Chapter 144: A Money-Making Method That Sells Sex Appeal?

Although the murky waters beneath New Sea City were currently being churned into chaos by the hooligans of the Akacheng Gang,
for Lin Yu—who only wanted to guard his own tiny patch of land and live out his days—that kind of undercurrent felt as though it were still separated from him by a thick pane of frosted glass.

Ever since moving into the new apartment near University City, Lin Yu’s rhythm of life finally seemed to have slowed down—
from that suffocating “double-speed playback” to something resembling a normal pace.

First, there was Lin Xue.

That girl had been coming over far more frequently lately.
Every few days, she would show up carrying two huge bags of organic vegetables and expensive imported beef.
On the surface, she called it “visiting a lonely empty-nester living alone,”
but in reality, she was exercising her authority as a “Ruikang Biotech representative,” determined to drag her own brother back from the abyss of junk food.

Unfortunately, as the saying goes—
when one foot of the Dao rises, the devil rises ten.

The moment Lin Xue left, Lin Yu would skillfully open a food delivery app,
searching through those tempting “group-discount meals” for solace for his soul.

Of course, indulgence always comes at a price.

“Ugh… damn it…”

Lin Yu’s face was deathly pale as he braced himself against the wall, staggering out of the bathroom on unsteady legs.

“Cui Linglong’s Korean fried chicken…”
“…not clean at all…”
“…my ass hurts so bad…”

He wobbled into the living room, just about to find a comfortable position to flop down on the sofa—
only to discover a white lump occupying the prime “sunbathing” spot.

Xiao Bai.

This outrageously expensive self-disciplined phase-armament was currently sprawled flat on its back in the middle of the sofa.
Its fluffy tail swished lazily back and forth, long ears drooping limply, sleeping so deeply it might as well have been dead to the world.

Looking at that lordly posture, then glancing down at his own utterly drained state, Lin Yu immediately felt unbalanced.

Why the hell do I bust my ass every day just to survive—and still end up with diarrhea—
while you, a chunk of metal, get to enjoy peace and quiet here?

“Shoo, shoo, move over.”

He stretched out his foot sourly and poked the white fluff with his toe.

“Gu?”

Xiao Bai cracked open one eye.
That ruby-like artificial eye flashed with undisguised disdain.

It glanced at Lin Yu as if he were an idiot, then extremely perfunctorily wriggled two centimeters to the side,
rolled over, aimed its furry butt straight at Lin Yu’s face, and went right back to snoring.

Lin Yu felt his blood pressure spike.

“You little bastard…”
“Eat and sleep, sleep and eat—what are you, solar-powered?”
“Photosynthesis or something?”

“Believe it or not, I’ll paint you pink tomorrow.”

Despite the harsh words, he obediently curled up in the remaining corner of the sofa,
melting down elegantly like a puddle of slime.

What his sister had said last time had genuinely scared him.
So over the past few days, he’d taken “health reasons” as an excuse and requested a full seven days off from work.
During that time, the gray crystal slurry hadn’t appeared again.

It had even receded slightly.

Lin Yu subconsciously touched his chin.
There, at last, a thin layer of slightly prickly stubble had grown in.

Hah…

The rough sensation under his fingertips filled him with peace of mind.

It wasn’t much, but this was the last shred of dignity he had as a “real man,” damn it!

Buzz—

The terminal on his wrist vibrated, snapping him out of his self-indulgence.

Lin Yu raised his wrist.
Seeing that familiar avatar, his eyebrow twitched.

[Manager Qian: Xiao Lin, how’s your recovery coming along? You’re young, but don’t rely on youth to burn through your body. I’d love to let you rest a few more days, but this month’s KPI assessment won’t wait. If performance doesn’t meet standards, your full-attendance bonus and performance pay… well, you know. ???]

Tch…
Damn capitalist.
Just like my little sister said.

Lin Yu irritably ruffled his hair, the flimsy mental defense he’d just built collapsing instantly.

He knew it.
This was the final ultimatum.

For that forty-thousand-yuan monthly salary.
For that grand dream of “buying a house and marrying a wife.”

In the end… he still had to put that skirt back on.

Sigh…
Time to be a girl again.

Letting out a long, resigned breath, he tapped open The Witch’s Training Manual interface.

A pink holographic screen unfolded in midair,
and an intricate skill tree slowly rotated before his eyes.

This month of special training really hadn’t been for nothing.
Most of the once-dim icons were now lit up, glowing with the golden sheen that represented “proficiency.”

[Current Synchronization Evaluation: B (Rising)]

[Loaded Skill Modules]

Flash Program Bar:
【Shining Entrance】 (Proficiency: ★★☆):
Aside from blinding people’s dog eyes and helping with escapes, it’s not very useful—
but it’s instant-cast… and stylish!

【Time for a Costume Change】 (Proficiency: ★★☆):
Recently collaborated with a certain anime game and released several outfits.
A bit pricey.

【Triple Apology, Please!】 (Proficiency: ★★☆):
Can be used after mission failure.

Mobility Program Bar:
【Bunny Bunny Run】 (Proficiency: ★★★):
Core escape skill.
Even vertical glass curtain walls feel like flat ground.

【Angel’s Fall】 (Proficiency: ★★☆):
A god-tier cushioning skill for high-altitude drops.
Comes with built-in feather effects.

Defense / Attack Program Bar:
【Don’t Touch Me, Hmph】 (Proficiency: ★★☆):
Omnidirectional repulsion shield.
Maxed-out sense of security.

【Shining Psionic Light Arrow】 (Proficiency: ★★☆):
High single-target burst.
After spending premium currency, it even gains homing.

【Justice’s Heart Bombardment】 (Proficiency: ★★☆):
Wide-area, terrifying power.
As long as you can overcome the psychological barrier of shouting embarrassing lines, it’s a godsend for clearing mobs.

Staring at these skills, Lin Yu’s emotions were complicated.

On one hand, they proved that he really had grown stronger.
If he ran into something like the 【Defiled Bride】 again,
even without support, he was confident he could purify it alone.

But on the other hand…

Looking at those skill names—
words like “Bunny,” “Hmph,” and “Shiny-Shiny”…

He felt like he was drifting farther and farther away from the goal of becoming an “iron-blooded tough guy.”

“Sigh…”

He covered his face in anguish.

The more the magical girl’s powers were used,
the deeper that subtle, creeping assimilation became.

He really didn’t want to wake up one day as a shy little girl who blushed at the sight of men!

“…If only there were some way to make money without fighting, without risking my life…”
“…just selling a bit of s*x appeal would do…”

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Lin Yu lay sprawled on the sofa, staring at the ceiling as his thoughts ran wild.

After all, with Gray Crystal’s looks,
becoming a looks-based streamer might easily bring in over ten thousand a month, right?

Too bad company policy strictly required the magical girl’s identity to remain confidential.
Using a phase spirit body to show one’s face on public platforms was absolutely forbidden.
Violation meant all bonuses for the month would be confiscated—along with a massive fine.

“Tch… damn tyrannical clauses.”

Lin Yu pouted and idly swiped through the holographic screen.

During these seven days of sick leave,
he hadn’t completely rotted away at home like a full-time shut-in.

To ease his mood, he’d gone undercover a few times—mask and sunglasses on—sneaking around anime conventions.

He had to admit, those collagen-packed young girls really were easy on the eyes.
Watching them confidently strike poses in front of cameras made this world-weary old man feel a long-lost flutter called “youth.”

“Hm?”
“Wait…”

Something suddenly occurred to him.

He opened a pink app, his gaze locking onto a pushed advertisement.

【BilibiliWorld 2050 – New Sea Station
Now Open!】

【A grand celebration of ACG culture!
Featuring an ultra-luxurious competition sponsored by a mysterious mega-patron—
【“Phantasmic Star” COSPLAY Grand Prix!】】

“BW Convention?”

Lin Yu raised an eyebrow.

This site that swore it would never change—
after decades of development, it had long since become a place where ads interrupted videos.

But he had to admit—
its influence in the ACG圈 was still top-tier.

He casually tapped open the promo video.

Flashy effects.
Pumping BGM.
A highlight reel of famous cosplayers.

None of that interested Lin Yu.

His eyes were glued to the final line of glittering golden text that popped up at the end.

【Popular Coser Runway Competition — Now Open for Registration!】

【Champion Prize: ——】
【Runner-up Prize: ——】
【Third Place Prize: ——】

“Hiss—”

Lin Yu sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes going wide.

Units, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten-thousands…
One hundred thousand?!

“Holy crap…”

Lin Yu shot upright, his breathing quickening.

You had to understand—
the last time he’d nearly died, risking being eaten by a tentacle monster
and even being forced to kiss a man,
the reward for completing a C-rank purification mission
was only about this much!

And now?

Just dress up pretty, walk a few steps on stage, strike a few poses,
and toss some flirtatious glances at the otaku crowd—

And the hundred thousand is yours?!

“This… this is even reasonable?!”

Lin Yu slapped his thigh indignantly.

“I’ve gotta say—making money on the internet…”
“…is faster than robbing a bank!”

He swallowed hard and scrolled down with trembling fingers to check the registration deadline.

[Time Remaining Until Registration Closes: ** hours ** minutes]

Not closed yet!

His heart began pounding wildly.

A bold idea started growing in his mind like a weed.

“Hmm… I just happen to be on sick leave. The company can’t control me right now…”
“And this just happens to be an offline event—no real-name verification…”
“As long as I wear a wig and put on some makeup, no one will know who I am…”

“And even more coincidentally…”

Lin Yu slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on the sofa beside him.

There, a white fluffball lay sprawled in the sunlight, sleeping soundly—
completely unaware of the fate that awaited it.

“…I just happen to have a ready-made prop right here!”

The corner of Lin Yu’s mouth slowly curled into a gradually deranged smile.

He tiptoed over and grabbed Xiao Bai, who was still dreaming sweetly, lifting it up.

“Gu?”

Xiao Bai drowsily opened its eyes, utterly confused.

All it saw was Lin Yu staring at it as if it were a gold ingot,
muttering under his breath:

“One hundred thousand…
One hundred thousand…”

“Xiao Bai, raising troops for a thousand days…”
“…is for using them in a single moment.”

Lin Yu gazed at the rabbit with deep affection.

“Even if you usually ignore me…”
“as a mature phase armament, you should learn…”
“…to earn your own rations, right?”

“GU—!”

Sensing its master’s sinister intentions, Xiao Bai’s fur exploded outward as it struggled desperately to escape.

But this time, Lin Yu—his eyes blinded by money—had terrifying strength in his grip.

“Hehehe, don’t run.”

Pinning it down firmly, Lin Yu opened the registration page with a wicked grin.

“Since it’s a COSPLAY competition…”
“…we’d better pull out some real special moves…”

“Hehehehe—”