Wen Bai sat on the gray-white leather sofa, taking a glass of water from Su Ying and holding it in his palm.
The water was warm. Su Ying placed the medicine in a first-aid kit.
Both of them tacitly avoided discussing a certain matter.
"The room is on the second floor, the same one as last time. If you need anything else, you can tell me."
He heard Su Ying say this.
001's voice chimed in, "He wants you to live here?"
Wen Bai: "You want me to live with you?"
System 001: "..."
It had never encountered such a straightforward host.
Su Ying: "Don't you like it here?"
Wen Bai shook his head. He didn't dislike it, nor did he like it.
He wasn't someone who was particularly picky about his environment. Besides, this place was already far better than most, especially compared to the home of this body. Moreover, there was someone still maintaining a relationship with the original owner, which gave Wen Bai a headache. He had no intention of going back.
"I have a vacant room," Su Ying said sincerely. "Don't you have nowhere to go?"
That was indeed the case.
Compared to that "home," this place was clearly more suitable as his current residence.
"You've been misunderstood. He definitely thinks you're pitiful," 001's voice chimed in.
Wen Bai didn't think so. He asked, "How much will it cost?"
He didn't have much money and still needed to eat. Living here would increase his expenses.
Seeing that Wen Bai wasn't joking, Su Ying smiled with pleasure. "No need. The room would be empty anyway. If you want to, you can stay here indefinitely."
"He's really generous," Wen Bai said to 001.
001 seemed to be flipping through something. Wen Bai heard a series of beeps, and then 001's voice sounded again, "Could this be human love at first sight?"
Wen Bai: "Love at first sight?"
Hearing Wen Bai's confused tone, 001's voice grew a bit louder, carrying a hint of pride that it knew more about human emotions than humans themselves.
"After my investigation, he must have fallen in love with you at first sight. That's why he bandaged you, treated you to a meal, and is taking you home to let you stay as long as you wish. Humans are extremely selfish beings. They only make such great sacrifices when they want something from someone. See how he didn't take the female lead and male lead home? The female lead tonight also looked quite pitiful."
It sounded reasonable.
"So that's how it is."
"He must be expecting an equivalent or even greater return from you."
Wen Bai: "Return?"
"For example, he's doing all this because he wants you to be good to him too, to value him, and thus to deepen your relationship, developing into friends, or lovers."
Wen Bai: "Then it's better to just give him money."
While Wen Bai was talking to 001, he was led to the room on the second floor where he had stayed the previous night. Su Ying opened the door.
Wen Bai walked in. He instinctively felt repelled and wary of unfamiliar places. Perhaps it was because he had slept here for a night, but he didn't feel any significant aversion standing in this room.
It appeared exceptionally neat and cool, fitting Wen Bai's requirements for a residence: quiet and clean.
"Are you satisfied?"
The room was slightly different from last time. A vase had been added by the bedside, containing a bouquet of ice-blue roses.
So late at night, where did he get roses from?
Wen Bai's gaze lingered briefly on the roses.
Su Ying noticed and smiled slightly, "I've always thought it suited you."
This statement sounded a little off, but 001 couldn't pinpoint why. It still found human language too complicated, with many meanings hidden within simple sentences.
It was the first time Wen Bai had heard someone compare him to a flower and use the word "suited." He looked over with a touch of curiosity.
White petals were gathered together, forming flower buds. The edges of the flowers were light blue, giving them a fragile and translucent appearance.
As Su Ying spoke, he gazed intently at Wen Bai, his eyes behind his glasses seeming to appraise something he found extremely satisfying and pleasing.
001 suddenly realized that his words were as if he knew Wen Bai would be staying.
Wen Bai seemed oblivious to this. Since it didn't affect the plot, 001 didn't particularly remind him.
Before going to bed, Su Ying brought a cup of hot milk, saying it would help Wen Bai's wound recover and aid sleep.
Wen Bai was highly adaptable. Since he was already staying, he immediately drank it upon hearing it would help his head wound.
The bed was also very comfortable. After a day's activities, Wen Bai felt exceptionally tired in this body. After showering and wrapping himself in a towel, he collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.
However, despite the comfortable bed, his sleep was not peaceful.
Wen Bai had a dream. He dreamt he was back in the wilderness where he had been exiled. It was pitch black, with nothing around. He walked in silence, only the sound of his own footsteps accompanying him.
He didn't know what lay ahead, nor what might appear around him.
He walked alone in the darkness, long accustomed to it. He just didn't know how much longer he would have to walk like this.
Suddenly, a novel sensation enveloped him, like a prey being watched by a beast. Yet, Wen Bai didn't feel scared; he even felt a surge of excitement.
Finally, was there something other than himself here? Whatever it was.
But the unknown entity or person delayed its appearance. Wen Bai frowned, quite displeased.
At that moment, he felt something cool gently brush his brow.
The dream was temporarily interrupted. Wen Bai uneasily turned his head, avoiding the coolness on his brow.
He then drifted back into sleep in a daze.
System 001 was unusually silent this morning. Usually, 001 would remind Wen Bai of the progress. Today, it asked nothing.
As soon as he went downstairs, he heard the clinking of bowls and plates. Wen Bai walked over and saw Su Ying busy in the kitchen, wearing an apron, bathed in the morning sun.
The kitchen was open, so Wen Bai could see exactly what Su Ying was doing.
He skillfully cracked an egg into the frying pan, and the aroma of fried eggs wafted towards Wen Bai. Wen Bai touched his rumbling stomach and swallowed, standing there watching.
Seeing Wen Bai looking, Su Ying's slender figure turned slightly, and he beckoned to Wen Bai, "Sit at the dining table first, it'll be ready soon."
He wasn't wearing glasses today, making him look quite different from usual, with a hint of sharpness.
Wen Bai sat blankly at the dining table, waiting for breakfast.
This feeling was too strange.
After a few minutes.
Fried eggs, toast, milk, and millet porridge were served.
"I've made some dishes according to your taste preferences."
Looking at the food on the table and the person smiling at him, Wen Bai felt that his decision to stay here was absolutely correct.
He elegantly yet quickly devoured the food, his usually expressionless face slowly revealing a look of satisfied comfort.
Su Ying sat opposite him, propping his head on his hand, occasionally sipping his coffee while watching Wen Bai eat.
As he finished the last fried egg, Wen Bai suddenly remembered something and asked System 001,
"Did anything strange happen here last night?"
Since it was a place he would be living, he felt it was best to understand some things.
"For characters outside the main plot who don't have specific scenes, I can only see what happens around you."
Wen Bai took two bites of the fried egg and swallowed, nodding.
Su Ying, seeing that Wen Bai only had one fried egg left, slowly shifted his gaze to the only plate in front of him. He amusingly offered his own fried egg.
System 001 hesitated, "After you fell asleep last night, he came into your room and watched you for a long time."
Wen Bai paused his hand as he reached for the fried egg.
"And then?"
"He just stood by the bedside watching you. He didn't do anything."
Wen Bai took the plate and looked at Su Ying strangely.
He hadn't realized this person had such a peculiar habit?