"Li Xiaoxian!"

Inside the office, evaluators flanked Pu Shuomin on both sides, pens and papers ready to score the boy who’d just stepped in.

The vast room was unnaturally silent. The newly summoned boy froze slightly upon seeing the panel—nerves flickering across his face.

"Relax. No need to be so tense."

Pu Shuomin’s voice was flat, robotic, utterly devoid of warmth.

Li Xiaoxian, now standing before them, felt his anxiety tighten another notch.

"Li Xiaoxian. No major hereditary conditions. Eighteen. First-time sperm bank registrant. Shoulder width, neck length, leg proportion, height, weight…"

She skimmed the file, then lifted her gaze. "Stand. Chest out. Chin up. Eyes forward."

He obeyed instantly, staring straight ahead.

Pu Shuomin rose, circled him slowly, inspecting every angle.

"I think he’s solid—great proportions, decent looks. Should be an A, right?"

"Proportions are good, but a bit short. Cute-type face. I’d still give him an A."

"Definitely A. That shy little look… honestly, it’s making me feel a little flustered."

"Damn, don’t get turned on here—I am *not* mopping up a puddle later."

"------"

Whispers rippled among the junior evaluators. Most were clearly impressed.

"Not bad."

After a pause, Pu Shuomin nodded. "You may proceed to donate. Results will be texted. Subsidy arrives by tomorrow. Check your phone."

"Thank you!"

Li Xiaoxian had barely dared to breathe around Pu Shuomin—her sharp, mature presence radiating quiet pressure. Relief washed over him. He exhaled softly, muttered thanks, and practically fled the stifling room.

"So? Team Leader Pu! First boy was *that* good—definitely an A, right?"

Evaluators crowded around as Pu Shuomin calmly marked… B.

"Still far off."

"But how?! What’s missing?"

"Height. Obvious. Also—slight anterior pelvic tilt. Hair lacks luster. Not smooth enough."

"Holy crap, you noticed *that*? I saw the height, missed the tilt… and hair quality counts?!"

"Why wouldn’t it?"

Her cool retort silenced them. None had ever considered hair before.

"Next: Gongli Linghua!"

After logging the result, the next boy entered.

"Face okay, height acceptable—but overweight, oily complexion, thinning hair. Poor sleep habits, likely… Grade C!"

------

"Next: Yu Xiaoxiao."

"Too tall, too bony. Unbalanced… Grade C!"

------

"Next: Feng Moli!"

"Eyes too small. Marginally better than Li Ronghao… Grade C!"

--------

Over a dozen boys came and went. Pu Shuomin remained sharp, energetic.

The others slumped at their desks, chins propped, weary despite doing less work.

Pu’s critiques had quietly upgraded their standards. Boys once deemed handsome now felt… ordinary.

"Ugh. After working with Team Leader Pu, my taste’s gotten *too* refined."

"Same. Soon I won’t even glance at cute boys in stylish streetwear."

"Haha—upgraded aesthetics should be good… so why does life feel dull now?"

"------"

They exchanged wry smiles.

"Hey girls—remember that TikTok video? That unreal-looking guy from our district?"

"Oh yeah! So gorgeous I thought it *had* to be photoshopped."

"His photo buddy came in earlier! Looked just like the pic—so *he* might be real too."

"Yu Mo, right? Adorable, energetic… drops flirty lines too. *Swoon*."

"*Cough*—didn’t you ask for his number? He said ‘ugly reject.’ Died laughing!"

"Rude! Digging up scars?!"

"Hahahaha!"

"------"

The room brightened with laughter, teasing the embarrassed evaluator.

"Still… he probably won’t show. Deadline’s near. Skip it, get blacklisted."

"Don’t dream. Even if he comes—makeup thick enough to brew boba."

"Can’t you hold *one* tiny hope?"

"Heh~"

Silence crept back in. Minutes ticked by.

Until—

"Next: Leng Shuang!"

Throat dry, Pu Shuomin called the name, then reached for her water cup.

The door opened. A head peeked in—hesitant, shy.

Then he stepped fully inside, closed the door, clenched his fist once, shook off the nerves, and stood tall.

His natural aura of serene purity settled over him—poised, graceful, effortlessly radiant.

Youthful vitality flooded the room.

Eyes snapped open. Slumped evaluators jolted upright, jaws slack.

*Him.*

The boy from the video they’d called "too perfect to be real."

Here. Breathing. *More* vivid than the photo.

"What’s wrong with you all?"

Pu Shuomin, back still turned, sensed the shift. She frowned, turned—

and her own eyes widened in stunned disbelief.