FOBTS CH84

Chapter 84: New Home

“Hello, I’m Secretary Song.” The video played repeatedly on the giant screen atop the tallest building in City A.

In the video, Song Ruochen was dressed properly in a white shirt and tie, holding some documents as he spoke.

“I’m here to protect Xiaoshi,” the voiceover said.

The scene shifted. The person on screen changed to Jian Yuheng sitting by a desk, an alpha resting his face on one hand, half-smiling.

“I’m Jian Yuheng,” the voiceover continued. “With Xiaoshi and me, we’re thriving.”

“Secretary Song and Young Master Jian are happily married.”

One by one, congratulatory messages floated across the big screens.

Song Ruochen: “…”

Jian Yuheng: “…”

Jian Yuheng: “Hisssss.”

When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer.

The trouble Secretary Song caused was hitting him right in the head.

[Da Zao]: Secretary Song gave me the best, so I’ll give her the best in return. Loveheart.jpg

[Fuzzy Monster]: I edited the video, hehe. Isn’t it brilliant?

Song Ruochen: “…”

Save me…

“Secretary Song.” Lu Yunye suddenly slammed the table and stood up. “I have a gift for you too.”

Song Ruochen: “?”

Don’t come over here.

Lu Yunye snapped his fingers.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows of the conference room, a brand-new helicopter flapped its wings as it flew over the city.

On the helicopter’s paint was a smiling Song Ruochen.

Jian Yuheng exhaled in relief.

Lu Yunye was truly a supreme alpha—repaying kindness and revenge without involving the innocent.

“The Young Master is on the back,” Lu Yunye said. “It’s a single-seat double-sided pain machine.”

Jian Yuheng: “.”

“Hahaha!” Lu Yunye couldn’t hold back and began pounding the table in laughter.

“Quick, manager,” Song Ruochen said, “take his battery out and make him shut up.”

“All of this I bought with my acting fee,” Lu Yunye said. “Secretary Song, don’t you want to share my acting fee?”

“Rewind, must Rewind,” Song Ruochen said. “System?”

[Not recommended.]

[Rewind takes a long time; and is very expensive.]

[Also, it’s only a temporary fix.]

“Where’s the profit?” Song Ruochen asked frantically.

[You.]

[The root of all evil.]

Song Ruochen: “.”

How did you just say that?

Lu Yunye: “Hee hee hee, after today, Secretary Song’s reputation is out there.”

Jian Yuheng: “.”

Did you consider me?

“Oh my god.” Song Ruochen stood by the window, looking down at half the city beneath him. “I’m on TV now.”

Song Ruochen: “…0.0…”

“Young Master! I’m back!” Assistant Gong rushed into the conference room dragging two suitcases. “You’ve worked hard.”

“Not hard,” Jian Yuheng said. “Secretary Song works very seriously.”

Without Secretary Song, his brother seemed to be more efficient.

“Young Master, Secretary Song,” Assistant Gong said, “I heard about you two…? I have a gift for you as well.”

Jian Yuheng: “:]”

“I’ve picked 30 restaurants downtown. When you dine there and shout ‘Secretary Song and Young Master Jian, may you have a hundred years of happiness,’ you get a free ice cream,” Assistant Gong said.

Assistant Gong: “Already many people have shouted blessings to you both.”

Song Ruochen: “…”

No… nonono…

With his thick skin badly broken, Song Ruochen felt embarrassed for the first time.

[(Clap clap clap)]

[(Fireworks)]

[Congratulations, host, for achieving the achievements ‘In the Spotlight’ and ‘Famous Far and Wide.’ Reward: 20 Rewind tokens.]

“Take it!” A memory about Rewind tokens was triggered. Song Ruochen, like a scalded cat, shouted, “I don’t want it!”

[20 Rewind tokens have been placed in Young Master’s pocket.]

Jian Yuheng stood upright, but suddenly felt his pocket grow heavy, and he leaned to the right.

Jian Feng: “Brother?”

Jian Yuheng: “…”

So young, yet bent over by some strange nerve thing.

[Congratulations, host, for transforming from the little-known “Secretary Song” to the famous “Song Ruochen.” Medals awarded: “Protagonist,” “Clown,” and “Famous Far and Wide.”]

Song Ruochen: “?”

Are you sure these are all medals?

[Single-day Rewind limit increased to 50 times (system max). Single Rewind duration adjusted to 12 hours (system max). Thank you for your continued companionship. Wishing you pleasant use in the days ahead.]

“Any other rewards?” Song Ruochen asked. “Just fake coins?”

[(Rummaging pockets) (Digging through boxes) Reward: One free Rewind voucher.]

[QvQ]

“That’s better.” Song Ruochen pocketed the free Rewind voucher.

[Data reminder: Young Master’s autism value increased by 1 point.]

Song Ruochen frowned, walked to the window, and pulled the curtains shut.

“Stop looking,” he said. “Let’s continue the meeting.”

—

Today’s headlines in City A were full of tales about Secretary Song.

“Following the Xiaoshi Group’s CEO and his wife showing off their affection publicly, now Young Master Jian and Secretary Song have appeared on the city’s big screens, clearly very much in love,” the car radio host announced. “This is what they deserve…? The fruits of true love.”

“Thanks to user ‘Maozao Knows Nothing’ for the submission,” the host added.

Song Ruochen: “…”

He shifted uneasily in the passenger seat of Jian Yuheng’s car, anxiety growing.

“That’s good too,” Jian Yuheng turned the steering wheel slightly, “Now the whole city knows that Jian Yuheng likes Song Ruochen.”

“Bad boy, can you fly the helicopter?” Song Ruochen asked.

“A bit,” Jian Yuheng said. “Why?”

“Go throw that helicopter into the sea at midnight,” Song Ruochen said, embarrassed.

“It’s quite pretty,” Jian Yuheng advised. “Keep it?”

Song Ruochen awkwardly rested his head against the car window.

Today, the pest of Xiaoshi got what was coming to him. The more Jian Yuheng thought about it, the more amused he became, unable to stop smiling.

The car stopped in front of the biggest furniture mall in City A, and Jian Yuheng took Song Ruochen by the hand to get out.

Song Ruochen: “Wow.”

“Wow what?” Jian Yuheng asked.

As a college student, Song Ruochen didn’t have much reason to decorate a house, nor much interest before.

[No interest before because there was no one he liked.]

[Shopping for furniture with someone you like is quite fun.]

[(Sipping tea) The Boss System said so.]

“There’s a complete range of furniture here,” Jian Yuheng said. “Feel it yourself and see if there’s anything you like? We can customize.”

“Alright, let’s look,” Song Ruochen said.

The furniture mall was well-stocked. Song Ruochen and his A-friend first checked out the bedroom section.

“We’ve already customized a bed,” Jian Yuheng said. “You can pick the bedding you like.”

“We college students don’t fuss over that,” Song Ruochen said, noticing a bedsheet printed with cotton candy. “Young Master, buy it.”

“Silk fabric?” Jian Yuheng said. “Doesn’t seem very durable…”

Song Ruochen: “0.o?”

“You… grab the sheet really hard,” Jian Yuheng hinted.

More than hard, in fact—Song Ruochen tugged the bedsheet so forcefully it almost tore.

But his hands were pretty nice-looking.

“Then Young Master don’t buy the sheet, buy an iron plate instead,” Song Ruochen said. “Lie on it, treat me like an iron griddle and flip me around.”

Jian Yuheng: “… Buy, buy, buy, you buy it.”

This mouth.

The bedsheet and quilt were matching sets, so Song Ruochen grabbed the whole set.

“Grape Chenchen,” Jian Yuheng called, “Want to buy new slippers?”

“Sure,” Song Ruochen suggested, “One pair red, one pair green.”

Jian Yuheng frowned, thinking for two seconds. “Are you a green grape?”

Song Ruochen: “?”

Song Ruochen: “I just think green slippers look better.”

It has nothing to do with the variety.

He pushed the cart, wandering aimlessly through the home mall with Jian Yuheng, putting anything they liked into the cart.

“This sofa’s pretty soft. You should like it. I remember you said the office sofa was too hard?” Jian Yuheng gently pushed Song Ruochen onto a sample sofa. “Try it.”

“Ah… too soft,” Song Ruochen sank into it. “The sofa’s swallowing me.”

Jian Yuheng: “…”

“Then get another one,” Jian Yuheng decided.

“Bad boy,” Song Ruochen waved, “Come sit on this one.”

It was kind of fun.

They added items one by one, turning the empty house into a shared home for the two of them.

The things hadn’t been delivered yet, but Song Ruochen was already looking forward to life in the new home.

“Song Ruochenchen,” Jian Yuheng called again, “Want to buy sofa cushions?”

“No need,” Song Ruochen said. “Da Zao and Fuzzy Monster gave us cushions.”

If not used properly, the cushions would cry.

Song Ruochen stopped in front of a shelf full of fruit plushies—orange, peach, strawberry, grapefruit, and hawthorn grape—all made quite cute.

Jian Yuheng had just grabbed a set of bowls and came back, noticing Song Ruochen picking out hawthorn.

“Which one are you choosing to match you?” Jian Yuheng asked.

“Choosing by face,” Song Ruochen said. “I want one with a cute face.”

Jian Yuheng: “…?”

“Bad boy, don’t stand around,” Song Ruochen said, “Help me pick.”

“Alright.”

The bad boy stepped forward and busily helped.

After looking for a while, Song Ruochen finally found a round, neat, and pretty hawthorn plushie. He happily hugged it to his chest.

“Bad boy, I’m done,” Song Ruochen urged. “Did you find the cutest grape?”

“The cutest grape isn’t right here talking in my ear?” Jian Yuheng smiled.

Song Ruochen: “Oh…”

Song Ruochen: “Hehehe.”

The Boss sure knows how to talk.

Jian Yuheng grabbed a bunch of grape plushies and put them in their cart.

“That’s about it, let’s check out,” Song Ruochen said.

Before sunset, they returned to the little villa.

Song Ruochen brought out a lounge chair to bask in the evening sun in the yard, while Jian Yuheng went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Lying down, Song Ruochen suddenly sat up with a whoosh.

[(Losing balance) (Falling)]

“I just remembered,” he said, “I can make a few hometown dishes for you.”

[Good idea.]

[Let Young Master taste something outside of books.]

Jian Yuheng was looking at a recipe book when a little ma-luo (a cute nickname) came running over.

“Bad boy, I’m going to show off my skills,” Song Ruochen said confidently.

Jian Yuheng: “…”

Jian Yuheng: “Are you sure it’s ‘show off your skills’ and not ‘cut one knife’?”

“Shouldn’t be,” Song Ruochen replied. “You go rest. I’ll make you two hometown dishes.”

Jian Yuheng didn’t dare rest; he stood nearby watching Song Ruochen work.

Song Ruochen: “?”

“When I was in high school, no one cooked for me at home,” he said. “I always cooked my own meals.”

Busy studying, he could make two dishes in just over ten minutes.

So, in a little more than ten minutes, he made two dishes for Young Master.

Before they knew it, the sky outside had already darkened.

“Is it good?” Song Ruochen asked expectantly.

“Edible,” Jian Yuheng said cautiously. “So far, edible.”

Song Ruochen took a bite.

Song Ruochen: “Yue.”

Oops. Since university, not only had his knowledge declined, but his cooking skills had as well.

“Stop eating,” Song Ruochen said. “It’s not good.”

“There will always be someone to cook for you from now on,” Jian Yuheng said. “I promise.”

Song Ruochen: “0.0…”

That’s right, from now on there’s Young Master at home.

No longer will opening the door lead to an empty house.

“We have chefs and housekeepers at home. Assistant Gong can cook too,” Jian Yuheng said. “You won’t go hungry. We’ll fatten you up from a little grape to a big grape.”

Song Ruochen: “Hey…”

Jian Yuheng simply prepared some dishes, and the two sat down at the dining table.

On the TV, the news reported: “Tonight, a meteor shower will be visible over City A. Many citizens have already uploaded photos they’ve taken online.”

News anchor: “A rare event — who knows when we’ll see it again.”

Song Ruochen: “Ah?”

“You want to watch it?” Jian Yuheng asked.

“I do!” Song Ruochen said.

“Then rewind,” Jian Yuheng said. “Let’s go wait in the yard for the meteor shower.”

Song Ruochen shook his head.

“What’s wrong?” Jian Yuheng asked.

“I’d rather eat your cooking for dinner,” Song Ruochen said, “and be with you.”

You are my rare and precious destiny.