"I asked Norma for your information," Morin said calmly.
"Try a little harder next time you lie. You only got access ten minutes ago," Princess said, speechless.
"Are you sure you want to hear my deduction process?" Morin countered.
"Forget it. Let's go shake him down." Princess changed the subject.
So, not long after, the group walking along the river became two men and two women.
But it wasn't the classic boy-girl, boy-girl formation.
From left to right, it was boy-girl-girl-boy.
Luminous and Chen walked on the ends. Morin and Princess were in the middle.
"Why are you here?" Luminous asked with his eyes.
"When are you going to confess?" Morin replied with his.
"What are you talking about?" Luminous couldn't help whispering.
"You know we don't have a psychic link, right?" Morin tossed his empty milk tea cup into a nearby trash can, landing it perfectly. "So when are you going to confess?"
"Shhh!" Luminous looked nervous and pulled Morin back a few steps, behind Princess and Chen. Princess was chatting with Chen, her presence and conversational rhythm completely dominating. "Don't say it out loud!"
"Aren't you ready to confess?"
"But not now!" Luminous explained quickly. "I'm doing it in the movie theater. In front of everyone!"
"So you finally gathered some courage and decided to go big?" Morin smiled.
"Of course!" Luminous puffed up. "I go crazy sometimes too!"
"...Not bad." Morin fell silent for a moment. "I can help a little."
"No need!" Luminous brightened as the girls moved farther ahead. "I already talked to the projectionist. I swiped a pack of real Zhonghua cigarettes from Uncle's drawer, swapped them for fakes from the shop downstairs, put the fakes back, and gave the real ones to the old guy."
"He agreed to play an edited clip before the movie starts-the one where Eve and Wall·E break the sound barrier!"
"You don't know, Chen and I are totally in sync. She chose the movie. She even asked whether I was staying in town!"
Luminous grinned.
"I really think I've got a chance!"
"Hm..." Morin nodded.
Even he didn't know what to say.
Right now, Luminous felt like a candle that had accumulated eighteen years of wax and finally caught fire. The light was blindingly familiar.
Morin remembered his own chūnibyō phase in his original world. Back then, he had been a loser too. Missing chances. Too timid to act.
Even now, after achieving so much, what did it matter?
The past was gone. Even if time flowed backward, it would only be self-deception.
But this loser...
He was a bit too pitiful.
Maybe letting him live an ordinary life wouldn't be so bad?
Morin dismissed the thought almost immediately.
People are born with identities. And identities come with responsibilities.
Whether it was Ming-Z, Ange, or even Luminous's parents-those who held power and authority would never allow him to live a mundane life.
In truth, Morin himself was the same.
He wanted to see Luminous change.
To see this loser stand up and do something.
Even if he failed.
As long as it wasn't after everything had already become irreversible.
"Do you remember what I told you once?" Morin asked suddenly.
"What?" Luminous blinked. "You've told me tons of things!"
"...Fair." Morin smiled. "Then we'll talk later. Go prepare for your confession."
"Alright!" Luminous looked forward. "Then-"
"Oh, right." Morin patted his shoulder. "I've already joined Cassell College."
"But no matter what, you still need to finish what you set out to do."
"No matter the outcome."
"You must do it."
With that, Morin walked ahead, pulling Princess with him and leaving Chen and Luminous behind.
"Why did you pull me away?" Princess asked.
"I need a computer," Morin said.
"Didn't I give you one a few days ago?"
"That one isn't connected to Norma." Morin looked calm. "I want to know how much authority an A-rank has."
"You do know we're a law-abiding school, right?"
"Are you joking?" Morin glanced at her. "I can already guess the college is full of violent types."
"If dragons were easy to deal with, they wouldn't be hidden."
"They'd be in zoos."
Princess sighed. She knew she couldn't fool him.
"Tell me first. What are you planning to do?"
"I'm the only interviewer left. The person in charge."
"In other words, I'm responsible for whatever you do."
"It's simple." Morin said evenly. "You know Luminous plans to confess to Chen at the gathering this afternoon."
"There's also a guy named Zhao in my class who likes her."
"I know." Princess took a sip of milk tea. Half of it was still left. "So?"
"You worried your little brother's going to get beaten up?"
"I could take ten of them alone," Morin said with a straight face.
"The problem is, Chen likes him too."
"If that's your logic, she probably likes you as well," Princess said dryly.
"I'm different from Zhao," Morin replied calmly. "I'm too outstanding."
"It's normal for girls to like me."
"But someone like her should know she can't be with me."
"So Zhao is probably her first choice."
"If I confessed, she'd accept."
"But that won't happen."
Princess thought for a long moment before speaking.
"In terms of thick skin, you're the thickest person I've ever met."
"I'll take that as praise." Morin nodded.
"If you don't want me to do anything illegal," he added, "you can lend me some money."
"You're backing him?" Princess finally understood.
"You could say that."
"If he gets crushed after finally going crazy," Morin said quietly, "it'll be hard for him to stand back up."
"If you two didn't look nothing alike, I'd think you were blood-related," Princess joked. "Helping him this much?"
"Ever played a dating sim?" Morin smiled.
"Same principle."
Afternoon.
Men's restroom.
Luminous checked the sign carefully.
He never wanted to repeat the women's restroom incident.
He stared into the mirror, going over everything one last time.
The opening.
The music.
The flowers.
He had chosen dandelions and put them in a bag. Someone like Chen would prefer those over roses.
As for the confession...
He had spent hours online picking out lines. He chose the best one.
It would definitely work.
"Go for it," he told his reflection.
"Luminous, what are you doing here?"
Zhao walked in, holding a bag, and handed it over.
"Here. A suit."
"Chen said we should be formal for the speeches later."
Inside was a perfectly fitting standard suit.
Chen knew his size?
A wave of happiness surged through him.
Victory felt close.
He changed quickly and walked into the theater.
He felt handsome.
Little Grass laughed immediately.
"Hahaha! Look at the monkey in a suit."
I'm just thin, Luminous thought, standing straighter.
He glanced at the projectionist.
Ready.
He hid the bag of dandelions behind his back.
"Stand over there." Zhao pointed to a spot marked with paper in front of the screen. "We're showing club photos first."
"Huh?"
Luminous froze.
Club photos?
Wouldn't that ruin everything?
Is the old guy going to pull through or not?!
But the arrow was already on the string.
Even if it was club photos, he would confess.
Even a loser is terrifying when he goes crazy.
He stepped forward and took a deep breath.
Lights.
Stage.
Music.
People.
Everything aligned.
Time, place, people.
Nothing could go wrong.
Then a white light flared.
It almost blinded him.
When his eyes adjusted, cheers filled the room.
He was surrounded.
The Xu twins stood nearby.
He looked back.
On the screen were letters:
[CHEN, I LOVE YOU]
He was standing at the "I".
What?
Was the projectionist that good?
No.
No projectionist could coordinate this perfectly.
Then he saw Zhao.
Zhao stood on stage, holding an enormous bouquet of red roses, surrounded by friends.
Luminous understood.
He wasn't the only one who chose to confess today.
Zhao had chosen this moment too.
Second Chuan.
Good family.
Good grades.
Better looks.
The more he thought, the more his shoulders slumped.
He was beyond depressed.
He looked at Chen.
She was looking at Zhao.
With a kind of happiness he had never seen before.
Something clicked.
His back bent even lower.
"Today was supposed to be about the club!" Zhao shouted. Cheers erupted. "But I want to take this chance!"
"We're about to part ways, and I don't want regrets!"
"I want to tell Chen-everything's on the screen!"
"I'm gambling!"
"Otherwise, after three years of liking someone, if nobody ever knows-how pathetic would that be?"
The cheers grew louder.
The spotlight fell on Chen.
She wore a white dress, just like the day Luminous first saw her as a freshman.
She was gently pushed onto the stage.
Her face was red.
"Say yes!" Zhao's friends shouted. "He's a great guy!"
Silence.
Only one person could break it.
Chen.
"I... I also..." She looked at Zhao, her voice soft.
BOOM.
A thunderous sound cut through the air.
Everyone turned.
There are moments when heaven opens its gates.
Luminous had waited eighteen years.
And just before he truly hit rock bottom, the gate opened.
Two figures walked in.
Their gazes were sharp, cutting through the room.
No one dared meet their eyes.
A man and a woman.
Their presence overwhelmed everyone else.
"I apologize for interrupting," Morin said softly.
His hair was neatly waxed and parted. He wore a perfectly tailored suit with no visible branding.
It was expensive.
But that didn't matter.
The aura he carried made him look like an emperor who controlled everything.
The Emperor had arrived.
Morin snapped his fingers.
Men in black suits and sunglasses entered in formation.
They politely escorted the theater staff out and took control of the room.
Then the spotlight shifted.
It landed on Luminous.
Everyone looked.
"No one knows what you're hiding," Morin said, placing his hands on Luminous's shoulders. "Not even you."
"That's the only way to hide it completely."
"What did I tell you?"
"Morin, what do you think you're doing?" Zhao shouted.
Morin didn't turn around.
"You were right about one thing," he said calmly. "Liking someone for three years and staying silent at a time like this is pathetic."
He straightened Luminous's clothes, frowning.
"As expected. Off-the-rack doesn't suit you."
"It'll do."
"Big bro..." Luminous whispered. "Why are you here?"
"To stop you from being played." Morin patted his back, forcing him upright. "Now ask."
"Remember what I told you once?"
Zhao tried to step forward.
Someone blocked him.
Princess.
She stood there, cold and distant.
Chen wanted to speak.
One look from Princess stopped her.
"What words?" Luminous whispered. "Should we leave?"
"You've worn the mask too long," Morin said quietly. "So long you forgot your real face."
"You're a lion, Luminous."
"No matter how well you disguise yourself, you don't belong with ordinary people."
"I think I'm still pretty human..." Luminous muttered. Even now, he could joke.
"Then go."
Morin smiled.
He gave Luminous's shoulder a heavy pat.
Golden light flashed in his eyes.
"What-" Luminous tried to speak.
His voice vanished.
"I'm sorry for interrupting," Morin said, turning toward Zhao. "But my brother will confess first."
He placed a hand on Zhao's shoulder.
"You'll agree to this small request, right?"
Zhao couldn't move.
His body froze.
Instinctive submission.
Like facing a prehistoric beast.
Under countless gazes-
Luminous moved.
His expression was blank.
An invisible pressure radiated from him.
Everyone here knew this loser.
Yet now, he felt like a stranger.
A cheap suit.
But an air of nobility.
Step by step, he walked toward Chen.