The autumn campus looked like a box of warm-toned paint had been knocked over.
Maple trees baked their leaves into a reddish orange. Ginkgoes scattered crushed gold across the ground.
Sycamore leaves hung on the branches with caramel-colored edges.
Students in hoodies rushed along, stepping on rustling fallen leaves.
The books in their arms pressed down against the wind-puffed corners of their clothes.
Puffs of white breath dissolved into the dusk.
As soon as the class bell rang, the stairwell was packed with people rushing toward the dining hall.
Canvas shoes thudded against the steps in a continuous drumbeat.
Shadows of students in various outfits flickered across the walls.
Someone’s meal card fell onto the ground and was kicked, skidding far away.
Chi Qingyao observed Su Li for the entire class period.
Of course, she noticed that Su Li’s emotions showed no fluctuation.
She didn’t seem to care at all about being observed.
Even if Chi Qingyao stared at her the whole time, it didn’t matter.
The only explanation Chi Qingyao could think of was that Su Li was an NPC.
It wasn’t until the class bell rang that Chi Qingyao noticed Su Li pick up her phone and glance at it.
Actually, during class, she had felt Su Li’s phone screen light up once.
But as for the content on it, Chi Qingyao hadn’t seen clearly.
Sneaking a peek at an NPC’s phone would definitely lower affinity, no matter how she thought about it.
Even if Su Li wasn’t an NPC, doing such a thing wasn’t good.
Chi Qingyao hadn’t tried any basic experiments like that.
For her, such actions had no benefit, so it was better not to attempt them.
If only she could find the save point.
Su Li looked at the messages Cat had sent her. Not long ago, Cat had already gotten in the car and arrived at school.
Then she obediently waited for Su Li in the dining hall.
Actually, Cat wouldn’t have to wait too long.
Cat said it didn’t matter if she came early—as long as she could save a spot for them to eat.
Anyway, she had her phone, so Su Li figured Cat wouldn’t get too bored waiting in the dining hall.
Cat had even sent her a photo of a dining hall table, waiting obediently.
Chi Qingyao silently followed behind Su Li. She didn’t know what message Su Li had received, but it was definitely mealtime now.
If they ate together, maybe that would increase affinity?
Then unlock a dining CG?
Chi Qingyao thought to herself, wanting to follow Su Li and mooch a meal.
Su Li didn’t seem to care about this or whether Chi Qingyao was following.
But Chi Qingyao still stepped forward voluntarily. She had realized one thing: she had to take the initiative.
If she didn’t take the initiative, there was no way to trigger an event.
No events, no affinity gain.
Even if Su Li was an NPC, the outgoing ones still enjoy the world first.
“Su Li, can you take me to eat?”
“Even though you showed me around just now, I don’t remember the way to the dining hall.”
“I… I can pay.”
Sure enough, at the mention of money, Su Li’s attention immediately focused on Chi Qingyao.
Chi Qingyao even suspected that there was some keyword that triggered the system.
Otherwise, why would Su Li react so quickly?
Su Li didn’t ask why Chi Qingyao didn’t have Chi Qingya be her guide, nor did she refuse to take Chi Qingyao along.
Since the other party had voluntarily given her a chance to make money, Su Li naturally wouldn’t miss it.
It was on the way anyway.
“Fifty.”
“Deal.”
Chi Qingyao said, letting out a sigh of relief.
She felt that every time she heard Su Li’s price, she still got a little nervous, worried that Su Li would quote a price she couldn’t afford.
She didn’t expect it to be much cheaper than she thought.
Even though it was almost the price of a skin.
If it had been her former self, she might have hesitated.
She usually lived frugally.
But for some reason, when it came to Su Li, she just couldn’t save money.
No wonder her elder sister thought five hundred yuan for a sentence was cheap.
This addictive feeling was too hard to resist.
Why was it so addictive?
Chi Qingyao didn’t know where the addiction came from.
Anyway, it was probably because she often spent money in games and felt that the service Su Li provided had reasonable value for money?
She wondered how much it would cost to have Su Li play games with her in her own identity.
Would it be fifty yuan per round?
If so, that would be quite cheap.
In that case, she could have her elder sister play for her.
Then she could direct her elder sister from the side, open a mic, and talk with Su Li.
After all, when playing games, Su Li wouldn’t know who she was playing with.
Chi Qingyao thought that once her affinity with Su Li increased a bit, she could definitely use this method.
She just didn’t know if she could have another phone on a voice call at the same time.
But judging from the game screen, it would be hard to operate.
If she had graduated earlier, maybe things would be better.
Chi Qingyao thought this, feeling a little sad.
But she quickly pulled herself together. Anyway, as long as she was by Su Li’s side, she had a chance to gain Su Li’s affinity.
Although later on she might not be able to meet as often, she could still maintain the connection through the internet.
She just feared that someone else would beat her to it and conquer Su Li first. That would be bad.
Chi Qingyao felt she should hurry.
After all, in all her life, the only person who could be confirmed as an NPC was Su Li.
Chi Qingya watched the backs of her younger sister and Su Li as they left together.
She had thought she would be the one eating with her sister today, but she wasn’t.
She couldn’t even eat with Su Li.
She, too, wanted to eat with Su Li, like her sister.
She hadn’t eaten with Su Li in a long time.
Chi Qingya really wanted to act spoiled and follow behind the two of them, then as Chi Qingyao’s elder sister, naturally sit with them. But she didn’t have the courage.
She was afraid that because of her, her sister’s and Su Li’s relationship would become strained.
Even as Chi Qingyao’s elder sister, Chi Qingya ultimately didn’t have the courage to step forward.
She could only watch the two figures gradually disappear from sight.
She watched them walking together and felt a little lonely.
If it were before, maybe she would have eaten with Cai Xiangxiang and the others?
Or maybe to eat together, she would have gone ahead to the dining hall alone to save seats for the three of them.
Even so, doing that hadn’t made her feel lonely.
Maybe it was just as her younger sister said…
Chi Qingya lowered her head, gripping her phone tightly.
Su Li still hadn’t accepted her friend request.
Not even her younger sister had replied to her message.
Chi Qingya suddenly thought, if her younger sister and Su Li lived together, leaving her all alone…
She began to fear that outcome.