Fortunately, the Demon Hunter girl hadn’t poked the eye too many times. Luo Ling finally let out a sigh of relief—only to realize he could’ve manually cut off the Scrying Eye’s vision anytime. That would’ve spared him the torment. A flicker of frustration crossed his mind.
Had his brain really gotten this slow?
He shook it off and returned to grinding bots under his roommate’s guidance. That magic circle was rainproof anyway. No need to worry what the girl might do.
On the library rooftop, after poking the painted eye several times, Xiao You confirmed it was just a drawing—though uncannily lifelike, almost creepy.
“Wuyou, do you smell something?” Ning Shuang suddenly asked.
“Smell?” Xiao You took a deep sniff. A faint scent lingered. “Hmm… maybe? But what is it?”
“Smells… kinda like peanut oil?” Ning Shuang said uncertainly.
“Ning Shuang, are you just hungry?”
“Might be…” She gave an awkward smile. “Walking around outside… now that you mention it, yeah, I’m a bit hungry.”
After two days together, Xiao You knew her roommate had a hearty appetite—not monstrous, but perfectly normal for her build.
“How about we grab food and head back to the dorm?” Xiao You suggested.
“Sure! Uh… wait, shouldn’t we try the urban legend thing first?”
“Oh right! Let’s do it here.”
Facing east, they silently counted. Minutes passed. Nothing happened.
“Feels like we got pranked…” Ning Shuang muttered, annoyed.
“Don’t sweat it,” Xiao You consoled her. “Urban legends are usually baseless rumors—made up by people with agendas. No need to take them seriously.”
(Luo Ling: Achoo! Who’s talking about me?)
“Well, let’s go eat!”
And just like that, they left the rooftop empty-handed.
Back in the dorm, Luo Ling muttered inwardly: “Huh… Ning Shuang wears black lace? Bold. And Wuyou’s got cute cat patterns? Unexpected… but kinda fits her.”
His roommates patiently guided him through bot matches while he “admired the scenery.” If they found out, they’d strangle him alive…
*“Do you have a favorite small animal?”*
*“Yeah, but you go first.”*
*“Okay… I like kittens.”*
*“Me too!”*
A random memory flashed—leaving him dazed.
*Hallucination? Memory? I do like cats… A catgirl loli would be ideal. Wonder if the Demon Clan has any…*
“Luo Ling, dodge! You’re dead!”
His roommate’s shout snapped him back. Screen: monochrome.
“Ah, sorry… didn’t react in time,” he mumbled awkwardly.
“No big deal. You’re new. Dying happens. Just keep practicing,” Perlin said.
With the girls gone, Luo Ling refocused.
Yep. Women really do mess with your in-game reflexes.
They wrapped up early—tomorrow required waking up sharp.
“Turning off the lights?”
Naturally, Liangqiu Long, still up, handled it.
“Go ahead.”
*Click.* Darkness swallowed the room.
“Good night.”
He said it to his roommates—and himself.
Game-high still buzzing, but sleep came first. Real work awaited.
---
In a girls’ dorm room, four friends huddled for a late-night chat.
“Jinghua, when are you and Haolin taking the next step?”
“What step?”
“Don’t play dumb! You know what I mean.”
“You just love running your mouth!”
Jinghua fake-swung; the other dodged playfully—their usual routine.
“We’re waiting. Graduation, jobs, stability… then marriage. Honestly, why are *you* all more anxious than us?”
“Staying together till graduation is fine, but delaying marriage till *after* jobs? Way too late!”
“Totally!” two voices chimed in.
“Is it? I don’t think so…” Jinghua murmured.
“People change! How can you guarantee he won’t meet someone else in three years? Haolin’s handsome, kind, campus-famous. If everyone didn’t know he was taken, girls would’ve swarmed him already.”
“Really?”
“You’re too wrapped up to see it. Jinghua, stay alert! What if some girl cuts in line and steals him? You’d have no tears left.”
“It won’t happen… I trust us.” Her voice wavered.
“Drop it. It’s their business. Jinghua, teach us dating tips instead!”
“Yes! Spill your secrets!”
“Uh…”
Jinghua’s smile tightened. Those words had planted a quiet knot in her chest.
---
Scene shift: a tucked-away bar in Tianhua Commercial District. Modest traffic, but the owner didn’t care—it was just a cozy spot for friends, drinks, and chatter.
Small but complete: bar counter, booths, private rooms. Premium liquor, elegant decor. Patrons praised it—except for the tricky location.
Inside one private room sat several fresh-faced youths, barely twenty. Among them: a strikingly handsome young man named Chen Haolin.
