"So that's how it is? Haha, you're really amusing when you speak..."
"...Yeah yeah, I like swimming too. I'm even the vice president of our school's swimming club..."
"...You're so cute with your chubby belly, it's just adorable..."
"...I think so too, ambitious guys are the most charming..."
"Stop it..."
"..."
After the "review" at the local police station and Security Bureau was over, Chen Yu and his companion had a quick breakfast, and, under the persistent urging of their neighbor, arrived at the swimming pool.
Then, the entire swimming pool began to reek of romance.
A man and a woman.
One fat and one thin.
Soaking in the pool, they were nauseatingly sweet with each other, back and forth.
For Chen Yu, sitting on the side and eager to join, it was one critical hit after another.
"Couples are such a disgusting combination."
With a dry mouth and a licking of lips, Chen Yu began to feel some regret.
The money, it was his that was spent.
The girl, it was he who had found her for someone else.
The dog food, it was he who was eating it bite by bite.
Yet, the cursed title of [Worthless Homebody] above the fat neighbor's head remained completely unshaken...
"Yao Yao, I'm going to use the restroom for a bit, let's chat when I get back."
"Okay, go ahead." The girl in the swimsuit waved sweetly.
Once the fat neighbor disappeared at the stairwell, she immediately swam over to the edge, her face grim as she complained to Chen Yu, "Your friend was bleeding from the nose earlier when he looked at my chest! God! And I always thought men bleeding from the nose when they see a woman was an exaggerated description."
Chen Yu: "..."
"Did he come from Huasheng Temple?" The girl in the swimsuit continued her rant: "Hasn't he seen a woman in the first half of his life?"
"He might be from the court of the Great Tang." Chen Yu said expressionlessly: "Just waiting to draw his sword and stab you thrice."
"I really can't deal with this." The girl in the swimsuit returned to the inner side of the pool: "I'm only doing this job for three more days at most."
"Wait, come back." Chen Yu glanced at the position of the restroom, then lowered his voice and advised the girl next to him, "When you chat later, focus on attacking his title. Pretend you hate [Worthless Homebody]."
"No need to pretend." The girl in the swimsuit gave an "OK" sign: "I truly hate [Worthless Homebody]."
Five minutes later.
The fat neighbor returned.
Like a creepy old man, "puffing and panting" as he moved, shaking his fat belly, he jumped into the water vigorously and lunged at the girl in the swimsuit: "Yao Yao, here I come!"
The girl in the swimsuit's face flashed with a moment of fear, and then she forced a smile to greet him: "Ah... Yu, slow down..."
Sitting on the side, Chen Yu scratched his chin and muttered to himself, "Money really isn't easy to earn."
After receiving Chen Yu's directive, the girl in the swimsuit indeed started to focus the conversation on the words [Worthless Homebody].
The fat neighbor hurriedly swore he had already reformed, exercising every day, working out daily, becoming increasingly ambitious.
He even fantasized about their future wedding, which would be "romantic" and "luxurious".
And by then, the title above his own head would certainly make the girl in the swimsuit proud...
Chen Yu observed this and couldn't help but sigh, "Men..."
Seven hours later.
Accompanied by the "ding ding——" of the bell, Qingcheng City's largest swimming pool was finally about to close.
"Baby, they're closing up, I'm heading back first." The girl in the swimsuit felt like she was about to swell from soaking too long in the water; hearing the bell, she quickly climbed onto the poolside with her swim ring.
"Oh, alright." The fat neighbor was reluctant to part: "Let's chat again tomorrow."
"Yeah. Don't forget to contact me on WeChat tonight."
"Definitely!"
"Trojan!" With a grimace, she blew a kiss at the fat neighbor and ran off to the women's changing room, looking as though she was escaping.
Chen Yu, who had been lying on the shore for a day, was thoroughly liberated, stood up, and stretched lazily, "Let's go, Fatty."
The plump neighbor didn't respond; his gaze was fixed on the women's changing room, and buoyed by the swimming ring, he bobbed up and down.
"Let's go!" Chen Yu raised his voice: "Still ogling, damn it."
"Ah? Oh, oh, okay." The neighbor snapped out of it, swam to the edge, and climbed out: "I... I think I forgot how to walk."
"You guys can talk on shore next time," Chen Yu rolled his eyes: "Soak a few more days and you'll all be green."
"I..." The plump neighbor said shyly: "Yao Yao is so well-shaped; I get nervous just looking at her outside the water."
"Look at you, no ambition," Chen Yu said as he moved his joints around and turned to leave: "I'm heading back first. You take your time."
"Brother, wait up!" The plump neighbor reached out to stop him: "Are you free tonight?"
"For what?"
"I'd like to treat you to a meal," the neighbor said earnestly: "There are some things I need to say to you."
"I'm not free." Chen Yu waved his hand to refuse.
However, just as his words fell, he noticed from the corner of his eye that the "Useless Otaku" title above the plump neighbor's head had faded in color!
An alarm went off in Chen Yu's mind, he suddenly snapped to attention, and quickly changed his tune: "Dinner? Sure! Not just dinner, even if you invited me to eat shit I'd go!"
"Really!" The plump neighbor was surprised: "That's great. You just said you weren't free, I was considering asking some other day."
"Tonight!" Chen Yu said enthusiastically, draping his arm over his neighbor's shoulder: "Even if I'm not free, I have to go if a brother's treating."
"Let's go, I'll pick the place!"
They dressed and left the swimming hall.
The plump neighbor happily led the way.
Chen Yu followed behind, beaming, his eyes locked on the increasingly faint "title" above the neighbor's head, drooling with excitement.
This fatty... is a true talent!
Just two days, and the title is about to change.
And this time the fading of the title lasted long—an almost certain sign of a "major transformation"!
"All the effort wasn't in vain."
Chen Yu was visibly pleased.
They entered a fairly lavish hotpot restaurant and sat opposite each other.
Before the broth even arrived, the plump neighbor grabbed a bottle of white liquor. He filled Chen Yu's glass first, then his own, stood up with his cup, his expression serious: "Brother, this morning I heard the cops call you Chen Yu. From now on I'll call you Brother Yu, if that's okay."
Chen Yu: "Sure, sure, sure."
"Brother Yu, I want to toast you three cups today," the plump neighbor bowed to Chen Yu: "The first cup, to thank Brother Yu for repaying evil with kindness. Even though it was me who reported you, making you suffer so much inside, you still helped me after getting out, letting me start anew."
After speaking, the neighbor downed the drink!
The loud gulping of liquid, followed by coughing fits as it went down.
"No worries, no worries," Chen Yu responded perfunctorily, his eyes transfixed on the neighbor's title that was growing dimmer and dimmer.
"The second cup!" The plump neighbor filled another glass for himself, wiped his mouth, and toasted: "Brother Yu, you impressed me! Knowing I was beyond hope, you acted out so many plays, made me fall in love with exercise, progress, with a life completely different from before. And you even helped me find a girlfriend. You've really changed my life."
"Glug—"
The second cup was downed.
The plump neighbor covered his mouth, then poured the third cup: "Brother Yu! The third cup! From today on, I'm starting a new chapter in my life. I'll strive to live and struggle. From now on, Brother Yu, you are my benefactor! You are my best and most dependable brother! Cheers!"
The third cup of white liquor went down.
Chen Yu couldn't help but stand up in astonishment.
He saw the plump neighbor's "Useless Otaku" title had completely disappeared, replaced with a new title—"Striving Youth".
"Whoosh—"
Then, a stunning red light burst forth from the plump neighbor's body!
The familiar, replicable ability information exploded into dozens of entries on him!
Among them, the one causing the red light was a string of text over his chest—"[(B-grade) (Red) Seed of Superpower: A seed that could realize a superpower at any time.]"
Chen Yu was shocked: "You're actually a superpower user?!"
...