Translated by Eve

When he saw that Song Xuanhe was silent all this time, the System became rather fl.u.s.tered and said, 【Have you made your decision? We really can discuss this!】

"Discuss what?"

【For example, I could give you one chance to ask for help?】The System saw Song Xuanhe sneer and promptly added:【Two chances, two chances!】

"Three chances. Otherwise, there's no discussion."

The System was conflicted but finally gnashed his teeth and said:【Three chances it is. Deal!】

Song Xuanhe stretched and a crafty smile appeared on his face, "OK. Then from now on, your name is Er Gou."

The System: ….

"What? Didn't you say that I had the right to choose your name?"

【Perhaps we can discuss this?】

"Are we going to unfold the plot or not, brother?"

Er Gou choked, gnas.h.i.+ng his teeth in anger as he accepted this name and said:【From now on, you can directly speak to me in your head. There's no need to say it out loud. Right now, I'm going to end my time suspension ability. Just follow the plot. Otherwise, if it's not a scene related to the protagonist, then you are free to act as you see fit, so long as you don't cause the story line to deviate.】

【Didn't you say that I had to do as those words said?】Song Xuanhe adapted very quickly and then continued to speak in his mind:【So what you're saying is that I only have to earnestly follow the plot when Xiao Yuanmu is around. In any other case, so long as it doesn't influence the general direction of the story, I can play around however I want?】

When he heard the words 'play around', the System felt a bad premonition arise in his heart. However, he still replied honestly:【Yes.】

Song Xuanhe's eyes curved into a smile as he beamed:【All right, unfreeze time, ba.】

As if nothing abnormal had occurred, everything before his eyes became lively once more. The a.s.sistant was still looking at him worriedly. When he didn't hear Song Xuanhe's response, he asked once more, "Xiao Shaoye, are you not feeling well?"

Song Xuanhe waved his hand. He took a look at the welfare agency's gate through the window. He said, "It's nothing. Let's go, ba."

Zhang Chao asked, "Aren't you going to look at the information?"

"No. I already know what I need to know. Let's go straight in."

Zhang Chao nodded, hesitated for a moment and then tried to persuade him again, "Xiao Shaoye, Xiao Yuanmu is unable to discern between what's good for him and what's bad for him. You don't have to haggle with him. After some time, he'll naturally accept you."

Song Xuanhe turned to give Zhang Chao a glance. He smiled while he said, "I have a sense of propriety."

Zhang Chao followed Song Xuanhe into the welfare ggency. They came here under the pretext of contributing goods. Therefore, the welfare agency Director came to see them very quickly.

The welfare agency director was an elderly lady of about sixty years old. Her body was a bit feeble but she seemed extremely amiable and kind. She took Song Xuanhe and Zhang Chao to take a look around with a smile before bringing them into her office.

Song Xuanhe sized up this very simple and crude office quietly. He knew about the welfare agency's financial situation well. Still, he smiled, "Granny, actually, the main reason for why I came here to donate is because of Xiao Yuanmu. He graduated from a well-known school and his ability at work is extraordinary. I inadvertently overheard that he was an orphan, so I wanted to come here to take a look at the place he grew up and help a little bit."

When the Director heard Song Xuanhe praise Xiao Yuanmu, she first smiled and then asked, "Are you Yuanmu's coworker?"

"Yes." Song Xuanhe had fair and clear skin, as well as a handsome face. When he smiled, it was very easy for him to increase the goodwill others had towards him. "Is he here today?"

"Of course!" The Director smiled. "It's rare for his friends to come looking for him. I'll call him over for you."

A short while later, Xiao Yuanmu followed the Director in. The moment he saw Song Xuanhe, his face that still held a faint but distinct gentleness immediately froze over and was replaced with vigilance. However, because the Director was still here, he only used an expressionless tone to say, "Why did you come here?"

The Director furrowed her brows when she heard this. She said, "Yuanmu, your friend came to see you. How can you talk to him like this?"

Xiao Yuanmu pursed his lips. The gaze he directed towards Song Xuanhe was full of loathing and restrained apprehension. He didn't utter a single word.

Zhang Chao wanted to lament on behalf of Xiao Yuanmu but Song Xuanhe was his direct superior. Therefore, he could only do his best to mediate. Thus, he said, "Director, it seems like Xuanhe and Yuanmu have some things to talk about. How about you give me a tour of the facilities here?"

The Director nodded. She gave Xiao Yuanmu a warning and then left with Zhang Chao.

When the footsteps were far enough away that they could no longer be clearly heard, Xiao Yuanmu said with a quiet, icy voice, "What are you planning to do here? I've already quit."

Song Xuanhe folded his arms and leaned against the sofa lazily. He was just about to say something when part of the wooden frame of the sofa poked out from the back. Immediately, he could no longer maintain his carefree and lofty manner. He could only bear with the pain as he said his lines, "I didn't agree. How could you quit?"

Xiao Yuanmu's gaze became sharp. He then heard Song Xuanhe continue, "You've also seen it. This welfare agency is already so worn out it couldn't get any more worn out. I heard that they're planning on opening a new welfare agency in the Capital's suburbs. It's impressive and brilliant. The children left here are mostly the sickly ones. It's only because of the Director's kindheartedness that this agency has been able to stay afloat with much difficulty. Otherwise, this little place could be demolished at any time. Say, should I help the Director out a bit?"

"What do you mean?"

Song Xuanhe s.h.i.+fted forward a bit. On his face was still a smile that made people want to beat him up, "What I mean is up to you. If you agree, no matter if it's resources or construction, this welfare agency will receive funding. If you don't agree to my demands, then this welfare agency will likely be demolished and a high-rise will be built in its place. This land belongs to my Song Family. You should know what I'm capable of."

Xiao Yuanmu didn't speak. However, even if he didn't speak, those eyes that held a constrained, frosty air was enough to make people feel the cold as if it was tangible.

Song Xuanhe didn't care. He only smiled and continued, "I'll give you three days to think it over. Three days later, either obediently agree to my demands or watch this orphanage be razed to the ground. It's all up to you."

He then slowly stood up and left after leaving words for the other to ponder over.

Once he reached the road, the System said with pleasant surprise:【Brother, I found that, although you're a designer, your acting ability is actually quite good, ah!】

【Being skilled is essential to make it in the world. Furthermore, one can never have too many skills. 】Song Xuanhe lazily leaned against his seat that was made of real leather. The part of his back that had been poked just now still ached with faint pain.

【That's true. You're truly worthy of being the host that I, Z48—Er Gou— has chosen.】The System forced himself to accept his name and then continued:【I'll send you information on the Song Family so that you can adjust to the Song Family life more smoothly.】

Three days later.

When Song Xuanhe came down, everyone was already present at the dining table.

The woman with a mature air looked up and saw that Song Xuanhe had come down. A smile bloomed across her face. "Come quickly. We've been waiting for you."

The middle-aged man sitting to the left of the woman was looking at his phone. When he heard her speak, he raised his head and said with furrowed brows, "You're getting more and more outrageous. At the company, you brazenly chase after a man. Now that you're home, you make your entire family wait for you to eat breakfast. What's next?!"

Song Xuanhe's lips curled into a smile. His tone was provocative, "Grandpa hasn't even scolded me. Dad, why are you so angry? It couldn't be that the newly crowned Film Empress didn't make you feel good yesterday, ba?"

"Impudent!" Song Guochao jumped up, so furious that his face turned a purplish-red, "How can you speak to your father like this?! Are you looking down on me?!"

Song Xuanhe shrugged. He was about to say something when the elderly man sitting at the head of the table spoke, "All right. What are you doing, making a fuss so early in the morning? All of you, sit down and eat."

Song Guochao had a face full of rage but he had no choice but to sit. Song Xuanhe also walked to his seat and sat down.

With everyone in their places, breakfast was served. The servants successively brought in plate after plate. Disregarding soup, porridge, water and juice, each person had at least five or six plates or steamer baskets placed in front of them. Each breakfast item was exquisite and artistic, the West and the East combined. Looking at the table, it was obvious that just the expenses incurred for this family's breakfast was incomparably extravagant.

Song Xuanhe ate his breakfast quietly, eyes lowered. During these last three days, he had gained a solid understanding of the original host's personality and family.

The original Song Xuanhe was arrogant, overbearing, and egotistical. Because of his age and the fact that he had grown up in a rather cynical environment, his chuunibyou phase had persisted. And the most obvious part of chuunibyou syndrome was…rebellion.

However, he enjoyed being able to always stand on the opposite side of Song Guochao, arguing against him. He never tired of it.

Only, after staying in the Song Family for these three days, Song Xuanhe thought that it was only logical that the original host had grown astray, having grown up under such an environment.

He had gathered clues leading to this by looking at the const.i.tution of the family's members. There was the grandfather that held all authority, had the final say and would not allow anyone to refute him; there was a cowardly, incapable, womanizing father who could only put on airs in front of his son; a mother who spoiled her youngest son rotten; and an older brother who was much more outstanding than him in every aspect.

As in the story, the Song Family controlled the Capital's biggest privately run company and was also the richest family in the Capital. Because Song Xuanhe's father, Song Guochao, had no talent in business and was a womanizer, the current Song Family was still managed by Song Xuanhe's grandfather. In the choice for successor, the Song Family directly skipped over Song Guochao. Right now, it was between Song Xuanhe and his elder brother, Song Xuanlin.

It was just that Song Xuanhe had no intention of inheriting the family business. From young, he had never had to worry about his daily necessities. He had also grown accustomed in courting death with all his might, only to then have his family clean up his messes. Obviously, he wouldn't want to undertake any responsibilities. Moreover, if there wasn't Xiao Yuanmu, the Song Family would have indeed had the ability to let him live his entire life like this.

Nonetheless, Song Xuanhe didn't want to always have to be thinking of a way to provoke Song Guochao whenever he saw him, as if they were fighting chickens, for the sake of his character settings. He was even less willing to gain another enemy on top of Xiao Yuanmu.

Therefore, he needed to find a way that complied with the original host's personality to put a natural stop to this kind of behaviour. Moreover, he had to change his personality.

Just yesterday, after he saw Song Guochao and the new Film Empress' scandal be revealed, a solution instantly emerged in his mind. Only, there was no rush. He would first finish his official business of unfolding today's plot.

This time, a.s.sistant Zhang Chao did not come with. Song Xuanhe drove himself to the Qing City Welfare Agency.

The gatekeeper was the same one that let Song Xuanhe in last time. Thus, the gatekeeper didn't stop him upon seeing him. Instead, the gatekeeper called out with a smile, "Xiao Xiao, your friend has come!"

Song Xuanhe's steps paused.

The future bada.s.s, abnormal mental case of an iceberg tyc.o.o.n was actually being called such a cute nickname as 'Xiao Xiao'? For some reason, this made him feel that there was a bit of a 'gap moe' here.

Xiao Yuanmu came out. He wasn't surprised to see Song Xuanhe. With a cold voice he said, "Follow me."

Song Xuanhe followed after Xiao Yuanmu and arrived at the Director's office he had been in three days ago. He purposely sat down on the armchair that didn't have any holes. He raised his chin and recited his lines, "Have you thought it over?"

Xiao Yuanmu's expression darkened. He stared fixedly at Song Xuanhe for a while before saying with an insipid tone, "Do I have a choice?"

Song Xuanhe shrugged, his lips rising to a smile. "No."

When he heard this, Xiao Yuanmu's eyes turned even colder. His jaw tensed and he fell silent for a moment. He then said, "I agree."

When he heard this tone of voice that sounded like the other was making a humiliating compromise, Song Xuanhe looked up to size Xiao Yuanmu up. The other was extremely good-looking. His back was always straight and he had wide shoulders and long legs. Even though he was wearing a cheap white T-s.h.i.+rt and washed-out jeans, he still made it look high-cla.s.s.

Just from looking at him like this, Song Xuanhe felt that he could really understand why the original host had taken a fancy to Xiao Yuanmu and had been determined to have him.

"Then pack up your stuff and come with me," Song Xuanhe looked away and said, "From now on, you'll be living with me in my apartment that's near the company."

Xiao Yuanmu lowered his gaze. His voice was bland but there was a cold air seeping through it, "Remember what you promised me."

"Of course." Song Xuanhe stood up, pleased with himself. "So long as you're willing to be good, this welfare agency will only improve."

【After saying this, Song Xuanhe raised Xiao Yuanmu's chin. Under the other's cold gaze, he smiled. "Since I've agreed to help you finance the welfare agency, then shouldn't I get a little something in return? Don't you think so?"

Xiao Yuanmu's expression changed slightly. There was wariness and loathing in his eyes. With a frosty tone, he said, "What do you want?"

Song Xuanhe smiled devilishly. He pinched Xiao Yuanmu's chin and pulled him down, kissing him on the lips. Before the other could push him away, he let go and spoke with a ridiculing tone, "Not bad."】

Song Xuanhe, who had gotten up and was about to leave, froze. Really soon, he realized what the words that appeared in his head meant. However, there was a sliver of hope in his heart:【It couldn't be that you want me to follow what's written here, ba?】

Er Gou shattered his hope:【Jiayou, brother.】

Eve: Two notes! One, this is a protagonist shou novel, so SXH is the shou. But the gong/shou dynamics are not really p.r.o.nounced in this novel!

Also, just wanted to make the note that MC (SXH) never does anything that would really hurt ML. Even in the 'scenes' he has to play out, he tries his best to change what he can, to find loopholes and overall just be less of a d.i.c.k. Likewise, ML is a lot less overbearing than typical BL MLs. There are some dubcon-ish scenes but all-in-all, both of them are pretty respectful to one another and it's a pretty equal relations.h.i.+p in terms of power balance.