Chapter 196: City Museum

"High City Museum..." Immediately after mentioning the name, West smiled slightly.

"...What a coincidence."

Nina frowned.

"...Don’t tell me."

"Yep."

"I’m headed there."

She paused briefly as a smile lit up her face.

"Let’s go together."

"...Wait—what?"

Cross raised his arms to protest but it was already decided.

—

As they walked, the boyfriend kept glancing at West trying to figure it out where he knew him from.

"...Wait..."

"...You’re that guy...?"

Nina rolled her eyes.

"Yes."

"That same one."

The boyfriend frowned harder.

"...No way."

He looked West up and down.

"You’re taller..."

"...More built..."

"...And—"

He stopped.

"...What’s with the moustache?"

Nina immediately cut in.

"Exactly what I was asking."

She pointed at West’s face.

"It looks ridiculous."

West smirked.

"Shush."

"It’s part of my disguise."

Nina scoffed.

"...You look like someone’s uncle."

West laughed but the boyfriend didn’t because once again, he could feel that same uncomfortable feeling from back then...

Like he didn’t belong in this conversation.

As they walked, Nina and West talked naturally like they had known each other forever while he trailed behind.

History was repeating itself once again...

West leaned slightly toward Nina.

"You look good today."

Nina blushed cutely.

"Thank you..."

"But does that mean I don’t look cute on other days? No fair..." she pouted with an adorable expression while West patted her head softly.

"That’s not what I meant..."

The boyfriend trailing behind clenched his fist as lines of frustration appeared on his forehead but he didn’t say a word.

---

[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]

+15 Cuck Points

Reason: Flirtation with partnered female in presence of partner

—

West grabbed a small piece of flower from a roadside vendor and handed it to Nina.

Nina glanced at him. "For me?"

West shrugged casually. "Just thought two beautiful things deserved to go hand in hand."

Nina blushed even harder. "Thank youu..."

She placed the flower close to her nose and displayed another cute smile.

—

[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]

+20 Cuck Points

Reason: Emotional engagement with partnered female

—

The boyfriend finally spoke up from behind.

"...Hey, Nina."

She barely glanced back.

"Yeah?"

"...We’re supposed to be going together."

She sighed.

"We are."

Sheimmediately turned back to West, not paying Cross any more attention.

"So anyway, what are you doing at the museum?"

The boyfriend’s expression tightened.

—

[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ]

+25 Cuck Points

Reason: Partner neglect in favor of host presence

—

West answered casually.

"Just visiting."

"Someone I know works there."

Nina raised a brow.

"Oh?"

"Who?"

West smiled faintly.

"You’ll see."

—

By the time they reached the museum, it seemed as though Nina was West’s girlfriend instead of Cross’

She continued to walk beside West, laughing and talking while her boyfriend kept trailing behind... just like the last time.

...

...

The museum building was massive with smooth floors and towering glass displays with soft florescent lighting that cast a warm glow over carefully curated artworks.

Paintings, sculptures, and abstract installations lined the halls with some bearing the marks of history.

West had already chatted Mei up that he was coming today so, as soon as they stepped in, she approached excitedly.

She had insisted on showing him around personally.

"Welcome to my domain," Mei said with a playful spin as her long hair swayed behind her.

West chuckled softly. "Impressive. Didn’t expect you to be this passionate about art."

She shot him a look. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"I just thought you’d be more into... chaos."

She smirked. "I can like both."

The tour continued but now, it wasn’t just about the art anymore.

Mei walked him through exhibit after exhibit, explaining pieces with enthusiasm, occasionally slipping in personal interpretations that revealed more about her than she probably intended.

West listened carefully, engaged and asked questions.

"...This one," he said, stopping in front of a large abstract painting filled with chaotic strokes of red and black, "feels like suppressed emotion."

Mei blinked.

"...That’s actually close."

He glanced at her.

"Close?"

She folded her arms lightly.

"The artist made it during a breakdown period. It’s supposed to represent internal conflict."

West nodded slowly.

"Figured."

She stared at him for a second longer than necessary.

"...You’re interesting."

West smirked faintly.

"I try."

Truth was West didn’t particularly care about art but to an extent, he understood people.

Being very introverted in the past had made him a much more attentive person compared to other people. People liked to talk but he liked to listen and observe... and one fact about those who spoke less and listened more was... they tend to be more knowledgeable.

By the time they reached the final exhibit, Mei’s initial curiosity had grown into something much more obvious.

"So," she said casually, leaning slightly closer to him, "are you always like this?"

"Like what?"

"Attentive. Observant. Saying the right things."

West glanced at her.

"Only when it matters."

Her lips curved slightly.

"...Smooth."

—

The museum lights cast a soft glow across the smooth floors as West and Mei finally made their way back toward the main hall.

Mei had been talking almost non-stop the entire time.

"And this section over here is one of my favorites," she said, gesturing lightly behind them as they walked. "The artifact pieces there were recovered from a collapsed ruin just outside the northern sectors. Some of them still emit faint energy signatures—"

She paused mid-sentence when she spotted Nina and Cross waiting near one of the exhibits.

"Oh—there they are. The friends you came with, right?"

West followed her gaze and nodded.

Nina stood with her arms folded lightly with her weight shifted onto one leg while waiting.

The moment her eyes landed on West and Mei walking side by side... her composure broke a bit.

Cross, on the other hand, looked bored, scrolling through something on his phone until he noticed them approaching.

Turned out West had separated with them when he got here to find Mei who then gave him a tour.

The couple had gotten their much needed alone time but it didn’t seem like Nina enjoyed it at all.

West stepped forward first.

"Sorry. Took a bit longer than expected."

Mei smiled lightly.

"I might have gone a little overboard with the tour."

West chuckled.

"A little?"

Nina raised a brow slightly as she stepped closer.

"And who’s this?"