Entering the Plot

After eating and drinking his fill, Lin Yu noticed the rain outside still hadn’t stopped, so he wasn’t in a hurry to go home. Instead, he decided to browse the supermarket inside the mall.

He strolled leisurely through the supermarket for a long time, picking up various daily necessities. Only when the rain finally stopped did Lin Yu push his shopping cart toward the checkout counter, ready to pay and head home.

One by one, the items were scanned and demagnetized before being packed into shopping bags.

As the last bag of snacks was placed inside, the cashier extended the scanner toward him. Lin Yu pulled out his phone from his pocket, pressed the power button, and prepared to make the payment...

?

After a light press, the phone showed no response. Lin Yu’s thumb twitched slightly as he pressed it again.

???

This time, the screen remained pitch black, completely unresponsive.

Staring at his own bewildered reflection on the dark screen, Lin Yu was filled with confusion.

What’s going on?

Did the phone die from low battery?

That couldn’t be.

It still had 40% charge when he was eating earlier.

Under the cashier’s impatient gaze, Lin Yu offered an apologetic smile, signaling for her to wait a moment. He then held down the power button to force a restart.

After a few seconds, the white hammer logo appeared on the black screen.

Seeing the phone boot up normally, Lin Yu let out a small sigh of relief.

It must have just shut down from low battery. He’d quickly pull up the payment code, pay, and hurry home.

But the moment this thought crossed his mind, the screen flickered faintly before plunging back into darkness.

Lin Yu’s heart sank.

Damn it!

This isn’t right!

This doesn’t seem like a battery issue!

As the screen stayed dead, Lin Yu anxiously held down the power button again.

Ten seconds...

Twenty seconds...

Thirty seconds...

No matter how many times he pressed it, the phone refused to turn on. A memory flashed in Lin Yu’s mind—his phone falling into water earlier that morning.

Oh no.

Did the water fry the damn thing?

Goddammit!

Why now, of all times?

Are you trying to humiliate me?!

Frantically, Lin Yu mashed the power button a few more times, but the screen remained lifeless. His last shred of hope withered away.

With stiff movements, he raised his head and met the cashier’s furrowed brows and impatient glare. Lin Yu forced an awkward, cringe-inducing smile—one so pitiful he wished he could just collapse right there at the checkout counter.

“Uh…”

“Sorry about this…”

“My phone seems to be broken, so these…”

Lin Yu pointed at the four large bags of groceries on the counter. Even with his thick skin, he couldn’t muster the courage to finish his sentence.

The middle-aged cashier clearly knew what he was about to say.

She shot him a disgusted glare before yanking all four bags back and slamming them onto the floor with a heavy thud.

The sound didn’t just land on the ground—it crushed Lin Yu’s chest, making it hard to breathe.

“Sorry about that…”

Lin Yu muttered another apology before scurrying away, his face burning with shame.

“Damn it!”

“Damn it!!”

“Damn it!!!”

“Why is today so freaking unlucky?!”

Lin Yu cursed and stomped his feet in frustration.

What’s wrong with me today?

Did I step on a landmine or something?

This is the worst luck imaginable!

Despite his endless complaints, Lin Yu didn’t stop moving. He hurried through the mall, searching for a phone repair shop.

It was already past 8 PM, and most stores had closed. After wandering around for a while, he finally found one that was still open.

But when he entered, he was told the repair technician had clocked out at 8. Left with no choice, Lin Yu had to leave his phone there and return after school the next day.

Carrying the umbrella he’d bought before entering the mall, Lin Yu stepped outside. With no money left, he had no choice but to walk back to his rented apartment...

...

The hours of torrential rain had practically washed the entire city clean.

Now that the clouds had dispersed and the water had drained into the sewers, only the biting cold from the autumn storm remained, wreaking havoc across the streets.

The dampness in the air amplified the chill, making it even more unbearable.

Most people would instinctively huddle into their coats and walk with their necks tucked in.

But Lin Yu was an exception.

His jacket was left unzipped, and his breath came out in visible white puffs.

He felt like his entire body was burning up, his anger threatening to explode out of his skull.

Recalling the day’s events, Lin Yu’s breathing grew uneven.

First, Tang Manman had shown up at his door early in the morning. Then, he’d been trolled by both teammates and opponents in Summoner’s Rift. After that, he’d been drenched the moment he stepped off the bus, and now his phone was busted.

And to top it all off, he’d been humiliated by that cashier.

“Damn it!”

“Why is today so freaking unlucky?!”

In the darkness, Lin Yu let out a furious shout. Just then, he spotted an abandoned yogurt box at his feet.

Blinded by rage, he stomped on it without a second thought.

SQUISH!

The box burst under the pressure, and the yogurt inside shot out like an arrow, splattering perfectly onto Lin Yu’s brand-new clothes and pants.

A few drops even landed on his face.

For a moment, the night fell silent.

Then, a deafening “F!!!” tore through the air, loud enough to briefly trigger the motion-sensor lights in a distant apartment complex...

...

Lin Yu stormed forward like a raging bull, his fury radiating off him in waves.

Today’s misfortunes had driven him to the brink of madness. Right now, he was a walking time bomb—anything that dared provoke him would pay the price.

He marched in this state for a long time before suddenly stopping at the mouth of a dimly lit alley.

Glancing around at the empty surroundings, his furious expression shifted to shock and disbelief.

This feeling… it was familiar.

Lin Yu narrowed his eyes.

Had he just entered a plot event?

Hah!

Screw your damn plot!

I don’t give a damn anymore!

Lin Yu’s rage burned hotter than ever. Right now, he didn’t care about anything.

Especially since the female lead he’d encounter this time was the third one—the one who had insulted him before.

To hell with this stupid adult manga world.

To hell with the plot and the female leads.

Just drop dead already!!!

Lin Yu was about to storm past the alley and head straight home to sleep.

But just as he lifted his foot, he hesitated and set it back down.

His gaze fixed on the brightly lit main road ahead, and his heart tightened.

Wait.

He had entered the plot, but he hadn’t even seen the third female lead yet.

If things were to follow the original plot, he would undoubtedly run into her soon.

Since he’d already decided to wash his hands of her, it’d be best to avoid even seeing her face.

That meant he couldn’t stick to the original plan—he’d have to take a different route.

Lin Yu’s mind raced as he glanced at the dimly lit alley beside him, his frown still firmly in place.

No, not that way either.

Though he didn’t know exactly how the story would unfold,

a dark, deserted alley was practically the designated spot for a heroic rescue of the damsel in distress. If he wanted to steer clear of the third female lead, this path was absolutely off-limits.

With both routes ruled out, how the hell was he supposed to get home?

Lin Yu turned his head, eyeing the brightly lit main road ahead, then swiveled back to the shadowy alley on his left.

“Tch!”

He scoffed. If both paths carried the risk of bumping into the third female lead, then why not just backtrack?

Screw it—he’d circle the entire city and take Riverside Road home!

Damn it all!

There was no way he’d run into her then.

Whether it was fate or some other convoluted force pulling the strings behind the scenes,

he was dead set on defying it today!