Before Qi Ningze could manage to say anything further in his own defense, he heard Yang Le’an speak up on his own accord: “Flirting around like this won’t do, Qi Ningze. Tell me honestly, whom do you like more?”
Qi Ningze hadn’t expected Yang Le’an to ask such a question. He lowered his head. “I…”
He wanted to say that he didn’t harbor romantic feelings for anyone, including the person standing right in front of him.
Inside his mind, the System frantically reminded him: “Don’t forget your current persona. Right now, you’re supposed to be harboring a secret crush on Yang Le’an.”
Swallowing back the words he had just been about to say, Qi Ningze mumbled softly, “I only like you…”
His voice was so quiet that Yang Le’an nearly mistook it for a mishearing.
Yang Le’an’s movements softened. Shifting his gaze away nervously, he asked shyly, “What did you just say? Repeat what you said.”
This time, Yang Le’an heard it loud and clear Qi Ningze had said it with his own lips: “I only like you.”
Suddenly seeming to recall something, Yang Le’an rushed to cover Qi Ningze’s mouth with his hand. “Don’t say it, don’t say it anymore.”
Qi Ningze blinked, carefully observing the expression on Yang Le’an’s face.
Since they were still in the early stages of the plot, not every protagonist shou was born a homosexual; he sincerely hoped his confession today wouldn’t cause Yang Le’an to despise him.
Hearing Yang Le’an tell him to stop, Qi Ningze lowered his head in disappointment, his gaze gradually losing its luster as he pressed his lips together in stubborn silence.
Yang Le’an gently kissed Qi Ningze’s cheek, a subtle light flashing in the depths of his eyes as he coaxed him: “I didn’t say I hated you, so don’t be sad.”
Qi Ningze felt a slight tingling sensation where he had been kissed.
Feeling that soft touch, the desire in Yang Le’an’s heart deepened even further. Forcibly suppressing his impulses, he murmured: “Go to sleep. Goodnight.”
When Qi Ningze arrived at school the next day, he discovered something unusual inside his desk drawer it had been neatly tidied up by someone.
Tucked inside the drawer was a steaming-hot breakfast packaged in a pretty pink box.
The moment Qi Ningze popped the box open, a rich, fragrant aroma wafted out.
Staring at the package in his hands, Qi Ningze quietly asked the System: “Who on earth sent this?”
The System was practically ready to burst from anger, bewildered that despite its host’s absolute denseness, a girl actually still liked him.
The System stated with displeasure: [It’s that Zhang Xiaoyu girl who talked to you yesterday. Heh, you’d better remember to keep your mind on your work, kid.]
Qi Ningze glanced toward Zhang Xiaoyu’s direction. Catching his look, Zhang Xiaoyu instantly lowered her head, her exposed skin flushing bright crimson.
The System pressed on: [Are you doing this on purpose, kid? Back when she was crying, you just had to hand over a handkerchief, was that all just a calculated move to win a young girl’s heart?]
Utterly helpless, Qi Ningze whispered: “…System, you really don’t need to be so paranoid.”
At the time, he had been holding his packed lunch, intending to find a quiet, secluded spot on campus to eat.
To his surprise, his usual spot was already occupied: a young girl was squatting by the wall, burying her face in her hands as tears streamed down continuously.
She was soaked all over, and her body even bore signs of having been physically assaulted.
The moment Qi Ningze walked in, his eyes collided with Zhang Xiaoyu’s tear-reddened gaze, making things terribly awkward.
Hurriedly lowering her head to dodge Qi Ningze’s line of sight, Zhang Xiaoyu had stammered timidly, “I’m sorry, I didn’t expect anyone else to come here. I’ll leave right now.”
Feeling thoroughly awkward, Qi Ningze looked at the girl’s bruised skin, a dull ache tugging at his heart.
After a moment’s thought, Qi Ningze pulled out a clean handkerchief and handed it to her: “Um, use this to wipe up.”
Wiping her tears with a forced smile, Zhang Xiaoyu accepted the handkerchief and spoke to him in a soft voice: “I remember you, you’re my classmate. I wonder if you remember me at all.”
Qi Ningze nodded and casually sat down beside her: “Of course I remember. I’ve actually got a pretty deep impression of you.”
Zhang Xiaoyu froze in surprise, her eyes drifting in bewilderment as she pointed at herself: “You have a deep impression of me?”
Following that, she let out a self-deprecating chuckle: “To think someone actually remembers me. I always thought I was just an invisible background character in the class.”
To her surprise, Qi Ningze turned his head to look straight at her, stating with complete solemnity: “No way, I’ve always thought you were very pretty.”
“Pretty? You think I’m pretty?” Zhang Xiaoyu’s expression instantly turned grim and icy: “Are you trying to mock me?”
Qi Ningze shook his head in a hurry, answering with absolute sincerity: “You really are pretty. Your skin is great and you never break out. And you look so nice when you smile, with those lovely, curved fox-like eyes…”
He listed off numerous details both the subtle beauty discovered through ordinary moments in life and the striking impact of being genuinely captivated.
Zhang Xiaoyu listened intently. For the very first time in her life, she learned from someone else’s mouth that she possessed such wonderful qualities.
Yet the more she listened, the more self-conscious she felt.
She couldn’t help asking: “Don’t you think I’m utterly useless? My grades are terrible, no matter how hard I study I can never beat anyone else and I’m always the target of bullying in class.”
Mentally, Zhang Xiaoyu added a quiet afterthought: Just like you. Yet somehow, despite them both being frequent targets of bullying, she felt as though Qi Ningze was different from her.
If she had to pinpoint the difference, it was that Qi Ningze still radiated a vibrant, enduring vitality and a deep longing for life.
Qi Ningze lowered his gaze slightly, his heart cooling down before filling with an infinite sense of melancholy.
To him, this world was merely a task environment; but to the young girl before him, this was the genuine, flesh-and-blood reality of her lived existence.
The girl before him looked utterly drained of blood, her eyes devoid of light—as if layers of living skin and flesh had been stripped away by force.
Wanting to offer comfort yet lacking any eloquence, Qi Ningze could only offer clumsy words: “Managing to keep living hard and struggling onward is a form of courage in itself. Anyone who persists in living possesses strength and that’s more than enough.”
Amused by his words, Zhang Xiaoyu let out a genuine smile and vigorously wiped away her tears: “You’re right. Just being able to keep living is already an incredible achievement.”
Ever since that day, Zhang Xiaoyu began watching Qi Ningze either intentionally or unintentionally.
She found herself subconsciously focusing all her attention on him, carefully noting every expression and tiny gesture he made, taking daily delight in observing him without ever growing tired of it.
Occasionally, Zhang Xiaoyu would sense another covert, hidden gaze fixed on Qi Ningze as well; but the moment she realized whose gaze it was, a chilling numbness would creep over her entire body.
I have to do something to take back my romance!
Realizing who had sent the breakfast, Qi Ningze sighed and conscientiously finished every last bite.
As time ticked by, afternoon physical education class rolled around.
Because Yang Le’an’s P.E. teacher had matters to attend to, he had asked Qi Ningze’s P.E. teacher to cover for him, resulting in both of their classes sharing the sports period today.
When their paths crossed, Yang Le’an flashed Qi Ningze a smile, though he didn’t initiate a greeting.
When break time finally arrived, Qi Ningze went looking for Yang Le’an, only to find a male student blocking his path.
Standing before Yang Le’an, the boy stammered awkwardly: “Umm… hello, classmate Yang Le’an. The weather is really nice today, don’t you think?”
Sporting his usual practiced, artificial smile, Yang Le’an replied smoothly: “Classmate, is there something you need? It’s better to be direct if you have business.”
What an idiot. Can’t he get lost already?
Staring at Yang Le’an’s handsome, sunny countenance, the boy’s face flushed a deeper red as he asked: “Classmate Yang Le’an, do you know about homosexuality?”
Connecting the dots from the boy’s expression, Yang Le’an instantly deduced what he was after.
His smile turned even more artificial, tinged with a distinct layer of aloof distance: “Classmate, personally I neither like nor oppose homosexuality; I support freedom in romance.”
Breathing a sigh of relief and emboldened by the answer, the boy pointed at himself and pressed further: “Then what do you think of me? Classmate Yang Le’an, have you ever considered being with me?”
Hiding in the shadows, Qi Ningze didn’t dare make a sound; yet Yang Le’an had spotted him long ago, even sparing a brief, amused glance in his direction.
Turning back to face the boy after that glance, Yang Le’an’s expression grew even more detached.
Yang Le’an: “Sorry, classmate, I’m not interested in you, nor do I have any intentions of dating right now.”
Clearly unwilling to give up, the boy persisted: “Then what kind of person do you like? What sort of personality? I can change, until you like me back.”
Such self-righteous and overly affectionate remarks disgusted Yang Le’an.
A look of cold indifference surfaced on Yang Le’an’s face as he widened the physical distance between them: “Sorry, classmate, no matter how much you change, you’re still not my type.”
Pricking up his ears to eavesdrop, Qi Ningze figured that if he could learn the protagonist gong’s ideal type straight from the protagonist shou’s mouth, perhaps future missions would become significantly easier.
Noticing Qi Ningze’s earnest expression, a flash of amusement danced deep within Yang Le’an’s eyes before he turned to answer the boy seriously: “If you’re asking about my type, personally, I prefer someone innocent and cute.”
“Someone kind-hearted and empathetic, who even names the pieces of furniture around their house.”
“Someone who stays obediently at home waiting for me to cook dinner when it’s time to eat. Ideally, they’d make a happy, blissful face while eating…”
Yang Le’an rattled off a long list of traits. The further he listened from afar, the more wrong Qi Ningze felt about the description.
Quietly muttering to the System, Qi Ningze asked: “System, does this sound weirdly familiar to you? It feels like I’ve heard this somewhere before.”
Rolling its eyes in disdain, the System scoffed: [How could anyone possibly match all that? The protagonist shou is definitely just making things up on the spot to brush the guy off. Yang Le’an couldn’t possibly have such poor taste that he’d actually fall for someone like that.]
Yet, whether due to his own misperception or not, the System couldn’t shake the eerie feeling that the protagonist shou was actively describing its own host.