The Pretty Beauty Pretends to Pursue Her Aloof Roommate

Hey, everyone! My next book will be "The Amnesiac Became His Adoptive Brother's Caged Bird". Come check it out~

Blurb:

[Vent Thread: Is there anyone you both hate and envy?]

[Anonymous: Yes, my roommate.]

Lu Xingzhu opened the dorm forum as usual and replied to a post. He hated and envied his roommate, Duan Qinghuai, but didn't dare show it openly, so he could only sneakily badmouth him.

That day, Duan Qinghuai came back from playing basketball and took off his shirt as soon as he entered the dorm. His overflowing masculinity filled the room.

Lu Xingzhu smiled sweetly, handing him a towel as he said, "Duan Qinghuai, the bathroom's free. You can go shower."

In his head, though, he was cursing Duan Qinghuai to high heaven. What was wrong with him? Seriously, what was wrong with him? He stinks! He's polluting the air! Why's he showing off? So what if he's got a good body? You stinky dog!

Watching Duan Qinghuai take the towel into the bathroom, Lu Xingzhu gave a quiet snort and got ready to play a game on his phone. Then he noticed a new app on the screen.

[Conquest App: Collect Duan Qinghuai's affection. Reach 100 to claim a 100-million-yuan cash prize.]

[Conquest App: Give Duan Qinghuai some clothes. Reward: 52 yuan.]

Lu Xingzhu gave it the classic subway-grandpa-staring-at-his-phone look. What the heck? Was this scam targeting him now?

Before he could uninstall it, Duan Qinghuai called from the bathroom, "Xingzhu, can you bring me some clothes?"

Lu Xingzhu: "???"

Lu Xingzhu: "!!!"

He excitedly clutched his phone. Could he be the chosen male lead of a novel?

Lu Xingzhu hooked Duan Qinghuai's clothes with one finger and hurried them over. The next second, a text message arrived: 52 yuan had been deposited into his bank account.

It was just affection points, right? He was in!

After completing a string of tasks, Lu Xingzhu gazed happily at his balance. The app was always a little slow, and its tasks were getting more and more... abnormal, but the money always arrived on time, so overall, he was quite satisfied.

Until he saw the System's latest task and fell silent again.

[Conquest App: Initiate a kiss with Duan Qinghuai. Reward: 1,314,520 yuan.]

Lu Xingzhu tried to convince himself: What was wrong with a kiss between good friends? That was seven figures!

As he went on with the conquest, Lu Xingzhu suddenly realized he really might be gay. To cut his losses in time, he decisively pulled out. His affection points were already over halfway, and he had enough money to last a lifetime.

One day, he was curled up on the sofa at Duan Qinghuai's place when a phone rang.

Duan Qinghuai had just gotten out of the shower. He held a towel in one hand and rubbed his hair, his masculinity filling the room. "Baby, answer that for me."

After hanging up, Lu Xingzhu saw an app on Duan Qinghuai's phone that looked extremely familiar. Wasn't that his Conquest App?

A sudden realization struck him, and Lu Xingzhu shuddered. He met Duan Qinghuai's amused gaze. His voice carried a hint of regret and secret delight. "You found out, baby."

That night, Lu Xingzhu was bullied until his eyes turned red, and he completed every task he'd skipped.

-- Coming next: "The Amnesiac Became His Adoptive Brother's Caged Bird" --

Blurb:

[I am my brother's lover.]

Before arriving at this shocking conclusion, Chen Jiaojiao had thought he was living the dream: a prestigious education, an elite career, financial independence, and a rich, handsome boyfriend, Meng Jin, who spoiled him rotten.

Five years ago, he fell into the sea and hit a reef. Meng Jin risked his life to save him.

When he woke, his memories were gone. Meng Jin built him a whole new world:

"Your name is Chen Jiaojiao."

"We've known each other since childhood."

"You've pursued me for years."

"We... are deeply in love."

The man had a gentle gaze, impeccable logic, and such sincere affection that Chen Jiaojiao believed him.

For the next five years, he lived in the honeyed world Meng Jin had made for him, until someone pointed at him in the street and shouted, "You're just a stand-in! Meng Jin keeps you around because of your face!"

Chen Jiaojiao felt as if he had plunged into an icy abyss.

All the details he'd overlooked now became evidence: he'd never met any family or friends, Meng Jin disappeared at regular intervals, and he wasn't allowed to return to China...

On the sixth day after confirming he really was a "stand-in," Chen Jiaojiao took off the ring Meng Jin had given him. His voice was cold as frost as he formally broke up with him. "Meng Jin, let's end this."

"Jiaojiao, don't make a fuss."

Meng Jin tried to soothe him in his usual indulgent, child-calming tone, but the hand behind his back was clenched so tightly that his knuckles had gone white. He was used to being in control of everything, yet now he was experiencing the terror of losing control for the second time.

Chen Jiaojiao lifted his eyes and pressed him. "Does your white moonlight look like me?"

He didn't notice Meng Jin's relief, or the smile that flashed in his eyes.

"What brand of body wash does he like? What color pajamas does he wear?" Chen Jiaojiao stepped closer, too angry to think before speaking. His voice trembled. "Does he shiver in your arms like this?"

During their argument, Chen Jiaojiao accidentally fell down the stairs.

When he woke again, his memories came flooding back.

He remembered that his name was Chen Xueyan, the fake young master of the Meng family who had usurped the real heir's place. He also remembered why he had fled aboard a cruise ship in such a panic all those years ago.

Looking at Meng Jin, who was anxiously waiting beside his bed, he could only feel that the whole thing was absurd and laughable.

The older brother he had admired and respected most had not only harbored forbidden desires for him, but had also woven a huge lie after he lost his memory, turning him into a secret "stand-in lover" he couldn't bring into the light.

Thinking of how his brother had deceived him for five years, Chen Jiaojiao's voice turned icy. "Mr. Meng, this act is over."

Meng Jin let out a low laugh. Unhurriedly loosening his tie, he pulled Chen Jiaojiao into his arms and held him fast. He lifted Chen Jiaojiao's chin with his fingertips and carefully studied his face.

"Over?" Meng Jin leaned down, his eyes dark. His hoarse voice, wrapped in hot breath, sounded by Chen Jiaojiao's ear. "Jiaojiao, the act may be over, but now I can have you openly and without shame."

Reader's Guide:

1. The couple is endgame, and they belong to each other in both body and heart.

2. They aren't on the same household register, and their relationship begins only after their family ties have been severed.

Theme: See people and things through the right lens.