Asymmetric attachment

When Chen Yu pushed open the door to Room 204, a faint fragrance floated in the air.

It was the scent of food.

He guessed Zhang Wanyue had sent it over through the Public Backpack again.

“Chen Yu! You're back!”

Li Mengyao was the first to rush to the door: “The Class Monitor made Cumin Lamb this time. It’s in an insulated box and it's still piping hot. It’s a good thing you’re back! If you were any later...”

Chen Yu walked to the dining table: “What if I was later?”

Faced with his question, Li Mengyao’s gaze flickered: “What else could happen... I would have saved it for you...”

Shen Qingci was using her chopsticks to portion the lamb into several bowls.

“Just in time, eat while it's hot.”

“By the way, what happened outside just now?”

Lin Yue sat quietly on a nearby chair, holding a small bowl in both hands and blowing on it softly.

Chen Yu waved his hand: “It’s nothing, you don’t need to know. Just eat first...”

The four of them sat around the table, sighing with emotion.

“Mmm... delicious! The girls on the bus must be feasting too!”

“With Wanyue coordinating, at least no one will be short on supplies.”

“That’s true. Hey, is this damn villa mission almost over? We should be able to leave tomorrow morning, right?”

“If we can pass tonight safely, theoretically, the mission will be completed at dawn.”

Chen Yu ate the lamb quietly, listening to their idle chatter.

After the meal, Chen Yu put down his chopsticks and wiped the corner of his mouth with a tissue.

“Are you done eating, Senior Sister?”

Shen Qingci looked up, and when her eyes met his, her ears warmed slightly as she gave a soft “Mm.”

“Then let’s go.”

Chen Yu stood up and took her by the arm: “Last night’s Exorcism wasn’t complete. While we have some time, we need to continue and put in more effort.”

Shen Qingci didn't pull away, simply following him as she stood up: “...Okay.”

The two of them didn't say anything more, walking toward the bedroom one after the other.

*Thud.*

The door closed.

Li Mengyao remained at the dining table, staring blankly at the closed door.

Her chest felt stifled, as if something was blocking it.

She bit her lower lip and lowered her head, staring at the tabletop.

Clearly, she was the one who worked the hardest and was the most serious, yet Chen Yu’s gaze... seemed to linger on others for longer and longer... Inside Room 204.

Chen Yu had just helped Shen Qingci over to the head of the bed.

An unexpected voice sounded from the [Red Phoenix Tribulation Seat]:

[red luan Identified: Li Mengyao]

[red luan Number: 5]

[Connection Nature: asymmetric attachment]

[Connection Depth: Lv.10]

[Current Effective Multiplier: 100x]

“?”

Inexplicably, how did his tsundere ex-girlfriend become a red luan?!

And starting at Level 10 too???

Does this mean his ex-girlfriend's loyalty toward him is actually quite high?

To be honest... Chen Yu hadn't spent any effort on her at all.

He had even thought that if she couldn't be connected, he would decisively abandon her.

“What exactly is going on...”

Chen Yu's mouth twitched, but he didn't dwell on the reason.

After all, having more red luans was definitely a good thing.

This mission might have individual rewards, and a ten-fold multiplier is still a multiplier.

“Chen Yu?”

A fair hand waved in front of his eyes.

Chen Yu looked up, his gaze focusing.

The sky was quietly turning to evening, and the last few thin rays of light filtered into the room, blending with the bedside lamp.

Shen Qingci was already half-leaning against the headboard.

She wore only a white tight-fitting short-sleeved shirt that outlined her eye-catching collarbones; the fabric clung to her, faintly revealing full, undulating contours.

Below, she wore high-waisted wide-leg jeans that further accentuated her slender waist. In her relaxed posture, her hips and legs possessed an inadvertent tension.

Shen Qingci smiled slightly: “Junior Brother Chen Yu, why did you suddenly zone out?”

Chen Yu shook his head: “It’s nothing. Let’s continue the Exorcism.”

Shen Qingci’s face reddened as she nodded: “Mm, okay.”

Chen Yu pointed at her clothes, “Ahem, Senior Sister, the fabric of your clothes is too thick. I’m afraid it will hinder the penetration of Future Power, and the effect might be compromised...”

“I... I know.”

Shen Qingci pursed her lips, her long lashes drooping as she slightly turned her body, facing away from Chen Yu.

She raised both hands, grabbed the hem of her short-sleeved shirt, and slowly rolled the garment up.

In the dimness, her back exuded a seductive sense of vulnerability, as if waiting to be plucked.

“Can... can we turn off the light?”

Shen Qingci did not turn around.

Chen Yu nodded: “Of course, whatever you say...”

As he spoke, he reached out and, with a soft *click*, turned off the light source in the bedroom.

Instantly, the bedroom became much darker.

Chen Yu thought to himself that he really should find an opportunity to increase his Perception attribute.

“Shall... shall we start now?”

“Mm.”

“We have to start; time is tight.”

“Tight?”

“Yeah, I expect that once we’re back on the bus, I’ll have to help you exorcise once every night.”

“...”

Time flowed quietly in the darkness.

Before long, Shen Qingci had even gradually adapted to Chen Yu’s Exorcism techniques.

An ill-timed notification sounded.

[Third Night Special Rule: Gaze in the Mirror]

[Effective Time: 00:00 - 00:30]

[Content:]

1. You must maintain continuous eye contact with your reflection in the bathroom mirror for over five minutes with the lights off and the door closed.

2. Closing your eyes for more than 1 second is prohibited.

3. Moving your gaze away or touching the mirror surface is prohibited.

4. If the reflection shows abnormalities, continue to gaze and remember that it is you.

Indeed.

The final night.

The rule had descended.

Li Mengyao’s suppressed call came from the living room: “Chen Yu! Senior Sister Shen! The rule... the rule is here again!”

Chen Yu quickly withdrew his hand and said in a low voice: “Let’s go out first.”

“Okay...”

In the darkness, Shen Qingci hurriedly fumbled for the short-sleeved shirt she had just taken off.

She could feel her fingertips trembling slightly and her legs feeling a bit weak.

Chen Yu didn't go far, instead whispering a reminder: “Don’t worry, Senior Sister. Once the mission is over, we’ll continue the Exorcism to ensure your talent is completely restored!”

Shen Qingci was taken aback; she wasn't worried about that... *Creak.*

The bedroom door opened.

Chen Yu walked into the living room. As was her habit, Lin Yue was curled up in the corner of the sofa, looking pitiful.

Li Mengyao, meanwhile, was pacing by the bedroom door, having no idea how long she’d been waiting there.

Shen Qingci’s face flushed.

She was a little afraid that during the Exorcism, she might have cried out because of the overflowing evil energy.

Mengyao... she didn't hear everything, did she?

“Chen Yu! What do we do!”

Seeing Chen Yu, Li Mengyao seemed to have found her pillar of support.

She grabbed Chen Yu’s arm with a sob in her voice.

Chen Yu waved his hand: “It’s only five minutes. Don’t go scaring yourself first.”

Tears welled in Li Mengyao’s eyes: “But the bathroom mirror is haunted. Senior Sister Shen last night...”

“Here.”

Li Mengyao was interrupted as a glittering gold card appeared before her eyes.

A golden body card.

Chen Yu spoke flatly: “Your talent is the weakest. Don’t die too easily.”

Shen Qingci and Lin Yue both had combat-type talents.

The probability of instantaneous death wasn't high for them.

However, for his deadweight ex-girlfriend, masking her aura would likely be useless against a mirror.

As a newly bound red luan... if she really died, he would lose out big time during the settlement.

He was still counting on her multiplier.

“Chen Yu...”

Li Mengyao was completely stunned.

Looking at the golden body card, her mind buzzed.

It wasn't fear, but being deeply moved.

With the Third Night’s special rule upon them, everyone was looking out for themselves. He only had one of these absolute life-saving items, yet he shoved it to her?

Li Mengyao lowered her head, pressing the golden body card tightly against her heart.

It was as if this was a sudden spark of light in her dark world.

At this moment, she suddenly felt that... all the grievances, frustrations, and bitterness since the apocalypse had a meaning.

[red luan Level Up]

[red luan Identified: Li Mengyao]

[red luan Number: 5]

[Connection Nature: asymmetric attachment]

[Connection Depth: Lv.15]

[Current Effective Multiplier: 150x]

“?”