After a prolonged silence, Qiao Man realized she really couldn’t indulge his tangents, or the conversation would spiral into chaos.
“…Can we focus on the actual matter? Since you don’t know this is a novel, why would you go confess to the female lead like a male supporting character?” she cut straight to the point.
“Because I’m following the plot.” This time, Jiang Sui didn’t beat around the bush, giving her a direct answer.
Qiao Man was astonished: “The plot? You’ve never read this novel, how could you…”
Before she could finish, a line of text suddenly appeared in her mind—
[Hello Qiao Man, welcome to the world of love. Please diligently follow the entire plot from now on. As a reward, when the ending arrives, you will be returned to your own world, at the exact time and location before your transmigration. (The above is the welcome message and will not reappear.)]
[At the library entrance, bumped into by Gu Hantian, the architecture books in your arms scatter across the ground. Among them, “Chinese Ancient Temple Caisson Appreciation” catches his attention.]
“I don’t know how it happened either. On my first day here,” Jiang Sui pointed to his head, “this suddenly appeared with text saying that as long as I complete the plot, I can return to my own world. Then it inexplicably told me to go buy cigarettes at a convenience store.”
Qiao Man blinked. The first segment in her mind had already vanished, but the second one remained, stark black text against a white background.
“So you went to buy cigarettes?” she asked.
Jiang Sui glanced at her: “I called the police and went to the hospital for a brain CT scan.”
Qiao Man: “…” That made perfect sense.
“Then I discovered this isn’t the real world, and I’ve become another Jiang Sui.”
Qiao Man hummed in acknowledgment: “You became the male supporting character.”
Jiang Sui: “The body is still mine, just a few years younger. But my identity changed—family, friends, social connections, all transformed.”
Qiao Man nodded: “What happened after that? Did you buy the cigarettes?”
“Yeah. If I didn’t go, those words would just stay in my head, annoyingly persistent.”
Without her asking further, Jiang Sui leisurely continued, “But even after going several times, the text still didn’t disappear. It kept reminding me to go to the convenience store until the last time, when I met Bai Xingyu there. Then the text changed to more specific plot points and dialogue.”
“That was the male supporting character’s first meeting with the female lead,” Qiao Man explained.
At this, Jiang Sui couldn’t help but complain: “She was eating oden at the time. The plot made me stare at her for thirty seconds, then chase after her car frantically in the rain after her driver picked her up. I thought it wanted me to snatch her unfinished daikon radish, but it turned out to be a love-at-first-sight scenario.”
“…What kind of brain-dead plot would make you steal someone’s half-eaten radish?” Qiao Man was speechless.
Jiang Sui shrugged: “Anyway, after completing that part, the text disappeared.”
“Then what?” Qiao Man pressed.
“Then soon enough, new text appeared, still telling me to go to the convenience store. Again and again, several times, until yesterday when there was finally a new plot—which was worse than going to the convenience store.”
Hearing this, Qiao Man recalled that exact segment from the original novel.
The male supporting character fell in love with the female lead at the convenience store and afterward often lingered there, but never saw her again.
Until the day before school started, when the male supporting character was looking up information at school, he discovered the female lead’s student council records, which led to the confession on the first day of school.
Everything matched the “plot” Jiang Sui had described.
“The reason you haven’t seen the plot yet might be because your character hasn’t appeared in the book.” Jiang Sui looked up, his gaze settling on her face flushed from the heat. “Since we’re both transmigrators, I’ll give you another tip.”
Qiao Man wiped the sweat from her face. “What is it?”
“Plot prompts usually appear in your mind ten minutes in advance. Although most plot points can be flexibly completed within a time frame as long as they’re not specified to an exact moment, I advise you to make all preparations within those ten minutes and complete the task in one go if possible.”
After speaking, Jiang Sui paused for a moment before adding, “Even if it’s not for returning to the real world.”
Qiao Man: “Why?”
“Because if you miss the plot, you’ll have bad luck and face a lot of trouble.”
Qiao Man: “…”
Jiang Sui explained leisurely: “For example, after I received the first plot prompt, I didn’t go to the convenience store immediately. Going several times later didn’t work either. It wasn’t until Bai Xingyu came to the convenience store again and happened to eat oden that I barely managed to complete the first plot. If she never came to the convenience store again before the next plot arrived, I guess the task would have failed.”
Qiao Man nodded: “If you miss the timing of the plot occurrence, other characters’ actions become unpredictable, making it indeed troublesome to complete the task later. But what does that have to do with the bad luck you mentioned?”
Jiang Sui: “After missing the plot for the first time, I lost a phone, my computer broke three times, my clothes tore inexplicably, I got caught in the rain, and my newly bought headphones were ruined by the rain before I could even use them.”
Qiao Man silently met his gaze.
Jiang Sui: “?”
Qiao Man turned and walked away.
“Where are you going?” Jiang Sui lazily raised his voice.
Without looking back, Qiao Man replied: “The library!”
The library was separated from Zhi Xing Lou by five teaching buildings, two cafeterias, and an artificial lake that was neither aesthetically pleasing nor practical.
By the time Qiao Man ran breathlessly to the library, she had perfectly missed the ten-minute plot preparation time.
From the chattering passersby at the library entrance, she learned that the male lead Gu Hantian had left two minutes ago.
“Gu Hantian is really so handsome!” Passerby One exclaimed excitedly.
Passerby Two immediately agreed: “Yeah, yeah, so handsome!”
Leaning against the wall while catching her breath, Qiao Man finally calmed her breathing only to see her white sneakers gaping at her with what seemed like mocking grins.
She: “…”
“Starting to have bad luck,” said Jiang Sui, who had followed her at some point, glancing at her shoes. “But you don’t need to be too nervous. I’ve studied this—there’s no life danger, at most you’ll lose some money.”
Lose. Some. Money? Qiao Man, who had no money to lose, looked up coldly. Jiang Sui, who had followed to watch the spectacle, straightened up slightly.
“Did you get a phone card?” she asked.
Jiang Sui: “Yes.”
“Registered it?”
Jiang Sui: “Not yet.”
The campus cards were uniformly processed and activated by the school. Students purchased them at a very low price and then went separately to the service center to register them.
It was the first day of school. Jiang Sui had bought the card but hadn’t had time to register it yet.
Hearing Jiang Sui’s answer, Qiao Man reached out her hand toward him. Jiang Sui silently handed her his phone.
“Do you know the male lead’s phone number?” Jiang Sui raised an eyebrow slightly.
Without looking up, Qiao Man typed rapidly while speaking at breakneck speed: “I saw it at the academic affairs office earlier.”
After sending the message to the male lead, she saved her own number before returning the phone to Jiang Sui.
The screen remained on the message interface. Jiang Sui casually glanced at it—
Him: Gu, you dog, I’ve had enough of you. Dare to meet me at the library?
188********: Who are you?
Him: None of your business who I am. I’m waiting at the library right now. Come if you’ve got the guts. If not, you’re a coward.
188********: Are you insane? Get lost.
Him: You @# crazy $%^&% I’m done with this #& stop acting like some young master @#￥%… bastard!
188********: Wait there. I’m coming now.
Jiang Sui silently put away his phone, watching the noble and aloof yet foul-mouthed queen across from him. Uncharacteristically speaking up for a stranger, he said: “Someone who comes to the library on the first day of school will likely return frequently. You didn’t need to risk provoking him—just waiting for his next visit would have sufficed.”
Wait? She’d love to wait, but her financial situation didn’t permit it.
Qiao Man snorted coldly and strode toward the library without looking back: “I’m going to borrow books. Send me a message when he arrives.”
The male lead Gu Hantian had just left the library and was probably still nearby.
Not daring to waste time, Qiao Man rushed into the library and headed straight for the architecture section, quickly searching for “Chinese Ancient Temple Caisson Appreciation.”
Gu Hantian had loved ancient architecture since childhood, particularly mortise and tenon structures. Though family pressure had forced him to study economics, he never abandoned this research interest.
This was precisely why, when he first met the female supporting character, her carrying a book he liked left a favorable impression.
When he later discovered they were both economics students, this impression evolved into appreciation for a kindred spirit.
Thus the female supporting character entered his circle, becoming a understanding companion blooming by his side.
In any case, since she’d decided to follow the plot, this first step was crucial. Laying solid groundwork now would ensure smooth progress later.
Her cheap phone vibrated twice in her pocket. Qiao Man glanced quickly—a message from Jiang Sui: He’s coming.
She accelerated her book search, but after nearly combing through an entire shelf, she still hadn’t found “Chinese Ancient Temple Caisson Appreciation.”
Her phone suddenly started vibrating incessantly—no need to guess it was Jiang Sui urging her.
A gentle female announcement echoed through the library, reminding everyone that as it was the first day of school, not all books had been fully categorized. Some remained in temporary disorderly sections, and students finding misplaced books should bring them to the front desk for staff.
With her phone buzzing nonstop, Qiao Man searched more frantically, finally locating her target book in the last aisle.
Her pocket suddenly fell silent. She snatched “Chinese Ancient Temple Caisson Appreciation” from the shelf, grabbed a few adjacent books, and strode out with an armful, her shoes slapping so vigorously they seemed to roar.
“Miss, you haven’t checked out yet! You can’t take those!” The front desk staff called out, moving to intercept her as she marched away without looking back.
The moment Qiao Man stepped out of the library, Jiang Sui brushed past her and cheerfully blocked the staff member.
“Sorry, sis, she’s just going out to meet someone briefly and will be back to register soon.”
“But…”
“Can I stay here as collateral? Don’t worry, sis, she won’t run off.” Jiang Sui’s smile grew even more amiable, his expression perfectly pleasant, yet his body remained firmly in the staff member’s path.
Ignoring the strange looks directed at her shoes, Qiao Man hugged her books and walked briskly ahead. She had never seen the male lead before, but she recognized him instantly—
No matter how absurd the novel, the male lead was always handsome and conspicuous, a fact easily discernible.
…Especially since he was approaching with such aggressive energy, clearly ready to pick a fight.
Qiao Man subtly adjusted her breathing and walked toward him at the most natural, most casual angle.
Thud!
They successfully collided, books scattering across the ground. Gu Hantian halted, instinctively bending down to help her gather them.
The line of text in her mind vanished, replaced by a scripted dialogue.
Qiao Man had been born an emperor and had never played the role of a delicate flower in over twenty years, nor did she know how to act like one. She could only soften her voice as much as possible: “I’m sorry, are you alright?”
“I’m fine. What about you?”
Gu Hantian’s tone was cool but still polite. After picking up Chinese Ancient Temple Caisson Appreciation, his hand, reaching for the other books, abruptly paused.
It seemed she had successfully captured his attention and earned his initial goodwill.
Noticing his reaction, Qiao Man’s lips curved into an elegant smile, only to realize in the next second that his focus wasn’t on the caisson book but on the other volumes on the ground.
Qiao Man followed his gaze—
100 New Positions of Sex and Love
Enhancing Couple’s Deeply Pleasurable Foreplay Process
Skills and Methods for Selecting Single Small Toys
Why Must People Be Morally Constrained, Since People and People Can, Then People and Animals…
Qiao Man: “…”