Song Lingyuan’s fingers were burning hot as they touched Luo Yu’s forehead, causing Luo Yu to instinctively pull back a bit.

It was the first time he’d heard such straightforward praise from Song Lingyuan, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed. He grabbed the blanket draped over his waist, pulling it up to his chin to hide most of his face, leaving only his eyes exposed as he looked at Song Lingyuan.

“Well, of course… I am a streamer with a million followers, you know. Obviously, I have real skills!”

Song Lingyuan found the sight of the young man nestled in the blanket both shy and proud, and he felt his usually tense heart soften. Gently, he tucked Luo Yu into the blanket as well.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the door, though it was quickly suppressed. Song Lingyuan could vaguely hear that Wen Li was announcing the cooperation plan between the Hypnos League and the Association, sparking discontent among many.

Through the closed door, the noise seemed far away. Inside, it was just him and Luo Yu, lying face to face on the bed. The louder the clamor outside, the quieter the room felt in contrast. The more chaotic it was outside, the more serene it felt inside.

Staying beside Luo Yu, Song Lingyuan found an inexplicable sense of peace. But then he heard Luo Yu sigh.

“President Song, if you hadn’t blocked my streaming channel, I’d be even more popular now.”

Song Lingyuan’s hand, which was smoothing the edge of the blanket, paused and slowly retracted. After a moment of silence, he said, “I’m sorry.”

Luo Yu looked up, confused. “Sorry? Sorry for what?”

“For blocking your channel,” Song Lingyuan replied, his fingers lightly tracing the silk bedsheet. Suddenly, he remembered Luo Yu’s words when he sold this Bedspread during a livestream, saying it was smooth and slippery, his favorite type. It was indeed soft and silky, like a small, elusive fish.

“…”

Luo Yu fell silent, too. It was quite surprising—just a few days ago, the prestigious International Human Progress Association had firmly ordered his channel’s ban. Now, here was the president himself, lying beside him and personally apologizing!

At a loss for words, Luo Yu finally ventured, “Does that mean you can unblock it now?”

Song Lingyuan shook his head. “No.”

“…Then why apologize? Are you just trying to cheer me up?”

Luo Yu slapped the bedspread between them, making a muffled thump against the silver silk. By accident, he brushed against Song Lingyuan’s fingertips, causing President Song to quickly pull his hand back and shift subtly toward the foot of the bed before awkwardly explaining, “I apologized because… you’re very good at what you do.”

“How would you know?” Luo Yu blinked, curiosity drawing him a bit closer. “Have you watched my streams? Which one?”

Song Lingyuan had nowhere left to retreat, so he stayed put, allowing Luo Yu’s bright, expressive eyes to come even closer. He replied softly, “In any case, the Association banned your channel because the time isn’t right yet.”

Luo Yu seemed half-comprehending. “Not the right time for what?”

“It’s not the right time to rekindle the public’s enthusiasm for sleep.”

Luo Yu’s curiosity grew. “So when will the right time be?”

“When sleep becomes controllable,” Song Lingyuan replied, unable to ignore the faint fruity fragrance from Luo Yu’s hair, which filled his senses. He took a deep breath, savoring the scent.

“We anticipated that the public’s interest in sleep would eventually revive. The Association is currently developing a medication that can control sleep duration. Once it’s ready, sleep can return to the human world as a controlled, optional, and adjustable form of entertainment.”

“Otherwise, sleep will continue to have a massive negative impact on humanity. If people return to the way things were thirty years ago, our progress will only fall into the same cycle again.”

Luo Yu hadn’t noticed Song Lingyuan’s change in breathing; he was simply listening intently. Suddenly, Song Lingyuan’s description of this kind of medication sounded… strangely familiar.

Wasn’t that the sleep tablet he took every time he slept? The one that made him fall asleep instantly and naturally wake up after ninety minutes? A medication that could control sleep?

Did Song Lingyuan really need it that much?

Should he tell Song Lingyuan that he already had these sleep tablets?

As Luo Yu was debating this, he heard Song Lingyuan continue.

“Besides apologizing for blocking your channel, I’m also sorry for dragging an innocent person like you into all this.”

“When everything is resolved, I’ll award you the Association’s highest honor—the Guardian of Human Progress.”

Song Lingyuan’s tone was calm, as if he were merely commenting on the day’s weather.

Luo Yu’s eyes lit up instantly, all other concerns vanishing from his mind.

“The highest honor? Does it come with a cash prize?”

Song Lingyuan paused. “Typically, the recipients of this honor are well beyond the age of caring about fame or fortune.”

Luo Yu buried his head back into his pillow with a sigh. “Dear President, I’m just a poor, unknown college student at the moment…”

Song Lingyuan tried to recall the award details. “There isn’t any cash prize, but it does come with some social benefits, like free public transportation, and free entry to national landmarks and parks… Is that enough?”

“More than enough…” Luo Yu peeked out from behind the pillow, a satisfied smile on his face. “That’s way better than my project job that only covers a hundred bucks of meal costs a week. College students aren’t greedy.”

Song Lingyuan gave him a thumbs up.

Just then, the bedroom door handle turned from the outside, and Wen Li pushed the door open.

The moment he walked in, he saw Song Lingyuan and Luo Yu lying side by side, so close together on the bed! His face darkened instantly.

“Song Lingyuan, what do you think you’re doing?”

Song Lingyuan turned to look at him, propping himself up on his elbow and sitting up with a calm expression. “I’m discussing strategies with Streamer Luo.”

Wen Li quickly walked to the side of the bed and picked Luo Yu up, setting him down on the other side, placing a whole bed’s length between him and Song Lingyuan.

Luo Yu, bewildered, rubbed his head and looked at Wen Li. “Senior, what’s wrong?”

Wen Li frowned at him. “Luo, even if we’re cooperating with the Association, it’s just a temporary partnership. They’re not our friends. Don’t get too close to Song Lingyuan.”

Song Lingyuan straightened out his clothes and scoffed. “Streamer Luo is a college student, not a preschooler. He can tell who’s a friend and who’s an enemy.”

Wen Li didn’t respond, instead sitting directly between Luo Yu and Song Lingyuan. He looked at Song Lingyuan.

“I’ve convinced the members of our organization to share personal stories about losing loved ones to the anti-sleep drug through their streams.”

“Now it’s your turn to provide evidence, to prove that all of this is the Management Committee’s doing.”

Song Lingyuan leaned slightly to the side, meeting Luo Yu’s gaze over Wen Li’s shoulder.

Wen Li, displeased, leaned forward, blocking Song Lingyuan’s view. “What are you looking at?”

Song Lingyuan paused, then said, “Streamer Luo has come up with an even better way to guide public opinion. Let him explain it to you.”

Wen Li blinked in surprise and turned to Luo Yu. “Luo, What was your idea?”

Luo Yu: …

Why did this feel like being called on by the teacher after daydreaming in class?

With no other option, he repeated the plan he had just thought of.

To his surprise, Wen Li jumped up angrily after hearing it. He turned to confront Song Lingyuan, his face full of rage.

“Song Lingyuan, are you seriously planning to send our entire clan into the line of fire without any solid evidence, just to eliminate your enemy? What do you take us for?”

Song Lingyuan stood up slowly, looking down at Wen Li, his height and presence imposing.

“Wen Li, let’s get one thing straight—”

“The person responsible for poisoning the anti-sleep drug is not just my enemy, but the biggest threat our Association has faced since its formation.”

“Don’t let your personal feelings hinder our collaboration’s mission for revenge.”

Realizing his own overreaction, Wen Li took a few deep breaths and soon regained his usual composure.

“I’m willing to believe that Duan Yixun is behind all of this, but not everyone here is rational enough to believe it.”

“When I went out just now and explained to the others in the organization that we’d be cooperating with the Association, you have no idea how strongly they reacted.”

“It took everything I had to convince them to wait for your evidence before making a decision.”

“But if your so-called evidence is just a lie, then I doubt they’ll agree.”

As he spoke, Wen Li avoided making eye contact with Song Lingyuan, instead staring at the floor.

An uncomfortable silence filled the room.

Luo Yu blinked and stood up tentatively. “Senior, how about I go and talk to everyone instead?”

Wen Li softened immediately when he looked at Luo Yu. “Luo, that’s not your responsibility.”

But Luo Yu shook his head.

“President Song saved my life at the Association earlier. Let this be my way of repaying him.”

Ignoring Wen Li’s attempts to stop him, he quickly opened the door, stepped outside, and closed it behind him.

The entire Hypnos League team had gathered outside the door, all wearing serious expressions and speaking in low voices.

When they saw Luo Yu emerge, they surrounded him eagerly.

“Streamer Luo, what happened to you at the Association yesterday?”

“Are you hurt?”

“Poor kid, going through all this at such a young age…”

Luo Yu felt at ease with these people and simply sat down on the edge of a nearby folding bed, with the others gathering around him on the surrounding beds.

“I almost got hurt at the Association—”

Seeing their immediate concern, he hurriedly added, “But it wasn’t the Association that tried to hurt me!”

“Then who was it?” asked a woman sitting beside him, looking confused.

Luo Yu chose his words carefully. “Yesterday, President Song invited me to the Association just to prove to me that the anti-sleep drug couldn’t possibly cause fatal allergic reactions. He had me take an allergy test, and the result showed that I really wasn’t allergic!”

Two men sitting across from him exchanged skeptical glances.

“Kiddo, they could’ve just faked that test to fool you! They must think you’re too young to see through them!”

“I initially suspected that too!”

Luo Yu widened his eyes, speaking with complete sincerity.

“But later, I accidentally ran into someone sent by the Management Committee—they tried to kill me right there at the Association to silence me!”

“I think they were desperate to eliminate me because they feared I’d tell President Song about the deaths caused by the anti-sleep drug and Dr. Duan’s illegal cremation of patients’ bodies.”

“Brothers and sisters, did you know? President Song arrived just in time today and saved my life.”

The crowd fell silent.

The people sitting around Luo Yu looked conflicted, as if they wanted to say something but held back.

Luo Yu bit his lip and sighed softly.

“It’s true that President Song saved me. It’s also true that Dr. Duan fled in fear of punishment while being pursued by the Association, and that President Song is being hunted by the Management Committee for trying to investigate the deaths linked to the anti-sleep drug. I witnessed all of this myself.”

“That’s why I believe that what President Song says is true.”

“Brothers and sisters, if we want revenge, joining forces with the Association to bring down Management Committee President Duan Yixun is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“So, I hope you can trust him this one time.”

After a long silence, someone in the crowd finally rubbed their forehead and spoke hesitantly.

“Streamer Luo, I’ve hated the Association for so long that it’s hard to trust them… but what you’re saying makes sense. If you believe in him, I’m willing to trust you.”

“I trust Little Luo too.”

“So, what should we do?”

Luo Yu then repeated the story he had crafted earlier to everyone present.

“Tonight at eleven, we’ll go live together and share everything we’ve been through with the world.” Luo Yu thought for a moment and added, “You can wear masks and hats to protect yourselves.”

Suddenly, the door behind Luo Yu clicked open.

Song Lingyuan walked out.

Everyone turned to look at him.

The anger in their eyes had lessened somewhat thanks to Luo Yu’s reassurances, but their expressions were still cold and hostile.

Song Lingyuan, however, didn’t care how they looked at him. After scanning the room calmly, he walked directly over to Luo Yu.

“Please make some room.”

The woman next to Luo Yu moved aside reluctantly.

Song Lingyuan knelt down beside Luo Yu.

“I can’t provide concrete evidence like videos or photos for everyone right now.”

“But the entire Association security team has already mobilized to confront the military force under Duan Yixun.”

“The Association is willing to risk their lives to uncover the truth for everyone.”

Song Lingyuan’s words echoed through the empty basement, every syllable carrying weight.

The crowd listened, falling silent, until finally someone spoke up.

“President Song Lingyuan, can you tell us why it had to be City A?”

Another voice, filled with pain, asked, “Why did it have to be our families? We didn’t wrong anyone!”

These questions had haunted them, filling them with suffering and anguish.

Song Lingyuan pressed a hand to his forehead, then finally decided to share a part of the story from the past.

“Alright.”

“But all I can offer you is just a theory.”