Upon seeing Xu Lin, Lin Shen Xue jogged over, quickly arriving in front of him.
“Sorry, Xu Lin, I’m late.”
Lin Shen Xue stopped before him, her chest rising and falling slightly, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead.
Her faintly flushed face carried a smile tinged with apology, her gentle voice mixed with a hint of breathlessness.
“It’s fine, I just got here too.”
As he spoke, Xu Lin’s gaze shifted to the side of Lin Shen Xue’s head.
There, a chibi version of her smiled happily.
Her state seems good.
Before coming, Xu Lin had drunk Sweet Bliss Cola.
While the system’s tag status page showed changes in their tag statuses, it wasn’t as responsive as he’d hoped.
It only reflected the results after changes occurred.
If the change was positive, that was fine. But if it was negative, it’d be trouble.
Acting after something happened was mere damage control.
Xu Lin wanted to prevent negative changes to have more control and safety when dealing with them.
During his experiments with Li Zhi Ran, he’d noticed a possibility.
Before her status changed, there was a precursor—her mood shifted.
Sweet Bliss Cola was the key to spotting this.
The only question was whether this applied to Lin Shen Xue.
But having a method was better than groping in the dark.
To be fully prepared, Xu Lin had chugged several cans of cola before coming.
Combined with what he drank during the experiments, it should sustain him for hours.
“This pressure…”
Despite Lin Shen Xue’s good mood, Xu Lin felt an invisible force locking onto him, overwhelming with pressure.
He opened the system panel and checked his status. The [Heavy Girl’s Love] negative status had intensified.
And a new one had appeared: [Heavy Girl’s Gravity Field].
…What did I do wrong?
“Young hero, don’t just stand there—it’s a great opportunity!”
Li Zhi Ran’s slightly excited voice snapped him out of it.
“What opportunity?”
Xu Lin pressed the owl carving in his pocket.
“A chance to offer water. First, give her a tissue to wipe her sweat, chat a bit, then buy her water.”
Xu Lin recalled the sweat on her forehead.
Right!
Whether it was Lin Shen Xue’s overwhelming presence or something else, he hadn’t thought of that.
Having a strategist was useful.
Stay calm, stay calm.
Xu Lin took a deep breath.
He pulled out a pack of tissues from his pocket and handed it to Lin Shen Xue.
She hurriedly took it with both hands, her movements slightly clumsy.
“No need to rush. Look, you’re all sweaty. Wipe it off and sit to rest.”
Xu Lin smiled, gesturing to the stone chair by the stone table.
“Wait here a sec, I’ll grab a bottle of water.”
He quickly headed to the nearby vending machine.
“Young hero, you were too stiff earlier.
“The Gravity Witch’s magic fluctuated. You need to act more naturally.”
Xu Lin had sensed her change, which was why he’d rushed to buy water.
But her chibi figure was smiling happily, wasn’t it?
Did I mess up again?
Soon, he returned with two bottles of water.
Both were synthesized into Relaxed and Refreshing Mineral Water.
He realized he’d need one himself to handle this.
Before heading back, he took another deep breath.
Stay calm, stay calm.
He muttered to himself, steadying his mood.
Back at the stone table, he found Lin Shen Xue still standing, holding the tissue pack without moving.
“Lin, water. It’s pretty hot today.”
He glanced up at the sky through the tree canopy.
Indeed, though school had started a while ago, the sun was still intense.
“Thanks.”
Lin Shen Xue took the water with both hands, thanking him softly.
“Lin, sit.”
Xu Lin sat on one of the stone chairs and pointed to the opposite seat.
He unscrewed his bottle and took a sip.
The smooth sensation eased his nerves.
Forget chanting “stay calm”—a sip of this water works better.
“Mm.”
Lin Shen Xue’s soft voice came as she sat beside him.
A strange gravitational pull hit him.
Xu Lin stiffened, taking another sip.
“It’s really hot.”
He kept drinking to encourage her, glancing to her side.
Good, her tag was on the other side.
But he noticed something else.
Lin Shen Xue carefully tucked the tissue pack and water bottle into her bag.
The bottle was still full, and the tissues were unopened.
Her forehead still glistened with sweat.
“Lin, why aren’t you drinking?”
“I don’t wan—uh, Xu Lin, I’m not thirsty.”
She smiled serenely at him.
“Lin, in this weather, you should drink to stay hydrated.”
“It’s fine, Xu Lin. I drank water before coming.”
She deflected with another smile.
“The first attack failed. The Gravity Witch is tough, as expected.”
Li Zhi Ran’s regretful voice came through.
Really not thirsty?
I saw you tuck that water away like it’s treasure…
And didn’t you start to say “I don’t want to”?
No need for that, girl.
Xu Lin felt a twinge of fear.
As she spoke, the gravitational pull grew stronger.
Her chibi figure’s smile grew even brighter.
…
It’s fine, we’re just starting.
Xu Lin took another sip and psyched himself up.
If she wasn’t thirsty now, she might be later.
He’d keep talking until she was parched—then she’d have to drink, right?
Besides, he couldn’t just sit silently with her. He had to talk about something.
And this was a chance to achieve his other two goals.
Xu Lin took another sip, sneaking a glance at his gains.
“Xu Lin, why did you ask me out?”
Before he could swallow, Lin Shen Xue spoke first.
Her head was slightly lowered, her voice softer but clear.
Xu Lin quickly set down the bottle and screwed the cap tight.
Alarm bells rang in his head.
No, I can’t let her control the conversation.
It could veer into unpredictable territory.
He smiled. “Didn’t we say before? We’d meet up offline sometime.”
He recalled their WeChat chats.
They mostly talked about games, but occasionally shared personal details.
He’d learned they were from the same city and both university students.
Though they hadn’t revealed genders or shared photos.
So he’d jokingly suggested meeting up sometime.
“I just didn’t expect we’d not only be from the same city and university but in the same department. Come to think of it, we’ve probably ‘met’ offline in public classes before.”
And you’re the famous department beauty, Lin Shen Xue, while I’ve already added you as a friend—something countless guys couldn’t do.
Xu Lin kept those thoughts to himself.
He wasn’t sure how she’d react, so he played it safe.
“Yeah, it’s quite a coincidence.”
Lin Shen Xue gave him a gentle smile.
Her chibi figure smiled even wider.
This topic’s not bad.
But why do I feel the gravity getting heavier?