Zhu Tong, born into a wealthy family, is a pampered young master suffering from severe illness and obsessive cleanliness, so much so that he often coughs up blood. On the day before he is supposed to die, he inexplicably binds to a system.

The system reveals that he is a cannon fodder villain in a BL novel, suffering the consequences of humiliating the male lead. To survive, he must find the only character in the story who isn’t infatuated with the male lead and raise their favorability to a maximum.

To achieve this, Zhu Tong transfers schools. His new school is located in a remote county with shared dormitories and a cafeteria serving communal meals, and the teaching building only has one public restroom.

Zhu Tong: In order to survive, he endures!

Shao Ming is the school tyrant at Gongshui County No.1 High School, a down-and-out young master abandoned by his family. He has a deep disdain for pampered rich second-generation kids. To his surprise, Zhu Tong becomes his desk mate.

On their first day of meeting, Shao Ming’s obvious disdain is clear. Shao Ming scoffs internally: “Another spoiled young master who can’t fend for himself.”

Later, due to an inadvertent remark from Shao Ming, Zhu Tong ends up eating in the cafeteria, resulting in a stomach hemorrhage that sends him to the hospital that night.

Shao Ming: …

The delicate Zhu Tong is then taken back home by Shao Ming.

To complete his mission, Zhu Tong decides to cook breakfast for Shao Ming but ends up oversleeping.

In the kitchen, Shao Ming is frying eggs in casual shorts, displaying his good physique. Zhu Tong walks in, stunned for two seconds, and then blood rushes from his nose.

Shao Ming: …

Zhu Tong wipes it away: “I swear my nosebleed is due to my illness. Do you believe me?”

Shao Ming steps closer, pinning Zhu Tong against the door frame: “Doesn’t seem very believable.”

[Darkly cunning and narcissistic school tyrant X Sickly, sharp-tongued young master]

Tags: Wealthy families, systems, transmigration, campus.

Search Keywords:

Protagonists: Zhu Tong, Shao Ming

Supporting Characters: Lu Zheyu, Cheng Chen

Others: Face-slapping, fake white lotus vs. true green tea.

Face-slapping: This is a metaphor for a situation where someone gets humiliated or put in their place, usually after behaving arrogantly or deceitfully. It often involves a dramatic reversal where someone who thought they had the upper hand is shown to be in the wrong.

Fake white lotus vs. true green tea: The “white lotus” is a term for someone who appears innocent and pure but is actually manipulative or deceitful. A “fake white lotus” refers to someone pretending to be pure while hiding their true nature. The “true green tea” refers to someone who is subtle and calculating but manages to maintain a façade of innocence. The “green tea” persona is more skillful in manipulation, usually appearing sweet and harmless on the outside while hiding cunning intentions.

One-Sentence Summary: Falling in love is impossible… or is it?

Theme: It’s good to be alive.

You can read this book, but it’s still undergoing minor edits. Rest assured, these edits won’t affect my schedule for releasing chapters. I will release 5 chapters daily at 5 AM local time (GMT +8).

If you plan to read during this editing phase, here are some key points to note:

Bai Yueguang, or White Moonlight, refers to Shao Ming.

The heartthrob protagonist or Mary Sue is Xia Yang. Generally, if you encounter terms like “protagonist,” “charming lead,” or similar, they refer to Xia Yang.

The terms “value,” “level,” “favorability,” and “affection” all mean the same thing.

Zhu Xin and Xiao Xin are the same person.

Lu Zheyu, Lao Er and Lu Lao Er are the same person.

For now, that’s all the information I have to share. If you don’t understand any part or notice any translation errors, feel free to ask or report them to me in the comments section.

This work is not mine, and all rights belong to the original author. I am only the translator of this work.

“Quick, call the doctor! The young master is coughing up blood again!”

“Bring the mouthwash!”

“Change all the bed linens!”

“Where’s the alcohol disinfectant?”

“Get the air purifier…”

In a villa in Xuancheng East District, the servants are bustling about early in the morning under the butler’s direction.

The commotion in one bedroom creates chaos throughout the entire villa.

The source of the disturbance is a pale, sickly-looking young man.

He has slightly long hair and light-colored eyes; his delicate features display a languid aura due to his lack of vitality. Dressed in pajamas that resemble a patient’s gown, he leans against the headboard, trying to regulate his breathing, which is slightly disturbed from coughing.

The servants leave the room one after another, but a few people remain around the bed.

Zhu Tong lifts his eyelids and looks at those gathered at his bedside.

His father, his stepmother who married his father after his biological mother’s death, and a slightly older half-brother brought by his stepmother are present.

Due to his sudden coughing fit, the expressions of these three vary.

His father looks worried, hesitating to speak.

His half-brother furrows his brow, his expression complex.

His stepmother’s eyes are slightly red, on the verge of tears, her gaze filled with almost overflowing concern.

The emotions are palpable.

A top-notch actress.

The Oscar should be awarded to her.

[奥斯卡 (Àosīkǎ): Refers to the Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, which are prestigious awards presented annually for excellence in cinematic achievements in the film industry.]

If it weren’t for the presence of the “system” in his mind that night of critical illness, Zhu Tong would probably never have realized the ulterior motives of this mother-son duo.

Qin Manwen and her son, Qin Junhong, have been quietly biding their time since they entered the Zhu family, never causing any disturbances.

She treats the servants generously and cares for Zhu Tong and his sister; over the years, they have shown no signs of their true intentions.

Did you think they wanted to maintain a harmonious family atmosphere?

They only seek something greater.

After Zhu Tong’s death, Qin Junhong would take advantage of the situation, playing the role of the elder brother beside Zhu Tong’s twin sister, ultimately drugging her and turning their relationship intimate.

Zhu Tong: “…”

His fists clenched.

He shot a cold glance at Qin Junhong, then looked down, saying, “I’ve already died once.”

Zhu Shoushan: “…”

Suddenly stumped.

The memory of the doctor delivering the critical illness notice just a couple of nights prior is still fresh.

Seeing that Zhu Shoushan was moved, Zhu Tong seized the moment, “In my life, I have only two regrets. One is regarding my maternal grandpa. He had only one daughter, my mother, who passed away before she could repay him. Now I…”

“What nonsense are you talking? Your illness is just temporary; you will recover eventually.”

Zhu Shoushan suddenly raised his voice, and everyone in the bedroom was taken aback.

Zhu Tong forced a smile, “It would be great if I could recover, but what if I can’t? I want to leave without regrets. I plan to send little sister to grandpa’s home, so she can fulfill our family’s duty to him on my behalf. I want to see the world myself.”

Zhu Shoushan complicatedly said, “Even so, you don’t have to go to such a remote school.”

Zhu Tong: “…”

Do you think he wants to?

But the system requires him to find someone there!

Is that even a school?

That’s his mission, related to his life!

He couldn’t explain; he could only look up at Zhu Shoushan and say, “Dad, I want to go.”

Zhu Shoushan: “……”

He had never been looked at by his son with such hopeful eyes, and Zhu Shoushan hesitated.

Beside him, Qin Junhong looked at the father and son pair, his brow furrowed even tighter.

He glanced at the young man on the bed. Previously, Zhu Tong often had conflicts with his father, but his attitude was always indifferent, usually opting for cold treatment, and it wasn’t uncommon for them to stalemate for a week.

But now… When did Zhu Tong start playing the emotional card?

He had sent his younger sister to his maternal grandfather the day before.

What did he want to do?

Sudden abnormality piqued Qin Junhong’s interest.

But soon he relaxed.

No matter what Zhu Tong wanted to do, he couldn’t let his younger sister live at their grandfather’s house forever.

Since he wanted to tire himself out and go to a rundown school, he didn’t mind pushing him along.

Seeing Zhu Shoushan lost in thought and silent, Qin Junhong stepped forward and said, “Uncle Zhu, since Tong Tong wants to take a look, why don’t you agree? I’ll have someone take care of him.”

[Zhu Tong (祝童) becomes “Tong Tong” for a more casual, affectionate tone, enhancing familiarity in the narrative.]

Zhu Tong’s gaze turned slightly cold, and when he looked up, he concealed all negative emotions, saying, “Thank you for your kindness, but my grandpa has already made arrangements.”

Qin Junhong’s expression stiffened slightly.

When Zhu Shoushan heard him mention his grandfather, his gaze paused and quickly compromised, “Since your grandpa has arrangements, then listen to him.”

Zhu Tong smiled slightly as he lowered his head.

He knew his grandfather’s name would be useful.

His grandfather was a famous business tycoon listed among the top ten on the Forbes World Rich List.

This was also the reason why Qin Manwen and her son resorted to underhanded means to obtain his younger sister.

Did they think they were worthy of being his grandfather’s grandson-in-law?

Qin Junhong’s “kindness” was not delivered; he forced a smile, “In that case, Tong Tong, you should rest well. I’ll go help you with the transfer procedures.”

As he spoke, he was about to leave when Zhu Tong suddenly called out, “By the way, big brother, the card I asked you to give to Xiao Xin the day before yesterday…”

[小莘 (Xiao Xin): The prefix “小” (Xiao) translates to “little” or “young,” indicating that this character is likely younger or a child. This name suggests a more affectionate or diminutive form, often used for younger siblings or children in a family context.]

He trailed off, enjoying the momentary loss of control in Qin Junhong’s expression.

Zhu Shoushan asked in confusion, “What card?”

Zhu Tong smiled, “It’s nothing, just the card you gave me for pocket money. The day before yesterday in the hospital, I was afraid I wouldn’t make it, so I wanted you to give the card to Xiao Xin.”

Zhu Shoushan looked at Qin Junhong again.

Qin Junhong reacted quickly, immediately putting on a look of realization: “Oh, if Tong Tong hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten. I’ve been busy with things in the hospital these past two days and haven’t had a chance to give it to Xiao Xin; it’s still in my drawer.”

He appeared calm on the surface, but inside he was panicking.

After Zhu Tong handed him the card, he secretly had someone check it; the pocket money inside was nearly ten million!

He originally thought Zhu Tong wouldn’t survive the night before, so he hadn’t mentioned the card to anyone.

After all, with Zhu Tong dead, there would be no evidence against him, and he planned to keep it for himself.

But who would have thought that someone who had been issued a critical condition notice could walk out of the hospital alive?

He never expected Zhu Tong would directly bring it up in front of Zhu Shoushan!

He found himself in a predicament.

Looking up, he saw Zhu Shoushan regarding him with an examining gaze. Qin Junhong wanted to explain but found himself at a loss for words.

Qin Manwen sensed something was off and immediately turned to say, “Junhong, what’s wrong? How could you forget something so important? Hurry up and return the card to Tong Tong…”

“No need.” Zhu Tong timely waved his hand, “That card was originally meant for Xiao Xin. Now that she has gone to grandpa’s house, it probably won’t be used. Since I gave it to big brother, let big brother keep it…”

“How could that be?” Zhu Shoushan frowned, “Your things are yours; that card contains money from your grandpa. How could someone else hold onto it?”

At this remark, both Qin Manwen and her son’s expressions changed simultaneously.

Someone else?

It turned out that in this family, they were still “someone else”!

Qin Junhong’s hands clenched tightly.

Qin Manwen, in a higher position, was turbulent inside but spoke without a hitch: “Yes, brothers should be clear about accounts. Junhong, quickly go and retrieve the card.”

Qin Junhong felt like his heart was bleeding.

Ten million!

It hurt him to no end, yet he could only comply.

When Zhu Shoushan saw Qin Junhong leave the bedroom, his expression finally improved a bit.

After instructing Zhu Tong to rest well, he took Qin Manwen out of the room.

Soon, Qin Junhong brought the card back to Zhu Tong.

Zhu Tong sprayed disinfectant on the card in front of him, causing Qin Junhong’s face to twitch with anger, yet he didn’t dare to express it.

Once the bedroom door closed again, Qin Junhong stood in the hallway, staring at the closed door, his eyes almost bulging with rage.

He thought viciously: As long as I leave A City, there are plenty of ways to kill you!

By then, the Zhu family will be mine, Zhu Xin will be mine, and their grandfather’s wealth will also be mine!

As footsteps faded outside, and the room quieted down, Zhu Tong couldn’t help but curl his lips.

Who is brother with whom?

A card with a balance of ten million can be forgotten? Isn’t he afraid it will burn him?

If it were the past, he wouldn’t have let Qin Junhong feel so humiliated.

But now, that mother-son duo can forget about taking advantage of him!

If it weren’t for his fragile health, he would want to kick Qin Manwen and her son out of the house right now!

At present, ensuring his survival is of utmost importance.

“System.”

He spoke within his mind.

A “ding” sound echoed in his head. “System No. 666 at your service. Have you made your decision, host?”

“…”

Two nights ago, the system had informed him that the world he now resided in was actually part of a book, a popular heartthrob protagonist BL novel, and that he was merely a cannon-fodder villain. Since childhood, he had been plagued by illness, and his only purpose in the story was to oppose the heartthrob protagonist, providing the “seme” characters opportunities to come to the heartthrob protagonist’s rescue.

[萬人迷 (wàn rén mí): Mary Sue: heartthrob protagonist]

[In the context of the text, “Mary Sue” refers to an idealized character, often overly perfect and lacking in realistic flaws, who attracts admiration from others. This character archetype typically appears in romantic genres, including Boys’ Love (BL) novels, where they often serve as the object of affection for multiple characters. In this narrative, the term underscores the contrast between the protagonist and the “Mary Sue,” highlighting the struggles and dynamics within the storyline.]

[“Seme” is translated in Chinese as 攻 (gōng) and refers to the dominant partner in a relationship in the context of BL (Boys’ Love), originating from Japanese. “Uke” is translated in Chinese as 受 (shòu) and refers to the submissive partner in a relationship in the context of BL (Boys’ Love), also originating from Japanese.]

According to the book’s description, he had been humiliated at a banquet while attempting to disgrace the heartthrob protagonist, Xia Yang. This event had led to his downfall, fulfilling his role as cannon fodder. A few days later, he would be admitted to the ICU.

He remembered that plot well.

A week ago, at the Xia family’s charity banquet, he had encountered Xia Yang, who had accidentally spilled red wine on him.

Due to his mysophobia, he had declined Xia Yang’s frantic attempts to help wipe the wine off.

He had merely stepped back when Xia Yang reached out and had turned to leave as Xia Yang apologized… How was that humiliating the heartthrob protagonist?

Was it simply because of his cold demeanor, which had inadvertently hurt Xia Yang’s fragile self-esteem?

Was it because he was a villain that he was destined to be sent to the ICU?

Was it because the heartthrob protagonist was a “Mary Sue,” and anyone who opposed him could not even survive?

Perhaps even the heavens found the plot absurd, so they had given him a system to save himself.

Zhu Tong said, “I’ve decided. What must I do?”

The system replied, “You have one year. Within that time, you must find the heartthrob protagonist’s Bai Yueguang and gain their full affection. Based on the favorability points, the system will provide rewards. If the favorability score falls into the negatives, the host will die instantly.”

[白月光 (bái yuè guāng): White Moonlight]

[In the context of the text, “White Moonlight” refers to an idealized love or unattainable dream that one yearns for. It symbolizes the concept of a first love or a pure, ethereal love that is often seen as perfect and beyond reach. In many narratives, including romantic and Boys’ Love (BL) stories, the “White Moonlight” serves as a benchmark against which other relationships are measured, emphasizing the protagonist’s desires and emotional struggles.]

Zhu Tong asked, “…What are the rewards?”

“At 10% favorability, you can leave the ICU.”

“At 30%, you can avoid minor illnesses and accidents.”

“At 50%, major illnesses such as lung and heart diseases will be cured.”

“At 80%, you will have a robust and healthy body immune to all diseases.”

“At 100%, the host will receive the system’s ultimate reward.”

“…”

Zhu Tong’s current physical state truly lived up to the phrase “fragile as glass.”

One gust of wind and he would catch a cold. A single cough, and he would spit blood.

If he fell, he would break a bone. If he argued, he would have a heart attack.

He had been admitted to the ICU two days ago due to a sudden cardiac event.

Thus, these rewards were supremely tempting to Zhu Tong.

Who wouldn’t want to live if given the chance?

Who wouldn’t want to be healthy instead of being constantly ill?

Moreover, if he were to die, what would happen to Xiao Xin?

Would he allow the Qin family’s mother and son to succeed in their schemes and let his younger sister suffer a lifetime of misery?

Absolutely not!

Zhu Tong slapped the mattress forcefully. “Mission accepted!”

However, he accidentally scraped his hand on the bed’s edge, feeling a sharp sting. When he raised his hand to look… it was bleeding.

…

Two days later, at Gongshui County No. 1 High School.

Early September marked the start of the school year, and the campus buzzed with activity. People streamed in and out of the teaching buildings.

As Shao Ming arrived at the base of the building, a girl blocked his path.

Standing before him, the girl had her head bowed, her expression shy, holding a pink envelope in her hand. “Senior, I… I’ve liked you for a long time. Will you go out with me?”

“…”

Shao Ming remained composed, slightly raising an eyebrow as he asked, “What do you like about me?”

The girl froze for a moment and looked up. “I…”

“I know.” Before she could respond, Shao Ming continued, “You like my looks, right? I know I’m good-looking, but you can’t just like someone for their appearance. A beautiful girl like you wouldn’t be that shallow.”

With that, he bypassed the girl and entered the building.

The girl was left speechless.

Walking beside him, Luo Su glanced back at the stunned girl, then turned to Shao Ming and gave him a thumbs up. “Ming-ge, as cold and ruthless as ever.”

[銘哥 (Ming-ge): “Ming-ge” is a term of address that means “Brother Ming.” It is used as a sign of respect or affection towards a male individual named Ming, suggesting a friendly or familiar relationship. In the context of the text, it indicates a peer-like camaraderie among classmates.]

Shao Ming shot him a look. “Cold and ruthless? Didn’t I reject her with grace?”

Luo Su was at a loss for words.

Shaking his head, Luo Su suddenly remembered something and said, “Oh, by the way, Ming-ge, you might have a new deskmate this term.”

Shao Ming: “Deskmate?”

“Yeah, I saw our homeroom teacher assign the seats. Your new deskmate will be right next to you.”

“Oh,” Shao Ming responded indifferently. “Does Yuan Shaozhou know?”

“Of course! I’ve heard the new guy is a sickly beauty, and the girls are already spreading the news throughout the school.”

Shao Ming asked, “A sickly beauty? How beautiful?”

Luo Su shrugged. “I don’t know, but we’ll see soon enough. I wonder if Yuan Shaozhou and his group have already made their move.”

Shao Ming didn’t respond.

Yuan Shaozhou and his gang had planned to isolate Xia Yang because they were jealous of Xia Yang’s affection for Shao Ming. They had decided to make trouble for anyone who sat with Shao Ming.

Having no deskmate had given Shao Ming some peace.

But now, who would be the next unlucky person?

In the second-year science class, the arrival of a new student caused quite a stir.

“He’s really good-looking.”

“Are all the transfer students selected based on looks now? I think he’s even better looking than Xia Yang.”

“But he seems a bit pale. Is he feeling unwell?”

“Could Yuan Shaozhou and his gang have done something already? I’ve never seen anyone last more than a week as Shao Ming’s deskmate.”

“He’s been standing motionless by his desk for two minutes. What is he looking at?”

Dust.

Zhu Tong had come to find someone, but before he could, he encountered a major challenge.

He, Zhu Tong, a pampered young master of the Zhu family in City A, had always lived in an environment where the cleaning standards matched those of a five-star hotel.

It was his first time seeing what dust looked like.

And it was a thick layer covering the table.

He silently stared at the dust for a long time before finally admitting defeat with a long sigh. He took out his weapons—alcohol, disposable gloves, and a cloth—from his canvas bag.

Cleaning a desk was not a problem for Zhu Tong.

At home, when he didn’t want the servants frequently entering his room, he would occasionally clean up himself.

Although a task that others could finish in half an hour often took him several times longer to complete.

But it didn’t matter, he had plenty of free time anyway.

Everything was ready.

Under the watchful eyes of the entire class, he calmly put on his disposable gloves. Holding the alcohol in one hand and the cloth in the other, he began wiping down the chair he was about to sit on.

The classroom collectively gawked in astonishment at his unexpected behavior.

“Is the transfer student… always this particular?”

“He’s fully equipped, too.”

“His technique looks pretty professional.”

“He wipes in such a precise manner, it’s oddly satisfying.”

The students around him whispered amongst themselves.

Zhu Tong was fully focused on his task, completely ignoring the reactions of others.

By the time Shao Ming entered through the back door of the classroom, Zhu Tong had already finished wiping the chair and was sitting on it, meticulously cleaning the desk.

He was thorough, not even sparing the edges of the desk or the gaps in the desk compartment.

The faint smell of alcohol permeated the air.

“Wow, this guy is amazing,” said Luo Su, standing next to Shao Ming. “Look, that desk is so clean you could use it as a mirror. Ming-ge, you two are cut from the same cloth!”

Shao Ming: “…”

Shao Ming, holding a phone with its screen off, was carrying a real mirror on the back of his phone case.

He raised an intrigued eyebrow.

The boy who was absorbed in cleaning the desk at that moment had his head lowered, staring intently at the surface. His facial features were delicate, with long eyelashes casting soft shadows. His skin was pale, giving him a slightly sickly appearance.

He was indeed a fragile beauty.

Shao Ming couldn’t help but smile faintly.

“Congratulations, host. You’ve gained 5% of Bai Yueguang’s favorability.”

Zhu Tong: “!”

Accompanied by a joyful tune, the system notification echoed in his mind.

Zhu Tong was utterly baffled.

How did he suddenly gain favorability points?

He lifted his head in confusion and quickly spotted the target at the back of the classroom.

It was him.

The brightest star among the crowd!

Bai Yueguang that the heartthrob protagonist longed for but could never have!

It wasn’t surprising that Zhu Tong noticed him with just one glance; after all, Shao Ming’s face stood out too much.

The system had previously informed him that Bai Yueguang, the object of desire for the heartthrob protagonist, was someone who paid great attention to his appearance.

In a sea of ordinary students with casual hairstyles, Shao Ming was dressed in a sleek, black, Korean-style short-sleeved shirt, the slightly open collar exuding both restraint and temptation. Even his hairstyle was carefully groomed.

As the saying goes, “Clothes make the man.” His attire was already impressive, and even more so with a face that surpassed it.

[“Clothes make the man” means people judge others by their appearance.]

Others might come to school to study, but it seemed he was there to make his star debut.

Zhu Tong only glanced at him briefly before refocusing on the desk.

His reaction was calm, but the system was confused. “Aren’t you going to greet him?”

Zhu Tong replied, “It would be too deliberate to greet him now.”

“When would it not be deliberate?”

“I’ll greet him once I’ve finished cleaning the desk.”

System No. 666: “…”

For his host, hygiene took precedence over everything.

Even survival came second to cleanliness!

System 666 said, “Aren’t you curious where the favorability came from?”

Zhu Tong paused while spraying alcohol on the edge of the desk. After a moment’s thought, he said seriously, “It’s probably mutual admiration between handsome guys.”

System 666: “…”

The system was speechless.

Because Zhu Tong was right.

Shao Ming, after all, was a face-conscious person!

Shao Ming, who had initially stood at the door, noticed that his new deskmate was still thoroughly cleaning the desk and showed no signs of stopping. He leaned casually against the doorframe, watching with amusement.

He eyed Zhu Tong up and down, his expression unreadable.

Seeing that Shao Ming had settled by the door, Luo Su asked curiously, “Ming-ge, aren’t you going in?”

Shao Ming responded, “I’m enjoying the view here.”

Luo Su: “…”

What kind of hobby was standing at the door to observe your new deskmate?

Was Zhu Tong some kind of celestial beauty, meant only to be admired from afar?

Luo Su didn’t understand, but he didn’t care to stand watch at the door. He intended to enter the classroom.

Just as he was about to go in, the pale beauty who had been absorbed in cleaning suddenly stood up.

Zhu Tong stared for a moment at the desk he had finally cleaned, then looked around the classroom. His eyes locked onto a desk in front of him, and he walked forward.

He had been the focus of the entire class already, and now that he had moved, all eyes followed him.

The girl whose desk he had his eyes on watched as he approached, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

Finally, Zhu Tong stopped in front of her desk and politely asked, “Can I ask where you bought your desk cover?”

“…”

The girl was briefly stunned, and her mind went blank as she followed his gaze to her desk.

Many students covered their desks with protective sheets to keep them clean.

So, the transfer student had taken a liking to her desk cover?

[Having the option to buy your own desk cover is great, but back in my class, we were always required to get the same one for everyone. Sometimes they weren’t even nice, just really plain and boring.]

The girl hesitated for a moment before quickly responding, “It’s available at the first stationery store on the right side of the school gate.”

Zhu Tong nodded. “Thank you.”

After expressing his thanks, he turned and walked out of the front door of the classroom.

It wasn’t until he disappeared from the classroom door that the girl he had just spoken to let out a scream, grabbing her deskmate, “He’s really, really handsome!!”

Her startled deskmate winced. “…”

Before the deskmate could respond, the half-open front door of the classroom was suddenly kicked open. A boy with a slicked-back hairstyle like Harry Kane’s stood at the door and shouted, “Where’s the new transfer student?”

His entrance was so loud that the student closest to the door was startled. Without thinking, they responded, “He just… just left.”

The boy with the slicked-back hair glanced at the student, snorted, and then turned and left.

The classroom immediately erupted with complaints.

“What’s wrong with Yuan Shaozhao?”

“He scared the life out of me!”

“Why is he looking for the transfer student?”

“Do you think the transfer student will be in trouble?”

“He’s just a monkey ruling the mountain in the absence of a tiger.” From the back door, Luo Su chimed in, “Looks like you didn’t hit him hard enough last time, Ming-ge. Yuan Shaozhao is getting bolder by the day… What do we do now?”

Shao Ming replied calmly, “What do you mean, what do we do?”

“Save your new deskmate!”

“…”

Shao Ming looked over the railing at the school gate for a moment, then withdrew his gaze. “No need, let them handle it.”

That sickly pretty boy might dress low-key, but he’s wearing nothing but designer brands.

If Yuan Shaozhao wants to make trouble for the transfer student, who knows who’ll end up suffering.

Luo Su: “…”

“You’re really cold-hearted.”

To be so indifferent even to a fellow “kindred spirit.”

Shao Ming smiled at him.

Luo Su straightened his back and gestured forward, “After you.”

Shao Ming nonchalantly walked into the classroom.

Outside the school gate, Zhu Tong had just left when a wave of mixed food smells from various street vendors—cold noodles, grilled skewers, and spicy potatoes—hit him, causing his stomach to churn.

He struggled past several food carts and made his way to the stationery store his classmate had directed him to. After buying two rolls of desk cover paper, he received a call from his maternal grandfather.

“Did you get everything sorted?”

Zhu Tong answered the phone, “Yes, everything’s done.”

Maternal grandfather: “Did you bring all your medicine?”

Zhu Tong: “I brought it.”

But it’s useless anyway.

With a villain’s aura hanging over him, unless the root cause is fixed, no amount of medicine will work.

But to ease his maternal grandfather’s mind, he still packed everything.

After a brief silence, his maternal grandfather avoided asking the difficult questions and said, “If you run into any problems, talk to your principal.”

Zhu Tong replied, “Okay.”

“If you need to go anywhere, call Uncle Liu, and he’ll pick you up.”

“Okay.”

“If you encounter any trouble, let your aunt handle it for you.”

“Okay.”

“…”

The call fell silent again.

Zhu Tong paused and asked, “Grandpa, how is Xiao Xin?”

He hadn’t explained the reason when he abruptly sent her to his maternal grandfather’s house, and his younger sister hadn’t called him once since.

She’s probably sulking.

As he thought about it, a young girl’s voice came through the phone, “Stupid brother, don’t talk to me for three days!”

“Beep… beep…”

Zhu Tong: “…”

The call was disconnected.

It was only natural for his younger sister to be mad—he had kept everything from her and transferred schools behind her back.

What surprised Zhu Tong was his maternal grandfather’s attitude.

His grandfather was a sharp man, and it must have been obvious that transferring to such a remote town wasn’t just “to see more of the world.”

But his maternal grandfather hadn’t asked a single question.

Instead, he had thoughtfully arranged everything for him.

… When this is all over, Zhu Tong would explain everything to his maternal grandfather properly.

After ending the call, Zhu Tong noticed several unread messages on WeChat.

[微信 (wēi xìn): WeChat]

[Explanation: WeChat is a widely-used Chinese messaging, social media, and mobile payment app. It serves as a major communication platform in China, much like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger in other countries.]

The first one was from his father.

—Call me when you’re free.

Zhu Tong stared at the chat box for a moment, then exited without replying.

To be fair, Zhu Shoushan hadn’t been bad to him or his younger sister.

They lived comfortably, and he frequently checked in on them. He even remarried Qin Manwen to ensure they had better care.

But Zhu Tong didn’t think there would be anything meaningful to say in a call with a father who was too busy to even meet him after he transferred schools.

So he pretended not to see it and kept scrolling through his messages.

The famous actor Mr. Huang once said, “When you become famous, everyone around you is kind.”

Likewise, as one of his maternal grandfather’s two direct heirs, after the news of his transfer broke, there were plenty of people rushing to show concern.

Skimming past a slew of messages from “relatives” he couldn’t remember, Zhu Tong opened one from a familiar contact.

Cheng Family’s Silly Boy: Heard you ran away from home right after getting out of the ICU?

Cheng Family’s Silly Boy: You’re hardcore!

Cheng Family’s Silly Boy: Such a thrill-seeker!

Zhu Tong: …

What runaway?

Who would willingly seek thrills?

Just as he was about to reply, a giant obstacle appeared in front of him.

“Are you the new transfer student?” a voice asked.

Zhu Tong looked up and saw a boy with a slicked-back hairstyle.

As their eyes met, the system promptly provided him with the individual’s personal information.

It turns out that one really shouldn’t use their phone while walking; not only is it easy to trip and fall, but you might also run into an idiot.

Yuan Shaozhou, one of the admirers of the heartthrob protagonist in the original text.

The newcomer did not seem friendly.