Chapter 6: Real-Life Romance Is Not a Galgame

“Are you saying he... doesn’t like me anymore?”

Xu Ke’s eyes widened slightly, then instinctively she retorted, “Impossible. He can’t possibly not like me!”

“What’s impossible about that?” Yao Yanyan replied with a teasing smile. “If he still liked you, why would he be the only one who didn’t bring you bubble tea? And why would he confess to me right in front of you?”

She paused, then added with a laugh, “Though, it’s not out of the question that he’s moved on. What can I say? I’m prettier than you.”

“Yao Yanyan, shut up!” Xu Ke raised her voice, trying to assert herself, but the slightly wavering tone betrayed her insecurity.

Though confident in her own charm, she couldn’t help but start doubting herself—wondering if Qin Luo really had fallen for someone else.

Thinking of all that Qin Luo had done for her before, Xu Ke found it hard to believe, unwilling to accept it.

He treated me so well; how could he just give up like that?

But... if he doesn’t dislike me, then how could he have just now done something so hurtful?

Xu Ke was confused and could only grit her teeth and say, “Why would he stop liking me? Is this how you chase a girl? You’re supposed to say you like her, not just change your mind halfway and give up on your own! He doesn’t chase girls like that!”

“My mom always told me men are all liars, not one of them is good. Looks like she was right!”

“You...” Tang Yu swallowed the rest of her words, stunned. She couldn’t understand why Xu Ke thought this way—Xu Ke had never responded to Qin Luo’s feelings, yet had taken his kindness for granted; now that he had decided to stop pursuing her, Xu Ke was the one upset and blaming him for giving up.

Can the difference between women’s thinking be really that vast?

Tang Yu took a deep breath and decided not to press further.

Meanwhile, Chu Liunian, who was just watching the scene unfold, couldn’t help but comment, “You say he gave up halfway, but real relationships aren’t like dating sims—you don’t get a progress bar. Does he ask you every day how far along he is in winning you over?”

She paused, then added, “If it were me, if I’d been trying to win over a game character for ages with no success and no progress bar, I’d give up early. It’s just a waste of time. I’d have already gotten the harem ending with all the effort I have—why hang myself on one tree?”

Her words caused an odd silence to fall over the dorm.

Tang Yu, Yao Yanyan, and Chu Sijin all looked at her in shock, unable to fathom how this usually anime-obsessed, figurine-loving otaku could say something so insightful.

Only Xu Ke looked puzzled and asked, “What’s a dating sim?”

Chu Liunian eagerly explained, “It’s a visual novel game, where the player controls the protagonist and interacts with various beautiful girls through storylines. Like the one I’m playing now, ‘Saya’s...’”

“Stop, stop!” Chu Sijin quickly covered her sister’s mouth, afraid she’d start recommending something scandalous.

As her older sister, she knew all too well about her little sister’s tastes—though she only viewed normal content publicly, privately... the imagery was too much for her to handle.

Xu Ke, now understanding the implication behind Chu Liunian’s words, asked with a sour expression, “So, you’re saying he thinks pursuing me is a waste of time and wants to chase someone else?”

She shot a cold glance at Yao Yanyan afterward.

Yao Yanyan smiled, about to speak, but Tang Yu suddenly looked serious and asked Xu Ke, “Tell me honestly, do you like Qin Luo or not?”

“Of course I don’t like him!” Xu Ke said without hesitation.

Tang Yu pressed on, “Then why do you care so much about someone you don’t like? Why get so angry for someone you don’t care about? Why worry about whether he wants to chase someone else?”

“He...”

“You’re not his girlfriend, and he’s not your boyfriend. You don’t have to respond to his feelings, but he’s free to do what he wants. You have no right to bind him.”

“I…”

“Forget it, Xu Ke. I told you before—if you don’t like him, don’t just take his kindness for granted. This way is better for both of you, isn’t it?”

Xu Ke’s face flickered with conflicting emotions as she tried to argue but found herself speechless, words stuck in her throat.

She fell into silence.

For some reason, memories suddenly flashed through her mind like a slideshow.

She remembered how Qin Luo made chicken soup for her when she had menstrual pain.

One rainy day after class, she had no umbrella, and Qin Luo gave her his, running back in the downpour.

On her birthday that year, Qin Luo arranged a sea of roses and fireworks under the girls’ dorm. He got a minor reprimand for it, and the boys teased him as a simp, but many girls envied him that night.

Countless such moments happened over the past three months.

Xu Ke always acted indifferent to Qin Luo’s attentions, even sneering at them, but never rejected his kindness. She even felt satisfied when he showed her extra care in front of others.

At some point, she had grown used to this life, used to the sense of superiority and fulfillment Qin Luo gave her.

Because of this, she couldn’t accept his behavior today—couldn’t accept that the person who once had eyes only for her would suddenly say he liked someone else, couldn’t accept him leaving her side on his own.

Is this what liking someone means? Have I fallen for him?

No... impossible...

I don’t like him; I just... I just...

“I just can’t stand him betraying me like this!” Xu Ke clenched her teeth and said bitterly.

“If people give up on someone they’re chasing because it’s hopeless, that’s called betrayal, then there must be too many traitors in this world,” Tang Yu said with a wry smile and fell silent, sitting quietly aside.

Yao Yanyan stood up at the right moment, smiling gently. “I think I understand now — Qin Luo doesn’t like Xu Ke anymore, and Xu Ke, you never really liked him, right?”

Xu Ke frowned at her tone but nodded.

Yao Yanyan smiled even sweeter. “Then it’s simple. Qin Luo probably won’t chase you anymore, and you won’t have to see him again. Out of sight, out of mind. Everyone’s happy.”

Xu Ke frowned harder. This wasn’t the outcome she wanted. She wanted Qin Luo to apologize, then to continue caring for her as before—not an abrupt break.

And if they were truly going to part ways, she wanted to be the one to decide it—not be forced after being humiliated by his actions!

She glared at Yao Yanyan, a cold smile curling on her lips. “What? So eager for me to ditch Qin Luo? Are you planning to be with him?”

Yao Yanyan met her gaze without flinching, smiling, “That’s none of your business. He’s not chasing you anymore, I happen to be single. Whether we get together... who knows?”

“Yao Yanyan, I knew you had bad intentions! Give me that cup of bubble tea!”

“No way. Come and take it if you can.”

Xu Ke, blood boiling, lunged to grab the tea, but Yao Yanyan snatched it and dashed away, slamming the dorm door shut with a bang.

Xu Ke nearly got hit in the nose by the door. She bit her lip and, despite the anger, didn’t chase after her. Instead, she glanced at the others left in the dorm.

Tang Yu sat calmly at her desk, sipping bubble tea and reading, ignoring Xu Ke’s hostile look.

Chu Sijin noticed Xu Ke’s expression and quickly enlarged the straw opening on her cup, then took a few big sips.

After finishing, she burped and wiped bubble tea from her mouth weakly. “Done... done drinking.”

Not to be outdone, Chu Liunian tore open her bubble tea seal and poured it into another cup.

Afterward, she hid the empty Anya collaboration cup and handed the newly poured tea to Xu Ke, saying, “Here, bubble tea.”

Xu Ke was speechless.