You've boxed yourself in

Wu Dahai looked at Qingling. The arcade's dazzling lights played across her beautiful, aloof face. There was no coy reluctance, no humiliation-only indifference.

This woman! She's something else!

Wu Dahai's gaze slowly drifted down from her face to her fair neck, then to the chest beneath her white school uniform. Full curves filled out the fabric, stretching it slightly around the second button. If he looked closely, he could even make out the outline of her bra beneath it.

Those were a real human girl's boobs! And they belonged to a well-developed, beautiful eighteen-year-old girl!

Wu Dahai swallowed pathetically. This wasn't a dream!

The two men beside him looked distinctly hostile. He knew they despised him and found him disgusting, and might even be secretly jealous. He also knew he was a sleazy old pervert, but at that moment, he was proud to be one!

Nervous and reverent, Wu Dahai slowly reached out... Any second now, he would enter heaven and experience the ultimate bliss.

A merciless punch smashed into Wu Dahai's nose. He cried out and staggered back two steps.

She wasn't done. Qingling raised one long leg and kicked Wu Dahai in the abdomen. Pain twisted through his stomach, then his legs gave out and he dropped straight to his knees.

Qingling looked down at Wu Dahai kneeling at her feet, still far from satisfied.

She grabbed a fistful of his hair. "You little shit, got a death wish? What were you about to do?"

Wu Dahai was utterly bewildered. "Wait! You said I could touch you, so I..."

"Touch what?" Qingling asked.

Gaoyang realized what had happened: Qingling's alternate personality, Qingling, had come out. This Qingling hated men. There was no way she would let Wu Dahai touch her.

Wu Dahai felt deeply wronged. "Your... boobs."

"A maggot like you? Eat shit, motherfucker!" Qingling drove her knee into Wu Dahai's head with a thud.

Wu Dahai went flying, knocking over several chairs.

Gaoyang had initially been happy to enjoy the show, but seeing things go wrong, he hurried forward to stop Qingling before someone actually died.

"Qingling, let it go."

"Don't touch me!" Qingling swung a backhand slap at him, but Gaoyang was ready and dodged backward.

"You maggots! What did you bring me here for?!" Qingling screamed. Suddenly, her body stiffened, and her eyes became calm and cold again.

She looked at the tense Gaoyang, then glanced back at Wu Dahai, who lay curled up on the floor, groaning. "What just happened?"

"Qingling came out," Gaoyang said.

Qingling frowned slightly. "It's fine. Let's continue."

"Continue my ass!" Officer Huang helped Wu Dahai up. Clutching his still-bleeding nose, he snapped, "How do you women change your minds faster than you turn a page?"

"Something unexpected happened," Qingling explained.

"If you didn't want me touching you, you could've just said so! I wasn't forcing you!" Wu Dahai was still furious. "Don't think being pretty means you can do whatever you want! Try hitting me again. I really will hit back!"

Qingling thought for a moment. "Let's play again. If you still win this time, I'll have those two tie me up. Then nothing unexpected can happen."

Gaoyang was stunned. You're way too ruthless with yourself! You're the real gambling addict here!

Still, Gaoyang figured that even if she lost again, Qingling would definitely come out to "renege."

Over the years, Qingling had always protected her weaker counterpart when it came to survival. But at moments like this, her counterpart had probably always protected her from her own extremes, too.

After all, they were two sides of the same person.

Gaoyang exchanged a glance with Officer Huang. They decided not to intervene just yet and see how things developed.

Wu Dahai's anger evaporated. Still dubious, he weighed it up. He'd already taken a beating; at worst, he'd take a couple more hits. But what if he succeeded? Die for a beauty, and even your ghost would be happy!

He looked at Qingling. "Beautiful, do you mean it?"

Qingling nodded.

"Let's do this! Let's do this!" Wu Dahai haphazardly wiped away his nosebleed and sat down at the arcade machine again.

Qingling was much more practiced this time, too. She sat down, inserted a coin, and selected her character in one smooth sequence.

Once again, it was Haohmaru versus Ukyo Tachibana.

Wu Dahai's Ukyo Tachibana launched a fierce assault right from the start. Qingling still used only four moves: standing block, crouching block, the A button's light slash, and the B button's medium slash.

This time, she made no mistakes at all. Her reaction speed could be measured in microseconds.

Wu Dahai used every trick he knew, but he was facing an emotionless machine. Whatever move he made, she instantly responded with the best possible counter.

Block. Deflect. Or trade hits, exchanging damage.

Wu Dahai couldn't gain any advantage. Instead, his health stayed consistently below Qingling's.

Finally, time ran out. Neither character had died, but Qingling had slightly more health left and won.

Wu Dahai understood her strategy now.

In the second round, he stopped initiating attacks and tried to counter her instead. But Qingling remained utterly immovable. Wu Dahai had already lost one round; even if this one ended in a draw, he would still lose.

Wu Dahai grew anxious. With half the time gone, he attacked anyway. The moment he did, he fell into Qingling's rhythm again. Soon, the match ended. Once again, neither character died, and Qingling had slightly more health.

Best of three. Qingling won.

Gaoyang had expected Wu Dahai to lash out in humiliation. After all, he'd taken a beating and lost the match. But Wu Dahai merely froze for two seconds, then rose graciously and forcefully slicked back his broom-like hair with both hands. "You win."

Qingling stood up, satisfied. "This game is pretty interesting."

"Does the boob-touching offer still stand?"

"You didn't win," Qingling replied without a change in expression.

"Fine. A bet's a bet."

Wu Dahai took it well enough. He looked at Gaoyang. "Last round. Your turn, right?"

Gaoyang looked at Officer Huang, who spread his hands helplessly. Then he looked at Qingling. She said, "I'm going outside to calm Qingling down," and walked out of the arcade room.

Gaoyang thought wryly, I really am the protagonist. They saved me for the grand finale.

He scanned the room. The remaining arcade games included The King of Fighters '97, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, Sonic Blast Man II, Knights of Valour, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Metal Slug, Captain Hook, and Snow Bros.

Though he'd played them all as a child, he wasn't good at any of them. After careful consideration, Gaoyang pointed to a slot machine in the corner. "Can we compete on that?"

Wu Dahai froze, then stared at him in disbelief. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure." Gaoyang nodded.

He couldn't compete on skill anyway. Might as well try luck.

"Oh no." Officer Huang seemed to recall something unpleasant and pressed a hand to his forehead.

Smiling, Wu Dahai patted Gaoyang's shoulder with a look of pity. "Buddy, you've boxed yourself in."