Chapter 20: Qing-chan Can’t Study!

Su Ze’s gaze fell upon the young girl’s ample chest.

It was a natural reaction engraved in male genes.

Unless he forcibly restrained himself, his eyes would inevitably climb toward the place they longed for at the slightest lapse.

『He seemed to be staring at my boobs just now…』

No wonder people said a woman could always tell whether a man was sneaking a peek at her.

Such perceptiveness was comparable to a blue-grade Talent.

Su Ze silently withdrew his gaze and casually asked, “Have you ever dated?”

『Here it comes, here it comes…』

“No.” She replied crisply and proudly added, “My family is strict; we aren’t allowed to date before we start working.”

『Dating without marriage as the goal is just fooling around…』

『This young lady isn’t that kind of casual girl, and if my mom knew I was thinking of an early romance…』

『Sob… Mom… Mom is gone…』

When the sad thought surfaced, the food in her bowl no longer tasted so good.

Chen Keqing hurriedly shoveled two big bites into her mouth, using food to smother the sorrow as though afraid her façade might crack.

『But I’ve already turned 18, so strictly speaking it’s no longer considered puppy love…』

『Why do I suddenly feel embarrassed? I’m already this old and still talking about forbidding early romance…』

『My former classmates are all in college now and have probably become lords…』

『Weird, why did he fall silent right after asking? So, so awkward.』

Silence?

Not at all, 18-year-old girl; I am listening to you speak.

Su Ze chuckled inwardly.

“College students are free to date as they please, right?” After the long silence, Chen Keqing had to find a topic herself.

“Mm.” Su Ze grunted an acknowledgment.

“I see…” Chen Keqing nodded earnestly and added, “True, many of my classmates in college are dating.”

“Is that so.” Su Ze remained sparing with words.

“At my age I ought to be a college student too.” Chen Keqing forced herself to say another line.

『What am I even saying…』

『I sound like an idiot… asking whether college students are free to date? Chen Keqing, are you actually stupid…?』

『You’ve browsed illegal sites, watched countless adult videos, and amassed plenty of theoretical knowledge as a senior repeating grade 4, so stop acting clueless, you moron…』

When it came to lechery, the difference between women and men was not large.

Therefore, Su Ze could fully understand Chen Keqing’s curiosity about such knowledge.

He could only say that, as a girl who role-played with him in the simulations, she truly knew a lot.

She really did know plenty.

“Could you stop making me fish for topics all the time?” After a few awkward exchanges, Chen Keqing asked timidly.

“Sure, I can…” Su Ze mused aloud and asked, “Qin Shi Huang (First Emperor of China) never actually died, every civilization in the universe is an armed hunter, the Bermuda Triangle is a media fabrication, and used condoms often turn up on the hill behind Su University… which topic would you like to hear about?”

“Uh…” Chen Keqing almost choked.

“I knew you’d want the last one. You’ve probably hung out at Su University; do you know the back hill…”

At first, when Su Ze broached such risqué subject matter, Chen Keqing intended to refuse.

Yet Su Ze’s narration was extremely objective and carried no personal emotions.

As a result, Chen Keqing unconsciously got drawn in, and the atmosphere grew far less awkward.

Only when time was almost up and Chen Keqing had to return to school did the hot-pot meal finally wind down.

“Remember to go home with the other students.”

Right before parting, Su Ze suddenly gave that fatherly admonition.

“Oh…”

She answered blankly and turned to leave.

『He sounds like a boyfriend…』

『Does he like me or not? If he did, shouldn’t he come pick me up? Hiss… Is this the legendary playing hard to get…』

Playing hard to get?

Hardly.

It was just that Su Ze knew Chen Keqing still had not dropped her guard against strangers.

If he really offered to escort her, she would probably refuse…

Besides, he had no intention of playing the warm boyfriend; after all, his only motive for meeting Chen Keqing today was to reserve a section for her inside the safe house.

Achieving that goal was enough.

…………

『Doomsday countdown: 4 days 5 hours 30 minutes』

The simulator’s cooldown would finish at around 7 p.m.

Therefore, he could start the simulation a bit earlier than on the previous days.

After parting with Chen Keqing, Su Ze quickly returned to his residence.

Yesterday’s simulation had been very brief.

The golden Talent had appeared too quickly.

As a result, his wish to obtain more information naturally came to naught.

After all, in yesterday’s simulation his longest lifespan had been less than 60 days.

With such a brief doomsday journey, it was of course impossible to gather sufficient doomsday intel.

Therefore.

Today he sat at his desk, took pen and paper, and clearly wrote down the doomsday information he needed to learn and grasp in the day’s simulation.

For example…

Just how safe could his Avalon be.

What exactly were those terrifying and powerful “containment objects”.

The avenues to become an Awakener…

What meanings the six spells each held…

These were all pieces of information Su Ze wished to know and master.

『Apocalypse Simulator cooldown has ended…』

Once the time arrived, the simulator in Su Ze’s field of vision indicated that he could begin another simulation.

He wasted no time.

Su Ze launched the simulation immediately.

『Apocalypse simulation has started…』

『Please choose one of the following three Talents as the innate Talent for this simulation!』

『Explosive Drummer (green): You are highly skilled with instruments; the music you play will raise all your allies’ attributes』

『Running Ace (white): You excel at running; if you enter a marathon, the championship is practically guaranteed』

『Flame User (green): You can manipulate flames and thus attack with them, but if you do not rely on flames that already exist in nature, your attacks will consume a great deal of stamina』

Three fairly ordinary Talent options appeared in Su Ze’s sight.

He could not expect every simulation to present a particularly useful Talent…

In fact.

The probability of a golden Talent appearing was very low, and even purple ones were scarce.

During the previous two days’ simulations, Su Ze had quickly found a golden Talent twice, which was truly lucky…

As for the current situation.

Su Ze set his eyes on the “Flame User” Talent.

Although it was merely a green innate Talent, having one was better than none.

The other green Talent did not merit consideration.

Su Ze had long since planned today’s simulation in his mind.

If there was a combat Talent, he would choose a combat Talent.

A support Talent like “Explosive Drummer” should be passed over…

After all.

Today he wanted to survive longer in the simulation and witness a broader doomsday landscape.

Therefore a combat Talent was indispensable.

『Innate Talent “Flame User (green)” selected』

『Simulation start…』