It was nearly six in the afternoon.
The lobby of the apartment building.
All the "roommates" attending the dinner gathering had already assembled in the lobby.
Those who couldn’t make it had also replied in the group chat.
Final attendance list:
Hosts: Xia Yiwei, Maomao.
Invited guests: Lin Yu, Chen Qimeng, Chi Qingshui, Chi Qingchi, Shen Buyao, Mo Shangying, Ye Mengfu.
Regrettably absent: Mao Ruirui, Tang Yimian.
Pingchuan University’s food street was just a short distance from the apartment.
Hailing cabs for so many people would be a complete waste of hard-earned cash.
A spectacle of girls from different age groups strolling together down the street was a rare sight indeed.
Today, Lin Yu had truly become the "one handsome man among a sea of flowers."
One guy accompanying eight girls for dinner…
Even novels and TV dramas wouldn’t dare write such absurdly dramatic plotlines.
Three women make a drama.
So how do you stage 2.666… dramas?
Ah well~
Tonight, Lin Yu was determined to be the "wolf who strikes eight times in one night!"
The first act: Strolling the streets.
Unbeknownst to all, it had already begun the moment they stepped out…
According to unreliable real-time news:
As everyone knows, the typical number of people strolling together rarely exceeds three.
Nine people walking in a group inevitably face the difficult choice of how to pair up.
Groups of three are the most common arrangement.
However, based on years of experience and real-life case studies, one truth stands: If you can’t blend in, don’t force it.
Thus, the current formation exhibits the defining characteristics of "scattered," "multi-point," and "ever-changing."
The question of who Lin Yu will walk with has instantly become breaking news among the roommates!
Unreliable News will continue to provide real-time updates…
At this moment, Lin Yu—
Like a lone and aloof alpha wolf leading the pack—walked ahead at the front.
Behind him, the first group consisted of Chen Qimeng and Chi Qingshui.
The two were chatting about various amusing incidents at school.
"Haha, Xiao Yu’s like that sometimes—he can come off as blunt."
"But he’s just being respectful toward female classmates, not rude. Qingshui, don’t misunderstand him."
After Chi Qingshui finished recounting an incident, Chen Qimeng immediately jumped to Lin Yu’s defense.
Chi Qingshui waved her hands politely.
"Auntie Qimeng, I’m not misunderstanding."
"I… I know Lin Yu’s personality. He really does respect women."
As she spoke, Chi Qingshui glanced at Lin Yu’s back.
Respectful? More like excessively so.
He’d even willingly step back to avoid making others uncomfortable.
But…
If only he’d walk a little slower.
She had deliberately quickened her pace just to catch up to Auntie Qimeng!
Hmph~
Unintentionally or not, the two girls kept steering their conversation toward Lin Yu.
One wanted to share stories of his college life; the other wanted to hear them.
Truly, a perfectly complementary pair of strolling companions.
……
The second group: Mo Shangying, Ye Mengfu, and… Shen Buyao!
Honestly, if not for this dinner, Lin Yu could hardly imagine these three ever hanging out together.
Shen Buyao: "What does a college kid know about sports? He doesn’t know squat!"
Mo Shangying: "He’s seriously knowledgeable! Like, crazy good!"
Shen Buyao: "That’s only because your sister hasn’t stepped in yet. When the tiger’s away, the monkey rules. Next time, count me in—I’ll bet against whatever he picks. Luck-based players never last!"
As she spoke, Shen Buyao slung an arm around Ye Mengfu’s shoulders.
Given their height difference, it was a bit of a stretch.
Shen Buyao: "Xiao Fu, mind if I join your team? I may not have the skills, but you’ve got the…"
Ye Mengfu’s alarm bells instantly blared: "!!!"
Who am I?
Where am I?
The legendary "antique sister’s" words were as bold as ever!
Shen Buyao: "Well? Ying’er, Xiao Fu doesn’t mind. You wouldn’t reject me, would you?"
Mo Shangying scratched her head: "Hehehe, Sis Buyao, it’s not up to me either."
Shen Buyao: "Damn it, that college kid’s getting way too cocky in this apartment!"
Listening to this group’s conversation was enough to make anyone break out in a cold sweat.
At the same time, Lin Yu couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for poor little Xiao Fufu.
……
The third group:
Xia Yiwei, walking alone, was on the phone with her older sister, Director Xia.
"Ugh, relax!"
"Maomao’s doing great—she’s even made new friends."
"Not like you, Ms. High-and-Mighty, too refined to mingle with us peasants?"
"What’s with the coughing?"
"Did my little master beat you up so bad you’re internally injured?"
"Xia Xiashan, jokes aside, you…"
"Better not die on me mid-call!"
"Ahahaha!"
Lin Yu: "…"
Brutal.
He’d heard it clearly—Xia Yiwei was the one who initiated this call.
From the moment they stepped out, it had been nothing but relentless mockery of the defeated.
……
Bringing up the rear was another unexpected yet bizarrely fitting duo:
Maomao and Chi Qingchi!
Chi Qingchi: "I don’t envy others’ lives—that’s what happiness truly is."
Maomao: "Quote from Lucky Star, episode X, XX minutes in."
Chi Qingchi: "Wow… ‘In this world, don’t rely too much on anyone. When you struggle in the dark, even your shadow will abandon you.’"
Maomao: "Kiki’s Delivery Service, XX minutes in, spoken to…"
Chi Qingchi: "Alright, next one… ‘A man’s dream never dies!’"
Maomao: "Blackbeard to Luffy in One Piece. In the original…"
Chi Qingchi: "Amazing! Final test… ‘Leaves fall endlessly toward the earth… Through hundreds of generations of flourishing and decay, some still stand tall against the wind, just like their ancestors!’"
Maomao: "Hmm, this one’s not anime. It’s the closing passage from Wukong’s Journey. ‘How could one forget the pilgrimage?’"
Chi Qingchi: "You’re my idol! Maomao, you’re basically my V god!"
Maomao: "That’s from a famous meme…"
Chi Qingchi: "Ahaha, can I touch your hair? I’ve always wanted to dye mine, but my sister won’t let me. Waaah."
Maomao glanced at Chi Qingchi’s hopeful expression and silently leaned closer.
Lin Yu listened with great interest.
Sigh.
Ying’er was also a textbook otaku girl, yet all she ever spouted was stuff like "I, the last great silver demon" and "You, the last great silver blah…"
A pure genetic mutation!
This was the real deal—a soulful exchange between true otaku girls from another dimension.
Pure, wholesome, and cleansing to the ears.
A world full of girls was just like this—chatty, yet… peacefully beautiful.
As the lone wolf walked ahead, engrossed in the conversations behind him, a sudden chill ran down his spine.
He could distinctly sense someone—no, multiple someones—speeding up to catch up to him.
Chi Qingshui: "Lin Yu."
Shen Buyao: "College kid!"
Xia Yiwei: "Little Lin Yu!"
Lin Yu: "…"
Just when he thought things couldn’t get worse!

iaobai: "Councilor Dad, front me some funds. I want to hire ten thousand professional miners for a project!" [Five-Star Mission Issued: Capture the leader of the Blood Heaven Pirate Gang, who is on the run in the Radiant Star Sector. It is said the gang has over a hundred members. Proceed with caution.] Lu Xiaobai: "Councilor Dad, lend me the family's hundred-thousand-strong Lu Army!" [Seven-Star Mission Issued: Subdue a juvenile Void Dragon Beast.] Lu Xiaobai: "Councilor Dad, I'm taking your tamed Void Dragon Beast King out for a family reunion!" I said, System, don't you have any slightly more challenging missions? You're just not up to par! [Nine-Star Mission Issued: Become the Human Councilor.] Lu Xiaobai: "Dad, there's a small matter I'd like to discuss with you..."

with countless casualties. As a top-tier gamer, Liu Xuan volunteered to join the fight, intending to dominate with his skills, but instead he obtained the hidden class: [Pacifist]. Unable to attack. Unable to use active skills. Fortunately, with each level gained, he acquired a new passive skill. And so, armed with a body full of passives, Liu Xuan slaughtered his way through the battlefield of ten thousand races! [You attacked Liu Xuan] [You gained the debuffs: 'Poison', 'Fear', 'Burning', 'Bleeding', 'Freeze', 'Silence', etc.] [Your attack speed has been reduced by 99%] [Your armor and magic resistance have been reduced by 99%] Warriors of the Ten Thousand Races: How the hell am I supposed to fight this?!

grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)

u Chenyuan transmigrated into a female-oriented novel about a real and fake heiress, becoming the CEO elder brother of both. Unfortunately, the entire Lu family—including himself, the CEO—were mere cannon fodder in the story. Determined to save himself, Lu Chenyuan took action. The spoiled, attention-seeking fake heiress? Thrown into the harsh realities of the working class to learn humility. The love-struck real heiress? Pushed toward academic excellence, so lofty goals would blind her to trivial romances. As for the betrayed, vengeful arranged marriage wife… the plot hadn’t even begun yet. There was still time—if he couldn’t handle her, he could at least avoid her. "CEO Lu, are you avoiding me?" Mo Qingli fixed her gaze on Lu Chenyuan. For the first time, the shrewd and calculating Lu Chenyuan felt a flicker of unease.