Chapter 7: I Regret Asking About Her Past (But Not Really)

The next day, Shen Min wasn't in class.

Which was weird.

Shen Min didn't skip school. Shen Min was the reason other people didn't skip school.

I texted her.

She didn't reply.

I waited. Still nothing.

By the end of lunch break, I was standing outside the nurse's office like a confused romantic lead in a mid-budget drama.

"She left early," the nurse said. "Said she had a family thing."

Something about that bothered me.

Later that evening, I sat at home scrolling through my Regret Log like a bored immortal.

Baozi floated upside-down, blowing bubbles.

"Something's off," I muttered.

"About?"

"Shen Min. She vanished today."

"Maybe she's allergic to your personality."

"Valid. But she didn't even flex her top-student energy before leaving. That's suspicious."

Baozi shrugged. "Wanna use a regret to investigate?"

"Wait… I can do that?"

"Of course. The system rewards emotional nosiness. Especially when it's uninvited."

[NEW REGRET OPPORTUNITY]Regret: "Didn't Ask Shen Min About Her Past"Unlock Method: Confront her directlyPotential Rewards: Emotional Intel + Passive: 'Empathy Glitch – LV1'Warning: You may get punched

Two hours later, I was outside her house.

I knocked. No answer.

I waited.

Eventually, the door opened slightly.

She stood there in casual clothes, eyes red. Her hair was messy — not her usual precise braid, but soft and real.

She blinked at me. "What are you doing here?"

"I regret not checking in."

A pause.

Then she sighed and stepped aside.

Her living room was silent. No music, no books out, no bonsai. It felt… different.

"My dad's back," she said flatly. "Didn't want to talk about it at school."

I nodded, sitting on the floor beside the sofa like a house cat.

"He sucks?"

"Yeah."

"Okay."

She looked at me, a little confused. "That's it?"

"I don't need the full trauma file. Just wanted to say you don't have to handle everything alone."

Her expression flickered, just a little.

"I didn't cry," she said.

"I didn't say you did."

"I kicked a wall."

"That counts as cardio."

She snorted. "You're such an idiot."

"I know. I've got a certificate."

[REGRET CORRECTED ✅]+10 RP EarnedNew Passive: Empathy Glitch – LV1Effect: +5% intuition when people hide their feelingsRelationship Progress: Shen Min +4Title Unlocked: Almost Human

I stood to leave.

She didn't say anything, but followed me to the door.

Just before I stepped out, she muttered, "Thanks for coming."

"No problem. Next time, throw me a math problem to solve and I'll panic at your doorstep."

"Deal."

Later that night, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

I'd gained points - sure.

But this regret felt… different.

Not strategic.

Not funny.

Just real.

Baozi hovered above me silently, for once not making jokes.

"Still want to be a slacker god?" he asked.

"I do."

"Even if the cost isn't always laughable?"

I closed my eyes.

"I'm starting to understand that."

Regret wasn't just a tool.Sometimes, it was a bridge.And if I had to walk across other people's pain to get stronger…I'd do it gently.