0103: An Unexpected Choice

The forestry bureau personnel quickly removed the tiger, and with the subsequent arrival of traffic police to manage the situation, the road gradually cleared up.

Xu Lin approached Qin Yunhe, who wore a dazed expression, seemingly lost in thought, and gently tapped her on the shoulder.

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“What are you up to, Officer Qin?”

“Sigh... the tiger’s been taken away.”

“Why? Judging by your expression, you wanted to keep the tiger? It’ll probably be sent to the zoo. Without a permit for the circus, and letting animals escape… you might even face jail time.”

“The zoo… what do you think of our city’s zoo?” Qin Yunhe seemed to regain some energy.

“Our zoo’s quite spacious, but it’s always been home to small herbivores; the most prominent is an old elephant. There are no tigers or lions.”

Xu Lin recalled that the local zoo had the same animals since his childhood. Now, he had transformed from a young corporate worker into a retired official.

“So, it’s not possible to keep tigers or lions?”

“We’re just a county-level city; would they even approve that?” Xu Lin doubted it. Often, it wasn’t just about the cost or appearance—it was simply difficult to get permission.

“Why not give it a try?”

“That depends on whether our zoo is willing to take it.”

“My father is the director of the zoo.”

“?” Xu Lin looked at her. Qin Yunhe nodded seriously without a hint of deceit.

“I’m surrounded by hidden talents.”

“What do you mean, hidden talents? I come from an ordinary family. The zoo is public, and he just manages it.”

“That’s still impressive. I hope you succeed. But what happened earlier? Why did you suddenly rush out?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I had a hysterical episode.”

Qin Yunhe reflected on her earlier state. She had been drawn to the tiger, forgetting the danger and the people behind her.

But the moment she embraced the tiger, she truly felt a unique energy, along with many blurry fragments of memories.

However, she decided not to tell Xu Lin about this—he might think she had some mental illness.

Half an hour later, Xu Lin and his friends finished paying and left the hotpot restaurant; most customers had already departed.

After such an incident, no one was in the mood to eat, and a few even took advantage of the chaos to skip the bill. For just two or three hundred yuan—what nerve.

“I’m heading home. If you want to keep shopping, go ahead. I need to rest a bit and then head to the zoo; there’s a night shift at the station,” Qin Yunhe told them.

Su Qingwan nodded, already guessing her best friend’s plan—once again asking her father to take in an animal, though this one was quite large.

“Alright, get some rest.”

“Yeah, Xu Lin, if you want to work out, just find Hong Lei. He’s always got free time and can help train you. Once your basics improve, with your kung fu skills, I’ll finally have a worthy opponent.”

“Sure, I’ll come by when I have time.”

Ji Yun glanced at Xu Lin twice. Did he really know kung fu? Not long ago, he was just jogging to stay fit.

There were so many things she still didn’t know. If she had accepted Xu Lin’s confession back then... if they had secretly dated... what would have happened?

She fell into a tangled web of indecision she couldn’t unravel, but Xu Lin interrupted her thoughts with a question.

“Aren’t you coming with them?”

Following his gaze, she saw her father and Aunt Yao preparing to leave and continue shopping.

“Why would I follow? If I trust them, then I trust them completely. For these few days, let Father stay with Aunt Yao. She really is a pitiful person.”

“Xu Lin, I’m heading back too. You and Ji Yun should get home early,” Su Qingwan said.

Xu Lin looked at her, wondering if she meant he shouldn’t stay longer. She subtly raised her phone, and Xu Lin smiled.

“Alright then, goodbye, teacher.”

“Goodbye, teacher,” Xu Lin responded. Su Qingwan turned her back and rolled her eyes at him. Who else has students calling their teachers all the time? Well, that was her problem.

“You all take care and be safe.”

“Okay,” Xu Lin nodded, though the tone felt a bit odd to him.

“Xu Lin, any plans? Not coming to study at my place?”

“Uh... right, I have to see a patient this afternoon.”

Xu Lin wasn’t keen on studying anyway. Even with Ji Yun accompanying him, it felt dull.

“That’s at Senior Bai’s place, right?”

“Yeah, want to come with me?” Ji Yun spent every weekend afternoon studying and probably wouldn’t tag along.

“Sure!”

“They don’t even know you. Why go? The hospital air isn’t good.”

“Don’t want me tagging along?” Ji Yun raised an eyebrow. Xu Lin waved his hand.

“No, let’s go.”

Among the girls he was currently growing close to, the one with the purest relationship was undoubtedly Bai Xiaoxiao.

At first, he had simply wanted to help her out of kindness, not expecting she was a system-certified person.

Sometimes, he wondered why he met these girls. He was just an ordinary guy, albeit a bit handsome.

Was it the system bringing them to him, creating this so-called fate? Or was it their fate that led them to him?

Initially, Xu Lin thought the system simply recognized beautiful girls and triggered the affection system.

But now, after two strange system code flashes and memories from Chu Fengyi’s past life, he felt the Zodiac Romance system was more complex than he’d imagined.

Once the system reaches 400 affection points, it upgrades and gains intelligent voice interaction. Maybe then he’d uncover some secrets.

Currently, Chu Fengyi and Chu Qingchan each surpassed 40 affection points, and Ji Yun just crossed 40 as well.

Su Qingwan and Bai Xiaoxiao, both helped by him, hovered around 30 affection points.

The rest—Liu Qin Nuan, Ye Jin Leng, and Qin Yunhe—were at 25, 20, and 15 respectively.

Looking at these numbers, Xu Lin wondered if the maximum wasn’t 100 after all. That would be ridiculous.

At full affection, even if everyone talked openly, there wouldn’t be any quarrels—they’d be a harmonious family.

But even so, they couldn’t all be together. Why did he keep thinking it could happen? Clearly, it was a fanciful daydream.

Not to mention Liu Qin Nuan and Ye Jin Leng were no longer nearby, so their affection couldn’t rise. Ah, men are so greedy in life!

“Xu Lin!”

“Huh? Sorry, Ji Yun. I tend to zone out.”

“No worries. I just noticed you looked unwell.”

“I’m fine. Hey... Ji Yun, if I were really a womanizer…”

Before he could finish, a finger pressed gently against his lips, and a pair of sparkling eyes looked at him.

“No need to say it. Tell me when you’re my boyfriend!”

She shot him a glance, lifted her delicate nose, and swung her little schoolbag as she walked away.

Xu Lin hurried after her, took the bag from her arms, and smiled warmly.

“Well, Ji Yun, I like you. Please be my girlfriend.”

Xu Lin joked as usual, but this time Ji Yun gave a special reply.

“Will you cut ties with Sister Chu and the others?”

Ji Yun didn’t look at him, her tone serious. Xu Lin took a deep breath and gave an answer that might sadden her.

“No.”

“Then I’ll be your girlfriend.”

“Huh?”

Ji Yun’s words left him confused—what did that mean?

“I said, be my boyfriend.”

She stood in the middle of the bustling crowd, turned around to face him, arms open wide, smiling sweetly.

Yet her fists were tightly clenched, as if grasping his heart.

Wasn’t this exactly the scene he’d hoped for when he first crossed over? An ordinary but sweet romance.

Yet because of the system, he had met many people, gained countless connections, and was no longer the simple Xu Lin he once was.

If he rejected her now, he’d likely lose her. But if he embraced her, it meant giving up his ambitions—he couldn’t be a scoundrel.

That would be irresponsible to Ji Yun and to everyone else, especially hurting Chu Qingchan and the others.

It felt like a complex dilemma, one he’d brought upon himself.

Should he sacrifice many for one? But he didn’t want to lose any of them!

“Ji Yun, I…”