HRMCF Chapter 32

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🍋‍🟩 Completed Chapter

The cycle of karma turns.

Shen Yan entered the apartment, offering himself this pithy remark in his mind.

Back when he had forced Zhao Linsu to watch anime, he never imagined that he himself would have such a day.

Refuse? How could he refuse? Say he was a little flustered and didn't dare to watch anime with his brother?

He really couldn't bring himself to say it, so cowardly and strange.

Besides, what was he afraid of? It wasn't like Zhao Linsu could eat him.

Shen Yan secretly compared their fighting abilities in his mind, feeling that he couldn't be as weak and delicate as Liang Keqing. After all, Zhu Ningbo was naturally gifted, his muscles as hard as rocks. If he and Zhao Linsu really fought, it would probably be a fifty-fifty chance.

Wait, why was he making such a comparison?

Zhao Linsu wouldn't force himself on him!

"What do you want to drink?"

Zhao Linsu's voice came from the kitchen. Shen Yan, leaning on the shoe cabinet, shuddered, then calmly raised his voice, "Anything."

Zhao Linsu's apartment had two bedrooms and a living room. Shen Yan had visited on the day he moved in. Two rooms, one bedroom and one study. Zhao Linsu brought two bottles of soda into the bedroom. Shen Yan put his bag on the console table in the entryway and followed him in, his hands in his pockets.

Zhao Linsu's bedroom was very tidy.

Compared to Shen Yan's bedroom, which was piled with all sorts of junk, it was strikingly clear.

A bed, a wardrobe, a desk, and on the desk, a custom-built computer with top-notch performance. Shen Yan had been obsessed with an online game for a while, but his laptop couldn't handle it, so he often came to Zhao Linsu's place to play.

Shen Yan leaned against the wall, "So, what anime are we watching?"

Shen Yan had already asked this question in the car, and Zhao Linsu had given the classic reply—"You tell me."

Shen Yan thought to himself, what the hell would he know?

What if he said Ultraman, would they watch that?

The heating had already started. Zhao Linsu took off his coat, and Shen Yan suddenly noticed that he was wearing a plain, dark gray T-shirt underneath with no decorations.

"New release."

The soda, just taken out of the refrigerator, was placed on the table, fine frost forming on the glass bottle. The light pink peach soda's color became slightly hazy.

Shen Yan dryly said "oh."

Zhao Linsu pulled out a chair and sat down, turning back to say, "Aren't you going to sit?"

Shen Yan went over and pulled out another chair.

The computer desk wasn't wide. Shen Yan sat down, pulling his chair a little closer.

"Is there anything good to watch in the new releases?" Shen Yan asked.

"Haven't watched any yet."

Shen Yan felt a little more at ease, thinking that maybe he was overthinking things and had been led astray by that damn superpower. It was just two brothers hanging out watching new anime releases, what was he so nervous about?

The computer started up, still the familiar pure blue desktop, the same as the factory default. The desktop was also unusually clean. Besides the basic office software, Shen Yan saw the game icon he had been obsessed with a year ago.

He paused slightly, "You haven't uninstalled that game?"

"Too lazy to uninstall," Zhao Linsu said concisely.

Shen Yan took a soda.

The wet glass bottle felt cool against his palm.

The soda opened with a "hiss," and the scent of peach wafted out. Shen Yan took a sip. He found it strange and couldn't understand why he kept feeling so nervous. He couldn't help but take a few more sips of the cold soda. The sweet and slightly spicy taste exploded in his mouth. Shen Yan took a deep breath, his nostrils filled with the faint scent of peach.

Zhao Linsu pulled out the keyboard and typed in a website address.

Shen Yan stared unblinkingly at the string of characters.

Phew, thankfully it wasn't the website he had used to find resources last time.

When the image popped up on the screen, Shen Yan felt for the first time that isekai toilet paper anime was so kind and touching.

They really were just watching new releases... Shen Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, cradled the glass bottle in his palm, and cheerfully began to critique, "Skip, skip, this one's not original."

Zhao Linsu didn't comment, just tapped the keyboard.

After quickly glancing through a few isekai anime, when they got to the fourth one, the picture started to lag a bit, stuttering and showing a scrambled screen.

This often happened with these resource websites. While playing, the internet speed would slow down, the picture would lag, and you couldn't download anything.

Shen Yan: "It's lagging, let's reload."

"Reloading means we have to start browsing from the beginning again," Zhao Linsu also picked up his bottle of soda, opened it, and took a sip, "Let's wait a bit longer."

Shen Yan said "oh," and lightly tapped the glass bottle with his fingertip, his peripheral vision secretly looking at Zhao Linsu.

The dark gray T-shirt was loose-fitting, revealing two slightly protruding collarbones with taut lines.

After a long silence, dialogue came from the speakers. Shen Yan quickly composed himself and looked back at the screen.

The screen was still lagging, the picture jumping, and the audio and video were out of sync. It was impossible to tell what the plot was. Shen Yan frowned slightly, "It's really lagging."

Zhao Linsu held the soda bottle in his palm, his grip very tight. He said, "Want to stop watching?"

"Let's wait a bit longer." This time it was Shen Yan who said this.

Not long after he spoke, the picture on the screen started to become smooth and continuous. Shen Yan raised an eyebrow, excitedly saying, "It's working!"

His excitement only lasted a few seconds.

Damn it—

Why did this scene look so familiar?

One short-haired guy, plus another short-haired guy.

Shen Yan was stunned.

The expensive speakers, which had incredibly crisp sound effects when playing games, played the wet kissing sounds of the two people with utmost clarity.

His mind went blank. Shen Yan gripped the glass bottle tightly, his eyes glued to the screen, unable to look away. The images he had tried so hard to forget instantly returned to his brain, and his mind uncontrollably began to play the following scenes in advance.

That unusual, forceful, and destructive rhythm suddenly reignited in his mind.

Man and man.

Thump thump thump.

His heart was pounding wildly.

The sound effects stopped abruptly.

Shen Yan also suddenly lowered his head.

Zhao Linsu pressed the pause button. In his vision, his slender fingers were lightly resting on the keyboard.

A dark fire burned from the back of Shen Yan's neck to his cheeks. Shen Yan wanted to say something, but his throat felt blocked. The sweet and spicy soda taste lingered there, making the tip of his tongue tingle.

The room was very quiet, so quiet that the sound of breathing and heartbeat was amplified several times.

Shen Yan felt very hot.

The heating in the apartment was turned up high. He was wearing a coat, and under the coat was a hoodie, and under the hoodie was a T-shirt.

Zhao Linsu was only wearing a T-shirt.

His mind was a complete mess.

The anime that had been paused on the computer continued to play relentlessly in his mind.

That one shot that had left a particularly deep impression on him replayed repeatedly, making him hold his breath involuntarily.

"Wrong one."

Zhao Linsu said.

Shen Yan's mind was cloudy. He lowered his head and gave a short "hmm" through his nose.

Zhao Linsu looked at Shen Yan.

Fringes of hair obscured Shen Yan's profile, and Shen Yan's ears were red.

His cheeks, chin, and neck were also completely red, and his Adam's apple was slowly bobbing.

Zhao Linsu's gaze followed down.

Shen Yan liked to wear sportswear. His light gray sweatpants were loose-fitting, and the drawstring hung out from under his coat, resting on a slightly bulging area of fabric.

"Going to the bathroom?" Zhao Linsu said.

Shen Yan's face was burning with panic. He didn't dare to look up, let alone look at Zhao Linsu.

Zhao Linsu's voice was very low and deep, a masculine and very magnetic tone. Shen Yan seemed to have never noticed that Zhao Linsu's voice was like this before.

Shen Yan slightly pressed his knees together. He wanted to say what a joke, what a lunatic, there was no need to go to the bathroom for this.

The images in his mind didn't stop.

A slight sweat broke out on the back of his neck. The presence of the other person's breathing beside him was extremely strong, each inhale and exhale was hot air.

"Shen Yan?"

Zhao Linsu seemed to have moved a little closer. Shen Yan hurriedly stood up, and the soda in the bottle spilled out, "I'm going to the bathroom—"

The glass bottle was placed on the table, and the spilled pink soda flowed down the bottle, covered in white bubbles.

Zhao Linsu sat in his original position, watching the wide-open bedroom door.

His heart was beating fast, as fast as the first time he realized he was attracted to Shen Yan.

The bathroom smelled very clean, just the faint scent of toiletries. Shen Yan took off his coat. He saw his flushed face in the mirror.

A little sweat beaded at his temples.

Shen Yan swallowed.

Was Zhao Linsu doing this on purpose?

Just like he had tested Zhao Linsu back then, was Zhao Linsu now testing him in return?

These rational thoughts didn't suppress the irrational impulses; instead, they made Shen Yan feel even hotter all over.

Last time, he had forcefully held it in, and the consequence was that this time it was even more intense.

The familiar scents all around him reminded him that he was in Zhao Linsu's home.

This fact of being in someone else's home did nothing to help him calm down.

It was like adding fuel to the fire.

Don't think, definitely don't think.

Shen Yan said to himself.

He couldn't take it anymore.

Shen Yan closed his eyes, bent over slightly, and supported himself on the cool sink with one hand.

He tried to empty his mind, wanting only to quickly resolve it. He pursed his lips slightly and bit down on his teeth.

But at this moment, a thought flashed through his mind like lightning.

—What is Zhao Linsu doing in the room right now?

His ears were burning like crazy.

Damn it.

His back trembled slightly, his breathing heavy, and a tingling sensation ran through his hips.

Shen Yan opened the bathroom window.

The cold wind blew in from outside, gradually dissipating the scent in the bathroom. Shen Yan faced the wind, letting his flushed and burning face cool down quickly.

A few minutes later, he closed the window and pushed open the bathroom door.

He was a little afraid to go back to Zhao Linsu's bedroom.

What if he saw Zhao Linsu...

His face, which had finally cooled down, suddenly heated up again.

Shen Yan gripped the metal doorknob of the bathroom, feeling the urge to grab his bag and leave.

He composed himself and raised his voice, "Zhao Linsu."

Only after calling out did he realize his voice was a little hoarse.

Zhao Linsu came out of the room.

The gray T-shirt hung loosely on his body, his shoulders broad, his hands in his pockets, his loose jeans pooling on the floor, covering his slippers. His expression was normal, "Changed the website, it should be fine now."

"I'm not watching," Shen Yan felt his face burning up. He pretended to be calm, "My brother called me."

Zhao Linsu said "hmm," "I'll see you off."

"No need," Shen Yan walked to the entryway and picked up his bag, "My brother wants me to go to his company. There's traffic on the road, it's more convenient to take the subway."

Shen Yan left, as if fleeing.

As the elevator went down, Zhao Linsu closed the door and walked towards the balcony.

A few minutes later, Shen Yan's figure appeared in his sight. He walked past the trees, tall and handsome. Even from a distance, he was still so clearly beautiful in Zhao Linsu's eyes.

Zhao Linsu clasped his hands together, pressing his palms to his forehead, his hands trembling slightly.

Shen Yan had reacted.

He wasn't completely repulsed or disgusted, there was no nausea, no loud cursing, no immediate turning around and leaving.

That was enough, that was enough.

He just needed that little bit of a chance.

His heart was beating rapidly, a sudden, fortunate turn of events.

The cold wind couldn't dispel the fervent emotions.

Zhao Linsu closed his eyes lightly, his voice low and hoarse, almost choked, "Yan Yan..."

Sorry, he wasn't as selfless or as great as he had imagined. He really couldn't do it, couldn't let go without even trying once.

His palms slid down to cup his cheeks. Zhao Linsu took a deep breath of the cool air. He said to himself, try once, just be crazy this once.

Shen Yan lied and took the bus home. Along the way, of course, the scenery was full of interesting sights. Seeing the words above people's heads made him feel very uneasy.

Could it be that tomorrow above his own head...

His footsteps stopped. Shen Yan turned around, leaning his forehead against a plane tree on the street, his breathing a little rapid.

Damn Zhao Linsu, what exactly did he want to do?!

What "wrong one"? He didn't believe a single word of that nonsense. That bastard was definitely doing it on purpose!

Did Zhao Linsu really want to make a move on him?

Shen Yan shivered in the cold wind.

"Bastard..."

Shen Yan said softly, his mind in a mess.

【Bastard: Meeting at 9 tomorrow?】

Shen Yan left the message unread and coldly killed eighteen enemies in the game. His teammates on the public chat were frantically typing "Top laner is my real dad." Shen Yan saw it and sneered, thinking that there were at least eight hundred if not a thousand people who wanted to be his son. How could he tolerate Zhao Linsu's insubordination and unfilial behavior? Actually having impure thoughts about his honorary father?

He really hadn't seen that coming.

He had even been making excuses for him all this time.

But this guy was actually trying to make a move on him!

Unfilial, so unfilial.

The opponent surrendered at exactly fifteen minutes. Shen Yan glanced at the damage chart, satisfied, and exited. Instantly, nine friend requests popped up, each person affectionately trying to call him "dad" in their application.

Shen Yan ignored them. Recognizing sons was risky.

The conversation in his friend list was flashing.

Shen Yan clicked it open.

【Su Lin Zhao: Meeting at 9 tomorrow?】

Shen Yan: "..."

Damn it, hadn't this person logged into the game in eight hundred years?

【Top Picasso: Duh】

【Top Picasso: Let's solo】

Shen Yan killed Zhao Linsu ten times in a row.

Zhao Linsu wasn't very good at this game. They had played together initially, but Shen Yan climbed the ranks quickly, soon leaving Zhao Linsu far behind. After he couldn't carry Zhao Linsu anymore, Zhao Linsu gradually stopped playing.

Zhao Linsu preferred single-player games. He rarely played these competitive types of games in the first place.

【Top Picasso: You really suck】

【Su Lin Zhao: You're strong】

Shen Yan: "..."

His mind couldn't think in a purely innocent direction right now. It was all Zhao Linsu's fault, all that bastard's fault. Shen Yan shook his head, his face turning green.

【Top Picasso: Logging off】

【Su Lin Zhao: Good night】

Shen Yan: "..."

Shen Yan instantly logged off at lightning speed.

His face was burning, his back teeth were grinding.

What was Zhao Linsu doing? Why did he suddenly say something so mushy like—good night?

So this bastard... really wanted to make a move on him, didn't he?!