"Uh... could you say that again? I must've misheard."
Shen Mo stared at Butch, convinced he'd heard something wrong.
"If you accept someone's confession," Butch repeated seriously, "the world will be destroyed."
Shen Mo blinked.
Oh. Okay. The world ends—
LIKE HELL THAT'S OKAY!
What the hell kind of cursed love debt is this?
Suddenly, a thought struck him.
"If you know my ability is that dangerous, shouldn't you just—"
He drew a hand across his throat dramatically.
That was how it always went in movies and webnovels. A dangerous anomaly shows up? Eliminate it.
Butch scoffed. "Tch. As if I'd waste my time doing that."
Wow, what a kind cat.
"But superpowers are unique and non-transferable. It took a lot of effort to find you. If you're gone, I'd have to start all over. Way too much hassle."
"..."
Give me back my gratitude.
"So there's really no way to remove the side effect?" Shen Mo pressed.
Butch went quiet for a moment, then nodded. "There is."
Wait, seriously?!
"What is it?"
"I don't know the details," Butch admitted. "But the prophecy mentioned that once you've rejected a hundred confessions, you'll find a way to resolve it."
That's the most cryptic nonsense I've ever heard.
Reject a hundred people just to get a clue on how to save the world?
Maybe letting it end isn't such a bad idea after all.
"Anyway, I'll be staying with you from now on," Butch announced. "You may look like the chill type, but just in case you suddenly decide to fall for someone—we're doomed."
Is this your idea of a compliment?
"Chill type" = "zero romantic prospects," and "falling in love" = "acting on lust."
"Fine, you can stay," Shen Mo said. "But what about food and drinks?"
"You're covering that, obviously."
Butch looked completely shameless.
"...Alright then," Shen Mo sighed. "But you have to promise me something—outside, you're just my pet. No talking. Don't scare the neighbors to death."
"Deal," said Butch.
Thus, the black cat who broke into Unit 308 of Jinghui Residential Block 12 officially moved in with university student Shen Mo.
*****
Next Morning, 8:00 AM
It took everything Shen Mo had to wrestle himself out of bed.
Dragging his half-awake body to work, he braved the unforgiving summer heat. The urban heat island effect was insane this year—already 37°C (98.6°F) by morning.
If he had the choice, Shen Mo would've spent the whole summer in an air-conditioned room. But rent had to be paid. And reality didn't accept credit from dreams.
Fifteen minutes on a crammed subway later, he arrived at the bubble tea shop.
"Morning, Shen Mo!"
"Hey."
"Yo, good morning!"
"Morning."
Several coworkers greeted him as he passed.
Shen Mo wasn't some school heartthrob. Just your average college freshman—tallish at 180 cm, with a pleasant but forgettable face.
The only thing that set him apart was how well he handled emotions. Calm, agreeable, drama-free.
Like a gentle turtle—equally at ease in fresh water, salt water, or even on land.
"G-Good morning, Shen Mo."
A petite figure entered his line of sight, her soft smile like a breath of cool air in the 26°C air-conditioned shop.
It was Jiang Baibai.
"Morning," Shen Mo replied with a smile.
She nodded shyly, then quickly turned away—but not before sneaking a peek at him.
No change in behavior. Just like usual...
Guess he really didn't realize I was confessing yesterday.
A mix of disappointment and relief stirred in her heart.
It would've been worse if he had known and still rejected her.
Meanwhile, Shen Mo had definitely noticed her glance, but kept his face neutral as he washed cups like nothing happened.
His mental HUD flashed a line of information:
[Subject: Jiang Baibai | Emotions: Shy, Conflicted, Relieved (Possibly hiding something)]
So she still thinks I didn't get it, huh?
He couldn't help but recall Butch's warning, shaking his head inwardly with a sigh.
When the hell will these side effects wear off?
"Hey, Shen Mo, did you see that?"
The voice came from a fellow cup-washer—a medium-built guy with dyed blond hair. He nudged Shen Mo with his elbow.
Xu Chang. Same university, same part-time job. The kind of guy who somehow managed to make every sentence sound vaguely inappropriate.
"See what?"
"Over there."
Xu Chang gestured toward the customer seating area. At a table near the front sat a woman in a yellow T-shirt and denim shorts.
Pretty face. Single ponytail. Clean, innocent look.
But that figure? Curves that could rival even Shen Mo's bombshell landlady.
Xu Chang looked like he was about to faint from excitement.
Add a little drool and the scene would be complete.
"Stop staring. She's not going to notice you," Shen Mo said with a sigh.
"Pfft, how would you know? I haven't even talked to her yet."
"Then go talk to her."
Xu Chang immediately deflated like a leaky balloon.
Classic loudmouth coward.
"Man, Shen Mo... when do you think I'll get a girlfriend?" Xu Chang muttered, clearly feeling sorry for himself. "I don't even aim high. Someone like Jiang Baibai or that girl would be fine..."
Shen Mo: "..."
Bro, you might wanna start by looking in a mirror.
Or just show me your wallet. I'll count how many reasons you'll stay single.
"Hey hey hey—she looked over! She's totally looking at me, right?" Xu Chang said suddenly, getting excited again.
And there it was—the ultimate single-guy delusion: She looked at me.
Shen Mo didn't even bother responding this time. He just kept washing cups.
"Wait, no. Something's off," Xu Chang said, elbowing him again.
"What now?" Shen Mo paused, annoyed.
Xu Chang gave him a meaningful look. Shen Mo glanced sideways.
The girl in yellow was indeed peeking this way.
And this time, Shen Mo felt it clearly.
Her gaze wasn't on Xu Chang.
It was locked on him.
No way.
Was this real? Did the fantasy just become reality?