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Chapter 56: 80 Points of Affection

After cracking a few more jokes with Chu Zining, Lu Li opened the dating game.

He still had not claimed the check-in reward.

“Claim check-in reward!” Lu Li silently recited.

[Check-in reward claimed successfully: congratulations, you gained +1 Minor-Accomplishment level point in Culinary Arts.]

“Huh?” Lu Li blinked; it was only 1 point of Minor-Accomplishment level Culinary Arts?

Hadn’t it always been 3 attribute points and 1 random stat before?

Lu Li scrolled through the check-in reward instructions, and his face fell.

It turned out the 3 points and the random stat were only granted the first time he logged into a love interest’s body; subsequent log-ins yielded just 1 random attribute point.

In other words, logging into Chu Zining again would net only 1 point of Minor-Accomplishment level Culinary Arts.

“What a scam. A boost in Culinary Arts isn’t even that useful; at this rate, logging into Chu Zining won’t be cost-effective anymore…”

Lu Li looked at the shy, delicate Chu Zining in front of him and suddenly felt a trace of disappointment.

Hmph, woman, from now on you are fit only to be my pillow.

Caught under Lu Li’s strange stare, Chu Zining wiped her face and grew flustered, “W-what is it?”

Lu Li snorted lightly and blurted, “I’m going to turn you into my pillow!”

“?”

Chu Zining froze, seemingly realizing something, and a crimson blush rushed across her tender cheeks.

She silently lowered her head, then slowly straightened in the chair, offering her thighs and trembling as she asked, “D-do you want to rest?”

“Can I?” Lu Li sounded genuinely surprised.

“Y-yes, you can.”

Lu Li’s eyes lit up, and without another word he laid his head directly on her lap.

Ah, a lap pillow really is the best; I won’t stay mad at your uselessness now… Lu Li exhaled in relief.

Chu Zining lifted both hands awkwardly, not knowing where to place them, looking as though she were surrendering.

She sneaked a glance at Lu Li’s profile, and the beautiful corner of her mouth lifted slightly.

[Notice! Love interest Chu Zining’s affection has surpassed 80 points; the affection panel is now unlocked, raising affection will grant rewards; the quest tab is open, and the main storyline will launch soon.]

“Main storyline?” Lu Li brightened and bounced his head right off Chu Zining’s thighs.

Was this lousy game finally offering new content?

Lu Li immediately tapped the quest tab.

[No quests available; one will refresh at random.]

Lu Li: “…”

Great, all excited for nothing… Lu Li sighed in frustration.

Lu Li opened the love-interest menu again and checked Chu Zining’s stat page.

[Love Interest: Chu Zining

Constitution: 6 (tenacious)

Charisma: 9 (peak human beauty)

Intelligence: 7 (clear-headed)

Wealth: ¥200 (license-plate code for Sanya, Hainan Province)

Affection: 80 (Falling for someone is a wondrous thing, like hiding in a dark corner until he approaches with a lantern and asks, “May I sit here?”)]

Hiding in a dark corner, huh…

For some reason Lu Li suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

“What’s wrong, do you feel unwell?” Chu Zining asked nervously.

“It’s nothing.” Lu Li shook his head, then after a pause patted Chu Zining’s head and said, “You’ve been good; none of this is your fault.”

Chu Zining did not understand and looked at him in confusion.

Lu Li cleared his throat and pointed at her thighs, “May I lie here?”

“Mm-hmm.” Chu Zining answered softly and, pretending indifference, tucked a stray lock behind her ear.

Lu Li noticed her petite earlobes were bright pink.

Lu Li lay sideways again, adjusted his head to a comfortable spot, and closed his eyes contentedly.

Chu Zining tentatively placed her hand on Lu Li’s hair; when he did not object, she mustered her courage and gently stroked it.

Lu Li rolled from his side onto his back and glared at her.

Chu Zining gave a soft “Mm” and covered her mouth with a smile, “Feels nice, better than petting the puppy.”

Lu Li shot her another fierce glare and rolled back onto his side.

Chu Zining only laughed.

Lu Li snorted; if he hadn’t just seen her affection hit 80, he definitely would have karate-chopped her.

Holding a stack of files, Jiang Chaoyun saw the scene from afar and furrowed her brows tightly.

That scumbag was openly flirting with Little Chu already? Nasty!

She marched over in anger and handed them two interrogation reports: one she placed in Chu Zining’s hands, the other she threw onto Lu Li’s face.

Chu Zining let out a soft “Ugh” and quickly picked up the report from Lu Li’s face.

Lu Li cast two murderous glances at Jiang Chaoyun’s stocking-clad legs, then magnanimously sat up without arguing.

“Sign it, then fingerprint it.” Jiang Chaoyun handed over a pen and a box of red ink.

Lu Li did not sign immediately; instead he read through the report carefully.

Two minutes later he frowned, “Personal heroism, endangering public safety, required to write a self-criticism? What does that mean?”

Jiang Chaoyun had been wearing an icy poker face, but at Lu Li’s question she could not help looking guilty.

With the surveillance and statements, the whole incident was clear; Jiang Chaoyun knew Lu Li was the real hero in the crisis.

Without Lu Li’s bold and meticulous moves, Xu Ke would already have detonated the bomb.

She had just argued reason with her superior Wang Hongtao, trying to keep Lu Li’s commendation, but Wang Hongtao only shook his head and sighed, saying it was Vice Director Zou’s decision.

Jiang Chaoyun looked dejected; if even Wang Hongtao had no say, a mere foot soldier like her had no ground to disobey.

“Just sign it; I’ll write the self-criticism for you,” Jiang Chaoyun said guiltily.

Lu Li glanced at Chu Zining’s report; the wording was similar, yet hers mentioned an “Outstanding Youth Award” and a “Courageous Act bonus.”

Lu Li looked up, “It can’t be that simple. Officer Jiang, can you tell me the exact reason?”

Jiang Chaoyun refused, “It’s upsetting; you’re better off not knowing.”

Lu Li said earnestly, “I just want to know why; once I know, I’ll sign.”

Seeing Lu Li’s persistence, Jiang Chaoyun had no choice but to explain how SWAT captain Shi Chen had shifted the blame onto Lu Li to cover his own team’s grave mistake.

“What is this, the stratagem of relieving the siege of Wei, or swapping the plum for the peach?”

Lu Li let out a cold laugh; personal heroism, huh… if the police had been sure they could save Chu Zining, he would have been crazy to risk his life.

He calmly took the pen, ready to sign.

At that moment Chu Zining grabbed his hand, puffed up her cheeks for once, and said, “Don’t sign! You’re a hero; we won’t sign.”

Lu Li laughed and rubbed her head, “It’s fine; reward or punishment doesn’t matter to me, only that I didn’t screw things up.”

Chu Zining’s heart trembled; she whispered, “T-then I won’t sign either; I don’t want the award.”

“Don’t be silly! You sign; there’s prize money. Why turn down money? You still have to treat me to dinner,” Lu Li chuckled.

Chu Zining felt even more sour inside; she pressed her lips together, “O-okay, I’ll listen to you.”

“That’s more like it.”

For some reason, sensing the atmosphere between them, Jiang Chaoyun suddenly felt reluctant to interrupt.

Just then heavy footsteps approached; a man in SWAT uniform walked over, gave Lu Li two glances, and laughed mockingly as though no one else was there:

“Hey, so this is the little hero who has to write a self-criticism. Heh, don’t be so down; I’ll be writing one with you!”

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