Invincible Me Only Wants to Slack Off

"Alright, the warm and fuzzy part is over." He snapped his fingers, his eyes blazing with intensity. "One last thing—the main event! After this, our little skip-class plan is done for today!"

Without waiting for a response, he grabbed the still-dazed Kaguya and Yukino by the hands, one in each, and strode forward with clear purpose.

Soon, a massive shadow loomed over them, accompanied by the deafening screech of steel and the piercing screams of tourists that seemed to tear through the sky—

A colossal, winding roller coaster, its tracks coiling like a giant serpent, stood before them like a steel beast!

The relaxed smiles that had lingered on Kaguya and Yukino's faces from their earlier fun instantly froze. They looked up at the towering, steep incline and the rapid loops of the track, their expressions utterly blank.

Screams seemed to explode right in their ears!

Chen Tian caught the stiff looks on the two girls' faces and was just about to flash that sly grin he'd planned, ready to enjoy their panicked expressions—

"Awesome!"

Two completely different yet equally energetic exclamations burst out at once!

Kaguya's beautiful eyes lit up with a dazzling spark, as if charged with ten thousand volts. The earlier daze vanished, replaced by pure, unguarded excitement!

She lunged forward, grabbing Chen Tian's sleeve tightly and shaking it eagerly. "Tian Jun! Tian Jun! It's this, right?! I've always wanted to ride this! Never had the chance!"

Her pretty face flushed with excitement, her ponytail bouncing lively with her movements.

At the same time, Yukino's cool, relieved voice rang out beside him, carrying a hint of lightness: "Finally, we can get away from those childish rides."

Her icy blue eyes held a glint of eager anticipation, and the corner of her mouth even lifted into a small, visible curve—nothing like the resistance she'd shown on the carousel.

The sly grin on Chen Tian's face froze instantly, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

"...Huh?"

He was stunned, his brain short-circuiting.

Wait... this isn't how the script goes?

Aren't these two young ladies supposed to scream and shrink back like normal girls?

Why is Kaguya reacting like she just won the lottery?! And why does Yukino's disdainful tone hide a hint of excitement?

Are they really not scared, or...?

He glanced at Kaguya on his left, practically bouncing with excitement, then at Yukino on his right, trying to keep a straight face but with eyes that sparkled. He felt like his carefully planned "scheme to strip away their masks" had fizzled out like a dud firecracker.

"Let's go, Tian Jun!" Kaguya tugged hard at his sleeve when she saw him frozen, pointing at the roaring steel beast. "Let's get in line!" The young lady's usual reserve had vanished in the face of such huge anticipation.

Yukino had already taken the lead, striding toward the entrance with light steps, leaving behind only a curt: "Don't waste time, Chen Tian."

Chen Tian stood there, watching the two young ladies—one after the other—charge straight for the roller coaster entrance, as if the one who'd resisted the carousel wasn't Yukino, and the one who'd been so elegant and restrained wasn't Kaguya.

He raised a hand to rub his brow, finally letting out a helpless chuckle as he quickened his pace to follow. "...Coming, coming."

The safety bar of the roller coaster clicked down, locking the three of them in place.

Kaguya sat on the far end, gripping Chen Tian's hand tightly, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the steep track ahead, her little face flushed with excitement. "Tian Jun, it's starting!"

Yukino sat on Chen Tian's other side, her hands instinctively gripping the safety bar in front of her, her knuckles slightly white. But her gaze was intensely focused ahead, her pressed lips betraying a hint of nervousness, and more than that... anticipation?

Chen Tian felt his left hand being squeezed painfully by Kaguya, while Yukino's fingertips on the right transmitted a faint tremor through the bar. He looked at their completely different yet equally eager expressions, and the corner of his mouth curled up again—well, even if they'd turned the tables on him, it wasn't so bad, was it?

The engine's roar suddenly intensified, and the train began its slow climb up the steep incline...

Chapter 29: Kitagawa's Distant Cousin

Kaguya bowed deeply, her poise flawless, but when she lifted her head, her face was flushed, and even her ponytail seemed to bounce with joy. "Today, I truly thank you, Tian Jun." Her voice still carried a slight breathlessness from the roller coaster's aftermath, her eyes dazzlingly bright. "I... very much look forward to the day we can play together again."

Yukino stood quietly to the side, having resumed her usual cool demeanor, her hands neatly folded in front of her. But the lingering gleam of excitement in her icy blue eyes and the faint blush still on her cheeks silently told of her equally pleasant mood.

Chen Tian looked at the two young ladies, so contrasting in their reactions, and a natural smile curved at the corners of his mouth. He didn't say anything polite. Instead, he reached out and casually ruffled Kaguya's lively high ponytail. "Sure." He agreed readily, then added, "Next time, we'll go for a picnic."

Kaguya's eyes lit up even more. "A picnic?"

"Yeah, a picnic." Chen Tian pulled his hand back, his gaze sweeping over Yukino, who seemed calm on the surface. "If Yukino's free, you can come too."

Yukino's eyelids drooped slightly, her long lashes fluttering once. She didn't nod or refuse, just let out a soft "Mm."

The smile on Chen Tian's lips deepened.

He really hadn't expected it—when the roller coaster plunged down that first steep drop, Kaguya's carefully styled ponytail exploded into chaos, and the usually elegant "Shijo heiress" clung to his arm for dear life, her screams mixed with giggles. "We're falling, Tian Jun!"

This honor student, who always dismissed amusement park rides as "childish," had gripped his hand tight from the moment the coaster started.

During the 360-degree loop, he clearly felt those cool little hands suddenly tighten, her nails nearly digging into his palm.

The most ridiculous part was after they got off—Kaguya was still too caught up in her excitement to let go, while Yukino seemed frozen, maintaining the same interlocked-finger position.

Chen Tian watched Yukino's feigned composure and couldn't help reaching out to ruffle her hair too. The strands were unexpectedly soft, carrying a faint scent of shampoo.

"Alright, Yukino," he said, deliberately mimicking her usual serious tone, "next time, I'll take you to see that little calico cat, how about that?"

Yukino's lips pouted slightly, but the corner of her mouth still twitched upward against her will.

She gave a small nod, a hint of warmth flickering in her icy blue eyes.

The scene reminded Chen Tian of the first time he'd seen Yukino in high school—the rumored "ice queen" crouched on the roadside after school, feeding a dirty little calico cat bread from her palm.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, spilling over her as she smiled so gently, a world apart from the cold, aloof figure she cut at school.

"Meow~" The little calico cat rubbed against Yukino's fingers.

"You like cats too?" Chen Tian couldn't help but strike up a conversation back then.

Yukino jerked her head up like a startled rabbit, instantly snapping back into that aloof, keep-away expression.

But the reddening tips of her ears and the way she hurriedly tucked away the milk carton had already exposed the true nature of this "unreachable flower."

From then on, Chen Tian often "ran into" Yukino while she was feeding the cats.

Gradually, their acquaintance grew from nodding hellos to sharing moments of petting cats together.

Though Yukino always said, "I just happened to pass by," Chen Tian knew she made a detour every Wednesday just to feed that little calico.

"Hey, spacing out?" Yukino's voice pulled Chen Tian back to reality. She was looking at him with a disdainful gaze, but the corners of her eyes and brows still held traces of that earlier softness.

Kaguya leaned in curiously: "What little calico?"

"Secret." Chen Tian winked at Yukino, earning an exasperated eye roll in return.

He suddenly felt that being a "playboy" was pretty worth it—at least it let these proud young ladies show their most genuine sides.

Though Kitagawa might find out and tease him for "flirting around again," whatever.

"I'm off." Chen Tian waved his hand and turned to leave without hesitation.

The sunlight stretched his shadow long as he faded away down the tree-lined campus path.

He glanced at his phone. Kitagawa had already sent three messages:

"Tian Jun, where are you?"

"I checked, that 4S store is running a promotion lately."

"(.o﹏o) Hurry up."

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth involuntarily.

That energetic girl had been excited since yesterday, even holding her phone to look at car specs while they were tangled up last night.

Though every time she opened a detail page, he'd cut her off with a deep kiss, and the phone would slip unnoticed to the floor...

As Chen Tian walked and scrolled through his phone, it vibrated again.

It was a selfie from Kitagawa: her eyes curved in a smile, flashing a peace sign at the camera, with her packed bag and jacket clearly visible in the background.

"I'll wait for you at the school gate first~"

He could picture her shaking her blonde hair as she looked around.

Chen Tian smiled and replied: "On my way. PS: Your smile is adorable."

Just as he sent it, another message popped up. It was a photo from Kaguya: her and Yukino standing under the teaching building, holding cotton candy from the amusement park.

"Tian Jun, I look forward to you informing us of the picnic time."

Chen Tian was about to reply when a third message suddenly came through.

Yukino sent a photo of a calico cat, with only two aloof words as the caption: "Wednesday."

As he turned the last corner.

At the school gate, Kitagawa was standing on tiptoes, looking around, her long blonde hair flying in the wind.

The moment she spotted Chen Tian, her eyes lit up, and she waved like a cheerful little rabbit bouncing in place.

Chen Tian switched his phone to silent mode and tucked it into his pocket. Now, it was Kitagawa's time.

Kitagawa crashed into Chen Tian's arms like a little cannonball, carrying the sweet scent of sunshine and shampoo. "Boyfriend is late!" She looked up, her blonde hair brushing against his chin, her smile dazzling.

Chen Tian didn't say a word. His hand naturally rested on the back of her head, his palm feeling the softness of her hair. The girl in his arms fidgeted restlessly, lifting her face with eyes curved like crescent moons: "But it's okay! You used to wait for me all the time, so today I'll wait for you."

"Alright, alright," Chen Tian chuckled, his fingers brushing her slightly puffed cheek. "Thanks for the trouble, Xiao Meng."

"Hehe." Kitagawa broke into a grin immediately, her small hand deftly slipping into Chen Tian's palm, fingers interlaced, and she tugged him out of the school gate. "Quick, quick! I made an appointment with the car shop, booked a test drive—can't be late!"

Her steps were fast and urgent, her blonde hair with pink tips bouncing behind her, and she kept chattering, "That red sports car, the clerk said there's a special offer today..."

The car door closed, and the taxi headed toward the dealership.

Kitagawa hugged Chen Tian's arm, her head resting on his shoulder like a kitten looking for a nest.

Suddenly, her small nose twitched. She leaned in close to Chen Tian's collar and sniffed, her brow instantly furrowing into a little knot.

Kitagawa's internal alarm bells rang. It was that Shinomiya Kaguya's scent! Being in the same major as Tian Jun is such a hassle—she probably took advantage while I wasn't around...

She couldn't help but imagine Kaguya, elegant and scheming, getting close to Chen Tian, and pouted as she hugged his arm a little tighter.

If Kaguya knew about Kitagawa's inner rant, she'd probably cry foul—she was scared out of her wits today, okay!

The car stopped quickly.

As soon as they got out, a bald middle-aged man in a sharp suit hurried over from the dealership entrance, his face plastered with a professional smile. He bowed slightly to Kitagawa with enthusiasm: "Miss Kitagawa! I've been waiting for you!"

His gaze shifted to Chen Tian, and he gave a slight bow: "You must be Mr. Chen Tian, right? Please, come in, come in. The red sports car you reserved is ready for a test drive."

Kitagawa's eyes lit up instantly, the little jealousy from before completely forgotten. She grabbed Chen Tian and charged inside: "Let's go, let's go, Tian Jun! I can't wait to try out Little Red!"

The bald man, still beaming, led them to the test drive waiting room, poured them water, and respectfully excused himself, saying he'd get the car keys.

Only the two of them remained in the room.

Chen Tian tugged Kitagawa's hand, pulling her gently closer, and looked down at her eyes still sparkling with excitement. A hint of teasing curled at the corner of his mouth. "Hey, what's with all the excitement? Do you even have a driver's license?"

Kitagawa waved a hand dismissively, the other unconsciously miming a steering wheel. "I don't, but you do! Still, this is our first car together! Of course I'm excited!"

Her voice brimmed with pure joy.

Chen Tian was amused by her matter-of-fact, childlike demeanor. He stretched out an arm and pulled her into a full embrace, his warm breath brushing against the hair on her forehead.

"I have a license, you don't—that won't do." He tightened his arms, watching the tips of her ears turn red in an instant, his voice dripping with affection. "If you really like this car that much, you'd better get your license fast."

He paused, his chin lightly rubbing against the top of her head, then dropped the key line: "After all, this car will be yours."

The girl in his arms stiffened for a moment, then jerked her head up, her golden hair brushing against his neck.

Her big eyes went wide, filled with disbelief, then burst like fireworks, radiating a brilliance even more dazzling than the anticipation she'd shown during the test drive. Surprise practically overflowed from them.

"Re... really?! For me?!" Kitagawa's voice pitched higher, her face blooming into a radiant smile. Like a little animal stunned by a massive stroke of luck, she instinctively nuzzled against him again and again. "Tian Jun! You're the best!"

The earlier "little obstacle" about the driver's license was instantly swept away by this huge surprise.

Chen Tian's heart softened at her nuzzling. He couldn't help pinching her cheek, slightly puffed from excitement, and chuckled softly. "Yeah, it's settled."

The bald man soon returned with the car keys, his face beaming as he led them outside. A brand-new 2018 red Audi R8 Spyder sat quietly, its sleek lines gleaming brilliantly under the sunlight.

"Wow! Little Red!" Kitagawa immediately let go of Chen Tian's hand and darted over to the sports car like a cheerful bird, her face nearly pressed against the window as she peered inside. Her big eyes were full of awe. "So beautiful! The inside's amazing too!"

Chen Tian took the keys and gestured for the salesman not to follow.

The test drive began quickly.

Chen Tian drove first, cruising smoothly on city roads to feel the car's handling and power. Kitagawa sat in the passenger seat, excitedly touching and looking around, her seatbelt unable to contain her bouncing heart.

When it was Chen Tian's turn to sit in the passenger seat and check the ride comfort, he looked over at Kitagawa.

Both hands gripped the steering wheel tightly (though the car was stationary), her eyes blazing bright, her little face flushed with excitement. She nodded vigorously, her expression screaming, "Amazing! Amazing!"

Chen Tian smiled and didn't hesitate. He rolled down the window and said crisply to the bald salesman waiting at the showroom entrance, his face full of anticipation, "Alright, we'll take this one."