《My girlfriend comes from the future!》


 Chapter 1: Another Day of World Peace

    "It''s another day of world peace," the teacher thought, sitting in the middle of the first row, gazing naturally at the Book of Enchantment before the blackboard. A small difference stirred within him.


    "I should be sitting in the last row by the window, just like the anime protagonist, pondering life with my chin in my hand."


    The pen spun half a circle at his fingertips before falling to the ground. The girl next to him caught his eye, albeit covertly, yet his sensitivity captured it.


    "I can''t even spin my pen properly. What a failure. I shouldn''t distract others."


    Ashamed, he quickly picked up the pen and buried his head back in the textbook.


    "I want to escape. If I were reborn, like in a novel, would my life be different?"


    Hechino pondered silently, only to quickly dismiss the thought.


    "Would rebirth change anything? Maybe I¡¯d have been slightly more popular in elementary school. Back then, good grades could still earn you attention. Now, in junior high, there are too many wonders, and it''s not enough for me¡­"


    "Why do people think rebirth guarantees success? Even with two lifetimes, someone like me wouldn''t succeed! Successful people have expertise, good character, knowledge, and appearance. Unlike me, who¡¯s just good at playing games."


    "Perhaps I have some talent after all. At least I¡¯m prepared. Maybe I''m not too bad."


    As he mused, his eyes drifted to the window seat where a beautiful girl sat, her face bathed in the golden glow of the sunset. She lay on the table, her chin resting delicately in her hands, gazing out the window, lost in thought.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Sensing his gaze, the girl turned, and he quickly looked away.


    "Oh no, she caught me staring. I don''t want people to think I have a crush on her. It''s embarrassing!"


    "Dong~"


    A finger tapped gently on his desk. He looked to see his classmate, Ye Jiaqi, watching him with a knowing smile. She whispered softly:


    "I know you like Cao Aiqing."


    "Eh..."


    He opened his mouth slightly, then grabbed his pen in a panic, scribbling in the textbook''s margin:


    "Don''t spread rumors; it''s not good for anyone!"


    Ye Jiaqi glanced at his note and wrote back:


    "Is it just bad for you? What can you do about it?"


    He felt his cheeks burn as he read her response, his face turning slightly red.


    "Number 17, who is Number 17?"


    The teacher''s roll call was a timely rescue. After a pause, a voice from the back row answered:


    "Teacher, Number 17 is Wen Liang. She''s an art student and has taken leave for training."


    "Oh, Xue Yong, you know her well. Is this a romantic day?"


    "Get lost, Sir!"


    "Teacher, Xue Yong is just joking around!"


    Laughter erupted in the classroom, but Xue Yong remained unfazed, shaking his head.


    In Hong Kong City Middle School, mentioning Cao Aiqing or Wen Liang inevitably led to teasing. Both were class beauties, and adolescent curiosity often turned into youthful infatuation.


    "Alright, settle down. Number 27," the teacher called out next.


    Hechino, alert at hearing his number, stood up nervously.


    "Come on, solve this problem and share your thoughts with the class."


    The blackboard displayed a math question:


    "In a coordinate system, the distance ratio from a moving point P to fixed points M (8,0) and N (2,0) is 2. Determine the trajectory equation C of point P if..."


    This problem was not difficult for Hechino, who excelled in math. But the thought that Cao Aiqing might be watching made him anxious as he approached the podium.


    "Our natural brother is naturally talented."


    "What do you mean by natural? Naturally dumb? Hahaha..."


    Despite the muffled whispers, Hechino heard them clearly. The teacher''s stern glance silenced the room.


    Taking a deep breath, Hechino completed the problem quickly and returned to his seat, his head lowered.


    "Wait, don''t leave yet. Explain your thought process," the teacher insisted.


    He remained silent, prompting a classmate to interject:


    "Teacher Zhao, our natural brother usually finds these questions beneath him."


    "Li Bin, that''s not fair. He''s just introverted, unlike us carefree types."


    Furious, Teacher Zhao hurled a piece of chalk, hitting the boy squarely on the forehead.


    "Xue Yong, Li Bin, out!"


    "Fine!"


    The two boys left, hands in pockets, heads held high as they exited the classroom.


    Though it seemed the teacher was on Hechino''s side, he knew this was unwanted attention.


    "It''s over. Xue Yong and his gang will see me as an enemy now. I¡¯m not afraid of a fight, but being ostracized is another matter. I can¡¯t handle that."


    The socially anxious teenager foresaw future troubles, a sense of helplessness weighing him down.


    Until the end of the day, he remained uneasy.


    Today was just another day of world peace.

 Chapter 2: The Password is Not Necessarily a Good Thing

    On the school''s playground, Hechino was alone, sweeping paper scraps and gravel off the plastic track with a broom.


    "Natural brother, you''re working hard. This playground is huge; it''ll take you ages to clean it by yourself," Xue Yong called, sitting on the parallel bars with a grin. Another boy, busy with his phone, suddenly exclaimed, "Brother Yong, let''s go! A few girls from the next class invited us to karaoke."


    Xue Yong shook his head, replying, "It''s boring to hang out with schoolgirls. My sisters have booked a table at Space tonight."


    "Let''s sing first, then head to the nightclub around six or seven?"


    "Sure, let''s go."


    Xue Yong jumped down from the bars, heading back to the school with his friend.


    "You guys..."


    Hechino stopped sweeping and called out. The two boys turned back impatiently.


    "Dude, we asked you to sweep, and you actually did it. You''re too honest; we didn''t mean to bully you. Why keep going?"


    Hechino hesitated, then asked, "But aren''t you guys studying tonight?"


    The pair paused, then burst into laughter.


    "You''re such a fool," they said, walking away.


    Hechino remained standing, broom in hand, then silently walked over to the lawn and sat down.


    "People really are different. Is this what it''s like to be part of the winning group in life? Never mind, I''ll just head home and play games. No studying tonight..."


    Evening self-study at Hong Kong City Middle School wasn''t mandatory, but as a third-year student facing college entrance exams, he knew he should seize every moment. He''d never missed a session before. But today, he was clearly shaken.


    Feeling dejected, he stood up and headed back to the classroom to return the broom. As he opened the door, he saw a girl standing on a desk, writing on the blackboard.


    Through the hazy dust in the air, he saw her outlined in the backlight, her silhouette like a golden thread. The girl, with short shoulder-length hair, seemed around sixteen or seventeen. Her playful expression was reminiscent of gentle rain or the vibrant neon lights of a city.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "Wen Liang, is that you?"


    He called out tentatively, and the girl looked back in surprise.


    "Oh, Hechino? You''re still alive?"


    Her unexpected comment left him puzzled.


    "I know I usually seem low-key, but you''re..."


    He started to put the broom back, intending to leave.


    "Wait!" A hand caught his arm. Looking down, he noticed the slender fingers, their complexion slightly reddish, devoid of nail polish like most of the girls in class. They seemed delicate.


    "What...?"


    He instinctively pulled away, startled, while the girl smiled and stuck out her tongue apologetically.


    "Cough, Hechino, sorry about that. I haven''t seen you in a while, and didn''t expect you to be like this."


    "I haven''t seen you in a while?" Hechino repeated. "Weren''t you at a training class last Tuesday?"


    "It was a performance training course," she corrected.


    "Right, but that''s not the point. I... I''m not really familiar with you, am I?"


    Hechino, feeling tense, blurted out a rare "fierce" remark.


    The girl in front of him was Wen Liang, one of the two major beauties at Hong Kong City Middle School. Unlike Cao Aiqing, who had an aloof, mountain-flower aura, Wen Liang was cheerful and straightforward, popular among both genders. As a former child star, she was hard to ignore.


    Wen Liang smiled playfully. "Haven''t you heard the saying ''absence makes the heart grow fonder''?"


    Hechino didn''t know how to handle such cheerfulness. He preferred a quiet environment where nobody spoke, which might be why he favored Cao Aiqing between the two school beauties.


    After all, if I don''t speak, you can''t dislike me.


    When people talked, Hechino was often at a loss for words, like now.


    His eyes flitted around, unsure where to focus¡ªon Wen Liang''s T-shirt? That might seem perverted. On her face? No, that would only make him more nervous.


    His gaze settled on the English phrase she had written on the blackboard:


    "Hero¡¯s Come Back!"


    After a pause, he managed to ask, "You... you like ''Naruto'' too?"


    "Huh?"


    She didn''t catch his meaning right away.


    Hechino felt embarrassed again. His thoughts seemed to take a strange turn as he tried to explain.


    "The first opening theme... it''s called that."


    As expected, she didn''t respond right away, leaving him feeling awkward. His anxiety intensified, and he wanted to leave.


    "I... I should go." He turned to leave, but her voice stopped him.


    "Yeah, but ''Boruto'' doesn''t have the same spark! A 4.1 rating is too high!"


    His password was correct!


    Hechino turned back, feeling a surge of joy. "Read the manga; it''s better."


    Wen Liang shrugged. "It''s okay, but since Kishimoto only supervises it, it''s practically a different work."


    "Really? Speaking of that, have you seen the latest manga with a samurai theme?"


    Hechino, venturing into his area of interest, became animated. But Wen Liang interrupted him.


    "Speaking of samurai, my favorite is ''Vagabond.'' It''s unmatched!"


    Critical hit!


    Wen Liang''s comment struck a chord with Hechino''s interests. Her words felt like a duel between two samurai, drawing and sheathing swords. He was metaphorically slain by her proclamation!


    Inoue Takehiko''s ''Vagabond'' was cherished by Hechino. Although his classmates enjoyed anime, this manga was more niche and lacked an anime adaptation, making it a rare find among his peers. Hearing it from a girl was as astounding as gathering Dragon Balls to summon Shenron!


    "You don''t have to look at me like that. I know this because you told me."


    "Me?" Hechino pointed to himself, incredulous. In his three years of high school, his interactions with Wen Liang could be counted on one hand... or perhaps none at all.


    Wen Liang nodded. "Yes, if we meet in the future, I might tell you differently. But now, facing you in this life, I think it''s better to tell you directly..."


    Hechino swallowed hard, his throat moving.


    Wen Liang pointed to the blackboard, speaking calmly:


    "Actually, I''m Wen Liang after reincarnation."


    "......"


    "What''s wrong? Scared?"


    "I knew it..."


    "What?"


    "I! Just knew! It!"


    Hechino shouted, holding his head in his hands, his eyes unfocused, muttering.


    If you listened closely, you might hear:


    "I knew it, I knew it. How could there be a girl with such a password in this world? It doesn''t exist, doesn''t exist... Such a person doesn''t exist. If it''s true, it must involve crossing worlds, alien realms, superpowers, sequence magic, reincarnation, any strange existence!"


    Wen Liang listened, both amused and exasperated.


    (End of this Chapter)

 Chapter 3: She Told Me the Future

    Hechino sat at his desk, now sharing it with Wen Liang.


    "What''s my favorite movie?"


    "''The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.'' You said if you could recommend only one movie in this lifetime, it would be this one. And you also mentioned Brad Pitt is one of the few actors who could turn you."


    "...And what about my favorite song?"


    "You have a wide taste and listen to all styles, but your favorite is Mayday''s ''If We Never Meet Again.''"


    Hechino clicked his tongue. "That''s right again... It''s a great song, and the lyrics are beautiful."


    Wen Liang laughed, lying on the desk and wiggling her fingers. "No, no, that''s your second favorite. Mainly because every time you hear it, you imagine a tragic love story, hahaha... It''s almost second."


    Hechino covered his face with one hand in embarrassment and asked, "Is our future really that good?"


    "Guess!"


    Wen Liang straightened her back and looked at Hechino with a smile. "Guess, what''s our relationship in the future?"


    The ambiguous question from a girl!


    Hechino''s toes curled. What was this? Wasn''t this the kind of doubt you only see in stories? Now it''s happening to him!


    Is it reasonable?


    Unreasonable!


    But if this is through rebirth... then...


    Still unreasonable!


    Hechino sighed and gave an answer. "In short, we''re not a couple because I don''t want to get my hopes up."


    Wen Liang turned her head and rested her chin in her hands. "Bingo! Correct answer!"


    "See? I knew it!"


    Hechino felt neither loss nor extra imagination. After all, his motto was:


    I won¡¯t be disappointed if I don¡¯t hope! Horizontal motto: Invincible!


    "From this point, there¡¯s really no difference between you and the person you''ll become..."


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    She glanced at the handwriting left on the blackboard, softly whispering, then put on a hurt expression. "What, is it deliberately emphasized that I¡¯m not pretty?"


    Sure enough, girls have no correct answer. Hechino thought that if she had said they were a couple, she would have accused him of overthinking. Would that lead to a confession?


    Hechino anticipated the outcome and analyzed it rationally, saying, "Because you can''t like me at all. I even sometimes dislike myself, let alone have any qualities that would attract girls."


    Wen Liang paused, then laughed after a moment. "Do you know what kind of person you will be in the future?"


    This statement piqued Hechino¡¯s curiosity. "Tell me."


    Wen Liang gave him a look. "What do you think I am, a fortune teller?"


    The boy chuckled awkwardly, listening as she continued slowly, "I¡¯m a big star in the future, and you... are a screenwriter! We first meet on the set of our collaborative project."


    "Screenwriter? I like to imagine and write things, but am I really a screenwriter?"


    "You''re like the protagonist from ''The Life of 13 Writers.''"


    Hechino recognized the reference immediately. The movie''s protagonist is a talented screenwriter, but circumstances and personality lead to his tragic end. It''s a movie he loves, so he understood its meaning.


    The atmosphere grew somewhat silent, prompting Hechino to speak. "The first thing you said was that I¡¯m still alive. Does that mean my future is..."


    Wen Liang nodded, a touch of solemnity in her voice. "It¡¯s a long story. At 31, you struggled as a screenwriter. You managed to save some money, hoping to direct a film, but someone stole your script. Years of hard work were destroyed, and you nearly lost everything..."


    Wen Liang''s tone grew heavier, but Hechino didn''t dwell too much. Given his nature, this outcome seemed better than he''d imagined. He smiled and mocked himself, "With my character, can I really be a director? Even if I start a film, I wouldn''t be able to handle it."


    Wen Liang disagreed, "It''s that very character that gets you bullied!"


    Hechino shrugged it off and asked, "Weren¡¯t we doing well in the future? Why didn''t I cast you as the lead?"


    Wen Liang''s expression darkened, but before she could speak, Hechino found an excuse for himself.


    "Right, right, I don''t usually take initiative. You¡¯re a big star, and your pay must be high. I¡¯d be afraid to owe you."


    "You''ve always been like this..." she muttered.


    "What did you... say?"


    Wen Liang stood up and exclaimed loudly, "I said, you''ve always been like this! You never offend anyone, and you''re afraid others will be upset; you swallow your words instead of speaking up; you could do things well, but you hesitate out of fear. When will you work hard? When will you be good to yourself?"


    Faced with her outburst, Hechino was taken aback.


    Is this a typical Japanese-style reprimand?


    Am I not being good enough to myself?


    I¡¯m a typical homebody! I stay in my comfort zone and don¡¯t provoke anyone. How could this become a point of contention?


    "Are you thinking of escaping now?"


    Wen Liang seemed to see through Hechino''s thoughts, pointing at him.


    The boy shrank back, cautious. "I... I don¡¯t know. I haven¡¯t experienced these things, and... I¡¯m innocent right now..."


    Wen Liang¡¯s chest heaved with emotion, and Hechino turned away, avoiding eye contact.


    "Look at me!"


    "Okay..."


    "Look at me, where are you looking?!"


    "Ah, yes!"


    Wen Liang crossed her arms over her chest and declared, "From today, you must change! Change your lazy and weak ways to avoid future tragedy!"


    Hechino felt innocent, truly innocent, and scratched his head. "I think I¡¯m... pretty good now..."


    "I don¡¯t want you to feel, I want my feelings! I think you¡¯re terrible right now! For both the present and future, nothing! Is! Good!"


    "What¡¯s wrong..."


    Wen Liang¡¯s eyes glinted. "You peek at my chest, yet you don¡¯t have the courage to confess!"


    Goodness, is this an improvement after rebirth?


    Wen Liang teased, "Your eyes were darting, like two bouncing billiard balls. I wish I had a mirror to show you!"


    What? Can rebirth let you read minds?


    And what a strange analogy this is!


    "I... can I think about it?"


    Wen Liang sipped her drink. "No! After today, you¡¯ll think tomorrow is just another peaceful day!"


    "You know that too?!"


    Hechino was surprised, and Wen Liang¡¯s tone softened. "Hechino, I¡¯m here to help you, not hurt you..."


    "Then... can¡¯t it wait?"


    "Now!"


    "What should I do?"


    "Start by doing something you''ve never done before¡ªskip your evening self-study!"


    With that, Wen Liang suddenly grabbed Hechino''s hand and marched out of the classroom with him.


    Unbeknownst to them, they''d been talking for a long time. As they walked, many students heading to evening study saw them. Wen Liang was quite famous, so people were surprised by the scene.


    Wen Liang seemed to deliberately take more paths through the building, ensuring more people saw them together.


    Especially Ye Jiaqi, who had been discussing a popular celebrity online with her friends.


    Wen Liang even stopped and greeted her!


    "Hi, Jiaqi, long time no see!"


    "Wen... Wen Liang, you''re back? You and... Hechino..."


    The girl glanced back and forth between their clasped hands.


    "Yeah, I''m going out to eat with Hechino and skipping self-study. What''s up? Let''s talk later, love ya!"


    Wen Liang blew a kiss to Ye Jiaqi and continued down the stairs with Hechino.


    Meanwhile, Ye Jiaqi and her friends exchanged looks, eyes alight with gossip.


    (End of this Chapter)

 Chapter 4: She is Too Good, Too Charming!

    In Hechino''s mind, three thoughts were swirling:


    1) Is this plot moving too quickly?


    2) How will I explain this when I get to school on Monday?


    3) Is this really a girl''s hand? It''s so soft! Love it! (cross out)


    As they walked out of the school, Wen Liang let go of his hand.


    Hechino didn¡¯t show any dissatisfaction, or perhaps he felt that if he didn¡¯t expect much, there was nothing to lose.


    He didn¡¯t expect such a wonderful thing to happen again, like holding the hand of a school beauty. Had he used up all his luck in high school? Perhaps he should have saved it for the college entrance exams, but rounding it up, it''s not a loss.


    Just ten seconds later, his hand was caught again. Hechino felt a surge of emotion, as if his thoughts had been read once more!


    Wen Liang, observing his expression, teased him with a long, drawn-out nasal tone: "Hmm¡ªyou''re nervous; your hand was sweaty."


    Upon hearing this, Hechino instinctively pulled his hand away, saying, "This... isn''t good for you..."


    Such words, akin to a playboy''s lines, were something he couldn''t have imagined saying an hour ago.


    "Come on, let''s go to the Chongqing Noodle House on the next street and grab a bite. Let me tell you, it won''t be here in two years. I came back looking for it and thought I remembered wrong until I heard some students mention it," Wen Liang said with a smile, ignoring the previous comment.


    Hechino watched her back, wanting to leave. After all, he hated trouble, but his legs seemed to move of their own accord, following her as if by instinct.


    Trailing behind, Wen Liang walked briskly with her hands behind her back, while Hechino kept his head down, too embarrassed to look at others.


    It seemed like their personalities were reversed.


    Entering the noodle house, the shopkeeper and the boss, both authentic Chongqing natives, greeted them warmly. When they saw Wen Liang, the chubby shopkeeper''s wife called out in a Chongqing accent, "Sister, you''re back! Haven''t seen you in days!"


    Wen Liang smiled and found a spot, responding in Chongqing dialect: "I was at a training class and just got back to school today. Boss, three bowls of dry peas, please!"


    "Got it!"


    From the kitchen, the boss''s response came, and through the glass, you could see him smiling broadly.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Hechino suddenly remembered that Wen Liang was from Chongqing and had moved to Hong Kong City for high school.


    "I''ll have the same," Hechino said as he sat down. The Hong Kong City habit of ordering large or small bowls was different, but it seemed to work at the Chongqing Noodle House.


    "What''s ''dry''?" Hechino asked, about to solve the mystery, when the shopkeeper''s wife replied with a hoarse voice, "It''s dry noodles without soup. Sister, is he your boyfriend?"


    Wen Liang handed over the chopsticks, and after taking them, she explained, "No, he''s just my old classmate!"


    "Oh, young and lively, and already old classmates," the shopkeeper''s wife replied knowingly, as the boss brought out two bowls of steaming noodles, the aroma making their mouths water.


    "You can tell me now why holding hands is not good for you," Wen Liang asked, stirring her noodles as she sniffed the aroma.


    Hechino knew that no matter what he said, Wen Liang wouldn''t mind; she was just trying to start a conversation at dinner.


    "It''s just... if a teacher sees us, they might think we''re in a relationship..."


    "So what? Are you a good student? Will dating affect your grades?"


    "I... I¡¯m just average, not really a focus for the teachers."


    Wen Liang chewed her noodles thoughtfully and said, "Then I needn''t worry. Art school admission standards are low. Even if I''m delayed by a hundred or two points, I''d still get in."


    "It¡¯s not good if classmates see. You saw Ye Jiaqi¡¯s eyes..."


    Watching Wen Liang enjoy her meal, Hechino took a couple of mouthfuls himself.


    "Do you like Ye Jiaqi?"


    "Cough~"


    Hechino nearly choked on his noodles.


    "Ah, bring two bottles of Coke~" Wen Liang teased.


    After drinking some Coke to calm himself, Hechino clarified, "I don''t like her."


    "You''re not being honest."


    "I am being honest!"


    "I mean, you¡¯re not being honest about the reason. You actually like Cao Aiqing, and you''re afraid she¡¯ll see you."


    Wen Liang''s words struck a nerve, and she continued eating her noodles.


    Hechino couldn''t see her expression, only feeling a knot in his stomach. He forced a bitter smile. "Sister, stop teasing me."


    Wen Liang looked up, a little annoyed. "Who''s your sister? How am I teasing you?"


    "I mean, you''re just an ''old classmate,'' like a swan among swans. I can''t afford you, but your reaction makes me feel like I''ve let you down. Did I really deserve a stomachache for this?"


    Wen Liang was amused, wiping her mouth with a tissue. "Then accept my proposal to let me transform you. One day, you''ll go from an ugly duckling to a swan."


    Hechino paused, a response stuck in his throat. Eventually, he managed to say, "I wanted to ask you from the start, why help me? When people are reborn, isn''t their first priority to think about themselves? To make up for past regrets and use life''s advantages to reach new heights?"


    Drinking her Coke, Wen Liang replied nonchalantly, "I''m a girl. I follow the female protagonist¡¯s route! Don¡¯t measure me by the standards of male novels!"


    Hechino nodded, realizing that his understanding of girls came from anime games. Guessing real people¡¯s intentions was beyond him.


    "It seems my attachment to Cao Aiqing is strong in this life, too. You know about that as well."


    Wen Liang chuckled. "Haha, that¡¯s true."


    This brought another question to Hechino¡¯s mind: "Can I ask you something? Was I married at 31? What was my partner like?"


    Wen Liang shook her head.


    "What? So miserable? Still single at 31?"


    "Are you insulting me?!"


    Wen Liang suddenly found her noodles less appetizing.


    "What? You too..."


    "Do you not know how important a career is? 31 is significant for a female star!"


    "Ah, true. Few female stars marry at that age."


    Hechino considered the logic. If he were in Wen Liang¡¯s shoes, after becoming famous, wouldn''t he have plenty of opportunities? It wasn¡¯t wise to marry early.


    Wen Liang clearly didn¡¯t want to continue this topic. She changed the subject: "You just mentioned how this affects you. What about me? Would you lie to me?"


    Hechino shook his head. "No, your shadow is big in my heart. You¡¯re a girl, and your character is bold and unrestrained. I don¡¯t want you to be misunderstood as ''tea'' or ''performing.'' I know you girls have feelings, and I don''t want to upset you."


    Wen Liang, listening, chewed her noodles and eventually pushed her bowl toward him. "I can''t finish this. It''s yours."


    She¡¯s too good, too charming!


    Hechino''s mouth twitched, unsure if he felt joy or surprise.


    "What? Did I say something wrong? Isn¡¯t this even more misleading?"


    "Hee hee, this girl is pleased!" Wen Liang laughed, unfazed.


    "I¡¯m telling you, the last two bites of Chongqing noodles are the best¡ªthe seasoning is perfect, the texture just right. The temperature is ideal, like the middle bite of a watermelon. Don''t doubt it!"


    Hechino wasn''t betrayed; he just felt a little uncomfortable. In resignation, he poured her noodles into his bowl and continued eating.


    Wait, didn¡¯t she avoid answering why she wanted to help me?


    Oh well, there will be another chance to ask.


    This taste...


    It¡¯s wonderful.


    (End of this Chapter)

 Chapter 5: Otaku and His Sword Spectrum

    Since tomorrow was the weekend, Wen Liang suggested that Hechino go home and consider her proposal for transformation. They agreed to meet the next day to discuss it further.


    After finishing their noodles and exchanging contact information, they went their separate ways.


    "What? She pulled me out, we ate noodles, and then... nothing more. Well, I shouldn¡¯t expect anything more," Hechino thought to himself, reflecting as he returned to his apartment and unlocked the door with his fingerprint lock.


    His single apartment felt a bit desolate, a typical abode for a young professional. The kitchen, table, and furniture were all expensive, and the monthly rent hovered around six thousand dollars.


    For a high school student like Hechino, living in such a place was extravagant, but he managed. His dad paid the rent annually, while his monthly living expenses were a modest thousand dollars.


    Some might say that a thousand dollars is plenty for a high school student, especially with rent covered. However, after budgeting for meals, he was left with only four or five hundred yuan.


    And since he loved playing games, the cost of a AAA game on a console could easily be three or four hundred yuan, making the end of each month financially tight.


    Why didn''t he live with his parents?


    His parents were divorced; his mother went abroad, and his father remarried. His father didn¡¯t plan on living with him, so he encouraged Hechino to live independently.


    Entering his bedroom, Hechino booted up his computer, the RGB lighting from the chassis casting a glow across the room.


    Reflecting on the events of the day, Hechino couldn''t shake the feeling of disbelief. Could there really be such a thing as "rebirth" in this world? Although he indulged in fantasies, he wasn''t naive!


    He opened a popular Q&A website and tried searching about the possibility of "rebirth," but his queries slowly shifted to something more personal:


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "What does it mean when a girl holds my hand?"


    ¡ªPeople in baths just got off Cadillacs, holding hands? Holding hands is just that, nothing more to stir me.


    ¡ªTwo scenarios: either she''s a honeytrap, or she''s gay. Don''t overthink it; go to bed early.


    "What does it mean when a girl offers me her leftover food?"


    ¡ªHas the dog-licking evolved to this level? Eating leftovers? Really a dog?


    ¡ªDid you eat it? Tasty? I want some...


    ¡ªHmm, sounds like this girl holds a high position. The subject should provide more details; boys aren''t safe out there, remember not to be manipulated.


    Hechino felt the third response was sensible and typed out another question:


    "How can I quickly improve my standing in a relationship to avoid passivity with girls?"


    Most responses called for practical action, like conversations and interactions, but that seemed too challenging for Hechino. Finally, one answer resonated with him:


    "Are you sure she likes you? Or does she just want to be ambiguous? If it''s the former and you like her too, mutual affection is the best outcome. But if it''s the latter, I won''t provide an answer."


    "Yeah, what am I thinking? Hechino, get real! You''re so ordinary; why would anyone like you?"


    Hechino slapped his cheeks lightly, then retrieved a diary titled "Sword of Sword" from his drawer and recited aloud:


    "Can a great man live long in this world? With no woman in mind, the sword''s true essence is revealed. The path is¡ª


    The first page of the sword spectrum: Forget your sweetheart.


    The second page of the sword spectrum: Awaken ecstasy.


    The third page of the sword spectrum: The sword slays gods.


    The fourth page of the sword spectrum: Hold the world in your palm!


    ...


    The tenth page of the sword spectrum: Be true to yourself!"


    "I didn''t expect Wen Liang to be so overwhelming. I almost lost my cool... Was she really a girl? I need the comfort of a game right now!"


    He headed to the living room, turned on his PS5 and TV, and during the startup, he commanded his Apple HomePod:


    "Hey Siri, turn on the ambient lights in the living room."


    Instantly, a warm glow filled the once dim living room, adding some life to the space.


    "Play my collection of songs."


    Rock music filled the air, the heavy drum beats and energetic tunes invigorating the room.


    "Good morning, Night City!" The iconic line from "Cyberpunk 2077" played on the TV, and Hechino echoed it with enthusiasm:


    "Good morning, Night City!!"


    His demeanor changed, filled with passion and energy. It seemed that only in moments like these, within his small world, could he experience his own "rebirth."


    "This captivating ritual is precisely why having games is enough. I don''t know what excuse I''ll find tomorrow to refuse Wen Liang''s proposal. What needs to change? Am I not fine as I am?"


    Hechino began to talk to himself. For him, being bullied by others was fine. The school beauty had been reborn, yet even if tomorrow were the apocalypse, with the entire city turned to zombies, as long as the internet held food, he could show you how to be a true homebody!


    Many people don''t understand. How can someone stay home for a whole month? Isn''t it lonely?


    No, no, going out only brings panic, making friends is too troublesome, and relationships require aligning views and thinking of topics. When chatting, considering others'' feelings is necessary; it''s said to be an EQ issue.


    And being a homebody only requires pleasing oneself!


    It seems lonely, but it''s truly joyful!


    Hechino had a crush on Cao Aiqing. After all, every teenager has someone they''re infatuated with, but unlike those "now," he had no intention of confessing, not even the slightest urge!


    This isn''t self-deprecation; it''s self-awareness!


    "The unattainable is always the best, just like games¡ªthe best gameplay always exists only in the trailers!"


    (End of this Chapter)