Noble Academy's Mob Character: Reborn as the Campus Heartthrob - Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Dream Love Variety Show 4

“Anything is fine with me, Yuzhu. Just make whatever you’re good at.”

Since they were on the show, Qi Yuan felt he should be less picky. Besides, he didn’t have to buy groceries or cook himself, so he couldn’t take advantage of Gu Yuzhu’s kindness to indulge his own preferences.

Gu Yuzhu sensed Qi Yuan’s hesitation.

“Don’t worry about it. When we eat together later, I’ll ask everyone what they like, and I’ll make each person their favorite dish tomorrow.”

His words were full of consideration for others. With Gu Yuzhu’s offer, Qi Yuan couldn’t possibly refuse without seeming ungrateful.

“Then I’ll leave it to you, Yuzhu. I love braised pork ribs.” Qi Yuan’s eyes crinkled into a smile.

Gu Yuzhu gazed at Qi Yuan’s smile, then lowered his head slightly, as if shy.

In a soft voice, he said, “It’s no trouble at all. Being able to make your favorite dish for you makes me really happy.”

You Qinghe: “………”

Did I just die? Why am I completely invisible here?

He interjected with forced seriousness, “I like beef. You don’t need to buy any—there’s beef in the fridge.”

This was the high-quality beef the butler had specially prepared for him, knowing the Young Master of the You Family’s particular tastes.

After pondering what might happen if the food prepared by others on the show didn’t suit the Young Master’s tastes, the Butler decided to prepare ingredients for the only dish the Young Master knew how to make: pan-fried steak. He stocked the freezer with vacuum-packed cuts of premium beef.

You Qinghe only learned about this from the Butler right before they left.

Beef?

Qi Yuan frowned, puzzled.

Could the Production Team really be this considerate?

He didn’t believe it.

But it didn’t seem like You Qinghe had brought it himself either. He hadn’t seen You Qinghe enter the kitchen at all after arriving at the villa.

Still, Qi Yuan remembered You Qinghe’s status as the Young Master of the You Family. Stocking the freezer with beef would be a trivial matter for him.

So, there was nothing surprising about it after all. Once he understood, the confusion in Qi Yuan’s mind dissipated.

Just then, Cheng Xinyi emerged from the kitchen, having scalded the tableware. She wiped her hands dry with a napkin, her shirt sleeves rolled up to reveal slender, fair arms. Her delicate fingers looked like works of art.

She sat down, her face perpetually adorned with a gentle smile.

Qi Yuan gazed at Cheng Xinyi, likely influenced by her role as his teacher in the real world. He always felt a sense of reverence toward her, a respect that even a Dreamscape where she was his girlfriend couldn’t dispel.

“What are you all chatting about? Can I join in?”

Cheng Xinyi tossed aside the tissue in his hand and found a seat.

Though he addressed the group, his gaze remained fixed on Qi Yuan.

Alphas typically possess an intense desire for control and aggression. In this era, scent-based gender identification is obsolete; Alphas and Omegas now wear suppressant patches on the back of their necks to prevent pheromone leakage and public disturbances.

At first glance, Cheng Xinyi didn’t strike one as an Alpha at all. Most people would assume he was a Beta or even an Omega, given his gentle and considerate demeanor—qualities rarely found in most Alphas.

Qi Yuan hadn’t expected Cheng Xinyi to look at him, so he forced himself to answer, “Yuzhu was asking us what we’d like to eat. She said she’ll cook for us tomorrow.”

Cheng Xinyi nodded.

“So, Qi Yuan, what do you like to eat?”

Beside them, You Qinghe and Gu Yuzhu’s eyes turned colder, though they refrained from interrupting the conversation, displeasure notwithstanding.

Qi Yuan: “Hmm, braised pork ribs, stir-fried shrimp… I prefer bolder flavors.”

He still remembered the dishes Cheng Xinyi had cooked in that dreamscape—they were truly delicious. Just thinking about them made his mouth water, and he couldn’t help but long for them, even considering asking her to make them.

But as soon as he spoke, Qi Yuan realized he might have crossed a line. They had only just met today, yet his tone already carried a familiarity, even asking her to cook his favorite dishes.

He hesitated for a moment, then quickly rationalized: she had asked first; he was merely answering her question.

Cheng Xinyi’s eyes sparkled with amusement. She relished Qi Yuan’s unguarded nature; too much formality between them would only hinder the development of their relationship.

Having obtained the answer she sought, she turned her attention to You Qinghe and Gu Yuzhu.

“What about you two? Anything you’d like to eat?”

The shift in her demeanor was unmistakable, impossible to ignore.

You Qinghe rolled her eyes inwardly, silently mocking his pretense while resolving to learn how to cook herself—otherwise, she’d start out a step behind her rivals, a dangerous disadvantage.

Even Gu Yuzhu, who had been sitting quietly, lost some of the smile on her face, inwardly disliking this sudden interloper.

As they chatted casually, the conversation mostly revolved around the trio focusing questions on Qi Yuan, who dutifully answered one after another.

Their one-sided affections were painfully obvious.

Qi Yuan felt a headache brewing. His mouth was practically dry from talking so much.

Hoping the pair who went grocery shopping would hurry back.

Just then, Cyril, who had gone upstairs to handle an urgent matter, descended the stairs, looking like he had resolved the issue.

He had changed into a casual white T-shirt and loose-fitting trousers. With his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and towering height, he seemed to effortlessly carry off any outfit, like a living mannequin.

Strikingly handsome and pleasing to the eye.

Cyril exuded an air of languid ease. His accent was so flawless that one could never tell he was a foreigner; he spoke as if he had been born and raised here.

“Apologies for the sudden absence. Urgent business came up.”

He subtly surveyed the group on the sofa.

Each one harboring their own ulterior motives.

Unfortunately, so was he.

At first glance, he had simply found the young man pleasing to the eye. But unexpectedly, his gaze kept returning to the young man. He tried to suppress this uncontrolled behavior, but the more he resisted, the stronger his desire became.

Using the excuse of handling urgent matters, Cyril had retreated upstairs to ponder his own state of mind.

Cyril suddenly remembered what his father had told him about Fated Partners.

Typically, every Top-Tier Alpha has a Fated Partner, but encountering them in one’s lifetime is exceedingly rare. Globally, there are very few Top-Tier Alphas who ever find their Fated Partners.

His own parents were one such rare combination of a Fated Partner and Top-Tier Alpha. His father often marveled at his own good fortune.

He recalled his father’s advice from his youth:

“Cyril, the moment I saw your mother, I fell in love. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

“I desperately hope you’ll find your own Fated Partner, just like I did. But we both know how difficult that is. Still, I believe my child deserves good luck.”

“So, Cyril, you must remember this: when a Top-Tier Alpha meets their Fated Partner, they’ll experience a unique sensation—a powerful emotion that erupts from the depths of their heart, impossible to ignore, impossible for reason to suppress…”

“Cyril, you’ll understand when you meet them.”

Cyril shook off the memory. He had indeed initially dismissed his father’s talk of a “Fated Partner” with scorn. But after truly encountering him, he realized his own arrogance and hubris.

Qi Yuan.

Even the name resonated perfectly with his soul.

My Fated Partner.

He gazed at Qi Yuan, whispering the words silently in his mind.

Soon, Cheng Huan and Qin Ke returned with bags brimming with groceries, their haul quite impressive.

Qin Ke, already planning his dishes, hurried into the kitchen to begin cooking. He seemed to genuinely enjoy cooking; his earlier tension had vanished, replaced by a sense of fulfillment.

Although the Production Team stipulated that cooking should be done in pairs, it felt wrong to simply watch someone else work without helping. Once one person started assisting, everyone joined in—some washing vegetables, others chopping ingredients. They even organized the mountain of snacks Cheng Huan had bought.

Jiang Wang didn’t come downstairs until dinner was ready. Seeing everyone busy, he immediately joined the fray.

By the time they finished, two hours had passed. The group had arrived at the villa in the afternoon, and now the night was already well advanced.

The group gathered around the dining table in the living room, gazing at the fragrant, colorful dishes. Without hesitation, they picked up their chopsticks and began eating.

There was no denying Qin Ke’s exceptional culinary skills. Qi Yuan, as always, excelled at providing emotional validation.

“Delicious!” he exclaimed with a smile. “Qin Ke, you’re an amazing cook!”

Qin Ke, unaccustomed to such direct praise, blushed and looked at Qi Yuan with sparkling eyes. He had always been dismissed at home, so this sincere appreciation lifted some of the weight from his heart.

“I’ll make it for you again next time,” he promised softly.

Qi Yuan nodded enthusiastically. “Okay! Thank you, Qin Ke!”

Qin Ke’s cheeks flushed crimson. He took a deep breath, lowered his head, and began eating the rice in his bowl, taking small, deliberate bites.