The sun rose high up in the afternoon that day. The heat was strong enough for a good amount ice cream.
That's exactly what Xiu Lin did that day to calm his summer like feeling. He licked a soft served ice cream as he sat leisurely on a park bench.
Its been quite a while since he had time to enjoy this simple things. To eat an ordinary ice cream, to seat in a park and to watch others.
This simple things which he had neglected eversince he lived three lifetimes. Imagine how he busied himself for years just to fulfill the system needs?
To do a make over and study everyday just to keep his popularity, lived a life as a doctor which is a dream he never wanted. For twenty years of living in the first world.
It was okay, his hardwork paid off when he learned how to be a doctor... unwillingly.
The lovelife. The thing he had researched for years just to guarantee himself deserving of a wife.
But it was trampled by the male protagonists in that world. That world is actually a harem type, okay? There are four male protagonists who happens to be his high school classmates and dorm mates at college.
When they went on separate lives, instead of aiming for their woman, they aimed to his woman! Destroying countless dates and marriage proposals he could have had!
All his hard work. Oh his blood, sweat and tears.
'Look at my life right now, 1204. It's incredibly ideal!' He said.
1204 was quiet and sulking in the corner as he built up an army of immobile mushrooms.
He was better lazing around thinking of some dumb ways to die while leisurely living his life! This is the best deal. But he did really have to stop the ruin of his family before dying.
First of all, the Xiu Lin of this world technically a piece of his body. Second, the Xiu's are indeed biologically his family. They are good people who indulge him with goods. Third, if he didn't do something, his death will become a torture before departure because of some pervert.
After enumerating the whys, Xiu Lin was determined to do something good before he leave this world.
He finished off his melting ice cream before turning his head from left to right of the empty park, as if sensing that there are other people there aside from him.
So he decided to stand up and leave.
Sigh... '1204, who's our family's traitor of a scumbag?' He asked.
[...] the system slowly opened his monitor to look at his host with shimmering nonexistent eyes. [H-host...]
'Yea, now speak before I change my mind.' He said.
[He is called old Wang, host. He is also the one behind the person who put drugs on your wine. He is currently one of the three biggest shareholder of Xiu Enterprises and other business companies belonging to Xiu family. The reason being is his father and your grandpa Xiu were friends which is why they trust this Wang. However, from the very start, he only befriended the host's father to steal the company due to his inferiority complex. Along his journey of learning how to embezzle while not getting caught, he met the original host who was ten that time. He liked him very much and indulged him in the presence as an uncle but he already have perverted plans ahead.
He touches the original host's legs and caress his back whenever he carry him in his arms. The original did notice it odd and uncomfortable so he maintained respectful distance up until now until it became a habit to avoid him at all cost.]
The system ended his story telling while Xiu Lin was in deep thought. 'Perv already had his eyes set to the ten year old me back then? Damn, let's make his life miserable first.' He said.
[Well said host! Well said!] System rejoiced as his host regained back his willingness to work.
'Let's embezzle too!'
As the system and host pair talked amongst themselves in Xiu Lin's head, the young man didn't both to notice the person following his aimless journey.
The young man looked as though he was spacing out, but his feet continued to drag him forward, not stopping. He then stepped on the road and coincidentally was about to be hit by a car who suddenly started its engine.
'Stealing money from the one stealing it is fine--'
Xiu Lin's words were cut as he was pulled by the arm, barely dodging a speeding car in front of him and rolled to the other side.
The youth was shocked. So shocked he was frozen stiff in the arms that securely held him while he lay on the body as cushion.
'Did they try to assassinate me again or something?' Xiu Lin asked.
[Yes host.] 1204 replied.
'Dang! Who's the heartless person who pulled me out of death?!' The boy slowly lifted his head to check the bastard who saved his life.
"Jian ge?" Xiu Lin was utterly shocked and disappointed.
"Are you okay Lin?" He asked, there was a hint of worry in his tone.
"Yes... thank you." Xiu Lin internally sighed while trying his best to be sincere in thanking.
He finally got up from lying on Lu Jian's toned body and looked around the empty streets. The older followed and looked at the almost unbothered Xiu Lin in front of him.
"Are you hurt anywhere?" Lu Jian asked again.
Xiu Lin raised his palm slowly and found it trembling. He must have been very shocked by the sudden rush of excitement that almost cost his life but he remained quiet.
Lu Jian saw his slightly furrowed brow and felt bad for him. To think that the Xiu family's Achilles heel is actually this delicate bun who was emotionally wrecked. He worries that one day, he can't watch over Xiu Lin anymore and this boy would suddenly slip away from his grasp and decides to end his life himself.
That won't do.
Although at first, he held interest to why Xiu Lin had such suicidal thoughts. But after understanding what he had to go through on a daily basis, would not be a wonder why he would have such tendencies.
If Lu Jian was in his shoes, a young innocent cub who's yet to learn how to hunt was already being attacked by other predators while he's vulnerable. If you'll just live a life where everyone around you might want to kill you would probably make you want to end it yourself.
"Lin, let's tend your scratches." Lu Jian offered.
But whether Xiu Lin had agreed or not, he had already pulled the boy with him to his car. But he didn't put up anymore struggle since his knees and palm did sting a bit.
He then looked at Lu Jian who was sitting beside him. "Were you hurt, Jian ge? You're the one who caught our fall." He asked.
Lu Jian smiled and patted the boy's head. "Don't worry, this gege is okay." He replied. In fact, his suit was not only layers, but it was also of good quality and thickness that he didn't even feel anything from the fall and his firm skin also can't be easily damaged. Except for the soft body that he embraced on top of him. He was quite light and thin too.
Lu Jian thought that Xiu Lin needs to eat and exercise more.
Hearing the kind reply of the male protagonist, Xiu Lin turned quiet again and looked out the window. While he looked like he was immersed in the sight of traffic, he was actually speaking with 1204.
'Man, my body hurts a lot. Is this body's pain tolerance as sensitive as a kid's?' He felt his scratches itching and stinging.
[Original body was spoiled rotten host. Even a small fall will make everyone overreact as if they accidentally dropped their phones on the toilet.]
'Was I just gotten compared to a phone falling in the toilet?'
[Yes host, because nothing is scarier than your phone being plunged with your pee.]
'That's disgusting. Who taught you that?'
[Nobody.]
If the system had a face, he would have been looking away right now.
Ah, this weirdo of a system. He's totally different from the system he was expecting to get.
Xiu Lin sighed and leaned his head on the back rest of the moving car. Lu Jian turned to look at the young man inquisitively.
"Are you uncomfortable?" He asked.
Xiu Lin shook his head. "I'm okay." He replied.
So, where are they going? Xiu Lin had been wondering about this for quite a while now. Why was he taken there again? To sanitize his almost nonexistent scratch?
Xiu Lin quietly ponders. While finally deciding to observe out.
City A is the center of wealth in the country. Almost everyone in the business are gathered in this fully developed country to introduce successful companies all over the world. It is also the largest city in the country, catering to hundreds and thousands of people day and night.
It was always busy as well, the lights never faded in the night nor did it fail to show splendor.
This was the home of bigshots, but one person ruled the business among them all, Lu Jian. The male protagonist of this world.
They got off to a condominium building. Lu Jian guided Xiu Lin out of the car and towards the high luxurious flat in front of them. Two men walked side by side, but one was obviously a bit uncomfortable in getting in.
Lu Jian glance at the hesitant Xiu Lin and smiled. "Come on now little Lin, we'll sanitize those scratches." He called out.
Xiu Lin followed without a word as they made stride towards the elevator quietly. Clocks ticked like a time bomb and it lasted a few seconds of awkwardness in the small space.
They finally reached around the sixteenth floor and as usual, Xiu Lin tailed Lu Jian quietly until they reached his house number. The man unlocked the door and let the younger come in first.
Xiu Lin obeyed as he heard the door closing behind him. Upon entrance, his nose was whip with the scent of the male protagonist. A man, my friends. The scent of a man.
While Xiu Lin smelt like milking kitten, this guy just smelt like a buffalo! All levels far from this small guy.
What the heck! Is this why I can't get a girlfriend?! Because I don't smell oppressing enough?
As it seems that the system caught wind of his lament, he spoke. [Host is like a scholar. If the male protagonists holds the swords that can pierce the body, you hold the highest quality of papers with meaningful words that can pierce emotions.]
'Poetic.' Xiu Lin deadpanned. 'Just tell me I'm weak and incapable! Pierce emotions my ass, haven't the male leads previously had already given me emotional scars after trampling over my marriage? Their better at piercing emotions.'
System: [...]
[The host really should look at the other side of the coin. Broaden his perspective and learn what love is.]
The system told him coldly.
'How can I learn when I don't have the experience! Whose fault was it that I can't even touch a girl's fingernail?'
Xiu Lin felt like the system was unreasonable. He was the one who was wronged and deprived from the touch of love. He died a single dog three times and now this system tells him to broaden his perspective?
Wow. The audacity!