Chapter 132

Chapter 132

The system checked in on Ji Mian and noticed that he looked much better than last night, asking, "Feeling better?"

Ji Mian paused before realizing what the system was referring to.

He was upset about the possibility of Yu Chuang falling for someone else...

Although the issue remained unresolved, last night’s events had oddly snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts.

Ji Mian realized there was someone else who shared the same fear of loss.

Yu Chuang’s shared feelings inexplicably gave him great comfort.

"Yeah."

*

In March, Yu Chuang got offers from several software companies, but they were all small firms, with the highest offer just a few million.

In the team, except for Yu Chuang and Senior Zhou, the others were visibly excited. Being students, they couldn’t help feeling thrilled upon hearing such figures.

When Senior Zhou quit his last job, his annual salary was close to a million, so he wasn’t too impressed by these numbers.

Yu Chuang didn’t rush and patiently waited until the end of March, when Senior Zhou rushed to meet him at an off-campus café.

As soon as they met, Senior Zhou eagerly said, "Taixing Technology threw out a number."

Twenty million—close to what Yu Chuang had in mind.

Senior Zhou let out a long breath, "Should we wait for Pei Sheng?"

Yu Chuang: "No need to wait." Even if Pei Sheng made an offer, it wouldn’t be higher than Taixing.

"There’s also Yunchi Group. Their boss wants to meet you directly but hasn’t given a price. Will you go?"

Yu Chuang thought for a moment and said, "Yes."

Regardless of whether Yunchi Group ultimately had any intention of cooperating, it was worth checking out.

Senior Zhou smiled, "I figured you’d say that."

Yunchi Group had made waves in Ningcheng this past year, yet the person behind it remained exceptionally low-key. Meeting them could lead to some surprises.

After parting ways, Yu Chuang sat in the café for a while, staring at the call log on his phone.

Ji Mian hadn’t called today.

He gripped his phone, suddenly reminded of Pei Sheng Group, the Pei Family, and Pei Qing.

These names had barely crossed paths in his years in Ningcheng.

But recently, for some reason, Pei Qing kept popping into his mind.

Yu Chuang found it baffling. He’d never even met the guy, and the few times he had heard the name Pei Qing were from Ji Mian’s friends. Yet, in recent days, he’d grown oddly fixated on this person.

Ji Mian hadn’t invited him to the Ji Family, but Yu Chuang showed up uninvited today.

Since he hadn’t given prior notice, he waited at the Ji Family for an hour before Ji Mian, who had been out spending money somewhere, returned.

Spotting Yu Chuang at home unexpectedly, Ji Mian was momentarily stunned, then promptly sent Yu Chuang to fetch him some water.

The latter went without a fuss.

Ji Mian quickly took off the blue watch on his left wrist and tucked it into his pants pocket. He couldn't let Yu Chuang see him wearing the watch he had gifted.

When Yu Chuang came over with a glass of warm water, he frowned and said, "You seem to have a lot of free time lately."

"Yeah, I’ve got some free time," Yu Chuang replied.

This was the most relaxed he’d been in his college years. No financial stress, no academic or graduation worries. Even his June graduation defense draft was already done. Plus, since spring started, Yu Xing’s health had been getting better every day, and he could now run and jump on the playground like a normal teenager...

Things were finally going Yu Chuang’s way.

Yu Chuang wasn't anxious about the future.

He trusted his own skills. Even if he waited until after his contract with Ji Mian ended, he’d still have plenty of time to figure things out.

"Today..."

Ji Mian turned his head, waiting for the key point after "Today."

Yu Chuang started but paused and didn't continue. He actually wanted to share with Ji Mian the offer from Taixing Technology today.

A weird urge to share.

Twenty million was just the cost of a watch Ji Mian liked.

When Yu Chuang didn’t continue, Ji Mian muttered, "Weirdo..."

He grabbed the cup and headed to the bedroom to rest. Yu Chuang followed him.

As he closed the door, Yu Chuang’s eyes stayed fixed on Ji Mian’s neck.

Ever since that hotel incident a month ago, he’d been having these random thoughts: the urge to hold him, kiss him...

Sometimes, snapping out of it, he’d feel annoyed, like he was watching himself plummet into a bottomless pit.

Yu Chuang knew what he wanted. He hadn’t given much thought to love in his life, but if he ever got into a relationship, it had to be solid and committed.

Looking at the guy in front of him—blond hair too flashy to be respectable, a charming face, and the means to live it up.

Could a playboy who hung around in those kinds of places ever be loyal?

He kept claiming he liked Pei Qing, but wasn’t he just settling for a lookalike?

What a shallow kind of love.

Ji Mian took a couple of sips of water, cleared his throat, and turned: "Come here."

Before Yu Chuang could think, his body moved on its own, leaning in to kiss him.

After coming to his senses, he wished he could bite his tongue.

"..."

Ji Mian stared at Yu Chuang’s disgusted expression, "What's with that expression? It's just a kiss, are you feeling wronged now?"

"...No."

"Feeling wronged won't help. Go open the window."

In late March, when most flowers were blooming, the garden beside Ji Mian's bedroom was a vibrant array of colors.

Yu Chuang walked over, opened the window, and let the garden’s fragrance fill the room.

As he passed the desk in the bedroom, he caught sight of the photo frame on the table. It had remained firmly in place since the first time he entered this bedroom half a year ago, like a splinter, occasionally irritating him.

Yu Chuang’s brow furrowed.

It was nothing to worry about.

"Affection Points increased by 60, courtesy of Yu Chuang."

Ji Mian paused at the mental prompt.

Affection Points had been credited unusually often this month, even when Yu Chuang wasn’t around.

"System, have the points been increasing a lot lately?"

The system checked the data: "The total is nearly double what it was before."

"Only double?" Ji Mian was somewhat surprised.

It wasn’t that he thought it was too little, but the number didn’t quite match the frequency of the prompt sounds he had been sensing. He felt like he was hearing twice as many prompts daily compared to a month ago.

"You’re right. It seems each instance gives fewer points than before."

In other words, although the number of Affection Points increases this month has become more frequent, the amount gained each time is lower than before. According to the system's calculations, the average increase per instance is down by about a third.

"I think it might have something to do with your brother showing up that day," the system analyzed. "Although it’s unclear what exactly happened, it seems that his soul appearing in the real world affects the Affection Points provided by Yu Chuang. Losing his memory could be the cost of entering this virtual world."

"In other words, if your brother regains his memory, he wouldn’t be much use to you."

Useless? "He’s not useless at all!"

"...I mean, when it comes to contributing points," the system rephrased more tactfully, "he wouldn’t be helpful."

Yu Chuang's gaze lingered on the photo frame on Ji Mian's bedroom desk.

On one hand, he thought, if he’s using a substitute, how much could he really care? On the other hand, the photo in the frame annoyed him more and more.

When he went back to hug Ji Mian, his thigh bumped something hard in Ji Mian’s left pocket. He paused, then reached out to feel it.

Ji Mian’s pockets were usually just for show, never used.

Before he could figure it out, Ji Mian slapped his hand away.

Yu Chuang tilted his head and asked, "What’s in there?"

Ji Mian replied without hesitation, "Gold bars."

Yu Chuang thought the texture didn’t feel like gold bars; it was more like some kind of metal chain, similar to a watch strap. In any case, it had nothing to do with gold bars.

Why would he carry a chain in his pocket?

Ji Mian pushed him lightly on the chest, "You should head back. I’ve got plans tonight."

"Eating?"

"Meeting someone."

Yu Chuang looked up, "Meeting at a private club?"

"Why ask so much?" Ji Mian frowned but still answered his question: "Going out to hang out. Zhou Ji was on a business trip recently and just returned a couple of days ago."

Yu Chuang finally let go.

*

Zhou Ji returned to Ningcheng and only called Ji Mian and Xue Zongguang.

He had plenty of friends in Ningcheng, but Xue Zongguang was the closest. "Ji Fan" was in the second circle.

But over the past six months, the three of them had grown closer without even realizing it.

Zhou Ji glanced at Ji Mian out of the corner of his eye.

He was still the same person, talking the same way, but somehow he seemed different.

Zhou Ji caught sight of the blue on Ji Mian's wrist and casually said, "That’s a nice watch."

"Come on, which of Master Ji’s watches isn’t stunning?" Xue Zongguang flattered him, "But you’ve been wearing this one a lot lately..."

"Two months?" Zhou Ji was surprised, "That’s unusual."

He hadn’t been in Ningcheng lately, so today was the first time he noticed the watch on Ji Mian’s wrist.

"Let me see—how much did you pay for it?" Zhou Ji leaned over, putting his arm around Ji Mian's shoulder, and casually ruffled his blond hair, saying, "It’s gotta be at least eight figures, right?"

The only watches the Ji Family’s young master would love are those two or three ridiculously expensive ones.

"Just picked it up on a whim, and I don’t wear it that often," Ji Mian deflected.

Zhou Ji didn’t push it. "Oh, by the way, I’ve got some good news for you."

"What is it?"

Zhou Ji smiled mysteriously.

"I heard from the Pei family that Pei Qing, the one you’ve been waiting for, is coming back next month."