Chapter 10: Will probably be unforgettable for the rest of my life.

In the end, neither of them could resist the temptation of the discount.

They selected a photo, covered it with a mosaic sticker, and exchanged it for the clothes on Lin Yi’s body.

Lin Yi had originally planned to grit her teeth and pay for it from her own food budget, but when it came time to settle the bill, Yan Jianxing stepped forward and scanned her phone first.

“Consider it my apology gift for dragging you to that P.E. class last time.”

“But, I really don’t mind…”

“Shh.”

Yan Jianxing pressed a finger to Lin Yi’s lips.

“I have too much money. Help me spend some.”

That statement wasn’t false.

Just the tennis racket Yan Jianxing used, nicknamed the ‘Sakura Bow,’ had a price tag that made Lin Yi’s heart skip a beat, not to mention all the other sports gear she was wearing.

Why are all the girls around me rich?

Isn’t there a single proletarian to be friends with?

Leaving the mall, the two walked across an overpass and soon arrived at Shamian Island.

As soon as they entered, they saw a huge McDonald’s.

Lin Yi touched the cap on her head.

“Isn’t ‘Crazy Thursday’ supposed to be somewhere else?”

“It doesn’t have to be Thursday,” Yan Jianxing said, grabbing Lin Yi’s hand.

“What do you want? A McFlurry or a cone?”

“Ice Cream from Mixue would be fine… Canton Tower isn’t going to attack us.”

Yan Jianxing glanced at her phone.

“But there isn’t one here. Let’s just get cones!”

Lin Yi reluctantly complied.

“Alright.”

Soon, each holding a caramel cone, they strolled along, enjoying the scenery.

“Weren’t we here to run?”

Lin Yi asked sincerely.

Yan Jianxing looked exasperated.

“What kind of role do I even play in your mind…”

“Sorry.”

The daylight was pleasant.

Nearing October, Guangzhou’s weather was being quite cooperative.

Having passed through the heat and humidity of July and August, they were now enjoying the brief tail end of summer.

Whether it was the brick-paved road under the dappled shade of trees or the white noise mix of various pedestrians’ footsteps and birdsong, nothing could overshadow the laughter and conversation between the two.

Amidst the scenery filled with European-style architecture, their beauty had completely blended in, becoming an unforgettable sight in the eyes of passersby.

They walked along the outer circle first, then turned towards Our Lady of Lourdes Church, a Gothic-style building constructed in 1890.

Its mint-green exterior looked especially fresh under the sunlight.

Since neither of them had any particular faith, they didn’t plan to go inside and disturb others.

They just stood outside for a while, looking.

Yan Jianxing took out her phone and handed it to Lin Yi.

“Right here, under this arch and by this European-style street lamp. I’ll pose, you take the picture!”

“Okay.”

Lin Yi took the phone and aimed it.

[Task Opportunity Detected: You, in your thirties, have your computer filled with special CG screenshots of gal-games, yet the only photo of you with a woman in real life is your birth picture. This won’t do. You must seize the opportunity before you!]

[Task: Invite the woman before you to take a photo together]

—Are you looking down on me, Ha-ki System?

If it were a thirty-something otaku, completing this task would indeed be as difficult as climbing to the sky.

But now, she was a high school beauty with Charm A.

“Wait, can I take one with you?”

Lin Yi asked, looking up at Yan Jianxing after pressing the shutter.

Yan Jianxing was stunned for a moment, then nodded vigorously.

“Of course! Actually, I was just thinking the same thing.”

Then, Yan Jianxing grabbed Lin Yi, and the two stood under the big tree in front of the church, switching the camera to selfie mode.

“Three, two, one, cheese!”

“Hehe.”

“Wow, you’re smiling so happily. No, I have to add cat ears and whiskers.”

Yan Jianxing’s fingers swiped across the phone screen.

[Task Overcompletion Detected. Perhaps by heaven’s blessing, a super nice beauty is willing to take a photo with you. This experience will probably be unforgettable for a lifetime, right?]

[Base Reward: Skill ‘Photography Lv.1’ Unlocked; Additional Reward: Brainstorm Card*1 (Temporarily increases Intelligence level for 30 minutes)]

A lifetime?

Can you not say such heavy things, Ha-ki System?

Yan Jianxing and I are just roommates.

If taking a photo is a lifetime thing, wouldn’t holding hands mean getting a marriage certificate?

“Look, look, Lin Yi, you look so cute with cat ears!”

“…”

Seeing her own image in the photo, Lin Yi suddenly felt she had completely assimilated into this beautiful girl’s body.

Yes, I’m just that cute ╭(╯^╰)╮

The two continued walking along the main street, stopping in front of a Starbucks Reserve store to each pick a drink.

Lin Yi chose a medium cappuccino, while Yan Jianxing picked a strawberry-flavored latte.

This time, Lin Yi absolutely refused to let Yan Jianxing pay and took out her own wallet.

What a joke!

If this goes on, what’s the difference between me and being kept by a beautiful girl?!

On the second-floor terrace of a Tiffany-blue colonial-style building, they chose an excellent spot to sit.

Yan Jianxing took a bite of her straw, silently staring at Lin Yi’s profile.

Her well-defined features were like a girl who had stepped out of a painting.

Her fair, delicate skin seemed as if she had just emerged from a bath of milk, making one want to reach out and pinch it.

The skin she herself had to work hard to maintain was effortlessly displayed on Lin Yi, who did absolutely no skincare at all.

Her roommate was truly full of mysteries.

Lin Yi turned her head and saw Yan Jianxing staring intently at her.

“What’s wrong? Is there coffee on my face?”

“Nothing, I just think your profile is really beautiful.”

“Is that so…”

Yan Jianxing propped her chin on her hands.

“Lin Yi, you seem to have changed.”

Lin Yi flinched.

She was most afraid of others realizing she was a reincarnated otaku.

She hunched her shoulders as she spoke.

“W-where have I changed? I’ve always been like this.”

“No, you were very… mysterious at the beginning of the semester.”

Yan Jianxing pouted.

“It was hard to even see you. Your words never seemed to match the conversation, and you were incredibly aloof.”

Huh?

She really was sorry about that, she apologized inwardly on behalf of the original Lin Yi.

“And… now?”

“Now? Now you’re the best Lin Yi, the best roommate.”

Yan Jianxing smiled.

“You attend classes with me, play ball with me, eat with me, run with me, go shopping with me… It seems like you’ve agreed to all my willful requests. And you’re so good-looking…”

Wasn’t the last sentence the main point?

Lin Yi traced the rim of her cup.

“I… don’t think being good-looking is necessarily a good thing.”

“Why?”

“Because it overshadows everything else.”

Lin Yi seemed to be looking into the distance.

“People take one look and go, ‘Wow, you’re so pretty!’ and then they subconsciously ignore your flaws, even your other good qualities.”

Yan Jianxing didn’t speak.

“I, I have flaws too!”

Lin Yi quickly added to her own statement.

“For example, I like to sleep in…”

“But you’ve been getting up early every day recently to run with me?”

“For example, my grades aren’t very good…”

“But you just improved on the Monthly Exam?”

“For example, my personality is gloomy, I don’t like talking to people…”

“But you’re chatting with me just fine now…”

Yan Jianxing paused, then whispered to herself, “Not liking to talk to others, but only talking to me… that’s just fine…”

“Huh? What did you just say?”

“Nothing, nothing!”

Yan Jianxing waved her hands.

“Anyway, I think you shouldn’t be too self-deprecating, Lin Yi. You’re a very, very good girl. Given enough time, everyone will see your shining points.”

Lin Yi felt a warm sensation all over.

Her face was a little red.

It’s all Guangzhou’s fault!

It’s almost October and it’s still so hot.

Pah, lousy weather!

Their coffee cups were empty.

Yan Jianxing opened her phone to check the time and smiled.

“Lunchtime. Let’s go. I’ve had my eye on that Rose Garden Western Restaurant for a while. The set meal for two has abalone and steak!”

“Did you make a reservation?”

“Of course.”

Yan Jianxing snapped her fingers.

“Go, go, go!”

As Lin Yi stood up, she felt her pants pocket vibrate several times.

She had a bad feeling.

She took out her cracked-screen phone and opened the chat interface.

The contact labeled ‘Jian Shuye’ had sent a message.

Jian Shuye: Starting work in fifteen minutes.