Chapter 2: Why Are They Arguing? Schemes and Plots Have Nothing to Do With Me…

What saved Lin Yu was the referee’s whistle—  

The game was intensely popular, sweat pouring relentlessly. Lin Yu dodged left and right, deftly passing the basketball between his hands. Beads of sweat trickled down his temples, tracing the sharp line of his jaw.  

He felt the surrounding noise grow louder.  

Chen Shuhua felt he had been quite restrained today. After watching Lin Yu score yet another basket, he couldn’t help but lean excitedly over the railing, shouting, “Go, Lin Yu!”  

His voice cut cleanly through the clamor and reached Yan Huaqing’s ears.  

Yan Huaqing shot him a sidelong glance, his expression dark and venomous, before provocatively raising an eyebrow. Only when he saw Chen Shuhua’s face pale did he turn away, satisfied, his gaze locking back onto the basketball.  

—A look of cold, disdainful hostility, the kind that instinctively evoked fear.  

A challenge from a rival.  

Chen Shuhua clenched his fist in restraint, frowned, and smoothed his hair before fixing his eyes back on Lin Yu.  

When the final three-point shot landed, the stadium erupted in deafening cheers, the enthusiasm of the crowd and the players’ excitement nearly piercing the sky.  

After the post-game handshake and victory formalities, Lin Yu quietly made his way to the locker room, leaving behind teammates still eager for photos and lingering excitement, ready to change out of his uniform.  

Suddenly, Yan Huaqing’s face appeared before him. Lin Yu smoothed the wrinkles on his clothes before looking up and asking,  

“What’s up?”  

Yan Huaqing couldn’t meet his eyes. He shrugged off his casual backpack and pulled out a small, somewhat misshapen plush toy, extending it toward Lin Yu with one hand.  

“I knew with you here today, we’d definitely win… This is a congratulatory gift I prepared in advance. For you.”  

Lin Yu lowered his gaze, accepting the toy from the boy and examining it in his palm.  

The brown plush had been clumsily stitched with an oddly round ear, the needle marks crisscrossing the fabric, faintly damp with traces of sweat.  

001 suddenly spoke up, interrupting Lin Yu’s thoughts. “Host, don’t forget you can’t be romanced in this world~”  

“It’ll disrupt the Small World’s balance~”  

“Hmm, but I’ve never been given a gift before,” Lin Yu said, lifting his eyes to the blue orb only he could see. “Should I accept it?”  

“You should, right? I remember the original character’s personality was like this—Host, think back.” 001 answered immediately.  

“Host, have you never been to a romance-type Small World before?”  

“No, all of them were combat-based,” Lin Yu replied. “I feel like this guy’s impression versus reality is a bit of a mismatch.”  

Only then did he look up at Yan Huaqing, feigning seriousness as he asked,  

“Did you sew this yourself?”  

He glanced down at the simple, slightly crude plush, then back at Yan Huaqing, who still couldn’t bring himself to meet his gaze. A faint smile tugged at his lips. “A little bear? It’s cute.”  

“Thank you.”  

“Y-You like it? That’s good…”  

Yan Huaqing flushed entirely red, the blush spreading from his ears to his cheeks, mingling with the heat from the intense basketball game. He looked like a puppy rolling onto its back, eagerly nipping at its owner’s pant leg for affection.

After a long silence, Yan Huaqing finally spoke sullenly, giving Lin Yu a resentful look. “Are you going back to the dorm? Let me walk with you.”

Only when he noticed the figure before him fading did he smoothly fall into step with Lin Yu, walking shoulder-to-shoulder out of the lounge.

Chen Shuhua, limping slightly, brightened at the sight of Lin Yu and was about to step forward when—

Yan Huaqing was quicker, flashing a radiant smile as he slithered over to link arms with Chen Shuhua. “So sorry about this. How about I help you back to the dorm?”

As he spoke, Yan Huaqing wrapped an arm around Chen Shuhua’s, pulling him forward without room for refusal. “Come now, don’t resist, Chen.”

“Helping each other is one of University A’s virtues,” Yan Huaqing added with a wink, the two of them already halfway out the venue doors.

Lin Yu had no choice but to follow, hands in pockets as he walked beside them.

Gazing at the chatting pair in the distance, the lonely streetlights stretched his shadow long. The flickering filaments above them swayed with an almost imperceptible rhythm, casting shifting patterns over their heads.

—Then he remembered something.

“001, do you think I even need to go back to the dorm?”

“Dear Host, this unit does not recommend it. Even if 001 were to take human form, I wouldn’t appreciate others xx-ing on my bedsheets,” 001 replied with a stern expression, offering solemn advice.

This dorm was officially uninhabitable—

So much for sweet campus life with roommates. Not a shred of enjoyment to be had.

Lin Yu stopped in his tracks.

Lowering his head, he eyed the “harmonious” duo ahead and spoke up. “I have something to take care of tonight. Won’t be staying on campus.”

“You two go ahead without me.”

Chen Shuhua, supported by Yan Huaqing, suddenly halted and turned back, confusion lacing his voice. “What’s wrong… Lin Lin?”

Yan Huaqing, taller than Chen Shuhua by a head, was forced to stop. Chen’s hair brushed against his face, prompting a disdainful “Tch” before he sneered,

“Don’t you think you’re overstepping? ‘Lin Lin,’ really?”

He then shot Lin Yu a concerned glance before turning back with a gentle smile. “It’s fine, Lin Yu. I’ll get him back. You go handle your business.”

“Alright,” Lin Yu replied without hesitation, spinning on his heel to walk the opposite way.

Chen Shuhua remained frozen in place, dazed.

Suddenly, he stumbled forward, “accidentally” stepping hard on Yan Huaqing’s foot. Yan Huaqing yelped in pain, reflexively releasing Chen’s arm and backing away.

Chen Shuhua smirked. “Sorry about that, Yan. Lost my balance. You wouldn’t hold it against an injured guy, would you?”

Yan Huaqing glared coldly, his pupils icy. He released Chen’s arm, turned, and flipped him off before striding away.

………

The moonlight was exquisite tonight.

Pale and translucent as gauze, it draped over Lin Yu’s face, accentuating his fair skin. Clouds swirled in the sky, merging and stretching into delicate wisps.

The silver glow coated the campus cobblestones, dappled light spilling into flower beds where night blooms still swayed, their fragrance faint yet lingering.

As the sole heir of a “certain wealthy family,” Lin Yu’s luxury car stood in stark contrast to the faculty vehicles nearby. He soon reached the parking lot.

The heavy, powerful roar of an engine suddenly broke the silence of the night. Puffs of white smoke trailed behind the moving car like wisps of silk, while its polished body faintly reflected the cold glow of streetlights in the darkness.

Lin Yu breathed in the night air of the city, relying on muscle memory to drive back to the suburban villa. Although the family conglomerate had been struggling in recent years, its foundational wealth remained intact.

His father, despite indulging in romantic escapades after Lin Yu’s mother passed away, had still ensured all the trappings of an elite lifestyle were in place for his son.

Lin Yu returned late. The household staff had already retired for the night. As he reached to turn on the living room lights, pushing open the door—

He found someone dozing on the sofa.

The man was tall. Though not particularly muscular, his close-cropped hair clung to his scalp, the tips tinged with a faint yellow, clearly exhausted as he slept on the couch.

At the same time, the System Panel loaded beside him.

—So, another key character from the original story.

Lin Yu strode over, his hands chilled by the night breeze, and patted the man’s cheek before straightening up to regard him impassively.

The cold sensation jolted Li Yide awake. He shivered and bolted upright from the sofa, staring bewildered at the face before him.

His expression shifted from irritation to delight. “Wifey—I mean, Xiao Lin! You’re back?”

He smugly patted the spot beside him, grinning as he gestured for Lin Yu to sit. “I knew you’d come back today.”

The text on Lin Yu’s screen scrolled rapidly, azure words floating in the transparent air, surreal and intangible.

[Your childhood friend and second son of the Li Group—Li Yide.]

[Your (bamboo horse) childhood sweetheart—]

[Has harbored a crush on you since childhood, showering you with luxury cars, watches, and other extravagant gifts.]

[Followed you to the same university. Always thinks of you first for anything good. Impatient and harsh with others but gentle and obedient only to you.]

“001, what did he just call me?” Lin Yu’s gaze remained fixed on Li Yide, his tone indifferent as he addressed 001 in his mind.

“He calls you ‘wifey’ in his circle,” 001 responded instantly, data retrieval seamless.

Lin Yu: “.”

Li Yide, seeing Lin Yu standing motionless and expressionless, offered a guilty smile. “Xiao Lin, didn’t you say we’d go for a drive tomorrow morning? I figured you’d come home tonight.”

Lin Yu glanced at him briefly before bending to sit beside him. Following the “human etiquette” guidelines from the System Panel, he picked up the kettle, poured a glass of water, and handed it to Li Yide. “Here.”

Li Yide fidgeted, flustered by the unexpected gesture. “Thanks, wifey—I mean, Xiao Lin.”

His eyes lingered on Lin Yu’s slender, porcelain-white fingers, their elegant joints like works of art, and he swallowed hard.

Lin Yu: .

He said nothing, pausing for a long moment before pouring himself a glass as well. “Anything else tonight? We’ll go tomorrow.”

Li Yide’s head drooped, the brightness in his eyes dimming into dejection. “I missed you. And now you’re trying to send me away as soon as I see you.”

Lin Yu gently pushed the water cup toward himself, meticulously wiping away a protruding droplet at the rim before slowly replacing the lid.  

The chandelier in the villa cast just the right amount of light—warm and subdued. Under its glow, Lin Yu’s knife-sharp nose resembled a sculpture, while his long eyelashes cast shadows across his face. Though his pupils remained hidden, the sight was breathtaking enough.  

Li Yide had grown up seeing this face, yet now he stared unblinkingly, as if each glance were a dwindling treasure.  

Lin Yu glanced at the wall clock, then lowered his eyelids. “It’s late. Aren’t you going to sleep?”  

His fingers tapped lightly against the cup’s porcelain surface, cool to the touch. The smooth texture lingered beneath his slow caress, the celadon glaze of the cup harmonizing with the elegance of his hand.  

“Can I kiss you, Xiao Lin?”  

“Or—or just a hug? Otherwise, I won’t be able to sleep,” Li Yide mumbled, fingers clutching at his own sleeve as he gazed pitifully at him.  

Lin Yu gave him a silent look—one that seemed to carry both exasperation and irritation—  

Then, in an instant, he stood and strode upstairs without hesitation, his steps unwavering, his gaze fixed straight ahead.  

His hand brushed against the railing as he ascended, leaving behind only an untouchable silhouette—swift and indistinct, as though fleeing from some monstrous threat.  

“Ah—Xiao Lin, don’t be mad!”  

“I’m sorry, I’ll go home right now!” Li Yide called out in panic, torn between chasing after him and staying rooted in place, staring blankly at Lin Yu’s retreating figure.  

He clenched his fists, waiting until Lin Yu had completely vanished around the second-floor corner before reluctantly turning to leave.  

His gaze lingered on the cup Lin Yu had left behind, studying the glistening water stains. He remembered clearly—Lin Yu had filled it to the brim, yet half remained.  

Swallowing hard, he hesitated, arms crossed in thought, before finally turning away.  

So he doesn’t like this kind of tea.  

He walked to the nearby tea cabinet, gently pulling open the drawer, counting silently to see what was missing. Opening his phone’s photo album, he carefully compared.  

Every tea here had been carefully selected for Lin Yu—domestic and international, renowned and prestigious. He had long prepared an entire cabinet just for him.  

One, two, three…  

The Aged Pu-erh, Dancong tea, and Wuyi Rock Tea were gone.  

With quiet understanding, Li Yide closed the cabinet door, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as he tapped his fingers, deep in thought.  

—Good. I’ll buy these again next time.  

Lin Yu, your roommate, your friends—every single one was handpicked by me.  

None of them are good people. I’ll drive away anyone who dares get close to you.  

Your side belongs to me alone, Lin Yu.