Noble Academy's Mob Character: Reborn as the Campus Heartthrob - Chapter 49

Episode 49: Dream Love Variety Show 9

By the time they returned to the villa, it was already late afternoon.

The setting sun painted the horizon with fiery hues.

Qi Yuan and Cyril were the last to arrive. As they changed their shoes, they looked up to meet six pairs of eyes glaring at them intently.

The others were seated in the lounge area, creating an atmosphere both eerily quiet and unsettling.

Qi Yuan had no idea what had happened.

But he steeled himself and walked over to the lounge area, finding an empty seat.

Beside him, Cheng Xinyi’s eyes flickered with a hint of melancholy. She had noticed that Qi Yuan looked much better than he had the past few days—his cheeks flushed with color, the joyful sparkle in his eyes still lingering.

“Qi Yuan, where did you guys go to have fun?” Cheng Huan leaned in, asking in a low, curious voice, secretly seething with jealousy but masking his true feelings perfectly.

The others appeared calm, but their hearts were burning with curiosity, some even gritting their teeth. Qi Yuan, however, remained oblivious to their hidden resentment.

Their acting skills were at the level of seasoned pros, far surpassing Qi Yuan’s own abilities.

“We went rafting. It was a lot of fun! I recommend it if you’re interested, though it’s pretty intense. If you can’t handle the adrenaline, you might want to skip it.”

Qi Yuan spoke honestly. Everyone would find out where they went once the episode aired, so there was no point in hiding it. Besides, being secretive would only make it look like something was wrong between him and Cyril. Better to be upfront.

“Just rafting?” Cheng Huan asked, a hint of surprise in his voice. “For a date, shouldn’t you go somewhere more romantic? And if you wanted to have fun, wouldn’t an amusement park have been better?”

He couldn’t quite grasp it and glanced at Cyril with a puzzled expression.

Despite his confusion, Cheng Huan had to admit Cyril’s unconventional approach seemed to have worked quite well.

“Oh, and we also grabbed dinner. The restaurant was pretty good—I really liked the food. Should I recommend it to you guys?” Qi Yuan added.

Gu Yuzhu’s eyes curved into a crescent smile. “Sure, Qi Yuan, recommend it! If I get the chance, I’ll check it out myself.”

Since he couldn’t win at games, he decided to start with Qi Yuan’s stomach. Opportunity waits for no one; effective pursuit requires both timing and effort, otherwise it’s all for naught.

He wasn’t the only one who understood this principle, but his quick reaction gave him the advantage. The other two followed closely behind, urging Qi Yuan to share.

The group maintained a peaceful facade, but beneath the surface, dark currents churned. No one wanted to give up; until the dust settled, everything remained uncertain, and everyone still had a chance.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wang remained calm and detached, like an outsider observing the crowd. Yet he couldn’t help but be drawn to Qi Yuan, who stood bewildered amidst the group—a man of contradictions. Qī Líng Jiǔ Sī Liú Sān Qī Shān O.

As the oldest among them, Jiang Wang possessed a more mature temperament, carefully considering all angles before acting.

For the past two days, he had been observing Qi Yuan’s personality, remaining silent while others rushed to make their moves.

These two days had been fruitful. Through observation and analysis, Jiang Wang concluded that Qi Yuan was slow to warm up, becoming increasingly guarded the more frequently they interacted.

With such a person, maintaining a measured distance during initial interactions was crucial. A gradual, steady approach was the only path to success.

The job reveal was announced on the evening of the third day.

Everyone sat together, but their spirits were low, and they showed little interest in the announcement.

Still, when each person introduced themselves and the Production Team played the videos they had filmed, smiles would surface, and polite applause would ripple through the room.

Only after the final introduction, the announcement of the session’s end, and the group’s dispersal up the stairs did the smiles on their faces fade away.

Qi Yuan had only been back in his room for a few minutes when a knock came at the door.

He opened it to find You Qinghe standing there, his towering figure looming over Qi Yuan, almost oppressive.

You Qinghe held an envelope in his hand.

Was this for me? Qi Yuan wondered.

“You Qinghe, is there something you need?” he asked.

It was nearly ten o’clock, approaching the time for the love interest text messages to be sent.

“It’s a Date Card,” You Qinghe replied in a deep, gravelly voice.

He preferred to use the Date Card sooner rather than later. He knew his performance these past two days hadn’t been stellar, so he hoped to improve his impression. After all, he was going to use the card eventually, so why not now?

Date Cards couldn’t be refused, Qi Yuan recalled the Production Team’s rules.

He reached out and accepted the envelope.

“I’ll be there.”

Qi Yuan was always happy to go out and have fun. And going out with a wealthy man meant being pampered and taken care of—what wasn’t to like?

You Qinghe was relatively obedient, and Qi Yuan was already quite familiar with him. A date with him would be 부담-free, allowing him to act naturally and casually.

“You should head back now. It’s almost time to send the ‘heartbeat’ messages,” Qi Yuan reminded him.

You Qinghe had expected Qi Yuan to be upset by his impulsive act, but to his surprise, Qi Yuan didn’t seem displeased at all. He even smiled.

There was a hint of familiarity in his tone, which struck You Qinghe as odd. Could Qi Yuan know me from before? he wondered. But I have no recollection of ever meeting him before.

He wanted to ask, but held back, his lips twitching slightly.

“Alright, I’ll head out then.”

“Good night, and have a wonderful evening.”

Qi Yuan: “Mm, you too. Good night.”

He closed the door, fully aware of You Qinghe’s nature: highly possessive and insecure, prone to reckless and impulsive actions when threatened.

Qi Yuan still remembered that wild outburst—a memory etched in his mind, one he might never forget.

This hasty use of the Date Card was likely triggered by seeing how much fun he and Cyril had on their date, how their bond had deepened. It must have been unbearable for You Qinghe.

Looking at the Date Card in his hand, Qi Yuan felt a strange sense of relief. At least You Qinghe hadn’t done anything truly outrageous, just used the Date Card. That’s… fine.

He tore open the envelope, retrieved the Date Card, memorized the time and location, then set it aside.

He began sending his “heartbeat” messages, then checked the ones he’d received from the other seven participants.

Today was fun, but I’m exhausted. So tired, I just collapsed onto the bed and slept like a log, not even dreaming all night. Woke up naturally.

By late morning, Qi Yuan was the only one left in the villa.

The fridge was stocked with breakfast as usual. He microwaved it briefly, and the aroma filled the kitchen the moment he opened the microwave. It smelled delicious, and it was.

After eating, he went back to his room and lay on the sunny balcony for a while. Bored, Qi Yuan remembered the villa had a pool in the back.

He rushed to the pool, ready for a swim.

But to his surprise, someone was already in the pool.

It was Jiang Wang.

Qi Yuan watched Jiang Wang in the pool. Jiang Wang’s physique was impressive, almost on par with Cyril’s, he thought. He usually wore suits, which made him look fit, but Qi Yuan hadn’t realized just how ripped he actually was.

Eight-pack abs lined up perfectly, and his V-line was strikingly defined.

Jiang Wang swam a lap and stopped in the shallow end, where the water reached his waist.

Qi Yuan walked over and sat beside the pool, dangling his feet in the water.

Seeing Qi Yuan sit down, Jiang Wang waded over.

He stood right in front of Qi Yuan, the visual impact intense. Qi Yuan glanced up briefly, then averted his gaze, feeling awkward.

Neither of them spoke.