Because I Like You

"!" Song Mingzhou's tailbone went numb. His long lashes fluttered open. "I don't dare sleep alone tonight. Can I stay with you for the night, Brother?"

Duan Xun said nothing. One hand braced against the headboard as he looked down at Song Mingzhou, his eyes carrying lofty amusement, as though dissatisfied with that excuse.

They had never been equals.

Whether on the show or off it.

In public or in private.

Even if they had acted like close partners in front of the cameras and everyone else during the day, there was actually an endless gulf between them.

Song Mingzhou was a canary.

And Duan Xun was its master.

If the master was dissatisfied, the canary naturally had to read the room and adjust his strategy in time to please his patron.

So Song Mingzhou immediately changed his tune and showed weakness at once:

"I'm yours, Brother. Could you be seduced by me?"

"Yes."

That simple word shattered the explanations Song Mingzhou had yet to say.

He doesn't play by the rules, hey.

Duan Xun beckoned to him, and Song Mingzhou obediently walked over to the bed, sat down nicely, and offered up his head for Duan Xun to pet.

Duan Xun's dark gaze fell on his open collar. His voice even turned slightly hoarse without his realizing it. "Does being my canary make you feel wronged?"

Song Mingzhou froze, then shook his head. "No."

Of course, he meant that sincerely.

Duan Xun asked again, "Why do you want to stay by my side? I'm not a good person."

When he was in a good mood, he could indulge others no matter how much they made a fuss. But once he was in a bad mood, his fury was not something ordinary people could withstand.

Song Mingzhou frowned and thought for a long while. "Because I like you."

Like?

"Mm. No one has ever treated me well. I think you're good, Brother."

Actually, the original owner had come from a decent family. The Song Household was not enormously wealthy, but they owned a company and could be considered business owners with some money.

But ever since his father married his stepmother a few years ago, things at home had changed.

That three-year-old younger brother really was his stepmother's son. The original owner had been unruly and troublesome before, and he had even completely fallen out with his family over Gu Yanting. Now, no one in the Song Household acknowledged him.

Much less offered him any help.

Otherwise, the original owner would not have fallen so low, nor would he have kept letting Gu Yanting string him along and manipulate him.

Duan Xun's tapping fingers paused. He was somewhat surprised Song Mingzhou would say that, but he could hear Song Mingzhou's thoughts and naturally knew he was only doing this for that so-called mission.

Still, he had no intention of exposing the lie.

Life had been boring to begin with. Now that someone so interesting had appeared, he could not bear to shatter this illusory beauty.

After a moment of silence.

Duan Xun's eyes narrowed slightly.

The dim yellow bedside light fell over his head, making him seem languid and carefree, with a hint of teasing in his expression.

"Come closer."

Song Mingzhou softly crawled a little nearer.

Duan Xun reached out and hooked a finger beneath his smooth chin, slowly stroking his cheek before letting it drift to the corner of his lips. His gaze darkened. "Song Mingzhou."

Song Mingzhou answered smoothly, "Brother."

Duan Xun seemed to like that form of address very much. It made their relationship seem close, yet it carried threads of ambiguity that made it impossible to stop, impossible not to sink into it.

His lips curled pleasantly. "Do you know what a canary should do for its patron?"

Song Mingzhou's face began to burn again. "I know."

He did not know whether it was excitement or shyness.

Or perhaps—

Both.

Ignoring the rambling in Song Mingzhou's thoughts, Duan Xun dragged him onto the bed and pressed him beneath him. Slightly impatient, he reached for Song Mingzhou's waist and gave a gentle tug.

The loose belt came undone.

"Brother..."

The person beneath him called his name with unfocused eyes, both hands sinking into the soft bedsheets.

The next day.

All the guests gathered once more. Perhaps because the guests had sparked so many pink bubbles yesterday and generated quite a stir online, many CPs had emerged.

The production team cleverly took advantage of the buzz and abruptly changed the plan, adding a romantic breakfast-together segment.

Gu Yanting unsurprisingly chose Shen Qing. This time, Xiao Ziyu got ahead of everyone and snatched little Guan Luo away, while Tang Wanxing chose Song Mingzhou.

Duan Xun, who had been resting with his eyes closed, was passively paired with Qin Xuewei.

The production team handed out the mission:

During the sweet breakfast, they were to give each other a gift. After eating, they would go on a romantic one-hour date in the mountains, and viewers would vote live for the best CP.

Duan Xun, who had been resting, was called over. His entire body seemed coated in ancient ice as he gave the director a cold glare. The director shrank his neck and said nothing.

He had rested so well yesterday. How could this ancestor possibly not have slept well??

Even if he had not slept well, that could not be blamed on him, right? It was already eight-thirty. That was not even early, was it? Working people had long begun to toil like livestock, such as the staff members here.

They dared not speak their anger.

Duan Xun rose irritably and casually found a seat.

--'This time they got to choose their own groups! So great! Sister Xing chose Zhouzhou—this older sister and younger brother pairing is killing me!'

--'Brother Ting and Qingqing are still such a perfect match. Their atmosphere is too ambiguous, help!'

--'Does Young Master Duan not love Zhouzhou anymore? Zhouzhou got snatched away.'

--'My young master and little brother, my DuanSong CP...'

--'Ahhh, Best Actor Gu gave Qingqing the necklace he always wore close to his body! It really is a token of love! What is this if not love??'

--'Young Master seems to be in a terrible mood. His expression is so cold. Is it because Zhouzhou got taken away??'

--'What did President Tang give Zhouzhou? Production team, give us a close-up, damn it!'

Song Mingzhou looked at the card in his hand, somewhat surprised. "Sister Wanxing, this..."

"I think highly of you. If you ever need anything, I hope you'll come to me." Tang Wanxing winked at him. Her rare playfulness made a faint, innocent blush appear on Song Mingzhou's face.

He was still not used to being watched by an older sister like that. Instinctively, he wanted to look toward Duan Xun, but after a hurried glance, he withdrew his gaze.

He saw nothing.

Song Mingzhou slipped the card into his pocket. "Thank you, Sister Wanxing."

[Host, a fire will break out on the back mountain this afternoon. It will usher in an important turning point in this plot. Are you looking forward to it?]

Little 7's excited voice suddenly rang out.

Song Mingzhou paused.

Right.

[Little 7, let me see the description for that part of the plot.]

Seeing Song Mingzhou become so serious, 527 immediately pulled up the original novel for that section. Taking advantage of the quiet moment while eating, Song Mingzhou quickly read through the next few chapters.

Shen Qing went to the back mountain to pick flowers for Gu Yanting.

The weather was too hot, and deadwood caught fire under the blazing sun. The flames quickly spread, and Shen Qing was soon trapped amid the fire and thick smoke.

Duan Xun, Xiao Ziyu, and Gu Yanting all went in to save him.

Xiao Ziyu's throat was choked by the smoke. After Duan Xun found Shen Qing, he was struck in the back by a tree while protecting him. In the end, Gu Yanting carried the terrified Shen Qing out through the smoke.

That scene went viral online.

Everyone said domineering CEO novels were nothing compared to it. The image of Gu Yanting risking his life to carry Shen Qing out swept across the internet overnight. The fans were so frenzied that no one even cared it had been a fire.

The injured Xiao Ziyu and Duan Xun were completely overshadowed by the crazed CP fans. Even in the reports, they were only mentioned in passing. No one knew how much they had done inside.

All the glory and good fortune went to the male lead, Gu Yanting.

Even though he was not the most capable one, the one with the most buzz, or the one who had given the most.

After that disaster.

The popularity of Gu Yanting and Shen Qing's Dragonfly CP soared, their relationship reached a small climax, and Shen Qing officially transitioned from idol to something more.

Wait, why is Xiao Ziyu involved too?