Ten minutes later, Lin Quizu and Yang Kai stood side by side at the counter.
The cashier glanced at the pile of clothes and shoes, then said, "You bought five sets of clothes and three pairs of sneakers. Your total bill is thirty thousand yuan."
Yang Kai nodded slightly. He reached into his pocket, sliding out his phone as he thought,
I can't use my black card again—too suspicious. I'll just pay with my own money.
He was about to open WeChat Pay when Lin Quizu gently placed her hand on his, stopping him.
Yang Kai blinked, startled, and turned toward her.
Lin Quizu pulled out her phone, her tone calm but edged with resolve. "You spent so much on me today. Let this be my gift."
Before he could argue, she scanned the QR code on the POS terminal. The familiar chime followed a moment later:
"Payment confirmed: 30,000 yuan."
The cashier smiled warmly. "You two look great together."
Yang Kai froze for half a second, then straightened, his expression calm as he collected the three bags of shoes and clothes. "I'm sorry, but you misunderstood. We just met today—we're only friends."
This girl… she really paid for my things. That means she's accepted me as a friend.
Lin Quizu tucked her phone back into her bag and, in her usual cool tone, added, "Yeah, he's right."
Together, they walked toward the escalator leading to the first floor.
A soft chime flickered across Yang Kai's vision as a yellow system screen appeared:
---
[Host, Lin Quizu's Favorability Increased By 3]
[Current Favorability: 23]
---
Yang Kai glanced at the glowing text, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Heh, that was the right move. If I'd taken advantage of the situation and claimed we were a couple, her favorability might've dropped instead.
Behind him, Lin Quizu followed quietly, her cheeks flushed a delicate pink.
He could have taken advantage just now… but he acted like a gentleman.
Yang Kai and Lin Quizu stepped onto the escalator heading to the first floor. The metal steps carried them downward at an unhurried pace.
Yang Kai glanced up, watching the higher levels slide past.
Should I ask her for her WeChat?
A moment later, he shook his head, dismissing the thought.
No… what if she rejects me? At twenty-three percent favorability, I don't even know if we're truly friends yet.
A sudden yellow system screen flickered into view:
---
[Host, Favorability Is Divided Into Six Types]
[1. -ve — Enemies]
[2. 0–10 — Strangers]
[3. 11–40 — Friends]
[4. 41–60 — Fuck Buddy]
[5. 61–99 — Lovers]
[6. 100 — Tamed]
---
Yang Kai's lips curved into a small, knowing smile.
So… we're just friends. Hehe.
They stepped off the escalator onto the first floor, then headed to the next one leading to the ground level. Moments later, they reached the bottom.
As they turned toward the parking lot elevators, a sharp, arrogant voice cut through the air from the mall's entrance.
"Qui'er! What are you doing here—with another man?"
Yang Kai barely reacted, assuming the words were meant for someone else. He kept walking toward the elevator.
But Lin Quizu froze mid-step. Her shoulders stiffened, her fingers curling slightly. Though she didn't turn around, her whole body trembled with anger—she knew that voice.
Yang Kai noticed her stop. He slowed, stepped closer, and asked quietly, "What's wrong?"
Before she could answer, heavy footsteps echoed across the polished floor. A man approached them with three bodyguards flanking him. His confident stride and scowl made it clear he was used to getting what he wanted.
"Hey, kid—who are you?" the man demanded.
Yang Kai met his gaze calmly, saying nothing.
Lin Quizu finally turned, her voice sharp as steel. "Young master Xun Luo. Didn't I already reject you? Why are you still doing this?"
The man—Xun Luo—smirked, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he came to a halt a few feet away.
Xun Luo stepped forward, his hand reaching toward Lin Quizu's face.
"Qui'er, I like you. Let's go to dinner."
Before his fingers could touch her, Yang Kai caught his wrist mid-air. Calmly, he shifted the shopping bags of clothes and shoes toward Lin Quizu, gesturing for her to take them.
"Hey, hey. I'm exhausted and need to sleep. Please let her go—she has to drive me back to the university."
Xun… that surname. Where have I heard it before?
Xun Luo tugged and twisted, but no matter how much force he used, he couldn't free his hand.
The first bodyguard on Xun Luo's left stepped forward, anger flashing in his eyes.
"Bastard, you dare touch our young master?"
Lin Quizu's voice was icy and sharp. "Xun Luo, what do you think you're doing?"
Ignoring her, Xun Luo sneered. "Kid, don't you know not to meddle in other people's business?"
The bodyguard lunged. His fist arced toward Yang Kai's face. Yang Kai, still gripping Xun Luo's wrist with his left hand, raised his right and caught the punch mid-swing. The impact jarred him, but he held firm.
With a shameless smirk, Yang Kai said, "You really want to do this? Then come with me somewhere empty—too many eyes here."
The bodyguard's expression flickered with disbelief. A simple university student had stopped him so easily.
Around them, the crowd began to whisper and pull out phones, recording the scene. Xun Luo and his men glanced around, realizing the growing attention.
Yang Kai released both Xun Luo and the bodyguard, stepping back. He turned to Lin Quizu, his tone casual.
"Let's get to the parking lot. Don't worry—they're not enough to hurt me."
Lin Quizu's cheeks flushed, but she nodded quickly. "O-ok."
They walked toward the elevator, ignoring Xun Luo's furious glare. The doors slid shut, cutting off the murmurs of the watching crowd. The lift descended smoothly, leaving Xun Luo seething.
Grinding his teeth, Xun Luo strode to the elevator and waited with his men. When it returned, they stepped inside, their anger simmering.
Meanwhile, the elevator doors opened onto the underground parking lot. Yang Kai and Lin Quizu stepped out, the air cooler and quieter here. They walked toward Lin Quizu's red sports car.
Yang Kai stopped beside the sleek vehicle and said calmly, "Stand near the car or get inside. Don't come close to me during the fight—you might get hurt."
A soft chime signaled the elevator's arrival. The doors slid open again, and Xun Luo stepped out with his three bodyguards, their footsteps echoing across the concrete floor.
Lin Quizu's voice trembled with worry as she stepped closer to the red sports car.
"Are you really going to fight? You might get hurt."
Yang Kai stretched his arms lazily, rolling his shoulders as though preparing for a warmup rather than a battle.
"No, it'll be fine. They're just rats."
I haven't fought all day—at least they can keep me entertained.
Xun Luo halted a few steps away, a cruel smirk on his face.
"Oh? You're quite confident."
He slid a cigarette from a pack, placed it between his lips, and flicked his hand in a subtle gesture. The first and second bodyguards stepped forward menacingly. The third bodyguard produced a lighter, ignited the cigarette, then tucked the lighter back into his pocket as Xun Luo took a long drag.
The two bodyguards closed in. The first one lunged, fist arcing toward Yang Kai's face.
That block earlier was just luck, the bodyguard thought grimly. A student can't possibly match me again.
Yang Kai remained utterly still, one hand tucked casually in his pocket.
Xun Luo exhaled smoke and sneered.
Scared stiff—he can't even move.
From behind, Lin Quizu cried out, her voice sharp with anxiety.
"Yang Kai, careful!"
But just before the punch could connect, Yang Kai's lips moved, uttering a low, unfamiliar phrase in an ancient, almost melodic language. The sound was tense and foreign—something no one in that parking lot could recognize.
In a blur of motion, Yang Kai struck first. His punch landed squarely against the bodyguard's chest with such speed and precision that most onlookers didn't even register the movement.
The force was devastating. The first bodyguard was lifted off his feet, crashing backward through the air. He tumbled past Xun Luo's left side, hitting the concrete floor with a heavy thud, sliding several meters before coming to a stop. The parking lot echoed with the sound of his landing.
Silence fell for a heartbeat, the faint smoke from Xun Luo's cigarette curling upward as his confident smirk began to falter.