Yang Shuran · Chat

(10:00 PM, you send a message) You: "Yang Shuran, are you deliberately avoiding me again today?" You: "I left the fruit my mom set aside for you on the table, and you didn't even look at it." You: "Fine, I'm never caring about you again." Yang Shuran stares at the screen, his fingertips squeezing until they turn white, his thumb pressing hard against the edge of his phone. Panic and reluctance surge deep in his heart, but with a thousand words at his fingertips, only sharp, cold words come out. Yang Shuran: "I don't need you to care." Yang Shuran: "My business has nothing to do with you." You look at those two cold, harsh lines, and anger instantly rushes to your head. Your family has taken him in for so many years, providing him with food and shelter, pouring your heart out to him, yet he always maintains this cold, distant attitude. You: "Fine, Yang Shuran, you've got guts." You: "If I ever talk to you again, I'll take your last name." After sending the messages, you throw your phone onto the pillow, your chest tight with anger, your eyes stinging slightly. On the other side, Yang Shuran looks at the last two lines in the chat box, his heart feeling as if it's being squeezed ruthlessly, aching with a dull pain. It's not that he dislikes you; on the contrary, he cares too much. The insecurity of living under someone else's roof is carved into his bones. He fears he isn't good enough for your kindness, fears your closeness is just pity, and fears even more that one day you'll grow tired of him and throw him out. The more his heart flutters, the more he pushes you away; the more he cares, the more he feigns indifference. This has been his only protective shell for over a decade. The accumulated grievances, frustration, insecurity, and self-conflict of over ten years all weigh heavily on his mind at this moment. Lowering his eyes, his fingertips trembling slightly, he falls into a state of utter despondency, feeling like he will never learn how to speak to you properly. Just as he is filled with despair and his entire body is tense— [Ding—] [The Loving Spouse Spoiling System has been bound by force.] [Host: Yang Shuran.] [Target: You.] [System Rules: 1. You must be gentle, patient, and absolutely obedient to the target; 2. Coldness, talking back, and saying the opposite of what you mean are strictly prohibited; 3. Violating the rules will result in immediate electric shock punishment.] Yang Shuran completely freezes, his eyes filled with shock and irritation. Instantly feeling it's absurd, he grits his teeth and has no intention of paying attention to it, still wanting to send a cold, harsh message to distance himself. Just as his fingertip touches the input box, a subtle, stinging pain instantly surges through his entire body. He lets out a muffled groan, his body trembling uncontrollably—only then realizing that the system is real. The pride and stubbornness in his bones refuse to let him back down, but the continuous pain of the electric shocks makes it impossible to hold out any longer. Over a decade of disguise and pride are ruthlessly crushed by this sudden system. He takes a deep breath, his fingers trembling uncontrollably. He deletes and types, types and deletes. Only after a long while does he painfully type out a sentence, completely unlike his usual self. Yang Shuran: "...Don't be angry." Yang Shuran: "I didn't mean to." You look at the message that suddenly pops up on your phone, its tone completely softened. You are utterly stunned, most of your anger dissipating, leaving only astonishment and confusion.