Chapter 25: Spoilers

**Chapter 25: Spoilers**

"Did you need something from me?"

Lin Qingshan tilted his head in confusion.

"Yes, my laptop is broken," Gu Qianli said, pulling a laptop from her bag.

Lin Qingshan raised an eyebrow at the sight of the laptop. In this world, which corresponds to roughly a decade ago in his past life, laptops weren't yet a staple for university students. Their high price—ranging from two to eight thousand yuan—often made them prohibitively expensive.

"So, you're quite the little heiress, aren't you?" he remarked, though his tone was light.

However...

"I'm not very good at fixing computers," Lin Qingshan admitted, scratching his head. "Especially laptops. They have intricate parts. I could handle swapping out a hard drive or memory card, but..."

"It's better to take it to a computer repair shop. It's safer that way," he suggested earnestly.

Gu Qianli nodded. "That's what I was planning to do, but I'm worried that the repair technicians might try to overcharge me just because I'm a girl."

Indeed, computer repair shops in this world's current era were notorious for their unscrupulous practices. Without the competition of online shopping, they often took advantage of customers. What might be a simple fix, like cleaning a memory card, could be exaggerated into a need for a new one, or even a new motherboard.

Lin Qingshan quickly understood why Gu Qianli had sought him out. She needed him to play the role of an informed customer to prevent the repair shop from exploiting her.

But did someone like Gu Qianli, a rich young lady, really fear being scammed?

Though this might be a question that a typical person wouldn't voice, Lin Qingshan had no such reservations. He bluntly asked, "You, a rich young lady, are worried about being scammed?"

Gu Qianli frowned but didn't deny her status. Instead, she said, "I can afford to spend more money, but I don't want to be overcharged unnecessarily."

"Ah, I see," Lin Qingshan said with a chuckle. "Sorry about that, Qianli."

His straightforwardness wasn't meant to be insensitive; he was simply being himself. 

"To make it up to you, I'll be your 'tech advisor' today!"

He grinned and gave a mock salute.

Gu Qianli couldn't help but laugh. "Alright then, I'll leave it to you today."

"Yes, Miss Qianli!" Lin Qingshan stood at attention, adding to the humor.

Gu Qianli laughed, and Lin Qingshan joined her in a goofy grin. Only Pochita, at their feet, tilted its head in confusion, unsure of what was so funny.

...

As they walked, Gu Qianli suddenly asked, "Qingshan, in your interview, you mentioned that Cyberpsychosis is a result of societal pressure. Is Mann's condition due to stress as well?"

Lin Qingshan carried Pochita in a pet backpack and held the bag with Gu Qianli's laptop. 

"You can think of Cyberpsychosis as a form of depression. The person might have internal issues, but the main cause is external pressure," he explained.

"And Mann... of course, he's carrying the weight of the whole team. The pressure is immense," Lin Qingshan added with a sigh. "Being the leader, it's like he's destined to be sacrificed."

Gu Qianli shook her head. "Honestly, after recent chapters, I don't want Mann to die."

Mann had developed as a dependable leader, showing great care for David and not abandoning him in crucial moments. In Night City, someone who stands by their team is rare, and Mann's actions contrasted sharply with others who might betray their allies.

"Compared to the ruthless and heartless figures in Night City, Mann is definitely a good person," Lin Qingshan agreed. 

"But in Night City, even the major players end up in graves," Gu Qianli remarked, sensing a darker undertone in his words. "You wouldn't be planning to kill off the rest of the team, would you?"

Lin Qingshan hesitated, then asked, "Would you like a spoiler?"

Gu Qianli took a deep breath and decided, "Just tell me this one thing—Lucy won't die, right?"

She wasn't worried about David's fate, as male protagonists in male-oriented manga rarely meet their end.

Lin Qingshan gave a thumbs-up with a smile. "You don't need to worry about that. Lucy will definitely survive."

"That's a relief," Gu Qianli said, visibly easing up. "Okay, you don't need to say anything more."

As long as the heroine was safe, she could handle the rest.

(End of Chapter)