Chapter 52 : Chapter 52
Chapter 52
After the meeting ended, Xie Chang’an returned to the school.
When he came back after washing up, he received a call request from Gu Lingxue. Gu Lingxue sounded extremely excited. “Chang’an! Chang’an! You haven’t found anyone for the Team Competition yet, right? Right?!”
What had happened? Xie Chang’an was full of confusion.
After the two of them talked for a while, Xie Chang’an learned that Gu Lingxue had found some very formidable teammates. There were two people on the other side, so they could not bring in anyone else.
So Lingxue really had made friends after all. Xie Chang’an suddenly felt rather complicated inside.
But the moment he heard who the two people were, he was instantly dumbfounded. “Lingxue... no... how did you end up with people from Class S? Do you remember what happened at the beginning of the school year?”
Would Song Xiaoran really be willing to team up with him?
【Holy shit, holy shit】
【Does Song Xiaoran know about this, or was he arranged into it by the two girls?】
【Did Xuexue seriously forget?】
【I suspect Ling You’er doesn’t know. Feng Youyou probably doesn’t know that Ling You’er asked Song Xiaoran to be a teammate either...】
【And Feng Youyou also doesn’t know Xuexue teamed up with Chang’an?】
【So the problem started with Feng Youyou?】
【Feng Youyou knows so many people. She probably just asked whether they needed more teammates and then introduced them directly. I’m starting to think she’s become the “matchmaker” of the Team Competition.】
【What a mess】
After talking for a while, Gu Lingxue suddenly realized how serious the matter was.
At the start of the school year, Gu Lingxue had not directly participated in the trouble, and afterward she had been swept into the factional struggles in Class A. Her impression of the cafeteria incident was not as clear as Xie Chang’an’s.
But finding teammates really was too difficult...
Gu Lingxue still suggested asking the people on the other side what they thought. Xie Chang’an accepted in silence, and Ling You’er informed them that she had never asked Song Xiaoran and did not know anything about the earlier conflict.
Song Xiaoran had already gone to sleep today. They could talk about it tomorrow.
The barrage immediately began analyzing the situation:
【Ling You’er was basically invisible in the early stage, so it makes sense that she wouldn’t know】
【What exactly happened here? So neither of the two knew their teammates had issues with the other side’s teammates?】
【I’m really curious what Ling You’er was doing back then】
【A shut-in, dorm-room edition】
【Don’t underestimate the weight of social anxiety. It’s perfectly normal that Ling You’er didn’t know. If she had known, that would’ve been the strange part... (covering face)】
【Damn, that actually makes way too much sense】
“So that really was the reason,” Ji Qing said, unable to stop himself from shaking his head.
He had already guessed before that Ling You’er had been unaware, and the truth was exactly that. Resting his chin on one hand, Ji Qing murmured softly, “But it really wasn’t because she was targeting Xie Chang’an...”
Long before she learned about Xie Chang’an, Ling You’er had already arranged to team up with Gu Lingxue.
“I suppose she had her eye on Gu Lingxue first.” A faint, intrigued smile curved across Ji Qing’s lips. “Reading more mangas really does have its benefits.”
In the manga, time advanced to the next day.
Ling You’er quickly relayed everything to Song Xiaoran. She had even specifically made a group chat so the two boys could sort it out themselves. As someone with social anxiety, she truly did not want to serve as the messenger.
Song Xiaoran agreed very quickly, but he did not say much.
Now the only one who had not stated his position was Xie Chang’an. Xie Chang’an stared silently at the large “Mm” on his terminal, while waves quietly rose in his heart.
In the end, he agreed as well.
【Such a complicated relationship, ahhh】
【“So in the end, was I the only one who cared... no, that’s not right... we’re strangers now...”】
【The protagonist’s inner thoughts make him feel so much like the losing side】
【Chang’an really cherishes his friends, but Song Xiaoran has amnesia... the two of them just aren’t on the same wavelength at all. No wonder they clashed at the beginning of the school year...】
【It was bound to explode sooner or later】
【All I can see is that Song Xiaoran really does have genuine amnesia.】
【Only someone with real amnesia wouldn’t think anything is wrong, because they simply don’t know what happened in the past】
Ji Qing nodded in agreement. “It really is complicated.”
But Ji Qing had no intention of interfering in other people’s private affairs. He already had more than enough to deal with in his own life. It was enough for him to casually enjoy the gossip between those two when he saw it in the manga.
The manga’s perspective then shifted to Feng Youyou.
A friend from her team called her out alone and asked whether she could find another team for herself. Feng Youyou was puzzled when she heard that, and her friend seriously explained the situation, repeatedly emphasizing in the middle that it had been their oversight.
Although the reason was valid, Feng Youyou saw through the essence of it.
They did not really want to team up with her. Feng Youyou felt a quiet disappointment inside. It seemed her performance in the Individual Competition had put pressure on them. But in the Team Competition, she had truly planned to coast...
【It feels like the wasteland’s hierarchy works both ways】
【Powerful people benefit from it, but they’re also constrained by it. I kind of understand now why those great families never consider how commoners feel...】
【Both sides are isolating each other】
【Feng Youyou, miserable】
【People in the wasteland world live such suffocating lives】
【Honestly, I feel like Feng Youyou might end up with only Ling You’er left among her friends. Feng Youyou really is strong, and at present only Ling You’er can stand shoulder to shoulder with her】
【Suddenly I thought of something... maybe that’s why Ling You’er accepted Feng Youyou as a friend in the first place...】
【That hurts so much】
“...” Ji Qing tilted his head slightly.
How had these readers managed to think that far ahead? But Ji Qing himself had no close connections outside Class S, so he was in no position to judge whether it was true or not.
After learning that Feng Youyou had left her team, Song Xiaoran thought of Shao Huayu and the others.
So Song Xiaoran informed Feng Youyou that “Shao Huayu’s team is short one person.” At this point, the manga briefly reviewed the situation from that morning’s Class S lessons.
In one sentence, it could be summed up as this: You Xingluo and Ji Qing had poached Liu Mu from Shao Huayu’s team, and after Zhou Que found out, he knocked on You Xingluo’s door in the dead of night.
The barrage instantly reacted:
【Liu Mu is really in demand】
【The interactions inside Class S are adorable】
【What do you mean adorable... Zhou Que is practically becoming the grim reaper of door-knocking...】
【Wait—did Ji Qing not get confronted, or was Ji Qing just not there at the time?】
【Yuexia, I want the detailed version of this (knocking bowl)】
【I’m seriously dying with laughter. Even knowing Liu Mu was Shao Huayu’s person, You Xingluo still dragged Ji Qing along to poach him. Is this the power of childhood friends? Hahahaha...】
【Better sacrifice the childhood friend than yourself】
【Why can’t it have been Ji Qing’s idea?】
【If it was Ji Qing’s idea, that would be way too entertaining.】
Ji Qing glanced at it briefly and found that the readers’ reaction to this matter was unusually fresh and amused. Xie Chang’an’s school life was far too oppressive, while the interactions within Class S were filled with youthful energy.
The reason was actually quite simple.
Ji Qing lightly tapped the tabletop with his fingertips and thought helplessly: Because theirs was the only class in the entire year that did not need to worry about changes in personnel. Their current partners would be their classmates for all three years of high school.
Their ages and strength were similar, so naturally no one would yield to anyone else.
And one fortunate thing was that the few students from great families in Class S had not really been constrained by worldly rules and conventions. That made them much easier to get along with.
In the manga, Feng Youyou immediately made her decision.
She had already planned to enter Class S in the first place, so this was the perfect chance to see what it was like to get along with the people there. There was still room to change her mind now. Once the promotion list was announced, it would be too late.
That was what Feng Youyou thought, and that was exactly what she told Xie Chang’an. Apologetically, she said, “I’m really sorry I didn’t think through the teammate issue before. I know this hurts you... but the Team Competition requires coordination...”
【Youyou is worried too】
【Chang’an’s behavior at the start of the school year was just too bad】
【Youyou probably wanted them not to team up... but she was too embarrassed to say it outright...】
【This situation is really hard to judge】
【But they still have to try. The main thing is that once they enter Class S, they’ll be together every day. If Chang’an really loses control of his emotions that easily, then he actually isn’t suited for Class S】
【The only thing they can do is charge ahead】
Ji Qing nodded thoughtfully.
He agreed with the readers’ view. If Xie Chang’an could not even control his own emotions, then his future development would probably become very dangerous. The school certainly did not want to see students die because of something like that.
In the manga, Xie Chang’an naturally understood this as well. He secretly warned himself: Just treat him like an ordinary friend. They no longer had the relationship they once did.
On Friday, Xie Chang’an sat in the Class F classroom watching the livestream.
When the location for the Team Competition was announced, the classroom erupted into noise. Some students shouted that they wanted to withdraw from the competition, while others were already thinking about how to avoid danger.
Xie Chang’an sat where he was, quietly clenching his palm. He realized that, in truth, he had run into the same situation as Feng Youyou.
【So that’s how it is...】
【The wasteland divides people too severely.】
【Class S will probably all explore the interior of the island, while a lot of Class F will withdraw. Among the other classes, the stronger teams will choose exploration, while the weaker ones will lean toward the safer route】
【This really shows everyone’s level】
【If Chang’an had found Class F classmates as teammates, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine that his promotion to Class S might become uncertain again later. The school wouldn’t be able to see his true strength at all...】
【The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility】
【It’s kind of like slowly boiling a frog in warm water, but then again, the gap in strength is just too enormous.】
“This really is a little...” Ji Qing murmured thoughtfully.
But what did other people’s choices have to do with him? Ji Qing was obviously going to focus on the things that were already giving him a headache. The Team Competition and the World Book together were practically enough to keep him awake at night.
Ji Qing let out a long sigh and kept scrolling down.
But the manga has only been updated this far. The next episode would probably jump straight to the island. Ji Qing immediately leaned back in his chair and stared up at the ceiling for a long time.
It would be best to snatch the World Book when there were fewer people at the school.
The Team Competition in front of him and the upcoming winter break were both good opportunities. But at present, Ji Qing had no grasp of the teachers’ actual strength, so he decided to postpone it until the winter break practicum.
By then, he should have a clear understanding of the school’s situation as well.
Ji Qing forced himself to perk up and muttered in a low voice, “The plan is set. During the Team Competition and the final exams, I’ll investigate the school and the teachers. The infiltration will be left for the winter break practicum.”
“That way... I’ll also have an alibi.”
“What remains is Li Yuan’s talent.” Ji Qing moved the mouse and clicked into the product display page of the Popularity Value Shop. “Talent Perception... preferably something related to crows... and it also has to explain why he can appear in two places at once...”
Ji Qing’s brows drew tighter and tighter.
He finally understood the agony manga artists went through when trying to patch plot holes. After thinking for a long while, Ji Qing expressionlessly clicked open the forum homepage. “Forget it. I’ll deal with it after the Team Competition ends.”
At the moment, Ji Qing had absolutely no desire to patch any plot holes.
【hot】【Li Yuan is so dangerously captivating. Wouldn’t a man like him be an absolute showstopper anywhere? An older, aloof, sharp-tongued man who lives for amusement, plus that faint sense of distance he gives off—pair him with anyone and it becomes a top CP】
【I’m a little worried Chang’an won’t be able to control his emotions. If my friend lost their memory and treated me like a stranger, I’d burst into tears on the spot. There’s no way I’d be able to hold back the tears】
【Something is definitely going to go wrong in the Team Competition! I guarantee it based on all my years of manga-reading experience! There will absolutely be an accident!!!】
【hot】【The Team Competition plot will probably run three teams in parallel. I’m dying to know what the abilities of the suspended trio are. Shao Huayu’s ability is so hard to imagine as an offensive one】
...
Ji Qing gave the first few pages of the forum a rough scan. The manga’s reception was extremely good. Even though it was still in the buildup stage before the Team Competition, the readers were already burning with enthusiasm for it.
Yuexia had already displayed his superb artistic skill through the battles of the Individual Competition.
Ji Qing casually clicked into the first hot thread:
【Topic: Li Yuan is so dangerously captivating. Wouldn’t a man like him be an absolute showstopper anywhere? An older, aloof, sharp-tongued man who lives for amusement, plus that faint sense of distance he gives off—pair him with anyone and it becomes a top CP】
【1L Original Poster: Wuwuwu, I’m obsessed with him. How on earth did Yuexia come up with such a stunning character setting? Forget Xie Chang’an—as long as you’re human, you’d fall into the gentleness of a man like him.
Especially because Li Yuan’s gentleness is the kind that carries a teasing undertone.
Being obsessed with him gives me the feeling that my whole body is being electrified. The closer I get, the more I struggle, and the more I struggle, the more I want to get closer. It’s like being trapped in a spiderweb, completely unable to escape.】
【2L: He’s just too captivating】
【3L: Once you get obsessed with Li Yuan, your life is ruined. I feel like I’ll never get out of the world of Ability Hunter for the rest of my life, TAT】
【4L: I’ve been completely bewitched by him.】
【5L: The main thing is that Li Yuan looks amazing every time he appears. In just those few short episodes he’s been in, he brings something fresh every single time. And he really does have the sharp instincts of an intelligence operative—he immediately noticed that Chang’an was in a bad mood】
【6L: That emoji deduction really was genius】
【7L: I hadn’t even reacted yet, and he had already given the reason.
I didn’t believe it at first, so I actually went back and checked, and it turned out to be true. After Chang’an learned how to use emojis, he really did send one in every single conversation.】
【8L: Li Yuan, the male idol of the new era. How can there be such a perfect man, wuwuwu】
【9L Original Poster:
I didn’t understand the hype around him before, but now I do! This man is just too charming! I especially love how sharp-tongued he is. There’s a kind of lazy carelessness to it.
And even though he’s sharp-tongued, it never feels offensive at all. It’s more like a little cat meowing at me. (Sorry, that description is weird, but it’s the only thing I could think of.)】
【10L: Forget the sharp tongue. In Li Yuan’s debut episode, Yuexia personally confirmed that Li Yuan has a very pleasant voice. If a good-looking guy with a wonderful voice insulted me, I’d be willing to accept it too. (shy.jpg)】
【11L: “The mysterious man’s voice was like the deep notes of a cello, carrying a mesmerizing, almost demonic magnetism.” (copy-pasted)】
【12L: Aaaaah—】
【13L: I feel like he’s poppy. Once you touch him, your life is over for good.】
【14L Original Poster: I really want to see his personal side story now. A man this charming must have been just as charming in the past. I want to know so badly how he became who he is now. (itching with curiosity)】
【15L: And yet we’re still at school right now...】
【16L: And we’re still only in the first semester...】
【17L: Tragic. Tragic in the biggest possible font.】
【18L Original Poster: Wah, wuwuwuwu— (crying like a storm)】
...
“Hiss...” Ji Qing blinked in a daze. He remembered that this was not the character setting he had created for Li Yuan, was it? Why had so many strange interpretations suddenly appeared?
But on second thought, Ji Qing felt it did not matter.
Readers would always have their own understanding. As Li Yuan’s performer, all he needed to do was portray the original Li Yuan well. With a guilty conscience, Ji Qing thought:
As for the sharp tongue... that was probably just his real personality.
Ji Qing covered his face and muttered to himself, “But sometimes I really can’t suppress the urge to complain.”
He quickly opened the next hot thread:
【Topic: The Team Competition plot will probably run three teams in parallel. I’m dying to know what the abilities of the suspended trio are. Shao Huayu’s ability is so hard to imagine as an offensive one】
【1L Original Poster:
The currently confirmed teams are:
Team One: Ji Qing, You Xingluo, Liu Mu;
Team Two: Shao Huayu, Zhou Que, Feng Youyou;
Team Three: Xie Chang’an, Gu Lingxue, Ling You’er, Song Xiaoran.
By the way, I specifically paid attention to what’s happening in Class A.
Lu Qingyin and Lan Nianxuan are both teamed up with people from their own class. Lu Qingyin definitely knows about Lingxue’s decision by now, and I’m a little worried about what will happen to the two of them afterward.】
【2L: If it were me, I’d feel betrayed】
【3L: Chang’an didn’t think of that at all.
But he’s been dealing with a lot lately, so it’s understandable that he didn’t notice. Even though I really don’t want Xuexue and Qingyin to drift apart, Qingyin really is such a very, very good person...】
【4L: Don’t assume the worst】
【5L: Chang’an has already proved his strength, so Lu Qingyin must have changed her opinion of him. Maybe Lu Qingyin is just accepting of Xuexue teaming up with Chang’an?
Before Yuexia draws them, don’t decide they’ve already cut ties】
【6L: Honestly... I think she’s too busy preparing for battle to bother with Xuexue. During the Individual Competition, Lu Qingyin was in preparation mode the whole time too. Once she knew Xue was planning to team up with Chang’an, she naturally wouldn’t pay too much attention to it.
After losing to Chang’an in the Individual Competition, she’d definitely try her best to fight for a better ranking in the Team Competition】
【7L: Hey—why is nobody paying attention to Class S anymore?】
【8L: The poaching incident in Class S was incredibly fun. I can tell that both You Xingluo and Ji Qing have personalities that enjoy playing pranks, and afterward they teased the other two】
【9L: Their character settings are all pretty vivid already. They’re just missing more plot development】
【10L: Ji Qing’s personality feels different from what I imagined. From his introductory scenes, I originally thought he was the cold and solitary type, but inside Class S he’s actually pretty lively】
【11L: That’s true】
【12L: I’m really curious about Ji Qing’s character setting】
【13L: Ji Qing probably has a bit of that amusement-seeking streak too, right? At the beginning of the school year, after reading Xie Chang’an’s meeting records, he specifically gave Xie Chang’an a hand. That really made people like him】
【14L: I wouldn’t quite call him that, though?】
【15L: I feel like he was helping under the excuse of “looking for some fun.” Because from Feng Youyou and Liu Mu’s actions, it seems like commoners really do pull each other up.】
【16L: Eh...】
【17L: Ji Qing still has too little screen time】
【18L:
Ji Qing did show signs before of almost overtaking Li Yuan, but after the newest episode came out, it’s completely impossible now. Li Yuan’s character setting and plot are just too much of a bonus. No one can shake his position as popularity number one】
【19L: At the moment, it really does seem impossible】
【20L: Maybe after a few more arcs it’ll happen. Who knows how long Li Yuan will be offscreen after he exits, and the protagonist is going to enter Class S very soon too. By then the current popularity rankings will probably shift all over again】
【21L: Don’t forget Li Yuan still has the World Book plotline where he steals it】
【22L: Yuexia will definitely draw that】
【23L: Once the World Book plot is over, that’s when it really becomes impossible to know when we’ll see him again. Right now I only hope Yuexia doesn’t shelve Li Yuan until the final chapter. If that happens, I’ll seriously want to die a little...】
【24L: Sigh...】
【25L Original Poster:
I think Yuexia will use the Team Competition to further flesh out the situation inside Class S. Right now, Feng Youyou, Liu Mu, Chang’an, and the others are each in different teams.
He’ll probably use their perspectives to write the situations of the three teams... though I can’t be sure about that, since Yuexia’s preferences have always been erratic.
But it really is time to flesh out Class S. Once the Team Competition ends, whether someone gets promoted or not could be settled in a single sentence.】
【26L: Exactly】
【27L: Aaaaah, right now I just want Yuexia to update faster!!!】
...
This thread was much more serious, Ji Qing thought calmly.
Since the manga had not revealed any further information about the island, Ji Qing had no intention of reading threads speculating about the island plot. During the Team Competition, the only things he could know were what was happening around him. As for everything else...
It would be better to wait until the Team Competition ended and then see the story that had actually happened.
The most important thing right now was still the Team Competition. But the readers were actually discussing his character setting... Ji Qing’s expression turned a little uncomfortable. Even so, he really was somewhat curious what sort of character setting the readers thought he had.