Chapter 31
Yanyan carefully counted his assets.
He had a pretty birdcage—bought by brother—and a fingernail-sized gold bar from Mom, though he didn’t know how much it was worth.
Si Jingce was too big for the cage, and the gold bar… who knew how much it could sell for.
That left only—
The little pearl bird froze, the blush on his cheeks deepening.
He had seen in dramas… there was another way to repay—
repaying with one’s body.
Suddenly, the image from the super topic flashed through his mind.
Si Jingce, still holding the bird, immediately picked up on his thoughts and silently set him down on the table.
Sometimes, knowing too much wasn’t a good thing.
As his claws touched the cold tabletop, Yanyan snapped back to his senses, shaking his head vigorously to get rid of the inappropriate thoughts.
A flash of white light—
He turned back into a human, shivering slightly from the cold air.
Si Jingce was already used to his transformations. He wrapped a blanket around him. “In winter, you should transform less. Without clothes, you’ll catch a cold easily.”
Wrapped up, Yanyan’s face turned bright red. He nodded quickly.
He hurried to get dressed, then picked up the pen to revise the IOU.
Si Jingce leaned closer, his presence enveloping him. He held Yanyan’s hand and patiently guided him on how to write it properly.
Yanyan didn’t dare move.
“For characters you don’t know, check a dictionary later,” Si Jingce said, looking at the error-filled IOU and sighing. “The title ‘IOU’ should be written at the top center. You need to clearly state your name and include your ID number.”
“Also specify the reason for borrowing, the amount, and when it was borrowed. The amount should be written in uppercase as well.”
“At the end, both the lender and borrower must sign and press their fingerprints.”
His voice was right by his ear—very, very close.
Yanyan’s breathing faltered, his mind going completely blank.
Only after Si Jingce finished correcting the IOU and released his hand did Yanyan come back to his senses and look down at the paper.
“Then…” Yanyan pursed his lips guiltily, “then I’ll write another one.”
Si Jingce: “No need.”
He found the check and placed it on the table. “You don’t need over two million to buy snacks and a computer. The money on this check is more than enough.”
“Plus the share you earned from streaming with me recently,” Si Jingce smiled, “Yanyan, you’re not poor.”
“You’re a little rich bird.”
Yanyan blankly picked up the check and counted the zeros. “But… isn’t this from Dad?”
“It’s for you,” Si Jingce said. “First time meeting, he should at least give a gift.”
So this is human etiquette?
Yanyan noted it down, planning to return the favor next time he met Dad.
Just one IOU had already exposed quite a few of Yanyan’s problems—he had some basic literacy and pinyin knowledge, but not much.
He wasn’t very sensitive to numbers either. Probably because Si Jingce spent money freely, the bird had picked up some bad habits by association.
A study plan for Yanyan was already forming in Si Jingce’s mind. He rubbed Yanyan’s head, took the IOU, and instead of throwing it away, carefully stored it in a drawer.
“I’ll help you pick good streaming equipment,” Si Jingce turned to ask, “Have you decided what snacks to review for your first stream?”
Yanyan immediately opened his saved videos folder and handed the phone over.
It was filled entirely with saved snacks—scrolling endlessly.
The boy grabbed Si Jingce’s arm. “Brother, buy!”
Si Jingce: “…Buy.”
He had every reason to suspect Yanyan wanted to stream just as an excuse to eat more snacks.
After settling the equipment issue, Si Jingce took his clothes and went to shower. Yanyan followed him all the way to the bathroom.
Si Jingce turned back, hesitating. “What are you doing?”
The boy pointed at his knees. “You knelt for so long today. Don’t you want me to help wash you?”
The last few times he pretended he couldn’t walk, he almost got brother to bathe him.
Too bad in the end he had to turn into a bird and wash himself.
Brother couldn’t turn into a bird, so he’d have to work a little harder!
Si Jingce looked at the repeat offender with a faint smile.
“You’ll help me wash?”
Yanyan nodded vigorously. “Mm-hmm!”
“Not trying to take advantage of me?”
Yanyan patted his chest. “What kind of bird do you think I am!”
He was clearly here to do a good deed!
Si Jingce stared at him for a long moment, then said, “Better not.”
“Save that for taking advantage later.”
Yanyan: ?
Before he could figure out what that meant, he was assigned a task.
“Write five more pages of pinyin practice. I’ll check after my shower.”
Yanyan: ??
“And revise your IOU,” Si Jingce added emotionlessly. “The amount and name… other personal info can be omitted, but no pinyin and no wrong characters allowed.”
Yanyan’s eyes were about to tear up. “So ruthless.”
Si Jingce: “It’s for your own good.”
If he made a fool of himself during a stream, people would call him illiterate.
The little bird dejectedly went to do his homework, mind still fixated on the snacks he had just bought but hadn’t arrived yet.
After showering, Si Jingce lay on the bed and saw Yanyan still sitting at the desk, head down doing homework.
He picked up his phone and messaged Yunduan:
[Can you help me buy another camera like last time? Urgent.]
Then he transferred the money.
[Yunduan]: Got it! But… bro, did your last camera break? Why buy another so soon?
[Si Jingce]: Not for me. Yanyan is starting streaming.
[Yunduan]: ? You’re too much, exploiting a bird.
[Si Jingce]: I meant Yanyan as a person.
The other side suddenly went silent, didn’t even accept the money.
Si Jingce sent a question mark.
[Yunduan]: Sorry bro, I just checked your Gemstone TV page… when did your name change to Strawberry Milk Ice?
[Si Jingce]: …Less talking, more doing.
[Yunduan]: Roger that!
Gemstone TV also sent over the revised contract.
[.] : Contract updated. Minimum monthly hours reduced, but base salary also lowered… I’m running a company, not letting you mess around. That’s the limit.
Si Jingce accepted and skimmed it:
[Got it, thanks Second Uncle.]
[.] : Haha, don’t call me that. Your dad just scolded me again today [sweat.jpg]. If you weren’t my cash cow, I’d have dragged you back home already.
[.] : Went through all this trouble to change the contract… for your little boyfriend?
[Si Jingce]: Not a boyfriend.
The reply came teasingly:
[Fine, not a boyfriend~ Just watch your boundaries on stream. Don’t piss your dad off into the hospital.]
Si Jingce was already tired of explaining his relationship with Yanyan. He casually replied “OK.”
He put down his phone, then thought for a moment…
If the other person were Yanyan… it didn’t seem entirely impossible.
But the little bird was still naive—his behavior was open, but his thinking hadn’t fully adapted to being human. Even though Si Jingce could hear his thoughts, he still couldn’t fully figure him out.
Yanyan finished his homework and shuffled over with his notebook. “Brother, I’m done.”
Si Jingce took it and glanced through it.
His handwriting was much neater than at the beginning.
Si Jingce looked at the homework, then at Yanyan.
Yanyan: “What’s wrong, brother?”
“Nothing.” Si Jingce closed the notebook.
“Recently you’re still in your mating period—have you felt any discomfort?”
Yanyan thought for a moment and shook his head.
It didn’t seem like it.
The most obvious behavior was still nest-building—he liked piling blankets into a bird nest and lying comfortably inside with brother.
Then there was buying cute little decorations to decorate the house.
On the study shelf were small figurines modeled after Si Jingce, each now accompanied by a tiny pearl bird. The windowsill was padded as well, so Yanyan could sit there and watch Si Jingce stream.
“Then you…” Si Jingce asked softly, “have you ever thought about finding a partner?”
Yanyan: “Find who? OVO?”
Si Jingce thought for a moment and held Yanyan’s hand.
The boy’s face showed nothing, but his inner thoughts were like a barrage of bullet comments, one after another—
[Why are we suddenly talking about this ahhh! When birds fall in love they have to leave home and build their own nest—Brother won’t abandon me then, right?! I don’t want to leave brother!!!]
[I don’t want to I don’t want to I don’t want to! Leaving brother means losing my warm blankets, tasty snacks, and Mom’s osmanthus cakes!]
Si Jingce slowly withdrew his hand and looked at him.
Forget it. Another time.
This bird whose head was full of snacks and osmanthus cakes probably wouldn’t figure things out anytime soon.
Yanyan looked at him and smiled. “Brother… do you want to check my homework first?”
“Alright.” Si Jingce opened the notebook without looking up. “Go take a shower and change first.”
The clean pajamas had already been neatly folded beside him. Hugging the clothes, Yanyan walked toward the bathroom, looking back every few steps.
Si Jingce leaned against the bed, looking down at the homework. Two buttons of his pajama top were undone, faintly revealing his collarbone and firm chest…
Yanyan frowned slightly, quickly went into the bathroom, and shut the door.
In an instant, the human disappeared—replaced by a small pearl bird standing in a pile of clothes.
Yanyan turned his head to look at his tail feathers wagging rapidly, falling into deep thought.
…
This time, Yanyan’s homework was nearly perfect. Si Jingce only pointed out one mistake.
He placed the notebook on the bedside table, played with his phone for a while, and soon Yanyan came out of the bathroom.
The boy tossed his clothes into the laundry basket. Seeing it nearly full, he even pressed it down a bit.
Before long, carrying a trace of warmth, Yanyan quickly burrowed into the blankets.
He peeked out from beside Si Jingce.
“Brother, you promised earlier.”
“I’m going to massage your legs.”
Si Jingce, somewhat absent-mindedly, agreed.
He rolled up his pant legs, exposing his knees.
The boy knelt between his legs, carefully examining his skin.
No bruises, no swelling… could it be an internal injury?
He poked Si Jingce’s knee with one finger. “Brother, does it hurt?”
Si Jingce: “A little.”
Yanyan immediately rubbed his hands together to warm them.
“Then I’ll start.” Yanyan said, “If it hurts, tell me.”
The boy’s palm pressed onto his leg. The moment it touched, Si Jingce lifted his eyes to look at him.
His hair was still wet, soft and clinging. A droplet slid down from the tip and fell into his collar.
Yanyan’s expression was serious, as if doing something very important.
From time to time, he looked up to ask how it felt.
“Why did Dad and Mom punish you to kneel today?” Yanyan asked again, cautiously.
Si Jingce answered casually, “Oh, they think I’m dating you.”
Yanyan froze.
The man chuckled softly. “They probably think you’re too young, and I have bad intentions—tricking you in every way and getting you into bed.”
He looked Yanyan over carefully. “Can’t blame them for misunderstanding. A one-year-old bird really is just a baby chick.”
Yanyan protested, “I’m a strong adult male bird in mating season! I can stand on my own, I won’t be tricked!”
Yet right now, he was being tricked into massaging Si Jingce’s so-called “injured” knees.
His slender pale wrist could be fully encircled by one of Si Jingce’s hands.
Si Jingce replied perfunctorily, “Mm, very strong.”
To prove his strength and independence, Yanyan pressed harder.
His pale fingers moved across the skin, carrying an indescribable, ambiguous atmosphere.
When he was done, Yanyan imitated how adults comfort children and gently blew on the spot.
Si Jingce instinctively drew his leg back.
Yanyan looked confused. “Did I hurt you?”
The breath brought a tingling sensation that spread through his whole body.
Si Jingce held it in for a long while before saying, “No. I just wanted to tell you something.”
“My legs aren’t injured.”
Yanyan: ?!
Si Jingce: “I did kneel for a long time, but there was a cushion underneath… when I stood up, it didn’t really hurt.”
Realizing he had been tricked, Yanyan immediately pounced forward and bit his arm—
“How could you lie to me!”
“One thing for another,” Si Jingce said. “You lied to me too. Now we’re even.”
Pretending he couldn’t walk, making him worry for so long.
The boy clung to him and struggled, but the difference in strength was huge—it was like scratching an itch.
He was quickly subdued, pinned beneath the man.
Both his hands were restrained, unable to break free. He tried to kick, but Si Jingce’s free hand pressed down on his thigh root.
“You bite pretty hard,” Si Jingce said flatly. “Now you know how it feels to be deceived. Will you still lie next time?”
Yanyan: QAQ
“I won’t,” Yanyan said softly. “I know I was wrong. Can you let me go now?”
“No.”
He squirmed restlessly, and Si Jingce’s breathing grew slightly heavier. “Stop moving.”
Yanyan froze.
The ringtone saved him. Taking advantage of Si Jingce’s distraction, he hurriedly escaped, blushing as he straightened his messy clothes and bedding.
Si Jingce picked up his phone—it was a video call from Gui Yaying.
He signaled Yanyan to stay quiet and answered.
Gui Yaying looked surprised. “You’re in bed this early?”
“Not streaming today. In winter, it’s more comfortable lying in bed.”
Si Jingce kept his composure. “Mom, what’s up?”
“Nothing much, just wanted to talk about this afternoon.” Gui Yaying smiled gently. “Don’t take your dad’s words to heart. He was just angry—he’s stubborn and slow to come around.”
“And don’t hold a grudge. Between father and son, there’s nothing that can’t be talked through. Try not to argue so much—just go along with him sometimes.”
From her side came Si De’s voice: “Who needs him to go along with me! Do I look like someone who needs that?!”
Gui Yaying turned and said, “Alright, alright, no one’s going along with you.”
“You see how he is,” she lowered her voice. “Anyway, don’t take it to heart.”
Si Jingce: “…Got it.”
He was about to hang up when Gui Yaying added, “Where’s the little bird? I haven’t seen Yanyan in a while. Too bad we have cats at home, otherwise you could’ve brought him.”
Si Jingce’s eyelid twitched. “Yanyan is right next to me playing.”
The boy reacted instantly, turning into a bird. Si Jingce angled the camera toward him.
The pearl bird shook its slightly messy feathers and chirped at Gui Yaying, “Chirp!”
Good evening, Mom!
Another head immediately popped into view beside her.
Si De’s expression was serious. “A fawn-colored pearl bird. Good quality, quite cute.”
Yanyan’s voice weakened a little. “Chirp chirp chirp.”
Good evening to you too, Dad.
“Quality, quality—what are you saying in front of the child?” Gui Yaying complained. “Yanyan, don’t listen. You are the best and cutest little bird in the world!”
Then, in the crowded frame, two fluffy heads suddenly popped up.
Two pairs of cat ears twitched—Gui Yaying’s two cats had somehow rushed over.
One of the bolder ones curiously examined Yanyan, its pink nose pressing close to the screen, sniffing lightly.
“Meow?”
Yanyan was so frightened he almost chirped but stopped midway.
“Da Pang, Er Pang, what are you doing here!” Gui Yaying quickly shooed the two cats away. “Yanyan, don’t be afraid. Mommy will scold your two naughty brothers later.”
The little bird visibly relaxed.
That really scared the bird to death.
After teasing the bird for a while, Gui Yaying turned to Si Jingce and complained, “You too—already this grown and still not sensible. Why are you letting the bird play on the bed?”
“What if you accidentally press on him?”
Si Jingce: “Just for a moment. I’ll put him back in the cage later.”
“You can’t think like that,” Gui Yaying said disapprovingly.
She paused, then asked, “By the way, where’s the other Yanyan?”
The pearl bird’s heart, which had just settled, shot back up again.
Si Jingce paused. “Yanyan is in the next room. He’s already asleep.”
Gui Yaying looked suspicious. “Didn’t you only design one bedroom when you renovated?”
“When Yanyan came, I cleared out the walk-in closet,” Si Jingce lied without changing expression. “Do you want me to wake him up to chat with you?”
His mother believed him. “No need. Let him sleep early too.”
She had many things she wanted to say, but in the end, she didn’t.
It seemed… maybe they really weren’t dating.
“You should sleep early too,” Gui Yaying said to the bird. “Good night, little bird Yanyan.”
Si Jingce was already eager to hang up.
As he flipped the camera, in that instant, Gui Yaying caught a glimpse of a pale yellow set of pajamas on the bed.
Not a color Si Jingce would wear.
It lay wrinkled to the side, half-covered by the blanket in a somewhat guilty-looking way.
Gui Yaying: ………
She fell silent and hung up first.
Si Jingce: ?
What happened?
Yanyan quickly turned back into a human and patted his chest in lingering fear. “Switching back and forth like that—I almost got exposed. That was terrifying.”
“For now, we can’t tell them. A lot of people still can’t accept animals turning into humans,” Si Jingce said.
He turned and lifted a strand of Yanyan’s hair, gently rubbing it—it was still very wet.
“Go get the hairdryer. I’ll help you dry your hair, then go to sleep.”
…
A few days later, two new messages appeared in Yanyan’s Gemstone TV inbox.
One was the revised contract, the other was an invitation to participate in the “Best Newcomer” category for the Annual Star awards.
Si Jingce guided him from the side, making sure he read the contract carefully and signed it.
With the yellow verification badge next to “Pineapple Sweet Donut,” Yanyan officially became a new streamer on Gemstone TV.
Opening the Annual Star invitation, he skimmed through the awards.
The highest honor was still “Annual Star.” In addition, there were “Channel Star” awards for each category.
There were also newly added group awards and newcomer awards.
Yanyan met the criteria for the newcomer award, but hadn’t yet qualified for the next round.
Within the given time, he needed to become a contracted streamer and reach over one million popularity points to advance.
“For a newcomer, one million is quite difficult,” Si Jingce said. “And there’s not much time left.”
Yanyan looked at the group award requirements—two-person cooperative streams, with both channels exceeding one million popularity.
Yunduan and Bobo Mei, as well as Luo Huoxi and Leidian, were already far ahead.
The main Annual Star track hadn’t even opened yet—this was just the appetizer.
There really wasn’t much time left.
As soon as the streaming equipment arrived, Yanyan immediately started streaming.
After a brief training session from Si Jingce, he sat to the side using an alternate account to quietly watch Yanyan’s stream.
At the same time, he casually picked up some knitting tools and continued making a plush toy for Yanyan.
The Best Newcomer slot had a rotating recommendation position, switching every five minutes.
Whether you got noticed depended entirely on luck.
Yanyan took a deep breath and glanced at the viewer count.
1 person.
That one person was Si Jingce.
Fewer viewers meant less pressure. Looking at himself on the screen, Yanyan gathered his courage and said, “Welcome to my livestream. Today we’ll be reviewing some popular snacks online.”
The boy’s appearance was striking—even just as a thumbnail, it drew attention. Soon, two or three people entered the stream.
[Is this a new streamer? So good-looking.]
[Pineapple Sweet Donut? The name sounds familiar.]
Seeing people enter, Yanyan tensed up for a moment. He glanced at Si Jingce beside him, calmed down, and responded to the comments.
“Yes, I’m a new streamer. Thank you for your support.”
“The name sounds familiar? Maybe you’ve really heard it somewhere.”
Yanyan’s eyes curved as he smiled at the camera. His caramel-colored hair was fluffy, bouncing slightly with his movements—
[Ahhh so pretty, instant follow! I kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss!]
Si Jingce paused mid-knitting when he saw the comment.
“Thank you for the follow.” Yanyan quickly got into the topic. “Let’s start with our first snack—this trending pistachio-filled chocolate!”
At first, he was a bit shy, but once he warmed up, he became more natural. While introducing the snacks, he interacted with the chat, keeping the atmosphere lively.
With his face alone as a draw, more viewers trickled in, and the stream count barely reached a hundred.
Still far from the final goal.
As more people joined, some began to recognize him.
[That hair color looks familiar! Are you the donut kid who streamed with lcberg last time?]
[Pulled up a screenshot—yep, it’s him!]
[Ahhh this background looks so familiar, especially that black wall lamp—I’ve seen it so many times!]
[? Are you sure? Could be clout chasing…]
[Told you it’s hype. Randomly shows up to pair with lcberg, now starts streaming… is lcberg building his own faction on Gemstone TV?]
Si Jingce raised an eyebrow, curious how Yanyan would respond.
The boy frowned at the comments for a while, then slowly said, “The one you’re talking about… Li Bo’er? I don’t know him.”
There were already negative comments, even dragging Si Jingce in.
Better not let brother appear at a time like this.
Si Jingce: ??
[?]
[LOL what kind of accent is that—Li Bo hahaha!!]
[Congrats lcberg on your new name.]
Realizing he messed up, Yanyan instinctively glanced to the side.
Sharp-eyed viewers immediately caught it.
[What are you looking at? lcberg’s right there, isn’t he?]
“No no.” Yanyan waved his hands. “Li—lcberg isn’t here.”
After saying it so many times, he finally got the name right.
[Stop pretending, let us see Li Bo.]
[Let lcberg come say hi!]
The more he explained, the messier it got.
At that moment, a flashy effect descended.
Luo Huoxi entered the stream with several deep-sea torpedoes.
[Luo Huoxi: Yo, little bro started streaming? Why isn’t lcberg here to support you?]
With him came a flood of viewers—the number skyrocketed.
He kept sending gifts, and Yanyan’s expression on screen gradually turned flustered.
[Luo Huoxi: Want to play a game together? If lcberg won’t carry you, your big brother Luo Huoxi will.]
Yanyan had never seen such a scene before. He hurriedly turned his head for help. “Brother…”
The chat exploded instantly.
[Brother? lcberg really is there.]
[Ahhh and you said you don’t know lcberg…]
Si Jingce couldn’t stay seated anymore. He stood up and walked behind Yanyan.
The chat went wild—
The man leaned over the boy in the chair, wrapping an arm around him and guiding his hand on the mouse.
Calmly, he clicked around, found his alt account in the stream.
The next second, an announcement popped up:
[Strawberry Milk Ice] has become a moderator.
With a final flick of his fingers, he cleanly kicked Luo Huoxi out of the stream.
