By the next morning, the entire school was buzzing.
"Did you hear? Li Cheng caught Qin Ruo during their spar!"
"No way—caught her how?"
"Like… romantic drama style! She fell, and he just—bam! Arms around her, hero pose!"
"Lucky bastard."
Li Cheng nearly spat out his breakfast bun as he overheard two juniors gossiping in the cafeteria line.
[Host Reputation +5.]
[Achievement: Campus Celebrity – Rank C Unlocked.]
He groaned inwardly. "System, I didn't plan to become a drama protagonist."
[Incorrect. The Host is the protagonist.]
"I meant a normal one!"
[Error: That option was deleted after you humiliated Zhao Ming.]
Li Cheng sighed, collecting his tray and heading toward his usual corner table. But before he could sit, someone called his name—again.
"Li Cheng!"
The voice was cheerful, bright, and absolutely capable of causing chaos.
He turned—and there she was: Lin Xiaoyu, his class monitor, all energy and sunshine, bounding over with a tray full of food and eyes full of mischief.
"Morning! You're trending again," she said, sliding into the seat across from him.
"Trending?"
"Yeah!" She whipped out her phone, grinning.
"#TheRedHairedPrince. Look!"
Li Cheng stared at the post. A photo from yesterday's sparring match had somehow gone viral—him catching Qin Ruo mid-fall, the sunlight haloing them like some cheesy romance anime still frame.
"Who the hell even took that photo?!"
"Half the gym," she said cheerfully. "You've become everyone's favorite main lead."
[New Title: Accidental Idol Acquired.]
[Charm Bonus +25%.]
Li Cheng slammed his head lightly on the table. "This is ridiculous."
Xiaoyu smirked. "C'mon, admit it—it's kind of romantic."
"I'm allergic to trouble," he muttered.
"Then you must be having a severe reaction, because Qin Ruo's been looking for you since morning."
That made him freeze mid-bite.
"Looking for me?"
"Yep. She even turned down an invitation from the basketball captain—so, congrats, you're officially more important than school royalty."
[Host Popularity Among Female Students +20.]
Li Cheng groaned. "This is not a leaderboard I wanted to top."
Xiaoyu leaned forward, her grin widening. "Maybe she likes you."
"Or maybe she's planning revenge for embarrassing her yesterday."
"Either way," Xiaoyu said, pointing her spoon at him, "you're in for a show."
Later That Day — Behind the Gym
Li Cheng wasn't expecting a crowd. But apparently, the universe was committed to making his life a public spectacle.
Dozens of students stood in a half-circle, watching as Qin Ruo faced him again—calm, cold, unreadable.
He sighed. "What is this? Round two?"
She flicked her hair. "You humiliated me in front of the entire class. I want a rematch."
"I saved you from face-planting."
Her lips curved. "Then save yourself this time."
The crowd gasped.
[Mini-Quest Triggered: Public Duel II – "The Princess's Revenge."]
[Reward: Hidden Skill Fragment + 20,000 Yuan.]
Li Cheng rubbed his temples. "System, you're enjoying this, aren't you?"
[Affirmative. The audience metrics are excellent.]
He exhaled. Fine. Let's give them a show.
"Alright, Miss Transfer Student," he said, stepping into the sparring circle. "Don't hold back this time."
Her smile sharpened. "I won't."
Wooden swords clashed again.
But this time, Qin Ruo was faster, sharper—her strikes had precision and a rhythm that felt too deliberate. Li Cheng dodged one, then another, his own movements fueled by instinct and System-enhanced reflexes.
[Host Reflex Boost Activated.]
[Focus: 120%. Reaction time reduced by 0.4 seconds.]
"Not bad," Qin Ruo murmured, striking again.
"You've been practicing."
"I don't like losing."
Their blades locked midair. The crowd held its breath.
And then—Li Cheng grinned.
"Too bad," he said softly. "Neither do I."
He twisted his wrist, disarming her in one fluid motion. The wooden sword flew from her hand—landing neatly in his.
Qin Ruo froze.
He held both swords now, smirking. "So, is this where I say checkmate?"
The crowd erupted. Cheers. Whistles. Laughter.
[Face-Slapping Task Complete.]
[Reward: 10,000 Yuan + New Passive Skill: Combat Instinct Lv.1.]
Qin Ruo stood silent, her chest rising and falling. Then—unexpectedly—she smiled.
It wasn't the cold, mocking smile from before. It was softer, warmer—almost amused.
"You're dangerous," she said quietly. "I like that."
Li Cheng blinked. "Excuse me?"
But before he could react further, she stepped forward—and plucked her sword from his hand.
"Don't get too comfortable, Li Cheng. I'll win next time."
And with that, she turned and walked away, leaving a very stunned Li Cheng behind.
[Host Confusion Level: 87%.]
Evening – System Room (Virtual Space)
The room shimmered like digital glass—the inside of Li Cheng's mind when connected to the System fully.
[Processing Daily Rewards.]
[Random Bonus Triggered: Charm Enhancement (Intermediate).]
A holographic mirror appeared in front of him. His reflection shimmered, hair glowing faintly under the digital light.
"Great," he muttered. "Now I look even more like a K-drama lead."
[It increases Host's face-slapping success rate.]
"I don't slap faces with my face, System."
[Incorrect. 60% of enemies collapse from envy before confrontation.]
"…You're the worst."
Suddenly, the virtual world flickered.
A ripple of static ran through the mirror. For a brief second, another image appeared—Qin Ruo's reflection, standing behind him, her expression unreadable.
He blinked—and she was gone.
"What the—"
[System Disturbance Detected.]
[Unknown Connection Interference. Possible Emotional Link.]
"Emotional link?!"
[Investigation Recommended.]
Li Cheng stared at the fading mirror, heart pounding.
"She's connected to my System…?" he whispered.
Later That Night — School Rooftop
The moon hung high, silver light spilling over the quiet campus.
Li Cheng leaned against the railing, hair glowing faintly under the moonlight. The night breeze carried the faint scent of jasmine from the nearby garden.
He thought about Qin Ruo's smile. The warmth behind her eyes. The spark when their blades met.
[Emotional Resonance Detected. Relationship Progress: 20%.]
He frowned. "System, stop tracking my emotions."
[Impossible. Emotional metrics vital for romantic subplot.]
"Wait—romantic what?"
[Spoiler Protection Engaged.]
"…I hate you."
[Mutual affection acknowledged.]
Li Cheng laughed helplessly.
But then—
Footsteps.
He turned. Qin Ruo stood there, bathed in moonlight, her expression calm but her voice unusually soft.
"I thought you might be here."
Li Cheng smiled faintly. "Guess we both like rooftops."
They stood in silence for a long while. Then she said, almost in a whisper:
"Do you ever feel like… you don't belong here?"
He glanced at her. "Every day."
Her eyes glimmered. "Then maybe… we're not so different."
The night breeze stirred between them, carrying words unspoken.
[New Quest Triggered: "Echoes Beneath the Moon." Objective: Learn Qin Ruo's True Origin.]
Qin Ruo turned away, her hair swaying like liquid night. "Don't chase after me tonight, Li Cheng."
"Why?"
"Because," she said quietly, "you might not like what you find."
And with that, she vanished into the shadows.
Li Cheng's eyes narrowed, his System flickering faint red.
"Qin Ruo… who are you?"
[Main Plotline Updated: Mystery Route — Activated.]