Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Between classes, training, and commuting between school and the company, he barely had time to watch anime.

To share intel with his new ally, Xing Shi checked his phone whenever he had a spare moment to glance at *Magic Little Bear*. He put on a show of being obsessed with it for a whole day, so sharing it wouldn’t seem forced.

After all, this was his biggest secret, so the more cautious, the better.

Both Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning understood the importance of playing a part to the fullest. They couldn’t suddenly lose interest right after sharing it; Xing Shi would have to watch at least dozens of episodes.

Fu Xiuning got roped into watching five episodes before realizing it, and after Xing Shi’s teasing, he felt like letting him deal with it on his own.

Xing Shi quickly stopped him. “Where are you headed?”

Fu Xiuning said, “Bathroom.”

Xing Shi pressed the pause button and thoughtfully said, “I’ll wait for you to get back, and we can continue watching together.”

Fu Xiuning said, “I still have a few documents to finish. You keep watching; no need to wait for me.”

He indulgingly asked, “Want some snacks or BBQ? I can grab something for you.”

Xing Shi clung to his pajamas and wouldn’t let go. “No, I feel like something’s missing when you’re not here. After all, you’re my brother.”

He said, “How about this: I’ll sit with you while you finish your work, and then we can watch *Magic Little Bear* together.”

Fu Xiuning stared at him in silence, not wanting to.

Xing Shi met his gaze, his eyes dependent and sincere.

After a moment, the only light in the living room was a standing lamp moved from the bedroom, and the television, which Fu Xiuning had never used since buying it, was turned on.

He sat on the side closer to the lamp, holding the documents that were there for show.

Xing Shi sat next to him, and on the coffee table were several plates of fruit, with snacks ordered online still on their way, due to arrive in half an hour. The atmosphere for watching anime was perfect.

The living room was filled with the upbeat music from *Magic Little Bear*.

Fu Xiuning sat through another five episodes, checked the time, and decided he’d had enough. He stood up and said, “Let’s stop here for today. Go to bed early.”

Xing Shi immediately turned off the TV obediently and said, “Good night, brother.”

Fu Xiuning tossed out a “Good night” and left without looking back.

They only watched ten episodes that night, and the next day, as soon as Xing Shi came back, he turned on the TV again.

After two days of binge-watching the crazy *Magic Little Bear*, Fu Xiuning thoughtfully said to him, “It’s been raining a lot lately. It won’t be convenient or safe to come back so late. You should stay at the apartment.”

Xing Shi immediately understood the implication. Fu Xiuning wanted him to go bother Yu Yi. He said, “No, I want to stay with you.”

Fu Xiuning smiled. “I don’t need that.”

Xing Shi stared back without blinking. “But I’ll miss you!”

Fu Xiuning knew he couldn’t persuade him.

Even if he found a last-minute social gathering, Xing Shi would still wait for him. He was determined to share the hardship together.

This kid could really get under his skin sometimes. A mischievous idea crossed his mind. “If you miss me that much, why don’t you sleep with me tonight?”

System: "!!!"

The system exclaimed, almost hyped, "Ahhh, what did I just hear! He suddenly perked up! Are you going to agree?"

Xing Shi definitely refused, "No, I'm a restless sleeper."

Fu Xiuning echoed his previous words, "It's fine, you're my brother."

Xing Shi said, "I care about you, bro, and don't want to mess with your sleep."

With a faint smile, Fu Xiuning's aloofness disappeared, his gaze focused and serious, "Work can wait; you're what matters."

Xing Shi inwardly cringed.

Although he knew it was just playful banter, he had to admit that when Young Master Fu said something with such convincing sincerity and that appearance, it was quite convincing.

Xing Shi shook his head, dead serious, "No, how can I cause you trouble?"

Naturally, Fu Xiuning wasn't really going to sleep with him.

They exchanged a few more words, both backing off a bit, before ending the topic.

Fu Xiuning turned his attention back to the screen, listening as the kid started rambling and discussing with the system the reason why he suddenly wanted to sleep together.

Xing Shi said, "He can't be trying to pursue me or sleep with me, he's a passive person, don't you remember?"

The system asked, "Then why is he like this?"

Xing Shi replied, "He probably said it knowing I wouldn't agree, just to get under my skin. Maybe he's annoyed that I'm clingy after I casually said something. Classic mixed signals."

The system reviewed the situation and agreed, "Tsk!"

Xing Shi sighed, "He loves my beauty but wants me independent and not clingy, wants me close but also wants me to sleep alone. Sigh, men. Thankfully, we're just keeping it platonic."

The system said, "Yeah, don't worry about him, let's just wait for him to give you more points."

Fu Xiuning listened without changing his expression, accompanying him through the last few minutes, exchanged goodnights, and returned to his room.

Xing Shi turned off the TV, feeling that in another two or three days, it would be enough. Satisfied, he stretched and went to sleep.

It rained in the middle of the night and hadn't stopped by morning.

Xing Shi's outdoor morning run was canceled, so he ran on Fu Xiuning's treadmill instead.

After his shower, sitting in the dining room, he received a message from Lin Kecheng.

Their alliance was set to expire today, but the other side hadn't confirmed all the names on the list, citing that some people weren't at school and, with the recent rain, it was inconvenient and unsafe for him to go out in a wheelchair. He suggested postponing until Monday to meet.

Xing Shi, having learned from Fu Xiuning that those people weren't hosts, had a simple requirement for Lin Kecheng: as long as he stayed honest and didn't cause trouble, it was fine. He agreed to the delay.

Before he knew it, time had flown by, and the days of watching *Magic Bear* were finally coming to an end.

Xing Shi paused his anime binge, claiming the plot was getting repetitive from watching too much. The system was a little reluctant but knew he was right and didn't suspect a thing.

It pulled up the last list, "Need another recommendation?"

Xing Shi declined, "No, I'm a bit tired from watching TV for so many days."

The system said, "Alright, let me know whenever you feel like watching something again."

Xing Shi responded and slouched in the sofa, playing with his phone. Fu Xiuning was finally free from being dragged into watching cartoons by Xing Shi, so she took out a book again.

They spent a peaceful evening together, and the next day was Monday.

Xing Shi only had one class in the morning and went to find Lin Kecheng right after it ended.

The place they agreed to meet was the same coffee shop as last time.

When he arrived, Lin Kecheng had just gotten there too.

With a fractured ankle, a bruised right arm, and having to drag his battered body around to approach and test the target… Over the past few days, Lin Kecheng had visibly lost weight, with heavy dark shadows under his eyes, looking utterly haggard.

Both Xing Shi and the system let out a hiss, and Xing Shi asked with concern, “Senior, are you feeling better?”

Recently stressed and anxious, Lin Kecheng had a mouth full of sores. Hearing the question, he looked back, thinking, *Do I look okay to you?*

But with the system watching, he couldn’t afford to show his frustration and instead smiled kindly, “Much better.”

Xing Shi nodded, “It takes a hundred days to fully recover from an injury like this, so you need to take it easy. Make sure not to touch the injured areas.”

Lin Kecheng said, “I know.”

After the two sat down in a corner, the first order of business was to renew their alliance since the list was with the system, making it the safest option.

Seeing Lin Kecheng reaching out, he negotiated, “We’ve known each other for a while, and we’ve formed alliances multiple times. We even worked together to expose Yu Shu’s identity. I believe we’ve built a certain level of trust, so there’s no need to set the deadline so short. It’s troublesome to renew it every few days, don’t you think?”

Xing Shi thought for a moment and hesitated, “I suppose so.”

Lin Kecheng and the system were both pleased, but then they heard him say, “No, my system won’t allow it.”

Both the person and the system were speechless: “……”

This system is really frustrating!

Xing Shi looked at him honestly, “Don’t worry, Senior. I don’t have any plans to ally with other hosts for now, in the near future. We’re familiar with each other, and I feel more at ease having you as my ally.”

Lin Kecheng felt relieved, thinking that sooner or later, he would get them to loosen up, and shook his hand.

Once the alliance was renewed, Lin Kecheng signaled the system to send over three names, and he whispered, “Out of the list, only these three remain. They all showed some reaction when I tested them, but it’s still unclear if they are hosts. I was afraid of exposure, so I didn’t test them too obviously. Should we coordinate like we did with Yu Shu?”

Xing Shi said, “Send me their detailed information, and I’ll discuss it with the system.”

Lin Kecheng agreed readily, “Okay.”

With the work of recent days concluded, his expression lightened, “We’ll also think of some ways on our side, and we’ll keep in touch.”

Xing Shi said, “Sure.”

Lin Kecheng, intending to get closer to him, bought him some desserts.

However, Xing Shi had no intention of wasting time and headed back to the company for training after finishing.

Watching him disappear through the door, Lin Kecheng said, “His system is really difficult to deal with.”

The system was also helpless, “For now, we need to focus on building trust.”

Lin Kecheng slowly turned his wheelchair and suddenly had a flash of inspiration, “Can a host only form an alliance with one person, or can they form alliances with multiple people simultaneously?”

The system replied, “They can form alliances with multiple people at once. Why do you ask?”

Lin Kecheng pondered, "What do you think if I reach out to Yu Shu?"

The system said, "Hmm?"

Lin Kecheng narrowed his eyes. "Yu Shu is unaware of Xing Shi's true identity and might see him as an easy target to manipulate. I'll go find Yu Shu, tell him that Xing Shi wants to deal with him first, and then propose an alliance. I'll be in the open, and he'll be in the dark. We'll work together against Xing Shi."

He smiled. "Then I'll guide Xing Shi to suspect that Yu Shu might be planning to eliminate him. That way, I can stir up trouble between them and watch them fight to the death, after which we can take them both out."

Over the past six months, the system had been by his side as he climbed to the position of head of the Arts Department, watching him scheme against many people along the way.

It sometimes truly admired his mind. Although not every plan succeeded, those that did usually went according to his design.

However, it still reminded him, "Yu Shu's name was just exposed, and many hosts are keeping an eye on him. If you approach him now, it could raise suspicions. Since I was the one who exposed him, he might not be too welcoming. People in the entertainment industry are notoriously shrewd, so we might not be able to outsmart him."

Lin Kecheng pondered, "True, then what should we..."

Before he could finish, the system said "Fu Xiuning," and he quickly searched with his eyes, soon spotting the person walking over from the side of the road.

He wasn't in good shape today, and though he was annoyed, he didn't hesitate in his actions. He turned his wheelchair to the side of the road and saw Fu Xiuning notice him, who offered a weary smile, "Senior."

Fu Xiuning came to a stop in front of him and looked down. "Didn't rest well?"

Lin Kecheng was actually touched.

Look at his senior, treating him like an extra, yet still being gentle and seemingly concerned.

In contrast, that fool had such low emotional intelligence—a typical straight male mindset—that he couldn't even tell when something was wrong. When Lin Kecheng said he was fine, the fool actually believed him!

He showed weakness, "Yeah, I'm injured and haven't been sleeping well lately."

Fu Xiuning asked, "Where to?"

Lin Kecheng quickly guessed that Fu Xiuning was heading in the same direction and chose a nearby location.

Fu Xiuning then placed his hand on the wheelchair and pushed him forward.

Lin Kecheng was pleasantly surprised. "Senior, where are you heading? I remember you had a class in the morning."

Fu Xiuning said, "I decided to go to the library for a bit."

Of course, that was just an excuse.

He had overheard the conversation between Xing Shi and the system, knowing they had arranged to meet Lin Kecheng here. He also knew Xing Shi wouldn't stay long. He estimated the two were about to finish their talk and timed his arrival perfectly.

He asked, "What are you doing here?"

Lin Kecheng said with a slightly embarrassed smile, "I suddenly got a craving for the coffee here."

Fu Xiuning nodded without saying much.

Lin Kecheng said, "Their latte is quite good. Would you like some, Senior? My treat."

Fu Xiuning said, "Sure, next time."

Lin Kecheng wasn't disappointed. Just running into him and walking together was already a pleasant surprise. He racked his brains for topics while hoping Fu Xiuning would walk slower.

He asked, "Are you looking for a book at the library, Senior?"

Fu Xiuning said, "Yeah."

Lin Kecheng smiled wryly, "I just passed by the library and felt like going in to read some books, but the ramp outside is too long, and I can't go up by myself. If you don't mind, could you give me a push?"

Fu Xiuning nodded, "Sure."

Lin Kecheng said gratefully, "Thanks, Senior. I'll buy you lunch."

Fu Xiuning replied, "No need, I'm just picking a few books and leaving."

Lin Kecheng said, "Alright, we'll leave it for next time then."

Fu Xiuning pushed him into the library and went to find books.

Lin Kecheng followed him to the same floor, pretending to look at the bookshelves, planning to leave at the same time as Fu Xiuning, making it seem like a coincidence.

Since they couldn't talk loudly in the library, he didn't disturb Fu Xiuning. Lin Kecheng and his system continued their previous conversation.

Lin Kecheng said, "Let's keep an eye on whether any other hosts interact with Yu Shu. In the meantime, we should gather more information about him and analyze his personality before discussing the possibility of an alliance."

He took a book and placed it on his lap, saying, "As for these three suspicious individuals in the school, we might have some room to maneuver. We could try to form an alliance and keep them as a backup option."

The system said, "In that case, we can't let Xing Shi get involved. We'll handle it ourselves. Tell Xing Shi that they aren't hosts, so we can keep this from him."

Lin Kecheng agreed and said with a smile, "Go send a message, saying that after consideration, I think he's too busy and his identity needs to be kept hidden. We've decided to confirm it ourselves."

The system replied, "Okay."

Fu Xiuning stood nearby, listening calmly.

The main system typically selected ambitious natives, and Lin Kecheng was no exception. As long as they had the system to rely on, they would never truly give up or be content. They would always find ways to cause trouble.

Fu Xiuning randomly picked two books and turned to leave.

Lin Kecheng hurriedly followed, accompanying him out of the library.

Lin Kecheng and his system thought their luck was good enough for the day, but two days later, they encountered Fu Xiuning again. This time, the Student Council President was with him. The three of them had a meal together, during which they talked about the upcoming flea market.

Senior students about to graduate would set up stalls to sell their unwanted items at low prices before leaving, and even people from other schools would come to hunt for bargains. It was always very lively.

Fu Xiuning mentioned that his family did charity work every year. Before he could guide the conversation further, Lin Kecheng understood his intention and eagerly offered, "How about we organize a charity donation event? If the seniors and senior students can't sell or take away their items, they might just throw them away. It would be better to encourage them to donate, and we can give the items to those in need."

He looked at Fu Xiuning, "Your family has experience with this. Can you help arrange the connection?"

Fu Xiuning's smile deepened.

In fact, the school organized such activities every year, like the "1 RMB Donation" or "Book Donation" events. However, if students organized a similar event themselves, the school wouldn't stop them since it was for a good cause.

With a hint of appreciation in his eyes, Fu Xiuning asked, "But it will be exam week by then. Will you be too busy?"

Lin Kecheng said confidently with a smile, "No, I'll handle the planning. You should trust my abilities, Senior."

Fu Xiuning nodded and that afternoon, he shared the contact information of the person in charge of charity at his home with Lin Kecheng. Over the next few days, he met with Lin Kecheng to discuss the plan and offered encouragement.

Lin Kecheng felt as if he had regained the drive he had when he was desperately climbing up, aiming to become the head of the Arts Department. He felt like he was regaining the momentum he had lost and became happier each day, radiant with energy.

He kept it from Xing Shi, planning to surprise the system later, making the system treat him with more respect.

Xing Shi didn't care about him and didn't bother checking his hobbies on the system, so he remained unaware of the other's situation, living his life as usual each day.

Fu Xiuning was his usual self, mostly sitting in the sofa reading, gentle and pleasing to the eye.

Xing Shi wasn't sure if the "you can directly look at the end" mentioned that day was a test, but he didn’t want to use the little bear as an excuse again, fearing they might actually want to finish reading it all. He decided to wait for another opportunity to bring it up.

A week later, Fu Xiuning mentioned that the person in charge of the charity department wanted to thank them for their kindness and had invited them to dine at a hotel under their management. All student council members were invited and could bring their families.

Fu Xiuning brought his younger brother along.

Xing Shi, of course, didn’t pass up free food and hopped into the car, only to realize they had organized an event. He asked, "The event hasn’t started yet, right? Why are we eating now?"

Fu Xiuning said, "Maybe they have time now."

Xing Shi said, "Alright."

When the two arrived at the hotel's restaurant, most of the people were already there.

The VIP room was fully equipped, even with a karaoke setup. Everyone except the charity department head was part of their group, allowing them to relax completely.

As the dinner wound down, Fu Xiuning caught the Student Council President’s eye, and she turned to Lin Kecheng, saying her phone was dead and asking to borrow his. Lin Kecheng didn’t think twice and handed over his phone.

Once the Student Council President left with the phone, Fu Xiuning approached Lin Kecheng and asked in a low voice, "Didn’t you get my message?"

Lin Kecheng was startled and quickly explained, asking, "Senior, is something the matter?"

Fu Xiuning nodded, "I need to confirm one last detail in the plan. Let’s talk aside."

Lin Kecheng immediately agreed and was led out of the VIP room by Fu Xiuning into the adjacent lounge.

Xing Shi watched the scene play out and got a hunch, sending Fu Xiuning a message, "Bro, what do you need from Lin Kecheng?"

Two seconds later, he received a one-word reply: "Fun."

System: "Huh?"

It asked confusedly, "What does he mean?"

Xing Shi didn’t know either and asked, "Can I join?"

Fu Xiuning: "Just watch."

Xing Shi put his phone away, ready to watch.

System asked, "Is it okay?"

Xing Shi said, "It's fine."

The system trusted him and also prepared to watch.

Two minutes later, the Student Council President returned with Lin Kecheng's phone and placed it on the table.

This way, even if someone wanted to pass a message during the dinner, Lin Kecheng wouldn’t be able to see it.

Unaware of what was really going on, the others saw the screen in the VIP room suddenly light up, and everyone looked over, seeing two familiar faces.

Fu Xiuning guided Lin Kecheng to the nearby coffee table, picked up a glass of lemonade from the table, poured another, and handed it over.

Lin Kecheng smiled, thanked him, and took it.

It’s just a simple donation event; he knew the plan so well he could recite it backward. He was fully confident that he could make Fu Xiuning even more satisfied with him. He asked, "Senior, what detail do you want to confirm?"

Fu Xiuning took a small sip of the lemon water, his tone calm. "I know that you were the one behind Shao Jianbo."

Lin Kecheng was just about to drink water, but those words caught him off guard. His hand trembled, spilling most of the water on himself.

He forced a nervous laugh, trying to keep his composure. "What is Senior talking about?"

Fu Xiuning said, "Shao Jianbo's mental state has improved a bit. The lawyer said you've been in contact with him for at least a month, slowly leading him to act against me."

Lin Kecheng looked astonished and protested, "I didn't, Senior! I wanted to resolve his hatred!"

He frantically called out to the system, "Why is Fu Xiuning bringing up old matters? Has he done something? Quick, go check him!"

Fu Xiuning had already cleared his phone records, including the recent messages with Xing Shi.

He said casually, "The moment I arrived at the porridge shop, you showed up right after. It's quite magical. Sometimes I wonder if you've placed someone to follow or monitor me, always knowing my location."

This touched on the system's secret.

The system found nothing useful in Fu Xiuning's phone and was about to check elsewhere when it froze, nervously monitoring the situation.

Lin Kecheng held his expression tightly and protested even more, "It's impossible, Senior. How could I have such connections?"

Fu Xiuning said, "The last time you rushed out, it was the same, as if you knew exactly when I would pass by. I've checked the dashboard camera footage several times. You deliberately wanted me to hit you, to make me feel guilty and take care of you?"

Without giving the other a chance to refute, he continued, "And Xing Shi, you've asked him several times to put in a good word for you, wanting to join my company as an artist. So, your motive in manipulating Shao Jianbo becomes clear. You manipulated Shao Jianbo into attempting to assassinate me so you could step in as my hero."

Lin Kecheng's heart was about to jump out of his throat. "I didn't, Senior!"

Fu Xiuning, unhearing, said, "I've always known you're good at manipulating people, like when you framed someone to become the head of the Arts Department. Don't bother denying it; I've found evidence and can bring people over right now to confront you."

Lin Kecheng's face turned pale, his expression tense. "You must have misunderstood. Did they say something?"

Fu Xiuning looked down at him. "I don't wrong people. I have a unique ability to attract people who are either extreme or psychologically dark. You give off the same vibe as them. I even wonder if you're part of some organization."

Both Lin Kecheng and the system were on the verge of shutting down from fear.

Fu Xiuning put down his cup, still speaking gently. "Let me be clear today. I detest you and don't want any further contact with you. It's best if you stay out of my sight."

With those words, any hope of winning Fu Xiuning over was crushed.

Lin Kecheng's face went completely pale, and the system almost crashed.

Fu Xiuning bent down, resting his hands on the armrests of the wheelchair, looking at him closely.

He had given Lin Kecheng several days of beautiful dreams, only to shatter them today, watching the other's despair closely.

He smiled faintly and leaned in, whispering, "Do you know why I brought you here? Because I'm live-streaming. The Student Association is watching right now."

Lin Kecheng's eyes filled with blood, his precarious nerves trampled again.

The Student Association had been his badge of honor, but now all the goodwill he'd built up was shattered.

All hope of winning him over was lost, and his connections in school severed.

His reputation was ruined, and his future was destroyed.

In a fit of rage, he lunged at Fu Xiuning's throat, his voice nearly breaking. "I'll kill you—!"

The sudden surge of explosive force was immense, and all the strength of his body pressed forward.

Fu Xiuning didn’t dodge at all, instead, he leaned backward and fell onto the coffee table.

The small glass coffee table shattered instantly, pieces flying everywhere. Lin Kecheng, amidst the system's furious shout of "Stop!", spotted a shard and grabbed it, aiming to stab Fu Xiuning in the neck.

Fu Xiuning blocked the attack and heard the door of the rest room being pushed open. He suddenly withdrew his force, allowing the person who rushed in to witness Lin Kecheng slicing his neck, making it look like an attempted murder.

At the same time, the host's system's Level Two Punishment hit, and Lin Kecheng collapsed without a sound.

Fu Xiuning glanced at him.

He used to deal with people like this by either killing or crippling them. He never bothered with elaborate schemes. But today, Xing Shi could witness the scene up close, so he did things differently.

In the past, there were too many unpredictable factors, and the timing was hard to control. Unlike today, where Xing Shi could see everything firsthand.

He knew Lin Kecheng's system would soon make a judgment: the host was going to prison, the mission success rate was zero, and it should actively disengage.

Xing Shi was the first to rush in.

He kicked Lin Kecheng away. Then, he bent down to check the person on the floor.

Fu Xiuning frowned, his expression somewhat painful, but Xing Shi didn’t miss the look he failed to completely hide—an undeniable sense of pleasure.

This young master had been targeted for five years, living a reclusive and ascetic life at home, able to sit quietly through the night with just a book, like a refined, unworldly flower.

It was only at this moment that Xing Shi finally glimpsed his rarely seen true nature.

Cold to the core, adept at using gentleness as a disguise, extremely intelligent, and utterly calm— A psychopath.