Chapter 35: Self-Strategy

Chapter 35 Self-Conquest

"Favorability -90"

Song Shimu rose from the sofa, walking step by step toward Qin Xu.

"-80"

"-70"

"-60"

...

"Since you're my brother," Song Shimu's amber eyes shimmered with subtle ripples, a low laugh escaping his throat as he tilted his chin, his tone teasing and alluring, "how about offering yourself to help your little brother complete this task?"

"-30"

"Not a chance." Qin Xu's lips were pressed into a tight line, the icy aura around him completely gone, a rare hint of panic flashing in his cold gaze. He said, "Can’t you find another target? Or is this just an excuse to mess with me? You can’t even touch me, yet you want to conquer me?"

"-10"

Qin Xu cautiously stepped back, keenly pinpointing the contradiction in Song Shimu’s words.

Song Shimu continued to advance until, with a muffled thud, Qin Xu’s back hit the door. Song Shimu placed one hand against the door panel.

"10"

Song Shimu’s peach-blossom shaped eyes curved slightly, his long, fan-like eyelashes trembling faintly with amusement as he looked up directly. "Heaven's will says I must pursue Plato."

"…………"

"9"

"10"

"You villain!..." 073 stared at the entire page of favorability records, feeling indescribably complex.

"...Don’t touch me." Qin Xu’s jawline tightened slightly.

Song Shimu smiled charmingly. "Fate wants me to go for platonic love, but I don’t want to."

"30"

As he spoke, he made a show of leaning in. Qin Xu’s gaze fixed on that increasingly near face, the unique orchid fragrance from Song Shimu filling his nostrils, the scent growing clearer and tangling with his thoughts.

The schemes once set specifically for Song Shimu, the shields prepared for Qinfeng and the entire Qin family—all were entangled by these lingering traces of fragrance, then uprooted and completely collapsed.

As the distance narrowed further, Qin Xu finally reacted and raised his hand to push him away, but just as he lifted his hand, the other’s movement stopped.

"40"

Their noses were barely five centimeters apart. Song Shimu halted, staring strangely at Qin Xu. "Do you really want me to kiss you?"

"..." Qin Xu came to his senses and abruptly pushed Song Shimu away.

"Platonic love means two people share mutual feelings. Neither of us has feelings for the other."

"Isn’t that how love starts from zero?" Song Shimu took two steps back from the push and said calmly.

"..."

Qin Xu’s expression was complicated. "What happens if the task fails?"

"Death," Song Shimu said.

"..." Qin Xu fell silent.

Song Shimu seized the chance to press him against the door again. "So, brother, how about offering yourself for me?"

"50"

Qin Xu pressed his back tightly against the door, putting as much distance as possible between them. "Since it’s platonic love, shouldn’t you make me develop feelings for you? Why are you so eager to get close? Are you sure you don’t just want to mess with me?"

Song Shimu hooked his lips into a smile. "If I wanted to mess with you, you’d be out for a day. What I’m doing now..."

"...is just my way of catching your attention."

"……"

"55"

The Qin Xu of old would have definitely followed such a statement with "Don’t disgust me," but this time, Song Shimu waited over ten seconds without a response. Just as he was about to tease him again, he heard the other speak.

"Company’s new rule: sexual harassment between subordinates and superiors will be strictly investigated and severely penalized. Light punishment: pay deduction. Severe punishment: termination."

"…………..."

How utterly unromantic.

Song Shimu muttered inwardly, straightening up and withdrawing his hand silently. "Are you going to deduct my salary?"

Qin Xu pressed his thin lips together. "If you don’t want deductions, do your job properly."

"Fine."

Song Shimu turned and headed back to his desk. As his gaze shifted briefly, he spotted a flash of red.

He turned back to look and found that Qin Xu had already turned away, opening the door to leave. That touch of red was distinctly visible on the tip of his ear.

"Is this favorability monitor really not broken?" 073 remarked with amazement, looking at the record that had spanned 150 points in a single day.

Song Shimu skimmed through the records and also sighed. "Is he really not self-conquering?"

"Not sure." 073 recalled every increase in favorability. His host’s methods were clearly awkward flirting moves, but because the other had never been in a relationship and was being flirted with for the first time, the effect was surprisingly good.

In a way, it was like two novices crossing paths.

"Click—"

Half an hour later, Qin Xu came back to the office.

The favorability alert sounded in his mind simultaneously. "30"

"Whoa, he went out to deprogram himself." Things gained too easily never last—073 knew this well, so he didn't mind the nearly halved favorability, only amazed.

Song Shimu glanced over without drawing attention and saw Qin Xu grabbing the door handle, walking in with long strides, and heading straight to his workstation without looking around.

The habit of always looking at him first upon entering had changed. Song Shimu curved his lips into a smile, watching Qin Xu with clear amusement.

He watched as Qin Xu moved his chair aside without expression, sat down, and calmly opened the unfinished file from before, as if having completely forgotten the earlier drama.

Song Shimu watched without blinking. Qin Xu's expression remained as steady and unreadable as always.

Five minutes later, Song Shimu remarked, "Why has your reading speed slowed down?"

"..." Qin Xu paused briefly, instinctively flipping to the next page. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Song Shimu's fox-like smile and his mouth twitched.

With a stiff face, he retorted, "If you want to deduct my salary, just say it."

Song Shimu instantly dropped the smile and got back to work.

Evening, 6 PM.

Song Shimu finished the last sip of his coffee and stood up to leave.

Qin Xu glanced up briefly before lowering his head again.

Song Shimu stopped at the door and, looking at Qin Xu who would have directly asked where he was going before, said, "Not going to ask where I’m going?"

"...I’m very busy," Qin Xu replied coldly.

"Alright then, bye."

The screech of tires tore through the silence in front of the office building. A bright red sports car, like a blazing lightning bolt, screeched to a stop right at the entrance of Qinfeng.

Its streamlined body gleamed with a liquid-metal shine, shifting like molten lava under the sunlight, as if capturing the entire sunset on its surface.

Song Shimu stood by the car as the dark-tinted window on the passenger side rolled down. Gu Wenrui, dressed in a flashy deep-V sequined shirt, slightly lowered his head, striking what he thought was the perfect angle. His fox-like eyes lifted, intentionally or not, radiating masculine charm.

"Get in, Shi Mu."

Song Shimu offered a polite smile, opened the door, slid into the passenger seat, and fastened his seatbelt.

"Just finished work?" Gu Wenrui started the car and headed toward their destination.

"Yeah," Song Shimu responded, his eyes fixed on the rearview mirror.

"Actually, once you’re in a senior position, you can come and go as you please," Gu Wenrui remarked.

Song Shimu’s mind drifted to Qin Xu, still working overtime at the office, and he said quietly, "Not necessarily."

"I do it—come and go as I want. No one dares to say a thing," Gu Wenrui said, leading by example.

"Mm."

The response was cool. Gu Wenrui couldn’t help but glance at Song Shimu. Thinking he must be tired from work, he said, "Tired? Want to rest a bit? It’s a half-hour drive to our destination."

"Sure, I’ll rest for a while."

Not seeing what he wanted in the rearview mirror, Song Shimu took him up on the offer to rest. He found a comfortable position, closed his eyes, and drifted off.

When he was awakened, the first thing Song Shimu saw was the vast stretch of the sea.

Night had already fallen. The deep blue sky hung like a heavy velvet curtain from the distant horizon, meeting the sand and sea. A few sparse stars, like tiny diamonds embedded in the fabric, twinkled with a faint, mysterious glow.

Song Shimu scanned the shoreline. They were near a tavern, with the tavern and nearby shops brightly lit, yet the beach was completely empty. It wasn’t raining, so it was impossible for guests to stay indoors. There was only one explanation.

"Did you book the entire place?"

This leisure beach wasn’t some obscure spot—it was quite popular, almost a go-to place for anyone who’d worked a long day.

After getting off work, enjoying the sea breeze, having a beer, and eating some grilled skewers was a wonderfully relaxing way to unwind.

But now, the place was empty, quiet, and cool.

"Yeah, I prefer when it’s just the two of us," Gu Wenrui said with a smile, opening the car door.

"Let’s get out. You’ve worked hard all day—time to relax properly."

Song Shimu nodded, pulled his jacket tighter, and stepped out of the car.

The soft sand shifted underfoot with a "rustling" sound. The salty sea wind, carrying ocean spray, brushed against his cheeks, wrapping him in the ocean’s unique tenderness and washing away all negative emotions.

Every inch of his skin relaxed under the caress of the sea breeze, as if floating on clouds lifted by the waves—utterly weightless and free.

Aside from being a bit chilly, everything felt perfectly comfortable.

"Hungry? Do you want to get something to eat first?"

Gu Wenrui’s tone was gentle as he naturally rested his hand on Song Shimu’s shoulder and leaned in close.

"Sure," Song Shimu said, neatly brushing Gu Wenrui’s hand aside.

Gu Wenrui took Song Shimu to a barbecue restaurant chosen for its outdoor seating, where they could enjoy the night view and the sea breeze.

When the server brought the food, Song Shimu casually picked up the tongs to start grilling, but Gu Wenrui cut in halfway, saying, "Let me handle it."

"Alright."

If his childhood friend wanted to show off, he’d let him.

Song Shimu relaxed into his chair, letting the sea breeze ruffle his hair, and said offhandedly, "Actually, what I said in the office last time was directed at Qin Xu."

Gu Wenrui froze, his eyes lighting up. "I knew it! There’s no way you’d side with Qin Xu!"

Song Shimu quietly observed Gu Wenrui’s reaction and continued, "The reason we haven’t been in touch much lately is that Qin Xu has been keeping a close eye on me. It’s only in the past few days, since he’s started to trust me more, that I felt safe enough to meet up."

Gu Wenrui’s face flushed with anger. "He’s been spying on you!"

Song Shimu nodded gently, letting out a sigh as if heavy with pent-up emotion. He hesitated, "Even though he’s been monitoring me, he hasn’t actually done anything—not even with the previous eavesdropping and stalking. He didn’t take any action. What do you think his deal is? Should I retaliate or not?"

"He—he eavesdropped and stalked you?!" Gu Wenrui was shocked, having no idea Qin Xu had gone that far. Suddenly, he recalled the first time he asked Shi Mu out after returning to the country—that night, after Shi Mu dropped him off, a luxury car had followed them shortly after he drove away!

"He followed us the last time we met too!" Gu Wenrui said with near certainty.

Song Shimu’s eyebrows rose slightly, but he suppressed it silently in the sea breeze. "So, should I retaliate or not?"

"Absolutely! Do you want to be stalked by someone that creepy for the rest of your life?" Gu Wenrui looked at Song Shimu with pity.

Song Shimu frowned, his face full of hesitation.

Gu Wenrui sighed, lowering his head. His butterfly-wing-like eyelashes veiled the fierceness in his eyes. He gently rubbed Song Shimu’s head with his clean hand.

"Don’t worry. When I first returned and learned what you were going through, I already had a plan. I’ll eliminate anyone who bullies you."