Chapter 18: Come Live at My Place

“Young hero, why did you suddenly leave?”

Li Zhi Ran had overheard Xu Lin’s parting words to Lin Shen Xue, but his awkward movements worried her.

“Witch Excellency, I drank too much water. That’s all. Can’t talk for a bit—hanging up.”

She understood his euphemism and didn’t press.

She recalled Xu Lin had downed plenty of water and drinks—she had too.

As for why she felt nothing, witch business was best left unquestioned.

Since it was physiological, she couldn’t intervene.

She’d just keep watch on the Gravity Witch.

Li Zhi Ran turned back to the stone table.

?

Lin Shen Xue was gone.

She scanned the area—no sign.

The Gravity Witch’s aura was fading.

“She left?”

※

“Lin, sorry for the wait—”

Xu Lin returned to the stone table, greeting her with a relaxed smile—then froze.

“…Witch Excellency, why are you here?”

At the table now sat Li Zhi Ran, not Lin Shen Xue.

“The Gravity Witch left early.”

“Huh?”

Xu Lin was baffled.

This isn’t how the script goes.

He hadn’t planned to bail, yet she left first.

As he puzzled over why, his phone buzzed.

A message—from Lin Shen Xue.

“She had an emergency and left.”

He read it aloud to Li Zhi Ran.

“Then today’s operation ends here.”

Li Zhi Ran’s face showed no emotion.

“There’ll be other chances.”

“Also, young hero, your condition doesn’t look great.”

Her eyes held concern.

“It’s time to disengage from the Gravity Witch. Even if you hadn’t found an excuse, I’d have prompted you to end it soon.”

Xu Lin fell silent.

He agreed.

After the bathroom, not only was his bladder relieved, but the fog in his head had lifted.

Earlier, even chugging more mineral water wouldn’t have let him last much longer near Lin Shen Xue.

On the way back, he’d been thinking of an exit strategy.

He and Li Zhi Ran were in sync.

“Too bad the Gravity Witch didn’t drink the water.”

Li Zhi Ran sounded mildly regretful.

“Right.”

She reached into her fluffy bag and pulled out the black cat plushie.

Noxis.

“Young hero, hold still. Let Noxis examine you.”

She circled the plushie around Xu Lin.

He was starting to get used to this. No one was around anyway.

Li Zhi Ran’s expression was neutral at first—then her brows furrowed, face grave.

“Witch Excellency, what is it?”

Her look tightened his chest.

Did she find some danger I missed?

“Young hero, the Gravity Witch’s magic on you has strengthened.”

Xu Lin exhaled.

“I know that… Anything else?”

He asked cautiously, watching her face.

“No.”

She shook her head, brows relaxing, smiling at him.

“Otherwise, you’re perfectly healthy.”

Her face lit with admiration.

“As expected of the young hero!”

“Right—when you were with her, you zoned out a few times. Discover something?”

Sharp.

Xu Lin nodded. “Some gains.”

“But still far from breaking the Gravity Witch’s lock on me.”

First gain: the <?> tag hit 50% progress. Stuck on grade, but progress.

Second: nearly 10,000 <Heavy Girl> energy from Lin Shen Xue (6,000+ checked in the bathroom, plus prior spending).

Third: [Heavy Girl’s Love] had reached Lv5.

If it were a superpower, he’d be thrilled. This? Not so much.

So that’s why the magic felt stronger.

Halfway to death—five more levels and he’d be gone.

At this rate, he’d die before her <Heavy Girl> tag even turned <Yandere>.

But [Heavy Girl’s Love] had another breakthrough.

Maybe from all the water, the black-barred description was now readable.

Effects: already felt, nothing new.

Key part: how to remove it.

The first negative status with a specified solution.

But not instant removal.

It had to be downgraded level by level to Lv0.

If it dropped one, then rose again from Lin Shen Xue, it’d be wasted effort.

Still, hope.

The method: obtain “Lin Shen Xue’s Sentiment”.

First time a person’s name appeared in an item.

“Lin Shen Xue’s Sentiment” = <?> tag + “Heavy Girl’s Sentiment”.

was the one at 50%.

But “Heavy Girl’s Sentiment”? No clue.

Details just said: “Obtainable from <Heavy Girl> tag holder.”

Like a math textbook saying “obviously” or “easily derived.”

Also, the description listed which grade of Sentiment reduced which level of [Heavy Girl’s Love] and by how much.

Xu Lin realized he had a long road ahead.

Finally: Lin Shen Xue’s tag state remained Unstable · Moderate—no change.

But the pressure on him had increased.

At first, he was confused—her chibi was smiling happily, yet the gravity grew stronger, and he felt worse.

Then he saw [Heavy Girl’s Love] at Lv5.

Now he got it: that’s <Heavy Girl>’s trait.

The happier she is, the stronger her power.

The unhappier? Straight to <Yandere>.

So he couldn’t make her too happy… or unhappy?

The road ahead is rough.

These were all his gains from today.

He mentally reviewed them, wrapped them in chuunibyou jargon, and relayed them to Li Zhi Ran.

System details? Not a word.

“I see…”

Li Zhi Ran fell into thought.

So much info—she needed time to process.

Xu Lin watched her silently.

“Young hero, go home, pack your things, and come live at my place.”

She suddenly looked up, dead serious.

“What?”