I only like it, not dogs

A week flew by.

"Everyone, today you'll split into three groups to complete the tasks you draw. The first task is to play with the village children all morning, until the afternoon meal."

"The second task is to go into town with the village chief and buy ingredients for the coming week."

"The third task is to prepare supplies for tonight's bonfire party and build a hut with the villagers."

"Each wooden slip has a corresponding task. Guests who draw the same task will form a group. Please draw your slips."

With that, the host placed six wooden slips in front of everyone.

Sang Yu glanced at the wooden slip in Lu Mingxu's hand and let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"Bro Lu, we're together."

Lu Mingxu nodded calmly at her, then glanced at Duan Mufeng, who was trying to get handsy again, and frowned slightly.

Jiang Keyan linked arms with Jiang Wanrou. "Aunt Jiang! We get to go have fun in town!"

The three groups went their separate ways.

Wen Yanyu and Duan Mufeng, who remained in the courtyard, were told to wait there for someone to come take them.

During the idle lull.

After nearly a week here, his body had more or less adapted to the environment.

Wen Yanyu opened a cup of yogurt, then lowered his head and opened his phone's photo album.

Looking at all the dog's handsome selfies, he couldn't help letting out a laugh.

Silly dog, always so full of yourself.

Duan Mufeng sat down casually and leaned his head over, teasing in an almost wheedling tone, "What are you looking at?"

Hot breath brushed lightly past his ear.

Holding his yogurt, Wen Yanyu shifted away.

"Don't move away. Let me see too." Duan Mufeng rested a hand on his shoulder and applied a little pressure, drawing him closer into his arms.

A whole collection of photos on the phone came into view.

Once he saw what they were, Duan Mufeng raised his eyebrows slightly. "A merle border collie?"

"So pretty. Is it yours? Could I come see it sometime?"

As Duan Mufeng spoke, his palm brushed lightly against the boy's waist twice, as though by accident.

The spot he touched was right over the wound. After hurting all night, his waist and abdomen had gone so numb that he could barely feel anything, apart from the unending pain he had long since grown used to.

Wen Yanyu didn't notice the man's little movements at all, thinking only that the wind was stirring his clothes.

He tilted the screen toward the man a little so he could see the dog in the album too.

Wen Yanyu took a sip of yogurt and shook his head. "It isn't with me anymore."

"It's very well-behaved, and very cute."

If this fellow hadn't kept him company all along, he might have gone mad during his reincarnations long ago.

Wen Yanyu lowered his eyes, bitterness spreading through them.

You knew I'd miss you, and you still left me all these photos.

Bad dog.

Why say goodbye when we'd never see each other again?

"I see." Duan Mufeng considered it for a moment, then flirted, "Then once the show's over, I'll get you another one just like it. How about we raise it together?"

The instant those words fell.

Wen Yanyu refused without hesitation.

"I only like it, not dogs."

The yogurt in the cup was gone. Wen Yanyu opened his mouth and released the straw, yogurt spilling from the corner of his lips. His black hair was tied up, leaving his fair nape fully exposed before the man.

A faint peach scent mingled with the warm scent of his skin and drifted into Duan Mufeng's nose. His eyes darkened slightly, and he unconsciously leaned closer.

Scorching breath struck the side of his face, unbearably ticklish.

He suddenly sensed something was wrong.

Wen Yanyu looked up and jerked back, his face wary as he wiped the remaining yogurt from his lips. "What are you doing?"

Duan Mufeng paused, looking surprised. "What did I do?"

Seeing that the man's expression was perfectly normal.

Wen Yanyu froze for a moment, his brow unconsciously furrowing slightly as he said quietly, "You're too close. It feels really strange."

Feigning sudden understanding, Duan Mufeng moved aside and scratched his head. "Sorry, sorry. I've lived abroad for so long, and this is how friends interact there. I thought we counted as friends. Did that make you uncomfortable? I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

The man immediately sat farther away and apologized with a sincere expression.

Thinking of how the man had taken care of him over the past week, Wen Yanyu's gaze briefly turned uncertain. He lowered his head and rubbed the yogurt cup in his hands before saying, "Mm... n-no, it's fine. I overreacted. S-sorry."

"I'm not really used to being so close. Let's keep a little more distance between us. Sorry."

He relaxed again.

Duan Mufeng gazed into the boy's eyes, propped his chin on one hand, and suddenly gave a short laugh. "No need to apologize. It was my fault."

His roguish smile revealed none of his true feelings as he sighed.

"So cute."

Thinking he meant his system, Wen Yanyu swiped to the next photo, unable to suppress his longing. "I think so too."

An itch stirred in Duan Mufeng's heart. He casually moved closer to the boy, unconcealable desire surging in the depths of his dark eyes.

A sweet-smelling little bunny, so easy to fool.

He already couldn't wait to coax him into bed and have a taste.

The viewers watching the livestream: "..."

[Duan Radish, you...]

[Wen Yanyu, you...]

[Baby, could you please stop being so clueless all the time? This former mom fan wants to reach through the screen and hit someone.]

[Now that's a real sleazebag.]

[He's pretending, right? He used to pester Fu Hanchuan in public and shamelessly leech off his fame. Even after being rejected, he said in an interview that Fu Hanchuan was the only person he would ever love, and that he'd die if they couldn't be together. Yet now he's playing innocent about Duan Mufeng's advances. I seriously suspect he's just trying to get famous through hate.]

[Agreed. If he were straight, that might explain it, but he's gay. Someone's already felt up his waist, and he's still acting like he knows nothing. Disgusting.]

[Duan Mufeng may be a player, but at least he doesn't pretend. Bro Duan, have some standards. Don't catch feelings for someone like this.]

[LMAO, Bro Duan just thinks he's good-looking and is flirting with him because he's there. Don't go thinking you're anything special.]