So suddenly?
Exusiai looked at the white-haired woman leaning in close. Instinctively, she wanted to push her away—but in the end, her hand didn't move.
"Of course I like you! What are you talking about?!"
People streamed past on the street. The noise rolled in like a tide—voices overlapping, footsteps, engines, laughter—until even Exusiai's heartbeat felt like it was being swallowed by the din.
"…"
Her fingers tightened around her milk tea. The plastic cup gave a faint creak.
"Sorry," Yu Yachen said, drawing back with a small smile. "I was just curious how you'd answer."
"Because anyone who tries to get close to me… does it because of my face."
"That's not—"
Exusiai almost barked a rebuttal, but the words stuck in her throat.
…It kind of was true.
But that wasn't the main reason!
"Miss Yu, you're not calling me shallow, are you? I'm not that kind of person."
Exusiai narrowed her eyes, suspicious.
"Wait. The way you're saying that—do you have an ex-girlfriend? Was your ex like that?"
"No." Yu Yachen shook her head. "But I did have a friend I was close to. Later… we went our separate ways."
She thought of Chen Huijie.
"Don't tell me it was the classic lesbian 'we're just friends.'"
Exusiai's tone suddenly carried a faint, aggrieved edge.
"Hard to say." Yu Yachen lowered her gaze. "She liked me. I rejected her."
"T-then what about us?"
The nervous voice of the Sankta reached her ears.
"…"
Yu Yachen felt a stab of guilt.
Because she was only getting close to Exusiai to complete the system's objective. If the system hadn't interfered, she probably wouldn't have had much to do with Exusiai at all.
Exusiai was a good girl—honestly, being with her was fun. Not like Chen Huijie, who only ever made her worry. But Yu Yachen hadn't developed anything like genuine affection for Exusiai.
She'd always been the type to stay indifferent to everyone around her. At first, she'd planned to follow the system's task and casually string Exusiai along.
But now… she couldn't quite do it.
By the system's requirement, she should answer: I like you too.
Yet Yu Yachen couldn't take responsibility for Exusiai's feelings. She'd asked that question just now to confirm Exusiai's feelings in the first place.
Yu Yachen understood herself clearly. Someone like her wasn't suited to staying with another person for long. Once she got bored—once she started noticing Exusiai's flaws—she might just toss her aside.
She'd done that to Chen Huijie back in high school.
Only this time… she suddenly couldn't bear it.
[Host, the fact that you can even consider this means you're already different than before. (^)]
[This is growth. (★★)]
"…"
"I like you too, Exusiai."
…Even if I don't feel anything for you at all.
Before her words had fully fallen, Exusiai suddenly threw her arms wide and lunged into her.
"Me too, Yu Yachen."
"…"
Why did this feel so… wrong?
Yu Yachen wanted to frown, but held it back. She felt the soft warmth pressed against her and, rational and steady, put a hand at Exusiai's lower back and accepted the hug.
The white-haired woman parted her lips as if to say more—
—and her phone rang in her pocket, cutting her off.
"…"
"inherprettycabinet."
Yu Yachen held Exusiai with one arm and answered with the other.
"Hello? Lao Li?"
"…"
"Got it."
She hung up and looked down at Exusiai.
"It's almost afternoon. We should head back."
"Mm."
Exusiai released her waist, and the milk tea nearly slipped from her hand.
Yu Yachen took one of her hands.
"But once we're back we won't have that much time together," Exusiai mumbled, embarrassed, scratching her cheek. "I've taken too many days off lately. If I keep this up, Boss is gonna chew me to death."
"Want to live at my place?" Yu Yachen said calmly. "I was thinking of moving to somewhere bigger anyway."
The moment the words landed, Exusiai's eyes lit up—her ear tips flushing pink.
"Really?! I can?! When? I can do anytime—I'll pack as soon as we get back!"
"…Weekend, then." Yu Yachen paused. "But I don't have much going on recently… so tomorrow? Whatever. Up to you."
Then she stopped.
She leaned down—and before Exusiai could react, soft lips touched her cheek.
A light kiss. Clean and gentle. A faint, tranquil fragrance drifted into Exusiai's nose.
"…"
Exusiai snapped her head around to stare at her, her cheeks blooming red like ink spreading in water.
Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. She lifted a hand to touch the spot Yu Yachen had kissed, her whole body short-circuiting.
Am I… dreaming?
Her heart raced so hard it felt like it might burst from her chest.
"…"
Yu Yachen glanced at the system panel. Exusiai's favorability was skyrocketing—already at 80.
She stared at it for a beat, then shut it off.
I shouldn't open that panel anymore.
Exusiai wasn't a virtual NPC. Turning "affection" into a number made something human feel… objectified.
And then—
Why?
Yu Yachen felt nauseous.
"Sorry. I need the restroom."
Her expression darkened slightly as she walked quickly toward a nearby public toilet. Exusiai tried to follow, but Yu Yachen gently pushed her back.
"I'll be right back."
"Whoooosh—"
The faucet roared.
Yu Yachen stared at her pale reflection in the mirror. Thin red veins webbed her eyes—something she'd never had before.
"…"
Her eyelids tightened. A wave of nausea surged up. She covered her mouth, but it was too late.
"Gh—!"
She retched.
Cold sweat slid down her temple. When she lifted her head again, her reflection looked messy—almost unfamiliar. She'd never been this out of control in her life.
Maybe forcing herself to do something she didn't want to do had triggered it.
She wiped her mouth, steadied her breathing, and after a brief adjustment, her face returned to its usual blank calm.
Even if she wasn't willing… the effect was good, wasn't it?
Just endure a little longer.
Exusiai was a good girl. Maybe she wouldn't come to dislike her.
No need to be so precious. If anyone was going to get hurt here, it would be Exusiai, not her.
In a twisted way, it was a "win-win" for Yu Yachen.
She shut off the faucet and walked out.
[H-Host… are you okay?]
"I'm fine," Yu Yachen said quietly. "Just not used to it."
[If it's too much, we can cancel Exusiai's攻略 task.]
"It's fine. If I cancel now… I don't even know how to explain it to her."
Yu Yachen pinched the bridge of her nose.
She didn't know where the nausea really came from. Maybe she simply wasn't used to close contact with anyone.
"Hah…"
She exhaled slowly.
…Maybe she really was different from before.
Even if only a little, she should care more about other people's feelings.
Because she was using Exusiai.
Yu Yachen looked toward that bright, red-haired Sankta.
....
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