Chapter 39: This Is Too Hard

“Hello?”

Lin Mo tried his best to make his voice sound normal.

However, he still needed to maintain his “hypnotized” state.

His eyes were vacant, his expression was blank, and his body lay stiffly on the bed. But his hand gripped the phone, his ears were perked, and his brain was spinning at high speed.

“Lin Mo?” Shen Qingyue’s voice came through the receiver, calm and clear. “Are you awake?”

“Yeah… I’m awake.”

Lin Mo struggled to make his voice sound a bit more natural.

But it was difficult.

Because Su Qing was currently lying on top of him, holding a Switch in her hands. On the screen, the game was still frozen in place.

She pressed the resume button.

Pikachu and Squirtle started moving again. Pikachu was riding on top of the Destined One, while Squirtle circled nearby. Su Qing’s fingers tapped lightly on the buttons.

Pikachu’s tail swiped back and forth across the Destined One.

Once, twice, three times.

(；¬＿¬)……

“Um…” Shen Qingyue’s voice paused. “Your voice sounds a bit raspy. Did you just wake up?”

“Yeah, just woke up.”

Lin Mo tried to keep his tone as calm as possible.

But Su Qing’s finger pressed a skill button. Pikachu suddenly used Quick Attack, rubbing against the Destined One.

Lin Mo’s body stiffened slightly. He maintained his blank expression, but the muscle at the corner of his eye twitched.

“About returning the notes we discussed yesterday, are you free at noon?” Shen Qingyue asked. “I want to stop by the library to borrow some books anyway. If it’s convenient for you, shall we go together?”

“Noon… noon is fine.”

As Lin Mo spoke, Su Qing controlled Squirtle to slowly shuffle over. Squirtle withdrew into its shell and lazily bumped into the Destined One. It wasn’t heavy, but it was right there, bumping him over and over.

Lin Mo’s breathing began to grow unstable. But he had to hold it together. He couldn’t let Shen Qingyue notice anything unusual, and he couldn’t let Su Qing see that his “hypnotized” state was an act.

‘(；一_一) This is too hard.’

“Then 12:00?” Shen Qingyue said. “At the library entrance.”

“Okay, 12:00.”

Su Qing’s fingers paused for a moment. Then she lifted her head and looked at him. Her eyes were bright, and the corners of her mouth curled upward into a smirk. It was that ‘I know you’re acting, but I’m going to watch you perform anyway’ expression.

She controlled Pikachu to take a step forward. Pikachu climbed back onto the Destined One.

Lin Mo’s breath hitched.

“Lin Mo?” Shen Qingyue’s voice came through. “What happened on your end?”

“No — nothing,” Lin Mo answered. “Just woke up, I’m a bit… distracted.”

Su Qing giggled. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, her shoulders shaking lightly with silent laughter. Her hands, however, didn’t stop. She made Pikachu jump once on the Destined One. Then it jumped again.

The special effects of Thunderbolt flashed across the screen.

Lin Mo closed his eyes. He had to maintain a vacant expression; he couldn’t frown, he couldn’t grit his teeth, and he couldn’t show any weakness.

On the screen, however, the Destined One’s HP bar was plummeting.

(°△°|||)……

“Then see you at 12:00?” Shen Qingyue asked.

“Okay, 12:00…”

Su Qing suddenly pressed a combo. Pikachu and Squirtle pounced at the same time, sandwiching the Destined One between them.

Lin Mo’s voice caught in his throat.

“Lin Mo?” Shen Qingyue’s voice carried a hint of suspicion. “Are you okay? Do you have a cold?”

“N — no.”

His voice was tight.

Su Qing breathed softly into his ear. Then, in a whisper, she said, “Don’t let her find out.”

Her hand pressed a skill button again. Pikachu pressed tightly against the Destined One, continuously discharging Thunderbolt.

Lin Mo took a deep breath.

“Um…” he said into the phone, “what time did you say again?”

Shen Qingyue paused. “12:00. At the library entrance.”

“Right, 12:00.”

Su Qing pressed another button. Pikachu rubbed against the Destined One. This time it was slow. From top to bottom, then bottom to top. The Thunderbolt effects flashed incessantly.

Lin Mo’s hand gripped the bedsheets tight. But the expression on his face remained vacant, hollow, and utterly still.

“Then I’ll see you then,” Shen Qingyue said. “Remember to take some medicine. Don’t actually catch a cold.”

“Okay, thanks.”

“Mhm, bye.”

The call ended.

Lin Mo let out a long, heavy breath. He looked down at Su Qing. She was lying on him, her eyes curved like crescent moons, smiling like a cat that had just stolen a fish.

On the screen, the game was still paused. Pikachu was mounted on the Destined One. The HP bar was almost empty.

“Brother,” she whispered, “your acting is really good.”

“…”

“Being rubbed like that and still being able to talk normally.” She pointed at the screen. “Look, the Destined One is about to lose.”

Lin Mo didn’t say anything. Right now, he just wanted her to get off him. But since the Destined One on the screen was still alive, he couldn’t move.

Su Qing seemed very satisfied with his reaction. She gave a soft laugh and climbed off him. Standing by the bed, she looked back at him. The morning light filtered through the gaps in the curtains, falling over her.

Squirtle, Pikachu, white stockings, and a miniskirt.

She smiled.

“Brother, breakfast is on the table. Remember to eat. You’ll wake up on your own 3 minutes later.”

Then she turned and walked out of the room. The door clicked shut softly behind her.

Lin Mo lay on the bed, staring at the low-HP Destined One on the screen. He took a deep breath and let out a long, weary sigh.

‘(；一_一)……’

This morning was just too hard.