Chapter 24 (Three updates combined)

The locker was equipped with LED light tubes, emitting an intense brightness. Lu Wei had large hands; the distance between his thumb and pinky, when spread out, easily allowed him to grab the edges of the box.

As long as Lu Wei pulled a little more and focused slightly, he could see the logo of the Bubble app in the center of the box.

Seeing this, Lin Si felt guilty. His hand followed Lu Wei’s, darting inside to press down on the back of Lu Wei’s hand. “Wait!”

His hand was much smaller than Lu Wei’s, weak and seemingly powerless in comparison. But for a brief moment, as he touched it, he thought Lu Wei’s hand felt quite nice—smooth and pleasant to the touch.

The sensation disappeared quickly because Lu Wei withdrew his hand at lightning speed, as if he had blindly grabbed a living thing by mistake.

Lin Si took the opportunity to pull out the box, holding it tightly to his chest and using his arms to shield it entirely from Lu Wei’s view.

Lu Wei’s gaze dropped, landing on the box.

“…Something I bought online,” Lin Si said, and then immediately turned around, running into the house. He placed the box on the floor, then moved it again to a spot near the door where it couldn’t be seen.

He came back out carrying the bag of fruit.

Lu Wei was changing his shoes at the entrance. Hearing Lin Si’s footsteps, he raised his head but made no comment about Lin Si’s sneaky behavior.

Since Lu Wei didn’t bring it up, Lin Si acted as if nothing had happened, coughing lightly and heading to the kitchen. While washing cherries, he felt a wave of relief—thankfully, Lu Wei didn’t see what he had bought.

Back when Zhang Tingxi started working just before the new year, Lu Wei had repeatedly warned him to behave and keep the secret of being an Omega.

If Lu Wei found out he had bought a pair of VR goggles and was using his Omega identity to date someone online…

It would definitely spell disaster!

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Lin Si suddenly felt a large figure approaching from behind. He turned around while biting on a piece of banana.

Lu Wei glanced at him, then at the half-banana sticking out of his mouth. His brows furrowed, unable to watch any longer, and he averted his eyes.

Lin Si chewed slowly, staring at him and observing his movements.

“…Can you eat faster?” Lu Wei finally asked, unable to control his gaze.

Lin Si pressed the banana deeper into his mouth with a finger, looking aggrieved. “Why? Can’t I just eat a banana in peace…”

As soon as Lin Si touched the banana like that, Lu Wei decisively stopped looking. Silently, he opened the cupboard, took out the bowls and chopsticks Auntie Li had just bought, and then went to the warming box to take out a dish.

The aroma of food wafted through the air. Lin Si swallowed and couldn’t help but keep his eyes glued to Lu Wei’s back as he carried the dish out.

Auntie Li’s cooking was amazing. Lin Si thought her skills were probably on par with his own.

He bit into an apple slice as Lu Wei came back in and carried out two more dishes.

“…”

The apple in his mouth suddenly didn’t taste sweet anymore.

Lin Si stared longingly at Lu Wei as he placed the dishes on the dining table and then turned on the TV.

By the third time Lu Wei came back into the room, Lin Si had completely lost interest in eating fruit. He waited, curious to see if Lu Wei had more dishes to bring out, but instead, Lu Wei scooped himself a bowl of rice.

Three dishes for one person—a feast. Even the rice in Lu Wei’s bowl caught Lin Si’s attention for a few moments.

His gaze was so intense that Lu Wei had to stop in his tracks. Meeting Lin Si’s eyes, he said, “Serve yourself some rice.”

Lin Si swallowed the strawberry in his mouth and asked, “Did you make some for me?”

“The bowls are in the sterilizer.”

After saying that, Lu Wei turned and left the room.

Lin Si hadn’t even known that cabinet was a sterilizer. When he opened it, he found rows of neatly arranged bowls, chopsticks, and even Western-style cutlery, which instantly made him feel guilty.

When he went to the supermarket to buy bowls, he hadn’t thought much about it—he simply assumed Lu Wei wouldn’t eat at home, so he only bought a bowl for himself.

Now, comparing it to the fully stocked sterilizer, he felt incredibly stingy.

After scooping a spoonful of rice into his bowl, Lin Si slid along the wall and timidly sat down at the table.

“Thank you,” he said quietly to Lu Wei.

“Auntie’s phone is on the coffee table,” Lu Wei replied. “If you’re eating at home, send her a message.”

Lin Si’s hand froze in midair as he was about to pick up a piece of food.

Lu Wei had said “home.”

Although Lin Si knew that Lu Wei didn’t actually consider this place his home, the choice of words still brought a faint warmth to his heart.

“Okay,” Lin Si responded, slowly placing the food into his bowl and eating bit by bit.

Two people who didn’t get along eating at the same table should have felt as awkward as an arranged marriage. But because the food was delicious, Lin Si completely forgot what awkwardness even meant. He kept his head down, taking bite after bite, only murmuring an apology when his chopsticks accidentally bumped into Lu Wei’s. Then he simply moved to another spot on the dish.

On the TV, a professor was talking about the latest advancements in technology. Lin Si stopped eating after he was about 50% full, trying to control himself. He looked at Lu Wei and said, “I’ve received Director Ye’s script.”

Lu Wei didn’t even lift his head. Only after Lin Si noticed his Adam’s apple move, signaling he had swallowed his food, did Lu Wei respond with a simple, “Mm.”

“….”

Feeling dejected, Lin Si looked away. But he also thought to himself that Lu Wei had only helped him secure an opportunity; there was no need to report every update to him afterward.

For someone as busy as Lu Wei, eating at home was probably a luxury. It made sense that he wouldn’t want to discuss work.

Lin Si looked at Lu Wei again.

There was a grain of rice clinging to the corner of Lu Wei’s mouth, adding a rare touch of humanity to his otherwise sharp features. His usually tightly pressed, thin lips moved with subtle curves as he chewed.

Lin Si couldn’t help himself. “Lu Wei…”

Lu Wei glanced at him, and Lin Si quickly corrected himself. “President Lu…”

After saying it, he felt it was too formal, so he finally settled on, “Mr. Lu.”

“What is it now?” Lu Wei asked.

Lin Si rested both his forearms on the table, forming a straight line.

Leaning forward slightly to close the distance between them, he asked, “Why are you living with me?”

“Wasn’t it you who wanted me to live with you?” Lu Wei countered.

Lin Si’s fingers twitched slightly. “But why did you agree?”

“Do you really want to spend your heat period with an Alpha?” Lu Wei continued eating, not bothering to look up.

What started as a conversation turned into a string of rhetorical questions.

“No, I don’t,” Lin Si said. “I just didn’t expect you’d agree to help me. It’s… a little surprising.”

Lu Wei finally paused, looking at Lin Si with a puzzled expression. “You feel privileged?”

Lin Si waved his hands quickly. “That’s not what I meant…”

He leaned forward, trying to explain that “privileged” was just an exaggerated expression. But seeing the look on Lu Wei’s face, he leaned back into his chair and muttered in frustration, “Fine… just forget I said anything.”

After a long silence, Lu Wei spoke. “Lin Si, about what happened before… Lu Shaoming was in the wrong.”

Lin Si rested his thumb on the edge of the bowl. He couldn’t bring himself to say things like “It’s okay,” “It’s in the past,” or “It doesn’t matter.” Instead, he stayed silent for a moment, then got up, placed his bowl into the dishwasher, closed his eyes briefly, and rubbed his face with his hands.

He shouldn’t have asked that question.

A single meal wasn’t going to make Lu Wei easy to talk to, nor would it magically erase the tension between them or their shared past.

In the living room, the TV channel had been changed to a figure skating competition. Lin Si used a fork to pick out a rusted piece of apple from the fruit bowl, then carried it back out to the dining table.

Lu Wei ate more than he did, so he ate slower too. Lin Si quietly placed the bowl of fruit on the table, keeping it four fingers’ width away from the dishes.

It was an awkward attempt to show Lu Wei that he was sharing his food. A clumsy gesture to silently say: Let’s call it even.

After returning to his room, Lin Si stood by the wall to digest his meal. He wanted Lu Wei’s reopened wounds to be buried again as quickly as possible. After thinking for a few minutes, he squatted down and started unpacking the delivery box from Bubble.

The virtual reality headset was smaller than he had imagined. It came with miniature earphones and body-sensing patches. The patches could detect body position and skin changes, providing corresponding sensations.

Lin Si had never used anything like this before, but it felt like an ultra-advanced version of Dream Town.

Lin Si’s emotions were soaring. He wanted to try out the headset that very night, but he had to review the script—work was still important.

He didn’t have time to explore the new world with Y, but the thought lingered in his mind. Unwilling to let it go, he messaged Y again: [Have you eaten yet?]

Y responded quickly: [Just finished.]

Lin Si liked how fast Y replied. He followed up with: [Did your glasses arrive yet?]

Y: [Not yet.]

Hearing this, Lin Si felt a little better: [Mine arrived, hehe. I’ll wait for you.]

Y: [Okay.]

Y added: [There’s a notice: To unlock couple privileges in the virtual world, you have to pass the relationship system test as a couple first.]

Lin Si let out a surprised “Huh?” and asked: [When did that become a thing? I’ve never heard of it.]

Y: [It’s always been there. You just didn’t notice.]

Lin Si realized he’d been too eager to play in the virtual world to bother reading any official notices carefully.

Apparently, the perks for virtual couples weren’t free—there was a test to pass.

Tapping the edge of his phone, Lin Si revisited a question he had asked Y a long time ago: [Should we try the relationship system?]

This time, Y’s reply wasn’t “No.” Instead, it was:

[Okay.]

The word was short, without even a period, taking up a small space in the chat box. Yet, it consumed all of Lin Si’s focus.

His face grew warm, and a grin tugged at the corners of his lips. Like every guy whose confession had just succeeded, he clenched his fist in excitement.

He wetted his lips with his tongue, leaned closer to his phone, and sent Y a voice message.

This time, there was no need to pretend. His voice was sweet and soft as he said, “Okay!”

With trembling hands, he sent Y the invitation.

Moments later, the entire chat interface transformed. The standard, rigid input box was now bordered by a miniature avatar of Y with heart-shaped bubbles floating around it. Many buttons turned into heart shapes.

On the main screen, two small round icons representing them suddenly moved together, swaying left and right, and performed a kiss animation.

【Mwah～It’s the taste of love!】

System prompt:
[Congratulations on becoming a couple with Y! Click the menu below to enter the relationship system! Wishing you lasting happiness~]

“Congratulations on becoming a couple with Y…“

Lin Si stared at the screen, dazed, confirming the words over and over.

Becoming a couple.

Even though Y’s agreement felt like a parent reluctantly indulging a child, Lin Si couldn’t deny the warm satisfaction bubbling inside him.

He eagerly explored the changes in the couple system and noticed that the two small spheres had turned a light pink.

Curious, he tapped one.

“Mwah~ The intimacy level has to be high for it to turn red~”

Lin Si grinned and began experimenting, using his sphere to bump into Y’s. The two spheres stuck together, rubbing against each other for a few moments before separating.

“Meow~ Don’t forget to kiss Y!”

Lin Si was torn between laughing and marveling at the system.

Couples really are treated differently… The features are so bold! So thrilling! I can kiss Y every day now!

Excited, he opened the system interface and navigated through it, quickly identifying some unique features with his knack for simulation games.

Unable to contain himself, he called Y.

“Hello?” Lin Si said, his voice slightly giddy.

“Mm,” Y replied calmly, his tone steady and unhurried.

Lin Si felt that his tone had risen, and he couldn’t help but smile, “You replied so quickly.”

“I was already chatting with you,” Y replied.

Y had a way of making all his words sound serious. If he softened his voice a little, this sentence would have been a warm, tender piece of affection.

Lin Si felt like a boat leaving the harbor; the more Y indulged him, the deeper he fell unilaterally in love.

“Why aren’t you speaking?” Y asked.

Lin Si quickly snapped out of his daydream, responding, “I clicked into that system. I saw that there are three ways to increase intimacy—

The first is the most basic: keep in touch every day, continuously. The longer the contact, the more intimacy points are added.

The second is through games. The system has many two-player cooperative games, and completing them can increase intimacy.

The third is through tests. Every three days after confirming the relationship, you can participate in a compatibility test. Passing the test also rewards intimacy points.

Once the intimacy reaches 1000, you can enter the virtual world as a couple.”

Y listened and then responded with a simple “Mm.” After a pause, as if setting down his phone, he said, “I have a video meeting, I won’t be able to accompany you today. Can we do it tomorrow?”

Lin Si hurriedly said, “No worries, no worries. I’ve been busy lately too, so it’s not urgent.”

“Are there many kids learning dance recently?” Y asked.

Lin Si froze for a moment. His brain hadn’t fully connected with his earlier lie, and it took several seconds before he replied, “Oh, yeah, quite a few…”

Y didn’t show any sign of suspicion and simply said, “Mm, make sure to rest.”

“You too,” Lin Si said, his heart racing, afraid he was digging himself into a deeper hole. “Well, you can go back to work.”

Y, seemingly pushed away by Lin Si’s hurried dismissal, was now gone. Lin Si held onto his script but couldn’t focus. He turned on his desk lamp, grabbed a notebook and pen, and started writing down some notes.

【Forget Love, 19 years old, North City, Dance Studio】

He thought for a moment, scratched out “Dance Studio,” and changed it to “Dance Training Class,” then added: [Quite poor].

After all, he’s the kind of person who won’t have enough money to open both a bookstore and a guesthouse even when he retires.

Next, he wrote: [Lives in West River], then scratched that out and replaced it with: [Shares a rental with someone].

Sharing a rental with an Alpha could cause misunderstandings, so he wrote: [Shares a rental with a silent, incompatible Omega].

With his notes done, Lin Si read them aloud and recited them three times, deciding to carry them around for the next few days.

---

Lin Si spent three days thoroughly reading the script twice.

The day he finished reading it, it was 3:30 in the morning. Lin Si rubbed his eyes, leaned down to rest for two minutes, then got back up.

If he compared the script for “Missing You 66” with “Leaning on the Car Window”, the former was like a delicious sweet treat, while the latter was a cup of strong, bitter liquor—dissatisfying from the first sip, and even worse as it lingered.

He walked back and forth in his room, still feeling a bit blocked in his chest.

As he reached the door, Lin Si touched the cold handle. Beyond those two doors was Lu Wei.

At the tea house, Ye Gaotang hadn’t explicitly stated it, but everyone knew that Lin Zisong was the absolute lead.

But from the script Lin Si held, it seemed this movie was more of a double male lead, with the roles of older brother You Shan and younger brother You Yu.

Lin Si hadn’t expected that what Lu Wei had given him was a role almost equal to a lead.

Lin Si’s nerves were a constant source of anxiety, no matter how many acting classes he took or techniques he learned. His lack of self-confidence only intensified.

The role of You Yu required more than just playing a rebellious youth. In the earlier stages of his life, You Yu was a charming and mischievous boy. But as he grew older, his character took a dark turn—drinking, smoking, fighting, visiting brothels, and eventually succumbing to drugs. He wasn’t just a troubled teenager; he was a symbol of destruction.

Lin Si guessed that during the audition, Ye Gaotang would likely ask him to portray You Yu at two different stages of his life. The thought alone made his stomach twist with nerves.

He turned off the desk lamp and quietly opened the door, tiptoeing out into the hallway. But just as he reached the threshold, the lock made a soft “click,” and the lights in the hallway flickered on. The sudden brightness startled him, and he stumbled back several steps.

When Lu Wei entered, he found Lin Si holding onto a marble pillar, wearing a loose nightshirt, his large eyes wide with surprise as he locked gazes with him.

For a moment, Lu Wei froze, forgetting to step inside.

Lin Si clung to the pillar with one hand, holding the script up to shield half of his face. After confirming it was Lu Wei, he stammered, “What are you doing out here? Aren’t you supposed to be inside?!”

He glanced at Lu Wei’s closed bedroom door.

It was securely shut. Seven hours ago, around eight in the evening, he had bumped into Lu Wei in the living room. But now, at 3:30 in the morning, Lu Wei shouldn’t be coming home.

Lin Si’s mind raced, and as the fog in his brain lifted, he let go of the pillar, watching as Lu Wei bent down to remove his shoes. His suit was neat, but his hair was a little messy, unlike his usual strict appearance. It didn’t seem like he had been abruptly awakened in the middle of the night. It was as if he had left and come back with purpose.

A sudden realization struck Lin Si.

It must be because he didn’t want Lu Wei bringing people like Deng Tian back home. So, Lu Wei had gone out instead. He could sleep just fine, but his clothes stayed tidy while his hair got messy.

It was snowing outside, and Lin Si guessed it must have been quite cold. Even if Lu Wei had driven, it must have taken a lot of willpower to go out in those conditions.

Lin Si couldn’t help but marvel at how energetic Alphas were…

Lu Wei changed into his shoes, glanced at him under the dim light, and for once, asked proactively, “Not going to sleep yet?”

“Oh, I…” Lin Si pointed to the script in his hand, then to the room next door. “I plan to practice for a bit in the dance studio next door.”

Lu Wei didn’t quite agree. “Leave it for tomorrow.”

The tranquility of the night wrapped around Lu Wei’s cold demeanor, softening even his words. The warm, amber light made his tone seem even more gentle.

Lin Si, unused to such warmth, pinched his palm. “It’s fine. I have a long commute tomorrow morning, so I can sleep on the car ride.”

Lu Wei didn’t stop him again. He picked up his briefcase and returned to his room.

Lin Si glanced back at his retreating figure, silent for two seconds, then quietly left, shutting the door behind him to seal off this late-night encounter.

---

The morning sunlight was faint, filtering through the glass and softly brightening the room.

It was Lu Wei’s first time entering Lin Si’s room.

The light-toned decor reflected the morning glow, creating an even brighter ambiance. The carpet was fluffy, and Lu Wei, who rarely paid attention to Lin Si’s living habits, hesitated for a moment, unsure if Lin Si usually walked on it with shoes.

In the end, he took off his shoes before stepping inside.

The desk was messy, and so was the bed.

From his vantage point, Lu Wei couldn’t spot Lin Si anywhere.

He patted the blanket—soft, with no sign of anyone inside. Lifting it, he found the bulge beneath was merely a heap of stuffed animals, not Lin Si.

Holding the edge of the blanket, Lu Yan stayed motionless for a full five seconds before carefully putting it back. Unable to resist his obsessive tendencies, he smoothed out the edges to form a neat line.

Before leaving, he quickly scanned Lin Si’s room, trying to associate Lin Si with the fluffy, plump, and adorably vibrant decor.

Yet, from Lin Si’s bedroom to the entryway, Lu Wei still carried a faint sense of disbelief.

Finally, Lu Wei found Lin Si in the dance studio next door.

When he pushed open the door, Lin Si was lying on his side on the floor, his worn-out cat-face slippers lying off to the side near his pale ankles. He curled up, his back hunched, and his long legs folded—a posture that revealed a lack of security.

Perhaps it was because one of his hands rested near his eyes, shielding him from the overhead light, that Lin Si slept so peacefully, without a hint of impatience.

Tranquil, like a well-behaved child.

It made one reluctant to wake him from his sweet dreams.

Lu Wei stared at him for two seconds before bending one knee to the ground, ensuring his voice wouldn’t be too loud as he tried to wake Lin Si.

“Lin Si.”

“Lin Si.”

“Lin Si.”

He called his name three times, but Lin Si only responded once with a slight flutter of his eyelashes.

“Lin Si.” Lu Wei’s hand hovered in the air for a long moment before he finally decided to give Lin Si’s head a gentle push, his fingers brushing against his hair.

“Wake up.”

“Mm…” Lin Si’s arm finally moved a little. Perhaps too lazy to lift it, he shifted it toward his mouth and murmured, “Hello… why are you calling me?”

Lu Wei’s hand, halfway retracted, froze in midair.

But only for a moment. He quickly pulled it back entirely.

Lin Si was still groggy, his speech slurred. He was likely trying to say “hello” or habitually muttering “hi” as if answering a phone call.

Lu Wei didn’t believe in such coincidences. Lin Si and “Forget Love” were worlds apart in personality. He vividly remembered “Forgotten Love” denying their identity twice with absolute clarity.

“Lin Si, get up.” Lu Wei said firmly for the last time.

Lin Si finally opened his eyes, blinking several times to focus. When he saw it was Lu Wei, he called out his name in a daze, “Lu Wei?”

“You didn’t bring your phone. Liao Ji is looking for you,” Lu Wei explained.

The hard floor left Lin Si feeling sore all over. As he pushed himself up, his oversized neckline slid down, exposing one shoulder.

Lu Wei glanced at him before quickly turning his head away. Finally, the irritation he’d been holding back spilled out: “Can’t you buy a new set of pajamas?”

Still half-asleep and muddled from the mistaken belief that Y had called him, Lin Si rubbed his eyes wearily. His soft, red lips murmured, “But they’re so comfortable… And I can’t buy the same style anymore… I don’t want new ones.”

His voice was low, tinged with a bit of habitual morning grumpiness, sounding more like a sleepy, petulant complaint.

Lu Wei’s planned lecture about his sloppy clothing habits got stuck in his throat.

“Liao Ji is looking for you,” Lu Wei repeated dryly, then turned and walked out of the dance studio.

Lin Si hurried to follow behind, still rubbing his messy hair, his steps sluggish.

After returning to his room and grabbing his phone, Lin Si glanced at his bed and felt something was off.

Was it always this tidy here?

But before he could dwell on it, the missed call log caught his attention—Liao Ji had called him thirteen times to wake him up.

It was 6:45 a.m. He had slept for less than two hours.

Yawning slowly, Lin Si called Liao Ji back. As soon as the call connected, he preemptively said, “I know, I know, I’m already up. I forgot my phone last night and slept somewhere else.”

“Where exactly did you sleep?” Liao Ji asked, sounding alarmed. “Did you go out? A hotel?”

Lin Si chuckled, “What are you talking about? I slept at Lu Wei’s place.”

The statement hit Liao Ji like a thunderbolt. “What?! You slept with Lu Wei?!”

Lin Si blinked, and after a moment of realization, he bent over laughing. “No, no, I didn’t sleep with Lu Wei…”

He sat on the floor, leaning against the edge of the bed. Then, as if sensing something, he suddenly turned his head.

Lu Wei, dressed in a shirt and suit trousers, stood at the doorway, his gaze icy enough to freeze the air.

He looked at Lin Si with an expression that seemed to say, “Are you out of your mind?”

Lin Si immediately waved his hands, looking innocent. “No, I didn’t say I slept with you last night…”

But Lu Wei’s face clearly said, “I heard it with my own ears.”

Meanwhile, on the other end of the call, Liao Ji was still pressing, “So who did you sleep with last night?!”

Lin Si took a deep breath, trying to explain the whole “did I sleep, with whom, and where” situation, but before he could, Lu Wei had already turned on his heel and walked away.

“…”

“I went next door! Next door, to Lu Wei’s place!” Lin Si finally clarified. “I slept in the dance studio!”

Finally, the explanation calmed Liao Ji down. “Alright, you scared me. I’ll be at your place in five minutes. Get ready.”

They had to rush to the set of “Missing You 66” that day. Lin Si caught up on sleep during the ride and woke up to find they’d already arrived at the filming location.

At the start of the new year, the set was filled with cheerful energy. Liao Ji handed out red envelopes and gifts, and Lin Si also received presents from many of the crew members.

“Happy New Year,” Xu Xiangyang said, handing him a gift. Lin Si smiled and replied, “Thank you, Brother Xiangyang.”

“Did you have a good New Year’s?” Xu Xiangyang asked, noticing Lin Si seemed to be in a good mood.

Lin Si scratched his head, thinking back over the break. Nothing particularly exciting had happened, aside from moving houses and…

Y agreeing to use the love system with him.

He remembered watering the love tree in the system that morning, only to find Y entering the garden at the same time, as if they were in sync.

[Feeling Y’s affection, I’ve grown taller~]

[Feeling Forgotten Love’s affection, I’ve grown taller too~]

Their intimacy points doubled due to watering the tree together.

Lin Si immediately switched to the chat interface: [Why are you up so early?]

Y: 【Mm.】

Lin Si asked: 【But I just got your “goodnight” at 4 a.m.】

Y: [There was an emergency at the company.]

Lin Si: 【Then you only slept for a few hours. Aren’t you going to sleep a little longer?】

Y: 【I’m already up. I’m heading to the office.】

Lin Si: 【Rest in your office for a while, okay? I’m about to take a nap too. Deal?】

Lin Si sent Y a picture of an adorable teddy bear tucked under a blanket.

Just as he was about to doze off while waiting for a reply, Y finally responded: 【Okay.】

Lin Si had no doubts. He firmly believed that as long as Y agreed, he would keep his word.

Suddenly, Lin Si remembered that he and Y had now been using the love system for three days. According to the system’s rules, they were eligible to take the compatibility test.

With their initial matching rate of 94.800%, Lin Si was confident it would be an easy task.

Later that evening, after finishing his scenes, Lin Si reached out to Y: 【Are you off work yet?】

Y: 【More or less.】

Lin Si chuckled: 【So are you off work or not?】

Y: 【Talking to you doesn’t interfere with my work.】

Lin Si asked: 【Can you take a call?】

Y didn’t call him back, replying instead: 【In a meeting room.】

Lin Si: 【You’re slacking off.】

Y: 【It’s fine.】

Lin Si lay on his bed, grinning. It was hard to imagine someone as serious and rigid as Y sneaking glances at his phone during a meeting.

Lin Si: 【We can take the compatibility test now. Want to give it a try?】

Y: 【Once the meeting ends.】

Lin Si: 【Mm, mm.】

Y didn’t keep him waiting long. Just as Lin Si turned a page of his script, Y replied: 【I’m ready.】

Lin Si asked casually: 【Have you eaten yet?】

Y: 【Haven’t had the chance.】

Lin Si immediately called him. The moment Y picked up, Lin Si scolded, “It’s already 11:30. Why haven’t you eaten?”

In the background, Lin Si could hear voices and other noises coming from Y’s side.

“Still finishing up work,” Y said.

Not long after, Lin Si heard the sound of a car door closing.

“Are you heading home now?” Lin Si asked.

“Mm.”

“Then don’t talk on the phone while driving. Let’s chat later,” Lin Si said firmly.

Y paused for a moment before replying, “Alright.”

Lin Si went back to reading his “Leaning Against the Car Window” script. Y called again later, but since Lin Si was eating, they didn’t talk much. Instead, Lin Si listened quietly to the sounds of Y eating through his earpiece while continuing to read.

“I’m done,” Y said after a while. “Are you reading?”

Lin Si flipped through his script and, since it could technically count as reading, he simply hummed in agreement, “Mm.”

Worried Y might ask what book he was reading, Lin Si quickly changed the topic. “Should we try it now?”

“Alright.”

Lin Si opened his phone. “Our intimacy points are increasing so slowly. We’re not even at 300 yet. Once I finish this big project in a few days, let’s play all the games together.”

Y, as always, said, “Alright.”

Lin Si clicked on the compatibility test. Suddenly, their voice call disconnected.

Lin Si: 【What happened?】

Y: 【The system prohibits voice calls during tests to prevent cheating.】

Lin Si understood and replied: 【Alright, let’s retake the test.】

He added, 【We have to showcase our amazing compatibility!】

[Confidently pats chest.jpg]

They reentered the compatibility test page.

Lin Si pressed the start button and waited for Y.

The screen transitioned, and the question mode began.

Question 1: Can your A/O eat spicy food?

【Yes】
【No】

The countdown began. Lin Si froze—he had no idea whether Y could eat spicy food. He hadn’t expected the first question to stump him.

But it was okay. He could take a guess.

Lin Si: “What the heck?!”

He stared at the screen in disbelief.

The test continued to taunt him. Question 2: Does your A/O prefer sweet or savory rice dumplings?

【Sweet】
【Savory】

Lin Si refused to believe his luck was this bad. He confidently clicked 【Sweet】.

The screen shook violently, showing another big red X.

Lin Si: “What? Are you kidding me?!”

Before he could process the failure, Question 3 appeared:

Which of these three fruits is your favorite?
【Cherries】
【Strawberries】
【Watermelon】

Lin Si picked 【Cherries】 and clasped his hands together in prayer: “Please, just let me get this one right. Please, please, please!”

Another red X.

Lin Si: “What happened to our so-called amazing compatibility?!”

Question 4: Which of the following songs do you like best?
【Last Dance】
【Jasmine Flower】
【My Motherland and I】

Lin Si gave his “compatibility” one last shot, hesitating for a long time before clicking 【My Motherland and I】.

The screen shook so much it practically gave him motion sickness.

Question 5: Do you sleep with the lights on or off?
【On】
【Off】

Lin Si, feeling defeated, tapped 【On】.

This time, the screen stayed still.

He sat bolt upright on his bed, practically shouting: “Finally! One right!”

But just as he celebrated, a notification popped up:

[Due to the excessively low compatibility between you and Y, this test has been terminated early.]

Lin Si: “What?! What do you mean by ‘excessively low’?! Is this a joke?!”

Lin Si stared at the screen in disbelief. “What…?”

The notification popped up again: “Due to your low compatibility with Y, this compatibility test has ended early.”

Lin Si: “Wait… What?!”

He clicked the compatibility test button again, only to be greeted with: “Please try again in three days. Meow~”

“Meow?!”

Lin Si was fuming. He had answered all the questions wrong. None of them matched!

He opened the chat with Y and sent a crying emoji: [Crying my eyes out.jpg]

Lin Si messaged again: [I got everything wrong…]

Then he sent another emoji of a little figure rolling around crying: [We have to wait three days to try again, TAT.]

Y replied with a simple: [Sorry.]

Lin Si asked, his curiosity piqued: [Can’t you handle spicy food?]

Y responded: [Not really.]

Lin Si felt even more confused: [How is this possible… Our compatibility is so high, this shouldn’t be happening. I had some issues when registering my account, but I thought our answers would match on most of the questions.]

He continued: [We were just unlucky, I guess. It must’ve been that 5.200% blind spot that we drew.]

The chat window remained still for a few minutes. Then Y sent another message: [This account wasn’t registered by me.]

Lin Si blinked and reread the message a few times, not quite believing it: [It wasn’t you?]

Y replied: [No.]

Lin Si asked, his voice quiet: [So… were the answers to the questions also not yours?]

Y responded: [No.]

Lin Si’s fingers grew cold as he tried to process what Y had said: [Then… who was I matched with?]

Y: [It was me.]

Lin Si paused, rubbing his thumb over his index finger as he slowly processed the meaning: [So… the compatibility was fake, but the person I matched with on the plaza that day was you? And it’s always been you since then?]

Y: [Yes, I’m sorry. I should’ve told you earlier.]

Lin Si’s heart sank, like buying a pair of slippers only to realize after wearing them for a while that they didn’t fit.

The air between them became quiet. Lin Si didn’t say anything, and neither did Y.

Lin Si scrolled back through their messages, noticing that “Good morning” and “Good night” had become part of their routine. Even when they were too busy to talk, there would always be those small, comforting words from each other.

Perhaps the feelings between two strangers didn’t develop as quickly as Lin Si hoped for a romantic relationship, but at least they had already grown accustomed to each other’s company.

There were no tests, no suspicions, no asking where the other came from or where they were going. It was like two gentle pools of warm water, softly leaning on one another.

Lin Si took a deep breath and typed carefully.

Lin Si: [It’s okay, compatibility doesn’t mean much.]

Y: [Are you mad?]

Their messages appeared simultaneously on the screen.

Lin Si: [A little frustrated, but not angry.]

Y: [Thank you.]

Again, they sent their messages at the same time.

The long-awaited harmony between them suddenly returned, and Lin Si couldn’t help but laugh and cry. It was as if they were rushing to speak, eager to connect.

Lin Si decided to stay silent, letting Y speak first. But Y stayed quiet as well.

“…” Lin Si pursed his lips and sent an emoji: [Peeking out my little head.jpg]

Lin Si: [Maybe compatibility is fate, but the fate that brought me you, I really like it.]

Y stayed silent for a long time.

Lin Si switched topics: [Tell me the answers to the questions earlier, let me see how we managed to get rejected by the system.]

Y: [Can’t eat spicy, salty zongzi, don’t like fruit, don’t like listening to music, sleep with the lights off.]

Lin Si thought about saying his life seemed a bit dull, but then noticed Y didn’t like listening to music, so he clicked on his profile picture.

Although Y had changed from “44” to “Y”, his profile picture was still Lin Si’s.

Lin Si: [You haven’t changed your profile picture?]

Y: [I don’t have a suitable photo on my phone.]

Lin Si: [What about the snowman photo I sent you?]

After a brief pause, the page refreshed, and Y’s profile picture changed to the snowman photo.

Lin Si rubbed his hands together: [It actually looks pretty good.]

He clicked on his own profile picture and wanted to complain to Y: [A few days ago, someone called me ‘outdated,’ said my profile picture looks like something my grandpa would use.]

Y: [Don’t mind them, you’re very fashionable.]

Lin Si happily rolled around: [How can you tell I’m fashionable?]

Y: [From the emojis.]

Lin Si laughed several times: [Those are all system-provided!]

Y: [Using them at the right time is also a form of fashion.]

Lin Si felt flattered and happily told Y: [Then should I change my profile picture too?]

Y had no objections: [Sure.]

Lin Si changed his profile picture to the snowman, just like Y’s.

Lin Si: [Then I’ll use this one too.]

Y didn’t call him out on his roguish behavior, simply replied: [Okay.]

With matching couple avatars, Lin Si felt even more like he was in a relationship. Before going to bed, he couldn’t help but smile a “wicked” grin when he thought about it.

---

They landed at 3 a.m. after a flight.

Lin Si rushed back to North City from the filming location, taking the fastest flight.

Ye Gaotan suddenly changed the audition schedule, catching Lin Si off guard. He hadn’t even removed his makeup and rushed to leave immediately.

Lin Si quietly asked Liao Ji: “What if I don’t pass? Will Lu Wei’s investment go to waste?”

Liao Ji, who had only slept for two hours, was still half asleep and replied with his eyes closed: “That won’t happen. Even without you, investing in Ye Gaotan’s movie is very unlikely to fail. Everyone is fighting to become a backer for Ye Gaotan. It’s impressive that Lu Wei was able to get such a big deal when he took over Shengshi.”

With Liao Ji’s words, Lin Si immediately felt relieved, ready to go all out without pressure.

“By the way, I just remembered something. Li Zhong couldn’t stay at ‘World Fashion’ and switched jobs at the beginning of the year,” Liao Ji said. “To Hangji Entertainment.”

Lin Si lowered his gaze, thinking for a moment: “Isn’t their VP called Liu Shenyan?”

“Yeah,” Liao Ji replied, “Liu Shenyan’s husband is Zheng Hao, the leader in the domestic e-commerce industry. I don’t know how Li Zhong managed to connect with Liu Shenyan, but even though Hangji isn’t as big as Shengshi, with Zheng Hao backing them, it’s still a good place.”

Lin Si recalled Liu Shenyan and Qin Xiao he saw at the hotel long ago, tapped the armrest, and said softly, “I wonder if the e-commerce industry sells hats.”

“Hats? What hats?”

Lin Si’s eyes flickered, thinking to himself, Green hats.

“Never mind, I’ll rest a bit more.”

The weather in North City had warmed slightly, but the wind at 3 a.m. was the coldest. Lin Si hurriedly walked through the corridor and entered an office.

To his surprise, sitting there was Lin Zisong.

“Lin…” Lin Si hesitated on how to address him. “Hello, Mr. Lin.”

Lin Zisong smiled and patted his shoulder. “Just call me Song Ge.”

“Song Ge.”

Lin Zisong invited him to sit down, his face showing signs of fatigue. “You came early, more than an hour ahead of time.”

“It’s nothing. We just didn’t have anywhere else to go,” Lin Si replied.

They had just gotten off the plane, and if they had gone home, they would have missed the time.

Lin Zisong seemed to like Lin Si. “Last time at the teahouse, we didn’t get to talk much. It wasn’t until you called me Mr. Lin that I remembered, we both share the same last name.”

He got up to fetch a glass of water and stopped Lin Si from standing up. “Sit tight, a few more people haven’t arrived yet.”

Lin Si took a sip of the warm water. “It’s fine, no rush.”

Lin Zisong handed Liao Ji a cup as well and casually sat next to Lin Si. “They probably didn’t get much sleep. I also got a call from Director Ye early this morning. He has something urgent and needs to fly abroad, so he might be busy for a while. That’s why everything’s rushed today.”

Lin Si nodded.

“Don’t worry about the short time. Director Ye is very good at picking actors, he can choose the right one for a role in just one scene.”

Lin Si immediately said, “It’s fine, I’m ready whenever.”

Just as he finished speaking, the door burst open, and a small person with yellow hair shouted, “Lin Zisong! Did the kid you mentioned, Lu Wei, that easy-to-bully one, arrive yet?”

T/n: New chapter is up 🥳. If you want to support me buy me a Ko-Fi or go to my paypal page. Happy Reading 🎊😍.