The hot-tempered guy’s face turned completely dark on the spot. Listening to Qi Ningze’s description, he sneered, “Heh, you like him that much? You have no idea, he’s a complete and total scoundrel.”
Just as he wanted to say more, someone behind him patted his back, signaling him not to continue.
The leader cast a final glance at Qi Ningze, a fleeting trace of imperceptible pity glinting in his eyes. He said, “Suit yourself. Think it over and come find us later.”
The leader let out a soft sigh in his heart. Taking money to do a job… what a pity. The kid had actually given him a rather pleasant impression.
[Congratulations to Cannon Fodder Qi Ningze for completing the task: Express Your Heart’s Feelings.]
[Rewards: One set of women’s clothing, 200 points.]
Qi Ningze: “……”
The points can stay, but the women’s clothing is really unnecessary.
Following the leader’s command, the athletes gradually dispersed, leaving only Qi Ningze standing in place, lost in thought.
According to what they said, he must have encountered today’s trouble because of his association with Yang Le’an.
If he wanted to track down the culprit behind the scenes, he would have to try participating in the festival activity the athletes mentioned earlier.
Qi Ningze silently cheered himself on, collecting his thoughts before sprucing himself up so he wouldn’t look too disheveled.
Walking into the classroom, all kinds of gazes landed squarely on Qi Ningze mockery, contempt, disgust, schadenfreude weighing down on him like a heavy mountain.
Qi Ningze sat down at his desk, his pretty, clear eyes gradually losing their luster, his entire posture listless.
Seeing him like this, the System couldn’t help but offer words of comfort: [It’s fine, it’s fine. Just work hard to become a supporting character, and these minor setbacks really won’t mean a thing.]
Qi Ningze asked sorrowfully: “Then when will these days ever end? It’s so hard constantly getting targeted for no reason at all.”
Recalling the cannon fodder training he had undergone previously, Qi Ningze’s mind gradually settled.
He believed he would eventually see light at the end of the tunnel.
What Qi Ningze didn’t notice was a pair of dazed, bewildered eyes staring at him in inner turmoil.
After class ended, Qi Ningze packed up his things to head straight to Yang Le’an, only to feel a faint tugging sensation from behind.
Turning around, he saw a girl with little presence in class someone who was also frequently bullied.
Petite in stature, she kept her head lowered, looking timidly at Qi Ningze.
Nervous to the point where her breathing stiffened, she asked cautiously, “Qi Ningze, do you recognize me? I’m Zhang Xiaoyu, the girl sitting behind you to your left. I came to find you today without any bad intentions.”
With her head bowed, her fingers rubbed against each other lightly, making her look like a frightened rabbit harmless and skittish.
Though the two rarely interacted, seeing her so terrified yet seeking him out made Qi Ningze’s tone soften like fluffy cotton candy.
Qi Ningze asked, “What’s wrong, Xiaoyu? Is there something you need?”
Noticing her frightened expression, Qi Ningze guessed cautiously: “Are you getting bullied by someone? Tell me, and I’ll help you as much as I can.”
Zhang Xiaoyu shook her head repeatedly. She pulled Qi Ningze into a quiet corner of the campus, scanning the surroundings to make sure no one was around.
Only then did she finally relax, whispering to Qi Ningze: “Qi Ningze-classmate, can you try your best to stay away from Yang Le’an…”
Tilting his head, Qi Ningze knit his brows. “Why should I stay away from him? Do you like Yang Le’an?”
Hearing that, Zhang Xiaoyu stumbled back a few steps and quickly added: “No, no! Yang Le’an… how should I put it… he’s a bit eerie.”
“Eerie??” Hearing those words, the confusion in Qi Ningze’s heart grew even greater.
Zhang Xiaoyu nodded, leaning into Qi Ningze’s ear: “People who got close to Yang Le’an in the past didn’t end up well.”
Qi Ningze’s dark, clear eyes locked onto her once more, this time with a hint of hesitation in his gaze.
“Why do you suddenly say that? It might just be that I got into trouble myself, we can’t blame everything on Yang Le’an.”
Seeing that Qi Ningze wasn’t inclined to believe her, Zhang Xiaoyu grew visibly panicked, stammering as she tried to explain what she knew.
Through Zhang Xiaoyu’s words, Qi Ningze gradually learned about unknown events from the past.
When Yang Le’an first transferred here, everyone liked him after all, no one could turn down someone with top grades, good behavior, and striking looks.
However, things grew increasingly strange whenever anyone tried to get closer to Yang Le’an.
Those people would receive all kinds of threats, get beaten up for no reason on the street, or even receive death threat letters.
After briefly recounting what she knew, Zhang Xiaoyu nervously watched Qi Ningze’s expression, terrified he wouldn’t believe her.
Cold sweat trickled down her forehead and seeped into her palms, her heart beating at an accelerated rate.
Looking at Qi Ningze, Zhang Xiaoyu asked nervously, “Qi Ningze-classmate, are you willing to believe me?”
Qi Ningze nodded, then softly shared his recent experiences: “To be honest with you, I’ve also received warnings. I don’t even know who did it. Thank you for telling me all this today.”
The youth looked at her with a pair of exquisite eyes bright as a starry galaxy, gently slipping into Zhang Xiaoyu’s heart.
Her heart seemed to skip a beat before hammering like a war drum.
A flush bloomed across Zhang Xiaoyu’s face. Fiddling with her skirt hem, she didn’t dare take another look, stammering, “As long as you believe me.”
The two stood in place for a long time without saying a word. The setting sun cast a golden glow over Qi Ningze.
Mustering her courage to express her affection, Zhang Xiaoyu was interrupted as Qi Ningze spoke with a slight dilemma: “I have to head home now. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave first.”
A flash of clear disappointment crossed Zhang Xiaoyu’s face, yet she couldn’t bring herself to bother him. She said reluctantly, “Alright then, you go ahead.”
Taking a few steps after turning around, Qi Ningze heard a faint voice from behind.
“Um, thank you for handing me that handkerchief the other day… thank you…”
Qi Ningze paused briefly, the evening breeze carrying his reply back to Zhang Xiaoyu:
“It’s nothing, you’re welcome.”
As Qi Ningze’s figure shrank into the distance, Zhang Xiaoyu’s expression grew increasingly dejected.
Once he vanished from sight, she carefully pulled a handkerchief from her pocket, clutching it tightly in her hand.
Upon returning home, Qi Ningze lay on his bed with a blank mind, muttering to himself: “How am I supposed to face Yang Le’an later? So hard, so hard, sigh…”
The more one dreads something, the more inevitable it becomes. With a crisp click, Yang Le’an pushed the door open, holding a bowl of porridge in his hand.
Looking up, Qi Ningze noticed the exhausted expression on Yang Le’an’s face, as if something unknown had transpired.
Yang Le’an stared at him without a smile, his expression unusually flat and cold a calm before the storm replacing his usual gentle, handsome demeanor.
Handing the porridge to Qi Ningze, Yang Le’an remarked, “Time to eat. I called you several times just now, but you didn’t answer. What were you thinking about so intently?”
Taking the porridge, Qi Ningze used the bowl and utensils to shield his expression.
Facing Yang Le’an in this state, he felt like an innocent little lamb about to fall into a wolf’s jaws.
Once the porridge was finished, Qi Ningze yielded to his fate, stammering: “Ah, nothing much, just thinking about some school stuff.”
Yang Le’an stared at him, causing Qi Ningze to blink repeatedly, a look of pure innocence gracing his handsome face.
So foolish the signs of lying are so obvious.
At that thought, a playful urge rose within Yang Le’an, and he threatened, “I heard some news about you today. Do you want to know what it is?”
“Huh?” Qi Ningze’s thoughts turned into a jumbled mess, a blush creeping over his cheeks.
Yang Le’an stepped closer covertly, a subtle possessiveness in his eyes that he hadn’t even noticed himself.
Reaching out to gently trace the contours of Qi Ningze’s face, the desire in his eyes blazed even hotter, the glint in his pupils far more intense than usual.
“Someone told me that you had a secret rendezvous with Zhang Xiaoyu today, and some even say the two of you have been together for a long time.”
“Qi Ningze, can you tell me whether this is true or false?”
Yang Le’an’s deep voice held a raspy edge that set one’s heart fluttering.
Leaning backward, Qi Ningze revealed his fair neck with a seductive hint of blue veins—a sight that caused Yang Le’an’s heart to quiver.
His slender fingers slowly traced down to Qi Ningze’s neck, carrying a searing heat that left Qi Ningze feeling dizzy.
Qi Ningze’s Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily, a tearful tone entering his voice as the corners of his eyes turned red: “Don’t stand so close to me, back off a little…”
Yang Le’an let out a cold laugh, his grip tightening. “Why should I back off? Qi Ningze, do you really have something going on with her, huh?”
Frightened by his action, Qi Ningze trembled, his breathing turning heavy. “No, you’ve misunderstood…”
The cannon fodder persona I’m playing likes Yang Le’an, how could I possibly like Zhang Xiaoyu?
Qi Ningze’s dependent, helpless posture secretly satisfied Yang Le’an’s inner desire for control.
Yet Yang Le’an possessed a wicked streak. Wrapping his arm around Qi Ningze’s waist, he leaned into his ear and murmured, “You really say one thing and mean another.”
“An eyewitness said the two of you were standing extremely close almost about to kiss.”
Recalling the scene described by others, an inexplicable fire of rage ignited in Yang Le’an’s heart.
Sneaking around behind my back during the day to confess to me in front of everyone, only to hide in a dark corner at night whispering secret love words to another girl.
Qi Ningze, you’re really something.