Ignoring the System’s sarcastic gaze, Qi Ningze continued scribbling and sketching on the paper, pouring his heart and soul into solving the problem. His slender, delicate fingers moved rapidly across the page while gripping his pen.
Following the experiential teachings passed down by his predecessors, the methods used by cannon fodder to bully others were often simple and foolish. For instance, the simple act of writing on a desk like the one he encountered today might later evolve into placing caterpillars, mice, or cockroaches inside the desk compartments.
He would also need to be more careful when entering doorways in the future, just in case someone maliciously rigged a bucket of water overhead. Taking it a step further, would someone directly pretend to be a teacher just to prank him?
After preparing himself in advance, Qi Ningze felt much less frightened.
As Qi Ningze pondered numerous possibilities and proceeded to jot down corresponding solutions, a strange, captivating radiance blossomed within his ink-black eyes. At that moment, the System’s seal cast a faint glow once again, quietly growing even fainter and more subdued.
Awakening abruptly from his slumber, Ke Feng followed the source of the light and looked over at Qi Ningze.
The ordinarily plain and unremarkable Qi Ningze was, at this very moment, emanating an impossible-to-ignore radiance in his eyes. The glow carried a scorching temperature that set his chest ablaze, making him sit on pins and needles.
Ke Feng tried his utmost to ignore the sensation, yet it stubbornly clung to his heart, urging him to take action.
I have to do something, anything to make this feeling stop immediately, Ke Feng thought.
Standing up instinctively, he strode over to Qi Ningze and slammed his palm against Qi Ningze’s desk with all his might. The tremendous sound startled not only Qi Ningze himself, but caused the surrounding classmates to halt their leisure activities and cast furtive glances at the pair.
Frightened out of his wits while still deep in thought over his solutions, Qi Ningze trembled as he lifted his head. His pretty eyes brimmed with a watery mist, and in a voice Ke Feng thought sounded smaller than a mosquito’s buzz, he whispered: “Ke Feng-classmate, do you… need something?”
Ah, ah, ah! Is he going to beat me up right here and now?
Ke Feng felt a secret sense of astonishment at his own behavior, yet under the pressure of everyone’s watchful eyes, he felt compelled to push through.
“Let me see what you’re writing over there! Don’t tell me it’s about trying to rebel against me?” Frowning deeply, Ke Feng possessed a copper-wall-like, tanned complexion that made him tower over Qi Ningze like a solid mountain one punch from him and he could send someone crawling away unable to get back up.
Closing his eyes in terror, Qi Ningze handed over his newly written notes with trembling hands. “Here you… ah, no, no, no. For you to read.”
We’re done for, we’re done for! Is Ke Feng going to beat me up after reading this? Well, beat me if you must just as long as you don’t hit too hard.
Finding bitter amusement in his predicament, Qi Ningze figured he must be the very first person in history to get beaten up simply for writing an anti-bullying manual.
Snatching the paper straight out of Qi Ningze’s hands, Ke Feng scanned it rapidly with a frown, the aura around his entire body turning terrifyingly grim resembling a Rakshasa crawling straight out of hell.
Directing a cold yet intensely physical gaze at Qi Ningze, he growled, “You actually dare to write stuff like this? What, planning to revolt?”
“I dare not, I dare not,” replied Qi Ningze in a voice even quieter than a mosquito’s.
Right in front of Qi Ningze, Ke Feng tore the sheet of paper straight in half. “If you ever write trash like this again, I’ll break your arms.”
While his words sounded icy, his body temperature was shockingly high, and his face was flushed crimson. If not for his tanned skin, the blush would have been visible to everyone.
Why did this kid become so bewitching just after I looked away for a moment?
Lowering his tone into a deep, cello-like resonance that sounded surprisingly pleasant, Ke Feng said, “To make amends, you’re going to stick by my side every day starting tomorrow and write a poem praising me. Since you love writing so much, you should be able to sing my praises properly.”
By keeping the kid by his side, he could observe more closely whether Qi Ningze was actually gay. If he was, bullying him would only become that much more convenient.
Qi Ningze felt as though he had been struck by lightning. Staring blankly at Ke Feng, he stammered, “Huh?”
“Huh what? Unhappy about it?” Ke Feng raised an eyebrow, his gaze turning frosty.
“No, no, no. I’m happy, I’m very happy.” Qi Ningze could only nod through his tears.
Who could possibly understand? Ke Feng looks genuinely terrifying, as though he might throw a punch at any second.
“Starting tomorrow, don’t forget to seek me out,” Ke Feng reminded him.
Hanging his head like a bullied little wife, Qi Ningze replied, “Okay, okay.”
After school, Qi Ningze stood listlessly outside Yang Le’an’s classroom waiting for him, every expression on his face spelling out the words: I am unhappy.
Unable to resist, Yang Le’an stepped out and pinched his cheek, his face softening with rare gentleness and sincerity. “What’s wrong? You look so glum.”
So cute, like a little kitten.
“It’s nothing, it’s nothing. Let’s head home together.” Hesitating for a moment, Qi Ningze ultimately chose not to reveal the truth to Yang Le’an.
Brave cannon fodder, fear no difficulties! Everything is for the sake of eventually becoming a higher-level vicious supporting character.
When that time came, he could step all over the vicious cannon fodder and casually bully the weak main characters during the early stages of the story. Just imagining such a wonderful life was enough to put him in a great mood!
Fantacizing about his bright future, Qi Ningze felt even the lingering shock to his fragile heart slowly soothe away.
Noticing Qi Ningze’s reluctance to share the truth, Yang Le’an didn’t press further, though his grip on Qi Ningze’s wrist tightened just a fraction.
Following their brief moment of intimacy, Qi Ningze had to hurry off to his restaurant job.
Walking along the path, he asked the System with lingering puzzlement, “Why did you secretly tell me last night that I needed to keep clinging to the protagonist shou?”
The digital tentacles of the System, which had been playing games, instantly froze in mid-air. It replied in a aggrieved, whining tone: [That was your reward for being a good listener! You’re forbidden from bringing it up ever again! Understood?]
Qi Ningze quickly clamped a hand over his mouth and nodded obediently.
Obedient children get candy. He felt endlessly grateful to the sharp-tongued yet soft-hearted System.
Arriving at his workplace, Qi Ningze greeted everyone he met with a bright smile.
His mouth felt sweeter than honey: “Good evening, Sister Li, Brother Zhang, Sister Xu…”
Qi Ningze didn’t even forget to greet the potted aloe vera plant resting in the breakroom.
After changing into his uniform, he prepared to tackle today’s tasks with full enthusiasm, only to spot a familiar face.
Mo Yuzhu? Why is he here?
The thought of Mo Yuzhu brought a flutter of genuine pleasure to Qi Ningze’s heart. Mo Yuzhu was the very first friend he had made in this world.
Sitting by the window, Mo Yuzhu occasionally pulled out his phone, a soft smile gracing his face while a thick, syrupy sweetness shone in his eyes.
Beep, beep, beep, a crisp ringtone chimed. Eagerly opening his phone, Qi Ningze saw that Mo Yuzhu had indeed sent him a new message.
After earning money from his part-time jobs, Qi Ningze had purchased a brand-new smartphone for both himself and Yang Le’an.