Lin Yu’s brows twitched slightly, and without hesitation, he replied:
“No time.”
He had expected Miaomiao to immediately slip into her usual feisty-cat mode.
Instead, she simply nodded calmly and murmured softly:
“Alright.”
Whether she was asking him out on a date or picking a fight, it didn’t matter.
Lin Yu wasn’t going to agree to anything.
He’d already put on an Oscar-worthy performance to convince Miaomiao that he was ZerO.
Too much interaction now, and he might slip up.
After this, it’d be best if their paths never crossed again.
Let the two hackers duke it out online—even if one ended up dead, it was none of his business.
“Ding-dong!”
“Ding-dong!”
“…”
His phone buzzed with WeChat messages.
Lin Yu picked it up and glanced at the screen: “…”
The sender? None other than Nurse Xia Yiwei from his apartment complex!
Tch, he already had his hands full with the “flowers” at home.
Who had time to entertain wild ones outside?
Even the most diligent gardener had their limits.
「Xia Yiwei: Little Master, kiss and run?」
「Xia Yiwei: Think playing the tough guy scares me?」
「Xia Yiwei: Tomorrow, you’re having dinner with your beloved disciple. Time and place TBD!」
「Xia Yiwei: Consider it compensation for her.」
「Xia Yiwei: (Animated GIF of a couple making out passionately)」
Lin Yu was tempted to show Miaomiao the chat log.
See this?
This was how you properly asked someone out.
Asking if he had time?
Childish.
A real pro just sent a notice.
Lin Yu tapped his phone and fired back a reply.
「Lin Yu: I’ll compensate you with an egg!」
Then, he muted his phone.
Whatever Miaomiao wanted from him, he didn’t know.
But Xia Yiwei? She was actually trying to pick a fight!
Lin Yu, a model citizen of the new era, wasn’t about to follow some fishnet-stocking nurse into a brawl.
Especially when the target was her own sister!
If their sibling relationship was this bad… just cut ties already!
Why keep it around for the New Year?
…
A few minutes later.
The manager from 860 Headquarters, here to discuss business, finally showed up at the café.
The man was a middle-aged businessman with a slick side-part, looking to be around forty.
Approaching the table, he asked politely:
“Are you two ZerO and Miaomiao?”
After receiving confirmation, the manager launched into a two-minute self-introduction.
Lin Yu didn’t bother memorizing any of it.
Ying’er was the one handling the collaboration, not him.
He had zero interest in technical jargon.
The only thing worth noting? This guy was the money man.
“Ahem, if you two have no questions, perhaps we could…”
The manager stood awkwardly by the table, unsure where to sit.
The booth was a long, face-to-face setup with a divider.
Lin Yu and Miaomiao had, quite uncharacteristically, taken seats on the same side near the aisle.
Ever the gentleman, Lin Yu stood up, grabbed his stuff, and moved to the opposite side.
“Manager, take this seat. I’ll sit over here.”
Hey, the guy was paying—basic courtesy was a must.
Damn cat, glued to her seat.
Weren’t you all about manners?
Would it kill you to give the money man some space?
Miaomiao scooted inward slightly, smugly thinking: This round goes to me—ZerO moved first!
Once seated, Lin Yu shoved the bouquet in front of Miaomiao.
It was meant for her anyway.
Whether she liked it or whether it was her birthday didn’t matter.
Carrying it around was just a hassle.
But the moment the flowers touched her, a familiar mechanical chime echoed in his mind.
【Ding!】
【High-quality talent detected—meets sect recruitment criteria!】
【Time-limited mission issued: Recruit the Exceptional!】
【Target: Du Miaomiao!】
【Time limit: 72 hours.】
【Recruit the Exceptional: This woman possesses extraordinary bone structure and innate talent—a one-in-ten-thousand prodigy for dual cultivation. Host must recruit her into the sect within three days.】
【Rewards: All of the recruit’s skills, +200 sect contribution, +400 spirit stones, 2 free system mall draws.】
【Friendly reminder: Exceeding the time limit will permanently void this recruitment opportunity.】
Lin Yu: “!!!”
Holy hell.
The system had hidden features like this?
Couldn’t it just come with a damn manual listing all its Easter eggs?
Instead of making him stumble into them like some lucky draw?!
Yesterday, interacting with people outside the apartment hadn’t triggered anything.
He’d assumed the system only judged women within the complex.
Now it seemed…
A rare few “talents” out there still qualified for recruitment.
And the most eye-catching reward? All of the recruit’s skills.
No need to grind intimacy levels—just a straight copy of her entire skill set.
Talk about a free EXP boost!
On closer inspection…
Raised in a well-off family, this young lady had quite the refined air.
Just her face alone could easily rank top ten in the apartment.
Du Miaomiao, huh… tsk tsk tsk.
Miaomiao, now holding the flowers, noticed the shift in Lin Yu’s expression.
Just moments ago, he’d looked utterly annoyed with her.
Now?
His eyes burned with something… unreadable.
If she had to guess? Lust.
The blatant staring made her uneasy, and she averted her gaze.
But then she remembered an old saying—
When two people lock eyes, the first to look away loses.
Crack.
Her fists clenched, and she snapped her gaze back.
Lin Yu, suddenly all charm, asked:
“What were you asking me earlier about tomorrow?”
Miaomiao, confused: “Asking if… you were free tomorrow?”
Lin Yu answered instantly: “I’m free.”
Miaomiao wasn’t just confused now—she was stunned: “???”
What were boys, really?
Two minutes ago, he’d refused her outright.
Now this?
…
In a room at the budget hotel across the street.
Mo Shangying lowered her binoculars urgently, her face grave:
“Oh no…”
“Master wants to handle her.”
From this distance, Shangying hadn’t gotten a clear look at Miaomiao’s face.
Earlier, she’d accessed some intel files but found no photos.
But as Miaomiao shifted closer to the window…
It was clear—this girl was delicious.
Beside her, Ye Mengfu:
“Huh? Handle her?”
“You mean… beat her up?”
Shangying waved her off.
Then, with a sharp grin, she locked eyes with Mengfu and raised a brow:
“Heh. Yeah, ‘beat her up’—just not the kind you’re thinking of…”
Mengfu tilted her head: “???”
Shangying suddenly clapped her hands together.
The clapping sped up.
Mengfu’s glasses nearly slid off her nose: “!!!”
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