Chapter 16 The Protagonist Uke and Four Suitors XVI

Chapter 16: The Protagonist (the Uke) and the Four Suitors (16)

"Host, you've got a new task."

Shu Xian, who had been feeling a bit drowsy earlier, was jolted awake by 006's voice.

"What task?"

"Say to Li Wu, 'My parents are both on your side. You must be feeling pretty smug, aren't you?'"

Okay.

Not too outrageous. Acceptable.

That's definitely something someone in his position would say.

"Dad."

Apart from calling the orphanage director 'Dad,' this was Shu Xian's first time calling someone else 'Dad.'

"Hmm, it's been a while. You've become much more sensible."

The boy called him on his own initiative.

"Buy whatever you like."

Shu Zhen handed him a black card.

"Thank you, Dad."

Hehe, a black card.

Shu Xian was over the moon.

"The day after tomorrow is Li Wu's birthday banquet. I hope you won't cause any trouble at the event."

"Dad, what do you mean by that?"

Isn't he implying that he would cause trouble?

Although he indeed would.

"Is that any way to talk to your child?"

Ms. Qi scolded Shu Zhen.

"Shushu is very well-behaved now. He definitely wouldn't cause trouble like you said."

Ms. Qi spoke up to ease the tense atmosphere.

"Dad, you should trust Brother."

Li Wu chimed in from the side.

Now was the time! Shu Xian seized the moment!

"My parents are both on your side. You must be feeling pretty smug, aren't you?"

"Hmph, who asked you to speak up for me?"

After saying that, Shu Xian got up and ran upstairs.

"You, stop right there! Come back and apologize!"

Shu Xian completely ignored Shu Zhen's shouts from behind, ran back to his room, and locked the door.

Hehe, perfect~

"Congratulations, Host, on completing the task."

Exhausted from the day, Shu Xian lay down and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

He slept soundly through the night.

Li Wu probably wouldn't be angry with him. Shu Xian braced himself for a scolding and went downstairs for breakfast.

"Did you sleep well, sweetie?"

Ms. Qi affectionately called out to her son.

"Slept very well."

Shu Xian nodded.

"Hmph, seems like he's the only one who slept well."

Shu Zhen snorted coldly.

"Alright, that's enough. Don't say another word."

Ms. Qi cut him off.

"Sweetie, don't mind your dad."

"Here, have a bowl of the porridge Mom made."

Shu Xian obediently nodded, took it, and took a sip.

"Thank you, Mom. It's delicious."

It was warm, fragrant, and tasted like home.

"Good boy, have more if you like it."

Ms. Qi's affection made Shu Xian's eyes well up instantly.

He wiped away his tears where his parents couldn't see.

"Brother..."

Li Wu noticed and called out to him softly.

"It's nothing."

Shu Xian lowered his head and continued eating his breakfast.

The meal was relatively harmonious.

Shu Xian and Li Wu sat in the living room.

"Don't be sad, bro, I'm here for you."

His heart ached when he saw Shu Xian's eyes redden earlier.

"Mom and Dad both love you very much."

Li Wu comforted him again.

"Yeah, thank you, little brother."

Shu Xian ruffled his hair.

Little Li Wu is way too kind-hearted. What's he gonna do if he gets picked on later?

"In the future, don't be so kind. If someone insults you, insult them back. If someone hits you, hit them back ten times harder."

"Got it?"

"Got it, brother."

"I'll protect you too, brother, from now on."

Li Wu said to him earnestly.

"Hehe, alright then, you can be my protector."

Ms. Qi came out from the kitchen, thrilled to see them getting along so well.

Look how nice this is, two brothers supporting each other.

In the future, with Li Wu by Shu Xian's side, they could all rest easy about the Shu family's affairs.

Li Wu is a good-hearted boy. Even though they aren't related by blood, he looks out for Shu Xian.

"Brother, did you go buy me a gift yesterday?"

Li Wu asked, his face lit up with happiness.

Shu Xian knew it must have been that big mouth Gu Tingyuan.

"Yeah, I picked out a gift that's perfect for you—it's really nice."

_A white gold and silver necklace would look really good hanging on Li Wu's fair neck,_ he thought.

"I can't wait to see the gift you got me!"

"Hehe, just you wait."

Before they knew it, it was the next day.

"006, how many tasks do I have today?"

Shu Xian watched the busy servants and many guests from the second floor.

Today, he was going to make a complete fool of himself in front of all these people.

He facepalmed with a bitter smile. This was the worst.

Wahh.

"Host, let's do the first task first."

006 didn't dare to list them all at once, afraid Shu Xian would go on strike.

"Tell Li Wu: Gu Tingyuan came because of me, because of the Shu family, not to attend your birthday party."

...

Just die then.

Shu Xian closed his eyes, inhaling and exhaling deeply.

Just then, Li Wu arrived.

"Come here."

Shu Xian beckoned to him and found a less crowded corner.

"What's wrong, brother?"

Shu Xian looked around before saying:

"Gu Tingyuan came because of me, because of the Shu family, not to attend your birthday party."

"Congratulations, host, on completing the task."

Yes! Break time.

"Hehe, how did you know I came because of you?"

A familiar, annoying voice rang out from behind him.

Shu Xian turned and froze when he saw who it was.

Gu Tingyuan smirked, staring straight at him.

"You guessed right, I did come because of you."

Shu Xian lowered his head awkwardly, his toes already starting to curl.

So embarrassing.

But at least there were only the three of them here.

Just as Shu Xian wanted to dig a hole and hide, Ms. Qi called out to him.

"Shushu, come to Mom for a moment."

"Coming."

Shu Xian happily ran toward Ms. Qi.

Ms. Qi was practically his savior.

"The words were exactly the same, right?"

Gu Tingyuan said, looking at his cheerful back as he ran off.

"Mhm."

"You don't seem surprised? What else do you know?"

Gu Tingyuan shifted his gaze to Li Wu.

This Li Wu was far too calm.

"Right, he must have made plenty of sarcastic remarks about you at home, huh?"

After a long silence, Li Wu spoke up:

"Shu Xian, you can't touch him."

"Heh, I like him too much to even think of harming him."

Gu Tingyuan chose to ignore the implication in Li Wu's words.

"Brother is mine."

Li Wu straightforwardly staked his claim.

"Hmph, what a shame, I like him a lot too."

"Shu Xian, I'm determined to have him."

Gu Tingyuan didn't back down either.

Their eyes met, the tension was palpable, the atmosphere eerily quiet.

But in Shu Xian's eyes, they were exchanging flirtatious glances.

Shu Xian sat with his legs crossed, cracking sunflower seeds, wearing a fond, matchmaking smile.

How nice.

Perhaps sensing the intense gaze from afar, both turned simultaneously toward the source.

Such a well-matched pair, Shu Xian couldn't help but raise both thumbs, then made his thumbs kiss, urging them to continue.

Neither wanted to be misunderstood, so they both walked toward Shu Xian.

Shu Xian didn't want to be a third wheel, so he got up and ran to Ms. Qi's side.

"Mom, I want to stay with you."

Shu Xian hooked his arm through Ms. Qi's.

"Alright, be good and help Mom entertain the guests. Li Wu, you come too."

Ms. Qi pulled Li Wu and Shu Xian along with her.

Gu Tingyuan shamelessly followed behind.

"A bit cramped, no?"

Shu Xian turned his head and said.

"Not at all. My world is just you and me, it's not crowded at all."

Gu Tingyuan spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.

Shu Xian gave him a punch.

_Li Wu is right here, and you're still being so shameless._

"Shushu, you can't treat a guest like that."

Ms. Qi happened to turn around and saw Shu Xian's action.

"Serves him right."

"Yes, Shushu is right, I deserved it."

Gu Tingyuan said to Ms. Qi with a smile.

So it was just playful roughhousing. Ms. Qi let them be.

"Who said you could call me that?"

It gave him goosebumps.

"Oh, can't I? I think it sounds nice."

Shushu, it sounds sweet.

"No way! Not even Li Wu calls me that, what makes you think you can!"

"Brother!"

Li Wu, who had been feeling a bit jealous seeing Shu Xian and Gu Tingyuan fool around.

Hearing Shu Xian say "our family's Li Wu," his mood instantly brightened.

Seeing Li Wu gazing at him blankly again, Shu Xian found it adorable.

He reached out and gently patted his head. He'd done his hair today, so Shu Xian was careful not to mess it up.

"Happy birthday, little Li Wu."

Shu Xian produced a necklace.

"Ta-da! Do you like it~"

"I love it, thank you, brother."

"Let me put it on for you."

"Okay."

Shu Xian wrapped his arms around his neck, clasped the necklace, then adjusted the pendant on his chest.

"It looks really good."

"It's because brother has good taste, you picked something really nice."

Li Wu toyed with the necklace, deliberately or not, showing off to Gu Tingyuan.

"Shushu does have great taste. This watch I'm wearing looks especially good too."

Gu Tingyuan lifted his arm slightly, letting his sleeve fall back, just so the watch came into view.

Then he lowered his head and started fiddling with the watch.

"This one is quite expensive—it cost Shushu a whole month's allowance."

"Yours seems a bit cheaper."

Did Brother buy him a watch?

Li Wu was a little put out and tugged at Shu Xian's sleeve. "Brother?"

"Don't mind him. I was mainly buying yours; it was his birthday that day, so his was just an afterthought."

If Gu Tingyuan kept talking like this, he was courting romantic disaster.

Absolutely hopeless.

"Oh, so it was just a casual purchase."

Li Wu nodded, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

No need to think—it was definitely Gu Tingyuan who coaxed Brother into buying it.

A gift you have to coax someone into giving isn't sincere.

Hah, still trying to compete with him.

"Shushu even helped me try it on for a long time back then, picked out many options, and finally chose this one."

"It's really nice, right?"

Gu Tingyuan wiggled his wrist in front of Li Wu's eyes.

"Alright, enough showing off."

Is he ever going to stop?