Chapter 5: Whom to Choose?

Seeing this scene, the live stream chat exploded:

[∑(O_O；)]
[(̑)wow!*✰]
[c( O.O )ɔ]
[Wuhu!]
[So exciting!]
[What is this, the ultimate NTR in real time?]
[Who could have imagined that one day, in a gaming live stream, I’d be watching a melodramatic romance unfold.]
[So satisfying.]
[Alright, alright, so that’s how it is.]
[Just finished flirting with Qiqi, and now you’re kissing the campus belle! Scumbag!! In protest, I’ve decided to move into this live stream for good, to closely monitor every move this scumbag makes!]
...

The moment Wu Yu-wei leaned in for the kiss, Wen Nan was completely stunned.

He hadn’t expected that the campus belle, lauded in the background as “passing through a sea of flowers without a petal clinging”—the untouchable Miss Wu—would be so forward, kissing him without hesitation.

Why? Because just now, she had seen the hesitation and struggle in his eyes.

That look was all too familiar to Wu Yu-wei. She had worn it herself countless times when faced with confessions from other boys, caught in the throes of indecision.

Though now the roles were reversed—she was the one being chosen—she felt a twinge of irritation, but it also meant she still had a chance.

It was simply bad luck that her letter had been forgotten in the desk, letting Liu Qi seize the opportunity to ask Ye Jiu out first.

But even though they had held hands and even kissed, Wu Yu-wei believed she and Ye Jiu would end up together.

As the undisputed campus belle, pursued by many, Wu Yu-wei had confidence in her looks—

No boy could resist her approach. In the face of beauty, men always devolved into shallow, lower-brained creatures. All she needed to do was send the slightest signal of interest, and they would immediately bite, swarming around her like bees to honey.

Ye Jiu was a man, and she believed he would be no exception.

The only reason Ye Jiu had agreed to Liu Qi’s invitation was because he hadn’t seen her letter.

If he had, if he knew her feelings, there was no way he’d choose Liu Qi—a plain, bumbling girl—over her.

Having already lost the initiative at the date, Wu Yu-wei refused to fall behind when it came to confessing.

This time, she had to turn the tables.

So, she took the initiative to kiss him.

After a brief, gentle peck, Wu Yu-wei quickly pulled away, lowering her gaze, unable to meet Ye Jiu’s eyes.

Her long, thick lashes trembled as she whispered, “Ye Jiu, I like you.”

It had to be said, in terms of looks alone, Wu Yu-wei outshone Qiqi by far. With such a beautiful face and a delicate, soft voice confessing her feelings, it would be difficult for anyone to say no.

Surely, this face had bewitched many before.

Wen Nan found his thoughts drifting.

Wu Yu-wei waited for a while, but when there was no response, anxiety began to creep in.

She bit her lower lip gently, raised a hand to grasp his arm, and asked, “Will you accept me?”

This time, before Wen Nan could answer, Qiqi—who had been hiding behind him—couldn’t take it anymore.

She stepped around to stand in front of Wen Nan, seized Wu Yu-wei’s hand, and forcefully pulled her away. “How shameless can you be? I already told you, we’re together. Do you not understand human language?”

Wu Yu-wei ignored Qiqi’s tugging, her eyes fixed unwaveringly on Wen Nan. “As long as you accept me, everything you just did with her—I can pretend it never happened.”

Qiqi hadn’t expected such persistence; flustered, she raised both hands and pushed Wu Yu-wei hard. “Stay away from him!”

Wu Yu-wei staggered back two steps, unsteady on her feet, and fell to the ground.

She wore a delicate white dress; her knees hit the hard concrete, skin scraping, blood oozing out.

Her fine brows knitted, Wu Yu-wei bit her lip, stifled a pained sound, and looked at Liu Qi with wounded reproach. “Do you hate me that much?”

Liu Qi’s face was filled with panic; she shook her head and looked at Wen Nan in distress. “I didn’t mean to, I didn’t use any force, I don’t know why she fell... Brother! You believe me, right?”

Wen Nan patted Qiqi’s head, then skirted around her to Wu Yu-wei’s side, crouched down, and checked her wound. “Is it bad? Can you stand?”

Wu Yu-wei shook her head. “I’m fine.” Then, taking advantage of the moment, she grabbed Wen Nan’s hand and asked, “Do you choose her, or me?”

Wen Nan didn’t answer, only said, “Let’s get your wound treated in the infirmary first, shall we?”

But Wu Yu-wei was insistent, refusing to wait for an answer. “If you choose me, take me with you now. If you choose her, just leave with her—don’t worry about me.”

Wen Nan’s smile became helpless.

Did it really have to be a forced either-or?

[Who will you choose?]
[I pick the campus belle, she’s prettier.]
[Me too, campus belle. Qiqi is cute, but, forgive my shallowness, I only care about looks.]
[The campus belle, she’s beautiful.]
[Campus belle, beautiful.]
[Campus belle, beautiful.]
[Campus belle, beautiful.]
[Didn’t the pro say before, only children make choices; obviously, you should have both!]
[I want both too.]
[Sorry, I only love Big Bear. Two little bunnies? No thanks. I’m focusing on waiting for Big Bear’s entrance.]
[Waiting for Big Bear +1, for now, neither.]
[Waiting for Big Bear +1]
[Waiting for Big Bear +1]
[+1]
[+1]
[+10086]

[Why not both Big Bear and the bunnies?]
[Exactly! Grab with both hands, hold tight with both!]
[Wait, does anyone else remember this is a horror escape game?]
[They’re all female ghosts! What’s there to choose?!]
[Wake up, people!]
[Just joined, is the vibe here always like this?]
[I was about to ask... Next door, people are betting on how long the fat guy will survive, and here you’re chatting about picking girls? Is this even the same game I’m playing?]
[Same question, is there a romance slice-of-life mode in this game? I’ve never seen it!]
[Nope, only horror scenarios in this game.]
[Then why...]
[Because this One Night Ninefold is the legendary pro’s smurf account, here to stomp newbies.]
[They’re not wrong, the pro’s playing a whole different game from us.]
[Yeah, we can’t understand the pro’s world.]
[Anyway, don’t ask, just learn from it!]
[Stay on topic, keep the formation.]
[Pick the campus belle, beautiful.]
[Campus belle, beautiful.]
[Both.]
[Neither, waiting for Big Bear +1]
...

Almost as if sensing the trending conversation, Wen Nan called out to the system in his mind: [9527].

9527: [I’m here.]

Wen Nan: [Start a poll.]

9527: [Understood. Please set the poll topic and options.]

Wen Nan: [Topic: Who to choose?]

[1. Qiqi]
[2. Xiaowei]
[3. Both]
[4. Neither, I’ll enjoy this pleasant night all by myself]