get lost! Someone like you doesn’t deserve it. Only a pure person like me is qualified.”

The red-haired boy was stunned by their chatter. He struggled for a long time to speak, then turned to look at a boy leaning against a locker. “Brother Xie, look at this…”

The one called Brother Xie hadn’t looked up since entering, staring at his phone screen. Hearing him, the boy waved a hand irritably. “Do whatever you want. I have no interest in this stuff. Don’t go too far, and don’t let me see it.”

Hearing this, the red-haired boy seemed to receive a shot of confidence. He looked at Lan Zhen slowly and said, “A kiss won’t do. What else is there in TV dramas…? How about stripping you bare and taking some photos?”

Lan Zhen was surrounded by tall high school boys, tucked inside like a tiny, pathetic thing. He was so scared his eyelashes were trembling. After a long time, he stammered out a sentence: “Don’t take off the clothes. Can we just take photos?”

“Hahaha, just photos.” The red-haired boy looked like he’d heard something funny. “You think you’re a celebrity? How much is a regular photo worth? Naked photos—now that’s value.”

Another underling immediately leaned in and whispered, “Brother, Lan Zhen’s photos are already selling for this much per sheet on the forums. This would be a ‘private’ photo; it’s more expensive.”

He held up five fingers. The red-haired boy went silent for a moment.

No. 1 High School was full of hidden talents; he didn’t doubt someone would really pay that money for a photo. It was just that one photo of Lan Zhen cost that much—even celebrities probably weren’t that expensive.

“Th—then how about we have him wear some other clothes? It would be humiliating, and we can make money from the photos.” Another underling suggested, “I think a little dress would be good. Ideally a vintage style, with a large skirt and layers of lace. Then pair it with some beautiful tall boots.”

The red-haired boy thought about it. It actually sounded quite nice. The photos would definitely sell for a lot.

“No, no! We’re here for revenge! Look at you guys; you’re practically drooling. He’s just a weakling; only you guys would find him precious.”

After saying this, he gestured in front of Lan Zhen’s face, shook his head, and scanned him from head to toe. “He’s too small. It’s like bullying a minor. I was bullied by this person before?”

As soon as he finished, someone nearby agreed, “Yeah, brother. Let’s forget it. Thinking about it, he’s so pretty; being bullied a little by him wasn’t that bad.”

The voice was very light, as if afraid of scaring the person nearby. The “girly” tone disgusted his brothers.

Xie Mingze, who was playing with his phone, paused. He looked up and said coldly, “According to you guys, you actually enjoyed it, didn’t you?”

[What are they talking about? So strange. I don’t really understand.] Lan Zhen discussed softly with 370. [I wonder if I have a chance to help Xu Gu up.]

370’s tone was also strange. [They are arguing over who gets to be your dog.]

Lan Zhen: [?]

If you can’t talk, then don’t! Why do you sound so sarcastic! Arguing over being his dog? Are there “bad dogs” that surround him?

“Brother Xie, I just think no one is perfect. Look at how obedient and cute Lan Zhen is now. I think we can give him a chance.”

Once someone started, the underlings began racking their brains to plead for Lan Zhen. Some of the things said even made Lan Zhen himself confused, wondering if the original owner really wasn’t that bad.

“If none of you are going to act, I don’t mind doing it myself.” Xie Mingze impatiently pushed the group aside. When he truly saw the little beauty surrounded by the “smelly men,” his gaze froze.

He didn’t remember Lan Zhen being this beautiful. His face was exquisite and small, his fair skin showing a faint pink tint. Tiny dimples flickered on his cheeks. What was even more captivating were those almond eyes shimmering with unshed tears; one look was enough to make someone fall.

The only vivid color was his crimson lips, which looked soft and full. Now they were tightly pursed into a straight line, making him look both innocent and alluring.

The dorm environment was somewhat crude. Now that it was filled with six-foot-tall men, it only emphasized that Lan Zhen, tucked inside, was brilliant enough to glow—like an angel lost in the mortal world, being desecrated by a group of vulgar mortals.

Xie Mingze was dazed for a long time before remembering he wasn’t here to be a “simp,” but to find trouble.

His lips opened and closed, finally turning his fire on Xu Gu. “Tell me, what are you even after? Lan Zhen only treats you like a dog by his side, yet you still lowly stick to him.”

Most importantly, he couldn’t even be a good dog. How could a loyal dog allow its master to be bullied? In his view, Xu Gu the “dog” should recognize his own strength and back off early.

Lan Zhen’s small fists clenched and loosened. He summoned his courage and whispered, “He’s not a dog. I care about him very much.”

“Him? Care?” Xie Mingze casually pulled the fallen Xu Gu up and shoved him hard toward Lan Zhen.

Lan Zhen instinctively reached out to catch him. Unexpectedly, not only did he fail to catch the man, but both of them fell together onto a bed. There was only a thin mattress, and his elbows could feel the hard bed boards.

Such a casual bed… it seemed to be Mo Changfeng’s.

Lan Zhen was dazed from the fall. He lay on the bed with his fingers curled, his heart beating fast.

Xu Gu’s high-bridged nose brushed past his cheek. The weight of an adult male pressed down on him, making him somewhat uncomfortable, leaving him only able to let out rapid, short breaths.

“Look closely at this useless look of his. What right does he have to be cared for by you?” Xie Mingze grabbed Xu Gu’s hair, lifting his head to expose all his wretchedness to Lan Zhen.

The mocking voice was right by his ear, yet Xu Gu felt like everything was far away. His world only contained himself and Lan Zhen.

The fair, weak face leaned against his own. He could practically feel the warmth representing vibrant life. The already vivid features seemed veiled in mystery under the dim light. Their breaths intertwined, and the surrounding air suddenly began to burn.