Chapter 5: Yaoxing Academy 5 Part 1

[Had the Host suspected long ago that Another Tasker was Luo Xunan?] the System asked.

“Yeah, don’t you think the timing of his appearance was too coincidental?” Xun Ji said. “The moment he showed up, your system malfunctioned. Moreover, students at Yaoxing Academy view Lu Zhou—who’s from a completely different world—as someone they wouldn’t hate but also wouldn’t bother befriending on purpose. Only Luo Xunan became his friend.”

[Maybe Luo Xunan is just a simple good person? Just like the Host!]

“That’s possible too.” Xun Ji rubbed his chin. “But right now, he’s the prime suspect. I guess he went to the principal’s office that day because in the original plot, ‘Xun Ji’ went there to stop Lu Zhou from getting the Scholarship.”

The System suddenly understood: [He didn’t expect the Host to be so lazy and head straight to the bus stop instead.]

[The Host is amazing! You’ve caught the enemy’s little tail so quickly!] the System praised. [While arranging for Lin Yule to keep an eye on Luo Xunan, you personally came here to bully the Protagonist!]

“Which eye of yours saw me bullying him?” Xun Ji said speechlessly. “He was the one who called me out here.”

The midday sun beat down directly on them. Though not as scorching as in summer, it still carried a burning heat.

The sports field, filled with the scent of fresh grass and plastic, stood empty. Clearly, no students wanted to exercise under the noonday sun.

Only in one corner of the field did two people stand facing each other.

“Lu Zhou, is your way of getting revenge to let the sun bake me to death?” Xun Ji asked puzzledly.

He reached up to loosen his Necktie and undid the top two buttons of his shirt. He wanted to take off his uniform jacket but found it troublesome to carry, so he kept it on.

After leaving the Cafeteria, Lu Zhou had pulled him aside here alone, saying he had something to say. Xun Ji had prepared himself for revenge, but Lu Zhou just stood there silently, looking like the words were hard to get out.

Xun Ji felt his blond hair was about to be scorched crisp. He endured it for a while, but his patience finally ran out.

“If you’re not going to talk, I’m leaving.”

Just as he turned to go, a strong force suddenly grabbed his Necktie and yanked it down hard. Xun Ji felt his neck constrict as the pull forced him to lean forward, meeting a pair of deep black eyes.

Tch, knew the Little Dog had no good intentions. And why did he always mess with his neck?

“Watch.”

Lu Zhou spat out the two words, then suddenly released him and looked slightly away.

“I pawned your Watch.” Lu Zhou pulled a Bank Card from his pocket. “After deducting the expenses for my mother’s burial, the rest of the money is in here. The PIN is six zeros.”

He held out his hand for a long time without Xun Ji taking it, so he simply shoved the card into the pocket of Xun Ji’s uniform.

“If you’re angry, you can beat me up.” Lu Zhou continued expressionlessly. “At the time… I had no other choice. Once I gather enough to repay what I owe you, I’ll redeem that Watch, plus interest…”

“No need.” Xun Ji interrupted him. “I broke your jade, so we’re even.”

Lu Zhou’s face paled. He slowly looked up, meeting Xun Ji’s gaze.

“That jade wasn’t fake.” He repeated as if afraid Xun Ji wouldn’t understand. “My mom spent a lot of money to get it. It wasn’t fake.”

He stared straight at Xun Ji, without angry accusations or pouring out grief—just stubbornly stating this fact.

“You’re wrong. The jade isn’t fake.”

Xun Ji’s hand paused while adjusting his Necktie.

In his view, deliberately destroying someone else’s memento was doing something bad, but verbal humiliation wasn’t. Saving someone—even a murderer or a spoiled brat like Yan Feng with a rotten personality—counted as doing good.

But comforting someone’s heart didn’t.

It clearly wasn’t good, no need to do it, but in this moment, Xun Ji suddenly wanted to.

“Yeah, I got it wrong.” Xun Ji reached out and gently ruffled the boy’s black hair.

“Sorry for breaking your jade.”

Lu Zhou froze in place. Before he could process what he’d heard, his body reacted honestly first.

His eyes quickly reddened, tears surging out one after another.

[The Host is so awesome! You made the Protagonist cry from bullying! The Blackening Value must be shooting up~] The System started chattering and clapping again.

Xun Ji said helplessly, “Why are you crying?” Sure enough, comforting people didn’t count as good. Better to avoid it in the future.

Lu Zhou abruptly swatted his hand away and turned his back, wiping away his tears in embarrassment.

Xun Ji waited a moment, but the other didn’t turn around. Feeling a bit awkward, he said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll head out first.”

“Wait!” Lu Zhou’s voice rang out loud and fierce, as if to cover his lapse.

He turned back around, eyes still red but no longer streaming tears. Thinking of what he had to say, the fierceness faded by a third.

Lu Zhou said stiffly, “Young Master Xun, I can be your…” He took a deep breath, trying several times but still unable to say the word.

“In any case, I’ll obey you. Whatever you tell me to do, I’ll do my best. Even if you want to hit me, I won’t complain.”

Xun Ji: “…Did crying make you dumb?”

Lu Zhou glared at him angrily but, remembering he was begging, reined in his temper and said lowly, “I’m serious.”

Xun Ji didn’t believe it. He sized Lu Zhou up and down. “What’s your goal?”

Lu Zhou clenched his fist. “There’s one thing only Young Master Xun can help me with.”

As expected, the fox tail is out.

“Let’s hear it.”

“I want to move into Yaoxing Academy Dormitory.” Lu Zhou said.