Xu Qichen was not sure exactly when he fell asleep.
In his dreams, he was sleeping in a nice warm place, wrapped in a layer of golden sunshine-smelling straw, relaxed and comfortable.
Strange.
He had a cold body, so whenever he slept, his hands and feet were always cold.
Blearily he opened his eyes and found himself lying on his side in a hug.
Mu Yao’s right arm was stretched out and pillowed Xu Qichen’s neck. His left arm was still tied, but his left hand gently covered Xu Qichen’s cheek.
From his palm spread a steady stream of warmth.
Xu Qichen’s arm was even resting on Mu Yao’s waist.
Aside from Mu Yao’s left arm which could not be extended, this posture was an almost perfect interpretation of ‘sleeping in mutual embrace’.
Probably because he had felt cold, he naturally leant against Mu Yao in his sleep.
Like a moth to flame.
No matter what the situation, no matter how many times they met, his subconscious would repeat the same mistake again and again and be attracted without resistance.
Careful not to wake him up, Xu Qichen gently separated their hands. Then he slowly lifted the arm that was resting on him, but before he could move his head away, the other party seemed to notice his movements and subconsciously bent his straightened right arm to wrap it around Xu Qichen’s head. The large palm rested on the back of his head and his chin moved to rest on Xu Qichen’s forehead.
What should he do? He’s being hugged so tightly.
He wanted to make breakfast, but he could not escape.
Perhaps for people who are already familiar with this kind of interaction, it would be a very natural and simple thing to come out of each other’s arms, but for Xu Qichen, every move was very difficult.
His heart was thumping non-stop. He was so nervous it felt like he was trying to defuse a ticking bomb.
And it was with this nervous feeling that…
Xu Qichen fell asleep again.
When he woke up again, the first thing he saw was the shocking sight of Mu Yao’s unblinking eyes.
Looking at Xu Qichen’s completely stunned face, Mu Yao could not help grinning.
“Senior, you’re too adorable.”
Xu Qichen frowned and squinted at the bright sunlight, “En? Did… did I fall asleep again? What time is it…”
“10:30AM.” Mu Yao pouted, “I thought I would get to eat the breakfast made by you, senior.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Mu Yao was exceptionally picky. The plate of green pepper pork was right in front of him but he only ever took the pork, completely avoiding the green pepper. On the occasion that he picked up a piece of green pepper on accident, he would drop it and pick out a piece of pork instead.
“Do you hate green peppers that much?”
“En.”
Xu Qichen recalled playing Truth or Dare with his classmates in highschool. The spinning bottle seemed to have been jinxed to always point towards a certain someone, but that person never chose ‘truth’.
So he was always forced to eat a whole plate of green pepper. In the end, the game ended with him rushing to the washroom to puke.
They were really too similar.
Xu Qichen couldn’t help but smile as he put some green pepper in his mouth.
“Senior, if you don’t like it you don’t have to eat it, just leave it.”
Xu Qichen spoke with his mouth full, “But I like it ah.”
“How could anyone like it?” Mu Yao looked at him disbelievingly and watched as Xu Qichen put more in his mouth. “Fine, this is also good.”
“En?” What did that mean?
Mu Yao grinned, “Then we won’t be wasting food in the future.”
What.
He speaks as if they’re going to eat together all the time.
Xu Qichen ate another mouthful and wondered if he had added sugar instead of salt.
Strangely, it was a little sweet.
Qi Meng had helped Mu Yao apply for leave from school. Over the phone she told them that the scene at the match had caused quite a stir, so all the teachers knew about it and the process went smoothly.
Numbers 8 and 21, in the original text, were two figures like local hooligans. Their jealousy of Mu Yao’s popularity in the school led them to retaliate against him. They often showed off their strength in their own department and were violent against their classmates.
This volatile behaviour would lead to many troubles later.
Xu Qichen glanced at Mu Yao, who was distractedly watching a variety show, and entered his room. He turned on the computer and logged into the school forum.
As expected, there was such a hot topic on the first page:
[Are interschool basketball competitions life-endangering now? Does the school not care about the violent foul that sent a player straight to the hospital?]
Xu Qichen had already known that given Mu Yao’s popularity amongst the girls in the school, there would definitely be an admirer who would make a post to complain about this.
The replies were mostly people who were upset on Mu Yao’s behalf and others who were scolding the Physics department team.
But this is not enough.
Xu Qichen anonymously made a new post.
[Is no one commenting on the Physics team’s performance yesterday? Numbers 8 and 21 were too awesome ba, I’m a fan! Purely the point of view of a straight man, those who don’t understand basketball please do not enter.]
Even though this title is horribly shameless, he had to play the Devil’s advocate to throw Numbers 8 and 21 into the eye of the storm of the crowd’s anger, so that they would be the centre of discussion instead of Mu Yao.
0901’s voice suddenly appeared: “Mr. Xu, I see you have not lost the online marketing experience you gained in the last world. You’re truly putting what you have learnt to good use.”
Is this supposed to be a compliment…?
As expected, the moment he made the post, it attracted countless replies.
Many scolded him, but even more were scolding Numbers 8 and 21.
[OP is definitely an idiot. Numbers 8 and 21 do indeed have unparalleled skill — lashing out in jealousy just because the opponent’s centre is more skilled than them. How can anyone praise this kind of sportsmanship?]
[I was in the audience yesterday. Numbers 8 and 21 are truly disgusting. How many unsightly moves did they make the entire match? They probably wouldn’t have stopped until the opponent was disabled.]
[Hard to tell if they’re playing ball or beating people. I really want to form a team to beat 21 up!]
[This pair of human scum has tainted the sport that is basketball.]
No, it’s still not enough.
Xu Qichen replied anonymously, [There’s no point in discussing skills, but their physical capabilities are truly something else. Logically, anyone would be exhausted by the end of the match, but these two were breathing evenly even up to the point when the opponent was down. Isn’t this level of fitness heaven-defying? I’m impressed!]
After this reply was posted, it incited another large wave of reactions.
With him carrying the rhythm, everyone’s attention was now on Numbers 8 and 21’s abnormal fitness. It had also attracted the attention of many basketball fans.
[ Level 41 reminded me, the more I thought about it the stranger it seemed. Even pros don’t have such amazing stamina okay? It’s so weird. If only there was a video so we can analyse it.]
[Level 45, I have a recording, sharing the link.]
[Scary! Did they take drugs?]
[No way, is there a need to take drugs for an interschool preliminary match?]
[But it’s really weird. The more I look at it…]
The moment the video was posted, their abnormal performance became the centre of analysis and discussion. Within two hours, it became the hottest post on the forum.
Suddenly, such a hypothesis appeared: [Could it be… that they’re not human?]
[Wah, the comment above… what a scary thought!]
[If they’re not, that’s great. Just report them. They have obviously hurt someone. Don’t even think about coming out again.]
[Report, report! I didn’t expect such things to exist even in our school, so scary!]
Unexpectedly, everyone directly thought of the possibility of demons. Although there was a slight deviation from the expected results, it seemed that this new direction could also be beneficial.
Xu Qichen had previously considered making an anonymous report, but letting others do it for him was the safest option.
However, he wanted to completely avoid Ning Zheng’s suspicion.
He still had to use the criminal organisation as a bait and link it to this case of assault.
He had to work faster.
“What are you busy with?”
A voice suddenly appeared behind him. Xu Qichen pretended he was doing nothing and stood up, turning around with a natural expression. “Nothing much. I just received an email from the company.” Then he closed the computer, “My eyes ache.”
“Is that so? Let me have a look.”
Mu Yao’s attention was immediately on Xu Qichen’s eyes as he repeatedly offered to go buy some eyedrops.
Looks like he was avoiding being discovered.
Xu Qichen heaved a sigh of relief.
“I may need to go to the office in the afternoon for a meeting.” Xu Qichen nonchalantly poured himself a glass of water then quickly changed the subject, “By the way, is it really okay for you to miss one week of classes? Will you fall behind?”
Mu Yao sat on the sofa and clicked the remote control periodically, “It’s fine.”
These classes were the least of his concerns.
“Even if I attend them I’d just sleep through them.”
Xu Qichen advised him, “Don’t do that, it will affect your grades.”
Mu Yao raised an eyebrow, “Don’t worry, senior.”
It was a perfect interpretation of ‘youthful arrogance’.
“I. Definitely. Won’t. Fail.”
If not for the fear of appearing OOC, I’d easily be the first in my year for you.
What does he mean OOC? He knows ab the story? I really hadn’t realized he was different from the original character 😭😭😭
well to be fair the original character was based on him anyways
Oh…. Does someone have their memories?
Still don’t understand their backstory, but I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be sad (Ｔ＿Ｔ)
Thank you for the chapter Ning-Sama
Hehehe he lost his vest to me already 😂
I love that Xu Qichen’s reaction in being nervous is to fall asleep 🤣🤣🤣 like, I need that ability, please teach me
hahah, it’s clear author isnt trying to hide it given all the hints she’s given us so far, and now this. For the first arc however, I’m not sure if ML was also just acting given how Lin Ran fell for Xu Qichen too fast/really easily, or if ML hadnt known he was in a fake world in the first arc given how natural he was and there were no hints given. In the first place, the conditions to pass these worlds are quite weird “Let MC and ML have a proper romantic relationship” or something like that, could it be that ML is making opportunities for himself? lolol
Well it was quite transparent fr the 1st arc that most likely the ML also knows abt everything.But he cant OOC.As for ignoring the MC etc on the 1st arc,it’s probably understandable tat it’s their 1st time relationship so he will doubt the MC feelings (they havent met for a long time in real world,and didnt have a He).I wonder whether MC is really dead in a real world or put to sleep?
thanks for the chapter <3
Thank you very much!♡♡♡♡
gah, i love this novel.
thanks for the chapter ♡
He’s not the original
Just curious but was I the only one to notice that he (Ml) used the Mc’s real name in his inner dialogue?
Wait which part??
i was truly suspicious how the both worlds were following a similar structure; the low blood sugar levels, the fainting, the rescuing; the jokes are the same, the likes/dislikes (beyond the superficial are the same), and now this! Who is the ML , truly? Is he from the first world? Or is he the OG!whitemoonlight of the MC? the one with whom Xu Qichen had a BE?
ML: “I’m not the sort who would return everything I’ve learned back to the teacher after graduation.”
So… Ml in Mc’s real world also is within the system/novel, he also has a task he needs to finish just like mc? And he remembers the past he had with mc in the real world-maybe? I mean they did hint it in the first arc but idk