Noble Academy's Mob Character: Reborn as the Campus Heartthrob - Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Dream Love Variety Show (Finale)

“Coming in?”

Jiang Wang was the first to speak, extending a hand to Qi Yuan in invitation.

Qi Yuan wore a loose white T-shirt and black shorts that reached his mid-thighs. He hadn’t bothered with his hair after getting up, merely running his fingers through it, creating a disheveled look that suited his face with a certain messy charm.

Qi Yuan shook his head. “I’ll sit for a bit before swimming.”

He was still unsure if his black shorts would bleed dye when wet. If he jumped in and turned the pool black, he’d lose face—and he couldn’t afford that embarrassment.

While there was a high chance they wouldn’t bleed, given that his clothes in this Dreamscape seemed to be designer brands, who knew for sure? He’d never worn designer clothes in reality—what if even luxury brands bled?

With so many eyes watching, he didn’t dare risk it.

I’ll sit for a bit, he thought. If I really want to swim, I’ll change into non-bleeding shorts in my room first.

His earlier excuse to Jiang Wang about swimming later was pure evasion. Qi Yuan’s thought processes often deviated from the norm.

Jiang Wang nodded, turned, and swam another lap. Growing bored, he climbed out of the pool, grabbed a towel from the side, draped it over his shoulders, and sat down beside Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan watched Jiang Wang sit down beside him, paying little attention. He turned to cup water in his hands when Jiang Wang’s words sent a chill down his spine:

“Qi Yuan, do you think this world is real?”

Jiang Wang’s expression remained calm, his eyes utterly serene as he gazed at the sky. After speaking, he turned to fix a serious gaze on Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan: “………”

“It’s fake.”

After a moment of silence, he spoke the truth.

Perhaps because the Dreamscape felt so real, and Jiang Wang seemed so lifelike, Qi Yuan, who had initially intended to lie, ultimately chose honesty.

Jiang Wang received an unexpected answer.

“Why do you think this world is fake?”

Qi Yuan knew perfectly well why he thought it was fake—because he knew it was a dream. But he couldn’t say that directly; who knew if it would force him to start over? Having already reached the fourth day of the Dreamscape, he desperately didn’t want to reset.

So, he chose evasion over directness, deflecting the question with another:

“Why did you ask that question?”

Jiang Wang chuckled, finding Qi Yuan’s sly cleverness rather endearing.

“My brain keeps telling me this world isn’t real,” he said, pointing to his head.

“Ever since I came here, I’ve felt like everything around me is fake, like everyone is shrouded in a mist. Sometimes the mist dissipates, and they seem real, but when it envelops them again, they become fake again.”

“But I can’t see through you. You don’t seem to have a trace of mist on you.”

“Isn’t that strange?”

Good heavens, he’s right on the truth!

Qi Yuan was stunned, his eyes widening as he stared at Jiang Wang.

So the people in the Dreamscape aren’t mindless puppets after all?

Could it be… they’re like me?

Except I retained my memories from the real world, while they had their memories from the Dreamscape overwrite their real-world ones?

No wonder they seemed to remember fragments of the Dreamscape in reality and acted so strangely towards me. But their retained Dreamscape memories must be limited—they didn’t remember everything, just scattered fragments.

“You know something, don’t you, Qi Yuan?” Jiang Wang said, his tone devoid of doubt, only certainty. He was convinced Qi Yuan knew something; his only uncertainty lay in whether Qi Yuan would reveal the so-called truth to him.

Qi Yuan lowered his head, murmuring, “I can’t tell you directly, but I don’t want to lie to you. The only thing I can tell you is… trust your own judgment.” His voice faded to a whisper. He didn’t know if Jiang Wang heard, but he had said all he could.

“Thank you,” Jiang Wang said, his voice unusually gentle.

Before the words were fully spoken, Qi Yuan felt the Dreamscape begin to shatter, ending prematurely.

How could this be?

He quickly looked up at Jiang Wang. By then, no sound could escape his lips.

Jiang Wang watched as the Dreamscape crumbled around him, including himself. Starting from his fingertips, he gradually disintegrated, piece by piece, showing no surprise, only regret.

Summoning courage from who-knows-where, Qi Yuan reached out to grab him, but Jiang Wang shook his head in refusal.

Then, mouthing each word with meticulous care, Jiang Wang uttered a sentence that left Qi Yuan stunned.

Even after Qi Yuan regained his senses and looked back, those words still moved him deeply.

The morning sun bathed the campus in a golden glow.

Qi Yuan, backpack slung over his shoulder, made a momentous decision: he would take Qi Meng on a trip. The pressures of high school were immense, and Qi Meng, being an exceptionally diligent student, must be carrying an unbearable weight both physically and mentally.

Besides, he wanted to get away himself.

Ever since their exhilarating river rafting adventure in the Dreamscape, he had yearned to explore the real world. Even if they couldn’t travel abroad, visiting nearby scenic spots and historical sites would still be worthwhile.

In truth, these were just excuses.

Qi Yuan knew deep down that his heart was in turmoil. He wanted to escape the academy, give himself time to sort things out, and think things through properly.

With a few days of vacation coming up, he could take Qi Meng away for a few nights.

He started researching travel guides.

Qi Yuan stumbled upon a forum post about an Ancient Village, a place steeped in history where traditions had endured unbroken. The villagers were renowned for their warmth and hospitality, the surrounding scenery breathtaking, and free guides were available to lead visitors through the area.

The post enthusiastically recommended the village’s diverse range of activities.

Qi Yuan scrolled through the comments beneath the post, finding overwhelmingly positive reviews despite the thread’s low visibility.

To be on the safe side, he conducted a thorough online search to verify the authenticity of the glowing reviews.

Satisfied that the claims were legitimate, he meticulously planned the trip and decided to take Qi Meng to the Ancient Village.

He first booked a two-night stay at a village guesthouse online, planning for a three-day trip.

With the decision made and the plan set in motion, Qi Yuan knew he couldn’t afford to waver. He understood that even a flicker of doubt or a hint of procrastination would doom the trip.

Therefore, the moment the idea of traveling struck him, he acted immediately, giving himself no time for second thoughts or delay.

Qi Yuan quickly picked up Qi Meng, and the two set off for the Ancient Village.

After a long and arduous journey, climbing mountains and wading through rivers, they arrived at the village, their heads spinning from the bumpy ride.

Qi Meng grumbled, “Brother, if this is supposed to be relaxing, I’d rather be in the classroom solving problems than suffering through this.”

Qi Yuan tried to reassure her. “Just hang in there. After the rain comes the rainbow.”

“I hope so,” Qi Meng muttered, losing her desire to talk.

Dusty and travel-worn, they entered the Ancient Village. The sight of its pristine, ancient architecture, devoid of modern elements, instantly dispelled their discontent, making the journey feel worthwhile.

“It’s so beautiful,” Qi Meng murmured in awe.

By late afternoon, the setting sun cast an ethereal glow over the village, evoking the timeless scenes of classical poetry.

The words of the ancients were no mere exaggeration—they were true.

As they strolled along the stone-paved paths, Qi Meng kept asking Qi Yuan to take photos of her. The scenery made for stunning shots.

Delighted with each shot, Qi Meng struggled to choose which ones to post on social media, her indecisiveness flaring up.

“Brother, can you help me pick out a few to post?”

She reluctantly discarded a few photos, intending to have Qi Yuan help her choose the rest.

“These ones,” Qi Yuan said, taking her phone and scrolling through the images. He tapped a few that caught his eye.

To be honest, he thought they were all good. After all, he’d taken them himself, and he had faith in his photography skills.

Dusk gradually deepened into night. By the time they found the guesthouse, half the night had already fallen.

The guesthouse owner was an elderly woman sitting in the lobby, bathed in the warm, amber glow of the lamp. She held a needle, embroidering something under the light.

Hearing footsteps, the old woman looked up. Her glasses framed her face as she peered at Qi Yuan and Qi Meng for nearly a minute before recognition dawned.

“Are you the guests?” she asked.

“Yes, Grandma,” Qi Yuan replied. “We booked for two nights yesterday.” He showed her the reservation on his phone.

The old woman set down her embroidery and rose slowly, leaning forward as she walked, each step steady and deliberate.

“I’ll take you to your rooms,” she said, leading them deeper into the guesthouse. Qi Yuan and Qi Meng followed.

As they walked, she cautioned them, “Don’t go out at night. Do your exploring during the day.”

“If you hear someone knocking at night, don’t answer. Just pretend you didn’t hear anything.”