Chapter 025: Clingy Kitten

Chapter 025: Clingy Kitten

It was the first time in his life that Li Siwan had been this close to someone. He could even feel the warmth radiating from the other person, the fragrance lingering in the air, and the gentle breath falling on his skin.

Warm, with the sweet and lingering aroma of wine, their breaths intertwined, sending his heart spinning out of control.

Instinctively, he tried to back away, but an invisible force held him in place, making it impossible to avoid.

Perhaps he wasn’t entirely against the kiss, but the unfamiliarity made him feel oddly uneasy.

Li Siwan couldn’t help but tightly close his eyes, the sound of his heartbeat filling his mind, rendering him unable to think.

No… it’s just a kiss, after all. We’re both adults. He had lived for several decades, right? There’s really nothing to make a big deal out of.

Even when comforting himself, Li Siwan stuttered, clearly nervous.

He didn’t know why his heart was beating so fast. Perhaps everyone’s first kiss was like this.

At the very least, he didn’t dislike Su Xu, and kissing someone as beautiful as him felt like a win.

Li Siwan found numerous excuses and reasons in his mind, his fingertips trembling slightly in nervousness. Yet, the anticipated kiss didn’t come.

The breath that was close at hand lingered for a moment, gently brushing his cheek, gliding past the tip of his ear, and then lingering on his neck. Finally, it settled on his shoulder.

Su Xu rested his forehead on his shoulder, extending both hands to wrap around him. Unlike Jin Yu, who always clung to him as if he were a lifeline, suffocating him, Su Xu’s embrace was always restrained.

Their skin pressed together through the thin fabric, their body temperatures entwining. Even without intense force, the intimacy that left no gaps between them could still express the emotions the other wanted to communicate.

It felt like he was holding onto something irreplaceable, something he had almost lost, treating it with the utmost care and tenderness.

Li Siwan felt a strange ache in his chest, as if something was missing, something he needed to fill.

He suddenly realized that if the kiss hadn’t missed, he wouldn’t have found it so hard to accept.

Without needing any excuses, he just wanted to kiss this person in front of him.

He even thought Su Xu was like a kitten that had been locked up for too long. When he came home, the kitten would hiss in anger but then swing its tail over to rub against his legs, leaving his pants covered in fur.

So cute.

As if returning to that early summer ten years ago, which, for Li Siwan, wasn’t too far in the past, and the person in front of him had never changed.

Li Siwan raised his hand and patted that broad back. He tilted his head, rubbing against the youth’s ear, their hair brushing together, but it didn’t tickle.

Su Xu held him for a long, long time, as if unwilling to let go for a lifetime, making Li Siwan both helpless and too soft-hearted to refuse.

The moon peeked out from behind the clouds, casting a soft glow over the night sky, dimming the surrounding stars.

It was unclear how much time had passed before Su Xu slowly let him go, then took his hand and pressed it against his heart.

The heartbeat there seemed a little faster than before.

“I understand now,” Su Xu said.

Li Siwan simply smiled at Su Xu, just as he used to do in middle school, raising his hand to tuck the stray hair behind Su Xu’s ear.

Back then, because Su Xu couldn’t afford to go to the barber shop, he often gave himself uneven haircuts. Jin Shuyi always enjoyed running his fingers through that soft hair.

Because he spends a lot of time in the studio, Su Xu's hair has grown long enough to slightly cover his eyes. But it’s still just as soft as ever.

Su Xu was now taller than him, and when Li Siwan reached out to play with his hair, the young man lowered his head, offering his cheek near his hand.

His bright eyes looked at him, as if he hadn’t grown up at all, kind of adorable.

"So, what’s the story?" Li Siwan switched to a different topic. "Did you really paint a thousand portraits of someone?"

It sounded like an exaggeration, something Li Siwan had picked up from gossip, but he wasn’t sure how true it was.

A light blush crept up Su Xu's cheek. He blinked, his gaze shifting away, his long and thick lashes fluttering.

He said, "Every single one is of you."

Li Siwan’s heart raced at the directness of it, and his fingertips tingled with warmth.

Blushing, he quickly pulled his hand away, unable to hide how flustered he was.

The thunderous beating of his own heart filled his ears.

Su Xu said, "Because all traces of you in this world were gone, I was afraid I would forget you."

It felt like his heart had been struck, leaving a lump in his throat.

Back then, he had left in a hurry, unable to say more than a few words to Su Xu and the others.

He thought he would be forgotten by this world, leaving without looking back, never expecting that Su Xu hadn’t forgotten him, nor that he would return under a completely new identity.

Yet, he was still recognized by Su Xu.

From the very first meeting.

It was as if fate had played a joke on them, but after all the twists and turns, they were still them.

"How have you been all these years?" Li Siwan brought up another topic to mask his emotions.

Su Xu, just like before, slowly, as if telling a fairy tale, unfolded the years without him, placing them before Li Siwan.

Li Siwan listened quietly, not feeling sleepy at all. The moonlight gradually dimmed, and the sky began to show a brightening white, dyeing the dark blue sky with brilliant colors.

"Sorry, I didn’t notice the time, are you tired?" Su Xu saw that Li Siwan’s face had turned a bit pale from staying up all night, concern clearly visible in his eyes.

Li Siwan shrugged. "It's fine, I’m used to my day-night reversal now, my sleep schedule is a mess, I can go catch up on sleep now."

He wasn’t kidding. It was a common problem among people who lived in the past, almost like a cliché of the ‘pain and suffering’ trope.

Su Xu didn’t look happy upon hearing this.

He didn’t hide his emotions in front of him, laying all his feelings bare before Li Siwan.

It just seemed a bit childish.

Li Siwan couldn’t resist pinching Su Xu’s ear.

"Alright, seriously, I’m fine. I’ll head to bed now and start adjusting my sleep schedule tonight, okay?"

"Hmm..." Su Xu held his hand and gently rubbed it against his cheek, asking cautiously, "Can I help you?"

Li Siwan blinked, considering for a moment, "Yes, but I will return to my country in a few days."

Su Xu opened his mouth to ask something but eventually didn't, only saying, "Then can I go back with you?"

Li Siwan didn’t think that was a good idea.

If Su Xu kept showing up, things might not play out the way they were supposed to.

Now, because of his close relationship with Su Xu, things seemed to have spread far and wide.

Who knows what unexpected consequences might happen when they got back? Moreover, there was the later plot where Su Xu targeted him and suppressed the Li family.

Now that they had recognized each other, how could Su Xu ever turn against the Li family?

Li Siwan frowned, realizing the situation was tricky.

"Okay, actually if it's not possible, then..." Su Xu, looking pale, retracted his earlier statement, not wanting to put Li Siwan in a difficult position.

"I'm not against you going back with me, it's just that there are some things..." Li Siwan didn’t know how to explain his system mission to Su Xu. No matter how imaginative, Su Xu couldn’t just guess that, right?

Seeing Li Siwan's hesitation, Su Xu asked, "Is there something you need help with?"

Li Siwan thought for a moment and uncertainly said, "Uh... get me blacklisted in the entertainment industry here?"

As soon as he said it, he himself found it absurd.

If Su Xu said that to him, he would suspect the other was joking.

But Su Xu immediately agreed, "Yes, do you need it now?"

He didn’t even question it, trusting Li Siwan without hesitation.

That familiar, unsettling feeling crept back into his chest, making his heartbeat a little out of control.

Li Siwan nodded, "If you can, you'll be doing me a big favor."

Su Xu looked at his phone beside him, "Then I'll send a message."

Li Siwan then remembered that he hadn’t returned Su Xu’s phone yet and had completely forgotten about it. Su Xu was still obediently not resisting him at all.

He handed the phone to Su Xu, "Forgot about that."

Su Xu looked at him with his eyes curved, not minding at all.

Seeing Li Siwan's expectant look, Su Xu immediately started operating on his phone, and about ten minutes later, he closed the screen.

"Almost done." Su Xu said.

Li Siwan was a little surprised, that quick?

He called out to the system in his mind, asking, "System, help me check my mission progress."

System 626: Yes, host, please wait.

A string of characters appeared in his mind, showing that his first mission milestone, the one where he angered a big shot at the banquet and got blacklisted and sent back to his country, had a completion rate of 100%. Thanks to the high point multiplier, he earned a ton of system points instantly! More than the main plot points reward from the previous world!

Li Siwan's eyes lit up. This might actually work out!

He’s always been terrible at hiding his emotions, and right now, his eyes were practically glowing with happiness as he gazed at Su Xu like he was the most precious thing in the world. Meeting those earnest eyes that had been fixed on him, he couldn’t help but hug Su Xu in excitement.

"Thank you! It’s done."

Su Xu didn’t ask what had been accomplished—Li Siwan couldn’t explain it—but he knew that whatever it was, Su Xu would help him if he asked.

Such a good guy.

Li Siwan was happy, and Su Xu was equally delighted for him, holding his hand and asking, "When are you heading back? I’ll need to plan ahead."

Li Siwan thought for a moment and gave Su Xu a rough outline of his schedule.

"However..." He felt a bit embarrassed as he spoke. Although Su Xu had trusted and helped him unconditionally, for now, he couldn’t appear in public with Su Xu or be too affectionate in front of others.

Su Xu wasn’t particularly concerned and agreed without hesitation to cooperate.

"Can I visit you privately?" The young man looked at him with such pleading eyes that it was impossible to refuse.

"Of course." Li Siwan didn’t see any issue with that. Since Su Xu had helped him by playing along and making sacrifices, he would unconditionally agree to any request from him.

Hearing this, Su Xu leaned in like a contented cat, hugging Li Siwan and nuzzling against him. A clear and cheerful voice whispered in his ear, "You have to tell me when you’re free."

Li Siwan helplessly patted him. "You can come to see me whenever you want, as long as there’s nothing very important, I can keep you company."

Su Xu stayed close, nuzzling his ear in a way that felt intimate but never crossed any boundaries, clinging to him affectionately.

"Okay."

The next day, Li Siwan slept in until the afternoon. The room Su Xu had prepared for him was perfect for a lazy day—the curtains blocked out all the light, the bedding was fresh and sun-kissed, and the air conditioning kept everything cool. Wrapped in the soft, fluffy quilt, he didn’t want to get up at all.

The others had left the villa that morning for other plans. Li Siwan felt a little regretful; he had wanted to see his old classmates.

"Most of the classmates from before aren’t in the country now, but we gather every two years. Next time, I can bring you to the reunion." Su Xu, as if seeing through Li Siwan’s thoughts, offered the invitation without him even asking.

Two years... Li Siwan wondered when the next reunion would be, but in the story’s timeline, it wouldn’t be long before everything wrapped up.

"System, I have a question." Li Siwan called out to the system. "Can I stay in this world after completing my mission?"

The system orb lit up, activating with a white glow, and replied, "At your current level, you don’t have enough energy to stay in this world. However, there are two ways you could remain here."

System 626 dutifully explained, "The first option is that you can choose to give up returning to the Book Crossing Bureau, exchange your remaining energy for rewards, and then stay in this world as a regular person."

"The second option," System 626 continued, "is to use your system points to return to this world after leveling up. You can spend your points to extend your stay—essentially, you’d be taking a ‘retirement’ here."

Li Siwan nodded. He had to admit, the Book Crossing Bureau offered some pretty sweet perks, which is why so many people were willing to complete missions and rack up points.

System 626 agreed, "You’re right. When you re-enter a book world, you can bring in rewards from the main space. The more points you have, the better the treatment you’ll get during your stay."

Li Siwan chuckled. It sounded a bit like a pipe dream, but given the size and reputation of the Book Crossing Bureau system, it didn’t seem like they would deceive him. The benefits were real and attainable.

Of course, that depended on him accumulating enough points.

In his first book world, most of his points went into keeping System 626 running, since it was almost out of energy. That left him with very few points to spare. But Li Siwan didn’t regret it; although he had lost points, System 626 had rescued him from the book world, preventing him from being trapped forever.

Now, in his second book world, Li Siwan had just completed his first plot point with a base score of 5, 100% completion, and a multiplier of 3, earning him a total of 15 points.

Don't look down on these 15 points—a single system point can be exchanged for one system hour in the book world. This equates to a year in the real world. In the cultivation world, time dilation means one system hour is equivalent to ten years.

The base plot points are relatively low because the initial plot wasn't very significant. For future plots involving the main character, if completed successfully, the base points alone could range from 15 to 20 points. By the end of an entire world, Li Siwan could save up over a hundred points.

This score is ridiculously high for a newcomer. After all, a higher point multiplier means more points. In some simpler worlds, the multiplier ranges from 0.8 to 1.5, and you'd only earn a few dozen points after completing all the plots.

Of course, a high point multiplier also means the plot is difficult or too bizarre for anyone to take on.

Everyone wants to work happily. Who would want to endure the emotional turmoil of an old-fashioned romance world just for a few points?

Earning money isn't easy, but I don’t want to finish that thought.

He sat in his seat, having a conversation with the system. From the outside, he looked like he was lost in thought. He didn’t respond to Su Xu, remaining motionless, except for occasional nods and subtle changes in his expression.

Su Xu pretended not to notice, quietly keeping him company, waiting for him to snap out of it before continuing their conversation.

Li Siwan felt a bit guilty towards Su Xu. He remembered that Su Xu's time was extremely valuable. Even official invitations from various countries to assist in solving cases paid him absurdly high wages.

Not to mention, Su Xu was an excellent painter, with any of his works being of auction-worthy quality. Here was a man whose value seemed to grow with every passing minute, yet he was spending all his time accompanying Li Siwan as he zoned out.

"I'm not that busy. As long as I have enough money to get by, I don't have a strong attachment to it," Su Xu explained to him with a smile.

Li Siwan: "..."

People who say such things usually have so much money that they could shred it with a paper shredder for several lifetimes and still not finish it.

This is probably the world of the rich.

In any case, Su Xu had been upfront with him. Even if he never worked again, the companies he had invested in would continue to generate more than enough income for him. Assisting in solving cases or painting were merely ways for him to pass the time.

Li Siwan gradually became less concerned about wasting Su Xu's time. He had set a date to return to his country. Recently, Li Siwan's parents had been overwhelmed with dealing with their family being blacklisted and had no time to pay attention to him.

Though he felt sorry for his elderly parents, it was necessary for the story’s plot, and Li Siwan couldn’t help them.

Even if the family went bankrupt, Su Xu wouldn’t let them end up living on the streets.

After all, the current pressure on the Li family is part of the story’s plot. With Su Xu's capabilities, rebuilding the Li family's business would be a piece of cake.

But Li Siwan couldn’t shake the feeling that something was... off.

It felt like he was being kept by Su Xu.

Other people in similar situations often tried to please their benefactors to receive gifts.

In his case, Su Xu tried to please him, doing whatever he asked for his sake.

Li Siwan didn’t dwell on it. Once the plot was over, he would have to leave. He'd deal with everything once he earned enough points and returned.

In the days leading up to his return, he asked Su Xu to take him on a few tours around the area. They had so much fun that he almost missed his flight back.

Fortunately, they were flying on Su Xu's private jet, so Li Siwan could catch up on sleep and freshen up before landing. His body wasn’t in great shape, and even a little excitement left him feeling drained.

Su Xu hesitated, holding onto Li Siwan’s hand as if reluctant to let him go. "Alright, alright. I'll let you know the moment I have some free time, okay?" Li Siwan coaxed Su Xu as if calming a child, then hurried off the plane at the last minute. He found the VIP lane for regular tourists, pulling his small suitcase and pretending he had just arrived on a commercial flight.

Before he even left the airport, he had already spotted the man who stood out effortlessly among the crowd, his presence commanding attention.

The man standing before him was the main protagonist and the dominant love interest of this world—

Xie Zecheng.

Tall and long-legged, the man had an intimidating presence with a face that screamed "stay away." His features were sharp and deeply defined, his eyes profound, fitting the classic trope of the overbearing CEO from old romance novels.

A person like him naturally exuded a frightening aura just by standing there.

However, despite his fierce appearance, he was undeniably handsome, which made many passersby turn their heads in admiration.

Every now and then, bold young women would strike up conversations with him, as Xie Zecheng looked like someone who had more money than most.

In reality, the guy did live a lavish life, with even the cheapest item he wore costing several years' worth of hard work for an average person.

Li Siwan didn’t appreciate how flashy Xie Zecheng was.

Like a peacock strutting around, but with a perpetually sour expression.

Just imagining the scene made Li Siwan feel like laughing for no reason.

But he had to maintain his character setup. Xie Zecheng was attracted to the original personality of Li Siwan—aloof and indifferent. In the original story, Li Siwan had to humble himself before Xie Zecheng after the Li family’s bankruptcy, shattering his idealized image.

On the other hand, the substitute lover, who completely gave up on Xie Zecheng, ended up being deeply loved by Xie Zecheng, who pursued him instead.

Li Siwan: *What the actual f*gif*

He schooled his expression into a cold, indifferent mask. In reality, as long as he didn’t show any emotions, his face looked icy enough, as if he had been dead for eight hundred years and had lost all feelings.

With his chest puffed out and his head held high, Li Siwan walked with an air of superiority, only to notice more and more eyes turning towards him.

"This feels so cringeworthy. I can’t stand this cheesy setup. It’s like some embarrassing role-play."

However, Li Siwan was mistaken. He thought his haughty demeanor made him look ridiculous.

In reality, although Li Siwan’s face wasn’t the type to stun at first glance, it still far exceeded the average person’s looks. At the very least, when standing randomly in a crowd, his face alone could stand out, drawing people’s attention involuntarily.

Not to mention, Li Siwan’s unique cold and aloof aura made him appear like a flower on a high cliff, unreachable.

A great beauty like him, with extraordinary clothing taste, would naturally make anyone take a second glance.

But perhaps because Li Siwan’s aura was too cold, those who wanted to approach him didn’t dare to, fearing that even speaking an extra word would profane this pure white lotus.

Xie Zecheng, who had been annoyed by some clueless people hitting on him, immediately softened when he saw Li Siwan.

His deep eyes filled with tender affection, but he kept it hidden, afraid to let anyone see.

Li Siwan was someone who deserved to be worshipped by every admirer.

"Siwan ge." The previously domineering Xie Zecheng immediately dropped his facade, quickly walking up to Li Siwan and taking the suitcase from his hand.

"The commercial flight must have been tiring. Next time, I’ll arrange a private jet for you. Your health isn’t great; don’t exhaust yourself like this. It pains me." The man’s usually cold voice became gentle, as if he didn’t dare to say anything harsh, treating Li Siwan like the most precious thing in the world.

Li Siwan merely lifted his chin slightly, signaling a greeting, then curved his mouth into a smile, comforting him, "Don’t worry. I came back with friends this time, so the trip felt much shorter."

Li Siwan was two years older than Xie Zecheng, and their families lived next door to each other. He had grown up with Xie Zecheng since they were young.

Teenagers grow at different rates. Li Siwan had hit his growth spurt early, while Xie Zecheng was a late bloomer. Therefore, during their teenage years, Xie Zecheng always seemed like a younger brother in front of Li Siwan.

Such a Li Siwan was even more unattainable for Xie Zecheng, as if this neighborly brother would always be so perfect, so out of reach.

There was always a cold aura surrounding Li Siwan, but he showed unusual care and revealed a special kind of gentleness towards this neighborly brother. Yet, this gentleness was always distant, limited to that of an older brother to his younger brother, and could never undergo a qualitative change.

Therefore, the more Xie Zecheng couldn't have him, the more he desired Li Siwan, and even became obsessed with finding people who resembled Li Siwan, yet he never found anyone who could compare to the teenager he had idealized in his memory.

"Friends? Did you meet them there, or is it one of your old juniors?" Xie Zecheng couldn't help but ask.

Li Siwan was always so aloof to everyone, but in that photo, the person he longed for didn't push away the arm resting on his shoulder.

He had never seen Li Siwan be so affectionate and gentle with anyone before.

His jealousy was barely contained.

"I met them at a gathering," Li Siwan casually explained and said no more. That's just how I am—although cold, I still have a bit of patience for this younger brother.

Unexpectedly, this lukewarm attitude ended up making the other party even more anxious.

Xie Zecheng wanted to ask more, but seeing Li Siwan's poor mental state, he ultimately didn't say anything.

The man took Li Siwan to an extravagantly expensive high-end restaurant, and after the meal, personally sent Li Siwan back.

After the Li family developed overseas business, they sold the house in the country.

But Xie Zecheng bought the Li family's house back, hired a nanny to clean it daily, and the interior remained almost unchanged after all these years.

"I've prepared a gift to celebrate your return to the country, Brother Siwan. Are you satisfied?" Xie Zecheng observed Li Siwan's expression with anticipation and fervor in his eyes.

Li Siwan nodded slightly and said indifferently, "Thank you for your effort."

He didn't seem to care much about the surprise Xie Zecheng had carefully prepared for him, as if even the most precious treasure in the world couldn't earn his favor.

Just as Xie Zecheng had imagined, although Li Siwan's heart was frozen in ice, it only made Xie Zecheng more obsessed, and more eager to hold this unreachable moon in the sky.

Xie Zecheng didn't stay long. After seeing a certain message, his expression changed slightly.

Li Siwan seemed to notice something and looked over with a calm gaze. Without needing to ask, Xie Zecheng explained to him.

"There's an issue at the company that needs me to handle it," the man's expression showed a hint of anxiety he didn't even notice, "I've arranged a welcome party for you tomorrow night. Rest well today. I'll send someone to pick you up tomorrow afternoon."

Li Siwan nodded slightly, "Mm, drive safe, don't overwork yourself."

Hearing his concern, Xie Zecheng's eyes softened with gentleness, "Alright, I'll be on my way then."

Xie Zecheng left in a hurry, and once he was completely gone, the previously composed Li Siwan dropped all his guard and shuddered with disgust—

"Ugh!"

Recently, he had been spending most of his time with Su Xu and inexplicably developed some interest in psychology. Whenever he wanted to know something, Su Xu would explain it to him in great detail.

Although he wasn't so dense that he needed such detailed explanations, the content was so fascinating that Li Siwan learned a lot through this entertaining and educational process.

Today, while dealing with Xie Zecheng, he noticed many details. He was practically juggling Xie Zecheng while ranting in his mind with the system.

He was so distracted by his own thoughts that he almost didn’t hear what Xie Zecheng was saying.

Once Xie Zecheng left, Li Siwan couldn't stand to be in that villa for even a minute.

It wasn't because of anything else, but who knows what that creep Xie Zecheng had done in this room.

Someone who could find substitutes to sleep with and had already used several of them, Li Siwan was terrified that even breathing the same air as Xie Zecheng might contaminate him.

Therefore, he didn’t stay a second longer and used the card Su Xu gave him to swipe a luxurious suite at the nearest high-end hotel.

He knew how to live in luxury. For Su Xu, this amount of money was nothing more than pocket change. There was no need for him to pinch pennies for Su Xu; that would make things feel too formal between them.

As soon as Li Siwan swiped his card and entered the room, he heard the sound of the lock next door clicking.

It seemed someone was staying in the neighboring room as well.

This expensive top-floor suite only had four rooms on the entire floor.

He wasn’t sure if the opposite room was occupied, and Li Siwan felt uneasy. If someone was staying in the neighboring room, he wouldn’t be able to relax while using the pool or bathroom.

However, when he called the front desk to inquire, he learned that all four suites on the top floor had actually been booked.

Even the suite he was in was only made available by paying an extra high price.

Li Siwan didn’t need to guess to know that Su Xu had arranged this for him. After all, this was the best accommodation in the city, and it was also close to the villa where Li Siwan used to live.

Su Xu always made sure to take care of every little detail for him.

Thinking of this, Li Siwan didn’t bother with the idea of changing rooms.

Anyway, he wouldn’t be staying for long. Once this situation was resolved, he could move into Su Xu’s home.

With that thought in mind, Li Siwan stripped off his clothes and headed to the shower, ready to reset his body clock.

Meanwhile.

The man staying next door closed the door and took the elevator down.

The guy on the other end of the call wouldn’t stop talking, so much so that he didn’t even need to speak, and the other person could perform a one-man show.

“You have no idea how much extra I paid to snatch this room. I mean, you’re just back to negotiate a deal, right? Why can’t you use your own ID to check into a hotel? You’re worried they’ll steal the deal if they find out you’re back? It’s not necessary, bro. With the Jin family’s reputation, who would even try to compete with you? Ah, wait, I just remembered, your partner this time is… Oh crap, the Xie family?! I just realized… Holy crap, it hit me…”

The elevator numbers slowly decreased, and when it reached -1, the man finally spoke.

“I’m in the parking lot now, so I’ll hang up.”