In the blink of an eye, Ye Shuang had been in this timeline for several years.
Like any normal middle school student, he went to and from school every day with Chen Qin, Fu Yao, and the others. He had grown accustomed to this life, with his family and friends right by his side.
He had even grown deeply attached to it all.
With Ye Shuang's help, Fu Yao's tragedy never occurred. Instead, she successfully entered First High School alongside Chen Qin.
Fugui didn't end up cross-dressing either. Although he still looked like a bit of a delinquent, he was surprisingly reliable and even managed to keep up with his studies. However, neither he nor Chen Hai made it into First High, ending up at a fairly decent high school instead.
Today was the first day of school at First High, but Ye Shuang had only one thing on his mind—
The day Yu You was kidnapped seemed to be approaching.
Calculating the years, it should be sometime this year.
To pinpoint the exact day, Ye Shuang had already gone to that residential area in advance to scout it out.
"Oh, you mean that couple? I do remember them, but it doesn't seem like they have any kids," the security guard, who had grown familiar with Ye Shuang, said with a smile. "But why are you always asking about their family?"
Ye Shuang just smiled. "I was just curious and asking around. They're actually distant relatives of mine. They're so afraid of us nagging them that they don't even reply to our messages."
"So that's how it is. Thanks for the cigarettes, young man."
"No problem."
Ye Shuang shook his head. To get on good terms with these security guards, he naturally had to buy them some cigarettes and alcohol. It was all about social tact.
"Alright, I'm off to school then."
"Go on, go on. Such a good kid, no wonder you got into First High."
Leaving the residential area, Ye Shuang took the iPhone 4S out of his pocket and checked the time. "Looks like it's not today. If I come over and ask every day, they'll get suspicious, won't they?"
Would that alert the enemy?
If that couple got suspicious because of him and ended up moving away, Ye Shuang would really have a headache on his hands.
Under these circumstances, it would be best to wait a while before coming back.
He pondered for a few seconds before turning around and leaving.
After all, he still had to attend the opening ceremony.
After taking a taxi to school, Ye Shuang ran into Chen Qin and Fu Yao at the school gates.
The two girls had shed some of their youthful immaturity. Although they wore the standard white school uniforms with red and black stripes, the outfits couldn't hide their developing figures.
"Ye, are you done with your business?" Chen Qin asked.
"Yeah..." Ye Shuang nodded.
"Let's go, let's go."
"Okay."
Upon entering the school, Ye Shuang handed over his phone. After all, regular high schools were different from Yinshan Academy and didn't allow phones. Just like before, they were assigned to Class 1. It seemed that nothing much had changed from the past.
"Hehe, there are so many people."
"Ye, Fu Yao and I are going to line up on the girls' side." Although Chen Qin was a bit reluctant to leave Ye Shuang's side, she blinked her beautiful eyes and walked toward the girls' line in the distance.
Ye Shuang just smiled.
After taking his place in the boys' line, a male student next to him spoke up, "Hey handsome, are you Ye Shuang?"
"Hmm? You know me?" Ye Shuang looked a bit surprised. He recognized this boy, but in this timeline, the other party shouldn't know him yet, right?
"Yeah, we went to the same middle school. I was in Class 9, right next door." The bespectacled boy acted as if they were already old friends. "You seem really close to those two beauties. What's your relationship?"
"Fiancées," Ye Shuang joked, instantly making the bespectacled boy's eyes widen.
"I'm kidding."
"Man, I knew it. But seriously, how is your brain wired? You were the top scorer in this year's high school entrance exam, right?"
"I guess so," Ye Shuang said.
"What do you mean 'guess so'? With your grades, I bet you'll get early admission to a top university."
"We'll see." Facing this chatty old classmate, Ye Shuang appeared quite accustomed to it. After all, when he first met him, he knew the guy was a loudmouth, but his character was actually fine.
He was just a bit perverted.
"Excuse me, coming through, oh, it's a bit crowded." A female voice rang out as a figure squeezed through the line.
She finally paused slightly in front of Ye Shuang. "Oh?"
It was a tall teenage girl. The moment she appeared, a fragrant scent drifted to his nose. She had flowing black hair and a beauty mark adorning her eyelid.
"Oh, a handsome guy." The girl observed him curiously. Just then, the crowd suddenly surged, and her body was pressed right up against Ye Shuang, her soft curves pushing against him.
"Ah," the girl let out a surprised gasp, and the scent on her body grew even stronger.
Ye Shuang froze for a moment. This girl...
Zhao Mengyao?
"Why are you looking at me like that? Thinking of doing something bad?" Noticing Ye Shuang's expression, Zhao Mengyao blinked playfully. "No way."
Saying that, she squeezed through again and returned to her spot.
Afterward, Zhao Mengyao stood in her place, laughing and chatting with the classmates next to her. Her beautiful profile drew the gazes of quite a few people.
Ye Shuang slowly withdrew his gaze.
It seemed... something like this had happened in his previous life too?
But why didn't he have much memory of it?
Ye Shuang pinched the bridge of his nose and stopped thinking about it.
Because if he had to make the choice again, he definitely wouldn't choose Zhao Mengyao.
Meanwhile, as if sensing something, Zhao Mengyao suddenly turned her head, her gaze landing on Ye Shuang not far away.
"Mengyao, what are you looking at?" a girl asked.
"Nothing. What's that boy's name?"
"Hehe, already getting a crush on your first day of high school? That guy is Ye Shuang. I know him."
"Ye Shuang?" Zhao Mengyao thought for a moment, then suddenly narrowed her eyes and smiled. "He's pretty handsome. Handsome and tall."
"But you shouldn't get any ideas about him. He has a girlfriend, and it's someone you know."
"Who?"
"Chen Qin. You remember her, right?"
"Her..." Zhao Mengyao was a little surprised to hear that name. She scanned the girls' line ahead and finally locked onto a girl with her hair tied in a simple ponytail.
Although Chen Qin was also very pretty, wearing a ponytail only gave off an innocent, pure vibe. She was far less eye-catching than Zhao Mengyao with her flowing hair. After all, in an environment where no one really dressed up, Zhao Mengyao was the true focal point in the eyes of most boys.
"Are you serious? Girlfriend?"
"I'm just guessing. They hang out together all day, so they're probably dating. I mean, normal friends of the opposite sex aren't that intimate."
Hearing this, Zhao Mengyao thought for a moment, then suddenly gave a wicked smile.
"Who's prettier, me or Chen Qin?"
"You, of course, Mengyao."
"Hehe, then what if I were to steal this guy named Ye Shuang away..."
"Wow, you're so bad."
"Hehe, who told Chen Qin to be so annoying."

and couldn't return to the real world. Finally, I gave up and decided to go with the flow, only to discover that writing a diary could make me stronger. Since no one could read it, Su Luo wrote freely, daring to pen anything and everything. Female Lead #1: "Not bad. This diary helped me steal all the protagonist's opportunities. I just want to get stronger." Female Lead #2: "I don’t care about reaching the peak of the cultivation world. Right now, I just want to enjoy the chaos." Female Lead #3: "What? Everyone around me is a spy? I’m the Joker Demon Lord?" ... It’s so strange. Why is the plot completely off track, yet the ending remains the same? Are you all just messing with me?!

young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."

for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?

rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!