Chapter 14 The Protagonist Uke and Four Suitors XIV

Chapter 14: The Protagonist Uke and Four Suitors Fourteen

"Brother, are you saying I'm happy about being pursued by three men?"

He heard!

"Brother, I wouldn't be happy no matter who pursued me. But if you pursued me, I'd be overjoyed."

Li Wu gazed at him with burning intensity.

"You..."

Does Li Wu like him?

"Brother, I like you. I don't want to just be your younger brother—I want to be your man."

Li Wu declared with deep affection.

"No, that's just familial affection. You're still young and don't understand."

It must be because they've been spending too much time together lately.

Once those suitors start pursuing him, he won't feel this way anymore.

"Brother, don't treat me like a child."

"Besides, I'll be nineteen the day after tomorrow."

Li Wu became insistent; he didn't want his brother to see him as just a sibling.

"Let's talk about this after you turn nineteen."

Shu Xian brushed him off hastily.

He just hoped those suitors would hurry up.

Things were moving too slowly.

Seeing Shu Xian unwilling to continue the conversation, Li Wu felt a pang of sadness.

Fine, then they'd talk after he turned nineteen.

"Brother, have you prepared my gift?"

Li Wu tugged at his sleeve, trying to break the awkward tension.

Honestly, he hadn't. If Li Wu hadn't mentioned it, he might have forgotten.

"If Brother hasn't bought a gift yet, could we exchange it for a promise?"

Of course not—Shu Xian wasn't that foolish.

He might not have firsthand experience, but he knew how these things worked.

If he agreed now, Li Wu might ask to be with him, and he'd be at a disadvantage.

This kid could be quite sly sometimes.

"Of course I've prepared it. Just wait to receive your gift."

The gleam in Li Wu's eyes dimmed. His brother was quite clever.

Not easy to fool.

That was good—at least he wouldn't be easily fooled by anyone else.

"Host, there are several tasks on the day of Li Wu's birthday party."

"But all the tasks are related to the suitors. Make sure they attend the birthday party."

"What if they don't come?"

Right now, those suitors showed no signs of activity.

Fu Yichen and Jian Fang weren't even friends with Li Wu, let alone likely to attend his birthday party.

Gu Tingyuan was a bit more promising. Who would have thought this brain-dead CEO would get the upper hand?

"Having just one of them is enough, Host."

"Alright then."

Gu Tingyuan should be able to come.

To ensure his attendance, Shu Xian went directly to the Gu Corporation to find Gu Tingyuan.

He might as well have him come along to pick out a gift for Li Wu.

"Hello, I'm here to see your CEO Gu."

Shu Xian inquired at the front desk in the lobby.

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No. Just tell him it's the Shu Corporation here to discuss cooperation."

That should work, right?

"Alright, please wait a moment."

The Shu Corporation was also among the top ten enterprises nationwide, so the receptionist didn't dare to delay.

She called the CEO's secretary.

"Are you Mr. Shu Xian?"

The receptionist covered the receiver and asked.

"Yes."

"Alright, please come this way."

Shu Xian took the private elevator directly to the eighth floor, where the CEO's private office was located.

"What a rare guest. I thought you hated me?"

"What do you need?"

Gu Tingyuan leaned back in his leather armchair, tilting his head and said teasingly.

"Are you coming to Li Wu's birthday party?"

Shu Xian ignored his mockery and got straight to the point.

"Why? Do you want me to go or not?"

"Go."

Shu Xian sat down in the chair opposite his desk.

"Oh? Why?"

This action was out of character for Shu Xian.

"Li Wu doesn't have many friends, so I hope you'll come."

Excuses like this were easy to come up with on the spot.

"Is Li Wu that important to you?"

Gu Tingyuan seemed to find this the funniest thing he'd heard all day—someone who had been jealous and resentful of Li Wu in a past life was now concerned about him having too few friends at his birthday party?

"He's my brother."

"I'm genuinely moved by your gesture, but he's not related to you by blood, is he?"

"He's still my brother."

Gu Tingyuan stared straight at him, trying to find a chink in his armor.

There were no flaws at all, which meant everything was a flaw.

Shu Xian was up to something.

"Alright, I'll go."

"But I'm going for you, you know."

Shu Xian just took it as all talk.

"As long as you come."

The mission was secure.

"Have you bought a gift for Li Wu yet?"

Shu Xian asked again.

"Not yet, why?"

"Then come with me to buy one."

With someone like Gu Tingyuan, there was no need to beat around the bush—just say it directly.

"Why should I go in person?"

Heh, if he recorded this sentence, Gu Tingyuan would never stand a chance with Li Wu again.

The crematorium was practically tailor-made for domineering CEOs like him.

"Are you coming or not? If not, I'll go by myself."

Shu Xian couldn't be bothered with him. If he didn't want to go, he'd go alone.

He only asked because he thought Gu Tingyuan might be better at picking things Li Wu would like.

After all, he was one of the main characters.

"Okay, wait for me to finish these documents."

"Alright."

Shu Xian hopped up and plopped down on the long sofa nearby.

He wiggled his hips, sinking deep into the couch—comfortable.

Gu Tingyuan watched his movements.

Hmph, he sure made himself at home.

"Mr. Shu, here's some tea for you."

Assistant Li brought Shu Xian a cup of tea and a small cake.

Shu Xian thanked him cheerfully.

Even the assistant seemed more sensible than Gu Tingyuan.

Was he really that happy just drinking tea and eating cake?

And he was beaming at the assistant, while always scowling at him.

The tea and cake were paid for with his money, after all.

Shu Xian looked up and caught his annoyed gaze.

?

What did he do to him?

He was just eating a little something. It seemed Gu Tingyuan was a stingy boss after all.

Shu Xian shook his head and went back to playing on his phone.

And so, the two of them quietly went about their own business.

"Like this, start with a basic attack, then use your ultimate, followed by skills one and two in succession."

Slender fingers tapped lightly on the phone screen, securing a kill.

The enemy team was wiped out, and his teammates rushed forward to destroy the enemy's crystal.

The word "Victory" appeared prominently on the screen.

Shu Xian's grin stretched from ear to ear.

"Thank you, you're a real pro."

Shu Xian said, genuinely thankful.

He had just played several rounds, his rank yo-yoing, and he was on the verge of a breakdown.

Fortunately, with his guidance, he successfully made it to King.

Gu Tingyuan's mood lifted at the thanks.

"Mm, if you get stuck, ask me. I'll teach you."

"Really? Thank you then."

Won't have to worry about ranking up anymore.

That happy look... was that his real self?

How adorable.

They got to the mall.

"So, what's Li Wu into?"

Shu Xian asked Gu Tingyuan, who was walking beside him.

"You're his brother, don't you know?"

How would he know? You, the male lead, should know.

"I really don't know."

Shu Xian answered truthfully.

"I don't know either."

...

Shu Xian glanced at him. Gu Tingyuan's the top candidate, and he's not even trying!

Whatever, I'll just pick something myself.

"How about this one?"

Shu Xian picked up a tie and held it against his own chest. Not getting a good look, he then held it up to Gu Tingyuan's chest. It didn't seem quite suitable for Li Wu.

But it looked pretty good on Gu Tingyuan.

"Hey, this really suits you."

Gu Tingyuan just glanced at it and said nothing.

Fine, if you don't want it, forget it.

Shu Xian put it back in its place.

Shu Xian browsed a few more stores before finally settling on a gift.

He bought Li Wu a necklace with his initials on it.

"What about you? What gift are you buying?"

"I've already had my assistant prepare it."

...

"Picking it out yourself is what makes it special!"

Shu Xian thought, exasperated.

Such a straight guy.

"It's for a friend. What does it matter what I get?"

"Or do you think there's some other relationship between us?"

Gu Tingyuan's sudden closeness startled him, and he took a few steps back.

"What 'other relationship'? Even a friend's gift should be chosen with care."

Shu Xian said, tilting his head up.

"Then are we friends?"

Gu Tingyuan blurted out.

Is the topic change this awkward?

"Um... I guess so."

Shu Xian replied.

"Today is my birthday. Now go pick a gift for me."

Gu Tingyuan grabbed his hand and walked back into the mall.

"Your birthday?"

What a coincidence?

"006."

Shu Xian verified with 006.

"Yes, host. Today is Gu Tingyuan's birthday."

Alright.

"What do you like?"

"You don't need to consider what I like. Just buy whatever you think suits me."

"How about that tie we saw earlier?"

He was tired and really didn't want to keep shopping.

"No, that was something you picked for him. I don't want it."

Being dramatic.

Shu Xian looked him over.

"Come with me."

Shu Xian had excellent taste and quickly picked out a gift that suited Gu Tingyuan perfectly.

A watch.

"Let me see your wrist."

Shu Xian unbuttoned his shirt cuff and rolled up his sleeve.

Revealing a slender and attractive wrist.

"Let's try this one, this one, and this one."

Shu Xian put them on him one by one.

Carefully selecting for him.

Shaking his head one moment, nodding then shaking his head again.

Hmm, he only nodded in satisfaction after trying on the last one.

"Let's go with this one."

Then he looked up and asked:

"Do you like it?"

"I like it."

Gu Tingyuan looked at him, his gaze gradually growing intense.

He liked it so much his heart was pounding wildly...

"See? This is what it means to choose with care, understand?"

So dumb.

"Understood."

"We're ready to check out over here."

Shu Xian took out his card and swiped it, his heart bleeding.

The card had no spending limit.

He had bought Gu Tingyuan the most expensive watch, one worth over a million yuan.

Ugh...

This hurts so much.

He didn't even spend that much on himself normally.

"Here, take it."

Dammit, I'm never teaching him again, ugh, my heart aches.

After paying, Shu Xian picked up the packaged watch and shoved it into his arms.

"You don't seem very happy?"

"I just spent a month's allowance, what do you think?"

Shu Xian felt the sting, wishing he could turn back time.

To buy him a gift again, from a ten-yuan store.

Given their relationship, a ten-yuan store item was all it was worth.