The Welfare Segment for Winners' Settlement

Chi Qingchi stood frozen in place.

She understood the implications of those words all too well.

Lin Yu was exploiting information asymmetry!

To those who knew they were just roommates sharing an apartment, the statement sounded ordinary.

But to outsiders unaware of their living arrangement, the implications were explosive.

They were merely co-renting a place, yet it now sounded like they were cohabiting as a couple!

The worst part? Chi Qingchi couldn’t even properly explain herself.

Regret flooded her heart…

She should’ve just gone along with Lin Yu’s act earlier—pretending to be his girlfriend in public.

Now, instead of merely being mistaken as a couple, they’d somehow skipped straight to living together!

It felt like he’d bulldozed his way into her life, leaving her no room to resist.

[Ding!]

[Critical hit! The vile demon has been utterly vanquished!]

[Congratulations, Host! By protecting the Joyous Sect’s Bell Maiden, you’ve asserted dominance!]

[Rewards: 100 Sect Contribution Points, 200 Spirit Stones, and 1 free System Shop draw!]

Woo-hoo~

Finally, it’s dead and gone.

What a thrilling battle!

"Vice President, we’re heading home now. Let’s grab a meal together next time~"

Lin Yu almost wanted to shake Zhao Yuhao’s hand in gratitude for his unwitting generosity.

Seeing Zhao Yuhao’s shattered expression as he forced a stiff smile and waved, Lin Yu mercifully decided to spare him further humiliation.

"Goodbye, Vice President. See you later, everyone."

Chi Qingchi politely bid farewell to the group before obediently trailing after Lin Yu.

As the pair walked away, Hao Qian couldn’t help but remark:

"Being handsome really does let you get away with anything. Making Xiao Chi carry such a huge figurine for him?"

Zhou Yang patted the heartbroken Zhao Yuhao on the shoulder, consoling him:

"Stop staring. Clearly, those two have been living together for a while now."

"Probably… already done the deed and all that."

"Let it go, Yuhao!"

…

Though Lin Yu and Chi Qingchi claimed they were leaving, they weren’t in any real hurry.

A trip to Spring Plaza wasn’t just about slaying demons—there were also daily quests from the Mission Girl to complete.

With his current Sect Contribution Points at 250, just 150 more would secure him two consecutive draws. Why not go for it?

Meanwhile, Chi Qingchi trudged along unhappily, lugging Lin Yu’s figurine while her mind raced with anxious thoughts…

Would her classmates now see her as the girl who lived with a male classmate?

Ugh.

The cost of shaking off Vice President Zhao Yuhao was way too high.

Noticing her distress, Lin Yu teased:

"Stop overthinking it. Don’t worry—Zhao Yuhao won’t go around spreading rumors."

Chi Qingchi looked up at him.

"Really? Don’t lie to me."

Lin Yu spoke with absolute confidence:

"Of course! Think about it…"

"Your vice president has probably been telling everyone you’re his girlfriend—or at least on the verge of it."

"How could he possibly admit that his ‘goddess’ is already living with another guy?"

"That’d be a slap in his own face!"

Chi Qingchi mulled over his logic and murmured:

"I guess that makes sense…"

Seeing her relax, Lin Yu grinned mischievously.

"Heh, he won’t say a word. But his two buddies? That’s another story."

"Who knows? By the time school starts, everyone might see you as a married woman."

Horror flashed across Chi Qingchi’s face.

"AHHH!—Lin Yu, give me back my dignity!"

Teasing her was downright delightful.

In his past life, he’d spent over a decade hustling aimlessly. What a waste.

Sometimes, the things people chase are already right in front of them.

"Can’t return your dignity, but how about a Rem cosplay outfit? A reward for being so well-behaved."

He stopped in front of a store displaying Rem merchandise.

Had Lin Yu suggested any other character’s costume—or even just a generic cosplay set—Chi Qingchi would’ve refused outright.

She’d already gotten her membership card "reward," and Lin Yu had spent plenty today. Any more spending was off the table.

But Rem? That hit her right in the heart.

Noticing her internal struggle, Lin Yu pointed at the life-sized Rem statue by the storefront.

"Xiao Chi, don’t you see it? Your figure matches hers perfectly."

"You’d look incredible in this outfit—like it was made for you!"

"Honestly, she’s the ideal anime character for you. Stunning!"

[Ding!]

[Masterful move! Your genuine praise sends the Joyous Sect’s Bell Maiden into raptures!]

[Reward: 20 Spirit Stones.]

With the "instruction manual" in hand, handling this little otaku girl was a breeze.

Chi Qingchi’s eyes sparkled with excitement once again…

"Lin Yu, you’re so nice—and you’ve got great taste too!"

"Hehe, I’ve always thought I’d suit Rem’s cosplay. We’re on the same wavelength!"

"Um… maybe I could write you an IOU? Treat it as a loan."

"When my sister gets back, I’ll pay you in full."

Ah, her stubborn sense of propriety.

Lin Yu didn’t mind it, though.

At least she wasn’t one of those toxic girls who preyed on guys just to exploit them.

Having principles was a good thing.

Once they settled the matter,

the two walked into the store, ready for another round of shopping.

Before long…

Lin Yu: "Shouldn’t you pair it with aqua-blue contact lenses? Otherwise, it won’t look like Rem."

Chi Qingchi: "Wow, Xiao Lin, you really know your stuff!"

"..."

Lin Yu: "Whoa, this one’s even more perfect—the latest Hatsune Miku cosplay outfit, and it’s so affordable too!"

Chi Qingchi: "Yeah, yeah! The material feels really nice too!"

"..."

A single store where they could knock out three daily quests?

Talk about convenience.

A salesgirl approached them with a polite reminder:

"Sorry, miss and sir, but we don’t allow trying on the costumes here. You’ll need to pick the right size and buy them directly."

That’s how it was with cosplay outfits—too many people would just try them on for a quick photo,

post it on social media, and then leave.

So, every cosplay store in the anime scene had a strict no-trying policy.

You had to eyeball the size and commit to the purchase.

But that didn’t faze Lin Yu.

"Miss, how about I pay first, and then let her try it on here?"

"We won’t return them unless there’s an issue with quality or sizing."

"We’ll take both the Rem and the latest Hatsune Miku outfits—deal?"

With the offer laid out like that,

the salesgirl had no reason to refuse and quickly agreed.

"Xiao Lin, maybe we should just try them at home?"

"It’s not about the fit or material—just whether they look good or not."

As for why he insisted on trying them here…

Well, of course, it was for the eye candy!

This was the reward phase after a successful mission—

no way was he letting Chi Qingchi retreat behind closed doors to try them on in her room!

That clever little minx—would she even let him peek?

With outfits this skimpy, you had to see them worn right away.

Who wouldn’t want to see Hatsune Miku?

Who wouldn’t want to see a maid?

"Not look good? Are you kidding me?"

"You’re way better than those cosplayers online—you’re basically the ultimate mannequin for anime fashion."

"Of course you’ve gotta try on the cute outfits right away!"

[Ding!]

[Masterful move! Your dazzling praise resonates with the Joyous Sect’s Bell Envoy, who now sees you as a kindred spirit in the mortal world!]

[Reward: 20 Spirit Stones.]

"Hehehe, Xiao Lin, flattery won’t make me happy~"

"Wait for me—I’ll go try them on now!"

Chi Qingchi hugged her new outfits and skipped off to the fitting room.

At the same time,

the system chimed in again.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, Host! Daily Quest "Sect’s Treasured Attire (Rem Cosplay)" completed! Reward: 50 Sect Contribution Points, 20 Spirit Stones!]

[Congratulations, Host! Daily Quest "Sect’s Treasured Attire (Latest Hatsune Miku Cosplay)" completed! Reward: 50 Sect Contribution Points, 20 Spirit Stones!]

[Congratulations, Host! Daily Quest "Mystic Artifact (Aqua-Blue Contacts)" completed! Reward: 50 Sect Contribution Points, 20 Spirit Stones!]

[Current Stats:]

[Sect Contribution: 400]

[Spirit Stones: 360]

Pure satisfaction.

Not just the financial gains,

but also the boost in sect reputation.

With 400 contribution points, he could go for a double draw.

While waiting for Chi Qingchi to change, Lin Yu pulled up the gacha interface…