Noble Academy's Mob Character: Reborn as the Campus Heartthrob - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Dream

Qi Yuan froze for a moment.

He’d completely forgotten.

He wasn’t wearing his glasses now, and since his rebirth, he’d only encountered He Zhou once in the teaching building elevator—the Dreamscape didn’t count.

“Um, yes, that’s right,” he mumbled, eager to change the subject.

He quickly changed the subject.

“Thank you, President He,” Qi Yuan said sincerely. “If you hadn’t kicked him away, I would definitely have been injured.”

He debated whether to treat He Zhou to a meal or offer money directly. After considering it, he realized that even if he sold himself, he couldn’t afford to pay He Zhou. Offering too little would be insulting.

A meal it is, then.

Regardless of He Zhou’s status, he’d saved Qi Yuan’s life, and some gesture of gratitude was necessary. Qi Yuan wanted to handle this perfectly, leaving no room for gossip.

He Zhou remained silent, staring intently at Qi Yuan. His dark eyes concealed unfathomable emotions.

Qi Yuan’s scalp prickled under that intense gaze.

“To express my gratitude, President He, let me treat you to dinner.”

“And if you’re willing, let’s add each other as friends.”

He steeled himself and pulled out his phone.

Seeing He Zhou’s impassive expression and lack of any move to retrieve his own device, Qi Yuan assumed the other man wouldn’t agree to connect.

He felt a bit awkward and silently put his phone away, preparing to leave with his little sister, when he heard:

“Not adding me?”

It was He Zhou, holding out his phone with a QR code displayed.

“I’m adding you,” Qi Yuan said, his eyes curving into a smile. He just wanted to hurry up and get rid of this guy.

Behind him, Qi Meng lowered her head, understanding the situation. She didn’t say a word, just tightened her grip on the corner of her brother’s shirt.

This guy clearly came from a wealthy and powerful family. And since he was the President of Weilika Noble Academy, his status must be extraordinary—one of the highest among Weilika’s elites. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been President.

The less you do, the fewer mistakes you make. The more you do, the more mistakes you make.

Not wanting to cause trouble for her brother, Qi Meng decided it was best to keep quiet and play dumb.

He Zhou’s finger hovered over the account with the large orange cat avatar for a few seconds before tapping “Accept.”

He wanted to ask for Qi Yuan’s name, but when he looked up, the man had already vanished.

He Zhou blinked, momentarily bewildered.

Oh well, I’ll find out eventually.

He calmly put away his phone and left.

Wait, was that girl his little sister? Looking closer, they do resemble each other.

After leaving the police station, having settled the matter, the two gazed up at the sunset-streaked sky and exchanged a knowing smile.

Their home wasn’t far from the police station; taking the shortcut would get them there in forty to fifty minutes.

Having overeaten at lunch, they decided to walk home to burn off some calories.

“Bro, you’re usually the ‘better safe than sorry’ type, right?” Qi Meng asked. “Why would you go out of your way to befriend that young master?”

Qi Yuan, having settled the bill, thought for a moment before deciding to tell her the truth.

“He Zhou is the President of Weilika’s Student Council. I’m working hard to become the Minister of the Arts Department, so adding him as a friend was inevitable. Besides, I can’t let people think I’m ungrateful. He helped me, and I need to show my appreciation. Gaining my boss’s favor isn’t essential, but at least avoiding a bad impression is crucial. Otherwise, your bro won’t have an easy time at Weilika.”

Qi Meng nodded. “I see! You’re amazing, Bro!”

“I’ll study hard too, and become just like you, Big Brother!”

Qi Yuan lowered his gaze, not wanting his little sister to become like him.

It would be exhausting, he thought, and require constant vigilance.

Qi Meng wasn’t suited for that.

“I just want you to live a happy life,” he said quietly.

At least one of us should be happy, he thought.

Qi Meng refused. “No, Big Brother.”

“Living a life of ignorant happiness is foolish. I don’t want that.”

“Just because I don’t feel tired doesn’t mean I’m unhappy or unfulfilled. Everyone sees things differently. I actually feel satisfied and happy when I have ambition and earn money and power through my own efforts.”

Only by becoming strong myself can I relieve you of your burdens, Big Brother, so you can pursue the future you truly desire.

Qi Meng didn’t want to be a caged bird. She wanted to become someone as strong as her brother—not a burden to anyone, but a free bird soaring through the skies.

In the setting sun, their shadows stretched long behind them.

Everything seemed to be moving toward a good ending.

Qi Yuan: President He, are you free tomorrow?

He Zhou: Just call me He Zhou.

He Zhou: I am free.

Qi Yuan: How about lunch at XX Restaurant around noon?

He Zhou: Whatever you arrange is fine.

Qi Yuan: Alright.

Qi Yuan: [Link]

Qi Yuan: I’ve set the time for noon.

He Zhou: Mm-hmm.

Lying in bed, Qi Yuan finished making arrangements with He Zhou and put down his phone.

He stretched out his hand toward the ceiling, letting out a sigh of relief that left him feeling utterly drained.

How could I not be exhausted?

His stomach still felt uncomfortably full, and even a walk hadn’t helped digest the meal.

Qi Meng agreed. Neither of them felt like eating dinner. If they got hungry later, there were leftovers they could fry into fried rice.

With that settled, they parted ways, each returning to their own rooms, agreeing to address their hunger when it struck.

Sleep came quickly. Qi Yuan set an alarm, afraid he’d oversleep.

Of course, he knew the alarm would be useless if he entered the Dreamscape.

But setting it was just in case he didn’t enter the Dreamscape, so he wouldn’t sleep in the next day.

His consciousness sank into the Dreamscape.

The world spun violently.

Qi Yuan’s eyes flickered open twice.

He rubbed his throbbing temples and surveyed his surroundings within the Dreamscape.

Despite the throbbing headache, Qi Yuan remained remarkably calm. After experiencing so many Dreamscapes, he’d be a fool not to have grown accustomed to them by now.

The briny scent of the ocean rushed to meet him as warm seawater lapped at his feet with each crashing wave.

Qi Yuan sat alone on the sandy beach, no one nearby.

He stood up, his black knee-length shorts already soaked from the seawater and plastered with sand. Qi Yuan vigorously patted his backside, twisting his torso to inspect the mess. The wet sand proved stubborn; it took considerable effort, even resorting to rinsing with seawater, to finally clean off the worst of it. This only made his shorts stickier and more uncomfortable.

Frowning, Qi Yuan desperately wanted to change, but with no idea where he was or what to do, he felt utterly lost. A fleeting thought crossed his mind: The sun’s quite strong today. Should I just moon it for a while? Black absorbs heat, right? Maybe they’ll dry quickly?

He chuckled at the absurdity of the idea.

As he wandered along the beach, the clear azure seawater washed between his toes, dragging sand with it—a strangely ticklish yet soothing sensation.

Soon, the sounds of laughter and playful shouting drifted toward him.

Qi Yuan glanced over.

Six young men and women in shorts and light tops were heading his way.

It wasn’t until they drew closer that someone noticed Qi Yuan—or perhaps simply acknowledged his presence.

“Qi Yuan?”

Someone recognized him.

“Long time no see! We haven’t seen each other since high school graduation. Who would’ve thought we’d run into each other like this after all these years? It really is fate.”

The speaker was a young man standing in the center, surrounded by the others like a moon among stars. He wasn’t particularly handsome, but he wasn’t ugly either. However, the dark circles under his eyes gave him a sickly, kidney-deficient look.

“What do you want?” Qi Yuan asked flatly.

He recognized the man before him as Ma Zhao, a classmate from high school whose family had a bit of money. He wasn’t a bad person, just a bit of a show-off.

For Qi Yuan, it was just a minor annoyance—someone trying too hard to impress others. At least he wasn’t bullying anyone. I can just ignore him. In one ear and out the other. Standard operating procedure.

“Just saying hello, old classmate. Long time no see.”

“Looks like you’ve been doing pretty well these past few years, Qi Yuan. Your complexion’s rosy, and those clothes don’t look cheap either.”

Lu Qiang, who had been following Ma Zhao since high school and had a face covered in pockmarks, sized Qi Yuan up and down before speaking. After years of sticking with Ma Zhao, Lu Qiang had sharpened his eye for detail. He easily recognized that Qi Yuan’s simple white T-shirt and pants were from a luxury brand—mainly because his keen eyesight caught the subtle logo.

“Not bad, I guess,” Qi Yuan replied tersely, not wanting to get entangled with them. They had never been close to begin with.

He gave a perfunctory response, ready to leave.

They continued to chatter incessantly.

Lu Qiang: “Come on, spill the beans! Tell your old classmates how you struck it rich.”

Qi Yuan tried to brush past them, but Lu Qiang blocked his way.

His face showed disbelief, as if they were all mad. They hadn’t been like this in high school. How could their condition have deteriorated so severely in just a few years since graduation?

“If you’re sick, get treatment quickly. You’ll regret it when it’s too late,” Qi Yuan snapped, pushing past Lu Qiang and striding toward the white building. He left Ma Zhao and Lu Qiang behind, their faces darkening with resentment.

They spat on the ground in disgust, clearly deeply displeased.

Free from their grip, Qi Yuan felt a wave of relief wash over him. He’d initially planned to linger on the beach, but he never imagined encountering such bizarre characters as Ma Zhao and Lu Qiang.

Qi Yuan couldn’t help but wonder if the Dreamscape amplified people’s flaws. He shook his head, unable to grasp the truth. These two cases alone proved nothing. He needed to interact with more people to draw definitive conclusions.

Leaving the beach, he rinsed the sand off his feet under a faucet. The surroundings resembled a resort, yet why was it so deserted?

Qi Yuan pulled a room key from his pocket. Checking the room number, he entered the white building—a lavishly decorated hotel.

Taking the elevator to the top floor, he swiped his keycard to unlock the room and stepped inside. The spacious suite comprised two rooms. His gaze was immediately drawn to the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room, framing a breathtaking ocean view.

He pressed his fingers against the glass and stood there for a moment before suddenly remembering he needed to change his wet pants.

Opening one of the bedrooms, he saw a suitcase on the floor and a man lying face down on the bed, shirtless. Qi Yuan couldn’t see the man’s face.

He slowly walked to the other side of the room.

He recognized the man: He Zhou.

Seeing who it was, he tiptoed to the open suitcase on the floor, picked out a change of clothes, and left, closing the door behind him.

The bathroom outside featured a large bathtub.

He filled it with hot water, and once it was ready, Qi Yuan sank in for a relaxing soak.

After a while, the water had cooled significantly, so he got out, dried himself off, got dressed, drained the tub, and tossed his wet clothes into the washing machine.

As he emerged, his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a man sprawled lazily on the living room sofa.

He Zhou was awake.

Qi Yuan had no idea when He Zhou had gotten up.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked, carefully modulating his tone to sound familiar, even though they weren’t close. Based on Qi Yuan’s experience, they were certainly very close in the Dreamscape.

He walked over and sat down.

He Zhou didn’t even open his eyes, yet he unerringly located Qi Yuan, reached out, wrapped his arms around Qi Yuan’s waist, and nuzzled against him affectionately, like a child seeking comfort.

“I’m so tired, Qi Yuan.”

“I’ve already become the son they wanted, so why can’t they even grant my one wish?”

“If it weren’t for you, I don’t know how I could keep going.”

“I’m afraid that one day I’ll snap and burn down that old mansion, that den of sin, with a single match.”

“It shouldn’t exist.”

“Neither should I.”

Qi Yuan stroked He Zhou’s hair in silence.

So, after that fire in our past life, He Zhou disappeared because, just as he said, he believed he shouldn’t exist and perished with the mansion in the flames?

Qi Yuan sensed the vague source of He Zhou’s pain but felt utterly helpless. Without knowing the full story, he could easily say the wrong thing. It was better to simply be there for him.

“I’m sorry.”

“Qi Yuan, my emotions are all over the place right now. I’m rambling.”

He Zhou didn’t want to burden Qi Yuan with his negative emotions.

“Don’t say that, He Zhou,” Qi Yuan murmured.

He’d thought he wouldn’t have to speak, but the Dreamscape, true to form, wasn’t going to let him off so easily. It was all rather predictable.

“I’m listening. I want to understand you. Since we’re together, I want to share your burdens, not just worry helplessly.”

“A person’s life isn’t just filled with wolves in human skin. There are friends, lovers, tomorrows, and futures too.”

“There are so many beautiful sights in the world. Look here—the ocean outside is truly magnificent. The water is so clear, you can see the little fish and the seashells.”

“Let’s go to the beach. I think you’re just too tired.”

Qi Yuan took a deep breath, paused, and then said the final line.

“He Zhou, you must live well, live to be a hundred. Promise me?”

He couldn’t bear to see life slip away before his eyes. Perhaps his comfort would be useless, but he had to try.

“Okay.”

“I promise you, Qi Yuan.”

“To live.”

Where Qi Yuan couldn’t see, the corners of He Zhou’s lips curled slightly upward.

He knew Qi Yuan’s heart was the softest of all.

In truth, he had never cared about those two madmen. All his efforts since childhood had been solely for himself. From the very beginning, he understood the importance of wealth and power. His fundamental goal was self-improvement, so he could smoothly inherit the family business.

From the moment He Zhou first met Qi Yuan, he was deeply captivated. He would stop at nothing to win Qi Yuan’s heart, fully aware that his own qualifications were no different from those of Qi Yuan’s other suitors.

So, he learned to feign vulnerability and employ other manipulative tactics to evoke Qi Yuan’s pity and capture his attention.

The feeling of being favored by Qi Yuan remained unforgettable to this day.

Once people obtain what they desire, their greed only grows stronger, and their wants multiply.

From initially craving Qi Yuan’s favor, He Zhou eventually began to want Qi Yuan to belong solely to him. This proved challenging; his rivals were formidable, and for a time, he feared his chances were doomed.

But fortunately, Qi Yuan chose him.

He found it difficult to express his overwhelming happiness. He Zhou wanted to dedicate his entire being to his beloved, but before that, he needed to purge the family business of all its dross.

Fearing Qi Yuan would be frightened by his ruthless methods, He Zhou crafted an image of himself as a pitiful victim of his family’s oppression, forced to rebel out of desperation.

He basked in the tender gaze Qi Yuan fixed upon him, a profound sense of satisfaction blooming within him. Yet, despite the plan’s success, the consequences of his deception, should his lover discover it, loomed large.

If he could have avoided it, He Zhou would never have wanted to deceive Qi Yuan. Everything had been forced upon him.

“Sleep a little longer,” Qi Yuan murmured, gently patting He Zhou’s back, sensing his weariness.

Time drifted by, unnoticed.

When Qi Yuan awoke, having unexpectedly fallen asleep himself, he found he was already in bed, held tightly in He Zhou’s arms like a human-shaped pillow.

It wasn’t uncomfortably warm, just a bit cramped.

Qi Yuan tried to push He Zhou away slightly, but his body was still weak from just waking up. Afraid of disturbing the man with too much movement, he gave up after a single unsuccessful attempt.

No longer sleepy, he turned to He Zhou’s face and began counting his eyelashes.

He Zhou’s eyelashes were long and thick, practically impossible to count. Qi Yuan reached out and gently flicked the man’s eyelashes. He Zhou’s eyes twitched as if he were about to wake up, but after a moment, there was no further reaction.

Tsk tsk.

He looked exactly like Qi Meng used to when she pretended to be asleep as a child.

Qi Yuan chuckled and pinched He Zhou’s cheek.

“I know you’re awake. Stop faking it.”

A slightly raspy voice murmured.

“Qi Yuan’s so clever! You caught me right away. I’ll try harder next time to make it more convincing so you won’t notice.”

He Zhou tightened his embrace around Qi Yuan’s slender waist, his eyes crinkling into crescents. He pressed his forehead against Qi Yuan’s, savoring the warmth and tranquility of the moment.

After a while, Qi Yuan wriggled free and shifted positions, turning his back to He Zhou.

Staying in one position for too long made his limbs numb and tingly.

Warm breath tickled the back of his neck.

“I really wish I could just hold Qi Yuan like this for the rest of my life,” He Zhou sighed.

“Alright, time to get up,” Qi Yuan interrupted his reverie. His stomach was growling, and his neck was itching terribly. If not for He Zhou’s fragile mood, he would have slapped him across the face to push him away.

They had slept much longer than they realized; the sky was already dark.

As night fell, the wind picked up, and the waves on the sea grew turbulent.

The beach buzzed with life. People who hadn’t been seen during the day were now everywhere, illuminated by colorful lights, drawn to the rows of snack stalls that had sprung up.

Qi Yuan, hand in hand with He Zhou who had changed into fresh clothes, walked barefoot along the edge of the waves.

After strolling for a while, they bought some snacks and happily filled their stomachs.

Once they finished eating and discarded their trash, the two resumed their walk by the water’s edge.

He Zhou suddenly spoke up.

“Qi Yuan, why did you choose me?”

“Was it just out of pity?”

Just as he had said earlier, humans are greedy, always wanting more. After gaining Qi Yuan’s body, He Zhou now craved his heart.

“He Zhou,” Qi Yuan said softly.

“You need to understand this: I, Qi Yuan, would never be with someone just out of pity.”

Whether in reality or in dreams, Qi Yuan remained the same.

“So, be more confident, okay?”

The corners of Qi Yuan’s lips curved slightly into a warm, gentle smile, like the pure, radiant moonlight that endlessly draws those trapped in darkness yet yearning for light.

“I’m sorry,” He Zhou murmured. “I was overthinking things.”

So, the moon had willingly descended for me all along, he realized. I was blinded by my own insecurities.

The dream ended.

Regarding the Handling of Ma Zhao and Lu Qiang in the Dreamscape

After Qi Yuan fell asleep, He Zhou carried him to his room, then went to the living room and opened his phone.

A subordinate’s report detailed everything Qi Yuan had done and everyone he had met after He Zhou fell asleep, including Ma Zhao and Lu Qiang’s provocations and curses.

Every expression, every word, had been meticulously recorded.

My precious has been wronged. How could I, as his boyfriend, not avenge him?

Feed them to the dogs.

These two simple words sealed their fate.

I’ve always said I’m no saint. What’s a little cruelty? As long as Qi Yuan never finds out—and I’ll make sure he never does.

Qi Yuan woke up early, even before his alarm went off.

Perhaps having lingered too long in the dreamscape, he felt no drowsiness upon waking in reality.

As dawn began to lighten the sky, Qi Yuan turned on the desk lamp and sat down to take notes, seeking to calm himself.

With a multitude of trivial tasks accumulating, time always slipped away quickly.

Qi Yuan set off an hour early, arriving at the mall first and waiting in the private dining room he had reserved for He Zhou’s arrival.

To his surprise, He Zhou arrived only ten minutes later, also ahead of schedule.

The two sat facing each other.

Qi Yuan didn’t notice He Zhou’s gaze occasionally lingering on him. Even when he did glance up, he found nothing amiss. The man across from him kept his gaze fixed on the food, elegantly bringing each bite to his mouth.

He Zhou struggled to maintain control, his rationality warring with an inexplicable emotion. This was all wrong.

He knew perfectly well that the young man before him was the source of his unease. He knew he shouldn’t have come—shouldn’t even have added him as a friend in the first place.

If he had to describe it, his initial encounter with the young man was like stepping into quicksand. From adding him as a friend, he had sunk deeper and deeper with each passing moment.

This wasn’t the young man’s fault. He Zhou simply couldn’t resist the overwhelming pull, ultimately walking down a path he himself couldn’t determine whether it was right or wrong.

“What’s your name?”

He Zhou had already had someone investigate the young man’s name on the way back: Qi Yuan.

He knew it, but he still wanted to hear the young man introduce himself.

“Qi Yuan. My name is Qi Yuan. The ‘Qi’ is the ‘Qi’ from zhengqi (orderly), and the ‘Yuan’ is the ‘Yuan’ from yuanbo (profound).”

Qi Yuan paused, only then realizing he had forgotten to introduce himself to He Zhou from the start. He hurriedly spoke up.

Though his parents weren’t highly educated, they had always hoped their children would excel in their studies and change their fate through education.

This year, after Qi Yuan was accepted into Weilika Noble Academy, he took Qi Meng to pay respects at their parents’ graves during summer break. He made sure to emphasize this achievement and even printed out a copy of his acceptance letter, burning it as an offering before their parents’ graves.

“A very lovely name,” He Zhou praised, his expressionless demeanor making the compliment sound almost like consolation.

Though Qi Yuan could sense genuine sincerity in He Zhou’s words, the corners of his lips couldn’t help but twitch with exasperation.

To be honest, Qi Yuan found the He Zhou in the Dreamscape remarkably different from the one in reality.

He Zhou suddenly asked, “Don’t you like me as I am now?”

His uncanny sensitivity to emotions left Qi Yuan stunned.