Dr. Zhuang, the “soft rice man”, and the grape in his hand instantly lost its sweetness. He retracted his hand in embarrassment, unwilling to take another one. Not only was he eating “soft rice” but he was also being cared for by a college student six years younger than him… So, who was really older here?
* “Soft rice man” is a Chinese term that refers to a man who is dependent on his partner financially or a man who doesn’t contribute much to the relationship in terms of financial stability.
“In the future, use my card for everything.”
Yan Yan looked at him in confusion, “But the things I buy when I’m home alone are for me to eat. Why should I use your card?”
“Use mine,” Zhuang Yiyun’s body was filled with a refusal to eat “soft rice.”
Yan Yan had income from his live broadcasts and didn’t plan to spend much of his money. But seeing Zhuang Yiyun’s bitter expression, as if not using his card was a heinous crime, it seemed like things had unexpectedly turned in his favor.
“Gege, are you planning to support me?”
“Thump! Thump!” It was the sound of a heartbeat, source unknown.
“My mother said that men shouldn’t spend other people’s money.” Yan Yan’s speech was light and slow, and he even smiled when mentioning his mother.
Zhuang Yiyun: “We are married, it’s natural for me to support the household.”
Yan Yan: “But we’re both men, so I should contribute too.”
“You’re still a student, of course it’s me who should provide. Moreover, I’ve already said that I’ll be responsible for all your expenses this year, giving you the card is part of that.”
Zhuang Yiyun was getting a bit impatient. Why did it seem like he was asking Yan Yan to spend his money?
An idea struck him, and he changed his angle almost whimsically, “I will also live here since we’ll both be sharing expenses at home. If you need to prepare for your graduation thesis and can’t take on a part-time job, I will be the one covering the expenses.”
Being treated like a pitiable hardworking and stubborn little soul, the college student accepted this character design without hesitation. Most importantly, Zhuang Yiyun was the one who brought up the idea of living together. So, the next time Zhuang Yiyun stayed out, he had a legitimate reason to call him back.
Yan Yan obediently agreed, feeling like Lady Luck was on his side this Christmas. He had figured it out: while Zhuang Yiyun appeared cold, he couldn’t actually refuse someone’s care as long as it was without ulterior motives or romantic intentions.
He picked up a vivid green grape with a calm expression and handed it to Zhuang Yiyun. It happened to be the same one that Zhuang Yiyun had put back on the plate earlier. This time, Zhuang Yiyun didn’t let it go. He held it delicately between his long fingers, a harmonious contrast of creamy jade and icy jade.
Yan Yan’s gaze deepened, feeling his twenty-one years of pent-up virgin energy igniting. His mind conjured some unhealthy images; he was thinking if he were to bite down on his fingertip, would this person’s feathers ruffle, and would he push him away fiercely.
He lowered his gaze, concealing all the inappropriate emotions.
“Gege, you’re still not well. You should sleep in the bedroom tonight, and I’ll take the sofa.”
Zhuang Yiyun’s heart skipped a beat. Just when he thought the “soft rice” issue was resolved, now he had to let the young college student take care of him again and accommodate him?
“I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
“What if you catch a cold at night and your condition worsens? I have to go to school tomorrow, so I won’t be able to take care of you.”
“It won’t happen.”
Seeing that he fell silent, Yan Yan looked at him with worry written all over his face. Their gazes met, and after a short while, Zhuang Yiyun relented.
He was reluctant, but not angry. Yan Yan felt he had taken another small step forward.
“Can I use your computer tonight?”
After Yan Yan asked, he sat down at Zhuang Yiyun’s desk in the living room. Zhuang Yiyun input his login password for him, while he plugged in his microphone.
Zhuang Yiyun was a little curious but didn’t ask.
Yan Yan took the initiative to say, “Gege, can I install some software? I want to do a live broadcast.”
“It’s okay.”
He hadn’t had much exposure to live broadcasts, but he had heard that many college students were doing them nowadays, usually just for fun.
According to Zhuang Yiyun’s logic, Yan Yan was about to graduate, so whether it was further studies, employment, or just the graduation itself, there would be a lot to do. Playing these things seemed like a waste of time. But this was Yan Yan’s business, his freedom, and Zhuang Yiyun had no right to interfere. So, he didn’t say anything, just became a bit more curious.
At 7 o’clock, Yan Yan started his live stream, and Zhuang Yiyun was flipping through academic journals in the living room, only half-listening to the live broadcast. His study was also open-concept, with the study, living room, and kitchen forming a cross-shaped corner, allowing him to see everything clearly from where he was sitting.
“Let’s just do something casual today, just chat.” Yan Yan quickly began his broadcast and casually replied to the barrage of comments, “If you don’t want to chat, then I’m signing off.”
Zhuang Yiyun thought: ‘As expected, it’s just for fun, but how can anyone watch without a theme?’
In fact, if one didn’t have a certain number of fans, who would watch you chat? How could there be a barrage of comments? Only those who had confidence could engage in casual chats.
“Let’s play some games. There aren’t many games installed on this computer, so we can only play some web games. Any recommendations?”
“Why aren’t there any games? Because this isn’t my computer.”
“Whose is it?”
Zhuang Yiyun’s ears perked up as he became completely unable to concentrate on his reading.
Yan Yan’s laughter was soft, like a feather brushing against his ear, “My gege’s. What kind of gege? Well, just know he’s not my blood brother.”
With a “bang”, Zhuang Yiyun’s ears turned red. Only now did he belatedly realize that Yan Yan’s voice was different from usual. The tone he used to speak was strikingly dissimilar—it was no longer clear and bright but, instead, captivatingly magnetic, exuding the allure of a mature man.
Seeing Zhuang Yiyun’s back move slightly, Yan Yan’s smile grew even wider.
In the live chat, barrage messages danced wildly, and Yan Yan’s gaze fell on one of them.
[Brother Yan Ge is actually a shou!]
The next second, the room moderator banned this person, but they returned with a different username: [Ban me and I’ll still say it—this A-grade Brother Yan is actually a shou! Crying!]
“Room moderators, don’t tire yourselves o Only block when one uses vulgar language. ”
Now, the barrage truly went wild.
[What just happened? Is Brother Yan coming out of the closet?]
[Brother Yan never said he was straight, did he?]
[You guys are reading too much into this. Room 237818 is the most open-minded, that’s all.]
[So, Brother is the gong?]
[Exactly, even if he’s younger, our Brother Yan’s role is firm. Spread the word!]
Yan Yan let the barrage amuse itself and asked, “What game should we play? Any suggestions?”
“How about the ‘Life Restart Simulator’?”
He hadn’t played it before, but it sounded interesting. A netizen quickly sent the URL, and Yan Yan clicked on it without delay.
“This trashy life, I don’t want to stay in it for a second…” he read the opening lines of the game interface aloud, startling Zhuang Yiyun, who turned back around in shock.
Meeting his gaze, Yan Yan said nonchalantly, “My life is already good, I don’t want to restart it at all. Okay, let’s forget it, today’s about pleasing the fans, so let’s just have some fun.”
Pressing the [Restart Life Now] button, he chose the classic mode and entered the talent draw page.
“Choose three out of ten talents. Let’s see what’s interesting. [Head-first Dive (Intelligence -2)]? No way, I’m not going to be an idiot. [Once in a Lifetime (You’re aggressive)], I guess you all agree with this? [Albino Condition (You won’t get shot)] saving my life is crucial, so let’s choose this too. I want some excitement since my whole life is restarting. [Endless Opportunities for Romance (Increased chances of falling in love)], let’s pick this one too, I can’t be single in a game.”
“Are you single now?” Yan Yan read out a barrage comment, intentionally pausing for a moment before answering, “Of course not.”
Zhuang Yiyun couldn’t help but touch his chin. ‘What did he mean by that? Did the marriage agreement apply? Did he mean he was in a romantic relationship or was he just casually saying things online?’
“You guys are really talkative today. Like the live-action version of ‘One Hundred Thousand Whys’.”
[Do we usually have a chance to ask questions? You’re usually just roasting people!]
[Spill the beans.]
[Have a bit of a conscience, okay. I don’t accept you having a partner.]
“Let’s continue playing. Let’s adjust the starting attributes. A total of 20 points—looks, intelligence, physique, and family background—with a maximum of 10 each… Let’s see how high we can go. Looks have to be 10, and intelligence too. The rest, zero I guess. Albinism? Family background? A real man doesn’t rely on family background.”
“The system won’t allow both to be 10… so looks 10, intelligence 9, physique 1. Starting a new life.”
“0 years old: You’re born, a boy.”
“1 year old: You grew up in the countryside.”
“2 years old: The air is fresh, life is healthy.”
“3 years old: You got bitten by a snake. You died.”
Yan Yan: “…”
[Hahaha, serves you right for making your physique 1!]
[Dying at three, you’re really bad, I’ve never seen a worse anchor.]
[Spread the word, this anchor will forever be three years old.]
“Ah, let’s try again.”
“You can choose one talent for your next life… Choose [Endless Opportunities for Romance]! I have to live to experience love in the next life.”
Then Yan Yan decisively selected a new talent: [Endless Opportunities for Romance’ (Increased chances of falling in love)] + [Snake Zodiac’ (Won’t die from snake bites)] + [Intellect for Wealth (If intelligence >8 at 20 years old, +2 family background)].
The barrage immediately started mocking.
[I didn’t expect you to be this kind of anchor. You’re usually so arrogant, but so timid when it comes to games. And you specially chose ‘Snake Zodiac.’]
[I guess he will give the physique 10 points.]
“Heh heh, that’s impossible. Looks have to be 10. I like good-looking things.” Yan Yan said, looking at Zhuang Yiyun over there. Zhuang Yiyun didn’t turn back, slowly flipping a page of the magazine in his hands.
He didn’t turn back, but he remembered that the first time they met, Yan Yan said, “Gege, you’re really handsome.” At that time, it had annoyed him a bit. He didn’t like his looks being commented on, but now he realized that he remembered was Yan Yan’s direct gaze. Details he hadn’t paid much attention to before suddenly became unexpectedly clear. Yan Yan didn’t hide his admiration at all; it was an expression as pure and fiery as a youth’s.
“Let’s go with intelligence 6 and physique 4. Family background? I said no to that; I can’t possibly go bankrupt. I can earn my own money.”
Just as Yan Yan finished speaking, he clicked to start a new life and got slapped in the face right away.
“0 years old: You’re born, a girl.”
“1 year old: You grew up in the countryside.”
“2 years old: Your parents had another son. Your family became even poorer, and you couldn’t get enough to eat. You died.”
[Spread the word, the anchor came back to life, died at two years old!]
[The Heavenly Mountain Lady returns to the world, forever young and everlasting in Chang’an’s achievements.]
*This is sarcasm on the resurgence of someone with remarkable skills and accomplishments. The Heavenly Mountain Lady is a novel character with great martial arts skills.
The barrage kept laughing, but the scene itself was extremely quiet. Then, a chuckle that didn’t belong to the anchor was caught by the microphone with excellent reception and transmitted into the live stream.
[In one minute, I want to know which wild man is laughing!]
———————
Author’s Note:
Zhuang, the wild man: He plays games so wildly, is he usually pretending to be well behaved, or is he really brainless?
Yan Yan: “…”
Awwwwww
Thank you for the chapter!