Chapter 16: Can’t Hold It Anymore!

[To unlock the next stage, obtain any (Blue) grade tag recipe from the <Heavy Girl> tag holder]

There’s a grade requirement now?

A blue-grade tag? I want one too!

Xu Lin had already experienced that blue-grade Relaxed and Refreshing Mineral Water was far more effective than white-grade.

Now, even the <Positive Role> (white) tag was clearly losing its edge.

But the problem was, Xu Lin had no idea how to unlock a blue-grade tag recipe!

He’d spent enough time with Lin Shen Xue, and their conversation had a great vibe.

Yet, he’d only vaguely grasped how to gain more tag energy. No new tags had appeared during this, and now the system was demanding he unlock a higher-grade tag recipe.

I’ve had this system for less than a day!

Still, it showed the system held many secrets for him to uncover.

Looks like unlocking the question mark tag would have to pause here…

Xu Lin felt a twinge of regret.

But he quickly refocused on Lin Shen Xue.

She seemed to notice he was spacing out again.

Dangerous.

Even if he couldn’t progress further, he could still farm tag energy.

Stockpiling more energy couldn’t hurt.

This time, Xu Lin chatted with Lin Shen Xue without distractions.

They continued discussing cosplay for a while, the atmosphere still warm.

The only issue was that Xu Lin’s bladder was becoming a serious problem.

The dam was about to burst!

Lin Shen Xue was happily engaged, and he couldn’t find a good moment to excuse himself, so he kept holding it.

He still had some endurance left.

…

“Xu Lin, actually… I’m working on a cosplay of Yuki Hongye’s default card outfit.”

“But the materials and pattern are special, so it’s taking longer. It’s not done yet.

“Once it’s ready, I’ll wear it for you to see, okay?”

Lin Shen Xue lowered her head slightly, her voice suddenly shy.

Yuki Hongye’s default outfit?

Xu Lin recalled the card’s design.

That’s… quite a commitment.

He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

It wasn’t about the outfit being revealing—it was something else.

From their earlier chat, Xu Lin learned that Lin Shen Xue didn’t love cosplaying itself but making clothes.

She wore her current JK outfit naturally because it was within the realm of everyday acceptability.

But the default card outfit? That wasn’t something you wore casually.

Only someone like Li Zhi Ran could pull it off in public with nonchalance.

Look at her now—she’d mustered courage to say this.

It left Xu Lin unsure how to respond.

Did he want to see it?

Of course.

But what if she wore it and felt too embarrassed, causing a tag explosion?

Yet, could he dampen her enthusiasm?

She was halfway done—how could he dismiss her work?

And snuffing out her excitement—would that trigger unpredictable consequences?

Plus, this touched on a topic Xu Lin had been avoiding.

The one they’d both tacitly sidestepped despite their long chat.

Lin Shen Xue had said Xu Lin was the person she liked.

Meaning she was making that cosplay for him.

Because he’d once told the snowman avatar in their game chats that Yuki Hongye was his favorite character in Crossed Realms.

And he hadn’t lied.

His first in-game purchase was for Yuki Hongye’s new skin.

When he told the snowman about it on WeChat, her default emoji pack switched to one featuring that skin.

He’d thought she was just showing off a game-WeChat crossover pack.

But now, it was clear that wasn’t the case.

What do I say?

Facing Lin Shen Xue’s eager gaze, Xu Lin was torn.

Huh?

But before he could decide, a sharp pain struck his head.

He clutched his forehead, fighting the agony.

It’s back…

Enduring the pain, Xu Lin reached for his mineral water, only to find the bottle empty.

Unknowingly finished another bottle…

As he thought this, another dull pain exploded in his mind.

His vision blurred, and a crackling, electric noise filled his head.

No way—the water’s effect doesn’t even last a moment now?

“Xu Lin?”

Lin Shen Xue’s puzzled voice came through.

“I’m…”

Xu Lin tried to respond, but after one word, he clenched his teeth, his body tensing.

Bad!

When it rains, it pours—the other front was about to collapse!

As the head pain eased slightly, Xu Lin redirected all his strength downward.

Was the consequence of all that water finally hitting?

He could’ve held it a bit longer, but the brain pain had broken his focus, and then…

Can’t hold it anymore!

“Sorry!”

Xu Lin shot to his feet.

“Don’t—”

As he tried to leave, he felt his arm grabbed, followed by a startled cry.

He looked and saw Lin Shen Xue holding his arm.

But upon meeting his gaze, she quickly let go.

Her hands fidgeted, unsure where to settle, finally pressing tightly against her skirt.

“S-sorry, Xu Lin.”

“It’s fine. Lin, I’m not leaving.”

Xu Lin forced a normal smile.

“My hands got sweaty and sticky, feeling uncomfortable. I’m just going to the restroom to wash them. I’ll be right back.”

“Really?”

Lin Shen Xue looked worried.

“Really. I asked you out—I wouldn’t ditch you.”

“I understand. Sorry, Xu Lin, go ahead.”

She nodded, relieved.

Seeing her let him go, Xu Lin hurried toward the park restroom, his movements slightly awkward.

Lin Shen Xue silently watched his retreating figure, smiling.

But once he vanished from sight, a hint of loneliness crossed her face, like a pet waiting for its owner’s return.

Soon, though, her smile returned as if she’d thought of something.

She picked up her bag, opened it, and took out a pack of tissues.

The same one Xu Lin had given her.

She didn’t open it but held it in one palm, gently stroking it with the other.

Her touch was like petting someone’s head.

Finally, she rubbed it against her cheek before tucking it back into her bag.

Then she pulled out a larger item.

The bottle of water Xu Lin had given her.

She didn’t unscrew the cap to drink.

Instead, she cradled it like a treasure, examining it closely.

The water gleamed strangely in the sunlight filtering through the trees.

Lin Shen Xue’s eyes widened slightly, a peculiar glint in them.

One hand held the bottle, while the other’s fingers relaxed, brushing its surface.

Her fingertips slowly traced every inch Xu Lin’s hands had touched.

“Xu Lin…”

A blush spread across her cheeks.

She sensed something intimate in the bottle, laced with a faint trace of Xu Lin’s presence.

As her fingers crept toward the cap, she suddenly snapped awake.

Lin Shen Xue looked up and saw a figure standing before her.