[(;)]
[(☉⊙)]
[There really are hidden items?]
[They're in advanced maps, of course. I just didn't think the Trial Map would have them too.]
[What is this?]
[Could it be another legendary item?]
Wen Nan stepped forward and opened the pitch-black treasure chest.
A flash of golden light appeared, but there was no legendary item waiting inside.
The chest was empty.
Wen Nan: ...
What was this? Had someone put a play ball in the map?
As he was thinking about it, the system's notification sounded in his mind: [Congratulations, player! Your map exploration progress has exceeded 30%! You've received an additional 100 experience points, which will be awarded after this trial ends.]
Had he really explored a third of the map already? So quickly? But apart from a crushed Empty Cola Can, he hadn't gotten anything.
There was only one possibility—the items and equipment here had already been completely picked clean by another player.
Three of Wen Nan's roommates flashed through his mind, but he quickly dismissed them all.
One was busy getting spanked, one was busy playing basketball, and one was busy picking up soap. They definitely hadn't had any spare time to come search the map for items.
It could only be that big bro who'd somehow gotten mixed into his "harem."
At the thought, Wen Nan couldn't help feeling a headache coming on.
This big bro never took a moment's rest. He'd just signed a Gentleman's Agreement with Wen Nan and finally stopped flirting with his other targets, but now he was out searching the map for equipment. Couldn't he ever just sit still? A worker's body, a worker's soul?
Still, Wen Nan couldn't blame him for doing any of this. Exploring the map was something everyone could do, and whoever got there first got the goods.
But speaking of which, Yu the Scholar had picked the place clean way too thoroughly!
His map exploration progress was already at 30%, which meant the flower bed, the trash can, and this restroom might all have counted toward his exploration. Yet after wandering around all this time, Wen Nan had gotten nothing but an Empty Cola Can.
By that logic, there was no point in spending time exploring the remaining 70% of the map either. Yu the Scholar had surely picked it clean already.
Wen Nan shrugged and turned toward the restroom door.
After taking two steps, he ran into the figure of a slender girl coming in.
"Ah!"
When the girl saw Wen Nan, she clapped a hand over her face and ran back out in fright.
"Sorry," Wen Nan said, lowering his head as he prepared to walk around her and leave.
But the girl grabbed his arm, stopping him. "...Ye Jiu?"
Wen Nan froze. "Wu Yuwei?"
"W-why are you in the girls' restroom alone this late?"
"Uh, I came in by mistake." Wen Nan made up an excuse, then added, "If there's nothing else, I'll head back to the dorm."
"Wait!" Wu Yuwei tightened her grip on Wen Nan's fingers. "I-I have something to tell you..."
Wen Nan stuck to his earlier stance and lifted her hand off his wrist. "Sorry, I don't think we have anything to talk about."
With that, Wen Nan headed firmly toward the restroom exit.
9527: [Side story 'Xiao Wei's Entanglement' detected. Quest progress updated to 15%. Complete the side quest to receive bonus experience points and equipment.]
At the system notification in his mind, Wen Nan's steps faltered slightly.
Then Wu Yuwei rushed up and wrapped both arms tightly around him from behind.
Wen Nan: ...
Wasn't this scene getting a little too melodramatic for a romance drama?
Wu Yuwei pressed her cheek firmly against Wen Nan's back and spoke in a muffled voice. "Ye Jiu, please don't go, okay? I was wrong before. It was all my fault. You're not the one who should regret it—I am..."
She meant every word.
Maybe she'd confessed on impulse before, and when he rejected her, a big part of her heartbreak had come from not wanting to lose to a girl like Qiqi.
But over the past couple of days, she'd figured things out. She'd come to understand her own feelings.
No one had ever made her pine for him like Ye Jiu did, made it so impossible for her to let him go.
She thought about him when she was awake, and in her dreams when she was asleep. She thought about him while eating and even during class.
She couldn't stop thinking about him.
She wanted him so badly she was going out of her mind, but she had no idea what to do.
Now she finally understood what this feeling was—
"Ye Jiu, I like you. I really do. I've never liked anyone the way I like you."
When she confessed again, the arrogance and entitlement of a campus belle who was used to getting her way were gone. All that remained was the desperation and pleading of an ordinary girl going crazy with love.
Before he could respond, Wu Yuwei hurried on. "I know you chose Liu Qi. I-I don't care! I'm willing to be your secret lover, even if we have to keep it hidden from everyone.
"I can accept you being all sweet and affectionate with Liu Qi in public, as long as... as long as you're willing to come see me on nights like this, when we're alone, and give me a little affection—even just a little. That would be enough for me.
"Okay, Ye Jiu?"
By the end, Wu Yuwei's voice was choked with tears, and her whole body trembled faintly. She was like a delicate white flower in the rain, making anyone want to gently soothe her fragile petals.
But Wen Nan didn't turn around. He stood motionless by the door, letting her hold him without giving her any response.
9527: [Side story 'Xiao Wei's Entanglement' quest progress updated to 35%.]
Wen Nan spoke. "Xiao Wei, let go. I told you I don't like you. Even if we forced ourselves to be together, I wouldn't change my mind."
Wu Yuwei's eyes brimmed with tears, and they were about to spill over.
She shook her head and murmured, "Why? I don't believe you..."
As she spoke, she quickly circled around in front of Wen Nan, rose onto her toes, and kissed him hard on the lips, pushing her soft tongue between his teeth.
Wen Nan felt what seemed like some kind of liquid being passed between their lips. It felt strange.
He didn't have time to figure out what the sensation was. He could only raise his hands in a panic and shove Wu Yuwei away.
9527: [Side story quest progress updated to 55%.]
Wu Yuwei stumbled back two steps, then regained her balance. Her eyes were full of resentment. "You... You taste like another woman's fluids! You! You and someone else..."
Wen Nan was startled. She could taste that?
"Who is it? Who are you with?!"
With fury and resentment overwhelming her, Wu Yuwei's expression twisted.
Wen Nan sighed. "That has nothing to do with you."
He was about to turn and leave when he saw Wu Yuwei start unbuttoning her blouse.
"If this is what you want... I can give it to you too!"
Before you continue