In the end, it took Xinyu chasing Chen Yuzhe with flushed cheeks and pummeling him for ages before he reluctantly deleted the photo.

*Ahem.* Chen Yuzhe cleared his throat, turning serious. "Why’re you dressed like this today? Did you buy a maid outfit?"

"N-no way!" Xinyu stamped her foot in embarrassment, blinking up at him with wounded eyes. "The... the shop owner suggested it. Since it’s the anime club meetup today, and there happened to be a maid costume here at the party house, he made me..."

*So it was Bro Jing’s doing? Ugh, he really... I told him these are my friends. Making her do something this embarrassing...*

*...Well played. Nice.*

"Don’t stress about it," Chen Yuzhe consoled her. "Everyone’s from the anime club today—no one’ll think it’s weird. Besides—"

"You actually look really good in it."

Xinyu suddenly ducked her head, eyes darting away.

"R-really?" she whispered.

"Of course. A short-haired maid? Absolutely perfect. No guy could resist how cute you are."

"...Including you, senior?"

"Naturally." Chen Yuzhe frowned inwardly. *Why ask that? Did I overdo the friendliness these past days? Does she actually... like me now?*

*Whatever. Han Cheng’s joining the battlefield soon. Once he starts grinding affection points, he’ll overtake me in minutes. A handsome rich guy and an average dude don’t play the same game—like RMB players versus free players.*

*Point is, I’m not worried about stealing the spotlight. Hot guys and regular guys hit completely different. Unless Han Cheng screws up royally, Xinyu’d never ditch him for me.*

So when Xinyu acted all flustered in front of him, Chen Yuzhe smoothly changed the subject:

"Ah, the meetup’s starting. Let’s head in."

He strode into the room without waiting for her reply.

Xinyu stole a shy glance at his back, bit her lip, and hurried after him.

——

——

"Attention, all new and old members of the Anime Club!"

"Welcome to our welcome party!"

"We’ve packed this entire afternoon with games and activities to help everyone bond. So—"

Jiang Xiaoyao raised her glass high. "Let’s have an awesome afternoon!"

"YEAH!!!!"

"Cheers!"

The party house erupted into cheers as Jiang Xiaoyao fired up the crowd.

Chen Yuzhe sat quietly in a corner, sipping Corona beer while his gaze drifted over the room.

Most new members buzzed with excitement, chattering nonstop. Girls huddled together, squealing over anime characters; guys clustered in corners, grinning as they debated which "waifu" ruled.

Some newcomers had already started games—those were the slightly more socially active types. They didn’t live purely in the 2D world; they used it as a social tool.

Watching them laugh and chat, Chen Yuzhe guessed some were already planning how to deepen connections with people they liked.

His eyes shifted to the senior members.

Most were girls, varying in looks. The well-dressed ones had joined the newcomers’ games or were surrounded by eager freshman otakus, coyly discussing costumes.

"Yeah, this Arknights cosplay? It’s all Chen-sir’s design. I bought the wig and base outfit, but sewed every accessory myself."

Chen Yuzhe remembered her—Yang Wenjin. Not stunning naturally, but a makeup wizard. Now she posed amid a circle of freshmen, giggling as she let them snap photos.

"I wore this exact cosplay at L City Comic Con last month! Maybe some of you saw me there... Oh, and I wore my Eight-Direction Sakura costume at CJ too."

*Liar. You went to CJ?* Chen Yuzhe snorted inwardly.

Yang Wenjin loved bragging—claiming she’d met YAOYAO at cons, gotten Paigu’s autograph, heard Shuangsheng sing live... as if she haunted every event nationwide.

She’d never been to any. Pure fabrication.

Right now, she didn’t care who surrounded her. She just craved the envious stares. For vanity’s sake. Even if it was just a bunch of loser otakus.

*...Honestly, that’s some serious attention-seeking behavior.*