Chapter 20: Scouting New Items

Xu Lin’s dorm.

Faced with his roommates’ encouragement, he offered no further explanation.

He returned to his bunk with a calm face, proving he didn’t care about the confession wall drama.

Sitting at the desk below his bed, he scanned his surroundings.

He needed a new item to replace mineral water.

After today, Xu Lin realized: contact with Lin Shen Xue = chugging mineral water nonstop.

Now even white-grade <Positive Role> was losing effectiveness against her; his water intake would skyrocket.

Even if he unlocked higher-grade tags later, he had no plans to keep using mineral water as the main synthesis medium.

If he kept guzzling like this, he’d get water poisoning before his bladder or kidneys gave out.

His eyes landed on the soda crackers he always kept on the desk.

Food’s out too.

Same issue—too bloating.

He needed something where usage was limited only by tags and items, not his body’s capacity.

His gaze shifted to the side cabinet, spotting the Yuki Hongye figurine.

He recalled the owl carving Li Zhi Ran gave him.

Something like that might work.

He picked up the Yuki Hongye figurine, opened synthesis preview without rushing—and immediately roasted it.

20% success rate?

First time seeing such a low rate.

Previous syntheses with cola and burgers had differences from water, but never this low.

Does success rate reflect item-tag compatibility?

Following that logic, what is <Positive Role>?

In short: sunny, outgoing personality.

Got it.

This plastic figurine… yeah, not exactly “sunny.”

Not that otakus can’t be cheerful.

But this figurine had removable clothes.

Definitely not “wholesome.”

20% was generous, all things considered.

Still, just one data point—hard to confirm.

Maybe tag grade or other factors.

Li Zhi Ran’s tags? Forget it. <Sweet Tooth> and <Cat Tongue>—this ain’t food!

He put the figurine back.

But he was curious what a failed synthesis produced.

He’d test it once he found the right item.

His eyes swept his desk: pens, notebook, tissues…

Decent success rates, but all ruled out—effects were underwhelming.

Maybe the closer to <Positive Role>, the stronger the effect?

After a fruitless scan, he considered this.

But were mineral water and cola really “sunny”?

In certain contexts—very strong associations.

Scorching summer, beautiful girl under the sun, gulping water. She hands you a bottle, smiling radiantly.

That could dispel any introvert’s gloom.

Cola? Ads full of happy, attractive people chugging with glee.

So… still water or cola?

Looked like nothing on hand fit better.

“Ugh, mosquitoes in broad daylight?!”

Xu Lin was thinking when Fourth yelped.

He looked—Fourth was up, grabbing a thin green bottle, pouring it into his palm, rubbing it on himself.

Then he sprayed a mist bottle around.

A cool floral scent filled the room.

Florida Water?

A lightbulb went off.

“Fourth, lend me the Florida Water.”

He was already beside him.

“Third, you got bit too?”

“Yeah.”

“Here.”

Fourth handed it over without hesitation.

Xu Lin opened synthesis preview: 0.9 success rate.

Only 0.09 below mineral water.

Success yields “Six Gods in Control Florida Water”.

Effect: Eliminates most <Heavy Girl> tag negative effects. During duration, prevents new negative effects. Only suppresses special negatives.

Way better than mineral water.

Mineral water had duration, but couldn’t prevent new negatives—only cleared them after.

Mineral water = post-treatment.

Florida Water = prevention + treatment.

Neither removed [Heavy Girl’s Love]—only suppressed its effects.

At least he wouldn’t bloat from water. Just rub it on.

His first thought was actually perfume.

Perfume does fit <Positive Role> better.

But he was tight on cash—save where possible.

Florida Water: cheap, large volume.

Cheap perfume? Risky—wrong ingredients could backfire.

This Florida Water: reliable effect, cheap, abundant, easy to get—perfect replacement.

He rubbed a bit on, returned it to Fourth.

After a quick goodbye, he bolted out.

To the store—for Florida Water.

…

Xu Lin held three bottles, queued at checkout.

Didn’t buy too many—emergency stock. Would order online later.

“Waa, my Witch Goddess—how is she taken?!”

Outside after paying, he heard wailing.

“That guy—we, the Familiar Society, will never forgive him!”

Xu Lin froze.

Familiar Society?

This school has weird clubs?

Not his concern—he needed to test Florida Water.

“Brother Lin! Xu Lin bro!”

A few steps out, someone called him.

Before he could look—

“It’s him—the guy who defiled Witch Senior!”

Angry voice.

Xu Lin turned—same wailing guy, now glaring.

Dozens of eyes locked on him—guys and girls.

Seemingly all from that “Familiar Society.”

Bad vibe.

Xu Lin sped up.

No fighting on campus, but getting tangled with them? Trouble.

He had experiments to run.

The group hadn’t reacted—he was gone.

…

“Ah, Brother Lin got away…”

A lively girl watched him vanish, blocked by the crowd, unable to chase—frustrated.

…

Back at the dorm building, Xu Lin was annoyed.

He’d seen worse, didn’t care much—but constant harassment? Annoying.

He did briefly consider Li Zhi Ran’s cohabitation offer.

Just a helpless thought—he was still sane.

Staying with her long-term? Who knows what her magic would do.

Magic contamination, obviously.

At his dorm door, about to enter—

Bzz bzz.

WeChat.

He pulled out his phone—not a chat.

Friend request.