Noble Academy's Mob Character: Reborn as the Campus Heartthrob - Chapter 69

Chapter 69: An Unexpected Incident

Qi Yuan’s physical condition had improved somewhat during his time at the Academy, and thanks to taking his medication promptly, he woke up completely free of cold symptoms.

It was now afternoon, with the sun already halfway below the horizon.

He had spent the entire day in a daze, enjoying meals brought to his bedside and having every whim catered to. The only thing missing was Qi Meng and Xia Jiqing personally spoon-feeding him.

Lying in bed, Qi Yuan sighed inwardly, Modern life really is the best!

With TV dramas, novels, manga, and short videos to keep him entertained, there was none of the mind-numbing boredom of his time in the Dreamscape, where days stretched into years and his only diversions were single-player games. If it hadn’t been for Xu Fu’s solar panels, he wouldn’t even have had access to those.

“Big Brother, you just have a slight cold, but why do you look so weathered?” Qi Meng asked, poking his pale, bloodless cheek as she sat by his bedside.

Qi Yuan turned to look at her, his eyes filled with unspoken emotions, yet he couldn’t bring himself to say a word. He sighed inwardly, If only you had experienced what I did—traveled to the ancient era and lived through it all—you’d understand.

Though it was merely a dream, he felt its reality was indistinguishable from real life.

Seeing the frown on her brother’s face, Qi Meng knew he was hiding something from her. Though she worried, she also knew he wouldn’t tell her even if she asked, so she decided to drop the matter.

“Big Brother, are you leaving tomorrow? I’m going to miss you so much.”

She genuinely meant it. Every time she parted with her brother, it took her ages to readjust to school.

Qi Meng lowered her gaze, her lips slightly pouting, her cheeks barely puffed out.

Qi Yuan watched her throw this little fit, feeling proud of how well he’d raised her. Since their parents’ passing, she’d almost never thrown a tantrum at him like she used to when they were little.

He found this new side of her rather endearing.

“I’ll miss you too, Qi Meng.”

“But we both have our own lives to pursue. If we want to make something of ourselves, we need to get used to being apart. For family members, separation is a required course.”

Qi Meng’s mind darted to another topic after acknowledging his words.

She pressed her lips together and replied, “I know.”

Then she squatted down, pressing her cheek against the edge of the bed.

In a soft voice, she murmured, “I’ll study harder from now on and try to get into Weilika Academy.”

“Today, a friend told me that a classmate’s older brother, who was a year above you at Weilika Academy, recently dropped out and went home. I saw the photos my friend sent—he looked terrible, so gaunt and disoriented, like he’d been through something devastating.”

“I can understand. If I poured my heart and soul into getting into Weilika, only to be expelled halfway through, I’d go crazy too.”

“Becoming rich is indeed an incredibly difficult path, but I won’t give up because of that.”

Qi Meng’s voice didn’t match the unwavering conviction of her words. Qi Yuan sensed a faint undercurrent of fear.

He placed his hand on her head and gently rubbed it in a soothing gesture.

His voice was soft, yet filled with tenderness: “Mm, I believe in you, Qi Meng.”

How could he not see her fear? He knew she was simply afraid of the unknown and the harsh realities staring her in the face.

Qi Yuan, armed with memories from his past life, could avoid many of the pitfalls at Weilika Academy. But other impoverished students didn’t have that advantage—their limited understanding was their burden.

Did he have a solution?

No, he didn’t.

Perhaps in the future, he might.

But right now, he was helpless.

All he wanted now was to protect Qi Meng. If she could get into Weilika, that would be ideal.

Qi Yuan had once been reluctant for Qi Meng to attend Weilika. But after experiencing more of the world, he now understood what graduating from Weilika truly meant.

Graduating from Weilika Academy was like holding a golden ticket—an entry card to the next level. Qi Yuan understood Qi Meng’s ambition, and he couldn’t stand in her way. After all, there was no easier path than one paved with such prestigious credentials.

Moreover, the connections he had painstakingly cultivated—both current and future—were meant to streamline opportunities. If he couldn’t use these hard-won connections to secure Qi Meng’s admission to Weilika, what was the point of all his efforts?

But all of this hinged on Qi Meng successfully passing the entrance exam.

Qi Yuan recalled seeing the test scores the homeroom teacher had posted in the class parent group. Truthfully, Qi Meng still had some ground to cover before meeting Weilika’s requirements.

He was a decent older brother, yes, but he was also the kind who couldn’t resist teasing his little sister—the kind who enjoyed watching her get flustered and angry.

“Stop overthinking nonsense.”

“I saw your exam scores in the group chat, Qi Meng. You need to work harder.”

Qi Meng bit her lip. “Damn it.”

She had completely forgotten how far she still was from her target.

If she kept going like this, she might not even get in. And here she was, daydreaming about what life would be like after admission—how embarrassing!

She stood up and rubbed her cheeks.

“No!”

“I need to start working hard right now!”

“Top five in the class and top ten in the grade before the New Year!”

Qi Meng cheered herself on before rushing back to her room and diving into her studies. She’d been having too much fun these past few days and hadn’t reviewed anything. She only remembered now that the group chat had mentioned an exam upon returning from the holiday.

If she didn’t start studying now, her grades would definitely slip.

Her classmates were all such try-hards—including herself, though she still wanted to yell at them for being so competitive!

One slip-up and they’d catch up. She really had no choice but to push herself even harder.

Xia Jiqing, who had been leaning against the door frame, approached only after Qi Meng had left.

Throughout their exchange, he had remained silent, careful not to disrupt the intimate atmosphere between brother and sister, and had no intention of intruding.

He tried to crouch like Qi Meng, but his tall frame made it impossible to rest his head by the bed. After a moment’s hesitation, he sat down on the floor instead.

“Can I apply to Weilika Academy too?” Xia Jiqing asked, a hint of expectation coloring his fair face, as if he longed for the same encouragement Qi Yuan had given Qi Meng.

Qi Yuan would never say anything discouraging to Xia Jiqing.

“Of course you can.”

“As long as your grades meet the requirements.”

“You’re very smart, Xia Jiqing. Give it a try.”

“But whether you get in or not, it doesn’t matter. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Just do your best.”

With that, Qi Yuan stood up and patted Xia Jiqing on the head. Seeing the boy’s eyes light up instantly, Qi Yuan smiled helplessly.

After a few more words, Qi Yuan told Xia Jiqing to leave.

He yawned, lay down, and fell asleep again almost immediately.

When Qi Yuan woke up, the day was already bright.

After lunch, he watched Qi Meng and Xia Jiqing pack their luggage and escorted them to the Academy.

He didn’t need to worry about Qi Meng, but he was concerned about Xia Jiqing. He spent considerable time settling Xia Jiqing in, and only left after seeing him settled down obediently.

By the time Qi Yuan returned to the Academy, it was already night.

Feeling like his body was about to fall apart, he had just gotten back to his dormitory when a phone call came through.

It was Hu Xiang.

The background noise was quite loud, but Hu Xiang’s voice cut through it, allowing Qi Yuan to hear him clearly.

“Qi Yuan! Help me!”

“I’m telling you, Brother Zhuo just got dumped! We’re at a bar, and he’s completely drunk. He looks tall and skinny, barely any meat on him, but he’s heavy as hell! I can’t drag him out of here!”

“And when Brother Zhuo’s drunk, he gets stubborn and violent. I’m afraid he’ll pick a fight with someone if I take my eyes off him.”

“If you’re coming back to the Academy, could you pick us up at Lan Xun?”

“This is a nightmare…”

“Brother Zhuo! Don’t move!”

“That’s someone else’s drink! Don’t grab it!”

A crash rang out.

The sound of the phone hitting the floor.

Qi Yuan: “………”

When did Zhuo Ming start dating? How did I not know?

Something’s not right.

If Zhuo Ming has a partner, why hasn’t he introduced them to us? Why is he keeping it a secret?

This is so strange. Too strange.

He didn’t have time to dwell on it. After changing his shoes and grabbing his coat, he hurried out to pick up Zhuo Ming and Hu Xiang.

Now that they’re back at the Academy, there’s no way I can’t go pick up Zhuo Ming.

As he walked, the streetlights flickered to life on either side of the road.

Lan Xun… where have I heard that name before?

It wasn’t until he was sitting in the taxi that Qi Yuan remembered.

Isn’t that the exclusive bar for the wealthy elite? This is not the place for a brawl!

I have to get there right away.

He urged the driver, “Master, please hurry. It’s an emergency.”

The driver replied, “I’ll do my best. The city speed limit applies, but I’ll get you there as fast as I can within those restrictions.”

His attitude was warm and genuine, a smile brightening his honest, trustworthy face.

“Handsome young man, you’ll be coming back, right?”

“Should I wait for you at the entrance? I won’t waste your time.”

Qi Yuan thought for a moment and agreed.

“That would be great, Master. I’m just picking up two friends. I’ll be out in a flash.”

Upon arriving at Lan Xun, Qi Yuan paid the fare and rushed into the bar.

The moment he stepped inside, he saw Zhuo Ming pinned to the ground by a burly man. Hu Xiang was being blocked, his face etched with anxiety, unable to get closer.

A crowd had gathered around them, but fortunately Lan Xun’s spacious hall allowed Qi Yuan to squeeze through the gaps despite the throng.

As he pushed through the crowd, sweat broke out on his skin.

Finally, he squeezed his way to the front row.

There, Qi Yuan saw someone he least expected to see.

At the very center of the commotion, surrounded by a cluster of people, stood You Yuanxiu.

Dressed in a long black coat, You Yuanxiu exuded a tall, slender figure and an air of superiority. Gold-rimmed glasses added a touch of warmth to his face.

His expression was impassive, revealing no trace of emotion.

Qi Yuan froze a short distance away, unsure what Zhuo Ming had done to provoke You Yuanxiu.

This was the head of the You Family, a figure of immense power.

A wave of hesitation washed over Qi Yuan. He knew he shouldn’t risk himself for Zhuo Ming’s sake.

In reality, he had only met You Yuanxiu a few times—they were essentially strangers. All their other interactions had occurred in the Dreamscape, where they had bypassed the stages of acquaintance and friendship, diving straight into a relationship.

Ultimately, even in the Dreamscape, You Yuanxiu was more familiar with Qi Yuan than Qi Yuan was with You Yuanxiu.

Qi Yuan couldn’t guarantee that the You Yuanxiu in reality would treat him as kindly as the one in the Dreamscape. If he acted rashly, he couldn’t bear You Yuanxiu’s disdain.

Thus, he resolved to seek reinforcements, turning to Vice President Liang Tingxuan.

Liang Tingxuan was known for genuinely helping those in need. With his prestigious family background and ties to the powerful He Family of He Zhou—a clan on par with the You Family—he was the ideal ally.

Right now, the most urgent task was securing Zhuo Ming’s safety.

Just as Qi Yuan was about to slip out to contact Liang Tingxuan, Hu Xiang spotted him.

“Qi Yuan!” he shouted.

The cry drew all eyes to Qi Yuan, especially You Yuanxiu, who instantly located him the moment his name was called. His dark eyes gleamed with an inscrutable light.

Qi Yuan: “………”

Damn these incompetent teammates!

Now that things had escalated this far, retreat was impossible.

He stepped forward and took a deep breath.

“Mr. You, I apologize on behalf of my friend,” Qi Yuan said sincerely.

You Yuanxiu remained silent, and naturally, none of his companions dared to speak for him.

He merely stared at Qi Yuan. He had been planning to “casually” run into Qi Yuan at the Academy, but now the man had come to him instead.

A corner of his lips curled into a smile.

He raised his hand and waved dismissively. “Release him.”

The man pinning Zhuo Ming released him and stepped behind You Yuanxiu.

Hearing this, the man blocking Hu Xiang didn’t hesitate and also moved behind You Yuanxiu.

You Yuanxiu continued, “Out of respect for you, I’ll let him off this time.”