Noble Academy's Mob Character: Reborn as the Campus Heartthrob - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: The Dream’s End

The silver ring on his ring finger—a genuine ring, just like the one Qi Yuan was wearing.

The two rings were nearly identical, clearly part of a set.

Hmm…

The implication of wearing rings was crystal clear.

But Qi Yuan didn’t want to know. His world went dark.

Were they already engaged? Or married? Qi Yuan couldn’t be sure; either seemed possible.

Afterward, he adopted a Zen-like detachment, thinking, Since I’m here, I might as well make the best of it.

It’s not like I’ll starve to death here.

Climbing into Cheng Xinyi’s car, Qi Yuan buckled his seatbelt, staring straight ahead. He didn’t notice Cheng Xinyi’s hand, halfway extended toward him, retract and brush her nose instead.

After a twenty-minute drive, they arrived at the local wet market.

Cheng Xinyi parked the car and led Qi Yuan through the bustling market with practiced ease.

She knew exactly which stalls were best. First, they stopped at the butcher’s stall, where she asked the butcher to cut a rack of ribs. After paying, she took the meat, stepped away, leaned in close to Qi Yuan, and whispered, “This butcher slaughters fresh daily—the meat is incredibly fresh.”

“How about I make your favorite braised ribs for you, darling?”

Qi Yuan was all for it. He genuinely loved braised pork ribs, especially when someone else cooked them—not him. Why would he say no?

“Sounds great!” he replied, nodding eagerly.

Next, they stopped by a vegetable stall and picked up some side dishes, mostly things Qi Yuan liked.

Cheng Xinyi wasn’t a picky eater at all. She was easy to please, eating whatever was put in front of her, usually just sharing meals with Qi Yuan.

After shopping, they headed home.

Their apartment complex was a short distance from the academy, in an upscale neighborhood with beautiful scenery, a lake view, and lush greenery.

Qi Yuan found the scenery quite appealing and gazed at it with genuine interest.

He cracked the car window slightly, letting the breeze rush in and tousle his hair. He didn’t mind; he enjoyed driving with the window open, letting the wind whip through his hair.

The car slowly entered the underground parking garage.

Qi Yuan carried his backpack and Cheng Xinyi’s textbooks, while Cheng Xinyi carried the groceries.

The garage had an elevator, and in this upscale complex, the elevator was no ordinary one. To reach their floor, they had to swipe a card, which would only allow them to select their designated floor.

Cheng Xinyi had bought the top floor—an entire penthouse apartment with a rooftop terrace included.

Stepping inside, the place felt lived-in, the sofa piled high with all sorts of plush toys. Qi Yuan immediately recognized them as his own handiwork—the uglier and more bizarre the toys, the more he adored them.

He marveled that Cheng Xinyi had allowed his Dreamscape self to clutter the sofa like this, especially considering she might get spooked stumbling out of her room in the middle of the night.

Qi Yuan sank into the sofa, burying himself among the toys. From this vantage point, he could see Cheng Xinyi in the kitchen, donning an apron, rolling up her sleeves, and beginning to prepare dinner.

He’d wanted to help. As soon as he got back, he put down his things and headed for the kitchen, but Cheng Xinyi stopped him with a helpless look.

“Darling, just relax and wait. It won’t take long.”

Qi Yuan understood the gentle hint perfectly and naturally chose to obey. There was no point in pushing the issue.

His Dreamscape self must have wreaked havoc in the kitchen before, which was why Cheng Xinyi was keeping him out.

With no chores to do and a dishwasher in the kitchen, Qi Yuan was likely living a life of pure leisure, waiting to be fed like a pampered parasite. This was the first time he’d ever experienced such indulgence.

Even more rare was the peaceful, ordinary nature of this dreamscape.

Qi Yuan pondered for a moment, then concluded that the quality of the dreamscape depended entirely on the person.

He turned on the TV, which was playing a melodramatic historical romance drama, leaving him utterly dumbfounded.

Well, that’s something new, he thought.

Just then, Cheng Xinyi emerged from the kitchen with a fruit platter, piled high with Qi Yuan’s favorites.

Curious about the indescribable expression on Qi Yuan’s face, Cheng Xinyi watched the show for a moment. A giant question mark appeared above her head.

“Why don’t they just explain things? Do they not have mouths?”

Qi Yuan speared a strawberry with his fork and popped it into his mouth.

“The playwright’s logic is beyond mortal comprehension.”

Cheng Xinyi: “So they make it this complicated just to make it more dramatic?”

Qi Yuan found her reasoning plausible.

“That must be it.”

He grabbed the remote and changed the channel.

“Watching too many of these dramas makes me feel like I’m getting dumber. Let’s watch Man vs. Wild instead.”

Cheng Xinyi: “Mmm, babe, watch whatever you like.”

He seemed like a fleeting passerby, here one moment and gone the next.

He’d simply wanted to see what Qi Yuan was watching and maybe feel a little more present before getting back to his tasks.

Qi Yuan didn’t expect him to leave so abruptly. After a moment of bewilderment, he chuckled, raised an eyebrow, and continued eating his fruit.

He had to admit, Cheng Xinyi cooked incredibly fast. When the meal was finally laid out before him—three dishes and a soup, each fragrant and beautifully presented—Qi Yuan immediately gave a thumbs-up.

He’d known Cheng Xinyi could cook from watching him shop for groceries with practiced ease, but he hadn’t realized he was this good.

“Babe, try the spareribs first,” Cheng Xinyi called out, peeling off his apron and rinsing his hands halfway before leaning his head in.

Qi Yuan picked up a sparerib, put it in his mouth, and bit down gently. The meat easily slid off the bone, tender and flavorful.

“Cheng Xinyi, this is amazing!” he exclaimed.

Cheng Xinyi finished washing his hands, drying them with a paper towel as he walked over.

“If you like it, babe, that’s all that matters.”

His eyes and brows curved with a smile, his heart brimming with joy at the praise, though he only replied simply, “As long as you enjoyed it.”

This personality of his… Qi Yuan thought, feeling quite helpless.

The two enjoyed a pleasant dinner together.

By the end, Qi Yuan felt utterly stuffed. He stood up, patted his stomach, puzzled by why he hadn’t felt so full while eating, only realizing it afterward.

How embarrassing and uncomfortable!

He wanted to ask Cheng Xinyi for help, his lips moving repeatedly without forming the words.

Why would I get full even in a Dreamscape?!

Qi Yuan was on the verge of collapse, feeling half-dead.

Though he knew Cheng Xinyi wouldn’t mock him, he still couldn’t bring himself to ask.

After clearing the table, Cheng Xinyi noticed Qi Yuan pacing back and forth in the living room. A flash of understanding crossed her eyes.

It’s my fault, she thought, feeling a pang of guilt. I kept piling food onto his plate and refilling his rice bowl because he looked like he was enjoying it so much.

Silently, she retrieved the first-aid kit, took out some digestive tablets, and poured a glass of warm water.

Cheng Xinyi was remarkably straightforward; her emotions were written plainly on her face. As she handed Qi Yuan the tablets, her expression plainly showed her remorse.

Qi Yuan took the tablets, swallowed them, and called out, “Cheng Xinyi.”

When he was sure her gaze was on him, he continued, “I’m feeling really stuffed.”

“Why are you blaming yourself?” Qi Yuan asked, tilting his head in reassurance. “Don’t feel it’s your fault. I was just greedy.”

Cheng Xinyi lowered her gaze, gently stroking Qi Yuan’s face. “I’m just worried I’m not taking good enough care of you.”

Qi Yuan met her eyes, finally understanding her unease. He nuzzled his cheek against her hand. “Cheng Xinyi takes excellent care of me. Don’t underestimate yourself.”

Cheng Xinyi was genuinely happy, yet she remained anxious. With someone she loved, she always wanted to give her all to her partner, but she worried that her actions might burden him or displease him.

She was undoubtedly sensitive, but this sensitivity remained hidden—perhaps even Cheng Xinyi herself hadn’t fully recognized it.

“Remember what you said earlier while watching that melodramatic TV series?”

Cheng Xinyi hesitated before nodding. She was sharp-witted; a gentle reminder was all it took for her to grasp the point.

Those immersed in a situation often miss the forest for the trees. A gentle nudge, however, could help them break free.

“I’m sorry, darling.”

“We really haven’t been communicating enough.”

Cheng Xinyi recovered, finally grasping the core issue.

“I’ve always wanted to give you the very best, to take care of you perfectly, to plan everything out for you. But I forgot to ask if you even needed any of it. That’s a big problem,” Cheng Xinyi reflected.

Qi Yuan simply smiled. He didn’t need to say anything; his encouraging smile was enough for Cheng Xinyi.

“Want to go for a walk?” Cheng Xinyi suggested.

“Sure!”

They held hands and stepped out the door.

The Dreamscape shattered.

Qi Yuan woke up, reflecting on his actions. He realized he had been too impatient. Each Dreamscape, in truth, was not inherently difficult; simply following its narrative thread would inevitably reveal the key to escape.

Why hadn’t he treated these Dreamscapes as life’s training grounds?

After all, real life offered no such chance to interact with so many influential figures.

With this realization, the pent-up frustration in his heart dissipated.

Gazing at the dawn-kissed sky, he murmured, “Another beautiful day.”

Approaching life with a positive attitude truly did wonders for one’s mood.

This morning, He Zhou, the Student Council President who hadn’t been seen on campus for ages, finally reappeared.

He was in the President’s office.

“Qi Yuan.”

“This year’s freshman.”

“Excellent grades, pleasant personality, hasn’t made any enemies so far.”

“Already joined the Arts Department and is being groomed as the next department head.”

“That’s all for now.”

He Zhou listened to Liang Tingxuan report the information he had requested, tapping his fingers lightly on the desk.

“Mm, thank you for your trouble.”

He had been incredibly busy lately, so much so that he could only stay on campus for half a day, leaving for another city by noon.

He shouldn’t have lingered at the academy at all, but the thought of possibly catching a glimpse of Qi Yuan or hearing even a scrap of news about him filled his hollow heart instantly.

So easily satisfied, He Zhou thought to himself.

But as he rose and walked to the window, gazing at the academy shrouded in a thin layer of mist, he knew that while he was easily satisfied this time, the next time might be different.

Behind him, Liang Tingxuan maintained his usual smile, but his clenched fists betrayed his unease, his mind swirling with unanswered questions.

Yet he knew some things were not his place to ask.

While Qi Yuan was doing his morning exercises, he received a call from his department head.

“Should I deliver the documents now?” Qi Yuan asked to confirm.

“Yes,” Zhuo Ming replied. “The President only has time this morning. Have all departments urgently submit their pending paperwork and reports for his signature and briefing.”

“Alright, I understand.”

Qi Yuan hung up.

Ever since he started doing morning exercises at home during the holiday break, he’d found them genuinely effective for staying fit and had kept up the routine daily.

He did have a document on hand that he’d been assigned to complete over the break.

Qi Yuan couldn’t help but feel grateful he hadn’t procrastinated. Having finished it during his free time at home, he was now spared the impossible task of catching up at the last minute.

Grabbing the document, he left his dorm at a leisurely pace.

The Student Council was undoubtedly swamped today. Usually, the Arts Department had relatively lighter workloads compared to other departments, especially when no major events were planned.

Still, Qi Yuan couldn’t shake his confusion. He Zhou wasn’t the only one who could handle Student Council affairs—why the sudden rush to process everything this morning?

What about Liang Tingxuan? There was no need for such urgency.

Curiosity gnawed at him, but duty prevailed. He couldn’t exactly march up to He Zhou and demand an explanation for the rush.