Love Makes People Blind

"Such a shame. If I'd known, I would've brought more small bottles..."

After classes ended that afternoon, Bai Zhi walked back to his Rental Apartment, looking regretfully at the colorless, transparent Glass Bottle in his hand, barely two fingers wide.

There wasn't much to say about chemistry lab. Seeing that the laboratory was fully stocked with all kinds of Utensils and reagents, he had considered mixing up some chemicals to take home. Unfortunately, he lacked the Qualification to use those reagents freely.

Although "Bai Zhi" had been admitted on the strength of excellent grades, several students in the class still outperformed him. On top of that, ever since "he" had become addicted to games, he had grown thinner by the day while his grades steadily declined. Without the Academic Halo buff, did he expect to freely use reagents?

What a joke.

"Hmm... so I still need to restore my Academic Halo as soon as possible. That way, I can get a scholarship too..."

Rubbing his chin, Bai Zhi set himself a short-term plan for the Future.

"...Hm?"

As he pondered, he saw a little boy with a Backpack in the open space before the school building. The boy seemed to have just gotten out of elementary school and was enthusiastically playing Shadow Stomping by himself, having a great time.

Bai Zhi thought the boy was incredibly childish, so he carefully went around him. He was afraid the boy might step on his shadow.

[Childlike Innocence]

At the same time, around a corner not far behind Bai Zhi, Lin Xiaoyi solemnly wrote those words in her Notebook with a Neutral Pen.

"...Xiao Yi, I think you've completely lost it."

Beside Lin Xiaoyi, Xia Wen—who had been forcibly dragged along—covered her face with both hands. She looked utterly unable to bear the sight, her voice weak and drained.

"If word gets out that the two of us collectively followed and stalked a man, I'll never get married for the rest of my life..."

"This isn't following or stalking. It's a normal investigation."

Waving the Neutral Pen in her hand, Lin Xiaoyi wore a grave expression.

"Besides, didn't I already tell you? Bai Zhi is a hidden master living among us, protecting this school. Monsters are appearing one after another in the world right now. If it weren't for Bai Zhi, our school would have already become the site of several Urban Legends, okay?"

"But no matter how you look at him, that guy is nothing but a complete loser! Those things are clearly just fantasies you cooked up in your head after losing your mind, aren't they!?"

Raking both hands through her hair until it was a mess, Xia Wen was almost driven mad by the realization that her bestie was beyond saving.

"What do you mean, another 'me' went to the Canteen with you? What do you mean, that guy saved you from another 'me'? What do you mean, that guy went from an unmotivated Game Trash to a Demon Slayer Youth who concealed himself in the world while enduring heavy burdens... You've definitely read too many webnovels on your phone and developed serious hallucinations, haven't you!?"

"That's why I said I'd prove it to you. Hearing is false, seeing is believing—I understand that much."

Tapping her Notebook with the Neutral Pen, Lin Xiaoyi remained remarkably calm.

"If I hadn't personally encountered these Urban Legends that only circulate online, I wouldn't have believed them either. But after experiencing them myself, I came to understand the hidden truth of this world. We common people are constantly in danger without even realizing it. It is precisely because people like Bai Zhi selflessly guard the light in the darkness, like Heroes, that our lives can remain safe."

At the end, she added in particular,

"My reasoning is absolutely flawless. This world is gradually becoming more dangerous. Even if I might die for no reason someday, I don't want to die without understanding why!!"

"Fine, fine. Even if everything you said is true, then what?"

Xia Wen waved a hand, looking utterly listless.

"Are you sure you really want to pursue that guy? Do you know that if this gets exposed, your whole image as the Campus Belle goddess will be ruined? Please reconsider, Your Majesty the Empress..."

"Ruined is ruined. Who cares about that stuff? Those nosy boys spend all day doing nothing useful. Can't they learn something from Bai Zhi?"

Curling her lip, Lin Xiaoyi looked disdainful, before immediately becoming troubled again.

"Besides, it'd be great if pursuing him meant I could succeed. He rejected me quite clearly before, didn't he? That's why I specifically brought you along as an adviser."

"Ah, how could that be? A gorgeous beauty like you is throwing herself at him, and you're even the Campus Belle goddess. Any other boy would be overjoyed. I saw with my own eyes how desperately he clung to you when he was chasing you before."

Xia Wen answered in a completely flat, deadpan tone, her face expressionless.

"So, Xiao Yi, just gather your courage and boldly Normal Attack him. Even if he deceives you in the end, you won't lose your virginity. At most, he'll scam you out of some money. Mom's arms and books will always be open to you."

"Get lost. You're taking advantage of me again with those roundabout remarks."

Rolling her eyes at Xia Wen, Lin Xiaoyi put the Neutral Pen back into her pocket. Her expression seemed slightly tempted.

"Hmm... but the method you mentioned might be worth trying..."

"No way!? You're actually planning to throw yourself at him for free? I was just joking!!"

Xia Wen's face filled with shock.

"You can paint a Tiger's skin but not its bones; you can know a person's face but not their heart. What if that guy is actually a sanctimonious beast in human clothes? I don't want to accompany you to the hospital while you cry your eyes out for an abortion!!"

"Go to hell. You're getting more outrageous by the second."

Flinging her Notebook at the other girl in annoyance, Lin Xiaoyi's voice carried a strong hint of embarrassed anger.

"A Hero saving a beauty is such a romantic thing. How did it become so vulgar coming from your mouth? He wouldn't be that kind of person. I think you're itching for a beating again, aren't you!?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You're already defending your Husband? Blind love really does make people blind."

Nimbly stepping back several paces to evade the other girl's Normal Attack, Xia Wen sighed with feeling.

"What is love in this world? It turns smart people into Fools and—whoa! That was a sneak attack!! Foul!! Foul!!!"