Fang Xinran stood rooted to the spot, her emotions churning like ants on a hot pan.
What should she do? What should she do!
What’s the proper next step here?
She was supposed to say something ambiguously sweet to Junior Lin Yu, like, "Be careful on your way back."
But now?
If she just said that outright…
Wouldn’t it make things even more awkward?
Lin Yu was usually so talkative, wasn’t he?
Why was he suddenly silent today?!
Could it be…
Had her earlier foolish move completely stunned him?!
Fang Xinran took a deep breath to steady herself and finally forced out the words:
"Junior Lin Yu, just… forget what happened earlier."
"On your way back… stay alert at night."
The moment the words left her mouth, Fang Xinran’s heart sank.
Oh heavens, what nonsense had she just blurted out?!
She’d meant to say "be careful," but it came out as "stay alert."
Might as well have told him to "keep his guard up" while he was at it.
It didn’t sound like concern at all—more like a threat.
If only she could rewind time by two minutes.
She’d never let things get this awkward again.
Alas.
Time couldn’t flow backward, wuwu!
What should’ve been a perfect evening had been utterly ruined by her own hands…
Just as Fang Xinran was drowning in self-reproach—
Lin Yu’s hand suddenly rested on her shoulder.
Fang Xinran’s eyes instantly lit up: "!!!"
Then, in her field of vision, Lin Yu leaned in close.
Their lips met.
To keep her from squirming, the hand on her shoulder slid to the back of her head.
The kiss was tender, yet carried a hint of domineering possessiveness.
[Ding!]
[Masterful move! The Saint’s bold declaration of love leaves the Teleportation Array Attendant spellbound!]
[Reward: 50 Spirit Stones.]
Just as Fang Xinran was savoring the moment, Lin Yu slowly pulled away.
It wasn’t often that Senior Fang Xinran mustered the courage to take the initiative.
Even if she’d fumbled, it was understandable.
She lacked experience and had misjudged the situation.
Letting her end the night stewing in regret would’ve been Lin Yu’s failure.
So this time, he took charge, picking up where their unfinished tension had left off.
Seemed like it worked out well.
"Xinran, I’ll leave Senior Sister Tang in your care tonight."
"I’ll be careful on my way back—no need to worry about me."
With that, Lin Yu stepped out the door.
Fang Xinran stood frozen, fingertips brushing her lips.
So this…
This was what kissing felt like in dramas!
No wonder those on-screen couples couldn’t tear themselves apart.
How to describe it…
Like tasting honey—so sweet!
And—
She hadn’t misheard!
Lin Yu had called her "Xinran"…
A completely different address from how he referred to Sister Yimian!
Lost in her sugar-spun daze, Fang Xinran barely registered Lin Yu’s return until he reappeared at the doorway.
She hastily dropped her hand from her lips and clasped both behind her back.
"Junior Lin—Xiao Yu, wh-what’s wrong?"
Remembering his shift in addressing her, Fang Xinran instinctively mirrored it.
"Lin Yu" felt too distant now.
Since he was younger, "Xiao Yu"—what everyone else called him—felt just right.
The returning Lin Yu didn’t elaborate.
He simply added:
"Nothing important, I just forgot to say…"
"Goodnight!"
With a casual wave, he departed for real this time.
[Ding!]
[Masterful move! The Saint’s thoughtful gesture sets the Teleportation Array Attendant’s heart aflutter!]
[Reward: 50 Spirit Stones.]
By the doorway, Fang Xinran couldn’t help bouncing on her toes with glee.
Boys will be boys—their minds filled with such simple, wholesome things.
Rushing back just to say "goodnight"—how adorably silly.
Then—
Fang Xinran: "!!!"
Oh no.
She’d been too dazed to return his goodnight!
She scrambled into the hallway—
But Lin Yu had already vanished without a trace.
Chasing him downstairs now would seem too deliberate.
She’d just have to text him "goodnight" later before bed.
Not a bad compromise.
Might as well send him that reserve-drawer dad joke he seemed to genuinely enjoy…
——
11:00 PM, apartment lobby.
Du Ruxue lounged on the sofa, channel-surfing relentlessly.
Beside her, Chen Qimeng exchanged texts with Lin Yu, only relaxing after confirming he was safely en route home.
On Du Ruxue’s other side sat an increasingly anxious Xia Yiwei, alternating between checking her phone and staring at the entrance.
Maomao hadn’t replied in nearly an hour.
With the challenge’s deadline looming in sixty minutes, Xia Yiwei’s nerves were fraying.
She never should’ve listened to her sister about keeping Du Ruxue company tonight.
Auntie Ruxue didn’t need company!
As long as Qimeng-jie was around, her mood stayed sunny all day.
Meanwhile, Maomao’s shopping mission seemed to have hit snags—but Xia Yiwei couldn’t pinpoint where.
That was the real agony!
"Stop staring. If Maomao accepted the challenge, she’ll return on time."
"Whether she succeeds or fails, she won’t miss the deadline."
"Didn’t you and those snack-loving girls help her all day?"
"If she still can’t meet my requirements, it only proves she’s unfit for independence."
Du Ruxue’s eyes never left the TV, but her razor-sharp words tightened Xia Yiwei’s chest.
The mentioned trio—Da Chi, Xiao Chi, Ying’er, and Mao Ruirui—immediately ducked their heads, feigning intense interest in the tabletop kitten.
Earlier, the helpers only vaguely understood Maomao’s challenge.
None knew the exact spending quota.
Du Ruxue, however, had come clean tonight:
She’d revealed the 30-million consumption target to be spent in one day.
Even hours later, the ordinary girls were still reeling from the revelation.
"Rare sight—everyone pulling an all-nighter?"
"You’re all still awake!"
Lin Yu’s arrival drew all eyes to the lobby’s entrance. Not spotting Maomao, he instantly grasped the situation.
So spending money had truly stumped the little cat—
She’d dragged this out to the final hour!
——
(Bonus chapter delivered! More to come tomorrow. Your support through power votes means the world to us rookie authors—thank you!)
shall grant"] ["Inscribing the glory of our race upon tombstones"] ["All that is threatened, I shall protect"] How his younger sister sees her brother: A brother who only makes eye contact once a day, mostly fading into the background as he tinkers with who-knows-what in his room all day. Their life paths should have remained largely separate. Until one day. Su Qi created an equipment card for his never-met "online girlfriend." His sister fell into silent contemplation upon receiving the "white stockings." [Card can be upgraded] [Upgrade by fulfilling any of the following conditions] [Condition ①: Consume one hundred higher-tier cards] [Condition ②: Complete one 'Heart-Pounding Adventure'] What constitutes a Heart-Pounding Adventure? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Beginner Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to admire it.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Easy Level): Equip the card, invite 'Su Qi' to touch it, and analyze the equipment's texture.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Entry Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to...] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Challenge Level): Freely combine the words 'Brother' 'Out' 'Brother' 'Me' 'Please' into a complete sentence...] "Please help me analyze both teams' mistakes in this match, brother..." His sister exhaled in relief—surely... surely there couldn't be anything more difficult? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Suicide Mission Level): Sneak a peek at the names of the galgames in 'Su Qi's' hidden E-drive folder]
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'!"
reezy rom-com) Good news: Jiang Liu is quite the ladies' man. Bad news: He’s lost his memory. Lying in a hospital bed, Jiang Liu listens to a parade of goddesses spouting "absurd claims," feeling like the world is one giant game of Werewolf. "Jiang Liu, I’m your first love." "Jiang Liu, you’re my boyfriend—she’s your ex." "Jiang Liu, we’re close friends who’ve shared a bed, remember?" "Jiang Liu, I want to have your baby." The now-lucid Jiang Liu is convinced this must be some elaborate scam... until someone drops the bombshell: "The day before you lost your memory, you confessed your feelings—and got into a relationship." Jiang Liu is utterly baffled. So... who the hell is his actual girlfriend?! ... Before recovering his memories, Jiang Liu must navigate this minefield of lies and sincerity, fighting to protect himself from these women’s schemes. But things spiral even further out of control as more people show up at his doorstep—each with increasingly unhinged antics. On the bright side, the memories he lost due to overwhelming trauma seem to be resurfacing. Great news, right? So why are they all panicking now?
nto another world, I bought a slave for the first time, never expecting the silver wolf girl to be so cute... Lin Feng: I know it's cold, but you don't have to sneak into my bed! Yuna: Just sharing body warmth, if you dare do anything naughty, I'll definitely...
