"Okay..." Julian sat on the bed and closed his eyes obediently.
Immediately, a familiar scent of shower gel approached, followed by Sophie's tiny, nervous breaths.
*Could this little girl be...*
Before Julian could finish the thought, Sophie boldly pressed her lips to his.
*Shit...*
*This gift...*
Julian's heartbeat accelerated suddenly. His brain lost control instantly, and he pulled Sophie into his arms.
Sophie hadn't expected Julian to act so forcefully. She let out a low cry, eyes widening in surprise. Then, blushing, she slowly closed them.
The atmosphere had heightened to this point...
*Stay calm—*
Tonight seemed destined for content worthy of paid videos...
Julian took a deep breath. *No way!*
There's an important game tomorrow!
Besides, though the coach hadn't said it outright, he'd likely come off the bench!
*Football or piercing the thin barrier between us?*
*Of course, football matters!*
If he didn't pierce that barrier today, another chance would come.
But if he exhausted his already subpar stamina tonight, he'd be useless tomorrow.
After that, forget earning the school team's trust!
More importantly, he'd sworn to his coach: *No romance tonight!*
This was his own flag—
The flag he set up himself, to be held with tear-filled resolve!
Thinking this, Julian froze, forcibly controlling his youthful body.
Sophie opened her light-blue eyes wide, watching him suspiciously.
Julian avoided her heated gaze, cleared his throat, and said, "Sophie... I'm... unavailable tonight. I'll accompany you to London this weekend. You can tidy me up then, okay?"
Sophie sat up straight, face flushed, straightening her rumpled pajamas. "...Julian, I was... testing you earlier. You passed—you're well-behaved."
*What the fuck?*
*A test? Wasn't that sacrifice too great?*
*Alright, alright. Thin-skinned girl—if she calls it a test, it's a test.*
*Such a pity...*
Sophie's shy sweetness meant he wouldn't earn talent points tonight.
Better preserve this youthful ambiguity.
Though he missed the points, he saved his stamina. The weekend offered another chance.
Besides, couldn't expect talent points daily, right?
Julian smiled. "Sophie, once we're in London... give me a bigger test."
Sophie flushed crimson. "Julian, you're so annoying!"
He grinned innocently. "I'm serious."
She laughed youthfully. "Annoying."
Moonlight cast a cold glow over them. The room fell silent again.
"That..." Sophie murmured after a moment, head lowered. "You have a game tomorrow. I'll go... Oh, and those dirty clothes beside your bed? I'll wash them."
Julian politely refused. "No need. I'll handle it."
Sophie smiled. "Don't be modest. We have a love agreement. Besides, if I skip your laundry, Susanna might gossip."
At Susanna's mention, Sophie's eyes rolled subconsciously.
*Shit~*
*So that's why!*
Julian relented. "Then... thank you, Sophie."
"It's nothing," she said. "Just tossing them in the washer and hanging them. I'll check your pockets first—"
*So virtuous, checking pockets...*
*Wait!*
Julian's expression tightened. *Broken!*
He leapt off the bed. "Don't! Sophie—"
Despair.
A crumpled pink note tumbled from his dirty training pants.
Julian's scalp prickled.
*That betting slip... I studied national competition stats after using it and forgot to dispose of it!*
Sophie bent down, picked it up, and unfolded it.
Seconds later, her face turned colder than the moonlight.
Julian cleared his throat. "Sophie, let me explain—"
She sneered. "Heh. Last time, a note with a phone number. Now this? Hah. My mother was right—no man's trustworthy."
What the hell!
I'm really not that kind of man!
"Sophie, you need to listen to my explanation this time—"
Before Julian finished speaking, a clear system prompt sounded in his mind:
"Sophie Turner has generated 100 negative emotion points. System bubble forming..."
A vivid red perfect bubble floated up from Sophie's feet.
*Hiss…*
*I thought I wouldn't get any talent bubbles today!*
*Yet by pure chance, it worked!*
*Perfect!*
With this talent point, Julian's physical attribute would reach 57. If he could collect five white training-result bubbles tomorrow, it would hit 58!
*58 physical points—more than enough to dominate a half-court game!*
Julian had no time for explanations now. Sophie crossed her arms coldly. "Well? Explain. Why aren't you talking? Can't defend yourself? Hmph! I thought you were reliable and decent. Pathetic! Go to hell, Julian!"
She stormed toward the door. Julian called after her, "Sophie, wait! Seriously, I— Hey! You forgot my laundry!"
*Boom!*
Sophie slammed the door behind her.
*That girl… Spoiled rotten, but damn, she's fierce.*
Julian recalled the lingering warmth on his fingertips and smirked.
*Fine. I'll deal with her after the game.*
The bubble would vanish in three minutes. A talent-point bubble? Never waste it!
Julian tapped the red sphere with his foot. It burst into a shower of light, flooding into his body.
"Host obtained talent points from the perfect bubble. Daily collection progress: 1/10."
He allocated the point to "Physical," raising it from 56 to 57. A wave of lightness washed over him.
*Alright. Sleep.*
*Hope I get bench time tomorrow!*
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