These days I’ve been a bit sleep-deprived. Song Jianchu originally intended to sleep immediately after returning, but inexplicably got dragged into wandering around a haunted building.
That haunted building was a place Song Jianchu used to pass by frequently during his school days, and he had heard numerous terrifying rumors about it. However, he had never escaped from it as swiftly as he did today.
As a result, the online viewers in the live chat misunderstood deeply.
[“Damn it! What’s with the horror special in the middle of the night! Trash director! Look how scared you’ve made my son!”]
[“Wuwuwu, my son isn’t afraid, slow down and be careful not to fall.”]
[“Teacher Mu is such a good person. Can you hold my little treasure’s hand again, or give him a hug? Just to comfort him.”]
Pei Shinian had just come out of the haunted building, while Song Jianchu was already rushing towards the dormitory building alone, his back appearing calm yet hurried.
Qin Fang sneered from behind, “You said you’re not afraid, then why are you running?”
Without looking back, Song Jianchu continued walking forward and casually replied amidst the chilly wind, “Go back and sleep.”
“Is Jianchu okay?” Pei Shinian expressed his concern, “Being locked inside must have scared him a lot. He usually seems mature, but after all, he’s still a child.”
“Before worrying about others, you should stop trembling yourself,” Bai Xingyu teased with a smile.
“Look at how spineless you are. In the future, your significant other will have to treat you like a baby to pacify you.”
“I’m not scared!” Pei Shinian retorted, stubbornly wrapping his thin down jacket tightly. “I just didn’t wear enough clothes, and it’s getting colder tonight. I’m freezing.”
Bai Xingyu chuckled, “Hehe.”
Mu Ye leisurely strolled behind everyone, staring at the departing figure without deeply reflecting on why he couldn’t resist earlier.
Song Jianchu returned to the dormitory alone. Once inside, he hurriedly went to the bathroom and turned on the tap to wash his face.
As he walked back, the scent of Mu Ye clung to his face, unable to be dispersed even by the cold wind. If he got too close to others, they would surely notice.
After washing up, Song Jianchu raised his damp face and checked it in the mirror. Fortunately, his lips weren’t swollen…
Even when he used to fight as a child and got injured, he never cared about his face this much.
Song Jianchu casually grabbed a towel and wiped his face, finally managing to calm himself completely.
After drying his face and lifting his head, Song Jianchu’s nose twitched.
“Huh?”
Why did the fragrance return??
Song Jianchu looked down in confusion.
He had taken Mu Ye’s towel…
The dormitory door opened from the outside.
Mu Ye brought the chill from outside into the room, holding a strawberry milk he had conveniently bought from the supermarket on the way, and glanced at the lit-up bathroom. “Chu Chu, taking a shower? I bought milk for you, it’s in the refrigerator. Remember to drink it when you come out.”
Song Jianchu replied, “Alright, thank you.”
Song Jianchu quickly regained his composure and promptly threw the towel in his hand into the laundry basket. He took out a new towel of the same color from the bathroom storage cabinet and hung it up.
Mu Ye is a person who appreciates the rituals of life, living freely yet exquisitely. The perfumer of a top fragrance brand personally designed an exclusive scent, “Moray,” for Mu Ye, naming it after his English name. Warm fragrances like amber and iris, combined with spicy notes of oriental trees and tobacco, blend harmoniously to create a uniquely captivating and sensual scent, showcasing Mu Ye’s personal charm as a man.
Due to using this perfume for years, the scent has permeated every item of Mu Ye’s belongings, even down to the customized shower gel.
After finishing his shower, the perfume scent had already dissipated from the air. Song Jianchu leaned closer to the towel and took a sniff, confirming that it had absorbed the scent. He finally breathed a sigh of relief and sluggishly exited the bathroom.
“Done with your shower?” Mu Ye was tidying up his desk and glanced back at Song Jianchu. “Go drink your milk.”
Song Jianchu nodded. “Okay, you go shower.”
Mu Ye replied, “I’m almost done tidying up.”
Song Jianchu retrieved a box of strawberry milk from the refrigerator. He used to only drink plain milk and rarely tried flavored ones, but this one tasted pretty good.
It was refreshingly cool, relieving his internal heat.
As Mu Ye walked past him on the way to the bathroom, he casually patted Song Jianchu’s head. “Go to sleep when I come out, right away.”
“Um, there’s something,” Song Jianchu felt it would be better to mention it, so he briefly explained what happened and said, “I accidentally knocked off your towel earlier, but I hung up a new one for you.”
“Okay,” Mu Ye smiled nonchalantly. “No problem.”
Song Jianchu lay down on the bed, and the sound of water came from the bathroom.
While waiting, he opened his long-neglected Weibo account. As expected, the comments section was buzzing again.
[Has someone forgotten that they have a Weibo account???]
[Your employees have been on Weibo multiple times during the recording of the program. Why are you so lazy???]
[Post a Weibo to show your mom how your work is exhausting you.]
[Did my little darling get scared tonight? Watch a couple episodes of cartoons before bedtime. Mom recommends ‘Little Dog Percy,’ ‘Miao Miao Squad’s Great Achievement,’ and ‘The Wolf is Coming.’]
[Silly sweetheart, even though I watch you every day on the livestream, Mom still misses you so much. Please post a recent photo for Mom, even a picture of the scenery around you would be nice.]
Song Jianchu chuckled and lazily brushed through dozens of comments and private messages, quickly selecting a photo of his work meal from his phone gallery. He edited a simple caption, half-heartedly engaging with the fans.
[SongJianchuV: Dinner tonight [picture]]
After posting the Weibo, he paid no further attention to it. Pei Shinian and Qin Fang were gaming next door and asked him if he wanted to join them in the group chat, but Song Jianchu ignored it and dove straight into the game.
Just as he entered the game, a burst of laughter erupted through the game voice chat, penetrating the walls.
“Hahaha.” Pei Shinian couldn’t stop laughing as he asked, “Jianchu, what did you post on Weibo?”
Song Jianchu frowned at the laughter, lowering the volume on his phone. “It’s tonight’s dinner.”
Qin Fang chimed in, “Idiot, you posted the wrong picture.”
Song Jianchu replied, “?”
Song Jianchu switched back to Weibo and stared at the accompanying image. His gaze gradually became blank, and his phone slipped halfway from his hand.
The comments section of his new Weibo post had exploded.
[Hahaha, you silly fool, did you post the wrong picture??]
[Mu Ye’s complete set of limited edition sleepwear!!!]
[Damn it, you’ve shown off again in the middle of the night…]
[Son, you’ve finally let go! Mom is moved! Does this mean you’re publicly declaring your love for Teacher Mu Ye now? Sobbing…]
[Oh my, darling, how did you manage this? Did you secretly sneak into Mu Ye’s studio’s inventory warehouse?]
[So, this is the power of being a sugar daddy. (Stares with envy)]
[I heard that collecting these seven sets of sleepwear can summon Muye. So, I guess the true meaning of ‘dinner’ is: Announcing, I, Song Jianchu, will be devouring Muye tonight (Damn, I’m so jealous).]
[What? Darling is going to eat Teacher Muye tonight? How? Wait, is it the kind of ‘eat’ I’m thinking of??]
[So bold, so bold! Darling, you’re so skilled, with that cute and fresh pink hair, why are you so seductive?]
The picture was taken by Song Jianchu casually before he put it in the suitcase on the night he received the sleepwear, just one picture before the dinner photo. His mind had been in a daze since leaving the haunted house. First, he used the wrong towel, and now he had posted the wrong photo…
Song Jianchu quickly deleted the Weibo post.
However, his 50 million fans had no intention of quieting down. They quickly migrated to another comments section to continue the frenzy.
Song Jianchu restrained himself from looking.
It was just a slip of the hand, nothing to worry about. Pretend like nothing happened.
But he couldn’t resist and clicked on the most lively comments section.
[Jianchu’s mom: What are you deleting? Do you want to leave a deeper impression by showing off and then deleting?]
[LoveRuaLittleKitten: Ahhh, I don’t care!! This sleepwear set is the symbol of commitment between our darling and the male god!]
[What other good things did Teacher Mu Ye give you? Don’t hide it, bring it out openly and share the joy with everyone!!]
Song Jianchu snorted and, for the first time, found these fan comments not so unpleasant.
Upon seeing a comment that quickly built a towering structure, Song Jianchu paused his fingertips on the screen, and the faint smile on his lips slowly disappeared.
[I have the answer to this question: Song Jianchu is about to become the sponsor of Mu Ye Studio. It’s normal for the studio to send some merchandise to the sponsor and even a symbol of commitment. You guys are really good at daydreaming, it’s hilarious,] the comment read.
[My dear brother Jiuchi: We’re happy to indulge in our own fantasies and find our own joy. Why does this busybody sister bother herself with things that don’t concern her?] another comment retorted.
[I have the answer to this question: Hehe, I just like to worry unnecessarily. So what if Song Jianchu becomes Mu Ye’s sponsor with his financial power? You people have read too many novels, thinking that your little brother is a sweet protagonist in the entertainment industry. He’s just a sponsor, and money relationships with sponsors can easily find replacements, you know? Even if Mu Ye is truly in love, it won’t be with a fan, right?] another comment argued.
[Mountain Song, hurry up and start writing: Ah, why isn’t he the protagonist of a sweet novel? My little brother’s character is definitely at the level of being the main focus. Even passing stray dogs would have to praise the good pairing,] someone else chimed in.
[It’s the incredibly lucky Qixi Sauce: Exactly! Little brother’s character is the perfect fit for a sweet novel! And by the way, you can’t imagine the happiness of being a sponsor,] another comment added.
…
Song Jianchu’s face darkened as he finished reading all the nested comments in that particular thread. He closed Weibo and switched to the game.
“You deleted the Weibo?” Pei Shinian chuckled. “It’s not a big deal, just showing off some merchandise. It’s not like you showed your marriage certificate. Just edit the caption a bit, and it’ll be fine.”
Qin Fang added, “Did you get scared silly? How could you even mess up posting a picture?”
“Stop wasting time and let’s play the game,” Song Jianchu said calmly, clicking on the “Ready” button. “Start.”
When Mu Ye came out of the bathroom, Song Jianchu had already collected his twelfth kill in the game.
Pei Shinian’s voice came from the phone, “Jianchu, are you cheating? How come you’re so strong today!”
Qin Fang chimed in, “Behind every strong player with amazing kills, there’s a skilled teammate who can keep calm. It must be me providing good cover earlier.”
Song Jianchu sneered, “Your face doesn’t even fit in the box.”
Mu Ye changed into his sleepwear, emitting a warm fragrance, and sat by the edge of Song Jianchu’s bed. Mu Ye asked, “Is there still room? Can I join you?”
Without looking up, Song Jianchu replied, “I’m going to sleep after this round.”
“Then I’ll wait for you,” Mu Ye naturally climbed onto the bed, leaning against the headboard, watching him play the game.
Soon, they led their team to a chicken dinner. Song Jianchu exited the game, lay down under the covers, and prepared to sleep.
Mu Ye got off the bed, turned off the lights, and brought his own pillow over, slipping into Song Jianchu’s blanket as well.
Song Jianchu turned his head in confusion, “?”
They had been sleeping together for two consecutive days. Today, Mu Ye climbed onto the bed so naturally, turned towards him, and asked softly, “Can you hold me while we sleep?”
Song Jianchu didn’t say anything.
He was still thinking about that comment that inexplicably irritated him.
Actually, that netizen was right. A sponsor relationship is a relationship based on money. Once the hundred-day agreement is over and the financial support is settled, he and Mu Ye won’t have much of a relationship.
Although Mu Ye can no longer seek a sponsor, the agreement doesn’t restrict him from pursuing love in the future. Mu Ye can still date, embrace and kiss a real lover, and provide exclusive benefits to his significant other. He can stick to his future romantic partner like a skin-hungry person and sleep beside that person.
With these thoughts, Song Jianchu’s inexplicable discomfort accumulated once again in his heart.
Song Jianchu said in a low-spirited tone, “You should go back to sleep. It’s been enough for today.”
Mu Ye was taken aback for a moment.
Did he go too far with his teasing tonight?
“Are you angry?” Mu Ye hesitated for a moment.
After a brief silence, Song Jianchu pursed his lips and said, “No.”
Mu Ye’s tone was gentle, “You don’t like being affectionate in public? I won’t do it in the future.”
“No.”
Mu Ye observed the subtle changes in the boy’s expression in the darkness, realizing for the first time that it was a bit difficult to guess his thoughts.
Mu Ye stayed quiet for a few seconds and tentatively asked, “So, do you still want to hug?”
Song Jianchu turned to face him from under the blanket, looking at him with a serious gaze. His clear eyes flickered slightly, as if hesitating about something.
Being stared at so seriously by the boy, Mu Ye’s Adam’s apple rolled lightly, and he couldn’t help but laugh. “What’s going on?”
Song Jianchu moved closer from under the blanket, resting his head on Mu Ye’s chest.
Mu Ye looked at the boy’s disheveled hair after washing it, and the sensation of his chest being pressed against brought a tingling sensation.
Mu Ye naturally hugged him closer and comforted in a warm voice, “Who bullied our Chu Chu?”
“Mr. Mu Ye,” Song Jianchu muffled his face, his voice very low.
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you date?” Song Jianchu asked.
Mu Ye was momentarily stunned by the question and blinked. “Huh?”
“Haven’t you met someone you like?” Mu Ye’s fingers gently combed through the soft strands of hair in his arms. After a moment of thought, he smiled and said, “Well, kind of.”
“You’ll meet someone in the future.”
Mu Ye chuckled, “Why are you asking about this?”
Song Jianchu fell silent for a few seconds, then called out softly, “Mr. Mu Ye.”
Mu Ye lazily rested his chin on the boy’s head, closing his eyes contentedly. “Yes?”
“I won’t hold you back for too long. If you meet someone you want to date during our agreement, you can leave at any time. I won’t force you, and I’ll cover the expenses of the agreement.”
Mu Ye slowly opened his eyes, and his expression gradually cooled down.
He looked at the shadows of the lights on the wall and licked his lower teeth.
Suddenly, Mu Ye truly understood the difficulties of being a parent.
Some children could really be infuriating.
After a moment of silence, Mu Ye pinched the boy’s waist in his arms, not too lightly or too heavily. Mu Ye lowered his gaze with a deep gaze, about to do something mischievous to the little kid.
The person in his arms spoke softly again, “But what if you never meet anyone?”
Song Jianchu raised his head, “After the agreement ends, can I renew it?”
Mu Ye slowly released his grip.
Song Jianchu waited for a moment, and suddenly Mu Ye let out a light laugh.
Mu Ye’s gaze was gentle as he smiled and said, “Of course, I’ll give you a discount for the renewal.”
The wealthiest person on Weibo had never cared about discounts when it came to expenses, but this time, the promotional offer made Song Jianchu somewhat excited.
Song Jianchu’s eyes lit up. “How much of a discount can I get?”
Mu Ye was still brooding over what had annoyed him earlier, so he deliberately pondered for a few more seconds and raised an eyebrow. “20% off?”
“…”
The wealthiest person on Weibo thought that was a bit stingy. What’s the difference of saving or not saving twenty million?
“…Oh.”
Mu Ye seized the opportunity to turn the tables and cunningly said, “Come up with something nice-sounding to please me, and I might give you an even bigger discount.”
Song Jianchu hesitated for a moment and contemplated in his mind.
After all, this was more than just a transaction. If there was a chance for long-term consideration in the future, it seemed reasonable to negotiate in advance.
Song Jianchu pondered and said, “The King of Music.”
“30% off.”
“Brother Ye.”
“50% off.”
“Give me a hint.” Mu Ye said casually, “I like reduplicative expressions.”
Apart from calling his parents and grandparents, Song Jianchu had never used any reduplicative expressions in his life. Why would a guy use reduplicative expressions?
After struggling for a moment, Song Jianchu reluctantly spoke, slowly and softly, “Brother Mu Ye.”
Mu Ye squinted with delight. “Hmm, 70% off.”
Song Jianchu felt that this discount was already sufficient, and he was ready to conclude his first bargaining experience in life on a positive note.
“Don’t you want to try again?” Mu Ye temptingly said in a soft voice, “Perhaps we can go even lower.”
Were there any more reduplicative expressions he could use?
Song Jianchu furrowed his brow slightly, pondering deeply.
In a moment of inspiration, a reduplicative expression suddenly came to Song Jianchu’s mind, which he found a bit difficult to accept yet highly likely to be the correct answer.
Song Jianchu looked at the person in front of him, whose expression was filled with anticipation, and his gaze gradually became complex.
Could it be… that Mu Ye liked to be called… ah?
Seeing the bewildered and uncomfortable expression on the person in his arms, Mu Ye accurately guessed the boy’s thoughts this time. His brow twitched helplessly but amusingly, and he reminded, “Not what you’re thinking, just one less prefix than before.”
Song Jianchu’s expression eased slightly, but he still seemed a bit unnatural.
It wasn’t easy for him to speak smoothly.
Calling someone with this reduplicative expression might not be a big deal when he was a child, but doing it when he had grown up seemed like something only girls would do. Song Jianchu couldn’t quite understand why Mu Ye would enjoy being called that.
After struggling for a long time, Song Jianchu buried his head in Mu Ye’s chest again, grasping the pajamas on Mu Ye’s chest.
His voice was soft and slow, with a hint of hesitation and awkwardness.
“…Brother.”
Mu Ye dragged out his response with satisfaction. “Hmm.”
After saying it, Song Jianchu felt as if he were acting coquettish. He pretended as if nothing had happened and buried his face in Mu Ye’s pajamas, thinking that he really was his little brother, so calling him ‘Brother’ was no big deal.
He heard a low laughter, genuine satisfaction, and delight.
Mu Ye hugged his head and kissed it, generously saying, “It’s free.”
Is he calling him ‘gege’? I need to know 🤭
Nah, he wants to be called “Daddy” or “husband”
father-zoned?