The Ten-Minute Heist

Chu Ci stared at the message, stunned for several seconds.

Then, the room suddenly exploded with the violent sound of fingers drumming against a screen.

Don’t Mess With My Burning Butt: “??”

Don’t Mess With My Burning Butt: “What ‘kiss’? Who kissed you?”

Don’t Mess With My Burning Butt: “Look, logically speaking, it was just an accidental brush. Who told you to lean in so suddenly?”

Don’t Mess With My Burning Butt: “If you think a little graze counts as a kiss, I think you’re being pretty frivolous yourself.”

Don’t Mess With My Burning Butt: “Say something!”

Don’t Mess With My Burning Butt: “…”

Don’t Mess With My Burning Butt: “Hehe, just kidding. Let’s just delete each other.”

After firing off the long string of messages in a flurry, Chu Ci immediately clicked on Ji Yanli’s profile picture and swiped down again, his finger hovering over the “Delete Contact” button.

He paused for a few seconds, instinctively glancing at the screen, entirely unaware that he was actually waiting for something.

Sure enough, just as Chu Ci had anticipated, Ji Yanli’s chat box popped up.

Fake Poser: “Sorry, I was washing up just now.”

Fake Poser: “Let me see what you sent.”

Fake Poser: “I think you’re right. I misspoke. My apologies.”

Even through the screen, Chu Ci could almost picture the expression on Ji Yanli’s face just by looking at the text.

Chu Ci let out a cold snort and tossed the phone aside, feeling satisfied.

It was Ji Yanli who practically begged not to be deleted.

Had nothing to do with me.

Always adhering to the principle of “rather than making myself upset, I’ll just shift the blame to others,” Chu Ci rolled over onto the bed. He stretched out an arm to grab the edge of the quilt and rolled hard to the side, successfully wrapping the soft, thin blanket entirely around himself like a cocoon.

The air conditioning in the room was set a bit low, and being bundled up so tightly gave him an indescribable sense of comfort and coziness.

Just as Chu Ci was so sleepy that his upper and lower eyelids were about to glue themselves shut, the system Xiao Ba appeared above his head with a “poof.” Its fluffy, round body drew close, brushing its soft down against the tip of Chu Ci’s nose.

“Host, Host! Xiao Ba is here to issue the next mission!”

Chu Ci wrinkled his nose uncomfortably, shaking his head to dodge Xiao Ba’s fuzzy assault. “Don’t bother me,” he grumbled muffledly. “Tell me tomorrow.”

Too much had happened today, both big and small, leaving Chu Ci exceptionally exhausted. The moment he hit the bed, sleepiness felt like sticky glue, bonding him and the blanket together.

Xiao Ba persevered, leaning back in. “No can do! This mission requires the Host to complete it as soon as possible!”

“What kind of crappy mission has to be done right now?!” Chu Ci grew impatient, his consciousness blurring. “Go find someone else to do it. Your bro is retiring.”

With that, he simply pulled the quilt over his head.

Not even the Jade Emperor himself could get him out of bed now.

Xiao Ba blinked its eyes. Below the two small white dots, a section melted away like tears. “Host, Host, are you giving up on the mission? Don’t! We’ve come so far—if the Host gives up now, won’t all our previous efforts be in vain?!”

It landed on Chu Ci’s lump of a body and whispered, “The punishment for voluntarily abandoning a mission is even more severe. Think about it, Host. Besides bleeding from every orifice and contracting a terminal illness, you might be haunted by wild ghosts…”

Before Xiao Ba could finish, a long, towel-roll-like shape suddenly “swished” off the bed and hopped out of the room.

Dammit.

Chu Ci cursed silently in his heart, his face dark.

He’d been caught by his weakness.

Xiao Ba flew circles around him. “Xiao Ba knew the Host wouldn’t give up halfway!”

Chu Ci shot it a resentful look. “What’s the next mission?”

Xiao Ba answered excitedly: “Next mission—【Share a bed with the male lead for ten minutes!】“

Hearing this, Chu Ci stopped in his tracks. He looked up at Xiao Ba in the darkness, feeling confused. “Haven’t I already slept with Ji Yanli?”

Chu Ci paused, feeling like his phrasing was slightly off.

“Uh… I mean, I’ve shared a bed with him before. Doesn’t that mean this mission can be counted as completed already?”

Xiao Ba blinked. “This mission is different from the last one, so it doesn’t count toward completion.”

“This time, the Host needs to sleep with the male lead without waking him up. That’s why Xiao Ba said the Host needs to hurry!”

Once Xiao Ba finished, its gaze slid down, only to find the space below it empty. Chu Ci, who was supposed to be beside it, had stayed behind somewhere. Xiao Ba blinked strangely and flew back to Chu Ci. Upon seeing the expression on its Host’s face, Xiao Ba’s fur stood on end. “Host! Host, pull yourself together! Why is your face even darker than mine?!”

“Host!!!”

Chu Ci lowered his head, staring blankly at the dark floor. His eyes were wide, and his pupils were trembling slightly.

—Sleeping with Ji Yanli without waking him up…

—This is just sneaking into his covers! Isn’t it?!!

—Pervert!!! Whoever wants this job can have it, because I’m out! Ptu!

Xiao Ba buzzed around him anxiously. Then, it saw its Host suddenly lift his head and start retreating without hesitation.

“Host?” Xiao Ba chased after him, trying to block him. “Bleeding from seven orifices, terminal illness, ghost possession…”

Chu Ci stopped.

Chu Ci turned around.

Wrapped in his own quilt, Chu Ci resolutely jumped back toward Ji Yanli’s room.

Xiao Ba: “…”

Xiao Ba: As expected, following the right Host leads to the right path.

After Chu Ci pushed the door open and sneaked into Ji Yanli’s room, his first thought was: Why doesn’t this kid lock his door when he sleeps?

He tiptoed forward, feeling like a thief and a bit guilty. The room was deathly quiet, making the sound of his footsteps seem exceptionally loud.

Chu Ci bit his lower lip, his gaze fixed on the protrusion under the covers. Ji Yanli was a light sleeper and easily woken. To avoid being discovered and failing the mission, Chu Ci had to stop every few steps to nervously observe Ji Yanli’s reaction.

Moonlight filtered in from the window, spilling onto the hardwood floor. Chu Ci’s shadow stretched out beneath him. He tiptoed, trying his best to lighten his steps like a stalking cat, silently reaching the edge of Ji Yanli’s bed.

It had to be said, Ji Yanli’s bed was huge—it could easily fit four people. Since Ji Yanli himself was thin and liked to curl up at the very edge, a large space was left empty beside him.

Chu Ci estimated the distance. He only needed to lie on the other side of the bed, wait ten minutes, and leave immediately. Since they weren’t close, it shouldn’t wake him.

He closed his eyes. Xiao Ba had vanished the moment he entered and was now in his mind, urging him to hurry.

His heart thundered in his chest. His fingers tightened around his quilt, his knuckles turning white under the moonlight.

Forget it.

I’m already here.

He let his thin quilt stack softly on the floor and carefully moved closer. His eyes were glued to Ji Yanli. Like he was pressed on a slow-motion button, he slowly lifted his right hand and pinched a corner of the duvet.

The sound of his heartbeat grew louder. Blood surged through his veins. Chu Ci felt a strange heat racing through his body. The hair at his temples was damp with sweat. He even slowed his breathing; the only sound in the room was the faint “tick-tock” of the clock on the wall.

Chu Ci stretched a short movement into several minutes. Every time Ji Yanli shifted slightly, he froze in place, terrified. Finally, after managing to lift a corner of the covers, Chu Ci swallowed hard. His heart felt like a beating drum. He lifted one leg, cautiously stepping onto the bed. The soft mattress dipped under his weight. By the time he was fully on the bed, sweat had completely soaked his back.

His hand trembled as he prepared to lie down. Suddenly, the mattress beneath him let out a “creak.” Chu Ci’s skin crawled instantly. He snapped his head around to stare at Ji Yanli. Seeing that the other was still facing away with no movement, Chu Ci finally let out a breath of relief and resolved to lie down quickly.

The light duvet rested loosely over Chu Ci’s chest. He only dared to grip a tiny corner, hugging the very edge of the bed. The moment his head hit the pillow, a countdown timer automatically manifested in his mind.

Bright red numbers ticked down one by one. The sweat on Chu Ci’s temples flowed even faster, nearly dampening the pillow beneath him.

Ten minutes wasn’t long, but every second felt like a grueling ordeal. He had never felt the surroundings so quiet; Ji Yanli’s breathing seemed magnified dozens of times, hovering constantly in his ear.

He forced himself to close his eyes.

Just then, as if sensing something, Ji Yanli suddenly rolled over.

“Mm…”

A soft, muffled groan came from beside him.

Chu Ci’s eyes flew open. He stared wide-eyed at the dark ceiling, unblinking.

The little person in his heart was screaming frantically—

Ji Yanli… he suddenly leaned over!!