In the world of anime with the power to stop time.

Chapter 037: Answer My Question, Hoshino Ai

Hoshino Ai?

"It can't be something eerie, right?"

At that thought, Lin Ye couldn't help but laugh.

It was almost a reflex.

But he still kept a necessary level of caution.

As the second "ding-dong" of the doorbell sounded, Lin Ye got up, adjusted his bathrobe, and walked toward the door.

Slowly, he opened it.

Outside,

A delicate girl with long black-purple hair stood quietly, waiting.

It was Hoshino Ai.

She raised her head slightly, her expression calm, and parted her lips to speak:

"Sorry to bother you, but I have something I'd like to ask for your help with."

Her hesitant demeanor prompted Lin Ye to invite her into the room.

After she stepped inside, Lin Ye closed the door.

"Hoshino-san, you really don't have a shred of vigilance, do you? Coming into a man's room late at night… something terrible could happen."

As soon as he said that,

Hoshino Ai hurriedly took a few steps back, creating distance between herself and Lin Ye.

"Uh, um… forcing yourself on someone is illegal! It's wrong…"

She hugged herself tightly, her eyes filled with a wary glint.

"I-I know you like me a lot, but… you can't… get me this way."

Lin Ye sighed in exasperation.

"Maybe the old me liked you, but I don't anymore."

To be precise, it wasn't even him who liked her before.

With Hoshino Ai's amnesia, he found her utterly uninteresting. If she still had her memories from the hotel, he might feel a little differently after all, they had been comrades through adversity.

"Wha how… how could you say that?"

Hoshino Ai let out a gasp of shock.

"You you're a fan of Ai-chan!"

"Not anymore."

"Lin Ye-kun, Ai-chan would be heartbroken."

"That has nothing to do with me."

But just as he finished speaking, Lin Ye realized something was off. His hand froze mid-motion as he twisted open the cap of a bottle of mineral water.

What had Hoshino Ai just called him? Lin Ye-kun?

He raised his gaze and met her eyes, sparkling with a smile that seemed to hold stars.

This… could it be…

Lin Ye's mind raced as he thought of something.

"Surprised? Happy? Lin Ye-kun, hehe…"

Hoshino Ai tilted her head and flashed a radiant smile, unable to conceal the wave of joy surging in her heart at that moment.

She was ecstatic!

She had finally witnessed the stunned reaction from Lin Ye that she had been anticipating.

"It's the Ai-chan you know! How was my performance pretending to have amnesia? Pretty convincing, right? Even Lin Ye-kun didn't notice anything wrong. Hehe, my acting skills must be better than Mai Sakurajima's! Someday, I'll definitely become a beloved superstar too."

Lin Ye's expression darkened instantly, his face falling like a sudden storm. The sight caused Hoshino Ai's heart to tighten with unease.

The girl grew visibly nervous and flustered.

Tap, tap…

Lin Ye took two steps forward, closing the distance between them, causing Hoshino Ai to instinctively back away until she bumped into the bed and fell onto it with a startled "Ah!"

"Um… Lin Ye-kun, don't be angry! I-I was just joking, really! I didn't mean to mess with you like this!"

As she watched Lin Ye raise his right hand, she instinctively shut her eyes, curling up as her body trembled in anticipation.

Thud...

Lin Ye's hand slowed at the last moment, landing lightly on Hoshino Ai's cheek. His thumb and forefinger pinched her face, giving it a firm twist.

"Ahhh... ow, ow, ow…"

Hoshino Ai yelped, but inside, she was relieved. Lin Ye wasn't truly angry if he had been, he wouldn't be teasing her like this.

"Why did you do it?"

"Um! Well... I just wanted to surprise Lin Ye-kun! I wanted to see your shocked reaction."

She spoke nervously, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"What I'm asking is why you didn't choose to decline the invitation and leave the eerie game. You became a player you'll die in the next game scenario. You know your own abilities."

Hoshino Ai blinked, a wave of overwhelming joy suddenly sweeping over her.

"So... Lin Ye-kun was worried about my safety!"

She was elated!

For the first time in her life, a man was genuinely concerned for her well-being.

Lin Ye-kun was so kind and gentle, so good to her. This... this had to be love, right? Surely, this was Lin Ye-kun's love for her!

The thought grew stronger and more certain in her mind.

"Don't change the subject. Answer my question, Hoshino Ai," Lin Ye pressed further.

Faced with his persistence, Hoshino Ai shifted her position, sitting on the bed with her knees hugged to her chest.

"Well… I promised Lin Ye-kun something, didn't I? That after leaving the hotel, I'd wear white stockings and perform a dance for you."

For a moment,

Lin Ye thought he must have misheard her.

That was the reason?

He didn't know whether to feel exasperated or amused.

"Do you even understand what you're doing? How will you survive the next game scenario? Don't tell me you think there'll be another player like me to carry you through the games!"

"Huh? There won't be?"

She blinked, her eyes wide and full of innocence.

"No, it's not."

At that moment,

Lin Ye couldn't help but wonder if Hoshino Ai's intelligence was perhaps just a little lacking.

Her mental state was questionable, and now he was genuinely starting to think her IQ might be as well.

But seeing how she still showed no signs of panic, Lin Ye realized that Hoshino Ai probably hadn't grasped the gravity of her decision or the level of danger she would face in the future.

She was hopeless.

Doomed.

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