FOBTS CH58

Chapter 58: Let Me Hug You

Da Zao, you’ve changed.

Weren’t you all timid and submissive before? How’d you become the commander of the fountain now?

And what weird stuff are you commanding?

Me… and Jian Yuheng?

Song Ruochen pointed at himself.

[Rewind Card Pack credited: 1 minute.]

Song Ruochen: “…”

[Secretary Song, powerful.]

[Turned two money printers fully automated.]

“Aaahhh!” Song Ruochen forgot human speech.

If Da Zao was watching the livestream—

He tentatively took a step, inching closer to Jian Yuheng.

[Rewind Card Pack credited: 1 minute.]

Coldly, Song Ruochen stepped back, moving away from Jian Yuheng.

[Rewind Card Pack credited: 1… 1 piece of scrap paper!]

Song Ruochen: “?”

This time, Song Ruochen took a big step toward Jian Yuheng.

And so, Jian Yuheng watched as Song Ruochen turned into a yo-yo, orbiting him, coming close then pulling away, until Song Ruochen wore himself out, panting and sticking close to his side.

Secretary Song’s daily dose of crazy (1/1)

[Rewind Card Pack credited: 10 minutes!]

[Your income frequency has skyrocketed, earning you the “Rolling in Wealth” badge.]

Song Ruochen: “…”

Oh no, it really had something to do with him.

A thousand “I love yous” couldn’t compare to “I ship the same CP as you,” right? Just like that, this chaotic alpha-omega pair suddenly became inseparable.

[So if we stick close to Second Young Master more, won’t we have endless coins to spend?]

“What’s wrong, Secretary Chenchen?” Jian Yuheng retrieved his earbud, listened to the voice message, and finally noticed a rare pattern in the chaotic movements. “Could it be that when you get close to me, your rewind balance goes up?”

[…?]

[Genius]

Even the illiterate system was shocked into high school-level literacy.

“Since that’s the case,” Jian Yuheng smiled, “wanna stick to me more?”

“No, no, no, no way,” Song Ruochen said fluently. “A gentleman loves wealth but earns it honorably.”

“A gentleman is a gentleman,” Jian Yuheng said. “What’s that got to do with a rogue like Secretary Song?”

Song Ruochen: “…”

“If Young Master Evil’s mouth is idle, he can drink more hot water,” Song Ruochen shot back.

“Don’t turn on me now,” Jian Yuheng found it amusing. “Evil Young Master and Rogue—who wouldn’t call that a match made in heaven?”

Bickering with a Song Ruochen who wasn’t wearing his cool, aloof facade was so much fun!

The next second, Jian Yuheng: “Ouch.”

Song Ruochen had stepped on him.

[Ding Dang.]

Foot healed.

[Rewind Card Pack credited: 1 minute.]

Song Ruochen glared at the air: “Stop shipping randomly!”

Look at how honest and proper Fuzzy Monster is.

“Mr. Jian,” someone approached with a wine glass, addressing Jian Yuheng. “Quack quack?”

Jian Yuheng: “Quack.”

Unintelligible chatter was automatically translated into animal sounds in Song Ruochen’s head.

He was tired of standing and wanted to find a place to rest.

“Roar roar!” His phone vibrated.

[AO Dating App “Awo~” will undergo a mandatory version update. Stay tuned.]

A dating app—what new tricks could it possibly pull?

Song Ruochen was curious.

He grabbed a few small pastries and headed to the guest lounge area.

In the lounge, Lu Yunye was surfing the web. The red carpet videos from the event were released quickly, with some already posting 10-second highlight clips.

Comment section—

[Lu Yunye looks spirited today, so lively, smiling… full of vitality.]

[For real, I never got his looks before, but today I suddenly do. Kinda has that alpha puppy vibe.]

The 10-second clip seemed to be from when he saw Song Ruochen waving at him?

Though the guy had ulterior motives, it did help a bit, didn’t it?

“You’ve got the nerve to walk the red carpet?” A rival appeared out of nowhere.

Lu Yunye’s manager tensed, sitting up straight.

Normally, a taunt from a rival would send Xiao Lu spiraling.

“No roles, no shows,” the rival sneered. “Go back to being a nobody.”

The manager glanced worriedly, only to see their artist calmly take the rival’s hand, nodding encouragingly. “Anything else?”

It didn’t hurt, didn’t itch—just boring.

“When I was filming that short drama, Secretary Song chewed me out for two months,” Lu Yunye said wearily. “After that, I feel like everyone’s a good person.”

Manager: “…”

“Move over,” a voice interrupted. “I’m looking for my filial son.”

Rival: “?”

The “bad guy” elegantly carried a plate of pastries, sat beside Lu Yunye, and waved the rival off.

“Next month, the short drama co-produced by Xiaoshi and Haochi goes live,” Song Ruochen said. “Since we ran into each other, let me tell you about my promotion plan.”

Song Ruochen: “Xiaoshi’s budget is generous, so I designed a unique campaign.”

Lu Yunye: “…”

“I’ve got thFuzzy-Zao-Grape Studio,” Song Ruochen said. “We’re launching a minimalist mobile game—simple to play, easy to die, but you can revive by watching ads.”

Lu Yunye: “What’s that got to do with me?”

“You’re the ad,” Song Ruochen said.

Lu Yunye: “…”

Is your budget sheet just me as the sole consumable?

“Xiao Lu,” Song Ruochen said, tired of eating, “go get me a glass of fruit juice.”

Xiao Lu was fuming.

[Awo~]

His phone pinged again.

[App update complete! We’ve added two new features.]

[Click a friend’s avatar to see how many people nationwide match with them!]

Currently, [Boss] was moving from west to east. Song Ruochen tapped Jian Yuheng’s avatar.

[As of now, 200 people nationwide have a pheromone match rate of 70% or higher with [Boss]!]

Song Ruochen: “0.o?”

That many?

This hawthorn was quite popular.

Jian Yuheng had plenty of options… huh.

“Drink! Choke on it!” Lu Yunye shoved a glass of lemon juice over. “Oh, Mr. Song’s got ‘Awo’ too.”

Song Ruochen was exploring the other new feature: a global pheromone database.

So cool—this wasn’t in the original novel.

“Orange, peach, strawberry, grape, hawthorn…” Song Ruochen browsed. “Fruit-series pheromones.”

There were also tons of niche pheromones.

“Delicacies of land and sea? Hahaha, what kind of smell is that?” Song Ruochen laughed. “There’s even a braised flavor pheromone? Do you not need side dishes for meals?”

Lu Yunye: “I’m braised flavor.”

Lu Yunye: “Yes, I need side dishes.”

Lu Yunye: “I’m not a meal, thanks.”

Song Ruochen: “…Uh.”

Jian Yuheng wrapped up a small deal in a few words and noticed the “Roar~” app on his phone had updated.

What’s this?

He tapped Song Ruochen’s avatar.

[As of now, 500 people nationwide have a pheromone match rate of 70% or higher with [Wage Slave].]

[Keep it up~]

Jian Yuheng: “Huh?”

So many?

Suddenly, he had 499 competitors.

So what? He was the perfect match, number one.

[National Pheromone Database, real-time data updated, now includes “vinegar flavor.”]

Jian Yuheng: “?”

Where was Song Ruochen?

Jian Yuheng scanned the room and spotted Song Ruochen lounging on a sofa in the lounge area, surrounded by a circle of alphas.

“I know a food vlogger who signed with your Xiaoshi incubation program,” an influencer alpha was chatting with Song Ruochen by the sofa. “He’s delicacies of land and sea.”

Song Ruochen: “Oh, I know him!”

They’d eaten together before.

“That travel vlogger who signed with Xiaoshi, he’s my classmate,” Lu Yunye said. “Melon seed flavor alpha—omegas love him.”

Song Ruochen: “Wow.”

When Jian Yuheng approached, a towering pile of snack tributes had accumulated in front of Song Ruochen.

“Secretary Song, time to go,” Jian Yuheng said. “The event’s over.”

“Got it, Second Young Master.” Song Ruochen packed up his snacks and said goodbye to his new and old friends.

Jian Yuheng’s car was parked in the underground garage. Song Ruochen opened the door and instinctively took the passenger seat.

Then, Jian Yuheng opened the passenger door too.

“I was here first,” Song Ruochen blurted out.

“…” Jian Yuheng paused, then the tall alpha leaned over, pulling him into an embrace.

Song Ruochen’s head clonked against the other’s belt buckle.

“Don’t move,” Jian Yuheng said. “You’re covered in alpha scents.”

Was he? Song Ruochen couldn’t tell.

Maybe Jian Yuheng was more sensitive to it.

“Let me hug you,” Jian Yuheng said.

Only then did Song Ruochen notice Jian Yuheng’s breathing was uneven—angry hawthorn mode.

A faint hawthorn-scented pheromone drifted down, and Song Ruochen stopped squirming.

“During the effective period of a temporary mark, an alpha feels intense possessiveness over the omega they’ve marked,” Jian Yuheng’s voice was low, dripping with villainous vibes. “Secretary Song, you’re challenging an alpha’s biological instincts.”

Instinctively, Jian Yuheng’s gaze fell on the omega’s nape, his teeth itching.

Like a predator pinning its prey, the alpha carefully sniffed the delicate skin at the back of Song Ruochen’s neck.

“I’m possessive too,” Song Ruochen said suddenly.

Jian Yuheng’s movement froze: “?”

Song Ruochen: “I’m possessive about your money.”

Jian Yuheng: “…”

Song Ruochen was now thoroughly infused with hawthorn scent. Jian Yuheng closed the car door, shifting from villain to Driver Jian.

“It’ll be fine once the temporary mark fades,” Jian Yuheng said.

[Villain Hawthorn, I thought he was gonna bite you again.]

Song Ruochen thought so too.

For some reason, he didn’t seem that opposed to it.

[Split the snacks with me?]

“Sure,” Song Ruochen said.

A message popped up on his phone—

[R&D Team Leader Jin]: Secretary Song, we warmly invite you and Second Young Master Jian to join our R&D meeting tomorrow evening.

[Song Ruochen]: Uh…

[R&D Team Leader Jin]: Our meeting atmosphere is awesome, with lots of snacks.

[Song Ruochen]: I’ll be there on time.

The car crawled along with traffic. Song Ruochen squinted, kind of liking the hawthorn scent in the air.

He turned his head, watching Jian Yuheng drive.

Second Young Master drove properly, not at all like the wild, devilish speed demon from the novel, racing others on the highway.

“Kind of a shame,” Song Ruochen said to the system.

[What’s a shame?]

“That chase scene from the novel between the villain and Secretary Song—can’t see it adapted to screen,” Song Ruochen said.

[…]

[Hahaha, chase my foot. Villain chases, you reverse, story ends.]

[Would you even chase if you had to, hahaha?]

Song Ruochen: “…”

What’s so funny?

He’s a scholar who just wanted to see some extra content. What’s wrong with that?

But skipping the thrilling stuff was probably for the best—he couldn’t handle it.

“We’re here,” Jian Yuheng said as the car stopped at the hotel. He unbuckled his seatbelt, saw Song Ruochen spacing out, and leaned over to unbuckle his seatbelt for him.

The alpha’s strong arm pressed across his front, their faces close. Song Ruochen snapped back to reality.

“You two seem pretty close,” Jian Yuheng said.

Song Ruochen: “Uh…”

[Yeah, Little Grape is super cute.]

“It says ‘Little Grape is super cute,’” Song Ruochen relayed. “And ‘Secretary Song is an outstanding Xiaoshi employee.’”

[…]

“Really said that?” Jian Yuheng’s lips curved slightly.

“Yup,” Song Ruochen doubled down. “Don’t believe me? Listen for yourself.”

Jian Yuheng tilted his head, gently resting it against the omega’s chest.

Song Ruochen: “…”

“Secretary Song,” Jian Yuheng said, “your heartbeat’s fast.”

Even after showering and rolling around in bed, Song Ruochen was still arguing with the system.

“Fast? It’s always like this,” Song Ruochen insisted.

[Talk is cheap. I’ll load a heart rate monitor.]

By the time the system finished downloading, Song Ruochen was already asleep.

—

The next day was the Xiaoshi branch R&D team’s meeting.

Despite hating meetings, Song Ruochen, warmly invited, brought Jian Yuheng along.

Jian Yuheng: “?”

“Thanks to Mr. Jian and Secretary Song,” Team Leader Jin began, “our O City branch, Xiao Ye, has officially rejected all cooperation with Guaiwei Company.”

The employees clapped excitedly.

“Today’s meeting is to identify Xiaoye’s next collaboration target,” Jian Yuheng said, flipping through the documents. “Right?”

Team Leader Jin: “Yes, yes, we really need your input.”

Xiao Ye, the branch, focused on artificial intelligence, typically partnering with modern enterprises.

Team Leader Jin: “We also want to develop some innovative, practical features.”

“Sell to college students,” Song Ruochen said. “Features like auto-responding ‘here,’ fetching meals, and picking up deliveries.”

That’s the AI that truly benefits humanity.

Jian Yuheng: “…”

[Ding Dang.]

Song Ruochen retracted his words.

“Can you sell me two?” Song Ruochen said. “Put it on Mr. Jian’s tab.”

“What are you planning?” Jian Yuheng asked.

Song Ruochen gave a mysterious smile.

The meeting continued with Team Leader Jin speaking. Song Ruochen eyed an apple in the fruit tray.

He grabbed a small fruit knife, pulled a trash can over, and started secretly peeling under the table.

Soon, the apple had no skin or flesh.

[Ding Dang.]

Jian Yuheng: “.”

Song Ruochen tried again, and by the time he was done, the apple was shriveled.

[Ding Dang.]

Song Ruochen stealthily grabbed the apple again, but his wrist was caught.

Jian Yuheng firmly took the apple and the knife away.

Time to end this infinite meeting.

“I’ll handle the small stuff,” Jian Yuheng said. “Sit tight, Mr. Song.”