Chapter 14: Discovery

Chapter 14: Revelation

The class group chat was a cesspool of toxic chatter, and Lin Shenshi, exasperated, muted the notifications.

He glanced sideways and saw Yu Lanzhao staring blankly at his phone, as if disbelieving what he was seeing.

Lin Shenshi didn't need to guess; he knew it was the class group chat causing the commotion. He shot a glance at Lu Yuan, who was writing on the blackboard with his back to them, and swiftly, before anyone could react, pressed the power button on Yu Lanzhao’s phone.

He whispered, barely audible, “Don’t look, it’s all nonsense!”

Lin Shenshi’s fingers covered Yu Lanzhao’s, hidden beneath the desk.

Lin Shenshi’s skin was already considered fair for a boy, but Yu Lanzhao’s was even paler—like the finest mutton-fat jade from ancient imperial courts, or six-pointed snowflakes drifting in a deep winter night sky—breathtakingly beautiful.

The warm sensation permeated deep through their skin. Yu Lanzhao nodded silently, quietly savoring the rare intimacy, while Lin Shenshi’s touch was fleeting. He was left with a wistful longing, replaying the lingering warmth and sensation on his skin.

At the lectern, Lu Yuan spoke eloquently, his lecture content no less insightful than that of a seasoned professor specializing in the field.

Everyone quickly became engrossed in the class, and the raging gossip in the class group chat gradually subsided.

When class ended, Yu Lanzhao, prompted by Lu Yuan’s gaze, walked over and listened as Lu Yuan, eyes downcast, spoke softly.

Lin Shenshi’s seat was in the third row, neither too close nor too far from the lectern. Normally, he might have overheard their conversation, but now everyone was packing their books, rushing to their next class. The lecture hall was a cacophony of noise, and even though Lin Shenshi strained his ears, he only caught fragmented whispers.

“...clothes...take off...” “You wouldn’t want...to let...know...”

Lin Shenshi’s hand trembled, and his script textbook clattered to the floor. To avoid drawing attention, he bent down to pick it up, and more disjointed words drifted into his ears.

“...office...fine...decide...”

Lin Shenshi’s knuckles turned white. He never imagined that the transformation plan had only just begun, and yet Lu Yuan was already making his move on Yu Lanzhao again.

And... Yu Lanzhao’s outfit today—did it really not displease him in the slightest?

Could it be that his strategy was flawed?

Just as Lin Shenshi’s thoughts raced, Yu Lanzhao returned. “Xiao Shi, let’s go.”

Lin Shenshi quickly stuffed his textbook into his backpack, slung it over one shoulder, and followed behind Yu Lanzhao.

Subconsciously, he glanced back. On the lectern, Lu Yuan was staring at him with a dark, brooding gaze.

Goosebumps instantly prickled his skin.

*

Students streamed through the hallway. Lin Shenshi clutched his backpack strap tightly, his palm clammy with sweat.

“Ah Zhao, what did... Teacher Lu say to you just now?”

Yu Lanzhao walked ahead, head down, as if he hadn’t heard the question. Lin Shenshi repeated it, and only then did Yu Lanzhao turn around.

“Nothing much,” Yu Lanzhao said lightly, though his expression hinted at a forced composure.

Was he worried about implicating Lin Shenshi, and deliberately keeping quiet?

“But you talked for a long time...” Lin Shenshi decided to play on his emotions. “Ah Zhao, I’m worried about you.”

His dark eyes flickered. Yu Lanzhao bit his lower lip, then lowered his head somewhat sadly. “Actually... Teacher Lu reprimanded me.”

He sniffed. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to wear the clothes Xiao Shi gave me anymore.”

Lin Shenshi pressed further. “Why?”

“Teacher Lu said the school prohibits unconventional clothing, and what I wore today violates the dress code.”

Lin Shenshi: “...Is that all?”

“Yes, he didn’t say anything else.”

“...”

Lin Shenshi felt that Yu Lanzhao was hiding something, but since he wasn’t volunteering the information, it felt inappropriate to press him further. So he patted his shoulder. “It’s fine. I’ll take you shopping for normal clothes another day.”

Since Lu Yuan was already using school rules to pressure them, it seemed the transformation plan was having some effect. If unconventional clothes were no longer an option, the focus would have to shift to long-term physical transformation. One day, he would make Yu Lanzhao so strong that no predatory dominant could easily lay a hand on him.

Lin Shenshi was deep in thought when suddenly, a man in a purple suit with slicked-back hair appeared, blocking Yu Lanzhao’s path.

“Young man! I see you have extraordinary bone structure—you have great potential to debut as a model!”

The performing arts academy was full of handsome men and beautiful women, and talent scouts often frequented the campus. Yu Lanzhao’s looks stood out dramatically, and over the past year, he had received numerous offers from various small and medium-sized agencies.

But he had always been academically focused, believing his current priority was to complete his studies. Occasional minor roles were acceptable, but signing with an agency too early might restrict him, so he had never accepted.

Moreover, this was a scout looking for models.

Yu Lanzhao, well-practiced, politely declined. “Sorry, my future career plan is to become an actor.”

The slick-haired man wasn’t deterred by the rejection and walked alongside them, chatting as they went. “Young man, don’t say that. Many famous actors in the entertainment industry started their careers as models. For example... oh! Right, Qi Lian—Actor Qi! What a successful and great actor! And yet he— Huh? Young man?”

Yu Lanzhao had stopped in his tracks.

His long eyelashes lowered, concealing the turbulent emotions in his eyes.

The next moment, he lifted his head, his expression calm. “No need. I don’t have such plans at the moment.”

With that, he took Lin Shenshi’s hand and quickly walked away. The slick-haired man, seeing his persuasion was futile, finally gave up but still slipped a business card into Yu Lanzhao’s jacket pocket.

“Young man, always leave a door open. If you change your mind later, call me anytime! The treatment for models at our agency is very generous!”

The slick-haired man was left behind. Lin Shenshi recalled the original novel’s plot and realized this was a scene that hadn’t appeared before.

Instead, at this point in the story, Yu Lanzhao would go out every weekend to audition for film crews, which was how he encountered the powerful Yin Yunxian—who was overseeing casting work—the second predatory dominant in this NP erotic novel.

Yin Yunxian had only glanced at him a couple of times, but his sycophants immediately understood and separately kept the protagonist shòu for a so-called second-round audition, secretly drugging him and delivering him to the powerful man’s bed.

...

Early the next morning, the protagonist shòu woke up on a large hotel bed, staring blankly at the disarray in the room.

The man was no longer in bed, yet his presence was everywhere—even a distinct odor constantly reminded him of what had happened the night before.

The protagonist shòu spent a long time washing himself in the hotel bathroom, until his skin was almost raw. Only then did he walk out trembling, his eyes brimming with tears.

Soon, he received a call from the casting director—he had been selected as the sixth male lead for the film.

At the time, he didn’t understand the cause and effect, thinking only that his efforts had finally paid off. He thanked the casting director profusely, completely unaware that his current predicament was entirely due to him.

Lin Shenshi’s eyes couldn’t help but well with pity as he looked at the young man beside him. “Ah Zhao, do you have any plans to audition for roles recently?”

Yu Lanzhao shook his head. “No, midterms are coming up. I want to set aside more time for studying.”

Lin Shenshi said, relieved, “Our Ah Zhao is such a good student!” He then reminded, “If there are any auditions, make sure to let me know. I’ll go with you.”

This time, he absolutely must not let Yu Lanzhao be subjected to forced affection by Yin Yunxian again.

Yu Lanzhao nodded.

The day’s classes were hectic and packed. After dinner, Lin Shenshi still had an elective class, which Yu Lanzhao did not take.

They parted ways at the cafeteria entrance. Yu Lanzhao returned to the dormitory and waited until after the class bell rang and the campus quieted down before slipping quietly downstairs, heading toward the office building across the artificial river.

The lights on the 8th floor were still on.

*

When Lin Shenshi returned from class, the dorm room was dark, and Yu Lanzhao was lying on the bed, fast asleep.

Why is he sleeping so early?

Lin Shenshi tiptoed over. The young man’s sleeping face was serene, but his brows were slightly furrowed, as if troubled by something.

His slight frame lay curled up on its side, the thin blanket pulled all the way up to his chin, tightly wrapped around him.

Lin Shenshi had a bad feeling.

Could it be that Lu Yuan had taken advantage of his absence?

He crouched by the bed, leaning in to examine the young man’s face closely.

His porcelain cheeks were flushed with an unnatural redness.

Lin Shenshi’s heart sank. He reached out and drew back the thin blanket, noticing that Yu Lanzhao had changed into his pajamas. There was nothing unusual about the clothes, but perhaps the dirty ones had been taken off.

The pajamas were a classic top-and-bottom set, frayed from wear but cleanly washed. The buttons were meticulously fastened all the way up, so Lin Shenshi couldn’t see inside.

He reached to undo them, but the buttonholes were tight. After fumbling for a moment, he managed to undo just two buttons.

Pale, delicate skin was revealed, glistening with a fine sheen of sweat.

—But there were no red marks.

In the original story, although Lu Yuan always drugged the protagonist before assaulting him, he was particularly fond of claiming his territory.

He would caress every inch of skin, leaving behind blooming, vivid marks.

The young protagonist, naive and innocent, didn’t understand what these marks meant and privately wondered why the autumn mosquitoes were so vicious.

It wasn’t until Yin Yunxian forcefully claimed him that the young man, alone in the bathroom cleaning the marks, finally realized what they meant.

But that was later.

For now, seeing Yu Lanzhao’s chest clean and unmarked, Lin Shenshi breathed a sigh of relief.

If Lu Yuan had indeed made a move, he would never have allowed the young man to return so untouched.

With his worries eased, Lin Shenshi relaxed. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something and instinctively turned to look.

In the dim light, those dark, deer-like eyes were fixed intently on him.

His clear pupils swirled with shock.

And disbelief.