"Hmm~ Haa~"

Waking up naturally, I grabbed my phone—it was already past 7 PM. *Ugh, yep, 7 PM sharp.* I always wake up the moment dusk falls. Another one of my quirks: sleepy all day, but bursting with energy at night. Though I bet most shut-ins are just like me.

I’d slept from 2 PM to 7 PM, skipped breakfast, and my stomach was growling. *Alright, better wander around the apartment complex first—get familiar with the area—then find something to eat.*

This unfamiliar city, these strange streets… This metropolis, where I’d spend the next three years—or maybe my whole life. My career, my dreams, my entire existence would unfold here. Imagining my future: after graduation, I’d hunt for an art-related job (though my terrible social skills might make that tough). I’d marry a gentle, pretty girl—ideally someone as stunning as Xiaowu—and have a daughter. Just a quiet, safe life.

*Wait, I’m only nineteen. Why am I obsessing over depressing stuff?* As I muttered to myself, I spotted a tiny wonton shop.

"Boss, one bowl of…" *Nineteen? Eighteen? Twenty? Seriously, no eight-dollar options?*

"Huh? What’ll you have?" the owner asked.

"One bowl of… mushroom and shrimp… *small* wontons."

"Got it. Be right up. Grab a seat."

I sat outside the shop. *8 PM…* Dinner rush was over, but it wasn’t quite late-night snack time yet. I was the only customer.

"Here you go, kid." The wontons arrived in no time.

*Whoa, these are huge for nineteen bucks. Worth it.* Starving, I ignored the scalding heat and shoveled them in.

Midway through blowing on a spoonful, I froze. A familiar figure walked past—not far away. Xiaowu, in her white dress, strolled slowly toward the apartment building. I almost called out, but we barely knew each other. My courage vanished. I just watched her disappear.

"*Sigh…* Guys like me were never meant to be the tall, rich, handsome protagonist," I muttered to myself, eyes still fixed on where she’d been.

*Huh?* She hadn’t gone straight home. Instead, she glanced up at the building, then scanned the surroundings… before slipping into a side alley.

"*What’s Senior Xiaowu doing?*" I shook my head. *Whatever. Gotta finish eating first.*

After the wontons, I swung by a supermarket for cup noodles, bread, and daily essentials. By the time I got home, it was past 9 PM.

"I’ve never wasted this much time on something so boring. Whatever—time for a quick game." *Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s League of Legends.*

Door slammed shut. I lunged to my PC. Booted up League. Logged in. All under ten seconds.

An hour and a half later…

"*Seriously?* Three games, three trash teammates. *Ugh!* It’s Saturday—*vacation day!* Why did I queue now? *I’m such an idiot.*" I collapsed forward, head in hands—a familiar pose after every League session.

"*11 PM already…* Zhuo Junfeng should be here soon. *What to do till then?*" I shifted into a cross-legged meditation pose, thinking.

*Ding-dong~ Ding-dong~* The doorbell rang.

"*Speak of the devil?*"

*Click!* I flung the door open. "Zhuo Junfeng, let’s go dr—" *Wait. Huh?!*

"Sorry, Xiaobai. It’s me again. What did you want to drink?" Not Zhuo Junfeng. Wuxiaowu stood there, her bright eyes sparkling like she’d found a new toy.

"*Tea.*" I recovered fast.

"*Tea* at 11 PM?"

"*Thirsty*, okay?"

"…"

"*Uh…* Senior, what did you need?" *Quick—change the subject!*

"Well…" Xiaowu tilted her head, a blush creeping up her neck. "I was hoping you’d walk me to the convenience store."

"*Why?*" *Ugh, slap myself!* Why ask *why*? Just say yes! Play it cool, and she’ll run off. A thousand horses galloped in my chest, but my face stayed perfectly calm.

"Oh! Our neighborhood’s been… unsafe lately. There’s this serial killer on the loose in Dongchuan Guang. Not safe for a girl alone at night."

"*Seriously?!*" Thank goodness. *Wait—did I forget something?*

Walking behind her downstairs, a faint floral scent drifted over—she’d just showered. The streets were empty past 11 PM. *Yeah, dangerous for a girl… But if a thug shows up? Perfect chance to play hero. Then maybe—*

"*Xiaobai! Keep up!*" She cut through my daydream.

"*Ahem!* New here. Don’t know the way."

"This way." She grabbed my sleeve and pulled me forward. *Nineteen years of singledom—and a cute senior was tugging my sleeve. My heart exploded.*

"*Uh…* Senior, isn’t there a supermarket over there?" *Slap!* Why did I say that?!

"Erm… What I need isn’t sold there. Only convenience stores carry it." She looked away, flustered.

"*Oh.* What on earth needs a convenience store but not a supermarket?"

We walked deeper into a quiet, dimly lit area. Sure enough—a convenience store stood near train tracks. Empty trains rumbled past. *Who takes trains here this late?*

*Chug-chug… Chug-chug…*

"*Man, those trains are loud. Do they run near our building?*" I muttered while waiting outside the store.

"Nope. The tracks are far from our complex," Xiaowu said, stepping out with a bag.

"Done shopping?"

"Mhm." She pulled a can of coffee from the bag and handed it to me.

"Thanks. Let’s head back." I peeked into her bag—just snacks. *What’s so special only convenience stores have it?*

"*Wait, Xiaobai…*" She pointed hesitantly down a deserted path beside the tracks. "*Let’s… take that way instead.*"

"Sure."

My brain short-circuited. *Why bring me to this creepy spot? Is spring finally here for me?!* My face burned crimson. *Thank god it’s dark—she’s ahead, can’t see.* *Focus!*

"*Senior, didn’t you say Dongchuan Guang has a serial killer?*"

"Yeah! Haven’t you seen the news? Gang fights, copycat killers, terror attacks… This city’s never quiet." She walked ahead, back turned.

"*All real?* I thought it was hype."

"Gangs and terrorists might be exaggerated… but the killer’s real. It’s been on TV."

"*What if I’m the killer?*" I joked.

"*You?*" She stopped, turned, and laughed. "*You’ve probably never even held a girl’s hand. Look at you—you couldn’t scare a kitten, let alone kill someone.*"

"*Hey!* Those are totally unrelated!" *God, her smile is angelic.*

We chatted all the way back, laughing easily. Even a socially awkward shut-in like me felt comfortable with her. *A girl this warm and genuine… perfect wife material. Not like those shallow fangirls.*

"*Hehe, Xiaobai, that joke was ice-cold. You’re such a dork.*"

"*Cold?* You just don’t get my League humor!"

"*League humor?* What’s that even mean?" She stood beside me, chin propped on her palm.

"*So cute…*" I whispered.

"*Huh?* What’d you say, Xiaobai? Didn’t catch it."

"*Ah!* Nothing!"

"*Hehe, sneaky.* What were you whispering about?" She tilted her head, then skipped ahead and stopped right in front of me.

"*Xiaobai…*" Her face flushed crimson as she looked up at me, head tilted. "*Could you… hug me?*"