Chapter 2: Youth Campus Romance (I)

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Chapter 2: Youth Campus Romance (I)

As a young man of the 21st century, Miao Lichen naturally knew what transmigration was. Having read Infinite Horror from beginning to end, and even using his knowledge of psychology to analyze the protagonist’s mental state multiple times, it was impossible for him not to know what a System was. His eyes narrowed slightly. He felt momentarily dazed before another person’s memories flooded his mind.

Miao Lichen raised an eyebrow. This once dull world now seemed to be growing more intriguing. A warm, infectious smile spread across his pale face, made even fairer by not seeing enough sun throughout the year. Even his eyes seemed to be sparkling.

∇ Your first challenge world has been loaded.

∇ Main Mission: Capture the Male Protagonist, Dongfang Yi (Favorability 100).

∇ Exam-in-Progress: You will gain the system’s recognition if you pass, but you will be annihilated if you fail. Side missions will be generated randomly, and completing them will earn you additional rewards.

∇ Capture Target Dongfang Yi Favorability: 0.

∇ Your current identity is the cannon fodder, Miao Lichen. Please complete the mission according to this character’s logic. You must not let anyone discover that you are a Love Hunter, or you will be annihilated.

∇ Your dear partner, Lovely, will serve you wholeheartedly and provide you with an omnipotent Beauty Album. I wish you a pleasant journey in this world. Please remember the system’s code of conduct: “Because of Love!”

Miao Lichen looked at the book that had suddenly appeared on his lap. It was about three centimeters thick. The cover seemed to depict him, but he wasn’t certain. Although the face was the same, everything else was different.

The man on the cover wore pink clothing, held two swords, and had white hair tied in a ponytail. This was clearly the add-on Lovely had said he would have. However, he did not feel any energy and had no idea where the Qixiu Heart Method was. Remembering that this was an exam, he roughly understood the situation. Since this was an examination, he naturally couldn’t expect any cheats. He had to rely on his own abilities to earn the system’s recognition.

His finger traced the face on the cover. He hadn’t examined himself so closely in a long time. His face did not live up to the title of the book, “Beauty Album.” He was only moderately handsome. Although the doctor’s coat added a few points to his appearance, he did not qualify as a beauty.

He amused himself briefly but quickly got down to business. His life was at stake at the moment, so everything else could be set aside. When he opened the Beauty Album, it did not contain pictures of beauties as he had expected. Instead, it held a novel titled “The Cool School Hunk and the Pretty Girl.” He was about to close the book but continued reading when he saw the protagonist’s name.

An ordinary girl named Song Qingxin won the grand prize in a lottery as though fortune had fallen from the sky. Thus, she was admitted to Imperial Noble High School with all her tuition fees waived. On the first day of school, she almost arrived late and accidentally knocked down one of the school’s two popular boys, Dongfang Yi, with her bike.

Following that was the revenge of the male lead, Dongfang Yi. However, one day he repented and realized that he actually liked the girl he had been bullying. As a result, he tried to make amends using various illogical romantic strategies.

Miao Lichen was the sacrificial character responsible for kidnapping the female lead at the right moment to advance their romance. Although he acted out of love, his actions were unforgivable in the eyes of the two main characters. Consequently, he was treated as cannon fodder and sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison.

Feeling his stomach signal hunger, Miao Lichen set the book down to find something to eat. He approached the magnifying glass in front of him and frowned at the reflection he saw. Aside from looking younger, his face was unchanged. But the muscles once hidden beneath his clothes were gone, and his body felt noticeably weaker. His face was pale, lacking any flush—an intolerable sight for a health-conscious doctor like himself.

The owner of this body was autistic. He kept his room in complete darkness. When he ate, he had to eat alone. He never went outside for sunlight or exercise either. So this physique was understandable. If this had been his own world, he would have guided this boy. But the System truly had a cruel sense of humor. It had turned a psychologist into an autistic teenager.

“Young Master, what would you like to eat today?” As soon as he descended the stairs, a man approached but remained two steps away. This was the distance the original felt safe at. It was clear the butler cared deeply for him.

“Whatever.” The voice that answered was somewhat hoarse. The mild, grating sensation in his throat caused him some pain. Miao Lichen frowned at the discomfort.

“Please wait a moment, Young Master. I will prepare something for you to eat,” the butler replied before heading to the kitchen. Miao Lichen was left alone in the large living room, where the only sound was the ticking of the clock. Such an environment could easily warp the mind, especially for someone who had once been kidnapped and no longer felt safe.

He ate the bread and milk that the butler had given him, then got into his family’s car. Miao Lichen decided to make his way to the school where his mission targets were located. Since the original’s condition had improved over the past two years, he was now able to attend school. His pale fingers idly flipped through the Beauty Album as his eyes narrowed in thought.

From the original’s memories, Dongfang Yi had already realized that he liked the female lead and embarked on a passionate pursuit that made every other girl jealous. As the heir to the school’s largest investor, he naturally wielded considerable influence. Even if he turned the entire school into his personal stage, no one would dare object.

Once his car came to a stop in front of the school, he reined in his lazy aura. Stepping out, a gloomy darkness seemed to envelop him. He was just short of a sign that read, “Ghost passing by, please make way.” He enjoyed the power to silently command everyone to make way wherever he walked. This was one trait of the original that he genuinely appreciated.

The original usually did not have such a big gloomy aura field, but today he should be extra unhappy. The girl he had liked for a long time was suddenly being courted by another man, and it was someone he couldn’t match. Feeling extra gloomy was normal. For autistic individuals, psychologists are often the ones who understand them best.

With that in mind, he ran into someone’s back, causing his aura to completely dissipate. The word “popped” flashed through Miao Lichen’s mind. He took a step back and looked up. A man turned around with a smile. According to idol novel tropes, if the person you run into isn’t the male lead, then it’s usually the supporting male lead. The man before him was clearly the supporting male lead.

∇ Side Mission: Capture the Supporting Male Lead, Lin Moxi (Favorability 100).

∇ Reward: 500 points.

∇ Points can be used to purchase props, bloodlines, weapons, and other special items.

∇ Capture Target Lin Moxi Favorability: 0.

A successful campus novel must feature a male lead who shares a love-hate relationship with the female lead, along with a supporting male lead who evokes sympathy from readers. There was an unwritten rule in romance novels: the male lead belonged to the heroine, but the supporting male lead belonged to the readers. In this story, Lin Moxi serves as the other school hottie, and the sympathy-evoking supporting male lead. He was also the female lead’s childhood playmate, making them childhood sweethearts in a broad sense.

Lin Moxi’s family background was similar to Dongfang Yi’s, and perhaps even slightly more influential. However, he was a rather low-key person, so few people knew about it. He played a significant role in helping Song Qingxin and Dongfang Yi get together.

Miao Lichen mentally recalled information about this person as he moved around him and continued forward. He paid no attention to the sudden silence around him and focused on making his way to the campus.

The smile on Lin Moxi’s face faltered slightly as he watched the boy walk away with curious eyes. At Imperial Noble High School, many sought to curry favor with him, but even more feared him. This boy had bumped into him and left without even apologizing, leaving him genuinely surprised.

∇ Capture Target Lin Moxi Favorability: 5.

Miao Lichen continued as if nothing had happened. It seemed that gaining favorability was quite easy.

“Who is that gloomy guy? He actually committed such an offense against Young Master Moxi. This is simply inexcusable.” A plain-looking girl brandished her fist as she looked at Lin Moxi with infatuated eyes. There were plenty of people fantasizing about the two school hotties.

“I think he’s from Class G.”

“Another one from Class G? That class of students without family background or talent are really annoying.”

Miao Lichen entered Class G, the worst class in the school. The first thing that stood out was that students were playing on their phones, with some even using laptops. MP4 and MP5 players were even more common. The so-called worst class was just a reputation within the school. None of the students in this class were people the teachers could afford to offend.

Finding and taking his seat, he noticed a girl in the next row deeply engrossed in a book. She was the female lead of this world, Song Qingxin. In this classroom, where no one had a deskmate, their desks were considered close. Sitting so close to her every day, it wasn’t surprising that the original owner had developed feelings for her. Among the students in Class G, a girl who still worked hard stood out like a swan among ducks.

Miao Lichen took out the Beauty Album and opened it, revealing the contents of a high-end book on the Principles of Gestalt Psychology. While he was focused on the book, a handsome boy with an arrogant smile entered the room. Upon seeing Song Qingxin, his proud expression softened.

“Qingxin, this is for you.” Dongfang Yi handed her a rose bouquet, but Song Qingxin’s expression remained flat.

“Dongfang Yi, what are you trying this time? Bringing me flowers and making me pay high prices for it? I am not like you young masters, treating money like paper you can throw around.” Song Qingxin slammed her book on the table. The once tranquil beauty transformed into a fiery force when faced with Dongfang Yi.

“I am courting you.” Dongfang Yi said, frowning, slightly displeased. But he still patiently placed the roses on her table.

“Who wants to be courted by you? A rich young master like you should go court those rich young ladies!” Song Qingxin looked at the teacher who did not dare to enter the classroom and pointed at the entrance. “Hurry up and leave, I still have class!”

“I’ve already decided to pursue you. You’ll be mine sooner or later.” Dongfang Yi smirked, unconcerned of her resistance. He turned and left, but not before telling the dawdling teacher, “You can start class!”

“Yes, today’s class will be about…” The teacher finally got to start his lecture once Dongfang Yi left.

Miao Lichen eyed the roses and went back to reading his book.

“You can have these!” Song Qingxin seemed to notice him looking at the bouquet and tossed the irksome roses to him. The moment she did, she regretted it, her eyes lingering on the bouquet. Even if she didn’t want them, she should have returned them to Dongfang Yi. Why had she given them to another man? But she was too embarrassed to ask for them back.

‘Whatever. His family has more money than they know what to do with, he probably wouldn’t care about this.’ Pushing down the feeling of unease, she did not notice her own flushed face.

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