Noble Academy's Mob Character: Reborn as the Campus Heartthrob - Chapter 59

Chapter 59: Beast World 4

After coaxing Xu Fu for a while, Qi Yuan’s patience gradually wore thin. Finally, he thought of introducing Xu Fu to single-player mobile games.

They played until afternoon. Qi Yuan couldn’t help but marvel at how effective mobile phones were at distracting attention.

At noon, a middle-aged man brought over some meat. It was tough and bland, but Xu Fu had a bottle of chili sauce. They shared it, dipping the meat in the spicy sauce, which made it surprisingly delicious.

“Qi Yuan, I have a small solar panel at my place. I’ll bring it over tomorrow.”

Xu Fu noticed the sun was beginning to set and hurriedly stood up.

“I should head back now. I’ll come find you again tomorrow.”

“Goodbye,” he waved farewell to Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan stood up and waved back. “Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

Just as he put his phone back in his pocket and stepped into the cave, He Zhou entered, carrying a wild boar-like creature over his shoulder.

Meeting Qi Yuan’s curious, puzzled gaze, He Zhou explained, “This is an Aromatic Pig. It’s the meat from the stew you had before. It’s incredibly tender and has a unique fragrance, hence the name.”

Qi Yuan nodded in understanding. “Oh, I get it now.”

He Zhou tossed the Aromatic Pig onto the ground. “Want to go out together?”

“The hunting party brought back a lot of stuff the females like today. See if anything catches your eye.”

He’d never intended to hide Qi Yuan away. He’d simply worried about Qi Yuan’s safety without him nearby, which was why he’d asked Qi Yuan to stay in the cave. If He Zhou was by Qi Yuan’s side, Qi Yuan could go anywhere he pleased; He Zhou would accompany him every step of the way.

“Sure!” Qi Yuan readily agreed. Staying cooped up in the cave long-term was untenable. He still needed to find the key to escaping the Dreamscape, so naturally, he had to seize every opportunity to search for clues outside.

He Zhou took Qi Yuan’s hand, their fingers interlocking, and they slowly walked toward the Tribe’s entrance, matching Qi Yuan’s pace.

By the time they arrived, a large crowd had gathered around the area where the hunting party had laid out their game.

They wove through the crowd and stepped inside.

The moment Qi Yuan entered, his gaze was drawn to a golden-haired man—too dazzling to ignore.

Cyril?

He easily recognized him.

The man’s face was expressionless, his eyes cold and indifferent.

The cacophony of noise and smells irritated him, but inadvertently, a scent pierced through the dense layers of distractions and reached his nostrils.

This scent…

It was the female He Zhou had brought back.

His gaze locked onto the female’s position, meeting a pair of eyes curved like crescent moons.

Is the female smiling at me?

Cyril unconsciously straightened his posture, wanting to present his best side.

But the female had already shifted her gaze, leaving him feeling inexplicably deflated.

“Is this the Sweet Fruit?” Qi Yuan asked He Zhou, picking up a thumb-sized red berry.

“That’s right,” He Zhou confirmed.

Qi Yuan wanted to try one first to see if it suited his taste. If not, having He Zhou exchange them would be pointless.

He’d noticed He Zhou didn’t seem to have a sweet tooth. When Qi Yuan had stuffed a piece of candy into his mouth that morning, the man hadn’t shown any particular enjoyment, even fleetingly frowning, which Qi Yuan had caught.

“May I try one?” Qi Yuan asked.

“Sweet Fruits are everywhere. Try a few more,” He Zhou said, grabbing a small handful and placing them in Qi Yuan’s hand. “Too many will get cloying, though. Don’t overdo it.”

“Alright.”

Qi Yuan pinched a Sweet Fruit and popped it into his mouth. True to its name, it was indeed quite sweet, with a barely noticeable hint of tartness.

In a way, it’s healthier candy than actual candy.

Seeing Qi Yuan’s satisfied expression, He Zhou knew exactly what to do.

He conscientiously exchanged some Sweet Fruits for other goods, got a small bamboo basket from a teammate he got along with, and followed behind Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan had been eating meat for several meals straight and was desperately craving some vegetables. Unlike He Zhou and the others, whose bodies seemed perfectly adapted to a pure meat diet, Qi Yuan’s system required variety—even in the Dreamscape.

His gaze darted around until he spotted something resembling a potato. He walked over, picked it up, and confirmed it was indeed a potato. He signaled He Zhou to exchange for some.

Next, he swapped for some leafy greens, deciding it was time to head back.

Just as I was about to leave, a group of people came into view, approaching the Tribe.

Someone nearby exclaimed, “It’s the Chieftain and his party! They’re back!”

“Quick! Summon the Shaman!”

Another person asked doubtfully, “Why are they back so early? Normally it takes them seven or eight days, doesn’t it?”

“If I remember correctly, it’s only the fifth day today.”

“Could something have gone wrong?”

The moment these words were spoken, worry and anxiety instantly spread through the crowd.

As the group drew closer, the villagers noticed that none of them were missing limbs or seriously injured. In fact, they were carrying large bundles of goods and had even brought back several females. The unease quickly vanished, replaced by smiles of anticipation on every face.

Qi Yuan glanced at the Chieftain leading the group and thought, Another familiar face.

Jiang Wang’s short black hair framed his perfect features and sculpted jawline. His blue eyes held a primal wildness that seemed absent in the real world. Though his appearance was the same, this Jiang Wang possessed a different kind of rugged handsomeness, distinct from the one Qi Yuan knew in reality.

Following behind him was You Qinghe, his smiling face exuding an untamed spirit. His skin was evenly tanned, giving him a striking yet natural look.

As the hunting party entered the Tribe, the Shaman arrived.

You Yuanxiu, his white hair cascading past his waist, stood out sharply in his pristine white robes against the earthy surroundings. His hair looked remarkably soft and flowed effortlessly, unlike any real human hair—Qi Yuan felt an overwhelming urge to touch it.

He tried to step closer, but He Zhou inexplicably blocked his path and pulled him behind him.

He didn’t resist, merely gripping He Zhou’s arm and craning his neck to peer around him.

The sun was already halfway below the horizon, painting the sky with fiery afterglow.

Jiang Wang didn’t linger. He left immediately with Shaman You Yuanxiu, likely to discuss urgent matters.

Yet, as they departed, Jiang Wang paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. Finding nothing amiss, his brow furrowed slightly.

Meanwhile, on the other side:

You Qinghe relayed Jiang Wang’s earlier instructions: “No need to wait for the spoils. We’ll distribute them tomorrow morning. Everyone, go get some rest!”

His words proved effective. The crowd dispersed upon hearing there would be no distribution tonight, leaving only the hunting party members behind.

Having traded most of their day’s hunt, the group cleaned up and dispersed to their homes.

Cyril, the hunting team leader, had already left with Shaman You Yuanxiu.

Qi Yuan and He Zhou didn’t linger either, returning to their cave. He Zhou immediately started a fire, busy at once.

He didn’t plan to butcher the Aromatic Pig that night, deciding to wait until dawn.

He made a simple stew of potatoes and meat, seasoned only with salt.

Qi Yuan pulled out the chili sauce Xu Fu had given him and added a dash to the stew. The bold aroma instantly filled the cave.

After the stew was cooked, Qi Yuan devoured two bowls, until his stomach was full. He Zhou finished the rest.

This seemed to be He Zhou’s first time trying chili sauce in the Dreamscape. After an initial unfamiliarity, he quickly adapted and even seemed to enjoy it.

Overeating left Qi Yuan wide awake. He paced the cave for ages before finally falling asleep.

Just like the previous night, but with one difference: the next morning, Qi Yuan woke up cradled in He Zhou’s arms.