Maomao's eyes widened into perfect circles: "!!!"
Was there anything Ying'er dared not say?
How could she possibly mean *that*?
"No way, Ying'er, that's just absurd."
Maomao waved her hands frantically as she spoke.
Ying'er shrugged her shoulders and said innocently, "Am I the one being absurd, or is your name tag?"
"Maomao, I've noticed something... off about you~"
Maomao was rendered speechless: "..."
Not far away, Lin Yu took in every word of their private chat.
*Maomao, oh Maomao.*
*You really should talk less with Ying'er!*
*You'll never win an argument against her. Careful you don't get talked into a corner and expose your true feelings.*
That little lass Ying'er really had sharp intuition.
Everyone else thought everything was fine and was just having fun.
Only Ying'er could pinpoint exactly what was amiss.
Perhaps Auntie Ruxue had noticed too, but given her status, she couldn't exactly say it out loud.
*Whatever.*
Today was Lin Yu's show, and naturally, he had to make full use of his home-court advantage!
...
After finishing their meal of noodles, Ying'er suggested that everyone play games together again.
She had already polled everyone about this suggestion at the dinner table.
For those passionate about gaming, having someone to play with was an immense spiritual pleasure.
But besides the gamers, there were also those present who were passionate about... food!
"Let me go, please, really let me go~"
"Little Lin, I promise I'll coordinate perfectly with you. I definitely won't ruin your big cake!"
"If you don't agree, I won't buy anything at the cake shop, and I won't eat anything either."
Chi Qingchi held up three fingers toward Lin Yu, making promise after promise.
Beside Little Chi stood Xiang Tiange, who had just arrived and joined them for the noodles.
Xiang Tiange was fiddling with the "Lover" name tag she had received, trying to find the right angle to pin it on.
Auntie Qimeng had ordered the cake in advance.
Since she was focusing on preparing everyone's dinner, Lin Yu had volunteered to take a taxi to pick it up.
A three-tier cake was quite tall, and taking a taxi risked damaging it.
Xia Yiwei had specifically called her sister, Xia Xiashan, who would be responsible for meeting Lin Yu at the cake shop.
Then, the two of them would drive back to the apartment together.
Picking up a cake wasn't a hassle at all, nor was it a physically demanding task requiring a group effort.
Yet, from the moment she found out Lin Yu was going alone, Little Chi had been pestering him.
She used every trick in the book to fight for the chance to go to the cake shop with him.
Lin Yu was quite puzzled.
Was this some kind of plum assignment?
Or did Little Chi harbor some ulterior motive?
"Little Chi, for you foodies..."
"Is the process of personally acquiring the food more enjoyable than actually eating it?"
Lin Yu tentatively asked.
Little Chi nodded rapidly, agreeing with Lin Yu's theory.
Beside them, Xiang Tiange heard Lin Yu's analysis and couldn't help but give a thumbs-up.
Spot on!
Lin Yu made an "OK" gesture.
"Understood. Let's go together then; we can chat on the way."
"Tiange, you come with the two of us."
[Ding!]
[Stellar Move: The Saint's special consideration for the Joyous Sect's Neon Raiment Envoy has warmed her heart!]
[Reward: 50 Spirit Stones]
Lin Yu secretly patted himself on the back.
Xiang Tiange's intuition was indeed sharp.
Taking one person along was the same as taking two.
Since he was bringing someone anyway, what was the harm in one more?
It wasn't as if the Curator sister's car didn't have enough seats.
Apart from him and Little Chi, Xiang Tiange didn't know anyone else at the venue.
She had only briefly exchanged words with Shen Buyao.
If both Lin Yu and Chi Qingchi left the apartment, leaving her behind all alone, she would inevitably feel uncomfortable and awkward.
If he was taking Little Chi out, he absolutely had to bring Xiang Tiange along.
As the three of them walked out of the lobby entrance, they bumped right into Elder Chi, who had just returned from outside.
Lin Yu thought to himself, *Disaster!*
Of all times, they had to run into Elder Chi now.
Would she still let Little Chi tag along so easily?
To his surprise...
Little Chi ran up to Elder Chi on her own initiative, took her arm, and said, "Sister, I'm going out with Little Lin to pick up a cake. We'll be back really soon!"
"Pretty please? I promise I won't buy random things~"
Lin Yu: "..."
Elder Chi was not that easygoing of a person.
Trying to slip past under her nose?
That was imposs—
Elder Chi: "Alright, be quick about it. Remember your promise: no reckless spending."
Little Chi: "I'll keep it in mind! Hehe, Sister, I'm off then~"
Lin Yu: "???"
That... that was it?
Obtaining this "hall pass" seemed a little *too* easy, didn't it?
What was up with Elder Chi today?
Even if it was Lin Yu's birthday, she didn't need to give her sister that much leeway!
As Lin Yu, Little Chi, and Xiang Tiange walked out the lobby doors, he couldn't resist glancing back.
*Whoosh~*
*Whoosh~*
*Whoosh~*
"..."
In a split second, at least three girls, including Elder Chi, were watching him leave.
Seeing Lin Yu look back, they all averted their gazes one by one.
Something was wrong. Something was very wrong!
This sensation of being watched from behind...
It reminded Lin Yu of *The Truman Show*!
When you observe the world, the world appears as it is before your eyes.
But when you aren't observing, who knows what everyone is doing behind your back?
From this, Lin Yu formed a bold hypothesis...
The girls in the apartment were collectively keeping something from him!
Following this train of thought, all the anomalies seemed to make sense.
First, how could the ever-responsible Auntie Qimeng "not have time" to pick up Lin Yu's birthday cake?
Then, when Lin Yu, the "birthday boy," offered to get it himself, everyone seemed to suffer instant amnesia, forgetting his status, and no one stepped up to insist on helping!
Secondly, Elder Chi's reaction to Little Chi's willful request just now was far too calm—completely unlike her usual self.
Unless she already knew that her sister would definitely be going out with Lin Yu.
The scene just now was merely a performance!
Finally, since the cake needed to be driven back, Shen Buyao, who was always confident in her driving skills, didn't offer to drive...
Oh wait, her car seemed to be at the repair shop.
Regardless.
The fellow sect members in the apartment seemed to be conspiring to set up a grand scheme!
And Little Chi beside him...
Was the most suitable informant chosen by everyone!
*Good, very good.*
Trying to pull a prank, were they?
Then he would let everyone find out just how tragic the consequences were when a "mole" was exposed.
...
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?!
end. Thus one must continue to cultivate, and become a saint or great emperor, in order to prolong one's life. Chen Xia, however, completely reversed this. Since his transmigration, he has gained immortality, and also a system that awards him with attribute points for every year he lives. Thus between the myriad worlds, the legend of an unparalleled senior appeared. "A gentleman takes revenge; it is never too late even after ten thousand years." "When you were at your peak I yielded, now in your old age I shall trample on you." - Chen Xia
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)
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
