I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Sky Temple gazed at the woman before him; needless to say, her appearance was already deeply etched in his mind.

Can she forget it? With the system around, she can.

As for herself, facing this female college student who wore countless masks, sometimes strong, sometimes vulnerable, always smiling happily, always walking beside her with confidence and agility, as cunning as a fox, yet acting like an ordinary girl when she was being coquettish.

How could I possibly forget it so easily? Don't even think about it!

"Is it your turn? What do you want to say?"

After only a slight surprise, Yukino Yukinoshita composed herself, pursed her lips, and sat upright in her seat with a slightly solemn air.

Perhaps this is the final battle? Both of them had this thought.

Yuu Tenkuji shook his head.

Give me the glass.

Although puzzled, Yukinoshita Haruno still handed him the small wine glass she had finished drinking.

The new wine jug was delivered at just the right time.

Under her surprised gaze, Tenkuji Yu poured himself a glass of wine and drank it down in one gulp.

Then he smacked his lips and couldn't help wrinkling his nose:

"I really don't like the taste."

In his past life, he didn't smoke, drank only a little alcohol, and his daily routine was very regular; doctors said he was very healthy.

His job didn't require drinking or socializing, so he wasn't used to putting this bitter and astringent liquid into his mouth—that's how he remembered it.

Now, the sensation of soju sticking to his throat and stimulating his mouth and brain is something his seventeen-year-old body is even less accustomed to.

Setting down his wine glass, Tenkuji slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, his voice now hoarse and deep.

"Yinnai, is my face very red?"

Yang Nai nodded obediently: "You're starting to get red. This must be your first time drinking, right?"

"I guess so, but I don't want it to happen a second time." Instead of drinking tea to calm down, Yuuki Tenkuji met Yukino Yukinoshita's gaze, her cheeks gradually burning.

The first thing to say—

I have a lot of feelings for you, and you could even say I like you. You should be able to feel that when we kiss.

Her hands, resting on her knees, tightened slightly, and Yukino Shino forced a smile: "Yes, that's why I said you were getting into character."

“That’s the problem with being a good actor.” Tenkuji Yu shrugged, his expression calm. “If you tell a lie for a long time, it will eventually become no different from the truth… As long as no one is willing to expose it, sooner or later, even you won’t know if it was acting or not.”

Yukino Shino silently poured herself a glass of wine, tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp, her eyes slowly turning cold.

"Are you saying I shouldn't have been so quick to expose our lies?"

It's like he's blaming her for being tactless and not knowing when to seize the opportunity. Even though they've both confirmed their feelings for each other, he's saying something that sounds like he's shifting the blame. No wonder Yukinoshita Haruno is angry.

"This relates to the second thing I want to talk about."

Tenkuji Yu took the wine glass and drank it down as if in a contest with her, feeling a distinct burning sensation in his ears.

Then, as if nothing had happened, she casually said, "If I really became your boyfriend, you might—"

She lost her memory and can no longer remember what happened between us.

Just as I was about to say those words, perhaps due to the effects of the alcohol, I experienced a blurry, disorienting sensation, with noises swirling around me.

My heart felt as if it were being squeezed by a witch's hand, and cold sweat quickly soaked my back; the system panel appeared vaguely in the corner of my eye, flashed for a moment, and then disappeared.

As if he had finally broken free from some kind of illusion, he came to his senses and found Yukino Yukinoshita looking at him with cold eyes.

"Are you saying I shouldn't have been so quick to expose our lies?"

"..."

Yuu Tenkuji silently lowered his head.

There was no wine glass at hand, nor a second glass to be filled.

...Tsk, how did it turn out like this?

Last time I wanted to tell Qiong, the system only gave me a warning because it was just a thought.

This time, when he was really going all out and told Yukino Yukino about things related to the system and the mission, the system stopped holding back and shut him up in the most sophisticated way.

Time reversal can be used so easily; the system is truly amazing.

—But this situation was somewhat expected, wasn't it?

Tenkuji Yu sighed, picked up the wine glass again, and drank it down in one gulp.

"This relates to the second thing I want to talk about..."

If, for some reason, we were no longer renting lovers, something terrible would happen.

The moment the thought popped into my head, the wine glass in my hand involuntarily fell to the ground.

A sharp pain shot through his heart, and Tenkuji Yu's pupils contracted sharply, as if a shadow had enveloped his vision, and he quickly lost consciousness.

When she came to her senses, Yukinoshita Haruno was still looking at her, and the wine glass was still in her hand.

"You mean... what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"..."

Tenkuji Yu lowered his head, clenching his teeth and remaining silent.

My heart felt like it had been crushed, still throbbing with lingering pain and trembling; fear cast a shadow over my mind, as if the chanting of a witch were echoing in my ears. (Harmony)

He used his superb acting skills to cover up his reaction, but he still couldn't suppress the instinctive trembling in his body.

Is this what happens when you make a system too sensitive?

If someone has the thought of leaking information a third time, they will be killed and time will be reversed.

This is truly a rental boyfriend life starting from scratch...

"Hey, don't stay silent. It's just a small glass of wine, it's not that big of a deal, is it?"

Not receiving a reply from him, her slightly cold gaze immediately turned to worry.

Yang leaned over and placed her hand on his forehead. She quickly wiped away the sweat that had trickled down his forehead with a handkerchief, then cupped his cheeks and examined him carefully.

"Did I get tipsy? No, that's not right. My face turned pale quickly, and I'm sweating profusely... Is it an alcohol allergy?"

She scrutinized his face, her brow furrowed and her expression anxious, and quickly decided to take him to the hospital for a checkup.

Tenkuji Yu pressed her hand down, tilted his head back, and smiled nonchalantly: "I won't get drunk, and I'm not allergic to alcohol... Don't worry."

Yang Nai rolled her eyes and said with a look of disdain, "Anyone who actually stops worrying after hearing 'Don't worry' is an idiot, right? Do I look like an idiot to you?"

“It doesn’t seem like it.” Yuu Tenkuji sighed and honestly said, “Okay, I’m just allergic to alcohol… I only found out today.”

"Then just drink your tea and don't touch alcohol anymore."

Yukinoshita promptly called over a waiter to brew another cup of tea. Then, biting her lip slightly, she muttered softly, "Thank goodness I didn't actually make you drink alcohol, or I'd be dying of guilt right now..."

Seeing her adorable expression of relief, Tenkuji Yu couldn't help but laugh, as if a gentle breeze had suddenly blown away the dark clouds in her heart.

A decision quickly took shape. The pain in his heart subsided, and even his voice softened unconsciously: "Yono, there's a second thing I want to say that I hope you'll listen to."

She paused, looked at the wine glass, and nodded casually.

"Okay, I'm listening. Go ahead and say it."

"This is just a small request of mine..."

Tenkuuji Yu took a soft breath, staring intently at her, and spoke slowly and deliberately:

"It's okay if I have to pay, can we continue being rented lovers?"

Her hand, which was touching the wine glass, froze. Yukinoshita Haruno opened her mouth slightly and looked at him in astonishment and confusion.

In front of her, Tenkuji Yu smiled so gently and brightly for the first time.

"Please believe me, I will eventually agree to your request."

"I will do as you said and become the hero standing in front of you—but I hope our relationship won't change until I'm fully prepared."

"The deadline is..."

……

...

So in the end, Yuu Tenkuji is no different from any other high school student.

Seeing through the lies, yet still being deceived by them;

Knowing the truth, yet clinging to wishful thinking and unwilling to confront the harsh reality.

At least for now, he is still unable to become an adult like Yukinoshita Haruno.

Chapter 81 An Echo Resounds from the Empty Valley

Outside the main gate of the Four Seasons Resort.

The sun was still shining brightly, and the cool air was swept up by the mountain breeze, gently blowing through his disheveled black hair.

Yuu Tenkuji looked back one last time, opened his mouth as if to say goodbye to the young woman who had long since returned to the small building and was having lunch with her parents.

However, he had already said everything he needed to say, so he simply looked away silently, a faint smile playing on his lips, and stepped into the taxi he had called in advance.

"Excuse me, Karuizawa Station."

The engine is very quiet and the vibration is almost imperceptible; it's a good car.

Leaning back in the soft leather chair, Tenkuji gazed at the slowly receding scenery outside the window, his thoughts swirling in his mind.

Renting a boyfriend is a good job.

He doesn't know when it started, but his thinking changed, and recently he even started to like the job.

Starting with money, one can openly and honestly engage in intimate contact with others without taking any responsibility—because both parties know that even the sweetest words and the gentlest gazes are just fleeting sparks that will soon fade into silence.

So I can speak my mind frankly, and kiss her without any burden. That feeling is both relaxing and captivating.

Chizuru Mizuhara once said that her reasons for doing this job were firstly to earn money, and secondly, to earn money while maintaining her dignity.