“No progress! Absolutely zero progress!”
“I stayed up past ten playing with Su Peng last night—so why didn’t my affection points budge even a little?”
“And Su Peng’s suddenly on high alert! He bolts the second I get close. What’s his deal?”
An Han stood before the neighboring dorm door, grumbling nonstop about Su Peng’s uncooperative act.
This didn’t make sense. Last time they played mini-games together, affection points jumped five points effortlessly.
The moment his knuckles tapped the door, his grumpy face melted into a gentle smile. “Su Peng! Time to get up and eat!”
He suddenly recalled yesterday’s cafeteria chat.
*Did Su Peng think I’m into guys? That’s why he’s avoiding me?*
Probably.
But I already cleared that up!
An Han agonized again: act warm like before? Su Peng’ll keep thinking he’s gay. Stay distant? Affection points won’t rise.
The door opened. Su Peng stood there, impeccably neat—as always, not a hair out of place.
“Su—”
An Han started to speak, but Su Peng cut in: “I’ve got a date today.”
“An Kexin?”
“Mm.”
An Han froze—then lit up. *Perfect chance!*
As a bro, being his wingman should boost points, right?
Eagerly: “Can I come too?”
Su Peng blinked. “Huh?”
“You don’t need a wingman?” An Han pressed, overly helpful.
Su Peng shook his head flatly. “A wingman? Yeah, right.”
“What’s wrong with me?”
“Didn’t you ruin Dong Ming’s shot with a girl before?”
An Han feigned deep thought, then snapped fingers. “Oh, *that*? Dong Ming’s own fault. Zero to do with me.”
Su Peng didn’t bother replying. He turned and strode toward the stairs.
An Han scampered after him. “Seriously! If you like her, I’ll be the *best* wingman!”
Too late. Past sins had burned all trust.
“It’s just mild interest. Not dislike. Not ‘like’.”
An Han felt Su Peng’s pace quicken—power-walking like he was fleeing.
He jogged to keep up. “I’ve got nothing else! Take me?”
“No.”
Defeated, An Han stopped at the corridor’s end, watching Su Peng vanish below. Head pounding.
“What now?”
If the task were hopeless, he’d shrug. But it was *almost done*.
Ugh. Should’ve picked Task Three! Wearing a swimsuit all day? Easy—just layer it under normal clothes. Why suffer this groveling… and get labeled gay?
*So careless.*
He stared after Su Peng’s fading figure, hope already dead.
*Screw it. Let the system upgrade or crash. Let someone else handle this.*
*I’m done.*
Damn it! A normal guy twisted by this system, running errands for nothing!
Muttering curses, he turned to leave—then froze.
Su Peng, nearly out of sight, had turned back. Walking straight to the dorm.
*Forgot something?*
Joy flickered—then he scowled. “Whatever! I quit!”
*All that effort… for nothing.*
…Yet he waited.
Su Peng ambled up the stairs.
“Yo!”
“Yo my ass!” An Han shot him a glare. “Why bail on the girl? Forget your keys?”
“Nah. Saw you staring like a statue waiting for her husband. So I canceled.”
“You’re the statue!”
【Su Peng's Affection +2】
*Is he insane? Or a masochist?*
Cursing *actually* raised points?
An Han narrowed his eyes. “Aren’t you scared I’m gay—trying to ‘turn’ you?”
“Thought about it. Unlikely.” Su Peng leaned beside him, gaze on the courtyard. “If you were gay… you wouldn’t be this… girly.”
“Hiss— Damn you!”
An Han sucked in a sharp breath, ready to kick him off the stairs.
Since the system started feminizing him, *girly* was a landmine.
“Get lost!”
*(If Su Peng had a system, it’d flash: 【An Han's Affection -100】)*
Stomping toward his room, he hissed: “*You’re* girly! Your whole family’s girly! Go date her! Why come back?!”
Su Peng followed. An Han’s face burned crimson, cheeks puffed like a startled pufferfish.
Oddly… cute. Not forced. Just *him*.
*Calling a guy cute again? Wake up.* But he couldn’t stand seeing An Han look so lost.
And he wouldn’t lose a friend over suspicion.
Unaware, An Han’s heart hammered. When Su Peng leaned closer, he swiveled away.
“Game later?”
“I’m eating breakfast!”
“Game *after* breakfast?” Su Peng smiled, scooting nearer.
“Are you messed up?! Now *I* suspect *you’re* gay! Skipping a date to buzz around me like a fly?!”
Su Peng chuckled. “Never wanted to go with An Kexin anyway.”
He’d used the date to escape An Han… but halfway there, gaming with him felt more fun.
An Han kept insisting he wasn’t trying to “turn” him. Maybe *he* was just overthinking—getting flustered around a guy.
*Yeah… probably just needs to blow off steam.*
An Han marched ahead, scowling. “You’re a masochist!”
“How?”
【Su Peng's Affection +1】
*Worse attitude = higher points?*
An Han glanced back at Su Peng’s calm smile.
…Yep. Total masochist.
