The Elder Brother Male Protagonist Who Has No Appetite (12)

The elevator chimed softly as it stopped at the floor where Si Jiu lived. She removed the muzzle from Mantou’s mouth, handed him the leash to hold, and hefted two large bags herself. With a solemn seriousness, she said, “You’re a grown-up dog now. You need to learn to walk yourself.”

Mantou gazed at her with his dark, shining eyes, leash in his mouth, and barked quietly, obedient to the core.

“Good boy,” Si Jiu remarked offhandedly, watching Mantou dash out of the elevator in a blur. She followed him out, only to see Mantou run straight into the legs of a young man dressed in black, as if he would never return.

Si Jiu was stunned. Hadn’t he already come upstairs? Why was he still at the door? No—why was he at her door?

“Woof! Woof woof!” Mantou wagged his tail furiously, rubbing his hefty body against the young man so insistently that the other nearly lost his balance, retreating two steps before steadying himself.

“Woof! Woof woof!” Mantou looked up at the young man with wet, soulful eyes, nudging his leg repeatedly, as if begging for affection.

Si Jiu felt bewildered. Golden Retrievers were gentle and friendly by nature, but never so affectionate with strangers—and Mantou had never been this shamelessly clingy with any man.

Something felt off.

The young man wore a mask, hiding his expression, but Si Jiu could clearly see the subtle change in his eyes. They curved gently, the deep, distant gaze—rendered so by the darkness of his irises—now warmed by a smile.

He crouched down, reached out, and patted Mantou’s head, letting out a soft laugh. “Good boy.”

Si Jiu fell silent.

His voice was truly captivating. That gentle laugh even made her knees go weak.

He looked at Si Jiu, stood up, and said, “Just now—I didn’t mean it. Pressed the wrong button. Thought I should apologize. Sorry. Well… Goodbye.”

He turned to leave.

This was her chance! Si Jiu wasn’t about to let him slip away.

She dropped her bags and rushed forward, grabbing his arm. “Wait.”

He stopped, turned back, and looked at her questioningly.

Si Jiu said nothing, waiting for the system’s prompt.

But even after half a minute, there was no response. Was it because of the clothing?

“Um… Is there anything else?” he asked, his eyes suddenly widening, uncertain if he was startled or nervous—because the girl had taken his hand.

Still no unlocking prompt.

Si Jiu wondered, Could I really be wrong? Is he not the male lead?

The system suddenly suggested: [Host, try interlocking fingers.]

Si Jiu paused, recalling that the system could access more information about the male lead and the mission once certain conditions were met.

So, by making physical contact, she had triggered some condition, and the system now knew how to unlock the male lead’s identity!

Si Jiu didn’t hesitate. She pressed her palm to his, slid her fingers between his, and locked them tightly.

[Beep—Male lead identity unlocked. Name: Xie Yu.]

[This world’s male lead’s golden finger: Voice of Command. Delivery method: Every night at ten o’clock, please have the target read you at least one bedtime story, for thirty consecutive nights.]

[Friendly reminder: This delivery task activates immediately and cannot be interrupted. If interrupted, the task will be considered failed. Good luck, host.]

A massive, bold, glowing 030 appeared right before Si Jiu’s eyes. No matter which way she turned, the progress indicator stubbornly stayed in front of her.

Si Jiu muttered, “…What the—”

Xie Yu looked at her, puzzled. “?”

“Oh, I wasn’t talking to you.” Si Jiu patted his arm in a perfunctory gesture of reassurance, while sternly demanding the system move that annoying progress bar.

The system replied that it couldn’t be turned off, but eventually compressed it and moved it to the upper left corner.

[Sorry, host, but given your repeated lackadaisical and reckless behavior during missions, my superior system insists on keeping a closer eye on you.]

[For the sake of your performance points, your city residency, your beautiful big house, please bear with it, Daddy. Sob sob.]

Si Jiu had nothing but exasperation.