Lin Yu tilted his head, staring at Chi Qingchi with a heart full of bewilderment.
The world of anime and manga was truly hard to grasp.
Today was just a brief attempt to infiltrate their circle.
Becoming a full-fledged otaku was still far too difficult for Lin Yu.
“Let’s not keep saying ‘a long, long time’...”
“Didn’t you say the shuttle bus would arrive at the neighborhood gate by six-something?”
“If we keep chatting here, walking to the convention venue will actually take a long, long time!”
Lin Yu tightened his grip on the two large bags, looking ready to set off.
Chi Qingchi nodded eagerly, like a chick pecking at rice:
“Right, right! The bus is coming soon—we need to hurry. It’s still a long walk...”
Lin Yu: “???”
A long walk?
How far could the neighborhood gate possibly be?
Only after stepping out did Lin Yu fully grasp the cunning meaning behind her words.
First, they reached the main gate of their complex. Then they crossed the street.
After another hundred meters, they found an alley cutting through a row of storefronts.
They trekked two hundred more meters along the narrow path, emerging onto another street.
After five minutes of brisk walking, they finally paused to wait at the entrance of a nearby residential complex.
Lin Yu set the two heavy bags down on a stone pillar by the gate.
He fixed Chi Qingchi with an incredulous stare.
Squirming under his gaze, she scratched her cheek awkwardly:
“Gotta keep people from knowing where I live, you know...”
“You understand, right, Xiao Lin?”
Lin Yu let out two cold, mocking laughs:
“Ha! Ha!”
“Chi Qingchi, you’re something else!”
“Your club friends pour their hearts out to you, and you play mind games with them?!”
Halfway through their journey, Lin Yu had already sensed something off.
He’d figured out the calculations running through her head.
No wonder!
No wonder, after renting a place for so long, none of her admirers knew her address.
Unless they stalked her to and from school, they’d never find out!
Chi Qingchi pouted, putting on a pitiful act:
“Two girls living alone is risky.”
“Sorry for making you walk so far. But you’re the best Xiao Lin in the world...”
Lin Yu: “...”
So she’d slapped a flattering label on him to shut him up?
Fine, fine.
At least he didn’t have to worry about some delinquent sweet-talking her.
With her scheming mind, she’d have any punk spinning in circles before he knew what hit him. He’d eat his hat if she didn’t.
But then another thought struck Lin Yu, and he pressed further:
“Wait, hold on!”
“You’re worried about people knowing where you live...”
“But here we are, waiting for the bus together with all these bags...”
“Aren’t you afraid they’ll think we live together?”
Chi Qingchi took a deep breath.
Then she sighed heavily:
“Ah...”
Lin Yu: “???”
What kind of reaction was that?
What did that even mean?
Just as Lin Yu grew suspicious, a shuttle bus pulled up in front of them.
At the passenger-side window, a familiar face appeared—a hand deftly adjusting black-framed glasses...
Lin Yu: “!!!”
Holy—!
Isn’t that Hao-ge?!
Zhao Yuhao, the anime club’s vice president!
Lin Yu’s very first “Outsider Demon” in life!
It had only been a few days since they last met.
Yet to Lin Yu, it felt like an eternity.
Like a reunion after years apart.
Zhao Yuhao leaned an arm against the window, his expression stern and composed as he waved at Chi Qingchi.
His gaze then shifted to Lin Yu, offering a polite nod and wave.
Ah...
A pang of melancholy hit Lin Yu. He even felt like humming a line:
Brother, you’ve lost weight~ You look exhausted~~
“Pssht!”
The bus stopped, its door sliding open.
Zhao Yuhao stood on the steps, his full appearance gradually revealed.
Lin Yu smiled appreciatively, mentally tipping his hat.
Tsk, tsk, tsk!
Only the world’s first Outsider Demon could pull off such style.
Even his entrance was meticulously staged—angles, sightlines, the whole “curtain rise” effect.
Whether he was the protagonist or not, he demanded that grand reveal.
But when Zhao Yuhao stepped off the bus alone, Lin Yu finally understood the meaning behind Chi Qingchi’s sigh.
Apart from the driver, Zhao Yuhao was the only one on board.
No wonder she wasn’t worried about people misunderstanding their living situation!
Hahahaha...
Because in Hao-ge’s mind, they were already living together.
What was left to worry about?
“Hello, Lin Yu. I’m not sure if you remember me—I’m Zhao Yuhao, the anime club’s vice president.”
“Thank you for helping us with this convention.”
“On behalf of the entire club, welcome.”
Zhao Yuhao approached Lin Yu first, extending a hand.
Lin Yu: “!!!”
Putting everything else aside, this opening line alone earned Lin Yu’s respect.
Who knew if Hao-ge still held any lingering feelings for Chi Qingchi?
Even a sliver would make Lin Yu a “love rival” or even a “homewrecker” in his eyes.
Yet here he was, setting aside personal emotions and grievances, acting purely as the club’s representative.
A true “second-in-command.”
If Lin Yu had a vote, he’d ditch A-Le and Big D next time.
Hao-ge all the way—a man of magnanimity, capable of tolerance!
Other demonic factions would still bring trouble upon second encounters.
But Hao-ge’s return triggered no “danger alert” from the system.
What did that mean?
It meant Hao-ge no longer held any hostility toward him—at least not today.
Lin Yu shook his hand courteously:
“Of course I remember!”
“No need for thanks, Vice President.”
“I’m looking forward to the convention too.”
Zhao Yuhao: “No, gratitude is necessary.”
Lin Yu: “Haha, no need to be so formal.”
Zhao Yuhao: “Let’s hope for a pleasant day.”
Lin Yu: “Absolutely.”
Beside them, Chi Qingchi watched as the morning sunlight spilled over the two young men, their smiles not quite reaching their eyes.
The scene...
Why did it somehow give off a weirdly harmonious vibe?
Chi Qingchi: “Gentlemen, mind the time? We’ve got more people to pick up!”
Only then did the two break their handshake and start loading the bags onto the bus.
When Zhao Yuhao saw Lin Yu’s heavy load, he moved to help.
Lin Yu declined: “I’ve got it. Maybe... help Qingchi instead?”
Zhao Yuhao paused, adjusting his glasses solemnly:
“Wouldn’t that be... overstepping?”
“I’ll take yours. You help her.”
Lin Yu: “!!!”
Overstepping.
A word rarely used in daily life.
Yet from Hao-ge’s mouth, it carried an inexplicable sorrow.
...
(Bonus chapter delivered! There’s a discussion spot on the homepage—the first one’s full, so a second’s been set up. Feel free to check it out. Goodnight, everyone!)
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)
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?!
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..."
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
