This world is messed up!!!!
No, it's this school that's messed up!!
This was the conclusion Su Cheng had reached.
A student council president whose mask was emblazoned with the word "invincible."
A plain-looking female classmate with braided hair.
A tsundere golden-haired "loser" girl with twin tails.
This setup…
No matter how rational he was, he couldn’t help but complain. He couldn’t understand why anime characters were standing right in front of him, alive and real?!
Was this opening ceremony some kind of cosplay event?
"System, explain this to me?"
But after waiting for a long time, there was no response from any so-called "system."
Su Cheng: "…"
Well, it turned out he didn’t have any damn system to begin with.
So, he fell into a bizarre train of thought, vaguely sensing something off about this world…
But then, a wave of terror surged through him!
Wait a minute!
Could there be superpowers or something like that in this world?!
After all, anime genres were diverse—even slice-of-life series had their fair share of weird creatures!
A chill ran down his spine. If this world really had a supernatural side to it…
Then wouldn’t he be screwed?!
"Don’t panic!"
He forced himself to stay calm, reassuring himself that this world probably didn’t have superpowers. Otherwise, given how unlucky he was, some overpowered being would’ve captured and dissected him by now.
He wouldn’t have made it this far.
This was probably just how the world of the rich worked.
Yeah, that had to be it.
A mixed-race golden-haired loli or something?
He just hadn’t encountered them before because he’d lived in the countryside.
This was an international school, after all.
And maybe that student council president was just hideously ugly, hence the mask.
With these comforting thoughts, his mind settled slightly.
The next second, he raised his head, ready to focus on the freshman representative’s speech on stage.
But when he looked up, his barely calmed heart leaped into his throat again, his face frozen in shock.
On stage, the freshman representative paused, then pushed up her glasses with a finger—
And in that instant, the lenses emitted a blinding glare.
Was that even possible?!
No, it wasn’t!
There was no sunlight to reflect!
So why were her glasses shining?!
Su Cheng’s mind went into chaos, but he quickly scanned his surroundings, afraid that this "Xu" classmate on stage had some sinister plot to take everyone down.
After all, in anime, whenever someone did that glasses-push, something catastrophic usually followed!
Fortunately, he saw nothing unusual around him. But then, his gaze landed on a certain figure—
If he had to describe her…
She was unnaturally beautiful, as if drawn in a completely different art style from everyone else.
Almost dreamlike.
Like a statue, silent and still.
So—
How could someone this beautiful exist in the world?
At the sight of her, Su Cheng couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. She was undoubtedly the most stunning woman he’d ever seen…
How could anyone be this breathtaking?!
The longer he stared, the dizzier he felt. It was like gazing at a masterpiece, an inexplicable pull drawing him in…
Her aura was pure yet icy, like a sacred snow lotus untouched by the filth of the mortal world. Just looking at her made him feel unworthy…
And then, as if sensing his gaze, her eyes met his.
For a split second, his heart stopped.
Immediately, he averted his eyes, desperately suppressing the pounding in his chest—but the shock still sent waves crashing through his mind.
This school is definitely not normal!!!
Just then, the male classmate beside him noticed his odd reaction and frowned. Leaning over, he whispered, "Hey, are you an idiot? Our classmate’s giving a speech up there. Stop spacing out—remember to clap later!"
"Ah, right!"
Su Cheng snapped back to reality, coughing awkwardly before forcing himself to focus on the speech. But his mind kept replaying that flawless, painting-like image.
Soon, though, he shook his head, dispelling the distracting thoughts.
He needed to stay calm.
Calm down and analyze the situation carefully.
So far, he hadn’t found any actual superpowers or bizarre humanoid species, but some people in this school were straight out of an anime protagonist’s template.
He couldn’t help but wonder: Was this school the central setting of some novel or anime plot?
If so, then where there were heroines, there had to be a hero. That was only logical.
Lost in thought, Su Cheng scanned the crowd again, searching for anyone who fit the "male lead" archetype. But none of the boys stood out with that distinct anime protagonist vibe.
They all looked… painfully three-dimensional.
Just as Su Cheng was puzzling over this—
"Hey, isn’t that the top-scoring transfer student over there?"
"Huh? He looks kinda plain."
"Eh? I don’t think so. Look at those weary eyes, that gloomy yet profound aura… Feels like he’s hiding some dark past."
The whispers of two girls from the neighboring class area drifted away as they walked off, but their words reached Su Cheng's ears with unmistakable clarity, sending a jolt through his heart.
Holy crap!
How could they even tell!?
Who would’ve thought an ordinary background character like her would be anything but ordinary!
She actually saw through his hidden past!
He had never told a soul about his experience as a transmigrator!
Wait a minute…
Speaking of which… this so-called protagonist…
Could it actually be me!?
The thought made Su Cheng’s heart race, but he quickly dismissed the ridiculous idea. After all, he was just an average guy who only knew how to study—no special background, no hidden powers.
He had long accepted his place in this world. He wasn’t even worthy of being a side character—more like the scum of the earth, a nameless extra whose death wouldn’t even warrant a second glance.
So, to protect his life, he knew he absolutely couldn’t get involved with these obviously special characters.
He couldn’t afford to be dragged into some bizarre plot.
Only by staying under the radar could he graduate in peace.
After all, he was no protagonist. He had no golden finger, no ability to solve problems, let alone save the world. He didn’t even harbor the grand ambitions or the fiery courage a typical young protagonist should have.
Not a single trait matched the protagonist archetype.
Now that he’d noticed something off about this school, his only goal was to pretend he knew nothing, do nothing, and avoid getting tangled in strange events. That alone would be a massive success!
…………
Meanwhile, in the second-year area…
"He just looked at me!"
Cornelia blinked her large, watery eyes—blue as sapphires—while her golden twin tails swayed slightly from excitement, making her look utterly adorable.
And the way Su Cheng had glanced at her before shyly looking away? Absolutely heart-meltingly pure!
"Su Cheng at this stage is just so innocent and cute!"
Cornelia clenched her small fists, her earlier worries about whether he’d confess to her now completely gone. She was absolutely certain—that guy definitely had feelings for her.
Right now, Su Cheng was probably lost in thought, preparing for his big confession, wasn’t he?
The way he’d averted his gaze in a fluster, the slight panic on his face—it was all too obvious.
"This must be what they call… no matter how many times we’re reborn, you’ll always fall for me. Destiny!"
The thought made her heart flutter with sweetness, but at the same time, a surge of determination rose within her.
This time, after being reborn, she wouldn’t let the opportunity slip away!
"This lifetime, it’s my turn to claim you!"
Cornelia, the reincarnator, swore to herself with unwavering resolve.
………………
Elsewhere…
In the farthest corner of the classroom, right behind Su Cheng’s seat, a girl with long, straight black hair lifted her gaze slightly, listening to a classmate’s speech on stage. Yet, her expression remained completely unreadable.
Strangely, despite her striking beauty and exceptional aura, none of the students around her spared her a single glance—as if she were invisible.
It was a baffling contradiction.
As the speech ended, the bookish girl lowered her eyes, her fingers absently tracing the ring on her left hand.
She didn’t know where the ring had come from. She’d tried everything to uncover its secrets, but nothing worked. Still, she refused to give up.
Something told her it was important.
"I just don’t get it…"
Her slender fingers brushed over the ancient ring. "Maybe I should get its material checked this afternoon."
"Junior sister Gu is as stunning as ever."
"Yeah, if I could sit next to her, I’d die happy."
Just then, two classmates in front whispered to each other, their voices filled with admiration.
Hearing this, the girl instinctively glanced toward the distant figure they were praising.
Junior sister Gu sat with her head bowed over a book, her delicate profile bathed in a soft glow, so ethereal it seemed unreal—like a painting of a peerless beauty.
But just as the bookish girl was about to look away, Junior sister Gu turned a page—revealing a black-and-gold ring on her finger.
In an instant, her pupils constricted.
"Huh?"
She froze.
The ring was identical to hers—down to the last detail.
Her heart pounded.
If she wanted answers about the ring…
She’d have to ask Junior sister Gu directly.
So, she resolved to find the right moment to approach her.
……………………
Soon, the opening ceremony ended, and students filed out in order, from the seniors down to the freshmen.
"Phew—"
Cornelia stood at the entrance of the auditorium, her heart pounding with nervous excitement, her palms slick with sweat—undeniable signs of her inner turmoil.
The moment Su Cheng would confess to her was imminent.
"Right, this is the exact spot."
"Class 1-2 should be coming out any second now!"
Cornelia remembered it clearly. Back then, it was only because Ailiya had gone to the restroom that she had lingered on the steps, waiting. Then, out of nowhere, Su Cheng had broken away from his class, rushed over without a word, and confessed with his head bowed…
"They're out, they're out!"
Cornelia fixed her gaze on the stairwell, her heartbeat accelerating as she watched the familiar figure approach slowly.
Finally, Su Cheng appeared, and in an instant, his presence dominated the entire canvas of her world!
He wasn’t particularly tall, but his features were delicate. Though his complexion wasn’t perfect now, it would improve with time—soon enough, he’d blossom into a stunningly handsome young man, renowned far and wide!
The most perfect man in the world was about to meet her for the first time.
"It’s happening, it’s happening."
Cornelia held her breath, her heart hammering wildly. A surge of excitement flooded her, so intense it felt like her entire body was boiling, leaving her restless and feverish. She could barely stop herself from rushing forward to embrace Su Cheng.
But then—
Su Cheng walked right past her without so much as a glance, his footsteps never faltering, as if she were completely invisible.
Cornelia froze, her head turning stiffly as she stared blankly at his retreating figure.
What…
was going on?
This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.
Her mind went blank. All her anticipation evaporated in an instant, leaving her standing there, dumbfounded, watching his back.
Then, a sharp pang struck her heart.
This…
Why?
It felt like an invisible hand had clenched around her heart. Her lips trembled as an indescribable bitterness and sorrow welled up inside her, as if she’d suffered a devastating blow. Her face drained of color, her petite frame shaking violently as tears spilled uncontrollably down her cheeks.
She had dreamed of this moment for so long, rehearsed it countless times last night, staying up late in preparation. She had truly believed today would be the dawn of her happiness…
But instead—
Su Cheng hadn’t confessed to her?
Why hadn’t he confessed to her?!
What was the reason?!
Had something gone wrong?
Why had everything veered off course?!
Unaware of the tears streaming down her face like broken pearls, she only felt her heart shatter into pieces.
"Su Cheng!!!"
In that instant, all her anguish and despair erupted into a deafening scream, piercing the quiet air and startling everyone nearby.
Students halted in their tracks, turning toward the source of the outburst. Even the studious bookworms and the breathtakingly beautiful Junior Sister Gu couldn’t help but look.
Among the crowd, a lively short-haired girl in black knee-high socks winced at the shrill cry, then raised an eyebrow in surprise before breaking into an amused, almost mischievous grin—ready to enjoy the drama unfolding.
"Wait right there!"
Without hesitation, Cornelia sprinted forward, grabbing Su Cheng’s sleeve with trembling hands. Tears blurred her vision as she glared up at him. "Why?! Why?!"
"Did this loser do something to you?!"
Just then, Ailiya emerged from the restroom and, seeing the scene, rushed over angrily. "You creepy jerk, how dare you?!"
"Don’t you dare insult my boyfriend!"