Reward or punishment

Shen Siyi let out a muffled pant.

Like a savage beast, though it was unclear whether that sound was a warning or a lure.

After taking a moment to recover, he let out another long breath and said apologetically:

"Sorry, it's an instinctive bodily reaction. I can't control it, especially when... when I'm with someone I like."

As soon as he finished speaking, Song Nianxing distinctly felt that thing shift closer to his hand. The sensation instantly flustered him.

Someone he liked.

Shen Siyi had been very direct this time. He could no longer pretend not to understand.

He could only quickly finish wiping and withdraw his hand, then turn away to wash the towel, as though trying to use the sound of the water to conceal the tremor in his voice. "It's fine... oh, no, I should be the one apologizing."

Then he hurriedly stood up, looking utterly flustered. "All done. Get some rest, Senior Shen. Just call me if you need anything."

"Nianxing." Seeing that he was about to leave, Shen Siyi hurriedly called him back. "This is your bed."

Song Nianxing stopped short.

Oh, right, this was his bed. But it wouldn't be good to make Shen Siyi move now, would it?

"It's all right, Senior Shen. You can sleep here. I'll sleep next door, or on the sofa downstairs."

Shen Siyi's brows lifted slightly. "Is that so? But I'm a little worried. What if my fever gets worse during the night? If you're too far away, won't it be hard to call you? Oh, my head is already so dizzy..."

Shen Siyi's expression was perfectly calm, but he made his voice sound utterly aggrieved.

Song Nianxing paused.

That was true. When looking after someone with a fever, you were supposed to check their temperature every so often.

Remembering that Shen Siyi was in this state because of him, he had no choice but to turn back and say, "Then how about... how about I sleep here with you, Senior Shen? Don't worry, I definitely won't do anything bad to you."

"Sure. Thank you for going to all this trouble tonight."

Song Nianxing shook his head and lay down on the bed too. "It's no trouble. Go to sleep, Senior Shen. Rest well so you'll recover faster."

When he said that, he really hadn't expected it to be any trouble, but in fact, it was very difficult.

As Shen Siyi slept, he wrapped his arms around him. Song Nianxing didn't dare push him away for fear of waking him, but he wasn't used to being touched by others, so he could only lie there with his eyes open for much of the night.

Yet after being held for a while, Song Nianxing unexpectedly found himself getting somewhat used to it, as though he had completed a desensitization test.

Beyond getting used to it, he even somewhat... liked it?

Warmth and softness enveloped him completely.

"Nianxing... I like you... I like you."

Hearing Shen Siyi's low murmur, seemingly spoken in a dream, Song Nianxing abruptly opened his eyes again just as they were about to close.

Was Shen Siyi really thinking of him and murmuring his name even in his dreams?

It seemed Shen Siyi really liked him a lot.

No one in this world had ever liked him this way, so should he perhaps like Shen Siyi a little too?

Liking someone... what did that feel like?

Song Nianxing's mind was in turmoil, and as he kept thinking, his eyelids began to droop.

But once he fell fast asleep, Shen Siyi, who was holding him, opened his eyes.

Looking at Song Nianxing sleeping soundly, a smile immediately spilled from the corners of Shen Siyi's eyes, then transformed into a look of boundless obsession.

His Ah Xing was trusting and relying on him more and more.

Next, he should start setting up rewards or punishments for Ah Xing's good or bad behavior. Only then could he make him experience a sense of loss.

If someone reached hope and then lost it, they would sink into utter despair.

So once he realized there was still a chance to regain what he had lost, he would be willing to offer everything he had to obtain that "reward" again.

Nianxing, you'll be willing to offer me everything you have too, won't you?

Song Nianxing slept very peacefully that night, but Weibo was in an uproar all night again.

All because of a post published by the production team of "Starstruck Moments."

#Jiang Jingzhe and Qiu Bailu withdraw from "Starstruck Moments"#

By the time Song Nianxing learned of the news, he had already arrived at the venue for the show's second week of live broadcasts.