Chapter 31: The Little Couple's Love and Hugs

In the stillness of the night, the bedside lamp casts a small, warm yellow glow.

With a desperate, all-or-nothing force, Li Xinian suddenly pulled the ball of light and shadow tightly into his embrace.

His arm wrapped around the other person's "back", and his palm finally clasped the "shoulder blade", completely imprisoning the slightly cool "body" against his chest.

In an instant, their bodies pressed together, his cheek buried deep in the area where the light was most concentrated, which seemed to be the "neck hollow," and his warm breath instantly washed over it.

[!Year, year after year...? ? ]

Under his sudden, forceful embrace, "it" trembled almost frantically, and Li Xinian could feel the slightly cool "it" in his arms shivering.

What was held in his arms was no longer a faint, ethereal light, but a tangible presence that could be embraced by his arms, whose outline he could feel and whose slight resistance he could feel.

The cool scent of moss and pine emanated from where he buried his head, making it almost impossible for him to resist pressing himself even closer to the other person.

Lin Suxing's body was so stiff that he dared not move.

He felt as if he were near a burning fireplace.

Year after year, the force of her arms encircling him was not heavy, but it carried a sense of absolute possession.

The warmth of his body seeped through the thin silk robe without any obstruction, soothing every inch of his skin; the temperature was so hot it almost evaporated him.

What made him even more dizzy was the hot breath that sprayed onto his neck, making his neck and ears tingle.

Lin Suxing's first reaction after being suddenly hugged was to frantically try to break free.

Apart from hugging his adoptive parents, he had never had such close contact with anyone else since he was a child.

He instinctively raised his arm to block the distance between himself and the other person, but stopped moving after his gaze fell on the "Depressed Mood" notification above the pixelated figure's head in the companion interface.

Is Nian Nian sad now?

So, having him stay with me, talking to him, and even holding him now, is all because I'm feeling down and need someone to heal me?

Lin Suxing heard that some people have a condition called "skin hunger," which is characterized by a craving for physical contact with others.

Based on Lin Suxing's understanding of Niannian, she not only had no close family members after being abandoned by her father, but also no very good friends who could provide her with support and care in this regard.

Lin Suxing felt that Nian Nian was usually very lonely, which is why she became increasingly dependent on herself and regarded herself as an important friend.

So, perhaps he was the only one who could relieve his skin's thirst?

That's a pretty cool concept.

Lin Suxing shook her head, futilely trying to cool down her already flushed and burning cheeks.

The handsome young man covered his cheek, thinking: if holding her like this would make Niannian feel better, then... of course he would be happy to. Although he could feel that it really felt like he was being held... he felt a little embarrassed.

...Anyway, this is just a game simulated by the system, so it's okay if we hug, right?

"Are you cold?" Li Xinian gently stroked the ball of light's neck with his palm.

He could feel the "it" in his arms gradually become docile from its initial stiffness and panic, and the light also stabilized, no longer flickering, but radiating a gentle, almost dependent warmth.

The cool touch intertwined with his own body temperature, creating a strange and comforting sensation.

[You're not cold, you're quite warm.] These words floated in the air.

Li Xinian looked down at the obedient little bundle of light in his arms, a triumphant smile flashing in his eyes: "...Sleep."

[Go to sleep! You only sleep three or four hours a day!] Speaking of this, Ghost seemed to have a lot of complaints about how Ghost used to work non-stop and rarely rest.

"Okay, let's rest now."

Li Xinian closed his eyes, concealing the triumphant emotion in them, leaving only a calm expression.

His arms, which had been loosely embracing, tightened slightly, as if he were truly holding some unparalleled treasure.

The only sounds in the air were the two people's silent, intertwined breaths and the warm glow emanating from the desk lamp.

Although Lin Suxing tried to convince himself that it was just a game and that Nian Nian was a virtual character, the increasingly loud heartbeat in his chest couldn't lie.

What made Lin Suxing even more bewildered was the warm body temperature emanating from the other person's chest, still clearly discernible through the fabric of the robe, and the strong and steady heartbeat, each beat striking his heart more thunderously than distant thunder.

The scent unique to mature men, a mixture of clean soap and a hint of crisp aftershave, enveloped him like an invisible net.

As if to distract herself, Lin Suxing blushed and casually clicked on the interactive option that popped up next to the pixelated figure who had closed his eyes and was covered with a small blanket: [Stroking his face].

As soon as Li Xinian closed his eyes, he felt a gentle force caressing his cheek. The touch was no different from that of a fingertip. It carefully traced along his high brow bone, then slid down his narrow and upturned nose like a slide, caressed his deep eye sockets, and lifted his thick eyelashes to pinch them.

Li Xinian: "..." He had a feeling that the other person had started to touch him very impatiently after he closed his eyes.

Although this is not something he dislikes.

As long as it's "it", he doesn't care what it does to him.

After Nian Nian hugged him, Lin Suxing discovered that their intimacy level had risen to lv35. After he clicked the [touch face] option, the intimacy level suddenly rose to lv36.

Lin Suxing: ?

"...You're not asleep?" Lin Suxing asked cautiously.

Li Xinian opened his eyes, and the corners of his lips unconsciously turned up: "Hmm, you can touch me if you want, you don't have to wait until I fall asleep."

[Real Dudu Fake Dudu oO]

Internet slang with emoticons floated in the air.

Before Li Xinian could reply with great seriousness, another line of text appeared on the other end: [I love you so much! My sweet and soft baby! You're a fluffy green grape cake roll! Hehehehehehe!]

"You like me...?" Li asked, though it should have been a question, but his confident tone made it sound more certain.

The ghost, however, seemed oblivious to anything amiss with his words, repeating them as if to affirm: "[Of course. I like you, I like you the most.]"

[Baby, you're a sweet and soft little cake~ I want to eat you up in one bite~] As they gradually became more familiar with each other, Lin Suxing began to talk more and be more straightforward.

Lin Suxing truly felt sorry for Niannian's past experiences. No one in his family genuinely cared about his life or death; they even launched various open and covert attacks against him, who was still a minor. Niannian also lacked supportive friends, and their interactions were always filled with intrigue and scheming. He had even narrowly escaped death several times...

Lin Suxing couldn't even imagine what kind of antisocial personality a normal person would develop after experiencing these things, but Nian Nian was still so cute and well-behaved. Her beady eyes would curve into an adorable arc when she saw him, and she always spoke positively and optimistically.

Most importantly, Nian Nian is extremely clingy to her, which makes Lin Suxing, who already longs for someone to rely on her, very happy and satisfied.

He only has himself left, so how could he possibly abandon him?

Lin Suxing's protective instincts.

"When did you start liking him?" Li Xinian couldn't help but ask again.

He recalled the few times he had met Lin, and realized they were few and far between, which left him puzzled as to why Lin was so persistent in her pursuit of him.

"I liked you from the first time I saw you," the ghost replied. Her straightforward words seemed perfunctory, yet they were very close to the truth.

Perhaps countless times in the past, he had been watched like this from afar, but he was too busy with trivial matters and dealing with those people to notice.

Li Xinian didn't speak, but tightened his arms and gave a deeper hug in response, leaving no gap between them.

*

The corridor was filled with the silent smoke of battle, the atmosphere tense and anxious.

Seven or eight young male actors were sitting or standing in the waiting area. Lin Suxing's arrival drew several glances.

"Tsk, these days any idol from talent shows dares to audition?" A male actor who had acted in two web dramas whispered to his companion, his voice just loud enough for Lin Suxing to hear.

Another popular male actor, who rose to fame through idol dramas and has millions of female fans, chuckled and made no attempt to hide his disdain: "Anyone can audition, but not everyone can be selected."

Lin Suxing calmly walked to a corner and sat down, ignoring the discussions. After all, in the original story, he had indeed participated in the drama, but because he hadn't received any news beforehand, he only signed up when a role became available, and he played a small part.

Now, because he saved Cheng Qiqi, a butterfly effect occurred. He learned from Cheng Qiqi in advance that the TV series adapted from the well-known science fiction infinite flow novel "I Am Immortal" had started casting, so he decided to audition for the role of the second male lead, which he liked (the system forced him to come).

This novel was very popular when it was first published, and after the rights were sold, it became a nationwide sensation. From the male protagonist to the supporting characters with names and details, there were a lot of people vying for them.

Lin Suxing had absolutely no confidence that he could be chosen for the role of the second male lead.

But the task the system gave him last night forced him to participate: [Got some gossip about your brother's love life? If you do, go audition for the second male lead or the male lead in "I Am Immortal"!]

Lin Suxing felt that if she auditioned for the male lead role, she would most likely be criticized by the entire internet for being "arrogant and ignorant".

So, wanting to get some gossip about Lin Siyi's love life, he quickly got ready and rushed over to join the fun.

The point is to participate; after all, the system only told him to audition, not that he had to be selected.

Lin Suxing has recently become increasingly skilled at word games thanks to the system.

"Next, Lin Suxing." Hearing the staff at the door call her name, Lin Suxing immediately stood up. "Okay."

In the waiting area behind him, out of sight, a handsome but strangely stiff man frowned as he looked at him: "...Lin Suxing?"

Isn't this the culprit who got Viagra arrested and imprisoned yesterday?

Huang Zhuoyuan didn't know what Lin Suxing looked like until the staff called out his name. Only then did he associate the handsome young man who stood up with the name.

...It was this very person who splashed Zhao Wei with red wine, causing that fat pig to fly into a rage but unable to do anything about it.

Memories involuntarily surfaced in Huang Zhuoyuan's mind.

"Brother Wei, you're finally out! I was so anxious I almost fainted!" Huang Zhuoyuan's eyes were filled with tears, looking pitiful. As soon as the big fat pig was released from the pen, he leaned his thin body against the lump of fat as if he were boneless.

"Baby, I'm fine, don't worry." Zhao Wei's already narrow eyes, which resembled buttonholes in jeans, became even smaller when he smiled, revealing a gleam of desire. "Did you miss your brother, or did you miss your brother's big sausage?"

Huang Zhuoyuan rolled his eyes inwardly upon hearing this. Zhao Wei's Dick was smaller than a MAC lipstick, completely shrunken inside the eggshell, and you'd need a magnifying glass to find it!

No, comparing it to a MAC is probably too insulting; it should be compared to a toothpick, like a Canadian electric eel!

But when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Having no choice but to ask for their help, Huang Zhuoyuan rolled her eyes inwardly but still managed a charming, ingratiating smile: "Of course I want both! They're super big, brother! It's hard not to want them, isn't it?"

The less a person has, the more they want and the more vain they become. Zhao Wei was extremely satisfied with Huang Zhuoyuan's flattering words. He put his arm around the thin, pale-faced man and walked out. The two of them got into the Rolls-Royce together.

After getting into the car, Zhao Wei cursed, "That little bastard who threw wine at me is actually one of Lin Siyi's men. It seems it won't be easy to get rid of him."

Although he had powerful backing and was spoiled by his influential parents, he was also clear about who he could and could not mess with.

Although the Lin family is not as influential as the Li, Su, or Wang families in China or even the world, one of their ancestors was a princess from a European royal family, meaning the Lin family is a branch of European royalty.

If not handled properly, it could very well escalate into a diplomatic incident.

"Once Lin Siyi gets tired of this little beast, I'll make him wish he were dead!" Zhao Wei's face twisted as he slapped Huang Zhuoyuan's leg hard.

At this time, Zhao Wei had not yet discovered Lin Suxing's true identity. He only found out that Lin Siyi and Lin Suxing had a close relationship, that Lin Suxing had been taken to a banquet, and that the two had been seen entering and leaving the Lin family home together. That was all.

After all, he was a useless good-for-nothing with real power in his family but no real power in his own hands, so the information he sent people to inquire about would naturally not be very accurate or comprehensive.

Given Lin Siyi's current doting on Lin Suxing, even taking her to such an upscale banquet, Zhao Wei found it difficult to gauge Lin Siyi's true feelings towards Lin Suxing, or whether Lin Siyi would be willing to let someone else have their way with her. He hadn't yet figured out how to deal with this audacious scoundrel who dared to mess with him.

Huang Zhuoyuan was slapped on the leg, and felt a sharp pain for a moment, but he dared not show it, because Zhao Wei had a sadistic fetish. The more pain he showed, the more excited and pleased Zhao Wei became, and he would only be beaten more afterward!

He had no choice but to divert the fat man's attention and ask, "Lin Siyi's men?"

As far as he knew, Lin Siyi had always lived in North America and rarely returned to China. He had once seen Lin Siyi from afar at a banquet before.

...He was a tall, handsome man with a model-like appearance, not to mention his excellent business acumen, having become a partner of Yunyuan Group in North America at a young age.

Huang Zhuoyuan would certainly prefer to be with such a wealthy man, but unfortunately, the people in his circle of girlfriends all told him, "Don't even think about it. Lin Siyi only has work on his mind. I've never seen him have any ambiguous contact with that man or woman."

Zhao Wei pondered for a moment before finally managing to glean some useful information from his watery brain: "Yes, I heard she's an actress in the entertainment industry, just like you, what's her name again... Lin Suxing! Yes, Lin Suxing! That's the bitch!"

The memory from that time overlapped with the sound of the production crew calling his name, which made Huang Zhuoyuan suddenly come back to his senses. He looked at the boy in front of him who had stood up because his name was called, and he couldn't tell at all that the other person was the kind of person who would dare to rush into the Zizhuxuan private room and splash Zhao Wei with wine.

Zhao Wei is nearly 1.8 meters tall, with a fat body and a big stomach. Many children would be frightened to tears by his fierce appearance. But this skinny boy dared to confront him and even rescued a girl from his clutches.

Huang Zhuoyuan, who had dreamed of becoming a great hero since childhood, couldn't help but admire the other person at this moment.

Anyone who crosses Zhao Wei will never have a good time! And in order to curry favor with Zhao Wei, he has to step on him to do the same! After all, last night, he personally witnessed Zhao Wei flirting with another handsome young boy right in front of him, looking like he was about to kick him to the curb...

Huang Zhuoyuan's current popularity and achievements are not due to his good looks or outstanding acting skills.

There are too many good-looking and talented people in the entertainment industry. He simply can't compete with them. He used to be arrogant for many years, but he was looked down upon and belittled by those who were not as good-looking or as good at acting as him. He ended up in such a miserable state that he had to go to the vegetable market to pick up discarded vegetable leaves.

Later, he realized his mistake, hooked up with Zhao Wei, and his career immediately skyrocketed, eventually leading him to become a popular idol drama actor with nearly ten million fans.

Huang Zhuoyuan couldn't imagine how the investment market would treat him if Zhao Wei abandoned him. Perhaps he'd be discarded like a worn-out shoe, relegated to the sidelines in his regular variety show appearances!

*

The atmosphere in the audition waiting area was so tense it was almost palpable. Each actor clutched their assigned audition clip tightly, their faces betraying their undisguised nervousness.

Lin Suxing lowered his head and unfolded the fortune slip he had drawn. The slip, written in black and white, read:

[Scene: To forcibly activate a special dungeon to resurrect his sister, Chen Jinyan unhesitatingly sacrifices a large number of innocent players in the "Infinite Flow" game. Throughout this process, he shows absolutely no regret or hesitation.]

As the staff read out the contents of Lin Suxing's audition slip, a suppressed, very faint gasp came from the surrounding area, clearly indicating that his audition scene was rather obscure and complex.

This scene has a wide emotional range, requiring the actor to portray both cruelty and ruthlessness as well as delicate and deep affection, which is a great test of the actor's skills.

Some people have already started to feel sorry for Lin Suxing: if she draws this kind of clip and the other person is not from a professional acting background and has little experience, she will probably make a big joke of herself!

"Next, Lin Suxing."

Lin Suxing stood up and walked to the center of the room, bowing slightly to the judges' panel. The director, screenwriter, and producer sat at the table, with several competitors who had already auditioned for the same scene standing beside them, including Huang Zhuoyuan, who looked on with anticipation.

"Let's begin."

Lin Suxing closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, his entire aura had changed.

He first walked slowly to the center of the stage, the rhythmic sound of his leather shoes echoing in the quiet room, as if stepping on everyone's hearts. Suddenly, he stopped, tilted his head slightly, as if listening to some unseen wail.

As if he had heard some beautiful music, the young man even closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and had an almost morbid intoxication and fascination on his face.

"...What?" Lin Suxing asked softly, her tone chillingly gentle, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Of course I heard those sounds. I'm just...listening carefully, aren't I?"

His gaze slowly swept across the void, as if watching living people struggle before him, his face filled with admiration, as if everything before him was the most beautiful scenery imaginable.

“But unfortunately,” he shook his head slightly, his smile elegant, “we can only enjoy this beautiful view for a few more seconds.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he gracefully raised his right hand and snapped his fingers lightly. This seemingly casual gesture was a signal that would determine the life or death of hundreds of people.

"It is your honor to give your lives for her return."

Just then, his expression subtly changed. It remained cold, yet a hint of barely perceptible tenderness crept in. He gently raised his left hand, his fingertips curling slightly in the air, as if he were holding someone's hand.

"Don't be afraid, Xiao Wan." His voice suddenly became extremely gentle, completely different from before. "Brother will come to pick you up soon."

His gaze was fixed on a single point in the air, his intense focus heartbreaking:

"Remember your favorite dessert shop? After all this is over, your brother will take you there to eat delicious cakes, and I will never criticize you for eating too much and it being bad for your teeth again."

As he spoke, his voice trembled slightly, and a glimmer of tears flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by coldness and obsession.

He turned his gaze back to the densely packed crowd below, huddled together like ants, wailing in agony, his voice regaining its absolute coldness:

"Don't worry, it won't hurt too much."

“This is the birthday present you gave me,” he whispered to his empty palm, his eyes gentle yet eerie. “My brother has always carried it with him.”

The next second, he clenched his fist tightly, gripping the button in his palm. Blood trickled down his fingertips, staining the button red.

"Dungeon... open!"

After the performance, he stood quietly, slightly out of breath, as if he had just woken up from that cruel dream.

The entire audition room fell into a long silence.

The director was the first to speak, his voice tinged with suppressed excitement: "That button detail... you added it on the spot?"

“Yes,” Lin Suxing replied calmly. “I think Chen Jinyan needs an object that can embody his feelings for his sister. A seemingly ordinary personal item that carries the heaviest memories.”

The screenwriter couldn't help but ask, "Why the second button?"

“Because in many cultures, the second button is closest to the heart.” Lin Suxing’s answer made the screenwriter nod repeatedly.

So the director and screenwriter didn't show much interest in his performance and called on the next person.

And now, the director, producer, and screenwriter are all vying to ask this unknown actor with absolutely no acting experience all sorts of questions! They are clearly extremely satisfied with Lin Suxing's audition performance!

Huang Zhuoyuan and Lin Suxing both auditioned for the role of Chen Jinyan, the second male lead in "I Am Immortal", so they were originally in competition.

Even without the grudge against Zhao Wei, the fact that Lin Suxing was favored by the director was enough to make Huang Zhuoyuan both jealous and angry!

The producer flipped through Lin Suxing's file, his eyes filled with admiration: "What's even more remarkable is that you perfectly balanced cruelty and tenderness. When you said 'it won't be too painful,' that look in your eyes... was both cold and carried a twisted compassion."

This is exactly the Chen Jinyan he imagined! Just as incomparably handsome, just as obsessive and morbid!

At this moment, the screenwriter realized that his previous insistence on actors having participated in similar TV series and movies was really pretentious.

The director and producer exchanged a glance, then gave Lin Suxing a satisfied smile: "Thank you for your performance. Please go back and wait for further notice."

Huang Zhuoyuan was so angry he was practically grinding his teeth to powder, but he had to pretend to be nonchalant because there were other people around.

Are all these directors and producers idiots?! They ignore a male lead who guarantees high ratings and has starred in several hit dramas (actually, it's the female lead who's popular), but instead ask this obscure nobody all the questions!

Huang Zhuoyuan's gaze gradually turned cold.

It seems that, whether out of a desire to please Zhao Wei or for his own sake, he cannot let Lin Suxing go.

*

After the auditions ended, the artists outside the photography studio gradually left.

Huang Zhuoyuan watched Lin Suxing emerge from the restroom and prepare to leave, a darker storm brewing in his eyes.

When he went to the detention center to pick up Zhao Wei yesterday, the other party showed no gratitude whatsoever for his unwavering support; instead, he seemed very distracted.

Huang Zhuoyuan sensed something was wrong at the time.

Later, while Zhao Wei was taking a shower, he secretly checked Zhao Wei's phone and discovered that Zhao Wei had already started a relationship with two other young boys who were not yet eighteen years old!

Huang Zhuoyuan even saw a nude photo sent to Zhao Wei by a skinny, pale-skinned crossdresser on Zhao Wei's WeChat account, where the man was wearing women's lingerie.

The other woman had tears welling up in her eyes, her cheeks were flushed, her tongue was slightly sticking out, and her legs were raised high, giving her an alluring look of unsatisfied desire. Zhao Wei was obviously tempted and immediately said that he would go to see that little vixen today!

Huang Zhuoyuan was seething with hatred. He didn't really like Zhao Wei. He was already annoyed by Zhao Wei's chubby face every day. And the other man liked to say things like "Mine is big, just bear with it" or "Is yours big enough?" when he was having sex and didn't know what was going on. He acted better than a porn star in an action movie and made a lot of noise. He had already made a lot of sacrifices, but Zhao Wei still wanted to go find someone else!

He couldn't afford to lose Zhao Wei's resources and connections, so he had to seize this opportunity to curry favor with Zhao Wei.

Huang Zhuoyuan silently prayed in his heart: Lin Suxing, don't blame me. Blame yourself for offending someone you shouldn't have!

“Hey, Brother Qiang, it’s me, A Yuan,” Huang Zhuoyuan said resolutely and coldly. “Someone has offended me. Could you please bring him here for me? I’ll deal with him after that.”

"How should we deal with him? Of course, we should humiliate him in the most humiliating way!"

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Author's Note: I just realized Singles' Day is about to start! [Exaggerated praise] I'm so conflicted about what to buy to join the fun!! [Starry eyes] Does anyone have any recommendations for good products?!