Xu Lin noticed that the description text next to the mineral water had become fainter, almost invisible unless he looked closely.
“Does this have something to do with it? Or is it because the quantity decreased?”
He hadn’t noticed this issue before and didn’t have an answer.
As Minerva said, you won’t know many things without trying.
Looks like they had to keep experimenting.
Xu Lin shared his thoughts with Li Zhi Ran, and as expected, she was eager to continue.
They decided to keep testing with the <Positive Role> tag. Having been remotely affected earlier, Xu Lin had gained some energy, which should be enough for experiments.
He tried synthesizing <Positive Role> with cola, creating Joyful Bubbly Water.
After synthesis, he let Li Zhi Ran try it first.
She drank it and let out a burp.
Hearing her burp, Xu Lin’s first reaction wasn’t surprise but laughter.
Unfazed by his laughter, Li Zhi Ran joined in, laughing cheerfully.
Then Xu Lin tried the Joyful Bubbly Water.
It tasted like cola, but the fizz was denser and more abundant.
After drinking, he couldn’t help but burp.
The sound triggered laughter from those around them.
Amid the laughter, Xu Lin didn’t feel embarrassed and joined in.
He understood this was the power of Joyful Bubbly Water, uplifting everyone’s mood—though triggered by burping.
It was a bit…
It didn’t feel like much during the effect, but once it wore off, it was mortifying.
Yet Li Zhi Ran remained unfazed.
Xu Lin also noticed that the effect on her was weaker than on him.
Her burp was softer, and the crowd’s reaction was less intense.
Next, he tried <Sweet Tooth> with mineral water.
After drinking, it was sweeter than regular water, almost as if sugar had been added.
This effect was gentler, relaxing the mind and evoking pleasant memories, like an aftertaste.
This time, Li Zhi Ran’s reaction was stronger.
And she got hooked.
She urged Xu Lin to try more drinks with both tags, even using the uneaten burger meant for Noxis.
She apologized to Noxis for taking her half-eaten burger.
Indeed, Xu Lin noticed that Noxis’s burger tasted different, not just like a cold burger.
Even the synthesized effects had subtle differences.
After testing so many items, they confirmed one fact.
Items synthesized with <Positive Role>, made from Lin Shen Xue’s tag energy, worked on Li Zhi Ran but were extremely weak.
Even just holding those items caused their effects to diminish, as shown by the increasingly transparent description text Xu Lin saw.
Conversely, items synthesized with <Sweet Tooth>, made from Li Zhi Ran’s tag energy, were highly effective on her.
Not only did her tag status progress increase (though still in single digits), but her reactions to the effects were vivid.
As for Xu Lin, he reacted strongly to items from both tag energies.
However, with Li Zhi Ran’s tag effects, his reactions were less intense than hers.
It was like he drank water, but she got drunk from it.
“The secret to fighting witches lies within the witches themselves.”
Li Zhi Ran concluded calmly, her expression cold again.
It was a stark contrast to her eager, experimental demeanor earlier.
During the tests, she was always the first to try, her eyes full of anticipation.
Now, she seemed to have entered a post-experiment “sage mode.”
“And you, young hero…”
She looked at Xu Lin, her gaze intense.
“…you are the perfect person to uncover the secrets within witches and fight them.”
“Even as a witch myself, I don’t fully understand this power. It’s up to you, young hero.”
Her eyes burned with expectation.
It did seem that way.
Xu Lin agreed.
“So, young hero, do you have the Gravity Witch’s contact?”
“Why bring her up suddenly?”
Xu Lin had been pondering how to act on her expectations, caught off guard by her question.
“If you have it, ask her out! Then we can gain more power to fight her!”
“Uh, does it have to be now?”
“Since we’ve found the key, we must act without delay.”
“But can’t we get it from you…”
“It’s different!”
Li Zhi Ran leaned closer to Xu Lin.
Her cold face so close made his breath catch.
“Even I know the Gravity Witch is highly unstable. I’m stable and can wait, but she can’t—delaying could cause changes.
“But earlier…”
“Before, I didn’t understand your situation, and you were locked onto by her magic, in mortal danger. But after our experiments, I see we need to tackle your issue through the Gravity Witch.
“So, we need more information from her.”
Xu Lin was initially confused, but her firm explanation stirred him.
“I understand!”
He responded with equal resolve.
He recalled the [Heavy Girl’s Love] still lingering in his status bar.
He knew dragging this out would lead to no good.
No matter what, he had to face Lin Shen Xue again.
What difference did it make between now and tomorrow?
He made up his mind.
The intense atmosphere between Xu Lin and Li Zhi Ran stunned the onlookers in KFC.
Earlier, people had watched them test various drinks.
Each time, Xu Lin would fiddle briefly and claim a new “magic potion” was made.
Li Zhi Ran played along, reacting vividly after drinking.
At first, people were intrigued, but now they understood.
This was a couple’s quirky way of showing affection.
But Li Zhi Ran’s latest words shattered their worldview.
She seemed to be encouraging her boyfriend to ask out another girl—to save the world, no less.
Some guys took note.
“Babe, listen, I was saving the world yesterday.”
“Is that why you’re chatting with a dozen other boyfriends? Well, I’m saving the world too!”
They were doomed to chaos.
Xu Lin didn’t care what others thought, his heart now brimming with confidence.
He took out his phone and opened the snowman avatar’s chat.
Messages were still flooding in.
A strange force surged from the frantic messages, rushing toward Xu Lin.
The [Heavy Girl’s Love] status, previously faded to 25% opacity, instantly solidified, its effects vivid.
“Lin, are you free?”
Unfazed, he sent the message.
The flood of messages paused, stopping at his.
No reply came for a long time