Fang Zhiyi opened his eyes to find himself slumped over a desk, having just woken from a nap. Glancing down at the school uniform he wore, he didn’t even need to speak before the plot flooded into his mind.
This was the story of a fool in love.
Fang Zhiyi, the young master of a wealthy family, had parents who lived abroad. Concerned for him, they arranged for a caretaker, Aunt Lin, to look after him. Aunt Lin had a daughter named Lin Xue, who had come from a small county town to find her mother. At Aunt Lin’s pleading, Fang Zhiyi—figuring the villa had plenty of empty rooms anyway—agreed to let Lin Xue stay.
Gradually, he became drawn to her. Lin Xue was different from others. There was no greed for money in her eyes—only disdain for Fang Zhiyi, the spoiled rich boy. To him, she seemed like a pristine white flower, aloof and independent.
So when Aunt Lin wanted to enroll Lin Xue in the private school Fang Zhiyi attended, he busied himself helping, even covering her tuition.
Fang Zhiyi had always been low-key. Though he had a chauffeur, he usually got out a block away from school. But after Lin Xue started commuting with him, he worried she wouldn’t want to walk, so he had the driver drop them right at the school gates.
This inadvertently worked in Lin Xue’s favor. When questioned, she gave vague answers, and soon rumors spread that she was a wealthy heiress.
Fang Zhiyi didn’t care. He was just happy to see her every day.
But Lin Xue grew colder toward him. Eventually, she developed feelings for someone else—a boy from a poor family named Gu Shaoting. He was top of his class, kept to himself, and worked part-time after school because his father was dead and his mother was ill. To Lin Xue, he was the perfect template of a dream prince—resilient, independent, and undeniably handsome.
So while Fang Zhiyi clung to her, she clung to Gu Shaoting. And because of this, she shamelessly extorted money from Fang Zhiyi, only to turn around and give it to Gu Shaoting.
Lin Xue had many admirers, most of them wealthy. Enraged that she was bending over backward for some penniless nobody, they cornered Gu Shaoting. At Lin Xue’s plea, Fang Zhiyi rushed to intervene—only to be mistaken for an attacker and injured. The incident left him with a permanent limp. The two didn’t even spare him a glance.
By the time he recovered and returned to school, Lin Xue and Gu Shaoting were already inseparable. Worse, Lin Xue’s rejected suitors, unable to target Gu Shaoting, turned on Fang Zhiyi instead—they’d heard he was just some broke orphan who mooched rides off Lin Xue every day.
Devastated, Fang Zhiyi dropped out.
Years later, he saw Lin Xue again when she came to borrow money—this time to help Gu Shaoting start a business. Fang Zhiyi agreed once more. Gu Shaoting did have talent, and the company flourished. The two even began planning their wedding—though Lin Xue didn’t bother sending Fang Zhiyi an invitation.
Then disaster struck. Fang Zhiyi’s parents’ business collapsed, and they desperately needed funds. They mortgaged the villa and luxury cars. Remembering the money he’d lent Lin Xue, Fang Zhiyi went to ask for repayment—only for her to deny everything. Aunt Lin kicked him out, her once-warm smile replaced with scorn. Staring at her contempt, Fang Zhiyi realized just how stupid he’d been.
And then he killed himself.
Fang Zhiyi seethed. "What a goddamn idiot!"
"What’s the current timeline?"
"Lin Xue’s just started school. The rumors about her being rich are spreading."
The system paused. "Host, there’s another transmigrator in this world. Be careful."
"Another transmigrator? Who?" Fang Zhiyi perked up.
"Gu Shaoting’s childhood sweetheart—Jiang Ran, the neighbor’s daughter who quietly supported him. They even slept together one rainy night. But after Gu Shaoting got involved with Lin Xue, he abandoned her. Jiang Ran raised their child alone until years later, when Gu Shaoting came looking for an heir. That’s the original plot—but the transmigrator who took Jiang Ran’s place has marked you for revenge. Your family’s bankruptcy was her doing. In her eyes, you enabled Lin Xue."
Fang Zhiyi nodded, and the system fell silent.
First things first—he needed to cut ties with Lin Xue.
Just then, a girl with twin pigtails walked into the classroom and set a bottle of water on his desk.
Fang Zhiyi looked up, meeting her gaze. He remembered her—Liu Shishi, an early-game "green tea" character. Innocent-faced but manipulative, she was someone the original Fang Zhiyi disliked.
Seeing him stare, Liu Shishi blushed.
"You’ve seemed distracted lately. I might not be much help, but if you ever want to talk, I’m here." She clasped her hands, eyes shining.
Fang Zhiyi blinked. Green tea? This was just a sweet, considerate classmate!
He grinned. "Deal. You said it."
Liu Shishi hadn’t expected a response. Her face lit up, and she nodded eagerly.
"Pinky promise?" She held out her little finger.
The commotion drew stares—Fang Zhiyi rarely acknowledged anyone. Without hesitation, he hooked his finger with hers.
Liu Shishi smiled, biting her lip adorably.
At that moment, Lin Xue, standing at the classroom door, saw everything. Irritation prickled her. She kept Fang Zhiyi at arm’s length, but she knew he was infatuated with her. She didn’t like him—yet watching this, she felt like something of hers was being stolen.
She cleared her throat pointedly.
Fang Zhiyi glanced at her. Lin Xue tilted her chin up, looking down her nose before strutting to her seat.
But unlike she’d expected, he didn’t react at all.
Instead, Liu Shishi peeked at Lin Xue, then gave Fang Zhiyi a timid little wave before scurrying back to her desk.
Lin Xue waited, but no apology came. Annoyance simmered. Of course—rich boys were fickle. That little schemer had him wrapped around her finger already!
Then she remembered the boy she’d met earlier—Gu Shaoting, in his crisp white shirt, top of the class. Just thinking of him made her heart flutter, and her anger faded.
Meanwhile, Fang Zhiyi turned to borrow a mirror from the desk behind him. He studied his reflection.
Huh. Not bad. No wonder girls flocked to him even without his wealth showing. Tch.