Chapter 9: Charm?

The dormitory door was opened gently.

Hearing the movement, Chen Zhilong knew it was Bai Yao returning… others would always make a racket when they came back, but only Bai Yao was this quiet.

“Did you bring me breakfast?”

Chen Zhilong turned his head and saw Bai Yao walking toward him carrying two big bags of breakfast.

His face lit up with joy as he stood up, unable to wait any longer.

“I’m about to die of hunger!”

“Here, and a Coke too.”

“Thanks!”

Bai Yao handed one of the breakfast portions to Chen Zhilong, looking up at Wang Zuhao’s bunk with a hint of hesitation.

‘Our relationship isn’t great, yet I’m taking the initiative to bring him breakfast. Isn’t that a bit too submissive?’

Chen Zhilong noticed his hesitation and shouted for him, “Wang Zuhao! Your dad brought you food!”

The next moment, a string of curses came from the top bunk.

“I’m your dad!”

He poked his head out from the top bunk.

When he saw Bai Yao standing below the bed holding a large, fragrant bag of breakfast, any grudge he once held vanished.

In his hungry state, Bai Yao was an angel descended from the heavens!

Wang Zuhao’s irritable expression transformed into a surprised smile in the next second.

“Dad! You actually brought me food? How much was it? I’ll transfer the money to you.”

“It’s ten yuan with the Coke. I put it on your desk.”

“Got it! Thanks!”

Wang Zuhao grabbed the railing of the top bunk and flipped straight down from the bunk — which was over 1.7 meters high.

He landed with a thud and scurried over to his breakfast.

Bai Yao silently rolled his eyes and walked straight to his own seat.

A moment later, Lin Mingxin, who had been visiting the neighbors, returned as well.

“Log in, log in! Bai Yao said he’s going to play Val with us!”

“Whoa! Bai Yao actually knows how to play Val?”

Hearing this, Chen Zhilong didn’t even have time to eat his breakfast before he turned on his computer.

“I’m still downloading it. I’m a newbie.”

“Then go through the tutorial first.”

Bai Yao usually didn’t play FPS games.

The main reason was that he was slightly colorblind.

Even in CS:GO, he couldn’t find anyone and often died in ways he couldn’t understand.

However, he had heard of the famous Val before.

While scrolling through Douying, he would occasionally see memes about the CS:GO seniors and the Val juniors.

While waiting for the game to download, he also opened Darkest Dungeon.

Wang Zuhao leaned over behind Bai Yao while eating a meat bun.

“These meat buns aren’t good. They’re probably pre-made, right?”

‘Seriously, be grateful there’s food at all. You’re being picky now?’

“The ones I ate were even worse…”

Bai Yao leaned against the desk with his cheek in one hand, operating the game with the mouse.

He didn’t plan on paying much attention to Wang Zuhao, even though he had a related mission to complete.

Wang Zuhao took two more bites of the meat bun and kept yapping away, “What game is this?”

This guy didn’t play much himself, but he loved watching others play and critiquing them.

“Darkest Dungeon.”

“I don’t get it. You’re always playing these Two-Dimensional games.”

Bai Yao had applied a Two-Dimensional aesthetic patch to the game, so the character illustrations were all cute girls.

Wang Zuhao’s tone held a hint of disdain, as if he looked down on the Two-Dimensional style.

In reality, the guy watched a lot of anime — at least more than Bai Yao did.

‘So annoying…’

‘Didn’t we use to ignore each other or look at each other with mutual disgust? Why has he suddenly been so proactive in talking to me these past two days?’

Troubled, Bai Yao peeked at Wang Zuhao through the darkened reflection of the computer screen.

‘Is it because my skin is better and I’ve become more handsome?’

Everyone says appearance doesn’t matter, but everyone is a sucker for looks.

Looking handsome naturally leaves a good impression on people…

Just like Lin Mingxin; even though he doesn’t say much, he has plenty of friends because he’s handsome, and even upperclassmen girls invite him out.

‘Or is it that “Undiminished Charm” thing?’

At first, Bai Yao thought it was just the system’s verbal praise, but when he woke up this morning, the praise had been included in the rewards…

Could it actually have a physical effect? Like increasing his charm?

He pursed his lips and turned around to take the initiative, testing the waters with a conversation starter.

“Want to go for a run together tonight?”

If this were the past, Wang Zuhao definitely would not have agreed!

“Running?”

Wang Zuhao was stunned.

He looked Bai Yao up and down.

“What for? To lose weight?”

“Just to exercise.”

“With those scrawny arms and legs of yours, you should be doing anaerobic training. A bit more muscle would keep you from looking so sissy,” Wang Zuhao said with a look of impatience.

“…”

Bai Yao was used to this kind of mockery.

Seeing the other’s impatience, he sat up straight and continued playing his game.

“What time? Call me when you’re ready.”

“???”

‘Wait! Are you actually going?’

Bai Yao stared at Wang Zuhao with wide eyes as if he had seen a ghost.

Seeing those round eyes filled with disbelief and his slightly parted lips in surprise, Wang Zuhao felt an unexpected sense of satisfaction, like he was teasing a kitten.

“I happen to need to lose weight,” Wang Zuhao explained casually.

“Is your download almost done?”

“Let me check…”

No wonder he felt that Wang Zuhao’s attitude toward him was different lately — it had improved quite a bit.

He thought it was an illusion, but now he was certain it was real!

Bai Yao didn’t know if this was a good or bad thing.

After all, the system had a bug and treated him like a woman.

It was unlikely that the “Charm” rewarded by the system was male charm.

‘But if it’s female charm… will I end up in a situation surrounded by men?’

‘Scary!’

[You have confirmed Wang Zuhao’s attitude toward you; he doesn’t seem to dislike you.]

[Mission complete. Reward obtained: 100]

‘He doesn’t dislike me? But I dislike him!’

Hearing the system prompt, Bai Yao absentmindedly opened the game that had just finished downloading.

“I’ll go through the tutorial.”

“Is it ready yet?” Chen Zhilong started to urge him from the other side.

“Hurry up and log in so we can play!”

“Almost.”

Bai Yao had been playing games since middle school and had played Overwatch before, so he was fairly quick to pick up similar games.

He finished the tutorial in a few minutes, added his friends, and Chen Zhilong pulled him into a team.

With the three of them grouped up and Wang Zuhao spectating, the matchmaking began.

“Bai Yao, stay in the back! Get to know the skills first!”

“Heal me!”

“He’s one-shot! One-shot!”

“Where’s the one-shot?!”

“Where am I? Who’s hitting me? How did I die?”

When he watched his roommates play together, he only felt they were noisy.

Especially late at night, when Bai Yao wanted to quietly use his phone or read a novel, the noise was unbearable.

But after joining them and adjusting over a few matches, Bai Yao’s emotions were also inadvertently stirred.

He shouted, “I’m using my ult!”

“Nice!”

Chen Zhilong cursed while he played, showing a lack of refinement as he insulted the opponents’ families in every possible way.

Wang Zuhao stood behind Bai Yao, yapping and critiquing, which was annoying as hell.

Lin Mingxin had better manners but often relayed the wrong information and got scolded for it.

Since Bai Yao was new, he didn’t understand the skills or maps.

Once he was separated from his teammates, he would lose his bearings and wander around like a headless chicken, dying without even knowing what happened.

After another match, Chen Zhilong suddenly realized there were only 10 minutes left before their 10:00 AM class.

“Are we going to class?” He turned to ask for his roommates’ opinions.

“Let’s go. The English teacher takes roll every single time.”

Lin Mingxin stood up reluctantly and pulled his English textbook from the shelf.

Wang Zuhao grumbled, “Damn it. It’s bad enough she takes roll, but she won’t even let us use our phones in class. She treats us like we’re still in high school.”

English class…

Since the start of the semester, neither Bai Yao nor Chen Zhilong had skipped a class.

Bai Yao was too timid and didn’t have friends who could cover for him during roll call, while Chen Zhilong was simply serious about his studies and unwilling to skip.

“Bai Yao, let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Bai Yao grabbed his textbook and jogged after his roommates as they left the dorm.

As soon as they stepped out, Chen Zhilong hooked an arm around his neck.

“Well? Was it fun?”

“It was all right…”

Bai Yao felt a bit awkward.

He wasn’t used to such physical closeness.

He struggled slightly, but that only caused the other to hold him tighter.

He could only sigh with a helpless expression and choose to accept it.