"D-done for..."

Alena only just realized a serious problem.

She... didn’t understand a word the salesperson was saying.

Computers and all that... she knew nothing about them!

"Um... sorry, I don’t get this kind of thing..."

Timidly interrupting the salesperson, Alena felt deeply embarrassed.

...

The salesperson paused briefly before speaking:

"Sorry, miss. I jumped the gun earlier. Buying this for your boyfriend, huh? Hahaha..."

It was Valentine’s Day, after all. Perfectly normal for a girl to gift her boyfriend.

"He’s NOT my boyfriend!"

Alena snapped, startling the salesperson.

"Okay, okay, my bad, miss."

To the salesperson, Alena now seemed like a classic tsundere...

"So, miss, what kind of computer does your... friend want? Or what’s he using it for?"

Since Alena didn’t grasp technical terms, the salesperson kept it simple.

Hmm...

Alena weighed her options carefully before deciding.

"Something just for gaming... umm... the best kind."

"Miss, a high-end portable gaming rig with top specs costs a fortune."

The salesperson braced her for sticker shock to avoid arguments.

"Price isn’t an issue. Get that one."

Top specs? Sounded like the premium model...

*Rich girl*, the salesperson thought. *Lucky guy. Meanwhile, I’m still single...* He sighed inwardly.

Soon, Alena exited the store. She tucked two palm-sized boxes into her shopping bag and winced at her payment card’s balance.

"Wah... so expensive..."

Sixty thousand for a "budget" gaming laptop? No wonder the shop was empty!

Achoo!

At that moment, the salesperson sneezed.

"Who the hell’s gossiping about me...?"

................................................................

"Hey!"

Alena jolted—she’d wandered to the entrance without noticing. Turning back, she heard Cleyna calling. After scanning the area, she spotted the two idiots waiting by the door.

But...

"Phew! Scared us half to death. Thought you got lost," Melly laughed awkwardly, masking something.

"Excuse me..."

Alena wasn’t fooled that easily.

"Why... did you buy nothing? You made such a scene..."

Indeed, both had empty hands.

"Tch. Didn’t work," Melly muttered under her breath.

Truth was, they’d caused chaos—Cleyna even hauled an entire shelf to checkout. They were lucky security didn’t detain them.

Alena said nothing. She’d expected this. Why else buy all those materials?

As they headed home, Melly and Cleyna offered to carry her bags. Alena yanked her hands away like they were toxic, leaving them baffled.

..................

..................

Back home... shockingly... those guys were still asleep.

Fine. Saved them the hassle of hiding. But they had to wake up now!

Time to make handmade chocolates.

Elwin and Qin Fan were slapped awake by Melly and Alena. Lixin? Cleyna hoisted her over her shoulder and marched out.

"Hey! What’re you doing! I’m up! I’m UP!"

It was 11 a.m.—Lixin wasn’t dead asleep—but Cleyna used her usual wake-up method. Lixin squirmed as she was carried, trapped by her thin sleepwear and the fear of her blanket slipping.

Pfft.

Dumped on the sofa, Lixin wrapped herself in the blanket and yelled: "MY CLOTHES! GIVE THEM TO MEEEE!"

................................................................

In the end, they got kicked out...

The trio stared at the bustling street, helpless.

"Why were we thrown out? What’s their deal..." Lixin grumbled, scratching her already messy bedhead. It tangled further.

"Who knows? They’ve always been like this," Elwin said calmly. He adjusted his glasses and strode ahead, stomach growling.

Walking together, they sensed something off.

"Don’t you feel it? Today’s vibe is weird," Qin Fan muttered. The others nodded. So many couples... and hostile stares prickled their skin.

...

They ducked into a random diner. The tension thickened. Every nearby table held couples. Gossip drifted over:

"Psst—check that table. Guy’s kinda hot." *Gossipy tone.*

"Girl’s adorable too. That messy, tired look? Total contrast-moe..." *Perverted tone.*

"Are they dating? But that glasses guy—what’s his deal? Total otaku. So plain..." *Mysterious tone.*

"You’re clueless. Girls like her have tons of suitors. Valentine’s Day? This might be the drama of the year..."

*Sidewalk News live report?*

...Can they just go home now?