"Alex, is everything all right?" Yuhi asked, her voice tinged with suspicion. She couldn't help but notice the sudden changes in Alex's expression – from sadness to desire, then shock, gloominess, bliss, and finally neutrality. It was as if he was reading something in the air.
"It's nothing, Miss Yuhi. Just lost in thought," Alex replied, attempting to appear nonchalant.
Yuhi felt a pang of disappointment. "Just now, he looked so despondent, but then his expression shifted to desire... Is he faking it to ask for favors? I should let him know that he doesn't need to resort to such tactics," she thought to herself. Clearing her throat, she said, "Actually, Alex, you don't have to pretend or exaggerate your emotions to ask for my help. I believe in you."
Alex's eyes widened in surprise. "Y-you actually believe in me?" he asked, unable to hide his suspicion.
"Of course, I believe in you. If I didn't, then who would? I've known you since you were a little kid, always interested in math. You were shy, always hiding behind your mother," Yuhi said, her voice filled with a mix of admiration and sadness as she mentioned his mother.
[Notification: Host has received immense sorrow, admiration, and a bit of love from Yuhi Lockheart. Total points received: 1000]
Startled by the sudden notification, Alex couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. "A thousand points already? I should check out the system store soon. But first, I need to ask the system to turn off the notification sound. It's quite distracting," he thought to himself.
"Now, kid, quickly tell me what this genius wants my help with," Yuhi said, teasingly.
"Sis Yuhi, why do you keep calling me a kid? I'm only five years younger than you. It makes me feel like a child. Besides, you're still young, so calling you 'sis Yuhi' seems more appropriate. 'Miss Yuhi' makes me feel like I'm talking to an old lady," Alex playfully retorted.
"Humph, you kid, always finding ways to flirt," Yuhi replied, feigning annoyance. "Fine, I'll just call you Alex, but only when we're alone. If you dare say it in front of others..."
"Okay," Alex agreed, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
"Now, tell me what you need," Yuhi said, her curiosity piqued.
"Actually... um... well, how should I say this?" Alex muttered, his mind racing for the right words. After a moment of contemplation, he continued, "You know, I'm not just a genius in school subjects. I'm also a professional programmer. I've created dozens of apps and games, but none of them have been successful because I've been using a low-quality mobile phone to emulate PC software for development."
Yuhi's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, you made apps and games? Dozens of them? And all from your old Rapple MyPhone X? How is that even possible? I thought software could only be developed on a computer," she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Calm down, sis. It's true that software development is typically done on a computer, but I managed to emulate the Rindows OS on my phone. You can change the OS on your Android phone by unlocking the bootloader, installing a custom recovery like TWRP, downloading and flashing the desired OS, and wiping the device's data. So, that's how I installed the Rindows OS on my phone and used it to create software," Alex explained, revealing his workaround.
Listening to Alex's advanced explanation, Yuhi truly began to see him as a genius. Although in reality, his feat wasn't as remarkable as it seemed—he had simply run a working Rindows OS on his phone using a custom firmware he found online.
"Wow, Alex, you really are a genius. I underestimated you. Since you didn't lie to me, your sis will give you $30 per month as a gift," Yuhi declared, impressed by his skills.
"Ah, actually, Sis, I don't need any money. I just need your help. Whenever we start talking, we always seem to get off-topic, and I haven't had a chance to tell you what I need assistance with," Alex sighed, his voice filled with a touch of frustration.
"Well, what you said wasn't a lie, and I won't pry further. So, you can tell me what help you need," Yuhi assured him, willing to lend a hand.
Alex nodded appreciatively and gathered his thoughts. "Well, you see, as a professional programmer, I have great potential. Imagine what kind of software I could create if I had access to a computer with good hardware. That's why my first request is for you to allow me to use your computer. It would greatly enhance my abilities," he explained.
Yuhi nodded understandingly. "No problem with your first request. You can use my computer," she agreed, curious to see what Alex would accomplish.
"Secondly," Alex continued, "I'd like you to provide me with financial support when I ask for it. Of course, only if you have the means at that time. Rest assured, I won't ask for money without a valid reason. I'll use it for my studies and software development."
"Mhm, that's not an issue either. I can help you with that," Yuhi replied, assuring him of her support.
'Now it's time to push my luck a little further,' Alex thought, a mischievous grin forming on his face. 'System, accept the fourth mission.'
"My third and final request is that I wish to stay with you from now on," Alex declared, watching Yuhi's reaction closely.
Yuhi's eyes widened in surprise. "No problem with that... Wait, what? You want to stay with me? What are you planning? Are you trying to take advantage of me?" she asked, stepping back cautiously.
Alex took a step forward, reaching out to gently hold Yuhi's shoulders. She shuddered slightly at the touch, her cheeks turning a faint shade of red. It was the first time she had come into contact with the opposite sex, and it left her feeling flustered.
"Sis, I don't mean to take advantage of you. It's just that I'm planning on working out, but my budget and living space aren't sufficient. Moreover, living with you would not only provide me with financial support and more space, but it would also give me easy access to your computer for software development. Think about it," Alex explained earnestly, hoping to alleviate her concerns.
"But... I live alone," Yuhi hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
"Oh, that's great!" Alex exclaimed, his excitement palpable.
"What? I knew it! You're a bad boy trying to take advantage of me! As soon as you heard I live alone, you became excited," Yuhi accused, taking several steps back to put some distance between them.
"No, no, no, Sis. You misunderstood me. I was just extremely excited because you live alone, and it presents the perfect opportunity for me to prove my worth and protect you from thieves and bad guys," Alex quickly clarified, realizing the misunderstanding.
"How can I believe you?" Yuhi questioned, still skeptical of his intentions.
"Well, it's up to you whether you want to believe me or not. I understand that nobody has ever believed in me, and people have often kicked me out of their lives. I don't expect much from you, considering the circumstances," Alex said, his head drooping slightly as he started walking away from the classroom.
A wave of disappointment washed over him, but he couldn't help but think, 'I don't think you'll be able to resist the urge to help me after seeing me this sad, right?' It was a calculated move, playing the role of the downtrodden individual. As expected, his strategy seemed to have an impact.
"Wait, I agree," Yuhi called out, her voice filled with a mix of hesitation and sympathy.