Chapter 49: Pure Landlord and Black Tenant 17 “You’re... so warm here...

Late at night, everything is quiet.

On the big bed in the master bedroom, Ye Ling wrapped herself in the duvet and curled up into an airtight ball.

Only after losing that always noisy yet omnipresent system did he realize how isolated and helpless he was in this world.

[Sizzle…sizzle—]

A faint electronic sound suddenly rang out deep in my brain.

[778?] Ye Ling suddenly sat up, her heart pounding. [Is that you?!]

[Host! ! !] 778's voice finally broke through the chaotic noise, filled with humanlike fear. [I... I've been hacked! ! !]

[What?! Hacked? By whom? What's going on?] A chill instantly ran up Ye Ling's spine.

[No… I don't know!] 778's voice was intermittent. [This world's technology… zizi… level… absolutely impossible! The other party's intrusion method… is unprecedented! Permissions are being… stripped away! Zizizizi—!!!]

Ye Ling felt a chill run down his spine. He could almost see 778 on that invisible battlefield, being gripped by a sharp, thorny claw, its data streams scattering and shattering like fireworks.

[778! Hold on!] Ye Ling shouted in his mind, just as 778 had encouraged him in the past, [I...what can I do? How can I help you?]

But he was just a clumsy task executor, and he was helpless in the face of this attack beyond dimensions.

[It's... it's useless... Host... you can't resist...] 778's voice faded away. [I... tried my best... sizzle... my energy is exhausted... I'm about to be forced offline... take... take care...]

[No! 778! Don't go!]

【Sizzle——————】

The last prolonged electric current sound was like a dying wail.

The depths of consciousness fell into a dead silence of nothingness.

778...is really offline.

Ye Ling was stunned for a few seconds, hugged her knees tightly with both hands, and buried her face deeply in them.

What should he do?

Shao Ye...By the way, Shao Ye knows the existence of 778. Could it be, could it be that the invasion is... ?

He shuddered violently.

“Knock knock.”

There was a sudden knock on the door in the quiet bedroom.

Ye Ling suddenly raised his head and looked at the half-open wooden door in horror.

"Mr. Ye?" Shao Ye's low and steady voice came from outside the door. "Sorry to bother you. Are you... asleep?"

It’s Shao Ye.

Ye Ling's heart instantly rose to his throat. He took a few breaths, trying to keep his voice from trembling. "No...no. Is there anything wrong?"

The door was gently pushed open a crack.

Shao Ye's slender figure appeared at the door. He did not come in immediately, but just stood there, wearing soft silk pajamas.

He was holding a cup of steaming milk in his hand, and his whole body was filled with a warm home feeling.

Seeing Shao Ye's expression, Ye Ling immediately threw the dark speculation out of his head.

Putting aside whether the world's technological level is capable of invading the system, how could Shao Ye be the kind of person who would do bad things behind the scenes!

"I'm sorry to bother you so late." Shao Ye's gaze fell on Ye Ling, who was obviously still in shock, and his tone became calmer and gentler. "I... can't sleep. The basement is too quiet and too dark."

He paused, his voice lowering, "And... a little damp."

"Wet?" Ye Ling repeated subconsciously, her attention diverted by Shao Ye's sudden topic.

"Yeah." Shao Ye responded softly and walked in with milk.

He walked over to the bed and stood not far from it, not getting too close. He continued, "It's probably the dampness from the rainstorm. That damp, cold, musty smell reminds me of some... not-so-good things."

He lowered his eyes slightly, his long eyelashes cast a shadow under his eyes, and his fingers holding the milk cup turned slightly white.

"...something bad?" Ye Ling's voice couldn't help but soften.

Shao Ye raised his eyes, the wrinkles on his eyelids deeper than usual, making him look a little tired. He twitched his lips and said, "In the orphanage...it's as cold as an ice cellar in the winter, and as hot and humid as a steamer in the summer. After the rain, there's this musty smell. Every night, when I lay on the cold, hard plank bed, listening to the dripping water, I always felt like there was something in the darkness..."

His voice deepened, and his calm narration was particularly heartbreaking. "That feeling, like being drowned by an icy tide, suffocating. I didn't want to be like this. But tonight... it felt a little too similar."

Every word was like a small hammer, hitting the softest part of Ye Ling's heart.

The cold and damp room seemed to appear before his eyes, as well as the image of young Shao Ye curled up on the bed.

Shao Ye had suffered so much! And yet, driven by 778, he had done so many unbearable things to him!

Monitor him, spy on him, even try to humiliate him with money... Now, even the basement, the only place where he can sleep peacefully, is damp and brings back painful memories.

"I'm sorry!" Ye Ling blurted out, "It's all my fault! It's me..."

"It's all in the past. It's none of Mr. Ye's business." Shao Ye interrupted him, his tone still gentle, "It's just... it's a bit hard tonight. Maybe drinking some hot milk will make you feel better?"

"But you don't look well either." He held out the milk in his hand. "Here's the milk for you."

He was already feeling uncomfortable enough, yet he was still thinking about me...

"I..." Ye Ling looked at the cup of warm milk, feeling mixed emotions.

"I put the milk here." Shao Ye put the milk on the bedside table and pretended to leave, "Then I will..."

"Student Shao Ye!" Ye Ling suddenly threw back the quilt, jumped out of bed barefoot, rushed to Shao Ye and stopped him, "Don't go back to the basement, sleep here tonight!"

As soon as he said this, he was stunned for a moment.

What was he talking about? Inviting Shao Ye to share his bedroom? His nest? Is this… is this appropriate?

The hesitation was fleeting.

Shao Ye had endured so much, could he not even provide a dry and warm place to sleep?!

He's not that bad bird!

"It's warm here, the bed is big, and the quilt is dry!" Ye Ling added eagerly, even gesturing excitedly, "You sleep on the bed, and I'll sleep on the floor! Don't be afraid, I promise I won't disturb you!"

He had no idea that he looked like a little bird trying to spread its wings to protect a shivering animal. Even though he was so small, he was filled with a clumsy but sincere desire to protect.

Shao Ye quietly watched the golden-haired bird in front of him, which was extremely nervous and determined.

"This..." Shao Ye frowned slightly, revealing a hint of hesitation. "Will it disturb Mr. Ye too much? Besides, sleeping on the floor..."

"No bother! Not at all!" Ye Ling was afraid that he would refuse, so she waved her hand and took the initiative to pull his pajamas sleeve. "It's settled! You sleep on the bed, and I'll get the quilt and spread it on the floor."

As he said that, he turned around and started to look in the cabinet.

"Mr. Ye." Shao Ye's voice sounded low.

Ye Ling paused and looked back in confusion.

Shao Ye walked slowly to the bed, stretched out his hand, and gently stroked the soft bed where Ye Ling had just lain, which still carried his body temperature and breath. His movements were natural and intimate.

"The ground is too cold." Shao Ye raised his eyes, "This bed... is big enough."

His hints were just right, and even the simple bird could understand them.

Ye Ling's face suddenly turned red.

He opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but under Shao Ye's frank and deep gaze, he couldn't utter a word.

Refuse? It would seem hypocritical and unkind, since he was the one who invited her to stay. But...sharing a bed?

"I... I don't sleep well..." Ye Ling held it in for a long time and could only squeeze out this weak excuse.

"It's okay." Shao Ye's lips curved up quickly, "I don't mind."

As he spoke, he naturally lifted a corner of the quilt and lay down on the side of the big bed. He did not forget to be considerate of Ye Ling, "It's getting late, Mr. Ye should also go to bed early."

Ye Ling moved to the other side of the bed and climbed onto it stiffly.

He clung to the edge of the bed, his body as stiff as the husband-waiting rock by the sea.

Shao Ye turned off the lights.

The bedroom was plunged into darkness, with only the hazy moonlight outside the window filtering through the gauze curtains, casting a ripple-like halo on the floor.

The senses are magnified in darkness.

Ye Ling could clearly hear her own heartbeat and smell the clear and aggressive scent belonging to Shao Ye under the quilt.

Ye Ling thought he would have a sleepless night, but perhaps it was the mental overdraft caused by 778 going offline, he was extremely nervous and confused, his consciousness began to blur, and he slowly sank to the edge of sleep.

“Hmm…”

A very light groan came from the side.

Ye Ling's nerves tensed up instantly, and most of her sleepiness was dispelled.

He held his breath and listened attentively.

Shao Ye seemed to turn over and move his body closer to him.

"Mr. Ye, are you asleep?" Shao Ye's voice sounded in the darkness, slightly hoarse.

"What...what happened?" Ye Ling asked nervously.

"...hands." Shao Ye's voice was very low, "...so cold."

Ye Ling repeated blankly: "Is it cold?"

He felt like he was about to explode from the heat.

"Yeah." Shao Ye's voice was hoarse, as if he had a cold, "It's so cold."

After saying that, she leaned closer to him and sighed softly, "...It's so warm."

As a bird, Ye Ling has a higher metabolism and body temperature. When he was a human, his body temperature was also higher than that of ordinary humans.

Especially when he got too close to Shao Ye, his face would always turn red and his whole body would be sweating.

“Hmm!”

Suddenly, a slightly cold hand was placed on his side without any warning!

"It's so hot." Shao Ye spoke again, and the warm breath sprayed behind his ears.

Ye Ling could also feel the shiver caused by the temperature difference between the palm and her waist, a tingling sensation like an electric shock. The thin pajamas not only failed to provide any barrier, but instead became the best conductor of current.

Ye Ling remained silent, and Shao Ye put his ear to his and blew out another breath of hot air: "Teacher Ye... then can you warm my hands?"

There was no reason for Ye Ling to refuse.

Besides, his brain has completely shut down now.

He just made a vague "hmm" sound when Shao Ye's hand quickly slipped under the hem of his pajamas and placed his palm on his stomach.

“!!!”

Ye Ling sucked in a breath of cold air, and all the blood in his body seemed to rush to the touched areas and cheeks.

He shuddered violently and subconsciously wanted to curl up to avoid the cold hand.

"Don't move...it's cold." Shao Ye's voice was hoarse and sleepy, yet full of irresistible temptation.

The hand exerted a little force, steadying his body as he tried to curl up. "...Just for a moment. You're...very warm here."

The hand, with a slightly cool palm and thin calluses on the fingertips, was placed so openly on Ye Ling's softest and warmest abdomen, greedily absorbing his body temperature.

Ye Ling's mind went blank. He wanted to scream, to push away that impudent hand, but Shao Ye's painful memories and vulnerability forcibly suppressed such thoughts.

It was just to warm Shao Ye’s hands... This was all Shao Ye wanted.

He just lay there stiffly, filled with guilt and embarrassment...

In the darkness, Shao Ye slightly raised the corners of his lips.

From tonight on, all the warmth and softness here, even the little bird itself... will become Shao Ye's exclusive property.

…

Ye Ling woke up to an exceptionally warm and firm touch.

His consciousness had not yet fully returned, but the unusually comfortable and solid sense of security made him feel as if he had returned to the childhood of a bird.

etc……

Ye Ling's sleepiness disappeared immediately and he opened his eyes suddenly - in front of him was Shao Ye's smooth jawline and the slightly rising and falling Adam's apple close at hand.

He actually slept on Shao Ye's chest all night!

His arms were wrapped around Shao Ye's lean waist. His right palm was actually resting on Shao Ye's... stomach.

! !

Last night, Shao Ye politely asked for his hands to be warmed because he was cold, but he actually acted recklessly after Shao Ye fell asleep.

...What would Shao Ye think? Would he think that his nature was hard to change, that he was acting like a hooligan even in his sleep?!

Ye Ling hurriedly wanted to pull back the criminal hand and escape from this embarrassing situation.

But... the touch under his palm made him stop his movements abruptly.

So...soft.

Unlike what he saw on the surveillance screen, Shao Ye's abdominal muscles were well-defined and explosive.

At this moment, in a completely relaxed state of sleep, the tight muscle groups convey a resilient softness, with a warmth that makes people feel at ease and indulgent.

Ye Ling's tense nerves seemed to be soothed by this softness. A warm current spread from his palms to his limbs, dispelling the slight chill of the early morning and the fear he had felt a moment ago.

He seemed to have discovered a new world, and even carefully rubbed the soft abdominal muscles.

"So soft..." He couldn't help but sigh.

Suddenly, a low and hoarse chuckle came from above my head, carrying with it the laziness of just waking up and a hint of amusement.

Ye Ling's body stiffened instantly.

He looked up suddenly and met a pair of eyes as deep as the abyss.

Shao Ye had woken up at some point and was looking down at him. There was no trace of anger or offense in his eyes, but instead a faint smile.

That look was like watching a little pet that one had carefully raised finally pass the adaptation period and couldn't help but show its cute little paws to oneself.

"Soft?" Shao Ye's voice was hoarse and grainy, a characteristic early morning sound. He leaned slightly to the side, closing the distance between them, and then added slowly, "Further down...it won't be soft anymore."

The second half of the sentence was spoken in a very low voice, almost in a breath, with a vague but dangerous hint.

Ye Ling didn't hear the last few words clearly, only catching the word "not soft". He asked with a nasal tone, "...Hmm?"

Those defenseless and innocent eyes were like a small flame, instantly igniting the suppressed fire deep in Shao Ye's eyes.

His Adam's apple rolled noticeably, and his eyes darkened suddenly. He reached out and grasped Ye Ling's hand, which was still lingering on his abdomen.

Ye Ling flinched at the sudden movement.

Shao Ye's palms were burning hot. He did not take Ye Ling's hand away immediately, but held it like that. His thumb seemed to accidentally rub the delicate skin on the inside of the wrist, bringing waves of subtle heart-pounding tremors.

Ye Ling felt a surge of heat rushing from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. Her cheeks were red enough to bleed, and her heart was beating so fast that it almost jumped out of her throat.

The joy in Shao Ye's eyes was almost overflowing.

Finally, he mercifully loosened his grip a little, but did not let go completely. Instead, he held Ye Ling's wrist, guiding it, and slowly moved it away from his lower abdomen.

"It's time to get up, Teacher Ye." Shao Ye's voice returned to its usual calmness. He released his hand and stood up smoothly. "Tonight is your art exhibition."

He turned around and gave Ye Ling, who was still lying stiffly on the bed, a meaningful look.

During the last few hours before the exhibition, Ye Ling was completely distracted.

In the evening, he looked in the mirror and tried to fix his bow tie but couldn't do it properly, which made him more and more anxious.

[Zizi—Warning! Core protocol compromised by unknown attack! System restarting… 10%… 50%… 90%… Restart successful!]

778's familiar electronic sound, but with a strong and harsh noise, sounded like its dying struggle.

[778?!] Ye Ling was surprised and delighted, almost shouting, [You're finally back! How are you? Are you okay?]

[Host… hurry… hurry up!] 778's voice was urgent and intermittent, as if it would be interrupted again at any moment. [I… I was forcibly invaded! The small world… was out of program… and was… severely damaged!]

[What?!] Ye Ling was struck by lightning. [Destroy? What do you mean?]

[What I mean is... we might... not be able to leave!] 778's voice was filled with human despair. [That invading force... is terrifying! It's like a virus... I barely managed to maintain basic communications... but the energy channels that are out of program... are... blocked by it! Once it completely takes over... we... we will be trapped here... forever! If we fail to complete the mission... we... will all die!]

Ye Ling's face turned pale instantly: [Then...what should we do?]

[The only... chance...] 778's voice grew fainter, the noise growing louder. [Complete... the final mission! Publicly exposed, ruined! This is... the critical point where the world lines converge! The rules of the world will experience... a brief, dramatic fluctuation... I can seize that momentary opening... and activate the remaining escape program!]

[It has to be... fast!] 778's voice rose. [It has to be... tonight! The exhibition! It has to be done! Otherwise... once my energy runs out again... or if that thing... completely devours me... we're done! Zizizizi—]

Before he finished speaking, the piercing sound of electricity rang out again, and 778's voice disappeared completely.