Who in a Dream Knows First to Awaken

"Oops, sorry, are you okay?"

"No... I'm fine..."

"It's the first day of school, I can't be late. I'll apologize properly next time we meet."

In a residential apartment, an anime played on the TV—a classic scene where a clumsy boy, holding a slice of bread in his mouth, crashes into a girl on her way to school.

Ah… the usual clichéd start of a teenage romantic comedy.

The one watching this was Su Cheng, sitting on the couch while happily slurping a bowl of noodles. After finishing, he checked the time and sighed, his mood tinged with melancholy.

Because today was also his first day of school.

Of course, he didn’t delude himself into thinking such anime tropes would apply to him. He had no protagonist aura whatsoever.

Well, unless being perpetually unlucky and unsuccessful counted as a special trait—then he supposed he couldn’t argue.

To him, not every transmigrator was destined to be a hero.

This truth was painfully evident in his own life. His string of failures had long since crushed any unrealistic fantasies, forcing him to accept reality.

Ordinary and unremarkable.

So, his dreams were equally ordinary.

After graduating from university, he’d return to the countryside and become a minor official.

That was it.

Now in the big city, aside from his basic daily carb intake, he decided to add one more thing to his budget.

An apple a day. After all, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

After tidying up his dishes, he left his rented apartment and headed for the bus stop.

Buying a bicycle might’ve been cheaper, but his health was too poor. Riding to school would leave him drenched in sweat, reeking all day.

Even if he wanted to be an unnoticed background character, he couldn’t do so while offending others with his stench.

Being invisible was one thing; being repulsive was another.

As he carried a trash bag toward the dumpster, he unexpectedly spotted a job posting at the 24-hour convenience store inside the apartment complex.

'Convenience Store Clerk'

Position: Cashier

Pay: 20 yuan/hour

The wage was undeniably tempting. He could work part-time after school!

But after staring at it for two seconds, he frowned.

The job required 12-hour shifts, split into two rotations.

There was also an age restriction.

He met neither condition. Defeated, he tossed the trash and left the apartment building.

His elite school uniform always drew attention—though one particular gaze made him especially uneasy.

Since yesterday afternoon, he’d felt someone secretly watching him. Now, the sensation had grown even stronger.

He couldn’t shake the suspicion that he’d caught the eye of some criminal.

After all, his uniform screamed "wealthy." It wasn’t unreasonable to assume someone might target him.

With that thought, he quickened his pace and hurried onto the bus.

……………………

In a dim, narrow alleyway,

a certain golden-haired "criminal" peeked out from behind a corner, stealthily observing Su Cheng as he boarded the bus. Once he was on, she muttered under her breath:

"Why does his skin look so bad now? It probably feels awful to touch..."

"No, it’s just not as smooth as it will be. And he looks sickly."

"Perfect!"

Today’s close-up observation filled Cornelia with excitement. She clenched her small fists, eyes sparkling with anticipation, as if ready to pounce.

With no rivals around, she was practically invincible!

None of those troublesome women from the future even knew Su Cheng yet!

"Hehehe, today, all I have to do is say yes. Then, as his girlfriend, I can fatten him up nice and plump!"

Cornelia’s face, though shadowed by heavy dark circles, radiated unrestrained joy. She could already picture their blissful future together, her lips curling into a sweet smile.

But abruptly, her expression froze. A chill shot down her spine, snapping her back to reality.

Because—

A large dog now stood behind her.

"Huh? Big Yellow?!"

After a stunned pause, Cornelia gasped in delight, her voice brimming with happiness as she instinctively reached out to pet it.

However—

The response was a sharp bark.

"Woof!"

…………

Though Big Yellow didn’t recognize her, it didn’t attack—just gave a warning growl before trotting away.

Cornelia watched the dog disappear around the corner, her face darkening. The earlier excitement faded, replaced by confusion and disorientation.

She felt adrift, stripped of her sense of belonging and identity—things she’d never had to question before.

Now, she was lost.

Even afraid.

Her mother wasn’t here. She had no one to turn to, no one to confide in. Even Su Cheng didn’t know her. She was utterly alone.

As for Ailiya?

If that girl didn’t make things worse, it’d be a miracle.

Gritting her teeth, Cornelia steeled herself. She was certain Su Cheng would confess to her soon. And once she said yes—

They’d officially be a couple!!

Then, bit by bit, everything from the future would return.

Everything would come back!

She’d imagined this day countless times.

"Heaven itself is on my side. There’s no way I’ll lose!"

Clenching her fists, she whispered the words like a mantra.

…………

School Auditorium.

"First, allow me to extend the warmest welcome to our new students! In this fresh academic year..."

"As the Student Council President, I, alongside my fellow council members, will diligently address your needs and concerns, advocating for your rights..."

On the auditorium stage stood a girl wearing a silver-white mask, delivering the opening speech for the new school year. Though her face was hidden, her commanding presence and solemn demeanor were unmistakable.

Dressed in an immaculate uniform with pristine white stockings, she exuded no cuteness—only an aura of sacred, unapproachable authority.

Every inch of her radiated leadership. Her voice, firm and resonant, carried conviction and responsibility, captivating the audience.

Both teachers and students listened intently, as if receiving divine instruction.

"Why is she the only one wearing a mask?"

Su Cheng, however, was baffled. A masked student council president? How was no one else questioning this?

In such a formal setting, no less?

What kind of mysterious masked woman is this?

And her name is way too over-the-top, isn't it?

"The Sun and Moon in the Sky"?

"Zhao"?!

No matter how he looked at her, this girl was clearly no ordinary person!

Just then—

A commotion broke out on the stage. It turned out the student council president had finished her speech.

After a brief pause, a teacher took the microphone and announced, "Now, let's welcome the freshman representative to the stage."

Soon after, a girl with braided hair and glasses stood up from her class section. She walked gracefully to the podium, bowed slightly to the audience, and then spoke in a clear, measured voice:

"Good morning, teachers and fellow students. I am Xu Tianyi, and I am honored to represent this year's..."

"This person..."

Su Cheng's pupils shrank. Braided hair... outdated black-framed glasses, a habit of lowering her head as if to hide her freckled face... How could someone dressed like this exist in real life?

This was practically the textbook definition of a plain, background character from an anime!

Did I wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?

This was Su Cheng's first time observing the students at school, and he felt like he'd been hit by some kind of overwhelming shockwave, leaving him utterly dazed.

Because something about this world felt... off.

He began questioning the reality of his surroundings. Had he actually been transported into an anime world?

Or was he just dreaming right now?

But his experiences over the past few years told him this was the harsh, undeniable real world.

The scene before him now made him seriously doubt his sanity.

"Could this be what they call the world of the rich?"

Su Cheng pondered the idea. After all, he'd never encountered anyone like this back in the countryside.

"Wait, what about the girl who helped me yesterday...?"

He suddenly remembered the girl who'd rescued him from trouble the day before. She was a classmate, wasn't she?

Thinking this, he scanned the crowd for her, but no matter how hard he looked, she was nowhere to be found.

Instead, he spotted someone even more baffling—and to his surprise, this utterly out-of-place girl was staring straight at him.

He quickly averted his gaze.

His mind reeled in disbelief.

Blonde hair, white thigh-high socks, mixed heritage, twin tails, flat-chested, small fangs, and a face so delicate it looked like a porcelain doll's.

"This... this is the textbook definition of a cliché, outdated tsundere girl!"