Noble Academy's Mob Character: Reborn as the Campus Heartthrob - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: It’s Him, Him, or Him?

You Qinghe didn’t understand why Qi Yuan was asking such a strange question, but he didn’t care. At that moment, his entire world revolved around Qi Yuan. He wondered if Qi Yuan was hinting at wanting him as a boyfriend.

How could Qi Yuan be the one to make the move? You Qinghe thought, his mind racing. If I’d known Qi Yuan was interested back at the academy, I would have confessed then! Why did I wait so long? All this precious time wasted! You Qinghe clenched his jaw, a tiny figure in his mind shadowboxing furiously to vent his frustration.

Qi Yuan waited after hearing the answer, but when the dream showed no signs of collapsing, he instantly understood and shot You Qinghe a speechless glare.

Are you him? Just say yes!

You’re a fucking joke!

Qi Yuan felt like he’d lost his mind. He’d sensed something was off with You Qinghe earlier, yet he still desperately asked if You Qinghe was his boyfriend, clinging to the what if.

Though the outcome was predictable, eliminating one suspect meant progress. One down, more to go, he thought. I’ll find the real one eventually.

He took a deep breath and looked at You Qinghe. “I’m sorry, I mistook you for someone else.”

After apologizing, he tried to leave as if nothing had happened, but You Qinghe blocked his path.

The man’s predatory grin vanished, his exposed teeth receding as his face darkened. He stared at Qi Yuan and asked, “Qi Yuan, are you toying with me?”

“Do you know, when I heard you ask me that just now… I nearly went mad with joy… And now you’re telling me you got the wrong person.”

“Does it make you feel accomplished, seeing me so happy over your casual words?”

“How dare you?!”

You Qinghe was on the verge of exploding with anger, though heartbreak was also present.

His hand clenched and unclenched repeatedly, yet he desperately fought to maintain his composure, unwilling to reveal his savage side.

But Qi Yuan, terrified, pressed himself against the wall. He hadn’t expected such a violent reaction from You Qinghe.

“Hey… calm down.”

Qi Yuan regretted his impulsiveness. In this dream, I’m not even You Qinghe’s boyfriend! Where did I get the nerve to mess with him like that?

He was genuinely afraid You Qinghe might hit him. Those sandbag-sized fists would definitely hurt. And since Qi Yuan could feel pain in this dream, getting punched would be no joke. It wasn’t cowardice—it was sheer self-preservation.

His eyes darted around as his brain raced. An idea struck him, and he began to blurt out nonsense: “I heard from Xu Yu that you were in Box 01, so I came over to say hi.”

“It’s been a while, right? Can’t I even crack a joke with you?”

As he said this, Qi Yuan grew surprisingly self-righteous. To deliver such a shameless lie without acting indignant would be a disservice to its audacity.

As he spoke, he searched for an opening, planning his escape.

You Qinghe froze, closed his eyes, then opened them, letting his hand drop. His dark eyes were shadowed.

He felt as if this person had held him captive for life. Ordinarily, he would have exacted brutal revenge on anyone who deceived or manipulated him. Yet with Qi Yuan, he willingly allowed himself to be played with, unable to blame him no matter how thoroughly he was deceived.

The thought instantly dissolved his anger. He’s so easily appeased, he mocked himself. Pathetic.

You Qinghe lowered his gaze. “Never mind. I’ll take you home. Where are you staying now?”

Qi Yuan’s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t expected this and hastily refused. “No need to trouble yourself. I’m at a gathering with friends, and it’s not over yet.”

You Qinghe remained expressionless. “Oh. I’ll join you, then take you home when it’s finished.”

“It’s my friends’ party,” Qi Yuan protested. “It wouldn’t be appropriate for you to come.”

“I don’t trust you,” You Qinghe said flatly.

As if I’d be safe around you, Qi Yuan thought sarcastically.

Just as they were locked in a stalemate and Qi Yuan was about to give in, he suddenly found himself back at the beginning of the dream, on the airplane.

He couldn’t help but feel grateful for the Rewind ability. It allowed him to escape You Qinghe’s suffocating presence in the nick of time.

In Hu Xiang’s car, Qi Yuan hurriedly texted his boyfriend, circling around the question of his name. But every time he tried, the message would rewind. After several attempts, he gave up.

Instead, he asked where his boyfriend was. This time, there was no rewind, and he received a reply:

Boyfriend: I’m in Box 01, babe. Remember to pick me up.

Boyfriend: I miss you so much, baby~

Boyfriend: My head’s spinning a bit, babe. Can you come get me soon?

Boyfriend: This place sucks. They’re being such jerks, pressuring me to drink way too much.

A barrage of flattery left Qi Yuan utterly bewildered.

Even Qi Meng had never fawned over him like this.

The thought of a hulking man, even bigger than himself, acting so clingy sent a shiver down his spine. He waved the mental image away.

Slumping against the chair back, he covered his eyes with his arm and asked Hu Xiang to wake him up when they arrived. He wanted to doze off for a while.

Since the person was in Box 01, their boyfriend must be a friend of You Qinghe’s. But You Qinghe had countless friends—more than Qi Yuan could count on both hands.

Besides, it might not even be You Qinghe’s friend directly. It could be a friend of a friend, after all, it was just rich people hanging out together.

Qi Yuan really wanted to strangle this boyfriend who had sent him on this wild goose chase. When he finally found him, he was definitely going to punch him to vent his frustration.

Later, when Xu Yu found him in the smoking area and invited him to Box 01, Qi Yuan extinguished his cigarette and replied casually, “Sure, why not?”

“Could you lead the way?”

He hadn’t forgotten Hu Xiang, turning to ask, “You coming?”

Hu Xiang loved being in the thick of things, but more than that, he knew he was going with Qi Yuan. If he caused trouble at this gathering of the elite, Qi Yuan would bear the consequences.

Yet, if he stayed behind, he’d worry about Qi Yuan facing this gathering alone with Xu Yu. He couldn’t shake off the unease, leaving him torn.

After a moment’s thought, he replied, “Brother Qi, I’ll go.”

His concern for Qi Yuan outweighed his fear of causing trouble. He figured he could be careful—avoid touching what he shouldn’t, and keep his mouth shut.

Most people would kill to infiltrate the elite, but Hu Xiang had no such ambition. Among the impoverished students who graduated from Weilika Academy, none aspired to join the ranks of the wealthy.

For a poor student to infiltrate the elite meant becoming a mere plaything, subject to casual abuse. Weilika Academy had seen plenty of such cautionary tales—each graduating class witnessing public examples made of those who overstepped.

The world offered no guarantee of good fortune or divine favor. Rather than pinning his hopes on the ethereal, Hu Xiang preferred to live honestly, grounded in reality.

“Good,” Qi Yuan nodded.

Following Xu Yu, Qi Yuan headed to Box 01.

Pushing open the door, Box 01 revealed an unexpectedly vast space—four or five times larger than Zhuo Mingding’s private room, complete with a spacious balcony.

The room was packed with people, a sea of faces filling every corner.

Amidst the constant flow of people in and out, Xu Yu’s arrival with Qi Yuan went largely unnoticed.

In the sofa area, the former Academy F4—four men once hailed as the campus elite—occupied a large space, with few lingering nearby.

These men had maintained their reputations over the years. Though they attended social gatherings, they never touched the young, attractive men and women who offered themselves.

They didn’t even glance their way. Rumor had it they were already spoken for, though the truth remained elusive, and no one dared confront them directly.

You Qinghe leaned back against the sofa, idly flipping a lighter between his fingers, tossing it up and catching it in an increasingly rapid rhythm, betraying his inner turmoil.

Having learned of Qi Yuan’s return, this once-arrogant man now seemed like a coward, hesitant to make contact.

He Zhou found You Qinghe’s furrowed brows and troubled expression amusing.

He asked, “Young Master You, is something troubling you?”

“Yes,” You Qinghe replied.

“There’s someone I like, but they don’t know it. They’ve finally returned recently, and I’m hesitating whether to bother them. I’m afraid that if I confess, we won’t even be able to stay friends.”

Hearing this gossip, He Zhou’s lips curled into a smirk. He had long suspected as much—You Qinghe was terrible at hiding his feelings. He had easily seen through You Qinghe’s secret.

Normally, he wouldn’t bother meddling, but today was different. His informant had told him that his crush had returned, and his mood had brightened considerably. He even had the leisure to meddle in the affairs of this foolish giant.

“If you don’t act quickly, someone else might snatch them away, you know.”

“In matters of the heart, dragging your feet is a fatal mistake.”

He Zhou’s simple words jolted You Qinghe to his feet. He couldn’t bear the thought of Qi Yuan being taken by someone else. He found He Zhou’s words rang true.

Now You Qinghe felt like rushing straight to Qi Yuan and confessing, but he restrained himself. Acting too rashly wouldn’t do any good either.

After all, we haven’t seen each other in so long. Rushing into a confession right now would be a disaster.

He sat back down, picked up his wine glass, and drained it in one gulp.

He Zhou was completely unaware that he had just given his romantic rival the perfect advice. If he had known, he would have regretted it to the core.

Yang Huaiyuan lay sprawled across a sofa, bored and indifferent, one arm dangling over the side.

Another person was nowhere to be seen, their current whereabouts unknown.

Qi Yuan and his group, who had already entered, paused. Xu Yu told them to wait a moment while he informed Young Master You and then call them over.

Xu Yu’s plan was to introduce Qi Yuan to his network of top-tier connections. By making an appearance before You Qinghe, Qi Yuan would gain prestige that would significantly improve how people treated him domestically—at the very least, no one would dare to openly bully him.

Xu Yu’s family background paled in comparison to You Qinghe’s. He could never provide the same level of influence that You Qinghe’s family wielded over other powerful clans. All he wanted was to give Qi Yuan the very best.

“Alright,” Qi Yuan replied.

He sized up the three figures ahead. You Qinghe had already been ruled out, leaving only He Zhou and Yang Huaiyuan.

He Zhou showed no signs of intoxication, so Qi Yuan temporarily ruled him out.

He’s a bit like Yang Huaiyuan… but would Yang Huaiyuan ever act so clingy?

Qi Yuan stared at Yang Huaiyuan, who lay on the sofa as if already asleep, and bit his lip. Forget it. I’ll just try and see what happens. Worst case scenario, I’ll just start over.

Xu Yu approached You Qinghe, bowed his head, and said respectfully, “Boss, a friend of mine is returning to the country today. He’s a person of impeccable character. Would you be willing to meet him?”

Xu Yu had followed You Qinghe since childhood, helping him with fights and handling various matters. In You Qinghe’s eyes, Xu Yu wasn’t just a lackey but a true companion—a brother.

He had never asked You Qinghe for anything before. This rare request, coupled with You Qinghe’s good mood, led him to agree. Besides, it was just a brief meeting—not some life-or-death mission. Such a simple request didn’t warrant refusal.

“Hmm, have him come.”

Xu Yu smiled. “Thank you, Young Master You.”

Having secured permission, he hurried over to Qi Yuan and gestured for them to follow.

As they walked, he explained, “Young Master You has a bit of a temper, but he doesn’t bully people without reason. Just say hello and stand with me for a bit, Qi Yuan.”

He was worried Qi Yuan might be intimidated by You Qinghe. After all, You Qinghe’s reputation from his days at the academy was less than stellar. He spoke up to reassure him.

The person they had all been longing for had, through a strange twist of fate, walked right through the door. Yet, when he finally stood before them, they could hardly believe it was real, thinking they must be dreaming.

You Qinghe: ???

He lifted his head, gazing at the man he had been yearning for. This sudden appearance felt surreal.

“Qi Yuan?”

He stood up, took a few steps closer, and reached out to touch Qi Yuan’s face, as if to confirm the man’s reality.

But He Zhou, his eyes narrowed and a smile playing on his lips, blocked his path.

During their silent clash, Qi Yuan seized the opportunity to approach Yang Huaiyuan.

Yang Huaiyuan wasn’t asleep. Hearing someone call Qi Yuan’s name, he opened his eyes. His vision was blurry at first, but as it gradually cleared, he saw Qi Yuan squatting beside him, their faces only inches apart.

A wave of warmth surged through him. Though his face didn’t flush, his ears reddened, and his gaze flickered nervously.

Yang Huaiyuan sat up and murmured, “Qi Yuan.”

“Mm-hmm,” Qi Yuan replied, his expectant expression fading as he realized he had chosen the wrong person again.

He sat down beside Yang Huaiyuan, bracing himself for another Rewind—a failure was all but guaranteed this time.

He wondered if he should try a different approach. What if he texted his boyfriend to come out when he reached Box 01?

I ditched my friends’ gathering to pick you up. If you don’t come out quickly, I’m leaving.

Qi Yuan doubted his boyfriend would be the type to get completely drunk in such a crowded setting, even if someone was there to pick him up.

Men’s minds are so transparent, Qi Yuan thought. He wants me to fetch him just to show off that I’m his boyfriend—to stake his claim, to make it official.

In the dream, their relationship had been a secret, hidden from everyone—at least, as far as Qi Yuan could tell, none of his friends knew.

There wasn’t a single post about their relationship on social media either.

As for his boyfriend’s side, Qi Yuan couldn’t be sure, but he suspected it was the same.

Sure enough, moments later, Qi Yuan was back on the plane, reliving his failure. But this time, he had a plan, feeling much calmer.

He followed his initial route, rejected Xu Yu, and brushed off Hu Xiang.

Qi Yuan didn’t rush to Box 01 immediately, wanting to avoid encountering You Qinghe, which he found troublesome. He was confident he could dodge her.

Watching You Qinghe’s departing figure, Qi Yuan pulled out his phone.

Qi Yuan: I canceled my plans with friends. Come out. I’m waiting outside Box 01. You have three minutes. If you’re not out by then, I’m leaving.

He sent the message. Within seconds, a reply popped up, assuring Qi Yuan that everything was going according to plan.

Boyfriend: Baby, I’m coming right out!

Qi Yuan took a deep breath, turned off his phone, and waited patiently.

Finally, the door opened.

Liang Tingxuan emerged, his black hair disheveled, glancing around anxiously.

Qi Yuan stepped out from around the corner. Liang Tingxuan’s eyes lit up when he saw him, and he rushed over excitedly, throwing his arms around Qi Yuan in a tight embrace.

Liang Tingxuan smelled faintly of alcohol, but it wasn’t unpleasant.

“Baby, I was just saying that. I never thought you’d actually cancel your plans.”

“I always thought you didn’t really like me that much. But after this, I know you do. I’m so happy, baby.”

“Baby, I’ve been listening to you. Look at my hair—I haven’t dyed it once since you went abroad. Aren’t I such a good boyfriend?”

“I missed you… so much… beyond words…”

His words dripped with cloying affection, and a barely perceptible greed lurked in his hazy eyes.

Hot, feverish kisses rained down on Qi Yuan’s neck.

Qi Yuan: “………”

He didn’t really want to argue with a drunk, but the itch was really intense.

He tried to dodge, covering Liang Tingxuan’s mouth with his hand.

The other man stopped kissing his neck, only to start kissing his palm instead. Qi Yuan really wanted to slap this drunk, but he held back, thinking he’d eventually become a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle if this kept up.

“Alright, stop fooling around. Let’s go home.”

He grabbed Liang Tingxuan’s clothes and tugged him toward the bar’s exit.

After only a few steps, the hand gripping Liang Tingxuan’s clothes was enveloped. One by one, his fingers loosened from the fabric until their hands were intertwined.

Qi Yuan didn’t pull away, his mind set only on escaping the bar.

Finally, his wish came true. As they exited the bar, the dream began to crumble, its illusion dissolving.