I really don't want to date a girl addicted to the internet!

"Then at least tell me first: did you do it? Can you even do it?"

"I... plan to do it after referring to your report."

"As the initiator of the research, I hope you will take the lead, so that I can accept it psychologically."

"So it was because you couldn't accept it psychologically?"

"Yes, so if you do it, I'll do it."

Shen Xi touched her chin, lowered her head and thought for a moment, "Don't you think it's very ungentlemanly of you to use this method to blackmail me?"

"I thought someone like you would advocate for gender equality."

"Men and women are born with physiological differences, which are determined by genes. I believe that forcing gender equality is like trying to find a sword by marking the boat where it fell into the water. The right approach is to maximize the interests of both sides."

"Even if what you say makes sense, it won't solve our problem," Cheng Fei said, shrugging.

"Actually, I have already made a compromise for you."

"Such a thing is true?"

"I'm allowing you to fantasize about me now." Shen Xi lowered her eyes.

Cheng Fei stared at her. "That's it? That's all?"

"Isn't that enough? With my level of skill?" The girl tossed her hair and lifted her beautiful, delicate face.

“You’re too narcissistic, and I can fantasize about you anytime I want, without needing your permission.” Cheng Fei leaned back in his chair and looked at Shen Xi frankly.

“But… I also provided you with material for your fantasies.” Shen Xi leaned against the wall, clutching her elbow with one hand, and turned her face away as if she were uneasy.

6. Realists don't believe in chuunibyou (middle school syndrome).

Cheng Fei was taken aback. "Don't think you can get away with pretending to be shy. I don't remember receiving any photos or videos from you."

“Of course, there can’t be any photos or videos.” Shen Xi turned her head. “But have you forgotten the previous topic?”

"Last month you worked on five or six projects, some of which caused me psychological trauma. Which ones are you referring to specifically?"

"The one where you stare at the appearance of the opposite sex in a game and observe and record their psychological and physiological changes."

Cheng Fei thought for a moment, "You mean that time you asked me to run with you to the hillside outside the main city and just sit there staring at each other?"

"That's right, I even wore an outfit that would make you feel psychologically and physiologically fluctuate."

"Uh, you mean a skirt with terrible back protection and boots that reach all the way up to your thighs?"

"There are also hair accessories and bracelets."

"Next time, please at least wear pantyhose, preferably white. I'm not a big fan of boots." Cheng Fei's gaze inadvertently swept over Shen Xi's slender, fair legs.

It has to be said, this woman's legs are as beautiful as her sharp tongue.

The girl glared at him silently, one hand pressing down on her skirt. "Leaving aside your filthy taste, I did my best to help you, don't you agree?"

“I’m sorry, even so, I still can’t complete your task.” Cheng Fei looked out the window. “I’m the kind of down-to-earth person who hates to deceive myself with fantasies, so I have a psychological barrier to doing that kind of thing.”

"Don't misunderstand, I didn't mean to imply anything, I was just stating the facts." He added before Shen Xi could speak.

"That's why I hate short-sighted so-called realists like you." The girl emphasized the last few words.

Cheng Fei asked in surprise, "You've seen my academic planning survey?"

Cheng Feitian describes himself as a realist.

“I checked on you yesterday, so I know your biggest dream is to take the civil service exam and find a comfortable job to coast through life.” Shen Xi revealed a smile that was not without sarcasm.

"Tsk, Sakura's ability to keep secrets is not as good as a game."

"This is the norm in human society."

“That’s true. Just like you are a genius who can do whatever you want, someone like me with a decent brain doesn’t dare to ask for too much except for taking the civil service exam.” Cheng Fei shifted to a more comfortable sitting position.

Shen Xi snorted, "How do you know it's just wishful thinking if you don't even try?"

"What if we fail and end up with nothing?"

"If it were me, I wouldn't regret it if I had tried my best." Shen Xi raised her chin.

"You're quite brave, I'm the timid one."

"I can tell." The girl nodded, then turned her gaze away. "So that project really can't be done?"

"I can't do it."

"You still say you like me, but you can't even imagine me doing that kind of thing."

"Sorry, I'm a frivolous person. The 'like' thing was just something I made up on the spot."

Shen Xi snorted lightly, her tone ambiguous, whether from disdain or disappointment, "You just can't do it no matter what?"

“It’s impossible to do without your help,” Cheng Fei said, then shook his head. “That doesn’t seem to count.”

The girl looked disgusted and covered her chest with her arm. "You just said you weren't implying anything to me."

"That was just now, now is now."

"Okay, this project is temporarily canceled." Shen Xi took a deep breath.

"Temporary? I'd suggest permanent, unless you're planning to find someone else."

"I will not look for anyone else but you."

"This is something that absolutely has to be done by me? Thank you for your favoritism, but it's too twisted."

“I don’t like you at all, and now I’m even starting to hate you. It’s just that I have a kind of mental fastidiousness and don’t want to discuss these things with another person of the opposite sex.” Shen Xi’s face turned cold.

Cheng Fei nodded nonchalantly, "There is indeed a saying about being arrogant."

"Then let's cancel this project permanently." After saying that, the girl seemed to want to stop talking about it, walked to the window, sat down, and started fiddling with her binoculars again.

As Cheng Fei spun the water-based pen rapidly between his fingers, he glanced at the complex blackboard in the room.

"Now, shouldn't you tell me?"

Shen Xi didn't answer, nor did she raise her head.

Cheng Fei asked himself, "What does this club do? What exactly are you researching?"

"Isn't the club's name already clearly stated?"

"A normal person would just think that name is from an ordinary game enthusiast. But I'm an insider now, so let me introduce myself, Minister."

“That’s true. I forgot that you so-called realists with short-sighted views generally have poor comprehension skills.” Shen Xi sighed and stood up.

"If most people can't understand it, then you should reflect on your expression," Cheng Fei retorted softly.

The afternoon sun was shining brightly, and the room was bright and airy. On the girl's delicate and beautiful face, there was an indescribable seriousness and determination.

"Listen carefully, I'll only say it once." The girl cleared her throat, slammed her hands on the table, and looked directly into Cheng Fei's eyes.

"I believe that the Corridor World is a real place, and players are simply using infiltration helmets to manipulate the bodies in that world to play the game. The reason for the existence of this club, and my goal, is to find evidence from every possible angle to prove this hypothesis."

Her resounding words echoed in the room for a long time, as if on the day Columbus announced his discovery of the New World, even the dust floating in the air seemed to shimmer around her.

After a long stare, Cheng Fei lowered his head without saying a word.

The pen tip scribbled impatiently across the paper.

He started doing math exercises.

Shen Xi stared at his actions, narrowing her eyes.

That afternoon, the boy and girl did not speak again.

……

After the club activity ended, Cheng Fei carried his schoolbag on his back with one hand and walked alone towards the school gate.

Long contrails drifted across the sky, tinged with the glow of the setting sun, their destination unknown.

Light footsteps sounded beside me.

A casual remark followed, "It's so beautiful. I love the clear sky at dusk the most."

Cheng Fei, who was gazing at the sky out of boredom, turned his head and saw a gentle-smiling Japanese female exchange student walking alongside him.

With her hands behind her back, her burgundy knitted sweater playfully half-off onto her arm, she looked like a girl next door who hadn't been seen for many years, making it impossible for anyone to be wary of her.

Meeting Cheng Fei's gaze, she blinked her bright, lively eyes, "Nagasaki Asuna."

"Cheng Fei." Cheng Fei tentatively exchanged names with her. "Your Chinese is good."

"Does 'okay' mean 'good'?"

"correct."

"Really?" The girl stood on tiptoe, her clear pupils seemingly holding a pool of autumn water, reflecting Cheng Fei's figure.

“Really,” Cheng Fei replied in Japanese.

The girl chuckled, her eyes narrowing into two crescent moons, brimming with autumn water.

Cheng Fei suddenly realized that it wasn't impossible for an 8-point charm rating to beat a 9-point one, since a pretty girl's smile could be a plus.

Nagasaki Asuna smiled and replied in Japanese, "Thank you."

"Is my pronunciation okay?"

"It's alright, it has a slight anime character feel to it?" The girl shook her head, her smooth hair swaying as she looked down.

"I definitely learned it from watching animations," Cheng Fei nodded.

She followed Cheng Fei for a few steps, then tilted her head and asked, "Has Cheng Fei joined the Corridor Research Department?"

7. The Rumored Girl

"I guess I've joined," Cheng Fei replied.

"You've met the requirements for joining the club. It seems Cheng Fei is quite outstanding." The girl smiled teasingly.

"Our minister said it's alright."

"She rated it as 'okay,' so it seems he's exceptionally talented."

"Are you friends?" Cheng Fei seemed to understand why she had struck up a conversation with him.

Nagasaki Asuna tapped her chin with her index finger, pondered for a moment, and gave an ambiguous answer, "I guess we know each other."

"I see." She didn't say more, and Cheng Fei didn't press her for details.

"How long has Cheng Fei been a member of the department?"

"The third day including today."

How are you feeling?

"Fortunately."

“Like this.” The girl replied in Cheng Fei’s tone, met his gaze, and tilted her head with a mischievous smile.

As they spoke, the two had already walked out of the school gate.

"See you tomorrow." The girl stood with her legs together and waved.

Cheng Fei also said goodbye to her, watching her jog and get into the white luxury car that was already parked by the roadside.

The boy smacked his lips. "Let's go home."

……

The last period of the afternoon on the second day was physical education class.

On the track, a small group of three people were slowly running two kilometers.

They are Chen Hao from the basketball department, Du Xinhua from the gaming department, and Cheng Fei from the corridor research department.