No one knew what Liang Zhiming and his ex-girlfriend Wang Qian had discussed outside the door. The rest of the dinner passed without any further “interesting” incidents.

That’s right—I specifically used the word “interesting.”

Though I was playing Liang Zhiming’s “girlfriend,” my face fixed in an expression of “admiration” and “reverence,” I watched strangers perform the full spectrum of human drama around me like a movie. Toasting, chatting, fiddling with phones—my heart remained utterly unmoved.

If anything, I felt like laughing.

—What is this even?

Childhood buddies who skipped class together to hit internet cafes in high school… deliberately sabotaging their own friend’s relationship because they couldn’t stand seeing him bullied by a gold-digging girl, then pressuring him to break up?

Is the real world really this absurd?

“Xiao Xue needs to head back to campus soon.”

After dinner, Liang Zhiming—flaunting me as his “drop-dead gorgeous, busty, perfectly proportioned” devoted girlfriend—dragged me into several rounds of PUBG right in front of the genuinely clueless, the gossip-hungry onlookers, and the so-called friends pretending not to understand. As nine o’clock neared, he finally offered to see me back.

“Need a ride?”

Wang Lei from the other table stood up. “Which school? I’ll drive you.”

“No need.”

Liang Zhiming’s face flushed from alcohol, his tone icy. “We still have sweet nothings to share.”

“Ooh—” Wang Lei gave a knowing smirk. “Alright, I won’t disturb you lovebirds. Brother Zhi, treat your girlfriend well—don’t let her down.” He shot me a look thick with unspoken meaning.

“Thanks for your concern, ‘brother’,” Liang Zhiming stressed the word, scanning the room. “We’re heading out.”

“Bye, Brother Zhi!”

“Come drink again next time!”

“Sister-in-law, want leftovers? We ordered too much!”

Amid the chorus of strangers’ voices, Liang Zhiming led me out.

“8:40. Twenty minutes left—can you keep me company?” Outside the hotel, he gazed at the crimson-stained night sky from city lights. “I’ll call a taxi at nine and cover your fare.”

I followed silently, casually wiping the skirt pocket hiding the fruit knife with my knuckles. Pulled out my phone—pretending to check time, really confirming signal strength. Only after seeing full bars did I look up.

“Sure thing~”

Striking Rem the maid’s signature pose, I smiled sweetly. “Whatever Brother Zhiming wants to say, Xiao Xue will stay right here.”

“I don’t want to talk about me. Tell me about you.”

He sat by the stone lion statue with a sigh. “A girl like you… must have tons of suitors. Your future’s so bright.”

“Seeing you… I just feel like such a failure.”

“Good at nothing. Five, six years being a simp. Lost my girlfriend, money, even so-called brothers… How am I this pathetic…”

He paused. “You don’t need to pretend anymore—the reunion’s over. Be honest… Am I… really a failure?”

“Mm…” I sat beside him, gently taking his arm. “Does it have to be ‘special’?”

“Huh?”

“You said you like *Attack on Titan*, right?”

“Ah… oh.”

“Then, Brother Zhiming, you’re not a true fan.” I avoided his eyes. “Remember Episode 3’s ending theme, ‘Call of Silence’? When Eren’s mom holds him and tells Commander Pixis, ‘Does it have to be special?’ Do you remember?”

I tilted my head toward the sky, mimicking her gentle tone.

“At least… I don’t think so.”

“This child… doesn’t need to be extraordinary. Even if he’s not better than others… after all, he was born into this world…”

As I spoke, my mind screamed:

Five-star review!

Don’t forget the five-star review!

I played my part perfectly, went full chuunibyou for you—doesn’t that deserve five stars, boss? A tip would be even better.

“Mm…”

Liang Zhiming froze for seconds before blinking back. “You little fox… every word hits my weak spot. And you still dodge my question.”

I smiled enigmatically. “So… does Brother Zhiming also wish to be ‘special’?”

I knew my strongest weapon now was my appearance.

As a former novelist, years of writing taught me little except how to drape protagonists in golden auras.

Most isekai leads start with “Ding! Invincible system bound—go flex!” or “Spirit Strength: Level 3! Trash!” followed by “Mysterious ring? Truly terrifying!”—endless cheat abilities.

My only “cheat ability” now? This body. These memories.

A pretty, cute girl lowers quest difficulty anywhere, in any story.

Wouldn’t it be foolish not to use it?

“Almost nine. Let’s wrap up.”

After silence, a tipsy Liang Zhiming cast a lingering glance at my legs sheathed in over-the-knee black stockings. “If I book you again… can you be my girlfriend like today? I love your voice.”

“Of course!” I brushed stray bangs aside. “Whenever I’m free, Xiao Xue is at your call!”

College perks: fixed weekends, holidays off, no night shifts, light class schedules. Monday mornings free. Thursday and Friday afternoons clear. I could set those slots plus every evening 6–9 PM as “available” on the HualiMao app.

That’s 26 hours weekly. Push weekends to 8 hours/day? 42 total. Fully booked? 2,100 yuan.

Reality? Less than a third—around 700 yuan. Barely 100 yuan daily. I’d shift some of Mom’s allowance to cover loans. Frugal living? Manageable.

But temporary. I couldn’t skip meals and risk malnutrition. Needed more side gigs: writing novels again, short videos, content creation—maximize every spare moment.

This body and past-life memories? My real treasures.

“I realized renting a girlfriend on that platform saves so much.”

At exactly nine, waiting for the taxi, Liang Zhiming mused: “Three hours with you cost 150 yuan. Even with fare, barely 200. My ex’s bag cost thousands. Monthly gifts on the 14th. Never held her hand. Watched her mood. Got scolded for cheap cosmetics. Paying for misery—exhausting, unrewarding.”

*Ding dong!*

I checked the HualiMao notification:

【Service ended. Awaiting customer payment confirmation…】

Pocketing my phone, I flashed a playful smile. “Thank you for using Xiao Xue’s anime-style caring girlfriend service!”

“You…” He sighed. “This must be your real personality.”

“Maybe?”

“Uh…”

A taxi pulled up.

“Vocational College on Chang’an Avenue,” Liang Zhiming told the driver, waving his phone. “Paid already.”

The driver nodded.

“See you next time.”

“See you next time, boss!”

I waved, hopped in with my small bag.

“Boss?” The driver chuckled. “You young folks—so amusing.”

“Tell me about it.” I switched to a cheeky tone. “Someone covering my fare? That’s basically a boss.”

“Hah…”

“…”

…

Back at the dorm, shower gel scent hit me the moment I opened the door.

“Did these sneakily grow bigger? C’mere, let big sister squeeze~”

“No way… Let go, you old pervert!”

Keeping a calm face, I watched two girls—fresh from the bathroom in tiny panties—wrestling playfully on the balcony. I set my bag down and discreetly returned the fruit knife to its hiding spot.

“You’re back?” Chen Xiaorui, washing clothes in her underwear, eyed me curiously. “Date with some handsome guy?”

“A big boss from another university.”

I glanced at my phone, dug out long-unused sweatpants. Hesitated toward the bathroom, then sat right there—peeling off sweat-dampened over-the-knee stockings, uniform shoes, plaid skirt—and pulled on the sweatpants.

“Big boss? Wow, joking now? Not bad.”

Chen Xiaorui scanned my outfit. “Dressed like that… where to?”

I swapped uniform shoes for sneakers, grabbed my phone—

“To work out.”