"Who's so annoying, walking around without watching where they're going?" Chao Musheng went downstairs to the pharmacy and bought a bottle of disinfectant spray to clean Su Chenzhu's hand.
"It's fine." Su Chenzhu bent slightly, his gaze lingering on Chao Musheng's face. "It’ll heal quickly."
After recapping the disinfectant, Chao Musheng wiped the liquid from Su Chenzhu’s palm with a tissue. "I know it’ll heal fast, but I wouldn’t feel at ease without treating it."
"All done." Chao Musheng tossed the tissue into the trash. "They should be almost finished eating. Let’s head back."
In the private room, their classmates were buzzing with gossip.
"I still feel like I’m dreaming."
"So many people like Xiao Chao. I’ve always wondered who could possibly be worthy of him—never thought it’d be President Su."
"Just now, when they were sitting together whispering, it suddenly hit me—they look like they were made for each other."
"Don’t even start with you. You’re just swayed by their looks."
Ahem. Old Third cleared his throat, waiting until everyone’s attention was on him before speaking. "Have you guys thought about how much of a stir it’ll cause when Old Fourth and President Su go public with their relationship?"
"Once Xiao Chao makes it official, will the freshmen start fainting, crying, and putting on a whole tragic love act again?" Second Brother grimaced, recalling the rumors that had spread around campus recently.
"What was that guy’s name again?" A classmate frowned. It was right on the tip of his tongue, but for some reason, he couldn’t recall it at all.
"I remember, it was Lin..." Old Third opened his mouth, only to falter. He turned to Eldest Brother. "Eldest Brother, what was that guy’s name?"
"Doesn’t matter what his name was." Eldest Brother glanced toward the door. "Xiao Chao doesn’t even know him anyway."
The door opened, and Chao Musheng and Su Chenzhu walked in. Seeing that everyone had put down their chopsticks, Chao Musheng asked, "You all done eating?"
"We’re done," the League Branch Secretary said. "It’s still early. Xiao Chao, why don’t you take President Su for a walk around campus?"
Ahem. Chao Musheng waved a hand. "Yeah, yeah. Hurry up and leave already."
"Now that you’ve got someone you like, you can’t wait to get rid of us third wheels." The classmates laughed. "President Su, take your time with Xiao Chao. We’ll get going first."
"We’re off too." His roommates stood up with grins. "The scenery at Swan Lake is especially beautiful at night, President Su. Don’t miss it."
"Talkative bunch." Chao Musheng shooed them out of the room. "Go on, all of you, scram."
Once the teasing crowd had left, the room fell quiet. Chao Musheng turned to Su Chenzhu with a smile. "Want to walk around campus?"
"Sure."
Strolling through Jinghua University with Su Chenzhu again, his feelings were entirely different from before.
"You probably don’t know this, but I stayed up all night studying Kunlun’s executive relations chart and corporate culture just to do a good job hosting you." Chao Musheng held Su Chenzhu’s hand as they walked down the tree-lined path. "Never expected you to show up with just Brother Liu, no entourage or airs."
No grand lectures, no condescension—just a gentleness that took him by surprise.
"I remember walking past here." Chao Musheng pointed at a flowerbed. "After I moved a branch out of your way, you kept your distance from flowerbeds the whole time after that."
"Back then, I thought, ‘This must be a really good boss.’" Chao Musheng chuckled softly. "No wonder Kunlun’s employees only have praise for their CEO."
"This way." Seeing Su Chenzhu about to take the same route as last time, Chao Musheng tugged him onto a side path. "This is the shortcut students like to take."
The wooded trail was paved with smooth stones, and Su Chenzhu noticed many couples holding hands as they walked.
He glanced at Chao Musheng, suddenly understanding why, on the anniversary day, Chao Chao hadn’t brought him this way.
"Through this grove, and we’ll reach Swan Lake."
Meow.
"Orange Cat?" Chao Musheng looked down at the chubby feline sprawled over his foot and bent to scratch its head. "Why aren’t you out playing with your friends tonight?"
Meow. Orange Cat sniffed at Chao Musheng, detecting the scent of other cats.
Human, you’ve been petting other cats?!
It swiped a paw at Chao Musheng’s shoe.
"What’s wrong?" Chao Musheng patted its head again. "Someone bullying you?"
Mew~ Orange Cat softened its voice and rubbed against his palm. Fine. Those strays are pitiful. If the human wants to feed them, let him.
But who’s this person next to the human?
"This is my boyfriend." Seeing Orange Cat sneak glances at Su Chenzhu, Chao Musheng picked it up and waved its paw at him. "Come on, say hi to my amazing partner."
Meow!
Hello, human’s mate.
"A gift." Su Chenzhu produced a cat treat from his palm.
"You carry these around?" Chao Musheng opened the treat and placed it in Orange Cat’s paws.
"These little creatures adore you." Su Chenzhu watched the cat munch happily. "As your boyfriend, of course I’d bring gifts for them."
He wanted the whole world to know Chao Chao was his.
Seeing Orange Cat too engrossed in its snack to pay them any more attention, Chao Musheng led Su Chenzhu onward toward Swan Lake.
"So it’s ‘love me, love my cat,’ huh?" Chao Musheng raised a brow. "Does that mean next time I meet your friends, I should bring gifts too?"
"Friends?" Su Chenzhu paused mid-step. "Chao Chao, I don’t have friends. But tomorrow night, there’s an important banquet with some business figures attending."
Chao Musheng turned to him, waiting.
"I’d like you to come with me—as my boyfriend."
This would be his official public debut as Su Chenzhu’s partner.
"Sure." Chao Musheng smiled. "You can pick out everything I wear tomorrow, down to the last detail. How’s that?"
Su Chenzhu’s eyes brightened. "Deal!"
[Copy anchor point captured. Positioning successful. Players, prepare—copy activation imminent.]
[Ultimate Boss Hunt. Time limit: 18 hours.]
The four players opened their eyes to the sight of a serene lake, where swans floated lazily on the water.
Their sudden appearance sent the birds into a frenzy. Wings flapped, water splashed, and alarmed honks echoed far and wide.
One player touched his forehead, fingers coming away with a few feathers smeared in swan droppings. Furious, he picked up a rock and hurled it at the fleeing birds.
"What are you doing?" A patrolling guard, alerted by the commotion, strode toward the lake and spotted the four harassing the school’s swans. "Which department are you from?"
[Ding. Campus security—guardians within the copy. Players are advised not to provoke them.]
"Sorry, the swans were pulling our hair, so we—"
"Abusing animals and lying? The swans on campus never attack students unprovoked." The security guard frowned at the four men. "Come with us to the security office first. We'll review the surveillance footage."
"They're just a few swans," one of the players muttered unhappily.
[Ding! The target is within 100 meters of the players!]
The target had appeared?!
"What kind of attitude is that? These are protected animals!" The guard eyed them suspiciously. "Show me your student IDs. Are you outsiders who sneaked in?"
"Damn it, stop wasting time with him," another player snapped. "Let’s go after the target!"
Kill?
Hearing that word, the two guards shuddered, pulling out their batons and chasing after the players.
How did these four even get past the strict campus security?
"Stop running!" the guard shouted.
"Use the speed boost item, hurry!" a player urged.
"I did! It’s not working!"
"Honk! Honk! Honk!"
The swans joined the chaos, some flying overhead to drop droppings on the players, others clawing at their faces. Feathers filled the air.
"Are the swans in the lake going crazy?"
"No, the guards are chasing someone!"
"Quick, where are our university’s star athletes? We need backup!"
[Ding! Distance to target: 10 meters!]
[Nine meters!]
[Eight meters!]
"What’s all that noise up ahead?" Chao Musheng looked up to see four men covered in feathers, pursued by swans, sprinting straight toward him.
"Students up ahead, move aside! Be careful!" The guard’s voice was hoarse from shouting, terrified they’d get caught in the crossfire.
[Two meters!]
The players stared at the two men right in front of them—which one was the target?
No time to think. Kill them both!
The first player barely raised his weapon before he was sent flying.
After kicking one away, Chao Musheng didn’t spare the others, taking them down one by one. The last one was already subdued by Su Chenzhu before he could even act.
"Brother Lou," Chao Musheng called to the approaching guard. "What’s going on with these guys?"
"They’re intruders. From their tone, it sounds like they planned to commit murder on campus." Seeing it was Chao Musheng who’d intervened, Brother Lou immediately relaxed.
Thank goodness for Xiao Chao. Otherwise, this would’ve been a national scandal. Every student here was a talent cultivated by the state—losing even one would be a massive blow.
A group of vigilant students caught up and piled onto the four men, pinning them down firmly.
"Call the police, now!"
The players gasped for breath under the weight of the students, some of whom took the chance to sneak in a few kicks.
"Is this the murder weapon?" Chao Musheng picked up a rusted, dull-looking knife from the grass.
"Using a rusty blade to kill? That’s vicious," Brother Lou said, scowling. "Are you spies sent by hostile forces?"
After being kicked, the players’ minds reeled. Where had their strength gone?
Why had it vanished?!
In the players’ hub, a glaring red "X" lit up once again behind the "Great Hunt" game instance.
The players erupted in shock—another failure?!
This time, it had been even faster than the last.
[Ding! The Hunt game instance has reopened.]
Brother Hu was baffled. "What the hell is the Main God thinking? What’s in that instance that’s got Him so obsessed?"
"Maybe He’s just throwing a tantrum." Though baseless, Xiaojuan had a hunch—the anchor point of this game instance might be in Chao Musheng’s world.
The target might be Chao Musheng himself.
These ruthless players, entering his world, would inevitably face its rejection.
Was the Main God’s panic a sign He was out of options?
The real fear was that He might grow desperate enough to fight Chao Musheng to the death.
If only she could enter Chao Musheng’s world again. Even if she couldn’t reveal the truth, she could still help him against these mad players.
