I Got Her Contact… But I Didn’t Dare Text

Lost in a daze, I mindlessly watched over the convenience store, the hours flying by.

Keeping watch during the night shift used to be so boring. I’d pass the time playing mobile games, watching anime, or listening to music.

But today, I didn’t do any of that, yet time still flew… Maybe this is what falling in love feels like?

That’s complete nonsense.

I admit, my head was full of wishful thinking. After adding her as a friend, I kept thinking, “Could this actually work out?”

I should have sent her a message to say hi, but I stared at my phone screen until morning and still couldn’t figure out what to say.

Honestly, I’m just not good at chatting…

If I were, I wouldn’t have used a pickup line with a near 100% failure rate like “Can I buy you a coffee” when I first tried to stop her.

Being able to talk with her so freely earlier was just me pretending to be someone I’m not. It’s just that I happen to be decent at analyzing people’s psychology, plus I got caught up in the moment…

After she left the store, my almost manic excitement finally wore off.

I was secretly overjoyed, but also scared in hindsight.

I never thought I’d actually have the courage to talk to her, let alone confess… That was basically self-destruction… Way too high-level for a virgin like me…

But judging by the outcome, it seemed pretty good, hehe.

Around eight in the morning, the manager came in yawning to relieve me.

“Good work, A-Qi. Go home and get some rest.”

“Yeah! I’m heading back now!”

He blinked, looking at me with a smile.

“You seem in good spirits today. Usually you’re dead tired by morning.”

“Thanks to the store’s coffee. Oh, I had two cans.”

“Heh, don’t you usually drink energy drinks? When did you switch to coffee?”

I headed out from behind the register towards the staff room as I talked to the manager.

“I found coffee wakes me up better. I think I’ll stick to it from now on.”

“Coffee really works that well? Maybe I’ll drink it too. What brand did you have, A-Qi?”

“Not sure what it’s called. You can check the trash can, Manager.”

The manager stepped into the register area and glanced at the bin, then rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“Two cans? Isn’t there only one here?”

…

Leaving the convenience store, I barely remembered the walk home. My mind was completely lost in a romantic haze.

Good thing this area was mostly residential with no major intersections, or I might have gotten forcibly reincarnated by the ultimate transmigration tool—a truck.

In a daze, I made it home. I reached for my keys… just as I was about to unlock the door, I noticed it was already unlocked.

I tend to have a bit of that “young adult forgetfulness,” so I always double-check that I’ve locked the door when I leave. I clearly remembered closing it.

But now the door was slightly ajar.

A thief…?

No way. It had to be that guy.

The only person with a key to my place was him.

I pushed the door open, my expression flat. Just as I expected, I saw that familiar, grinning idiot.

He was sprawled out on the floor reading a manga. When he saw me come in, he tilted his head back and greeted me casually.

“Yo, bro! You’re finally back!”

“…”

I ignored him completely, walked inside, and closed the door.

“I came to hang out!”

I walked right past him, pretending he wasn’t there.

He did a kip-up from the floor and threw the manga he was holding at me.

“Damn, bro! I come all the way to see you, and you can’t even welcome me!”

“All the way my ass. You come to see me five days a week. What’s there to be excited about? You’re a nuisance!”

“I usually come in the afternoon. I came early this morning to welcome you home, and you’re not moved at all? Not even a little excited!”

He knew I worked nights, so he usually came by in the afternoon or evening. It was rare to see him here this early in the morning.

“Moved my ass… How about you cross-dress for me? That would be exciting.”

“Whoa, seriously, bro? You’re into that kind of stuff… But since you want to see me cross-dress so badly, I’ll reluctantly…”

“Get lost!”

I kicked the guy to the floor.

How disgusting.

He wasn’t bothered at all. He just grinned, got up, folded his arms and legs like he was deep in thought, and said with mock seriousness.

“But I’d probably look pretty good in a dress. On my way here, some old lady living nearby even said, ‘Young man, you’re so handsome. Wanna come have some fun with me?'”

“She’s a rich old lady who wants to keep you as a boy toy.”

“Her wanting to keep me just proves I’m good-looking, right?”

I rolled my eyes.

“You’re six feet tall and want to cross-dress? What are you, a Tequila-style girl?”

“Height isn’t a problem! Just put me in some black stockings and a few padded bras, and I’d be a dead ringer for a gravure model!”

“You’ve got some serious self-confidence…”

“As your best bro, I don’t mind cross-dressing for you! How’s that for a supportive friend?”

“Ugh… stop, don’t say another word… Please, have mercy on my eyes and my stomach…”

This ridiculous guy’s name was Li Enhe. He was my friend.

His name, “Enhe,” when said quickly sounded like “Erhuo” which basically means “idiot.” So I just called him that, and he accepted it.

And he really was an idiot.

He was two years older than me, six feet tall, with dyed blond hair, a handsome face, and came from a wealthy family.

I don’t know exactly how rich, and I don’t care, but he definitely had money.

According to him, he also had a degree from a prestigious overseas university… Given his personality, he was probably telling the truth.

Basically, he had height, looks, family background, and talent.

The perfect, flawless, 24-karat eligible bachelor.

Yet, he was also single, just like me.

He was the kind of elite from high society, born with a silver spoon, with a protagonist-level perfect life.

But this guy, who should be living that perfect life, preferred hanging out with commoners like me.

At first, I thought he was just showing off, but after spending more time with him… I realized he wasn’t thinking that deeply.

He was just an idiot.

Meeting him was purely by chance. I had just fled my previous living situation, my illustrations weren’t good enough to support me, and I didn’t even have a place to stay.

I was broke and desperate.

Eventually, I started working as a game booster at an internet cafe, living and eating there, barely surviving.

He was a regular at that internet cafe, often staying overnight. He noticed my skills, paid me to help him rank up, and was very generous. So we became gaming partners… and eventually friends.

Men’s definition of “friend” is pretty simple. Play games together, drink together, talk big together—that’s enough to be friends.

Later, I saved up some money, quit the game boosting gig, rented this apartment, and started focusing on drawing. That’s how I became the shut-in I am today.

But for some reason, this guy started coming to my place instead of the internet cafe.

I just don’t get rich people’s minds…

Maybe Li Enhe is just an anomaly among the rich…

Anyway, he’s an idiot.