“I’m heading back to the dorm for some AC.”

An Han turned to leave. His mind was still reeling from the groping incident—where was he supposed to find a reasonable excuse to complete Task Three?

He rarely picked compromise options and had no clue how tough they were.

Reaching the supermarket entrance, he glanced back. An Kexin hadn’t followed. He blinked in disbelief.

“Is this it?”

Was this task really no harder than the usual Task Three? Just say a line or do one thing?

Yet no completion notification had popped up.

Stay sharp.

He nervously scanned left and right, half-expecting An Kexin to leap out any second and grope him again.

She might even yank off his jacket, point at his chest, and leave him speechless.

But… An Kexin wasn’t that kind of person, right?

Could the system really warp others’ behavior just to crank up difficulty?

An Han treaded cautiously, eyes darting everywhere, dreading his own imagination coming true.

But by the time he stepped into the dorm building—nothing happened. Not a single surprise. And right on cue:

[Task Completed. Reward: Custom Chest Binder

Custom Chest Binder: Flattens any chest size perfectly to completely flat. Hidden Feature: Invisible even when shirtless. Cleaning Feature: Self-cleaning—no washing needed.]

He exhaled in relief. however simple the task was, the reward was his.

Even better than imagined!

Still effective shirtless—meaning he could stroll around post-shower in just shorts like old times, no worries.

Later, even if his physique maxed out with a bra size of E, F, or G? Total concealment guaranteed.

No more stress about washing, drying, or roommates spotting it.

If I’d known the system’s gear was this strong, I damn well would’ve chosen it sooner!

An Han’s mood lifted instantly. He quickened his pace toward the dorm, eager to test if the binder lived up to the hype.

But the moment he turned the corner into the hallway—

Su Peng stood waiting right outside his dorm door.

“How does this guy keep popping up out of nowhere?”

An Han muttered under his breath and waved. “Su Peng! Looking for me?”

Su Peng turned. That scrutinizing stare slowed An Han’s steps. A flicker of unease prickled his chest.

*Did I pull a prank recently?*

*Why’s he staring like that?*

Forcing his usual cheerful grin, An Han slapped Su Peng’s shoulder. “Where’d you vanish to? Woke up and you were gone.”

“My phone died. Borrowed a power bank from a friend.”

“You should’ve said—I’ve got one.” An Han noticed Su Peng’s gaze locked on his chest.

Acting casual, he pulled out his keys and unlocked the door. “Charged up now?”

“Yep.”

“Finally, AC.” An Han stretched while stepping inside, mind racing: *When did I offend him?*

*Impossible.*

Sure, affinity dipped once—but it’s been rising steadily since.

If I’d messed up, wouldn’t the system have flagged it?

He grabbed the remote, turned on the AC, and started rolling up the bamboo mat left from noon. Su Peng followed in, closed the door, and sat.

He watched An Han tidy up, hesitating.

“You needed something?” An Han asked, crouched with his back turned.

Mentioned, Su Peng spoke up: “Kexin messaged me earlier.”

“Her?”

An Han’s heart jolted. *So this is the task’s aftermath!*

“What’d she say?”

“She said… Just take your shirt off. Let me see.”

*Are you a pervert?!*

An Han had just shoved the mat into the closet—almost yanked out a wrench to swing.

Before, he’d strip without blinking. Now? Absolutely not.

He turned, sizing Su Peng up head to toe.

*Huh. Looks like a decent guy. Not some creep.*

“I’m serious,” Su Peng frowned. “I looked it up. Your condition might be serious.”

“Me? Serious?”

An Han genuinely didn’t get it—but saw real worry in Su Peng’s eyes.

Even more confused, he stared. “Wait… what exactly did An Kexin tell you?”

Su Peng replied gravely: “She said you might have a tumor on your chest. Hurts when touched. Sounded bad.”

“I don’t!” An Han stammered, eyes dropping to his own chest. “It’s not a tumor! That’s way off!”

“Then… lumps?”

*What?!*

An Han shook his head fast. “No way!”

“Could it be… development? Hiding it isn’t good. Want me to take you to the hospital?” Su Peng’s face softened with concern.

An Han forced an awkward laugh. *Is he teasing me on purpose?*

But he pieced it together:

An Kexin noticed the “lump,” he left without explaining—so she told Su Peng.

If he’d chosen Task Three and calmed her down with a solid excuse… none of this happens.

Damn. System tasks really are full of traps.

“Why so quiet?” Su Peng’s tone turned earnest. “We’re best friends, right? If something’s wrong, tell me.”

“Really, nothing.”

But Su Peng’s eyes screamed doubt.

He’d noticed An Han’s chest before but never cared—until now. He *had* to know.

“Maybe… I gained weight too fast?” An Han lied, voice shaky. “Chest got a bit bigger… You know how some guys get chests bigger than girls when they pack on pounds.”

“But you’re not fat.”

“Then… too much soy? Online says soy can cause feminization in men.”

“I checked. If a guy’s chest protrudes or sags—even from soy—you see a doctor.”

Su Peng watched An Han’s fingers clutching his shirt hem, eyes glued to his shoes. He raised an eyebrow. “You’re a terrible liar when nervous. The guiltier you feel, the clearer it shows.”

“Yeah?” An Han froze—then snapped out of it. Stopped fidgeting. Bolted toward the bathroom. “Stomach cramps! Don’t wait for me!”

*What the hell—tumor?!*

*An Kexin… what were you even thinking?!*