Impossible, She Can't Have a Boyfriend

From the first class in the morning, Chen Yusheng had been sending messages to Su Bai.

Silly memes, funny videos, the latest gaming news...

Yet Su Bai hadn't replied to a single one. Who knew what he was busy with?

Then it suddenly dawned on Chen Yusheng—she'd bombarded the private chat with messages. Did that make her seem weird?

She stopped immediately.

But she still wanted to talk to Su Bai.

It felt so relaxing and stress-relieving.

Weird, considering he was just her client for paid gaming sessions. She'd never felt like this with other clients before.

By lunchtime, Su Bai still hadn't responded.

Su Bai's roommates were at the same table, so Chen Yusheng could've just asked them what he was up to.

But she was socially awkward.

Yep, plain old social anxiety—not the "deliberately aloof" act some girls assumed she was putting on.

After agonizing for a while, a lightbulb went off in her head.

Hey, if she couldn't figure it out herself and didn't dare ask his roommates, why not consult the almighty AI?

As a computer science prodigy, Chen Yusheng was well-versed in AI models. Many everyday dilemmas could be solved with their detailed insights.

So she pulled up a trending AI Q&A site and typed:

[I'm a paid gaming companion who's developed feelings for a client. He hasn't replied all morning—what are possible reasons?]

After about ten seconds, the screen populated with answers:

[Lack of contact for several hours may stem from various causes. Below are common possibilities and suggestions:]

[1. External factors: Temporary busyness; technical issues; ...]

[...]

Chen Yusheng's eyes widened as she read intently.

One particular point made her chest tighten.

[Mismatched expectations: He may view you strictly as a gaming partner, unaware of your feelings, hence not maintaining frequent contact.]

Oof.

So that was it.

To Su Bai, their chats might not mean much—it was just Chen Yusheng who enjoyed them.

At the end of the day, this was a business transaction.

Su Bai had said it himself: he only wanted emotional value (i.e., gaming companionship) from her—nothing more.

Normally, she'd appreciate such clear boundaries with clients. Keep things professional, no messy ambiguity.

So why did this sting so much?

She genuinely wanted to be friends with Su Bai. She wanted that messy ambiguity!

Despite their vastly different circumstances, their souls felt close.

How did Su Bai really see her? Just yesterday at the café and later in their dorms, they'd chatted so happily... Ugh!

Lost in this spiral, Chen Yusheng radiated gloomy frustration.

Her roommate Liu Yuanyuan gave her a curious glance but assumed she was just engrossed in a novel. The aloof freshman did read fiction sometimes—getting invested in stories was normal. CEO angst, domineering princes falling in love... Liu Yuanyuan dabbled too.

Wang Haoran said nothing, focused on grinding in-game.

Only Chu Mingzhe noticed Chen Yusheng's unusual demeanor and launched into elaborate speculation.

As the trio from Room 510 walked back after lunch, the silent Chu Mingzhe suddenly declared:

"Guys, doesn't Chen Yusheng seem off today?"

"Didn't notice. How so?" Wang Haoran paused his mobile game to plug in his phone.

"Not sure, but based on my years studying romance psychology, Chen Yusheng is likely being ignored by someone she cares about."

Wang Haoran: "..."

Xue Tao gasped: "Wait, Shanghai high schools teach romance psychology now?"

Chu Mingzhe shook his head. "Nope! Self-taught in my free time."

Wang Haoran, from a province infamous for cutthroat college entrance exams, was shocked. "You Shanghai elites had free time in high school? Enough to study extracurricular subjects?"

"Damn it, that's not the point!" Chu Mingzhe waved impatiently, face twisted in agony. "The question is—who is that person?"

"Her boyfriend, probably. They had a fight," Xue Tao guessed.

"No!!!" Chu Mingzhe covered his face. "Impossible... A goddess like Chen Yusheng would never date!"

"Greek goddesses dated and had kids. What's the big deal?" Xue Tao smirked. "I've always said—stop idolizing the 'goddess dorm.' Chen Yusheng's human. Is it so strange she'd want romance?"

"Local man spitting facts!" Wang Haoran agreed. For once, Xue Tao's mouth produced something sensible.

But Chu Mingzhe couldn't accept this.

Clutching The Complete Guide to Romance Psychology (English Edition), he retreated behind his bed curtain to study in secret.

"The kid's lost it," Xue Tao sighed. "Always reaching beyond his grasp. Meanwhile, I stick to realistic targets—like driving Yuanyuan out this weekend. Maybe I'll finally hold her hand?"

Watching Chu Mingzhe's meltdown eased Xue Tao's irritation over his blown-up sushi budget.

...

At the upscale IKC Plaza sushi restaurant.

Su Bai feasted.

High-end sashimi truly was superior—that delicate sweetness simply couldn't be replicated with cheap ingredients.

Nutritious too, perfect for athletes... if cost weren't an issue. But Su Bai never worried about costs.

While Zhou Jialu was in the restroom, Su Bai checked his phone and saw Chen Yusheng's morning message barrage.

Yikes.

His morning had been packed—no time for phones... Okay, he had checked intermittently, but her texts probably got buried.

Human nature.

Though he'd vibed with Chen Yusheng yesterday, Su Bai wasn't the type to obsess over a girl after one good chat.

He was naturally detached.

Everything followed the whims of fate.

[CrispyWhiteGoose: [Goose_ScratchingHead]]

[CrispyWhiteGoose: Busy morning, missed these]

Chen Yusheng replied instantly:

[RainStop: Busy with what?]

[RainStop withdrew a message]

[CrispyWhiteGoose: Bought a car]

[RainStop: [ShockedCat]]

[RainStop: Must've been expensive?]

[CrispyWhiteGoose: Not too bad. 800K+.]

[RainStop: Called it!]

[CrispyWhiteGoose: I'll check your earlier stuff when free]

【Chen Yusheng: No rush, it's nothing urgent...】

【Chen Yusheng: Are you gaming today?】

【Su Bai: Yeah, probably in the afternoon or evening. I’ll give you a heads-up when I’m ready.】

【Chen Yusheng: Sounds good.】

“Hey, junior, who’re you chatting with so enthusiastically?” Zhou Jialu asked as she returned from the restroom, noticing Su Bai typing away on his phone.

“A roommate.”

“Seems like you’re getting along well in the dorm. Not an easy feat, I must say.”

“Why’s that? Dorm dynamics aren’t exactly international diplomacy. Nothing too complicated.”

“Hard to tell. Especially for someone like you—with your advantages, envy’s bound to follow.”

“Let them envy. They can stew in it while I live my life. Plenty of room for everyone.”

“What if someone secretly screws you over?”

Zhou Jialu’s eyes flickered, as if recalling some unpleasant memories.

Su Bai shrugged. “Then I’ll pay them back. I’m not exactly the forgiving type.”

“True. You’ve got the means, after all.”

She nodded slightly, her gaze lingering on him with growing admiration. Even his attitude struck a chord with her.

Ah, how can I make this junior blush?

But Su Bai, oblivious to her musings, set his phone aside as they finished their meal and asked matter-of-factly:

“Senior, do you know much about the rental market around here?”