Chapter 7: How Dare That Guy Do This!

Yandere?

Forget whether he fully understood the meaning of those two words—the tag’s effect alone was bone-chilling.

Yandere, huh.

That’s obsessive love, the kind that loves you so much it might end with a cleaver!

And what’s worse, this wasn’t just any yandere!

A <Heavy Girl> tag was already that powerful. And it was likely that what he’d seen so far wasn’t even its full danger.

If it turned into <Yandere>…

It was unimaginable!

…Wait, it matches.

Xu Lin suddenly recalled Li Zhi Ran’s words.

“But one day, I’ll become unstable too, inevitably falling into that final form that destroys everything.”

That final form was <Yandere>, wasn’t it?

He could hardly imagine what Li Zhi Ran would be like as a yandere.

Right now, she was just a bit chuunibyou, not a bad person, and her tags’ effects weren’t as terrifying as Lin Shen Xue’s.

But regardless, it pointed to a terrifying future.

If Li Zhi Ran was still far from yandere, Lin Shen Xue was already at the doorstep.

Her tag status was unstable, and at a moderate level!

No wonder she was so intense.

“Number 666.”

After several calls, Xu Lin realized it was his number.

Taking his spicy chicken leg burger, he returned to his seat, staring at the meal.

The hunger he’d felt earlier had mostly vanished due to his new discovery.

What should I do now?

A thought flashed through his mind.

Hasn’t the answer always been there?

Lin Shen Xue’s intensity had thrown him off, and Li Zhi Ran’s appearance had left him no time to think.

Now, in a calmer environment, he realized what he could do.

He stared at the thing floating above his burger.

It was his system interface.

The path to salvation lay within.

Negative statuses can be resolved with items synthesized from tags, but how do I change their tag statuses?

With this question, he quickly browsed the system.

After some searching, he noticed a progress bar-like feature next to the tag statuses.

Clicking it revealed specific values.

Lin Shen Xue’s Unstable · Moderate progress bar was halfway filled, totaling 40,000.

Li Zhi Ran’s Stable · Severe progress bar was about a quarter filled, totaling 160,000.

But there was no further information.

Looks like I’ll need to interact with Lin Shen Xue and the others to unlock new system functions and get more details.

But thinking of Lin Shen Xue’s intensity, Xu Lin immediately ruled her out.

Even without that reason, I can’t choose her. What if I accidentally push her tag to Severe? I need to figure things out more thoroughly before tackling her issue.

So, the most suitable person…

There was no one else.

Xu Lin took out his phone, opened WeChat, and found a friend with an owl avatar, nicknamed “Sorceress.”

This was the WeChat Li Zhi Ran insisted he add before he left.

But she didn’t admit it was hers, claiming it was her “messenger familiar.”

Her witch persona was thorough, to say the least.

“Your Witch Excellency, are you free? I’d like to talk about something.”

“Yes.”

The reply came almost instantly.

“Then I’ll head to your place now.”

“No need. I’ll come to you.”

“Your Witch Excellency, let me come to you instead.”

Xu Lin hurriedly sent the message.

No way. At school, it was fine—everyone knew her “Witch” reputation.

But in a public place? His poor heart couldn’t handle it.

Xu Lin quickly asked the counter for a takeout bag, packed his spicy chicken leg burger combo, and prepared to leave.

“Don’t wander off.”

As he stepped out of KFC, Li Zhi Ran’s message arrived.

Xu Lin was startled, scanning his surroundings but finding no sign of her.

He checked himself and his backpack, wondering if she’d planted a tracking device.

“Good, nothing…”

Xu Lin finally relaxed.

But how did she know I was leaving? And I didn’t send her my location—how does she know where to find me?

※

“Shen Xue, what did you think of the movie?”

Nangang Plaza.

Lin Shen Xue walked out of the top-floor movie theater. A girl beside her asked.

The girl wore a denim mini-skirt and a white blouse. Her shoulder-length black hair had slightly curled ends. Her sharp, upturned eyes and naturally arched brows gave her an imposing aura even when expressionless.

But now, facing Lin Shen Xue, she wore a smile that was slightly indulgent and warm.

If anyone else saw her like this, their jaws would drop.

She was Lin Shen Xue’s childhood friend, Luo Qiu Zhu, the one who put an end to the flood of confessions from guys and girls at school.

“It was great, Qiu Zhu. Especially the final scene where the main couple leaned on each other—it was so moving.”

Lin Shen Xue’s smile was as warm as ever, her expression still immersed in the movie’s story.

Luo Qiu Zhu’s smile froze.

They had watched a disaster movie.

It was gripping, and Luo Qiu Zhu, engrossed, remembered nearly every scene.

The only part matching Lin Shen Xue’s description was a brief moment.

It was when the apocalypse truly arrived, showing people’s reactions worldwide.

Among them was a couple clinging to each other, watching the end unfold.

But that scene lasted less than a few seconds.

Luo Qiu Zhu sighed inwardly.

She’d avoided romantic movies, choosing a disaster film to prevent this kind of reaction from Lin Shen Xue.

Yet, her childhood friend had latched onto that fleeting moment.

Luo Qiu Zhu glanced at Lin Shen Xue again, seeing her take out her phone, giggling.

“Did he reply?”

Luo Qiu Zhu couldn’t help but ask.

“No.”

Lin Shen Xue’s voice held no trace of sadness.

Luo Qiu Zhu paused, sighing inwardly, then gritted her teeth.

As expected.

Since that class, Shen Xue’s state had worried her.

She’d brought her out to distract her, but Shen Xue kept checking her phone.

With no other ideas, she suggested a movie.

She knew Shen Xue was disciplined and wouldn’t use her phone in a theater.

It worked for over two hours, but as soon as they left, she was back at it.

How dare that Xu Lin guy do this!

Luo Qiu Zhu fumed, clenching her teeth.

Learning her childhood friend had a crush, Luo Qiu Zhu had investigated Xu Lin.

He was in their department.

No notable strengths, no glaring flaws—just a nobody.

Now that he’d caught her friend’s eye, he dared ignore her.

Luo Qiu Zhu was furious.

She wanted to dissuade her friend.

Shen Xue was great in every way but stubborn, refusing to give up on what she set her mind to.

Luo Qiu Zhu didn’t dare push too hard, fearing it would hurt her, so she tried subtle hints.

But it had no effect.

Shen Xue was falling deeper.

Luo Qiu Zhu and Lin Shen Xue descended the building.

“Shen Xue, hungry? Let’s grab something to eat.”

Might as well keep her busy.

Luo Qiu Zhu quickly thought of a plan.

“How about KFC?”

Lin Shen Xue answered surprisingly fast.

“It’s Thursday. Xu Lin probably ate at KFC today too.”

As she spoke, Lin Shen Xue’s gaze left her phone, her expression dreamy.

Luo Qiu Zhu had been glad her friend put down her phone, but it circled back to that guy.

She glared at the KFC nearby, then froze.

At the entrance of Nangang Plaza’s KFC stood a conspicuous figure.

A gothic dress, a pointed wide-brimmed hat—a cosplay beauty.

Luo Qiu Zhu instantly recognized her.

Of course, she knew the “Witch” Li Zhi Ran’s reputation.

But the witch wasn’t the issue—it was the person in front of her.

A guy, Xu Lin.

Xu Lin and Li Zhi Ran were chatting, and he was even smiling cheerfully.

Luo Qiu Zhu couldn’t quite believe it, thinking it was just an illusion from their proximity.

After all, who was the “Witch”? Why would she be interested in that guy?

Sure, her Shen Xue liked him, but Shen Xue was no less than the Witch.

It was a different situation!

But soon, she saw them walk into KFC together and sit down.

Now it was undeniable—they knew each other and seemed close.

That guy, ignoring Shen Xue’s messages, is here laughing and chatting with another woman!

Luo Qiu Zhu was livid but then thought of something and turned to her side.

Lin Shen Xue was still glued to her phone, smiling, seemingly unaware of the KFC scene.

She relaxed slightly.

She didn’t want her friend to be fooled by Xu Lin, but she also couldn’t let Shen Xue face this without preparation.

She knew her friend’s mental state well.

What might happen was unimaginable.

“Shen Xue, let’s eat somewhere else.”

Luo Qiu Zhu grabbed Lin Shen Xue’s hand.

“Isn’t there one right ahead?”

Lin Shen Xue was puzzled, looking toward KFC.

Luo Qiu Zhu quickly stopped her.

“There’s a place Xu Lin’s been going to more often lately.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Luo Qiu Zhu successfully led Lin Shen Xue away from Nangang Plaza.