Chapter 21
When Fu Xiuning first met Xing Shi on the day of class division, he saw him first run wildly into a wall, then sing with a calm face and nearly take everyone’s souls away. He knew then that Xing Shi was not someone easy to deal with.
Their subsequent interactions only confirmed this, so he wasn’t surprised when Xing Shi caused trouble as soon as he moved in.
He picked up the bottle and clinked it against the other man’s.
The wine was beer, condensation forming a thin layer of mist on the dark green bottle.
Xing Shi took a sip. Seeing Fu Xiuning also drinking, his eyes paused slightly.
He didn’t know how many people had seen Fu Xiuning drink straight from a bottle. This was his first time seeing it. The aloof and elegant nobleman suddenly seemed more down-to-earth, more real.
However, the moment he set the bottle down, the illusion shattered—Fu Xiuning remained the same calm and composed big boss.
Xing Shi’s face was full of curiosity and innocence: “Boss, why did you suddenly want me to move in?”
Fu Xiuning replied, “I don’t know either.”
Xing Shi was confused. “Huh?”
Fu Xiuning said something that sounded just as vague: “I heard you guys discussing moving last night, and I saw that the options weren’t great, so I just subconsciously mentioned it.”
Then he returned the question: “What about you? You didn’t know why I invited you, but you still agreed?”
Xing Shi answered without hesitation, “I already told you before.”
Fu Xiuning quickly recalled and remembered a certain moment.
The next second, Xing Shi said, “The first time I saw you, I wanted you to be my brother. Of course I’m willing to live with you!”
Fu Xiuning knew it would be this and sincerely praised, “Very good.”
Xing Shi accepted the praise with a clear conscience and leaned in slightly. “Then… if I asked you to think about the real reason for taking me in, what would it be?”
Fu Xiuning thought for a moment and said, “Maybe I feel like we get along well and want to be friends with you?”
Xing Shi thought, So the first step to making friends is inviting them to move in? Do you think I’d actually believe that?
But he looked pleasantly surprised: “Really?”
Fu Xiuning simply nodded.
The two of them looked at each other across the table.
Xing Shi raised his bottle in a gesture, and Fu Xiuning lifted his again.
With a soft “clink,” they toasted once more.
Fu Xiuning swallowed a mouthful of beer, and for the first time, he felt a strange mix of amusement and helplessness.
He had been too aggressive this time.
Originally, he should have left a good impression on Director He, waited for him to entrust Xing Shi into his care, and then, using Director He and Qi Changyi’s relationship as an excuse, gradually brought Xing Shi under his watch. That way, he could slowly uncover the mystery surrounding him.
But plans never keep up with change, and the current situation had unfolded.
Their relationship was nothing special, yet they both had reasons to get close to each other.
So, each had their own ulterior motives—one invited the other, knowing he’d be suspected; the other agreed, knowing the offer was dishonest.
This was the first time Fu Xiuning had gotten into such a situation with a host.
After talking for a bit, Xing Shi realized he wouldn’t get anything useful out of Fu Xiuning for now, so he focused on eating. At the same time, he asked, “Boss, since I just moved in, is there anything I should take note of?”
Fu Xiuning took the opportunity to build rapport: “Aren’t I your brother now?”
Xing Shi felt no pressure and happily shouted, “Brother!”
Fu Xiuning acknowledged it and said, “You can’t enter the master bedroom or study, but everywhere else is fine. I’ll have a desk bought for you tomorrow so you can study or read there.”
Xing Shi said, “Okay, thank you, brother.”
Fu Xiuning asked, “Anything else you need?”
Xing Shi said, “Nope.”
Fu Xiuning added, “If you need anything in the future, just let me know.”
Xing Shi grinned and raised his beer bottle toward him.
He had bought ten bottles of beer, thinking five each would be enough to knock this pampered young master out.
But he was naive. After his third bottle, he started feeling dizzy and had to stop. Having a high sense of danger, he was used to staying clear-headed.
Fu Xiuning still looked composed and refined. He gently asked, “Not drinking anymore?”
Xing Shi remained calm. “Yeah, I’m feeling a little full.”
Fu Xiuning took a napkin and wiped his mouth. “Alright then, I’ll stop too.”
Xing Shi became alert at that. He carefully examined Fu Xiuning’s face, but there were no signs of intoxication. He suspected that Fu Xiuning was pretending, but he also knew that some people could hold their liquor well.
He hesitated for a moment, then reached for the bottle: “It’d be a waste to leave it unfinished.”
Fu Xiuning nodded. “Okay.”
Xing Shi took a few more sips but felt dizzy again. He thought that whether Fu Xiuning was actually drunk or not, he wouldn’t keep drinking just to find out. So he said, “No need to finish it.”
Fu Xiuning smiled. “Wouldn’t that be a waste?”
Xing Shi replied, “But health is more important.”
Fu Xiuning looked at him. “Are you drunk?”
Xing Shi was still very aware.
He decided to test Fu Xiuning’s reaction to finding out he was drunk, so he obediently said, “Yeah, I feel a little dizzy.”
Fu Xiuning actually felt a bit regretful. If the system weren’t monitoring them, he might have tried to trick Xing Shi.
He stood up and said, “Then go to bed early. Don’t worry about the table. The housekeeper will clean up tomorrow.”
After taking a few steps, he suddenly thought of Lin Kecheng. He paused and turned back.
Even though he knew Xing Shi had his own plans, he still reminded him: “There’s something I forgot to mention. I wasn’t thinking carefully before, but I just remembered it.”
Xing Shi looked up at him.
Fu Xiuning said, “I really do want to be your brother, but you should think about it carefully. You just moved in, so there’s still time to back out.”
“My presence tends to attract people with extreme personalities. If they find out you and I live together, they might try to get close to me the same way they get close to you.” He listed examples calmly, “Flattery, pursuit, setting traps, and even deliberate harm.”
Xing Shi subconsciously recalled the information he had gathered.
These were Fu Xiuning’s personal experiences over the past five years. Perhaps he had grown used to it, so he spoke of them in a calm, almost indifferent manner.
He laughed. “It’s okay, bro, I’m not afraid.”
Then he immediately started asking questions. “Do you have someone like that around you right now? Who is it? Have I seen them before?”
There was a mix of curiosity and concern in his tone, but due to the slight drunkenness, his acting wasn’t very convincing.
The eagerness and sharpness in his eyes, combined with his brilliant smile, were reflected clearly in Fu Xiuning’s gaze.
【Didi】
[Current Favorability Value: -4]
Xing Shi straightened up slightly.
Fu Xiuning looked away and said, “Not at the moment.”
After all, he had sent them all off to work. They were too busy to cause trouble.
Xing Shi pressed on. “What about in the company or at school? Is anyone pursuing you?”
Fu Xiuning replied, “Yes.”
Xing Shi’s eyes lit up. “Who?”
Fu Xiuning said, “A lot of people.”
Xing Shi figured as much. With a face and status like his, of course he would attract admirers.
He continued, “Is there anyone who won’t give up even if you reject them? I’ll keep an eye on them for you.”
Fu Xiuning pretended to think for a moment before answering, “Yes. Yu Shu, an artist at the company.”
Xing Shi was satisfied. “Alright.”
Fu Xiuning hummed in acknowledgment. “Go to bed early.”
Xing Shi, however, remained seated.
He called out to the system. “Will the other hosts find out soon that I’ve moved in with Fu Xiuning?”
The system replied, “Not necessarily.”
It explained that while hosts had strong computational power and could search for information online, doing so consumed energy. They only searched when the host explicitly needed it.
Also, they couldn’t always be used casually. For example, if a host used the system like a search engine, it was fine occasionally, but if it happened too often, the system could refuse. Similarly, if a host asked for Fu Xiuning’s location, the system could provide it once or twice, but if the host wasn’t actively heading there, it would refuse, since the information had no immediate practical use.
It continued, “Locating someone only gives their position. It won’t detect that you’re with him. Unless a host happens to be in City Z and is actively searching for both his location and what he’s doing, then their system might use nearby cameras—like the ones in your phones—and spot you at his house.”
Then it reassured him, “But don’t worry. Even if they find you, they won’t suspect you’re a host.”
Xing Shi was surprised. “Why not?”
The system explained, “When a host finds out you’re living with Fu Xiuning, their first reaction will be to check your background. Then, their system will discover your connection to Director He and Qi Changyi, and they’ll dismiss their suspicions. Because normally, a host’s background is very simple and has no connection to Fu Xiuning.”
Xing Shi asked, “Then why am I an exception?”
Fu Xiuning was just about to leave the dining area, but hearing this, he paused.
He was also curious about the answer. He turned back naturally and asked, “Are you feeling dizzy? Need help walking?”
Xing Shi answered, “No, I just want to sit for a while.”
Fu Xiuning didn’t comment. He simply walked into the kitchen and prepared a cup of honey water.
Meanwhile, the system responded cheerfully, “I don’t know either! I only accessed this body’s information after binding with you. Later, we found out about your connection to Qi Changyi by accident. Plus, your face happens to be Fu Xiuning’s type. I must’ve hit the jackpot!”
Xing Shi: “…”
Fu Xiuning: “…”
Judging by its tone, the system clearly wasn’t reliable.
Xing Shi wanted to ask the main system for answers, but he was worried that doing so might expose his energy theft. He decided to stay silent.
The system sincerely advised, “So you must protect yourself!”
Xing Shi decided to give it a task. “Go find out more about Yu Shu.”
The system responded excitedly, “On it!”
Fu Xiuning returned and placed the honey water on the table.
By the time Xing Shi finished his internal conversation, he felt even dizzier—maybe because all his energy had been drained. It took him two seconds to process everything before he looked up at Fu Xiuning and smiled. “Thanks.”
Fu Xiuning studied his condition. “Are you sure you can make it back to your room?”
Xing Shi was about to say “Yes” when his phone rang.
He glanced down and saw that it was Director He.
Director He had an interview scheduled after the roadshow, so he had only just found time to call.
He was leaving City Z the next day and wanted to spend a little more time with his son, so he said, “Sui Sui, have you finished moving? Are you with Xiuning?”
Xing Shi said, “Yeah.”
Director He said, “We bought some midnight snacks. Let’s come over and eat together?”
Xing Shi didn’t want to hold his phone, so he pressed the speakerphone button.
Hearing this, Fu Xiuning thought it was a good idea. If Director He saw the living conditions himself, he’d feel reassured entrusting Xing Shi to him.
But Xing Shi simply rubbed his forehead and said, “No, I’m going to bed now. Let’s do it another time.”
Then he reached out, tapped the screen, and hung up.
Fu Xiuning: “…”
Meanwhile, on the other end of the call, Director He was sitting in the car with Qi Changyi, using hands-free mode.
Since Qi Changyi had gained some favor last night, he had planned to step in at the right moment and help smooth things over.
Now, both of them stared at the disconnected call, then checked the time: 8:33 PM.
Two young men, full of energy, and… they were going to bed at this hour?
Director He knew his son was a night owl. He turned to Qi Changyi and asked, “Is your friend… an early sleeper? His sleep schedule seems so healthy.”
Qi Changyi: “…”
Not at all!
