TITCFRIBN 9

Chapter 9

An Cheng pretended to be surprised: "Not bad luck."

The shopkeeper, curious, leaned over to take a closer look. "It's true, you won! And it's 10,000 yuan. Kid, you've got some good luck."

Bai Qing, a bit overwhelmed, completed the prize claim process and then followed behind An Cheng as they walked out. The money was transferred to An Cheng’s phone since Bai Qing's phone was still a useless piece of junk.

An Cheng walked directly into the phone store and, without hesitation, bought the latest model from one of the popular brands, priced at 7,999 yuan. He handed Bai Qing’s old phone to the clerk, asking her to insert the SIM card. Then, the brand-new phone was placed in Bai Qing’s hands.

An Cheng spoke in a casual tone, "It's your money, your phone."

Bai Qing was already a bit dazed. He looked at the boy in front of him, momentarily forgetting to refuse. A hint of red quickly crept up the corners of his eyes.

An Cheng frowned. "You don't like this model?"

Bai Qing quickly shook his head and suddenly gave An Cheng a bear hug, his voice hoarse but filled with emotion. "Cheng-ge, you're so good to me. You're the best person I’ve ever met."

An Cheng initially felt there was nothing wrong—brotherly hugs are normal. But when he saw the shop clerk’s expression, as if she was watching something romantic unfold, he realized this couldn't go on.

An Cheng gently pushed Bai Qing away and, keeping his cool, said with indifference, "There's a condition. You'll do my assignments this semester."

Bai Qing nodded enthusiastically. "Sure!"

An Cheng smiled inwardly—still such a kid, so happy about a new phone. He thought he might get Bai Qing to download a game later. Mobile games were fun too, and they could play together.

---

An Cheng enjoyed five peaceful days.

During this time, nothing bad happened. In the original story, this part of the plot was skimmed over, so An Cheng had rare free time. Every evening, he immersed himself in online games, climbing two ranks in just five days.

Until one afternoon, he received a call from Li Yu.

"Hello?" An Cheng sat on the grass at the sports field, adjusting the brim of his hat.

"It's Li Yu."

"I can tell."

Bai Qing curiously turned his head, wanting to know who it was but not asking. An Cheng mouthed to him that it was Li Yu. Bai Qing nodded and went off to chat with other people.

Bai Qing was popular with everyone, both boys and girls.

Just yesterday afternoon, after a military training session, several girls had already brought water for him, and a few upperclasswomen had brought iced watermelon, though Bai Qing politely declined them all.

On the other end of the line, Li Yu's tone was a bit urgent. "Does no one in your dorm check the group messages?"

"Which group?"

Li Yu paused. "The class group you were supposed to join when you entered the school. Didn’t you join?"

An Cheng exited the call screen and flipped through his apps. Sure enough, there was a group chat, but notifications had been turned off, likely by the original host.

Putting the phone back to his ear, An Cheng asked, "Is there something going on?"

"You and Wang Qimeng were admitted on recommendation, right? Our city applied for scholarships for recommended students this year. You need to go collect it this afternoon. You two are the only ones from our class, and you haven't contacted the counselor."

They hadn't reached out, and the counselor wasn’t rushing them either, only assigning Li Yu to lead the team. Seeing that it was almost time to leave, and the two still hadn't shown up, Li Yu hastily called.

"You’re saying," An Cheng asked meaningfully, "that I don’t have to do military training this afternoon?"

Li Yu: ...

"Yes, I’ve informed the right people. Hurry up and change into something formal."

Hanging up, An Cheng thought over the plot and confirmed with the system that there were no surprise events today. He was overjoyed and quickly found Wang Qimeng to share the good news.

Wang Qimeng’s face, which had been worn out by the military training, suddenly brightened up.

An Cheng then told Bai Qing the news as well. Just to be safe, he programmed his phone number into Bai Qing’s phone as a speed dial. "If anything happens, just call me."

Bai Qing shook his head, flipping his hair. "Don’t worry, Cheng-ge. What could possibly happen in the dorm?"

An Cheng watched Bai Qing flip his hair, thinking to himself, This kid needs a haircut.

Back at the dorm, An Cheng rummaged through his wardrobe, only to find that the original host truly had a "cool guy" style. There were hardly any normal clothes—mostly summer tank tops and hip-hop chains hanging on both sides of the wardrobe.

So, the original host was this kind of edgy dude, An Cheng thought. Definitely not my style.

He pulled out a plain white T-shirt and paired it with dark jeans, barely passing for something formal. Wang Qimeng, being more particular, had gone the extra mile by wearing a white shirt.

Li Yu had been waiting at the school gate for a while and waved them over when he saw them approaching. “Hurry up, you two.”

As they got closer, they noticed Li Yu wasn’t dressed too formally either, just a T-shirt and knee-length shorts.

An Cheng took a second glance, wondering if Li Yu wasn’t quite as "straight" as he seemed.

Li Yu didn’t bother explaining further, clapped his hands, and said, “Alright, An Cheng, Wang Qimeng, let’s go.”

An Cheng hadn’t expected the award ceremony to be so close—walking distance, apparently.

But before long, he realized Li Yu was leading them to the subway station.

An Cheng: ...

Wang Qimeng asked cautiously, “Senior, when does the award ceremony start?”

Li Yu replied, “It begins at 2:30.”

An Cheng checked his watch. The time read 12:30.

He placed a hand on Li Yu’s shoulder, lowering his voice. “Then why did we leave so early?”

Li Yu chuckled awkwardly and looked at the subway schedule on the screen. “It takes an hour and forty minutes on the subway.”

"You don’t understand. Taxi rides aren't reimbursable for our school. If we want to claim expenses, we need to hire a shuttle bus. And hiring one for just the three of us would be ridiculous, so we have to take the subway."

An Cheng sighed and let him go. "Got it."

They spent nearly two hours on the subway, then another hour listening to speeches at the award hall. Afterward, groups of three were called up to the stage to receive their scholarships, which took another hour and a half. Just as it seemed to be ending, a leader suddenly picked up the mic, saying, "You’re all future pillars of society. Since fate has brought us together, why don’t we have a meal together? I’ll treat everyone, so we can chat and get to know each other better.”

The room erupted in cheers.

An Cheng: ...

He really didn’t feel like doing any socializing with his "cool guy" persona.

As a result, he and Wang Qimeng sat in a corner playing on their phones, while Li Yu thrived, mingling and exchanging WeChat contacts with many tables. At one point, Li Yu even came over to ask, “An Cheng, a girl over there wants to add you on WeChat. What do you say?”

An Cheng shook his head.

I’ll be leaving in three and a half years anyway. No point in getting into a relationship now.

Sitting by the window, An Cheng glanced outside. The sky had already darkened, and the streetlights had turned on. The streets were bustling, as the city’s nightlife was just beginning.

After eating his fill, An Cheng stood up, intending to head to the restroom.

The hotel they were in was quite upscale, with bright crystal chandeliers hanging overhead and waiters moving quickly through the halls.

An Cheng walked leisurely into the restroom, only to realize that there were a few familiar faces inside.

Liu Xin had just finished pulling up his pants and, sensing someone behind him, turned his head. His eyes met An Cheng’s, and sparks instantly flew.

He hurried to the sink and grabbed a mop, puffing his chest out as he said, "This isn't your university, kid. Here, I can beat you up all I want."

The other four people, hearing the commotion, quickly moved forward, subtly surrounding An Cheng.

One of them, with a buzz cut, shouted, "Don't run, if you've got the guts!"

Not that An Cheng could run, anyway; one of them had already closed and locked the door.

An Cheng tilted his head, as if he hadn’t heard their threats. “You guys going to the bathroom together? What are you, little girls?”

Liu Xin sneered. "Still talking tough, huh?"

An Cheng couldn’t help but smile, shaking his head. "I’ve got just one request: you guys just touched your ‘birds,’ so can you at least wash your hands first?”

Liu Xin’s face flushed red. “You’re the one with the ‘little bird’ here! Boys, charge!”

---

A minute later, An Cheng walked out of the restroom and quickly left.

Too many people here. He’d have to find another place to relieve himself.

Behind him, several guys lay sprawled on the floor, groaning, with visible bruises forming on their exposed skin.

After finishing his business elsewhere, An Cheng washed his hands at the sink, squeezing a pump of soap and scrubbing until his hands were clean.

Just as he was drying his hands, his vision went black, and he stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.

A wave of overwhelming drowsiness washed over him, slowing his thoughts and making it difficult to keep his eyes open.

As before, 007's panicked meows rang in his mind. "The protagonist is in danger! Danger! Please return to the school immediately! Danger, danger!"

An Cheng’s head felt like it was about to explode. He splashed some water on his face, barely regaining his focus.

He hurried downstairs and sent a voice message to Wang Qimeng, “Something came up. I’m leaving.”

There were plenty of cars out at night, and An Cheng quickly flagged one down. “Take me to Financial University.”

The driver, an honest-looking man, said, "It'll cost you 150 yuan to get there, is that okay?"

With his 1 billion yuan about to disappear, An Cheng wasn’t concerned about the original host's 150 yuan. "I'll give you 200. Just hurry."

007, tell me what’s happening with Bai Qing.

The little cat responded weakly, “I can’t spy on the protagonist across dimensions. I can only sense danger, just like you.”

Frustrated, An Cheng called Bai Qing. The phone rang, and Bai Qing picked up quickly. “Hello, Cheng-ge?”

His voice was a bit muffled and low, but otherwise sounded normal.

"Where are you right now?"

Bai Qing looked around and felt slightly dizzy. “I’m at a Korean restaurant.”

Faint voices followed from the background, slightly distorted. "Who are you talking to?"

Bai Qing responded to the person, "It's Cheng-ge."

Hearing that voice, An Cheng didn’t need to ask; he already knew who had taken Bai Qing out for dinner.

An Cheng bent down slightly, his tone chilling, "Stop eating and come back."

"Cheng-ge, that’s not so great. We’re already halfway through," Bai Qing’s voice softened noticeably. "I'll come back right after I finish. I won't go anywhere else."

Just as he finished speaking, Chen He walked over, grabbed Bai Qing’s phone, and hung up the call. "We're eating. Don't make calls while you're at the table. You can call later."

Bai Qing took the phone back, his expression turning colder. "He-ge, I don't like others touching my phone without asking."

Especially hanging up someone else's call.

Right in front of Chen He, Bai Qing sent An Cheng a voice message. "Cheng-ge, I'll head back soon. Are you and Qimeng coming back?"

Listening to Bai Qing's words, which sounded just like he was checking in with a lover, Chen He felt his gums itch with jealousy, but he smiled and apologized. "Got it, it won’t happen again."

"Try this," he said, lifting a small glass. "It's Korean rice wine, very low in alcohol. No need to worry about getting drunk."

Bai Qing didn’t like drinking, but after the awkward atmosphere just now, he needed to smooth things over. He took the glass, took a small sip, and then set it down.

It wasn’t harsh at all, with a soft, sweet taste made even better by being chilled.

An Cheng quickly replied: Now, come back immediately!

Bai Qing sensed something was wrong. Cheng-ge never spoke so forcefully. Could something have happened?

Just as he was about to send a message to ask, he suddenly felt his head grow heavy, like his soul was being pulled out of his body, leaving him limp and slumped in his chair, unable to move.

Though his eyes closed, his mind remained conscious. He felt someone take his phone away.

At that moment, he realized something unbelievable—Chen He had drugged him.

Chen He looked with satisfaction at Bai Qing slumped over the table, walked over, and lifted Bai Qing’s fluffy head to help him sit up, then wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth with a tissue. His gaze lingered on Bai Qing’s face with a sense of greedy admiration.

If they weren’t in public, he would have preferred a more tender touch, like a kiss.

He had considered pursuing Bai Qing properly, but An Cheng was too much of an annoyance. Not only had he kicked Chen He out of their dorm, but he was also constantly by Bai Qing’s side.

Unless An Cheng died, there was no way Chen He could ever win Bai Qing through normal means. He had no choice but to act this way.

He could tell Bai Qing was also gay, though the details were unclear. As long as he could make Bai Qing feel good, Bai Qing would come to like him.

Chen He hoisted Bai Qing’s arm over his shoulder and carried him out.

Bai Qing smelled like alcohol now, and with the scent on him, others would just assume he was drunk and wouldn’t ask any questions.

Meanwhile, in the taxi, An Cheng, still waiting for a response, frowned, his hands clenched tightly, knuckles cracking from the pressure.

The driver, glancing at An Cheng’s expression through the mirror, felt uneasy. He guessed this young man was rushing home because his girlfriend had cheated on him and was now angry and anxious.

The driver kindly offered some advice. "Hey, buddy, if she's cheated once, she’ll do it again. Don’t ever forgive her, okay?"

An Cheng gave a wry smile but didn’t explain, simply asking the driver to go as fast as was safely possible.

Back in his mind, An Cheng activated his internal system, 007, help me check which hotel Chen He booked.

A certain hotel.

Chen He carried Bai Qing into the elevator, heading to the seventh floor.

He was familiar with this hotel, known for its cleanliness, large, soft beds, and a well-stocked cabinet of toys.

Bai Qing still had some awareness, but he couldn’t control his body, relying on Chen He to guide him.

Wherever their skin touched, Bai Qing's body tingled and flushed. He could guess what kind of drug Chen He had given him, and the thought made him feel sick.

Bai Qing was placed on the bed, listening to Chen He move around the room.

The curtains were drawn, the lights dimmed, and a chair was placed next to the sofa in just the right spot. Chen He called the front desk to order a glass of red wine.

After that, he walked back to Bai Qing, studying his delicate face. It was exactly to his taste—he liked him more with every look.

Chen He carried Bai Qing to the bathroom, intending to undress him.

Bai Qing, too weak to stand, leaned against the wall, the cool touch of the tiles giving him a little strength. He put a hand on Chen He’s shoulder and muttered, "I’ll... I’ll wash myself."

Chen He asked gently, "Still have the strength to wash yourself?"

Bai Qing didn’t respond, turning his head to pant, his face and neck already flushed red.

Chen He began grabbing at Bai Qing’s hand. "It’s okay, I’ll help you. Don’t be shy."

How could he pass up the opportunity in such a perfect place like the bathroom?

Bai Qing’s mind was in turmoil. He wanted to fight back but had no strength. He bit down hard on his lower lip, but even the pain felt distant.

Just then, the room's phone rang. Chen He reluctantly let go of Bai Qing and went to answer it.

It was the front desk. "Sir, the red wine you requested is out of stock. Would you like to choose another kind?"

After sorting it out, Chen He returned to the bathroom door and noticed it was closed.

The door opened inward. Chen He tried to push it open but felt resistance. Something was blocking it from the other side.

There wasn’t much in the bathroom, so it had to be Bai Qing behind the door. Chen He chuckled and started pushing harder.

"Xiao Qing, do you dislike me that much? I was just going to help you wash up. Why close the door?"

The door opened a crack. "Or is it that you prefer An Cheng? If he were helping you, would you let him?"

Bai Qing pressed his feet against the wall, but even then, the door was being slowly forced open.

Chen He started kicking the door, the frosted glass shaking with each impact. "No problem. We can skip the bath and get started right away."

Just as the door was about to fly open, there was a knock on the room door. Chen He paused.

"Ah, the red wine is here."

With a smile on his face, Chen He opened the door, only to be horrified at the sight of An Cheng standing there, gripping a bottle of red wine, his expression dark and furious, but with a twisted smile creeping across his lips.

Without warning, An Cheng raised his hand, smashing the wine bottle down hard onto Chen He’s round, unsuspecting head.

"How dare you lay a hand on what’s worth a billion to me!"

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