A Handbook for Raising Apples

If anyone had told Lin Shu that after he died, he'd become a bright red apple, Lin Shu would have jumped up and beaten them up.

Become an apple? He'd rather just die.

Then he really died in a car accident.

When he regained consciousness, he was hanging from a tree...

Lin Shu, swaying in the wind: ...

What do you do when you become an apple? Emergency help...

System 004: Welcome, Host, to the Villain Rescue System! I'm 004~

Lin Shu stares blankly. "Huh? A system? I never said I wanted to bind with you!"

004: Automatic binding! Refusal not allowed?!

[If you want to become human again, you have to complete the mission!]

Lin Shu wiggles his chubby body. "So what's my mission?"

[See the villain in the wheelchair over there?]

Lin Shu nods seriously. "I see him."

[He'll come sit under this tree to cool off in a little while. Your mission is to fall down and hit him on the head.]

???!!!

The young villain doesn't believe miracles can happen in this world. So when his grandfather takes him to the temple to pray for blessings, he sits in his wheelchair, his injured legs stretched out, and gazes up at the Buddha statue without a flicker of emotion in his eyes.

004, disguised as a master, smiles at him. The smile creases his kindly face. "Why not go sit under the tree beside the temple? You might find a pleasant surprise."

The temple on the mountain is said to be sacred, and the tree stands there like a lucky charm.

The young villain can't resist his grandfather, so his bodyguards push him over to the tree.

Nothing happens. He only finds it amusing. Just as he's about to leave, his head suddenly feels dizzy, as though something heavy has struck it.

The object falls from his head, then slides into his lap, where a soft blanket is spread.

He gently picks it up and looks. It's... a bright red apple.

On the night he returns home, the young villain finally witnesses the most astonishing thing in the world: the apple grows tiny arms and legs out of thin air, then develops a human expression.

The apple he picked up... has become a spirit...

And it's so cute...

When Lin Shu sees that he finally has arms and legs, he's so excited that tears nearly spring to his eyes.

But when he sees the villainous big shot staring at him hungrily, he hugs his round body and points at him with a stubby arm, fuming. "Y-You can't eat me!!"

Shock flashes in the villain's eyes: ...It's so cute.

Lin Shu rolls his eyes and lightly kicks him. I know I'm cute, but could you please stop looking at me like you want to eat me?

004 reminds him solemnly: [Don't forget our mission!!]

Lin Shu puts on a bright smile, does a complete 360-degree turnaround, and reaches both hands toward the villain, asking to be picked up:

"Hi, do you think I'm cute?"

The young villain blushes, thinking about how to take good care of an apple.

It was a gift from Heaven.

Much later, a serious car accident on the East Sea Bridge sends Fu Xun to the ICU, where doctors fight to save him. His breathing and heartbeat are nearly gone, and death is close.

But in the final second of his life, a miracle occurs.

Half a month later, he slowly wakes in his ICU bed. He manages to open his eyes and turn his head, only to see half a broken apple lying on the cabinet...

[The apple seed is my seed-heart. I'm giving you the only one I have. Plant it in spring, and someday I'll come back to you.]

[No angst. If there is, then... beat up the author!!!]

A few things to keep in mind before reading:

1. Character dynamic: an adorable little bottom x an obsessive villainous big shot top.

2. This is a healing story. The bottom will become human later on and won't stay an apple forever!! (tears)

3. I'll add more if I think of anything...

Theme: Work hard for tomorrow