Noble Academy's Mob Character: Reborn as the Campus Heartthrob - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: Dream Love Variety Show

“Holy shit, he’s way too good-looking!” Hu Xiang cursed under his breath, genuinely shocked. His voice was barely audible, only Qi Yuan beside him heard.

Qi Yuan gazed at the blond man. In truth, his memories of Cyril’s appearance from his previous life had faded over time, leaving only a vague impression of blond hair and violet eyes. Yet, seeing him suddenly appear before him now, he couldn’t help but be awestruck by his dazzling looks.

And as expected of a foreigner, it wasn’t just his striking face—his physique was equally impressive: broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and impossibly long legs.

The man continued speaking, now introducing himself.

“My name is Cyril. I’m an exchange student. It’s a great pleasure to meet you all.”

There was no arrogance in his demeanor, only a genuine warmth that put everyone at ease.

When Zhuo Ming first saw Cyril, his subconscious had immediately pegged him as someone difficult to get along with. But after interacting with him for the brief time it took to bring him back to the department, Zhuo Ming had completely changed his mind.

Although Cyril’s tone was distant and reserved, it was merely the polite demeanor one might adopt toward a stranger—even quite friendly, actually.

Zhuo Ming had heard that Cyril held a fairly high position in his own country. Compared to the arrogant nobles at Weilika Academy who looked down on them, this was a world apart.

But… hmm…

Zhuo Ming stared wordlessly at the man beside him, who had shed his reserve and now seemed to be spreading his feathers like a peacock in full display.

A sense of confusion arose in his heart. Why is he acting so differently from when we were on the way here? So… enthusiastic?

He couldn’t quite make sense of it, wondering if Cyril simply disliked him, which might explain the drastic change in attitude.

Zhuo Ming had brought Cyril to the department without any particular reason, merely wanting to introduce him to everyone. After all, Cyril was under his care, and if Zhuo Ming was unavailable later, the department members could offer assistance if they saw him.

Though he suspected Cyril’s striking appearance meant he wouldn’t lack for help, Zhuo Ming felt he should still do what he ought to do—at least to clear his conscience.

Qi Yuan had nothing to add; he felt Hu Xiang had already said everything he wanted to.

He joined the others in applauding and welcoming Cyril.

Afterward, Cyril was surrounded by department members, both men and women, all curious about his country. More importantly, his sheer attractiveness made him a sight to behold, a simple pleasure just to look at.

Qi Yuan had classes in the afternoon. With his department tasks completed, he slung his bag over his shoulder and prepared to leave.

As he walked toward the door, he was about to brush past Cyril when his gaze involuntarily landed on the foreigner. Just then, Cyril glanced up, and their eyes met.

Qi Yuan froze for a moment.

A few seconds later, a smile bloomed on his face. With a gentle nod and a curve of his eyes, he turned and left the room.

He didn’t notice that Cyril’s gaze remained fixed on him until he was out of sight.

Immediately afterward, Cyril’s demeanor noticeably cooled, lacking the initial warmth he’d shown when answering others’ questions.

Though the others were a bit puzzled, they simply assumed Cyril was tired from answering questions and didn’t think much of it.

Zhuo Ming sensed Cyril’s shift in mood and dismissed the group, taking Cyril away from the department to tour Weilika Academy.

After a brief tour, Zhuo Ming escorted Cyril back to the exchange student dormitory, assuring him to call anytime he needed anything. Even if Zhuo Ming was busy, he’d have a department member assist.

Having dealt with everyone, Zhuo Ming felt that Cyril wore one face in public and another in private. He was now certain Cyril disliked him, though not quite to the point of hatred. Zhuo Ming shrugged helplessly.

He was swamped with work; he didn’t have time to dwell on why an exchange student was giving him the cold shoulder.

Still, it was probably for the best. Just ordinary classmate relations—neither too close nor too distant.

He just needed to remind the department’s brainless members:

Don’t let his looks cloud your judgment. Keep your wits about you.

The afternoon wind was strong.

Clouds drifted across the sky, occasionally obscuring the sun, causing the brilliant sunlight to flicker on and off.

Qi Yuan walked beneath the trees lining the road. He was alone; apart from the rustling of leaves in the wind, there was no other sound.

After a while, he reached the teaching building. Today’s afternoon class was a specialized subject, so he couldn’t afford to be late.

He entered the classroom and casually took a seat.

As class began, Qi Yuan couldn’t help but wonder why Yang Huaiyuan wasn’t there.

In previous specialized courses, Yang Huaiyuan had always sat beside him. Though they rarely spoke, a tacit understanding had developed between them.

Whenever the teacher assigned homework requiring partners, they invariably teamed up.

It couldn’t be denied that Yang Huaiyuan was exceptionally capable, easily keeping pace with Qi Yuan, a reborn individual.

Something must have come up to make him miss class, Qi Yuan reasoned.

He suppressed his thoughts and focused on the lecture.

Regardless, as the heir to the Yang Family, even if Yang Huaiyuan encountered difficulties, they were beyond the reach of a poor student like Qi Yuan to help solve.

Night.

Stars dotted the sky like scattered gems.

Qi Yuan, his hair still damp from a recent wash, stood on his balcony, towel-drying his hair.

His dormitory faced another building directly across from him. On clear nights, someone with sharp eyesight could easily observe the activities in the opposite rooms.

The dormitory across from Qi Yuan’s had been empty until now, but tonight, a light was on inside.

Has someone moved in?

At this late stage in the semester, who else would move into an empty dorm besides exchange students?

He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the opposite dorm.

Suddenly, a figure appeared.

The blond man looked like he’d just showered, a towel draped over his head. His upper body was bare, revealing a muscular physique with lean, defined lines and clearly sculpted abs.

Qi Yuan: “………”

How come everyone’s in such great shape? They make me feel like a scrawny chicken.

Seeing someone emerge from the opposite dorm, Qi Yuan decided to go back inside. He didn’t want to appear like he was spying on them. He would never do such a thing.

But the other man seemed acutely aware of being watched. Before Qi Yuan could retreat, he was caught red-handed.

Cyril walked onto his balcony, waving enthusiastically at Qi Yuan with a warm smile.

What could Qi Yuan do?

He awkwardly waved back, of course.

After the brief greeting, he pointed at his own dorm, signaling his intention to go back inside. Without lingering, he rushed back into his room, slammed the glass door shut, and quickly drew the curtains.

Qi Yuan towel-dried his short hair until it was nearly dry. Short hair dried quickly anyway.

He pulled out the hair dryer from the cabinet, plugged it in, and blasted it with hot air for a few minutes until his hair was completely dry.

He crawled into bed. Having skipped his afternoon nap, Qi Yuan was already yawning with exhaustion early in the evening. The moment his head hit the pillow, he drifted off to sleep.

He lost track of time.

“Mr. Qi, Mr. Qi, wake up! We’re almost there.”

Qi Yuan felt someone shaking him and heard a buzzing sound in his ear. Groggily opening his eyes, he realized he was in a car.

Beside him sat a young man with a neat appearance, wearing black-framed glasses. Qi Yuan didn’t recognize him.

Ah, I’ve entered the Dreamscape again, he thought. I’m quite familiar with this by now.

As he adjusted his posture, the man who had woken him continued, “Mr. Qi, please tidy yourself up. We’ll be at the filming location soon.”

“Your manager couldn’t accompany you, so he asked me to remind you: please listen carefully.”

“The Dream Love Variety Show is broadcast live, so Mr. Qi, you must control your expressions well.”

“As the only Beta on the show—the others are Top Tier Alphas and Omegas—many viewers initially felt you didn’t belong when the lineup was announced. Expect some harsh comments during the live broadcast.”

“We strongly advise against reading the live comments or reviews. They can severely affect your mental state.”

“And your manager said he doesn’t want you to steal the show. He just wants you to safely complete the program, make a good impression on the audience, and lay the groundwork for future projects.”

After this lengthy explanation, Qi Yuan pondered for a moment, finally grasping his current situation.

A Dreamscape set in an ABO world?

He knew a little about what ABO meant, thanks to Qi Meng’s explanations when he was bored at home.

Hearing about it back then had truly shocked him. He couldn’t help but marvel at the world’s boundless strangeness.

Fortunately, I’m a Beta in this dream. Alpha and Omega have heat cycles, right? I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have one, but I definitely couldn’t handle it.

As for my status, I’m a washed-up eighteenth-tier celebrity assigned to this Dating Show to gain some exposure.

Being a Beta, even if I’m somewhat attractive, the other contestants—especially the Top Tier Alphas and Omegas—are unlikely to take interest in me.

So this show is basically a matchmaking event for Top Tier Alphas and Omegas, and I’m just here to fill the numbers.

After all, a reality show couldn’t feature only Alphas and Omegas; there always had to be a Beta. If that Beta remained low-key, content to blend into the background, it could actually be a decent way to gain some exposure to the audience.

But if they caused trouble… Qi Yuan was certain the Dreamscape version of himself would get “doxed” online. That’s why his manager had repeatedly warned him not to draw attention to himself—because any attention he drew was likely to be the wrong kind.

Qi Yuan was more than happy to avoid the spotlight. He actually found this Dreamscape acceptable, despite its somewhat fantastical elements. Compared to the ethically and morally bankrupt Dreamscapes he’d experienced before, this one was almost bearable.

It was just a live broadcast, after all. He’d been live-streamed in his previous two Dreamscapes, so he was no stranger to cameras.

Until he figured out the key to escaping this Dreamscape, Qi Yuan decided to lie low. Perhaps completing the show was the key to leaving—after all, the first crucial piece of information he’d heard was about the Dream Love Variety Show.

Cross that bridge when you come to it. No use worrying about what might happen. Just take things as they come.

He couldn’t escape anyway, so he might as well participate honestly.

They arrived at the villa’s entrance.

Qi Yuan glanced around through the window.

The Dream Love Variety Show filming location was a villa with a pleasant ambiance.

He awkwardly stepped out of the car, dragging his blue suitcase behind him as he used the key given to him by the staff to unlock the villa door.

Inside, he found eight pairs of neatly arranged, untouched slippers by the entrance. Qi Yuan casually picked a pair and changed into them.

He entered the living room, first setting down his suitcase before settling onto the sofa.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t nervous. He had overestimated his composure; the sight of so many cameras pointed at him genuinely made him panic a little. But he maintained control, focusing his gaze firmly on the coffee table instead of letting his eyes wander.

Finally, someone’s here!

He’s quite good-looking! Just my type! Though he looks a bit tense.

I didn’t expect the first contestant to be the show’s only Beta. Seems like a straight-laced type.

Let’s hope he stays that way! Betas don’t belong with Alphas or Omegas! I only want to see Top Tier Alphas and Omegas in sweet, sweet romances!