“The falling leaves bring a message. It says, Old Forest, it’s time for you to find a job.”
Inside a dormitory at Silvermoon Academy in the Human Empire Capital, a “girl” was speaking to the boy beside her, who was wrestling with Integrated Strategy.
Although she was talking, her tone wasn’t casual—it sounded more like a complaint.
“It’s not that I don’t want to, Yike, but why does your tone sound just like my mom’s? Do you think I don’t want to find a job? In times like these, is it that easy to find one? If only a rich lady would take care of me, even better if she’s a Beastwoman.”
After being stomped numb by another one of those big feet sent by fate, Lin Sheng turned off the simulator with a helpless expression and looked at the “girl” beside him.
“I can take care of you, Old Forest. Haven’t considered me?”
The “girl” called Yike leaned in, trying to wrap her arm around Lin Sheng’s, but he subtly avoided her.
“No way, don’t even try. This trick of yours might fool netizens, but it won’t work on me.”
Lin Sheng knew all too well what kind of person his roommate was.
Don’t be fooled by her soft words and promises of support—Lin Sheng knew this was someone with a “handle”.
That’s right, a “handle”.
Yike was actually a somewhat famous online trap streamer, whose ambiguous looks and neutral voice could pass for either gender.
With just a bit of makeup and effort, she could easily deceive anyone.
When Lin Sheng first entered the dorm and saw Yike, he even thought Silvermoon Academy had gotten so open they allowed mixed-gender rooms.
Yike had also taught Lin Sheng an important lesson: beautiful women are always dangerous, even if they aren’t actually women.
Running errands was the least of it.
Sometimes he even had to grind games for Yike, like just now, playing Integrated Strategy on her behalf.
Still, Yike was good-looking, and had helped him deal with family questions about finding a partner more than once.
So all things considered, he and Yike were more like frenemies.
“What do you mean, trick? I’m serious, okay~_~. If you can’t find a job, what are you going to do?”
“No, no, please don’t be serious.”
Hearing Yike’s words, Lin Sheng felt a chill.
Although Yike had a nice face and was even called a Straight Male Wrench online, he’d been to the public bathhouse with her.
He was certain of Yike’s gender—and even more certain he wasn’t the “as long as it’s cute, even boys are fine” type.
“If you’re not willing, Old Forest, you really need to find a job. I don’t want to hear Auntie nagging in my ear every day.”
“Auntie?”
“Yeah, did you forget? The first time I went home with you, your mom added my contact. Now she’s started probing for information through me. Auntie really worries about you.”
“Uh, what? How did you get so close to my mom so fast? You’re not seriously interested in me, are you?”
No matter what, Lin Sheng never thought about such possibilities.
If Yike actually had feelings for him, what would he do? He was a straight man!
He swore he’d never bring Yike home again.
If his parents asked, he’d just say they broke up.
That’s right, for the sake of his dignity, Lin Sheng didn’t want any physical relationship with Yike.
“Come on, Old Forest. If I really wanted you, do you think you’d survive four years of college in peace?”
Yike looked Lin Sheng up and down with a slightly disdainful expression, as if evaluating merchandise.
“Think about it. No money, average looks, mediocre body, average background—why would I fall for you? Wake up, Old Forest. If you don’t get a job soon, not even a trap will want you, let alone a rich lady.”
Yike’s words stabbed Lin Sheng in the chest like a knife.
That’s right—he’d once seen the backend of Yike’s social media.
The numbers there were terrifying.
Just the monthly gift value was more than Lin Sheng’s living expenses for an entire semester.
Not to mention the fans who joined live broadcasts—every camera was either a handsome guy or a beautiful girl, with gifts flying everywhere.
Lin Sheng lost count every time.
Sometimes, Lin Sheng wondered if his college life was like an anime protagonist’s: having a roommate who was a guy but looked like a girl.
Not everyone had that kind of opportunity.
What would come next?
Would an Owl deliver an invitation to some prestigious school?
Lin Sheng gave a bitter smile.
To be honest, if he really was a protagonist, he’d be the unlucky type—waiting endlessly for a System or a mysterious elder to appear.
“Lin Sheng! There’s mail for you! Seriously, can you students stop leaving letters with me? My place isn’t a storage facility!”
Just as Lin Sheng was cursing his fate, a woman’s angry shout came from the doorway.
“Oh no, it’s the Dormitory warden. Old Forest, you’re on your own.”
Yike had always been afraid of the legendary Grandmother Dorm Warden.
Rumor had it she could take on ten drunks by herself, and she believed men should act like men, so she didn’t think much of Yike.
No matter how confidently Yike proclaimed “the greatest, most enduring art of the Empire is men acting as women,” the Dormitory warden was unmoved.
So Yike had always been scared of her.
Thanks to that, even Lin Sheng developed a natural fear of the Dormitory warden.
After bowing and apologizing for a long time, Lin Sheng finally escaped from the Dormitory warden’s clutches.
“Damn it, I wanted an Owl to deliver my letter, not a tigress.”
After dealing with the Dormitory warden, Lin Sheng muttered under his breath, exhausted, and collapsed into a chair, tossing the envelope onto the table.
“Old Forest, aren’t you going to see what kind of letter it is?”
Having hidden earlier, Yike relaxed when she saw the Dormitory warden had only delivered a letter, and moved closer to inspect the envelope on the table.
“Ugh, what era is this? Who still writes letters?”
Still, Lin Sheng’s curiosity was piqued.
Precisely because so few people wrote letters these days, this one felt particularly precious.
“Saint Laia Academy. Yike, have you heard of it?”