December 27.
Under Chen Yu's menacing influence, after many days of "hard studying," the title "Useless Nerd" above the neighbor's head had finally transformed again.
It became "Reading Enthusiast."
"Actually, I've found that reading and studying can be pretty interesting," the chunky neighbor said, pushing up his newly prescribed glasses. "It feels more fulfilling than playing games."
[(D+ Grade) (Green) Fighting Superman: Beyond normal human coordination, muscle explosiveness, and situational reaction, these have combined into this unimaginable Integrated Fighting Potential.]
[Would you like to copy the "Fighting Superman" ability?]
[Yes/No]
[Copy confirmed.]
"But the fact is, a loser, no matter how many books they read or how many practice questions they do, is just wasting time." After copying the ability, Chen Yu directly removed the neighbor's glasses and threw them: "Go back to being your useless nerd."
The chunky neighbor: "..."
...
December 28.
The title reverted to "Useless Nerd."
Chen Yu kicked open the door, dragged the chunky neighbor playing on his phone in bed, and threw a stack of books in his face: "Play, play, play! All you damn know is play! You're almost a waste, you know that?! Study! Study hard for me!"
The chunky neighbor: "..."
...
January 1.
The "Useless Nerd" title changed to "Study Enthusiast."
[(D- Grade) Strong Mind: Able to shake off certain effects of hypnosis, suggestion, and mental manipulation.]
[Would you like to copy the "Strong Mind" ability?]
[Copy confirmed.]
Looking at his perfect-score test paper, the chunky neighbor excitedly said to Chen Yu: "When I was in school, I never realized that math problems aren't actually that hard?"
"Rip!"
After copying the ability, Chen Yu snatched the test paper and tore it viciously: "Math? With your pig brain, you dare study math? You can't even calculate character skill damage data, don't TM mess with math. Go back to playing your games! Just survive somehow!"
...
January 2.
The moment his title reverted back to "Useless Nerd," the chunky neighbor had a premonition, and when he turned around, he saw a huge foot coming straight at his face!
"Thud!"
"When I tell you to play, you play! When I tell you to die, will you die?" Chen Yu ferociously threw dozens of foreign literature books: "Translate! Translate all of them! If you do a worse job than ChatGPT by even a single word, I'll skin you alive!"
The chunky neighbor: "..."
...
January 6.
With the title "Good Student" above his head, the chunky neighbor pushed his glasses up, restraining his excitement: "Yu, do you know, there are many tricks and shortcuts to learning English!"
"The hell you're studying English as a proud national!" After copying another ability, Chen Yu did a face-switch, and once again flung the neighbor's glasses away: "I got you a new PS5, if you don't break the controller, I will pull out your prostate."
...
January 7.
The neighbor still had the title "Good Student" above his head.
Chen Yu found it odd and after a search, discovered a bunch of study materials hidden under the bed.
"I told you to study!"
"Thud!"
"I told you to study!"
"Thud!!"
"I told you to study!"
"Thud Thud Thud——"
"Go back to playing games for me!"
...
January 8.
The title reverted to "Useless Nerd."
However, Chen Yu found that he could no longer find the other party.
It seemed the chunky one had installed hidden cameras in his house, and whenever Chen Yu went looking for him, he could escape.
So, Chen Yu bought a drone overnight, attached a camera, and discovered through the twelfth-floor window that the other party always hid inside the kitchen cabinet.
"I tell you to hide!"
"Thud!"
"I tell you to hide!"
"Thud Thud——"
"You think you're in Infernal Affairs?"
"Thud——"
"Playing hide and seek, is that it?"
"Thud Thud——"
"You think you're pulling off one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems?"
"Thud Thud Thud Thud——"
...
January 9. (Interlude)
The neighbor seemed to want to hang himself, demonstrating to Chen Yu.
But due to his weight, he broke the rope Chen Yu had stealthily replaced earlier.
...
January 12.
The title again reached "Good Student."
As usual, Chen Yu crazily passed on textbooks, giving the neighbor the latest VR gaming system.
The chubby neighbor took over the VR, didn't show much reaction, and started playing it.
"How come you're not angry this time?" Chen Yu was surprised.
"I'm used to it." The neighbor replied indifferently, "Life is quite good like this."
...
January 12, evening.
The chubby neighbor knocked on Chen Yu's door tentatively, pointing to the title above his head, "Yu, I've turned back into 'Useless Homebody' again."
Chen Yu: "?"
...
January 14.
"Yu! My title changed again! Come quickly!"
Chen Yu: "..."
...
January 15, early morning.
"The title changed! It changed! Yu, open the door! Open the door!"
"...Let me sleep a little more."
"Open the door!"
"Bang bang bang—"
"Open the door, Yu!"
"Fuck! Let me sleep a bit more!"
"Bang bang bang—"
"Open the door, Yu... "
...
Every gift of fate is secretly marked with a price.
Chen Yu, continuously 'committing evil' and not restraining himself, finally met with divine retribution.
That day, he went downstairs as usual, planning to go to the supermarket to buy some groceries for himself and his neighbor. But halfway there, he saw a van speeding towards him.
It stopped in front of Chen Yu.
Chen Yu: "?"
Before he could react, four or five masked men in black climbed out of the van, one holding a sack and four wielding clubs.
They approached him menacingly.
Chen Yu: "Which organization are you from?"
"Bang!"
They struck him with their clubs all at once, knocking him out cold.
Then, they stuffed him into a sack, loaded it onto the van, and drove off.
'Miscalculated.'
'The burly fat man with bushy eyebrows actually learned how to hire hitmen!'
Before passing out, that was the only thought that flashed through Chen Yu's mind...
...
"Drip."
"Drip."
"Drip—"
The clear sound of water drops echoed distinctly in the empty room.
Chen Yu was awoken from his sleep by the noise, groggily opened his eyes, but quickly shut them again.
Because those water drops were falling onto his face.
The moment he opened his eyes, the water flowed into his eyelids, causing a sharp pain from the intense discomfort.
"Mm."
Instantly awake, Chen Yu hurriedly turned his head to avoid the water drops, struggled to sit up with his hands tied behind his back, and noticed that both his wrists and ankles were also bound.
"..."
'Right.'
'I've been kidnapped.'
'And was hit with a few clubs.'
"...Cough."
Sorting out his thoughts and memories, Chen Yu shifted his body, wiped the water from his face with his shoulder, looked around, and saw no one else.
This place seemed to be an unfinished basement.
Dark.
Damp.
The air was stuffy.
Besides a hanging incandescent bulb on the ceiling, there was nothing around.
"..."
"Gurgle."
Swallowing saliva with difficulty, Chen Yu's face slowly darkened, suppressing the fear rising in his heart, took a deep breath for a while, and then suddenly shouted, "Is anyone there? Someone!"
"Don't shout, keep it down. Someone is here."
A somewhat familiar voice came from behind him.
Chen Yu turned around sharply and saw a man had been standing behind him all along.
The man was also holding a half bottle of mineral water.
It was obviously him who had "awakened" Chen Yu with the water.
Looking up, his gaze continued to move upward.
When Chen Yu saw the man's face, his pupils suddenly dilated: "It's you?!"
...