"Hua, how is it? Did you find it?"
"Wait, Felis, I think something is strange…"
"Hurry up, if Brother Lin wakes up, we're in big trouble."
The somewhat flat-chested girl searched and rummaged through the room and quickly found some ancient game cartridges. These nearly out-of-print cartridges were super rare items that only fanatical collectors would have, essentially priceless collectibles.
After finding her primary target, Hua breathed a sigh of relief, but soon she noticed that something seemed off in the room. She couldn't quite pinpoint what felt discordant.
She had the illusion that eyes were watching her from all directions.
"Phew… it should just be… huh?"
Hua suddenly stepped on something soft. She looked down and realized she was stepping on a hand sticking out from under the bed.
"...AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
"What's wrong, Hua…"
"Bang!"
Hua kicked out, sending Pardo flying, then screamed and scrambled out the window, running away in a flash.
"...W-wha?" Lin, awakened by Hua's scream, groggily opened his eyes. He peered out, looking at the open window with blurry eyes, "What was that?"
"…"
No one responded. Lin, assuming the window hadn't been closed, covered his head, painfully got out of bed, went to the window to close it, then sat on the edge of the bed, slowly regulating his breathing until he was fully awake.
"Huh? How did I get home? Didn't I go out drinking…" Lin's memory stopped at the last second of drinking with Mobius and Aponia. He shook his slightly unclear head, "Did I dream it?"
"Thump-thump-thump."
Someone knocked on the door. Lin yawned and shouted, "Coming!"
"Who would be here so late…"
Lin opened the door, and a streamer exploded over his head: "Pop!"
The plastic streamers fell onto his stunned face. Kevin and Kalpas stood side by side at the door, "Merry Christmas, Lin."
The light was somewhat dazzling. Lin shielded his eyes.
"What are you guys doing here?" This was a genuine surprise. Lin looked at the time; it was already past eleven o'clock at night. Kevin was holding a mooncake ice cream cake and iced beer, and Kalpas was holding a game controller, clearly here to play video games.
"I heard from Kalpas that some women were trying to invade our territory." Kevin discreetly adjusted his collar, striking his signature cool-guy pose, and sniffed coldly, "We came to protect you."
"But I heard Kalpas was celebrating with Kosma and Griseo today? And Kevin, you…" Lin was about to mention the date he saw with Mei today, but on second thought, with Kalpas here, it was better not to casually mention it.
Kalpas, still wearing his Santa Claus costume, waved dismissively, "I told Kosma to take Griseo to see a movie at Vil-V's place."
"Alright, let's go in and cut the cake. Su is still on his way." Kevin walked in without asking.
The quiet room quickly filled with warmth and cheer. Lin turned on the lights and slumped onto the sofa, watching Kevin and the others set up their so-called "Men's Christmas Happiness Room." He felt soft and was close to falling asleep again.
I still have a scene to shoot tomorrow… Never mind. It doesn't matter.
They didn't have much time to gather together.
"Thump-thump-thump."
Someone knocked on the door. Kevin went to open it, and this time, it was Su.
"Lin, long time no see."
"Su… haven't you gotten rid of that bad habit of squinting yet?"
"…But it's not a bad habit."
Excluding a certain younger member who had to take care of a child and was thus kicked out of the adult men's party, the four men raised their glasses of iced beer and began their Christmas night.
"Speaking of which, I tricked the ticket seller when I took the car here," Kevin said abruptly after gulping down his beer.
Lin unwrapped the mooncake ice cream cake, "Hmm? How did you trick him?"
"I bought the ticket, but I didn't get on the car."
"…"
"…"
"…"
Everyone felt a cold breeze blow over their heads.
…
"Left, left!"
"Su, open your eyes and shoot! You haven't hit anything!"
"Kal—pas—"
"Lin, your character just had his leg broken! Retreat quickly!"
After several hours of chaotic, frenetic gaming, Lin, utterly exhausted, saw the three men off. Dawn was breaking in the sky. He looked at the mess in the room, shook his head, and lay down on the bed.
Closing his eyes, he quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Three people quickly climbed out from under the bed and stood silently by Lin's bed, looking at each other.
"How about we call it a day?" Elysia suggested, looking at Lin's tired face.
"…Forget it, I'm going back." Mobius was the first to turn and leave the room after a moment of silence.
"What about you, Aponia?"
Aponia also followed Mobius out, "Let Lin rest well today."
"Then good night, Lin."
Elysia was the last one to step out of the room.
"…"
"Click."
Elysia, who had climbed onto the ceiling, watched in exasperation as Mobius and Aponia re-entered the room from the wardrobe and outside the window, respectively.
"You two are too sneaky!" She reached out her hand in protest.
"You're in no position to criticize us."
"Click."
All three of them instantly hid back in their spots.
"Phew, my long wait outside wasn't in vain. They're finally gone…"
A person used a key to open the door and walked into the room. Then, she expertly locked the door and braced it with a chair. She crept toward Lin's bed.
Who is it?
The three hidden women quietly opened a small gap in their hiding spots, observing the situation.
The pink-haired girl with long ears hesitantly reached out her hand toward Lin on the bed.
Sakura?!
The fourth person to appear in Lin's room was the unnoticeable Sakura!
"Snap."
However, no one anticipated what happened next.
The sleeping Lin suddenly opened his eyes and grabbed Sakura's hand. He flipped over, pinning her to the ground, his hands firmly holding hers down. He stared at the nervous Sakura, whose eyes darted around, with a steady gaze.
"Sakura, I didn't expect it to be you."
Lin's sharp stare made Sakura even more flustered. The pink blush on her face almost overwhelmed her pretty features.
"Fortunately, I woke up in time, or you would have succeeded again. Tell me, have you been coming here often recently to… to…" Lin chose his words carefully and said sternly, "To wreak havoc on me."
"Uh… no, it's not me. I just wanted to visit you…"
"Then how do you know my address, and how did you get into my house?"
"That… um…"
Sakura's eyes were starting to look like spirals, but she was not good at arguing or explaining, and there seemed to be nothing to defend about this matter…
"Tell me, what are your intentions!"
"I-I just like you! Can't you tell!"
"…Huh?"