Forced to Boot Up at Dawn: The Hacker Girl's Brain Circuitry

Leaving Aunt Qimeng's shop, it was already close to dusk.

To avoid burdening her with the pressure of cooking dinner, Lin Yu decided to grab a quick bowl of noodles outside.

He also didn���t forget to pack a portion for Chi Qingchi.

The little homebody incapable of taking care of herself was still waiting at home to be fed—he couldn’t leave her out.

While eating, Lin Yu withdrew 360 spiritual stones accumulated in the system, converting them into cash once again.

His balance rose to [10,001 yuan], officially making him part of the “ten-thousand-yuan club.”

Rather than hurrying back home, he took a stroll through the commercial street and found a shop that sold art supplies.

"Boss, do you have this type of drawing paper?"

Lin Yu unfolded the artwork he'd taken from Ye Mengfu's room earlier the afternoon and showed it to the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper took a quick glance and confidently pulled out a pack.

"8K sketch paper, 10 yuan per pack. Each pack contains 50 sheets. How many packs would you like, young man?"

Lin Yu compared the size and noted that it was indeed a perfect match.

He had assumed that specialty drawing paper used by budding artists would come with a hefty price tag, but apparently, his amateurish prejudice wasn’t justified—it wasn’t as expensive as he'd imagined.

"Boss, give me ten packs. Do you accept online payment?"

"No problem, let me get you a bag."

Lin Yu hadn’t forgotten about Ye Mengfu’s [daily task].

Taking the drawing paper back to her would earn him some additional sect contribution points.

Besides, after barging into her room at noon, Lin Yu had behaved somewhat shamelessly.

Buying something she needed could help smooth things over.

He wasn’t worried that Ye Mengfu would refuse it.

Worst case, he could employ some "old tricks" and assert himself—she’d surely accept it under pressure.

If Lin Yu’s judgment was correct, he’d be able to deliver the paper successfully around dawn tomorrow.

Hopefully, the daily task wouldn’t expire too soon and would last until that hour.

From what Mo Shangying had mentioned about "a friend to watch the game with," it seemed likely she was referring to Ye Mengfu.

It was somewhat surprising that the two girls could get along well enough to enjoy each other’s company.

On his way out after making his purchase, Lin Yu noticed a row of cartoon stickers hanging by the shop's entrance.

Among them, one particularly caught his attention—it was at the very bottom.

“Isn’t this Nash Rabbit?”

Lin Yu crouched down to take a closer look.

At this moment in 2014, the animated series "That Year, That Rabbit" hadn’t been produced yet.

It existed only as an online comic by “Moeyo Comic Factory,” which had recently gained modest fame and started releasing some themed merchandise.

The sticker Lin Yu held featured the protagonist, the Rabbit, from "That Year, That Rabbit." Its quirky expression and amusing pose were quite endearing.

He was drawn to the sticker because it reminded him of the "Apology Rabbit" and "Mercy Rabbit" images he had.

Such things that appealed to young girls might not necessarily earn him bonus points if gifted, but at least they wouldn’t result in negative points.

Lin Yu picked up the stickers on a whim and took them home alongside the drawing paper.

…

When Lin Yu returned to the apartment, none of his housemates were in the shared living area.

The idea of trying his luck and completing a task was promptly extinguished.

After all, it was only the first day since his rebirth.

Lin Yu wasn’t in any rush—he had plenty of wonderful moments ahead.

On WeChat, he and Mo Shangying finalized their plans for watching the football match.

The semi-final between Germany and Brazil was scheduled for 4:00 a.m.

The two agreed to meet at his room half an hour earlier to get ready.

To avoid disturbing the neighbors, Lin Yu informed Mo Shangying that he would leave the door unlocked.

Otherwise, knocking at the door at three or four in the morning would surely annoy the nearby roommates.

Aunt Qimeng happened to live right next door to Lin Yu.

Once they agreed on the plan, Lin Yu decided not to linger in the apartment. Instead, he returned to his room early to catch up on sleep.

Having just pulled an all-nighter at the internet café the previous day, and with plans to watch the game in the middle of the night, even the stamina of a young man couldn’t handle such abuse.

Survival comes first.

To make sure he didn’t miss the game, Lin Yu even set an alarm for 3:15 AM.

This at least ensured that he would wake up before the two women arrived, allowing him enough time to freshen up.

...

He had thought it would be a quiet and peaceful night.

However...

At 2:00 AM—

[Ding!]

[Masterful move detected! Host’s natural allure is so irresistible that two senior members of your sect have been drawn to your room to admire the night together!]

[Reward: 40 Spiritual Stones]

Lin Yu, who had been sleeping soundly, suddenly had his brain forcibly activated.

Unbelievable!

He wasn’t awakened by his alarm but by the system notification instead?

Could it already be 3:30 AM? Did he end up missing his alarm in his sleep?

Fumbling around in the dark, Lin Yu grabbed his phone from beside the pillow. He pressed the screen to turn it on and squinted to check the time.

Lin Yu: “...”

2:02 AM!

They were an hour and a half early!

If they were coming early, couldn’t they at least give him a heads-up? What was happening here?

Lin Yu’s hearing, enhanced by medicinal treatments, didn’t miss the faint whispers by the door.

Lin Yu lived in the largest suite in the building, and anyone entering his bedroom would first have to pass through the small living room.

At the moment, near the door—

Mo Shangying held her phone up, using its dim screen light as a guide while stealthily pulling Ye Mengfu through the entrance.

Normally, phone flashlights are bright, but Mo Shangying hadn’t turned on the flashlight.

Instead, she was relying on the faint light emitted from her unlocked screen, barely enough to see half a meter ahead.

“Come on, Mengfu, get in here already.”

“It’s fine; I’m here with you. What’s there to be scared of?”

Mo Shangying hooked her arm around Ye Mengfu’s elbow, half-coaxing and half-pushing her into Lin Yu's room.

Ye Mengfu, speaking in a trembling voice that was slightly louder than a whisper, nervously suggested:

“Why... why don’t we turn on the lights?”

After gently closing the door, Mo Shangying quickly hushed her:

“Shh...”

“The phone screen’s light is enough. Turning on the lights would let Lin Yu know we’re here!”

“This brat was acting so smug earlier today. I’m going to flip his blanket and scare him—let’s see if he dares to mess with me again after this,!”

Ye Mengfu continuously shook her head, struggling to pull her hand free.

In her heart, she had already concluded the nature of Mo Shangying and Lin Yu's relationship.

Hearing what Mo Shangying just said, she could only think:

Their couples’ quirky bonding activities are none of my business—please don’t drag me into this!

Today had already been awkward enough; tonight couldn’t get any worse!

“Mengfu, stay here for now. Once I give you the signal, then come into the bedroom,” Mo Shangying instructed without forcing her close friend to join the mischief.

She understood Ye Mengfu’s personality very well.

This was someone who wouldn’t even talk to boys, let alone dare to participate in the audacious act of blanket-flipping!

Mo Shangying, on the other hand, was a different breed entirely.

She wasn’t one to shy away from bold actions—she had caught wild hawks before!

Inside the room:

Lin Yu: “...”

Is there no decency left in the world? Does no one care about the rules anymore?!

Sneaking into her male roommate's room in the dead of night to pull off his blanket?

Is that something a normal person would even think of?

What kind of mindset is this?

Only someone like Mo Shangying, with her extraordinary logic, could come up with such a wild idea.

If she wants to play games...

Lin Yu has no reason to back down.

It’s time to give this young little hacker a hands-on lesson about the dark side of society!