Chapter 22

No matter how Li Ya roared in her heart, the dormitory assignment results had already been entered into the academy's central system and synchronized to each teacher's hands.

At this critical juncture of the opening day, no one could temporarily modify such an important housing arrangement; they could only wait until everyone completed the enrollment process before coordinating.

She took several deep breaths in succession, barely suppressing the swear word that almost slipped out, but her facial expression became unusually twisted.

She slapped the metal key engraved with 'A307' onto the table in front of her, as if venting her resentment, then, deflated, slowly pushed it toward Ying Duo.

"This is your dormitory key; don't lose it. Follow the map indications to your dormitory building. If you can't find it, you can ask other classmates."

Ying Duo picked up the key and documents expressionlessly, not even glancing at her, then turned and walked toward the dormitory area.

【Obtained item: 'A307' key x1, Mitra Academy Student Card x1】

Teacher Li Ya watched his back, completely unaware of the seriousness of the problem, sighed long and worriedly, and rubbed her aching temples.

Over the years, she has become more and more like an old matron; is this the inevitable path for every teacher?

According to the precise navigation of the small map, Ying Duo quickly located the A Building Dormitory in the Academy Living Area, smoothly went up to the third floor, and opened the door of Room 307 with the key.

The room was much more spacious and bright than the inn room he had in the Slum Third District, a standard double room.

The walls were off-white, the large, beautiful windows let in sunlight, two single beds were placed against the walls, in the middle were two joined desks and storage cabinets, and one side also had an independent washroom.

The overall style was simple and practical.

One of the beds facing inward had already been made with neat bedding, covered with a set of soft, deep-blue blankets printed with a starry pattern, the corners carefully tucked in.

Beside the pillow leaned a slightly worn plush toy—a chubby Starry Sky Rabbit Plush holding a carrot, its button eyes staring blankly at someone in the room.

A slender boy had his back to the door, lying sideways on that bed, wearing immersive noise-canceling headphones that covered his entire ears, his slender fingers intently operating a handheld game console.

Light and shadow from the screen danced across his side profile, outlining the boy's delicate contours.

Even with the headphones on, he still caught the sound of the door opening, causing his gaming motion to pause.

He clicked his tongue impatiently, quickly ended the current game, took off the headphones, and his azure eyes coldly glanced at the 'uninvited guest' at the door, full of displeasure at being disturbed.

His full face was now revealed: soft white short hair, skin so fair it was nearly translucent, and features so delicate they resembled a finely carved porcelain doll.

Yet, that handsome face bore none of the vigor typical of his age; his whole person seemed plastered with a 'Keep Out' warning.

Even seeing Ying Duo's head of visually disastrous Ying Guang Lu hair, his gaze showed not the slightest ripple; he merely regarded it as a strangely colored trash can that had appeared at the door.

He merely glanced at it indifferently and lost interest.

Luo Jinyou picked up the game console, continued to immerse himself in his own world, and completely treated Ying Duo as nonexistent air.

Ying Duo's gaze swept across the room.

One bed was clearly occupied, while the other was bare—just the bed frame, lacking even a basic mattress.

【Main Quest: Report to Mitra Theological Academy completed, EXP +50%!】

【Level increased to Lv. 12!】

【Main Quest Updated: Get closer to roommate Luo Jinyou (at least reach Friendliness: 60)】

【Quest Description: Seen this tsundere young master? Don't hesitate; a direct approach is the best way to win over a tsundere!】

Tidying the bed was impossible; the task came first. Ying Duo stepped forward expressionlessly, walked straight to Luo Jinyou's bedside and stood there, like a silent food waste bin.

In short, first check the NPC panel, then go specifically collect gifts that can increase affection.

Ying Duo raised his hand without warning, target clear, and reached directly for Luo Jinyou's wrist as he nimbly operated the game console.

However, just as Ying Duo was about to touch Luo Jinyou, an accident occurred.

Luo Jinyou seemed to have eyes in the back of his head; a startle accompanied by a carp's leap, he dodged Ying Duo's sudden lunge, his whole body darting toward the foot of the bed, moving so fast it left only a blurred afterimage.

"!"

The game console screen flashed the word 'miss' due to the sudden interruption of operation.

Luo Jinyou, at this moment, had no time for anything else; he yanked the expensive noise-canceling headphones off his head, letting them hang around his neck.

His azure eyes glared angrily at the offending Ying Duo, his vigilance instantly maxed out.

"What do you want to do?!" His voice was low, laced with obvious coldness.

Usually, as long as he put on a cold face and put on his headphones, no one would voluntarily talk to him.

Ying Duo also indeed did not speak to him, but directly chose to act.

But a normal person wouldn't do that, would they!

Ying Duo's hand hovered in midair, as if he hadn't expected Luo Jinyou's reaction to be so fast, appearing more like he'd frozen in place.

But immediately afterward, he ignored Luo Jinyou's questions and anger, continuing in a flat tone to state the content Yang Yixie had just typed.

"I want to be friends with you."

Extremely perfunctory.

This sentence should have carried goodwill, or at least the intention to interact, but paired with Ying Duo's expressionless face, it turned into an execution result devoid of any emotion.

It was especially jarring, even somewhat chilling in this situation.

Luo Jinyou's brows knit tightly at once upon hearing it; despite the bright sunshine outside, he felt an inexplicable chill and sized up the peculiarly strange Ying Duo before him.

The scene before him gradually overlapped with his memory of a certain doll that suddenly came to life, trying to befriend people.

Luo Jinyou:!!!

Ying Duo silently stared at him, making Luo Jinyou inexplicably feel a bit uneasy, then he bitterly curled the corner of his mouth.

"Be friends? With me?"

He deliberately paused, so each word would clearly reach Ying Duo's ears, but it was of no use.

Although the person before him looked like a ghost, Ying Duo having a shadow meant he shouldn't be a ghost; Luo Jinyou felt he still needed to make him know when to retreat.

"I advise you to drop this idea right away; if you don't want to die one day for no clear reason, you should go now, immediately, to find a teacher and change dorms."

His words sounded purely like a threat, his tone affirmative, as if stating a fact verified countless times.

Ordinary people might be frightened upon hearing such words when they first enroll, but Ying Duo completely disregarded his words; rather, if the task were that easily completed, it would be boring.

Aren't all tsunderes like that? All they have is a sharp tongue.

Not to mention anything else, purely for the experience, he also couldn't possibly give up doing the main quest.

Before the trailing tone of Luo Jinyou's warning had even faded, Ying Duo had already taken another step forward.

He stubbornly reached out, trying to obtain Luo Jinyou's character panel.