The Prodigy Girl in the Apartment

Lin Yu's eyes widened in shock as he exclaimed:

"Ying'er... is having dinner with us?"

Just the mention of Ying'er's name made Lin Yu's eyelid twitch involuntarily, as if conditioned by reflex.

Mo Shangying!

A girl three days older than him who insisted he call her "elder sister," and the legendary figure of their apartment complex.

She had dropped out after just half a year as a freshman and moved into the apartment.

Her reason? The university curriculum was too simplistic—attending classes was a waste of time.

And the major she had been enrolled in? Pingchuan University's flagship program: Computer Science!

Dropping out to mooch off her parents?

That concept didn't apply to Mo Shangying.

From what Lin Yu knew, she had become the financial backbone of her family the moment she turned eighteen.

That's right.

While others her age were still begging their parents for allowance, Mo Shangying was already giving back!

As for her income sources, in his younger years, Lin Yu had assumed she took on freelance cybersecurity gigs for pocket money.

It wasn't until years later, after entering the workforce and broadening his perspective, that he truly grasped the weight of her accomplishments:

Global hacking competition rankings, independently running a domestic tech forum, exposing security flaws in major corporations... and more.

Among everyone Lin Yu had encountered in his past life, Mo Shangying was undoubtedly the most elite, world-class talent—bar none.

Calling her a "genius hacker girl" almost felt like an insult, yet he couldn't think of a more fitting, grandiose term.

Of course, Lin Yu's reflexive tension had nothing to do with her genius or achievements.

It was simply because she was... weird.

In his past life, she was the girl he feared interacting with most in the entire apartment.

Fortunately, he was no longer the naive boy he once was.

Reborn into this life, he wouldn't let an eccentric girl manipulate him so easily again.

"Xiao Yu, remember when Auntie mentioned that website you could access through WeChat to place orders?"

"The platform fees were too high, so I quit."

"Ying'er was kind enough to make me a small website for free."

"Now lots of regular customers use it to order flowers from my shop—super convenient, and they keep sharing it with others."

"I tried giving her a red envelope, but she refused. After thinking it over, I decided inviting her for a meal would be the best way to sincerely thank her."

Chen Qimeng explained the reason behind preparing such a lavish meal.

"So that's what this is about. I'll go tell Ying'er to come down in an hour."

In his past life, Lin Yu had no memory of this gratitude dinner.

Most likely, he'd been too absorbed in heartache over his online girlfriend refusing to meet him and hadn't even been home.

Chen Qimeng glanced sideways at Lin Yu, who was helping wash vegetables, and carefully broached another topic:

"Xiao Yu, doesn't your major require a DSLR camera starting junior year?"

"I asked around—this year's latest 5D3 model with two lenses is very reasonably priced."

"And you'll need a computer for editing, right? I'm not familiar with those, but you can check at the mall or online. Take your time choosing one this week."

"Once I sign the contract next week, we'll get both for you."

Lin Yu: "!!!"

These were words he'd never heard in his past life.

That contract... wasn't that the catalyst for the tragedy?

So.

Chen Qimeng's urgency in finding "investors" stemmed from her desire to buy him a camera and computer!

The newly released 5D3 this January cost 20,000 yuan for just the body.

Add two lenses, and you're looking at nearly 30,000.

Plus a high-spec editing computer? That's almost 40,000 yuan.

For Chen Qimeng's current income, that sum was indeed unaffordable.

But he didn't need the latest, top-tier DSLR...

Nor such a professional, high-end computer...

Were these non-essentials worth sacrificing a lifetime over?

Watching Chen Qimeng's blissful smile, Lin Yu felt deeply moved.

He didn't want these things.

Yet she wanted to give them to him.

Pouring her utmost care into someone unrelated by blood.

Lin Yu didn't voice his refusal.

He knew no argument would sway Chen Qimeng—she'd only think he was trying to save her money.

It might even backfire.

Better to acquiesce for now and let her keep her plan.

Then...

In this life, he'd change everything through action!

Gently, Lin Yu tucked a loose strand of hair behind Chen Qimeng's ear.

Her smile brightened as she took the vegetables from his hands:

"I'll handle these. Xiao Yu, go tell Ying'er downstairs that dinner's in an hour."

......

Arriving at Room 301 on the third floor, Lin Yu knocked.

"Who is it?"

A languid voice drifted from inside.

"Ying'er, it's me, Lin Yu. I came to—"

From within: "Heh heh heh..."

Before seeing her, her eerie laughter reached him first.

Lin Yu knew full well that laugh was directed at him!

Buried memories viciously resurfaced.

Alongside his nervousness, he felt a faint anticipation toward that strange chuckle.

Click...

The door unlocked, cracking open just enough to reveal a sliver of darkness inside, intermittently lit by flickering blue and yellow lights.

Lin Yu recognized those colors—the glow from Mo Shangying's computer LED strips.

The only reason those lights were visible? The curtains were drawn shut.

Who keeps their curtains closed in broad daylight?!

"Ying'er, can I come in?"

Lin Yu leaned closer, about to push the door open—

Whoosh!

A pale, slender arm shot out from the darkness.

Before Lin Yu could react, it yanked him forcefully inside.

BANG!

Click-clack.

The girl at the door swiftly shut and locked it behind him, her movements practiced and seamless.

The room carried the pleasant fragrance of shower gel—she must have recently bathed.

Mo Shangying wore an oversized white T-shirt dress plastered with symbols and letters.

The loose collar slipped slightly, revealing delicate collarbones.

Damp strands of hair clung to her skin, exuding an air of lazy nonchalance.

Between those strands, her bright, clear eyes gleamed with excitement in the dimness.

Like... a hunter spotting prey.

Beside Mo Shangying, an information panel materialized:

[Mo Shangying]

[Age: 20]

[Sect Status: Elder of the Array Formation Hall, Traitor to the Celestial Secrets Pavilion]

[Host Intimacy Level: 41% (Fourth Realm, Silent Understanding)]

[Number of Dao Companions (Soul/Body Cultivation): (Insufficient intimacy with host, currently inaccessible)]

[Attributes/Skills: (Host's status too low, currently inaccessible)]

[Other Information: (Host's status too low, currently inaccessible)]

[Current Missions:]

[Array Formation Discourse (Urgent Mission): A worldly expert has invited this sect's Array Formation Elder to discuss the Dao. Whether to reveal her true identity is the Elder's greatest dilemma.]

[Divining Celestial Secrets (Daily Mission): Heaven's mysteries cannot be easily discerned. The Elder is lost in the fog of confusion. An outside perspective may enlighten her—help predict the next football match's outcome.]

Hidden Ailment (Daily Quest): The elder, whose cultivation posture has long been peculiar, rarely emerges from his hall. His body harbors a latent affliction, urgently requiring meridian massage therapy.

The genius hacker girl truly is extraordinary.

Even her identity comes in two versions!

The available quests aren’t as numerous as Chi Qingchi’s, but three isn’t a small number either.

What surprised Lin Yu the most was the intimacy level between the two of them.

Currently, it’s second only to his data with Auntie Chen Qimeng.

Was this level of closeness cultivated through trials of both mind and body?

The "Silent Understanding" intimacy realm isn’t low, though the number of dao companions remains temporarily hidden.

Whether Mo Shangying is Lin Yu’s online romance remains an open question—for now.

Then, right on cue,

the familiar "torment" session begins.

Mo Shangying’s voice drifts over, faint yet pointed:

"Little Yu, you’re truly a rebel~"