Noble Academy's Mob Character: Reborn as the Campus Heartthrob - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Ambition

“Brother, why do you always have to take everything from me?”

“I don’t even care about the company anymore. Can’t you just give Qi Yuan back to me…?”

You Qinghe turned around, his demeanor visibly unraveling. His voice was laced with pleading, deep yearning, and utter despair.

“You Qinghe, shut your mouth! One more word and you’re out of here.”

“And do you think Qi Yuan is some object you can just demand back whenever you want?”

“When will you ever grow up…?”

You Yuanxiu sighed inwardly, his gaze fixed on You Qinghe. He felt a profound disappointment toward this younger brother, who had been pampered all his life.

To be honest, he would have preferred You Qinghe to compete openly and honestly—scheming or even trying to take over the company—rather than this pathetic spectacle of begging him to relinquish his lover.

Leaving aside whether he would ever concede, You Yuanxiu had lost all sense of threat he’d initially felt, stemming from Qi Yuan being his brother’s first love. This childish behavior rendered him utterly vulnerable.

Easily defeated, he thought.

With brisk strides, he approached Qi Yuan, took his hand, and gave the back of it a reassuring pat, signaling him not to worry—he would handle this.

You Qinghe lowered his head, silent for a long moment.

When he looked up again, his expression had calmed, a sardonic smile twisting his lips.

“Brother, you don’t understand Qi Yuan at all.”

“I’ll wait.”

“Wait until you go as mad as I am, begging for forgiveness like a dog.”

“This is my fate—and yours too.”

His dark, heavy gaze fell on Qi Yuan, sending a sudden chill through Qi Yuan’s heart. Qi Yuan instinctively stepped aside, hiding behind You Yuanxiu.

Qi Yuan didn’t want to gamble on what a man driven to the brink of madness might do.

Fortunately, the dream began to collapse.

At that moment, clutching You Yuanxiu’s sleeve, Qi Yuan seemed to grasp the key to this dream.

Security?

Qi Yuan thought so.

In You Yuanxiu’s eyes, You Qinghe was no longer a threat, so the dream ended.

Having stumbled through the dream by chance, Qi Yuan felt a strange pang of melancholy. Perhaps it was because he had once seen You Qinghe radiant and full of life, only to now find him reduced to this beggar-like state.

What a bitter twist.

But Qi Yuan couldn’t afford pity. Compared to feeling sorry for others, he felt far more sorry for himself.

A few days later, under a bright sun whose rays were almost blinding, Qi Yuan followed Zhuo Ming around the academy, handling various Arts Department affairs.

The freshman welcome party was just around the corner, and the entire Student Council was buzzing with activity, with the Arts Department bearing the heaviest workload. Qi Yuan adapted well to the intense pace but deliberately held back, projecting an image of inexperience and working at a slower pace.

Yet even his feigned slowness surpassed the pace of other newcomers to the Student Council.

As a result, Zhuo Ming, the Arts Department head, greatly admired Qi Yuan and was considering grooming him as his successor.

Of course, admiration wasn’t the only reason for this decision.

Another crucial factor was that the Arts Department head needed to protect the department’s impoverished students. In an academy dominated by the wealthy and powerful, the Arts Department was the only bastion the underprivileged students managed to control.

To successfully distinguish himself, Qi Yuan had put in considerable effort. The tricky part was cultivating a good relationship with Zhuo Ming, as his approval was essential.

Drawing on his past life’s experiences, Qi Yuan knew Zhuo Ming had been constantly fretting over who should succeed him as Arts Department head.

Before Qi Yuan appeared, Zhuo Ming had been dissatisfied with everyone he’d marked with a checkmark, considering them all equally mediocre—lacking even the qualities of a competent caretaker leader, naturally tormenting himself to no end.

If Qi Yuan hadn’t been motivated by money, he wouldn’t have bothered getting involved. Though this path diverged from his initial goals upon entering university, it wasn’t a bad decision in the end.

Life is full of surprises; carefully laid plans rarely unfold exactly as intended. Only by embracing the unexpected can one navigate life’s optimal course.

Zhuo Ming: “You know who the Student Council President is, right?”

Bathed in sunlight, the Arts Department had already finalized their plans for the freshmen welcome party. Because the current Student Council President disliked electronic document transfers, each department had to print out their proposals and personally deliver them to his office for approval.

Normally, President He Zhou handled these matters himself when present. In his absence, Vice President Liang Tingxuan took over.

“Yes, I know. The President is He Zhou, and the Vice President is Liang Tingxuan,” Qi Yuan replied.

“Correct.”

“But while the current President seems approachable, he’s actually cold and inflexible, adhering strictly to rules and regulations.”

“Working under him requires utmost diligence and precision. Never make fundamental errors.”

“Vice President Liang Tingxuan is a smiling tiger, the President’s right-hand man. He seems more approachable than the President, but don’t trust him completely—three out of every ten words he speaks are lies. Be cautious when dealing with him.”

“As for the other departments, interaction is limited to events. Just maintain a polite demeanor. The key is your immediate superiors—never provoke them.”

Zhuo Ming genuinely wanted to mentor Qi Yuan, meticulously explaining everything he knew. As he spoke, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of liberation rising within him.

Qi Yuan was a quick learner. The sooner the younger man took to the job, the sooner Zhuo Ming could retire. To pad his resume for a higher position, he had truly worked himself to the bone during his two years as department head.

“Alright, I understand. Thanks, Brother Zhuo.”

The information aligned with what Qi Yuan already knew. He mentally organized the details.

Zhuo Ming: “No problem. I’ll take you to the President to sign some documents. After this, you’ll need to approach him directly for any further paperwork. Is that alright?”

“Of course! I definitely won’t let you down, Brother Zhuo.”

Qi Yuan put on the eager facade of a rookie, desperate to prove himself. Perhaps the repeated dream-induced trials had honed his acting skills to a razor’s edge; now, deceiving Zhuo Ming came as easily as breathing.

Throughout the journey, Zhuo Ming practically tried to cram every piece of vital information into Qi Yuan’s head. To project the image of a model successor, Qi Yuan carried a small notebook specifically for jotting down Zhuo Ming’s instructions.

Entering a building, they took the elevator to the top floor.

Qi Yuan found the view from the top floor impressive. You Yuanxiu’s office, for example, offered a sweeping vista of the city center’s iconic landmarks.

I wonder if He Zhou’s office has the same view?

But then a thought struck him: Would being on the top floor increase the chances of dying in an accident?

Qi Yuan shook his head, banishing such morbid thoughts.

Stepping out of the elevator, they walked down the hallway and stopped before a door. Zhuo Ming reached out and knocked.

The door swung open almost immediately, revealing Liang Tingxuan, his red hair sticking out as he poked his head through the doorway, waving hello.

“Come on in!”