[Ding! Bai Xiaoze's life trajectory successfully changed. Merit +1, points +100. Total points have exceeded 300. Lucky wheel feature unlocked. Congratulations to the host on achieving Five Blessings at the Door and receiving one spin of the wheel. Would the host like to draw?]
Once Bai Xiaoze's figure had disappeared into the distance, Nuomi's excited announcement sounded in Shang Shujue's mind. A circular wheel resembling a pie chart also popped up before his eyes, visible only to him.
The wheel was divided into four unequal sections in a ratio of 1:2:3:4. Each section had words written on it, with the corresponding prizes as follows:
Disguise card [Allows you to disguise yourself as anyone for forty-five minutes]
Body-strengthening pill [Strengthens the body, with an additional 10% healing attribute]
RMB 35,000
Lucky wristband [Wearing it increases the rate of luck recovery]
[Well, well, impressive. These are all in the luxury goods section of the points shop. Nuomi, your bureau can bear to put these up for me to win?]
Shang Shujue leaned back against the bench. A single thought was all it would take to spin the wheel, but he was in no hurry to draw just yet.
In a good mood, he leisurely ate his ice cream dessert while discussing the value of the prizes with Nuomi in his mind, leaving the nearby trainees scratching their heads in frustration.
What on earth are those things? Why all the secrecy, not even letting us hear what they are? The crucial parts even get "beeeep-" censored! Only being able to hear half and having to imagine the rest is seriously painful.
*[Speaking of which... has that kid Bai Xiaoze added my contact info? What he has is important. I need to get it and have a professional trace the IP addresses.*
Keyboard warriors who treat the internet as a lawless land need to be taught a harsh lesson, so they learn what they should and shouldn't say.
*...Huh? The kid's already added me? Good, good, good. I'll send him a red packet first...]*
Shang Shujue set his ice cream dessert beside him and sent over a two-hundred-yuan red packet first, testing whether the other boy would accept it.
The moment he sent it, Bai Xiaoze accepted without even a second's hesitation. He also sent a sticker of a puppy spinning in thanks, along with two messages.
[Heavy Rain on the Clouds]: Thanks, Brother Jue. You're such a good person~ Hehehe... I can come hang out with you during the holidays, right?
[Heavy Rain on the Clouds]: You're as nice as my brother. If you stop liking Brother Song someday, I'll introduce my brother to you. Be my little dad, and I'll definitely be the happiest kid in the world ᜊ•͈⌔•͈ᜊ Hehehe...ଘ(੭ˊᵕˋ)੭*
After reading that second message, Shang Shujue instantly wore the expression of the old man on the subway looking at his phone. His inward complaints practically drowned Zhou Zheng and the others.
*[Eww~ What do you mean, once I stop liking Song Yanqing, you'll introduce your dad to me and have me be your little dad? Has this brat lost his mind? When have I ever liked Song Yanqing?!*
Why do all these cocky kids think there's something going on between Song Yanqing and me? We're sworn enemies, okay? Shouldn't I sample what my sworn enemy likes so I can know both myself and my enemy?
I've been going against Song Yanqing for years. Is there not enough gunpowder between us? These brats really have no eye for things. I don't want to be paired with him.
Sure, he's good-looking, but we can't be together. It's bad luck. Sure, he's pretty nice to me sometimes, but we can't be together. It's bad luck.
Sure, no matter how you look at him, the guy fits every requirement I have for a partner, but we can't be together. It's bad luck...
*Besides, I'm so handsome that even if I were bent, I'd be the ultimate gong, okay? I'm not becoming this brat's little dad! Who knows what goes through his head all day Σ(°ロ°) Politely declined.]*
Everyone: Holy shit ∑(❍ฺд❍ฺlll) Bai Xiaoze, you bastard! Trying to get there first by taking a shortcut! Absolutely not! We'd rather Brother Jue and Brother Song be locked together. At least the other guy is maxed out enough that none of us can beat him, which instantly makes us feel better!
After hearing Shang Shujue's disguised praise of Song Yanqing mixed with complaints, everyone had only one thought: deep down, Shang Shujue was madly in love with Brother Song. He was just too desperate to save face to admit it.
Song Yanqing had already heard every bit of Shang Shujue's mental chatter. He even stopped copying the family rules and walked straight out of the lounge Yu Yang had specially prepared for him, heading toward Shang Shujue.
Unaware of all this, Shang Shujue forwarded what Bai Xiaoze had sent him to his manager before replying to the boy, then left everything else alone.
[Brother Jue]: You can come hang out with me, but please stop messing around. You really are your dad's filial son ꐦ≖ ≖
His manager was swamped. Hearing the message notification, he opened it, saw it concerned the incident from the early hours, and couldn't help sighing before sending a voice message.
"For heaven's sake, aren't you a little behind on the news? Your Song Yanqing already took care of this whole thing ages ago. I'm busy, stop bothering me! Watch it, or I'll book you so many gigs you'll be working nonstop without a day off! Hmph!"
Shang Shujue almost laughed at the threat. He casually sent over a money transfer and left it at that, then contacted Chen Jiarui to have her arrange tomorrow's flight to Xia City in advance. He had a collaboration to discuss there.
Chen Jiarui replied with a screenshot of his work schedule and an acknowledgment sticker. Shang Shujue casually sent her a red packet too. Delighted to receive it, the girl sent hamster stickers rolling around on his screen. They were very cute.
[Ah, the world really can't do without girls. Look at those stickers. So cute~]
Song Yanqing had just reached the spot where Zhang Zhichen and the others were hiding when he heard that thought. He abruptly stopped, freezing in place. Even the air seemed to congeal in an instant, turning utterly icy. Zhang Zhichen and the others couldn't keep hiding any longer.
Brother Jue, please stop bouncing around in your head. Your man looks a little shattered... hurry up and comfort him ꒰꒪꒫꒪⌯꒱
"Brother Jue!"
Afraid of freezing to death in the cold air, Xu Jiaqiao reacted quickly and called out toward Shang Shujue. Brother Jue, Brother Song seems to have tipped over his vinegar jar. Hurry up and do something!
Shang Shujue turned instinctively and immediately spotted Song Yanqing standing expressionlessly among the others.
He paused, one corner of his mouth lifting. Before he could break into a grin, Song Yanqing abruptly turned and walked away, his handsome face cold.
"Huh? Did he just glare at me? Fuck! Song Yanqing, what the hell was that? Get back here! You're asking for a beating!"
Shang Shujue was utterly confused by Song Yanqing's behavior. Only after a long moment did he register that Song Yanqing seemed to have glared at him.
That look had seemed a little aggrieved and a little icy. It hit him right in his pride. His brows drew together in anger, and he threw the empty container into the nearby trash can before getting up to chase after him.
Shang Shujue no longer had eyes for anyone else. Seeing him charge over so aggressively, Xu Jiaqiao and the others wanted to reach out and stop him but feared they would be meddling. In the end, they could only watch as he chased after Song Yanqing like a little tail.
"Umm... have you noticed something?" Watching their retreating backs, Zhang Zhichen lightly pinched the little bear decoration on his clothes and suddenly posed the question. Everyone looked at him, waiting for him to continue.
Zhang Zhichen didn't keep them in suspense. He directly shared what he had just figured out. "Brother Jue is really easily affected by Brother Song's emotions. Psychology says the more you care about someone, the more easily they affect you, whether it's your emotions, your worldview, or anything else. So..."
"Brother Jue is madly in love!"
Zhou Zheng couldn't resist jumping in. Zhang Zhichen and the others glanced at him, then nodded in unison. Brother Jue probably wouldn't escape Brother Song's grasp for the rest of his life.
Song Yanqing: Yes, wrapped around my little finger...
Shang Shujue: ...Fuck off!