Home 'Girlfriend' VS Gaming 'Waifu'

Around 9 PM, inside the apartment.

At the door of Lin Yu’s room.

Chi Qingshui held a plastic bag containing three or four types of stomach medicine, which she had specifically bought from the pharmacy that afternoon.

Earlier that morning, after rushing back from the community hospital, Lin Yu had insisted he was fine—but Chi Qingshui didn’t believe it.

How could he be fine when he looked so miserable this morning?

She had no idea what Sister Weiwei had said to him.

The studious girl even suspected that Lin Yu might be neglecting his health just to "save money."

Over the years, she had come to understand the relationship between Lin Yu and Aunt Qimeng quite well.

From her younger sister, she’d learned that Lin Yu was "writing novels as a side gig" and had even earned some royalties.

But exactly how much he made, neither she nor her sister knew.

A boy who had been "taken in" for so long must be desperate to become financially independent—hence the side hustle.

"Saving money" was probably ingrained in his bones!

When Chi Qingshui first heard about this from her sister, she felt a tiny pang of disappointment.

Even my sister knew about this, but I, his "official girlfriend," was kept in the dark…

Still.

Chi Qingshui was a girl of extreme self-discipline.

She only allowed herself to wallow in the fleeting melancholy of online romance for…

One hour!

Two hours!

Three hours!

Four hours!

…

Fine.

Even now, she hadn’t fully shaken off that gloomy feeling.

But while the emotions lingered, they didn’t stop her from doing something impulsive.

Like.

Repeatedly searching online: What medicine should you take for a stomach damaged by alcohol?

After her research, she bought the medicine that very afternoon.

Yet, from then until 9 PM, she hadn’t mustered the courage to deliver it.

During that time, her mood was unusually restless.

As self-punishment, she forced herself to study for three more hours—until it was finally 9 o’clock.

"I’ve lost it. Chi Qingshui has absolutely lost it."

"I actually bought medicine for a guy?"

"And… I’m even delivering it in person!"

Moving as stealthily as a thief, she tiptoed across the floor.

Once she finally reached Lin Yu’s door, she raised her hand to knock—

Only to lower it again.

Raise.

Lower.

Raise.

Lower…

After several attempts, she still couldn’t summon the courage to face him directly.

In the end.

She hung the medicine bag on his doorknob and bolted downstairs like a gust of wind.

Back in the room she shared with her sister.

"Click!"

Chi Qingshui slipped inside and swiftly locked the door behind her.

At the desk, Chi Qingchi—who had been watching anime while swinging her little legs—immediately took off her headphones upon seeing her sister’s flustered state.

"Big sis… did you just go steal something?"

Suppressing her ragged breathing, Chi Qingshui frowned.

"Steal your head! I just went to… take out the trash!"

Chi Qingchi tilted her head, sharp-eyed.

"But didn’t you already take out the trash this afternoon?"

"And the fresh trash bag is still on the bin."

Chi Qingshui’s heart skipped a beat.

"I—I found some more… scrap paper to throw away."

"Is that not allowed? Since when do you police me?"

Chi Qingchi blinked, then grinned innocently.

"Wouldn’t dare~"

With that, she quickly put her headphones back on and resumed her anime.

But such a flimsy excuse couldn’t fool her sister.

They were twins, after all.

Having lived together for so many years, they could instantly tell when the other was lying.

Something’s up with sis!

She must be sneaking around behind my back.

Judging by how quickly she left and returned…

Whatever she did, it didn’t require leaving the apartment.

What could it be?

A seed of suspicion took root in Chi Qingchi’s heart…

Meanwhile, Chi Qingshui changed into her pajamas and lay on the bed, finally calming down a little.

After much internal debate.

She decided to message Lin Yu directly from her main account.

If this turned into a "mystery benefactor delivers medicine" situation, and Lin Yu later found out it was her…

That would be way worse.

Better to take the initiative and give a plausible reason upfront.

After careful deliberation, she finally sent the messages:

Chi Qingshui: Sister Weiwei was looking for you earlier. She wanted to tell you what medicine to take but couldn’t find you, so she told me instead.

Chi Qingshui: Since I was going to the pharmacy anyway, I just bought it for you. Get better soon—I don’t want you showing up to our filming assignment looking like a wreck.

Chi Qingshui: No need to pay me back. Consider it me repaying my sister’s debt to you. We’re even now!

…

At the same time.

Inside the Treasureless Pavilion of Ghost Market Street.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, Host! You have completed the emergency quest "Clinic Treatment"!]

[Your fated partner stepped into the mortal world to personally seek spiritual medicine for you—what an enviable romance!]

[Rewards: 300 Sect Contribution Points, 600 Spirit Stones, 1 free System Shop draw.]

Lin Yu: "???"

What’s my little girlfriend sneaking around for at home?

Earlier that day, he had wondered why Chi Qingshui’s emergency quest hadn’t been marked as completed.

Turns out the "treatment" condition hadn’t been met yet.

From a rewards perspective, having a girlfriend was pretty great.

No need for him to coax or cajole her at home.

She’d take initiative all on her own!

"Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong…"

Immediately after—

The phone kept buzzing with WeChat notifications.

No need to guess—it was definitely his girlfriend switching to her main account to spam him.

However, now wasn’t the best time to check the messages.

Because he was already seated in front of the computer behind the counter.

Shen Buyao’s tactics were downright diabolical.

She didn’t even ask if he knew how to play the game.

Instead, she treated him like an idiot and asked if he knew how to press keyboard keys.

What else could he possibly say?

Of course, he had to say yes!

"Listen up, college boy. You’ll get the hang of it after I explain it once."

"Just follow the arrow prompts in order and press them as fast as you can."

"Show me that youthful, energetic typing speed of yours!"

"But while your hands are busy, don’t forget one thing…"

"There’s a little ball moving up there too, bouncing around."

"When you feel like it’s inside the circle, just… smack!"

"Hit the spacebar."

"Got it?"

Lin Yu: "…"

Shen Buyao’s teaching method was way too professional.

If you had zero knowledge about the game Dance Battle,

You honestly couldn’t tell whether she was explaining the game or hinting at something else entirely.

"After you help your ‘sister’ play one round, then we’ll talk about your business."

Shen Buyao added.

There was no refusing.

It was obvious.

Shen Buyao had already figured out that Lin Yu had come to Ghost Market Street specifically to find her.

If he wanted her help, he’d have to help her first.

From the speakers, the coquettish voice of "wifey" piped up again:

"Hubby Buyao, where’d you find this college boy?"

"Ohohoho, are you cheating on me?"

Without missing a beat, Shen Buyao grabbed the mic and fired back:

"Shut your damn trap, hehe…"

"This is the ‘new’ hubby I arranged for you tonight!"

Lin Yu: "…"

Damn, better not overthink that statement.

Then, the "wifey" on the other end giggled:

"Fine, fine, as long as we clear the mission."

"Ohohoho!"

Lin Yu: "…"

Damn, this one’s no pushover either!