Chapter 15: The Severely Delusional Childhood Friend—Yu Liuhua Makes Her Appearance!

Chen Luo reached behind to rub the sore spot on his back and, turning his head, pressed his hand down on the head of the person who had just appeared.

Standing before him was an adorably petite girl, just under one meter sixty tall, wearing a light blue blouse paired with a red and black plaid JK skirt, and holding a small parasol. Her shoulder-length hair framed a face as small as a palm, adorned with sweet, charming features, and a striking pair of large, panda-like eyes that contrasted starkly with her dainty figure.

She was the very picture of a baby-faced, well-endowed, moe little sister!

Yet, despite her adorable appearance, she always wore a white eye patch over her right eye.

“It’s not like I don’t notice—you have nothing wrong with your eye. In this heat, aren’t you afraid of sweating into your eye, wearing that eye patch all the time?” Chen Luo asked.

“You don’t understand. This is to seal my powers. If I take it off, the Eye of God will go berserk!” she declared.

Chen Luo’s face was covered in exasperation as he looked at his childhood friend and next-door neighbor, Liu Hua.

Their fathers were both police officers at the same station, colleagues for many years, and their families lived in the same neighborhood, so they’d always been close. From elementary school through high school, they attended the same schools, and though they hadn’t ended up at the same university, they both studied in the same university district, so the distance between them wasn’t great.

Liu Hua tried to push away Chen Luo’s hand, but her strength was no match for his. Her cheeks puffed out adorably, turning bright red in her effort—she looked even cuter, like a hamster.

“Ah! Your power has grown again! I have to go back and forge even stronger magical weapons,” she cried.

With a light but exasperated tap on her head, Chen Luo said, “Enough, put your chuunibyou away—I have something serious to discuss with you.”

He led the still-head-rubbing Liu Hua into the fragrant pot restaurant and found a corner table.

“One pork belly hotpot, extra potatoes, no cilantro,” Chen Luo ordered.

Hearing this, Liu Hua propped her elbows on the table, cupping her chin in her hands and swinging her head with a bright smile. “Brother Luo, you still remember what I love to eat! I thought you’d forgotten all about me, busy chasing after your goddess.”

“We’ve known each other since forever. You’ve been declaring your love for pork belly hotpot in my ear since we were kids. Even if my memory was terrible, I’d still remember that,” Chen Luo replied, rolling his eyes. “And don’t mention that so-called goddess anymore. Tang Xiwei has nothing to do with me now.”

“Oh? The devoted Dark Ice Sword Hero has given up on rescuing the princess? Planning to return to our Divine Squad and join me in welcoming the coming of the Dark God?” Liu Hua exclaimed, throwing her hands into a gesture no one could decipher and beaming at Chen Luo.

Hearing these names and ridiculous stories from his chuunibyou phase made Chen Luo cringe with embarrassment, as if a thousand ants crawled beneath his skin.

How could I have been such a cringey teenager? Save me!

“Stop! Don’t say another word! Please don’t bring up that dark history again! My head!” he pleaded.

Liu Hua was about to continue when the waiter arrived with their food.

“Your pork belly hotpot. Enjoy.”

“Yay!” Liu Hua immediately picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a potato, and tried to eat it.

“Ow, it’s hot—phew, phew!” She blew on the potato before eagerly popping it into her mouth.

“Mmm, delicious!” she said, cheeks full, wearing a look of pure bliss.

Watching her eat so adorably, Chen Luo couldn’t help but feel a little sentimental. He’d managed to move past his chuunibyou years, but Liu Hua, for reasons of her own, was still trapped in that world, even going deeper down the path.

“Here, eat more. Let’s talk while we eat,” Chen Luo said, scooping out potatoes and placing them in front of her.

“But—Brorher Luo, are you really not going to chase after Tang Xiwei anymore?” she asked, her mouth full and words muffled.

“I’ll say this one last time, seriously: that kind of woman—let whoever wants her chase after her. I’m done. All I want now is to make money.”

Saying this, Chen Luo stuffed two slices of pork belly into his mouth with some rice. After all, you need to be full to think and plan.

Gulping down the potato, Liu Hua licked her lips lightly and looked up at him, eyes narrowing into crescents, cat-like and absolutely delighted.

“My Eye of God finally worked, Brother Luo! You’re not blind anymore! Thank the almighty Dark God.”

“Enough fooling around. I really do have something important to discuss with you—it’s about the ACG world. I want your thoughts.”

“Oh? The ACG world? Go on!” At the mention, Liu Hua’s excitement made her forget all about the potatoes. She looked at Chen Luo, eyes shining.

“I want to open an ACG-themed bubble tea shop and partner with you. You’d provide the ACG elements and some costumes, and we’d make money together.”

“I know you love buying cosplay outfits, but your allowance is always tight. If we make money together, you’ll be able to buy all the costumes and props you want.”

At these words, Liu Hua’s eyes lit up and she nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! Absolutely! I’ll come up with the first theme tonight and send it to you tomorrow.”

“But, Brother Luo, opening a bubble tea shop needs at least fifty or sixty thousand as a starting investment. Where are we getting the money?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll find a way to borrow it. For now, let’s eat.”

As they ate, they discussed details about the shop and the ACG themes. It was a small venture, almost insignificant, but for Chen Luo, it was the first bucket of gold, a test of the ACG industry, and required careful planning.

What he didn’t know was that, outside the restaurant, someone had taken photos of their meeting and sent them to a certain person’s phone.

After more than an hour, Chen Luo glanced at his phone—it was almost two.

“Oh no, I have a class meeting this afternoon. I’ve already paid. Liu Hua, finish eating and head back to campus on your own.”

Chen Luo grabbed his bag and hurried off towards the university—he couldn’t afford to be late.

Liu Hua watched his retreating figure, took a sip of cola, eyes narrowing into happy slits, and licked her lips, a hint of drool escaping.

“Brother Luo, I’m so happy. You really aren’t blind anymore. In that case, as your mage, I’ll just have to use my magic to win over you, the Ice Sword Hero.”

…

South Campus of Hangzhou University, Lecture Hall 3.

Lin Tingting glanced at her phone, concern flickering in her eyes as she looked at Tang Xiwei.

“Xiwei, I heard that our class is changing counselors at the last minute. Will this affect your campaign?”

“Don’t worry, Tingting,” Tang Xiwei replied, folding her arms, her eyes full of confidence. “No matter who the counselor is, the election process won’t change. Most of the class owes me favors—none of the other candidates have that kind of influence.”

“The position of Youth League Secretary is as good as mine!”

Footsteps echoed in the hallway, and Tang Xiwei’s gaze turned to the classroom door.

The new counselor had arrived?