Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The bedroom was empty, and Shen Ju remained silent.

But the next moment, a voice echoed in his mind: "Hmm, not bad. The energy bar has increased a little—three percent now. Keep pushing, understand?"

Three percent!

Shen Ju clenched his fist and nodded happily: "Got it, I’ll listen to Bro 996."

Another "bro"—System 996 couldn’t help but feel pleased with itself.

As a new system, this was its first assignment, and it couldn’t afford to mess it up. Moreover, 996 was determined to match the legendary 007's track record! So, for this "despised, malicious male supporting character" role-playing mission, it had to stay focused, work diligently, and execute with precision, ensuring no mistakes whatsoever!

"Host, you’ve now been welcomed into the Guan family. You must always remember your character traits: despicable, vain, jealous, foolish, malicious, and empty-headed. You’re always either stirring up trouble or on your way to stir up trouble. Your ultimate goal is to cause trouble for the protagonist, Guan Mulin, and serve as his foil to highlight his greatness and righteousness. Understand?"

Shen Ju replied: "I understand."

He lay on the bed, burying his head between his arms, his face hidden, making the back of his head look even rounder.

The system felt a little bad for him but steeled itself and said: "I know this is a difficult task for you, but think about the rewards once the energy bar is full—doesn’t that motivate you? Besides, you were suddenly added to this family. To the Guan family, you’re an outsider. Having you or not having you doesn't make much difference to them. It doesn't really matter to them."

Shen Ju lifted his head again and nodded: "I know, Bro 996."

"Good that you understand."

996 added: "By the way, tomorrow you’ll all go back to the Guan family estate for a banquet. The Guan family will officially announce your identity to the public. That’s when we can make a big move!"

"Something big?"

"Of course, it’s to embarrass Guan Mulin!"

996 explained: "Think about it—the Guan family is officially acknowledging your identity, but at the same time, Guan Mulin will also appear at the banquet. What does that mean?"

Shen Ju: "It means... what does it mean?"

"Does it mean he’s attending the banquet too?"

996: "............"

"You idiot! It means the Guan family is also using this to tell the outside world that even though they’ve found you, their biological son, Guan Mulin’s status as the young master won’t change at all!"

Shen Ju quickly replied: "Oh, oh."

996: "So when the time comes, you must show your displeasure, understand?"

Shen Ju obediently nodded: "Understood."

"Alright, then think it over carefully."

"Okay."

Shen Ju did as he was told, deep in thought.

As he pondered, he took the test papers out of his backpack, planning to go over his mistakes.

But after taking out the papers, as if remembering something, he pulled out his phone, opened WeChat, and sent a message to a contact: "Bro, you’re on break too, aren't you?"

"You probably don’t want to attend tomorrow’s banquet."

Shen Ju muttered under his breath and typed back: [When I get a chance, I’ll come back to visit you and Auntie.]

A moment later, a reply came from the other side, the wording seeming somewhat cold: [Don’t come. Stay at your home.]

Shen Ju glanced at it but didn’t pay it much mind.

He spread the test papers out on the desk, seriously getting ready to go over his mistakes.

But just a few minutes later, someone knocked on the door.

No way he could concentrate on the questions now.

Shen Ju scratched his head and walked over to open the door.

Standing outside was a tall, sturdy man with distinct features, standing a good half-head taller than Shen Ju. The corridor light cast a shadow over Shen Ju.

His throat tightened instinctively.

His lips moved a few times, but no sound came out.

This was his eldest brother, Guan Muyao.

His biological older brother, born of the same parents.

Guan Muyao took after their father in both looks and height. In contrast, Shen Ju resembled Qin Suxi entirely—delicate and petite, with almond-shaped eyes, a small nose, fair skin, and rosy lips, like a doll displayed in a shop window. Apart from his not-so-short height, Guan Muyao felt that everything else about him was "small"—though what he hadn't seen was another story.

In short, every time Guan Muyao saw this younger brother, who'd only recently come into the family, he felt unsure how to interact with him.

It almost felt like Shen Ju was even younger than Guan Mulin.

"Come with me."

Guan Muyao paused, then added: "We're going to deliver an invitation next door."

"Delivering an invitation?"

The teenager in front of him pouted, seeming somewhat reluctant. "Why do I have to deliver the invitation in person?"

Guan Muyao looked past Shen Ju into the bedroom, noticing the test papers spread out on the desk. His tone softened slightly. "I’m taking you to meet someone. It’s the youngest son of the Pei family’s elder. According to family hierarchy, you should call him Uncle. Besides, we’ll be back in time for dinner, and with the seven-day National Day holiday, you can relax a bit."

This kind of kid was really hard to raise.

Guan Muyao had never spoken such a long string of words at once before.

In the end, he still dragged Shen Ju out.

Downstairs, Qin Suxi was no longer watching short dramas but was now playing a cooking mobile game, vigorously shaking her phone to flip the ingredients in the pan.

When Shen Ju came downstairs, Qin Suxi looked over.

"Heading out?"

Shen Ju mumbled in response, wanting to pull up his hood but remembering he had already changed into comfy clothes and was only wearing a jacket.

"You'll need to get up early tomorrow, baby. Want me to wake you?"

System 996: "Hey, this is when you should refuse and say you want to sleep in!"

"Sorry, Bro 996, my bad."

"Watch it next time, you must stay in character!"

"Yeah, yeah, next time for sure."

Bro 996 checked the task data and said, surprised, "Perfect, the person living next door is the male lead's uncle. You need to—!#@$%"

"Huh? I need to what?"

"You need—#￥%~！……"

"Bro 996? What are you saying?"

Bro 996 was full of confusion. "I said it, you can't hear me?"

Shen Ju confirmed, "I can’t hear you."

"Hold on, let me run a diagnostic."

Bro 996 muttered, "New systems always have glitches. There might be a bug in our private chat channel. Let me take a look."

Meanwhile, Shen Ju followed Guan Muyao to the house next door.

After ringing the doorbell, someone quickly came to open the door.

Click—

The door opened, revealing the person inside.

Shen Ju was still thinking about what Bro 996 had said.

From the day he was found by the Guan family, Shen Ju had been bound to the Bro 996 system. According to Bro 996, Guan Mulin was the chosen one in this world, one of the protagonists. The other protagonist was Pei Haochuan, Guan Mulin’s fated love interest. However, due to a lack of a "catalyst," their relationship couldn’t progress, so the two remained just close friends.

Shen Ju’s role was to be that crucial "catalyst."

He was the key to advancing their relationship.

But since Bro 996 didn’t have a specific action guide, they could only take things one step at a time. Still, staying in character was key.

Shen Ju thought to himself: although he was the "catalyst" for their relationship, he had to constantly oppose Guan Mulin and cause trouble, especially between Guan Mulin and Pei Haochuan. Even if their relationship was destined to end up together, he couldn’t actively bring them closer. Instead, he had to let their feelings intensify through conflict.

So, if his attitude toward Pei Haochuan was to "suck up to" him, then his attitude toward Pei Haochuan’s uncle should be even more—

With that thought, Shen Ju remembered what Guan Muyao had said earlier.

So when the door opened, he couldn’t help but say:

"Hi, Uncle!"

Then he looked up.

"............"

"............"

Pei Yan stood at the door, coolly looking at the kid in front of him.

He was wearing beige cartoon bear pajamas, with thick, somewhat messy black hair. It was unclear what he had been doing earlier, but there was a faint red mark on his face, as if stamped by a seal. His eyes were big but seemed a bit dazed, making him look very young. He was thin, with only the flesh on his cheeks seeming somewhat soft. But no matter what, he should at least be eighteen, right?

Pei Yan said calmly, "No need for that."

He was only 22, after all.

Shen Ju’s face flushed.

Half a minute later, Guan Muyao was talking privately with Pei Yan and Gao Chuanbai, while Shen Ju sat on the sofa in the living room.

He couldn’t help but scratch his cheek and glance over at Pei Yan.

He had no idea the person behind the door would be so young, and also... so attractive. Probably the most handsome person Shen Ju had ever seen.

How to describe him?

Elegant as an orchid, handsome as jade. His presence was like a noble plant, and his face was as flawless as fine jade.

His eyebrows and eyes were strikingly handsome, like a carefully carved statue. At first glance, he was very impactful, but he also seemed cold and unapproachable.

Calling someone like that "Uncle"—he really had the nerve to say it.

Shen Ju couldn’t help but pat his own mouth.

"Woof!"

Huh?

Shen Ju instinctively looked in the direction of the sound, and his eyes lit up.

It was a blue-gray merle Border Collie!

With a base coat of blue-gray and white fur, its face was half blue-gray and half white, with ice-blue eyes—very beautiful and handsome.

Shen Ju instinctively wanted to pet him.

Bro 996 popped up at that moment: "No, a villain persona doesn’t have compassion. They don’t like dogs!"

"Oh... okay."

Shen Ju could only pull his hand back with some disappointment.

But even though Shen Ju didn’t move, the merle Border Collie did.

It glanced at Shen Ju again, perked its ears, then turned around and ran to its food bowl. With a grunt, it buried its head inside.

The next second, it ran back with its mouth stuffed.

It opened its mouth and "poured" a pile of dog food onto Shen Ju’s leg.

Then it sat beside Shen Ju, wagging its tail, as if to say: Eat up.

Probably because it had seen Shen Ju patting his mouth earlier.

Shen Ju: "............"

The commotion caught the attention of Guan Muyao's group.

Guan Muyao walked over. "What’s wrong?"

He saw the kid sitting on the sofa stand up angrily. "It gave me dog food, and worst of all, it’s covered in drool! Ew!"

He said while pointing at the dog beside him.

"Woof!" The dog excitedly barked.

Shen Ju: "It barked!"

Pei Yan's eyes flashed as he glanced at the dog still happily wagging its tail.

"Sorry, he's not usually like this."

Pei Yan walked over, and patted his dog's head. "Let me apologize on behalf of my Xiao Shitou. Is that alright?"

"It's... it's fine."

Shen Ju gave a light cough: "Since you've apologized, then, then let's leave it at that."

With the invitation delivered, Guan Muyao took Shen Ju and left.

Gao Chuanbai glanced at the closed door. "The child the Guan family took them back... hmm... seems pretty ordinary?"

"Maybe." Pei Yan said.

"Huh?"

Gao Chuanbai grew curious. "You have other thoughts?"

Pei Yan didn't answer but instead looked at his dog. "You'd actually give away dog food for a stranger?"

"Woof!"

His gaze swept over the sofa, and Pei Yan paused again. "Then where's the dog food you gave?"

The sofa was spotless, not a single piece of dog food remained.

Didn't even need cleaning.

On the other side.

On the way back, Shen Ju dumped the dog food he was holding into a trash can, then put his hands together and bowed before the bin.

It wasn't that he was wasting food.

He really can't eat dog food.

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