That terrible life the system mentioned…
Could that really be everything I’m going to experience in the future?
Maybe the system didn’t find the wrong host, but just arrived at the wrong time?
Maybe it accidentally came back thirteen years early and attached itself to my 18-year-old self?
“That’s impossible…”
Even though logic told him it was impossible, the theory kept repeating in Bai Yao’s mind.
The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
Since something as bizarre as a system had already appeared, even weirder things weren’t out of the question.
But he still didn’t understand.
He was clearly a man, a little virgin who hadn’t even been in a relationship.
How could he possibly become a “public bus” in a short ten-plus years?
“Bai Yao, want a Coke?”
Brother Long walked out of the convenience store and tossed a can toward Bai Yao, who was waiting outside.
“No—”
Bai Yao didn’t have time to refuse.
Caught off guard, he watched the can fly toward his face.
He scrambled to catch it, but it slipped through his fingers and hit the ground with a thud, rolling away.
He jogged forward to pick up the dented can, wiped it twice on his shirt, and looked at Brother Long helplessly.
“My treat.”
“Um…”
Bai Yao remained as cold as ever, giving a short response before lowering his gaze.
He could feel Brother Long’s kindness.
For the past month, Brother Long had been trying hard to integrate him into the group, and he recognized the effort.
Though he didn’t like some of the methods and still felt a sense of detachment from his roommates, he appreciated the sentiment.
Following behind Brother Long, Bai Yao was lost in thought.
He glanced at the bank notification on his phone every now and then to confirm that everything happening to him wasn’t an illusion.
Was his future really going to be that terrible?
The system said he would take a leave of absence in six months due to a serious illness.
Although he didn’t feel anything wrong with his body right now, if a physical exam really did reveal a disease requiring a leave of absence, then everything would basically be confirmed.
It would confirm that he was that cuckolded simp, that beast of burden weighed down by a thirty-year mortgage, and that promiscuous woman addicted to cigarettes, alcohol, and lust…
How terrifying!
‘Think on the bright side! This system might be from a parallel world and actually belongs to a female version of me.’
‘It’s not the future!’
‘Maybe it’s just a simple bug!’
Consoling himself internally, Bai Yao followed Brother Long back to the dorm.
Chen Zhilong kicked the door open casually.
“Is my delivery here yet!”
It was lunch break, and the two roommates who had skipped class due to being drunk were finally awake.
“It’s on your desk.”
Bai Yao followed him inside, grabbed his own portion of roast meat rice from Brother Long’s desk, and sat down at his workstation.
He hadn’t eaten delivery in a long time.
Just the smell of the roast meat rice made his stomach growl in protest.
Even if this delivery wasn’t necessarily much better than the cafeteria food, a change in flavor was definitely something to look forward to.
“Bro… Brother Long, I transferred the money to you.”
Bai Yao still wasn’t used to that title.
“Got it.”
Brother Long held his roast meat rice, standing behind another roommate to watch a video over his shoulder.
“Pian Ge, what are you eating for lunch?”
The roommate addressed as Pian Ge turned a shade of green.
“I just ordered lo mein…”
Bai Yao glanced back.
Pian Ge’s real name was Lin Mingxin.
He was the easiest roommate to get along with—somewhat dull and quiet, but capable of blending in with anyone.
He was as handsome as a celebrity, with a high bridge to his nose and deep-set eyes; he was practically the class heartthrob.
The only problem was that during the first week of school, Lin Mingxin had accidentally opened his Little Red Car app in front of the roommates.
It was full of eye-popping hentai, earning him the nickname “Pian Ge,” while others teased him as the “Big Star” because of his name.
Additionally, there was “Brother Hao” in the dorm.
His real name was Wang Zuhao, a tall, sturdy man nearly 1.9 meters tall.
He loved making Bai Yao the butt of his jokes and snored in his sleep.
He was quite annoying.
This guy was currently lazing in bed playing on his phone, with no intention of getting up for lunch.
In their six-person dorm, only four people currently lived there.
Bai Yao had been quite happy when he first moved in, thinking a four-person room would be quieter, but it turned out to be much noisier than the other rooms.
The room next door was full with six people, but most of them were introverts.
At night, everyone did their own thing, and it was nice and quiet.
Bai Yao ate his roast meat rice, absentmindedly finding a livestream to watch with his meal.
He needed to save money.
Although the system was stingy, 100 yuan per task was quite a lot for a student.
Moreover, he had completed two tasks so far without actually doing anything.
Once he saved enough, he would go to the hospital for a physical exam.
The only problem was that the tasks appeared so randomly that Bai Yao couldn’t figure out how to trigger them.
With a *click*, a faint scent of smoke drifted through the room.
Chen Zhilong lit a cigarette and passed the pack around.
“A smoke after a meal!”
Lin Mingxin took a cigarette, tucked it behind his ear, and added, “Is better than being an immortal.”
“Bai Yao?”
Bai Yao waved his hand in refusal.
After finishing his meal, he picked up the basin filled with dirty laundry from under his desk and headed to the balcony.
As soon as he opened the back door, the humid, stifling air mixed with the heat from the air conditioner’s external unit hit him.
It made his breath hitch, and in an instant, a thin layer of sweat broke out on his skin, making his clothes cling to him uncomfortably.
The balcony wasn’t large.
To the left of the door was a utility sink big enough for two people to stand side-by-side.
To the right was the bathroom.
The floor was cluttered, with a few cigarette butts and junk tossed in the corner.
Those butts would likely “survive” until the weekly health inspection on Thursday.
Bai Yao poured detergent into the basin, filled it with water, and began scrubbing his dirty clothes.
Less than two minutes later, Pian Ge, Lin Mingxin, also came out to the balcony.
He leaned against the railing with a cigarette in his mouth.
One had to admit that being handsome made a difference.
Even casually dangling a cigarette, he exuded an air of melancholy.
Lin Mingxin asked, “Mind if I smoke one?”
Bai Yao paused his scrubbing.
“Go ahead.”
[You have encountered a former college crush. You haven’t been in touch since graduation. He is decadent and melancholy, long having lost his former glory. You are determined not to miss out on him again!]
[Task: Obtain your crush’s contact information. Reward: 100 cash]
‘???’
Bai Yao couldn’t help but look back at the smoking Lin Mingxin.
Obviously, the system was talking about him!
He was just smoking a cigarette; how was that melancholy?
He drank last night and just woke up at noon—didn’t he just look decadent because of that?
His hair was as messy as a bird’s nest, and he probably hadn’t even washed his face yet.
Besides, Bai Yao acknowledged that Lin Mingxin was handsome, but his sexual orientation was perfectly normal, okay!
How could he possibly have a crush on a man? And a roommate at that?!
Seeing Bai Yao staring straight at him, Lin Mingxin felt a bit awkward.
He dropped the cigarette he’d only taken two puffs of and crushed it under his foot.
He mistakenly thought the smell of smoke was bothering Bai Yao.
Contact information?
Bai Yao weighed his options.
After a moment of thought, he casually wiped his wet hands on his clothes, picked up his phone, and stepped forward.
He asked bluntly and stiffly, “Should I add your WeChat or QQ? What’s your phone number?”
Since they were roommates anyway, asking directly was better than acting shy!
As he approached, Lin Mingxin caught a whiff of an elegant, light fragrance that seemed to dispel the smell of smoke on the balcony.
Bai Yao emitted a natural body fragrance whenever he sweated.
The roommates had discovered this during military training, and Wang Zuhao had mocked him for being sissy because of it.
“Why do you suddenly want my number?”
Lin Mingxin asked, confused as he pulled out his phone.
“Should I scan you?”
It had been nearly a month, yet this was the first time Bai Yao had initiated a conversation with him.
“Just…”
Bai Yao was focused on the system task.
With such a strong objective in mind, he felt guilty and flustered under questioning, his eyes darting toward the sky.
“Just in case something comes up?”
Lin Mingxin gave Bai Yao an even more peculiar look.
He had just made a casual remark, so why did Bai Yao look as guilty as a thief?