Around noon, at store manager Heng Li's considerate suggestion, Chi Yuzhou and Hua Qi left the shop together.

With his bangs down, Chi Yuzhou's usual cold aura seemed to fade slightly. Hua Qi spoke up at that moment:

"I knew hanging out with Yuzhou would really teach me something."

"? Did you actually learn anything?"

Hua Qi nodded silently.

At least he'd learned tonight not to be too forward with women.

Though he lacked Chi Yuzhou's stunning looks, just grasping this truth was enough.

Maybe his failed relationships were because he'd been too eager—flooding chats with messages until he got rejected.

Hua Qi reflected quietly, then glanced at Chi Yuzhou, who shivered suddenly in his thin clothes.

A summer night shouldn't feel this chilly, but shivers weren't something he could control.

Hua Qi suddenly asked:

"Aren't you catching a cold?"

"No."

Chi Yuzhou didn't think much of it.

He'd heard only fools get sick. If he were truly dumb, he'd still be trapped in that dark room getting beaten.

Anyway, he wasn't a fool—how could he fall ill?

At the intersection, Hua Qi pointed opposite Chi Yuzhou's route home.

"I head this way."

"Mm. Bye."

Chi Yuzhou nodded and walked toward his apartment.

He felt like he'd forgotten something, but couldn't recall it just yet.

Forget it. Time for a steamed meat bun and bed.

Just after buying the bun and stepping outside, an uncontrollable yawn burst from him on the street.

Oh right—payday tomorrow.

Seemed like he could finally afford a proper meal.

......

Next day, Saturday. Noon arrived in a blink.

Outside blazed with sunshine, but inside one apartment, curtains stayed tightly shut. The room was silent except for faint keyboard taps and a low chuckle.

"...little shota... hehe, so cute... hehehe..."

Before the computer's dim glow, a figure sat cross-legged in a chair, ignoring appearances.

Guanmingxue stared at the 2D shota character on-screen, dark circles under her eyes from an all-nighter.

Her usual gold-rimmed glasses were swapped for thick, oversized frames. Despite the scorching heat, she wore out-of-season pajamas, surviving only on the AC blasting at its lowest setting.

This Guanmingxue shared zero resemblance to her school persona.

As the game progressed, the little shota neared full romance completion, about to unlock the final, coveted CG scene.

If any student saw this, it would shatter their quietly adored teacher's image.

A subtle smile curved Guanmingxue's lips as she typed, listening to voice acting through her headphones, her mood lifting.

But just before the climax, her phone rang sharply on the desk—perfectly ruining the moment.

"Who's so annoying..."

Annoyed, Guanmingxue picked up. Seeing "Mom," she reluctantly answered.

"Hello?"

"Mom? What's up?"

After speaking, she heard only static through her headset mic—her mom was likely outdoors.

"Hello? Xiaoxue, I'm not in Yinyun City right now. Free at the moment?"

"Yeah."

"Remember that apartment building your dad tasked me with? One tenant's been unreachable since yesterday. Might skip rent. Check on them for me?"

"Now?"

"Mhm. It's room 202. Wait—don't go yet! I haven't boarded the bus! Just go check, okay? Hanging up."

Urgent sounds followed, then dial tone.

Fine. Rent collection and vacations—her mom sure knew how to spice up life.

Their family didn't need the rent money; she just hated idleness.

Annoyed, Guanmingxue glanced back at the 2D shota but couldn't regain her excitement.

Might as well go. Only a ten-minute drive anyway.

She quickly changed into a gray hoodie, hiding her figure completely.

Tying her hair into a bun and slipping on a mask, she left, drove briskly to the nearby apartment building.

Her mind still replayed the game shota's sweet voice and tiny frame.

The 2D world was truly wonderful.

Grab food on the way back.

Guanmingxue yawned lazily, arriving at the building.

She climbed the side stairs, stood before room 203, and momentarily forgot the correct room number.

Whatever. She'd ask neighbors later about who was missing.

Masked, Guanmingxue gently pressed the doorbell with a slender finger. It rang over a minute—no answer.

Just as she decided no one lived there and turned to leave for food, the door opened.

The heat had made her sweat after standing there briefly, but the cool air rushing out almost made her shiver.

Yet the figure behind the door froze her gaze.

A white-haired little shota stood timidly there, barely as tall as her leg. Dressed in oversized clothes, with drowsy eyes and flushed cheeks, he nearly made her lose control and pounce.

Guanmingxue had always believed she wasn't a lolicon.

She just preferred things small.

Most importantly, no 3D boy could match a 2D shota's cuteness.

Even finding her ideal shota in 2D took far more effort than others.

Let alone in reality.

But seeing this white-haired boy, Guanmingxue... honestly admitted she was a lolicon.

She was into little boys.

Masked, Guanmingxue secretly swallowed hard. The little boy looked up and asked:

"Can I help you?"

"I... came to check if your guardian paid rent."

"Paid."

Hehe... even his voice was perfect. A quiet little shota too... hehehe.

Guanmingxue was grateful for her mask.

"Oh... sorry to bother you."

"Mm."

Seeing him move to close the door, Guanmingxue instinctively blocked it.

"Anything else?"

"You... look unwell. Is no adult home right now?"