After reading the love letter, she carefully placed it back into the seemingly expensive envelope and handed it to the messenger.
"Too many typos. Tell him he should focus on his studies and stop wasting time on useless things."
Her response was so textbook-perfect that even Fang Zhiyi couldn’t help but want to applaud—if only she weren’t already in a relationship herself.
For the next entire month, love letters kept pouring in. Apparently, the spoiled rich kids had realized Lin Xue wasn’t some ultra-wealthy heiress, so their courage grew. It became a competition—some sent letters, others flowers, and one even drove a car to pick her up after school.
Standing at the school gate, Gu Shaoting’s expression darkened as Lin Xue politely declined a playboy’s invitation.
"I can’t. I already have plans." She had promised Gu Shaoting she’d visit his mother.
The playboy shot a glare at Gu Shaoting’s scowling face but ultimately left in frustration.
Lin Xue tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and glanced at Gu Shaoting’s stern expression, finding it oddly endearing.
Thanks to Lin Xue’s persistence, the two had spent a month together—everything but confessing their feelings. Her confidence and generosity had won Gu Shaoting over, especially when she splurged on a lavish birthday dinner at the restaurant where he worked.
Though he thought it was excessive, he couldn’t deny his satisfaction.
Compared to Jiang Ran, Lin Xue was clearly a better match for him. Just thinking about Jiang Ran made him angry. Before, whenever he couldn’t sleep, he’d secretly message her, and she’d always sneak out to chat, sometimes even cleaning his place. But lately, she’d been avoiding him like the plague, which irritated him to no end.
"What’s this?" Gu Shaoting was pulled toward a car by Lin Xue, watching as she climbed inside. He was confused.
"Scholar Gu, today I’ll be your chauffeur," a guy with dyed yellow hair called out from the driver’s seat.
Gu Shaoting recognized him—a classmate whose family ran a business. He was a bit of a slacker but harmless.
"Get in," Lin Xue tugged his arm, and Gu Shaoting slid into the car.
"What about the fare...?"
The Yellow-Haired Man waved it off. "No charge! There’s a whole line of guys waiting to drive Miss Lin. I’m honored just to get the chance."
Hearing this, Gu Shaoting turned to Lin Xue, who quickly dropped her pleased expression and smiled at him instead.
"We’ll pay you. If you refuse, I won’t ride with you again."
"Fine, fine, I’ll take it!"
Gu Shaoting seemed lost in thought.
Fang Zhiyi hadn’t been idle this past month either. He attended school dutifully and chatted with Liu Shishi, though Lin Xue would always turn her head away when she saw him, as if they were a couple in the middle of a cold war.
This fueled rumors in their class. Everyone had seen how Fang Zhiyi used to dote on Lin Xue, so their sudden silence seemed like a lovers’ spat—after all, no one just stops liking someone overnight.
Especially since Lin Xue would always glance at Fang Zhiyi whenever she received gifts from other boys, and he’d deliberately look away. It was prime material for gossip.
And prime material for Liu Shishi.
After Lin Xue and Gu Shaoting drove off, Fang Zhiyi crouched by the school gate, scanning the area. Someone tapped his shoulder, and he turned to see Liu Shishi.
"Looking for Lin Xue?"
Fang Zhiyi shook his head. Of course not—he was waiting for Jiang Ran. According to the plot details he’d gotten from Little Hei, Jiang Ran was supposed to stake out this place soon and set a trap for the main couple. He just wanted to watch the drama unfold.
But with others interfering early, Jiang Ran probably wouldn’t make her move yet.
Liu Shishi crouched beside him, sighing. "It must be hard for you, loving someone you can’t have."
Fang Zhiyi blinked and turned to her.
She smiled. "I could tell from the first day she arrived. The way you looked at her was special—you can’t fake that."
"Uh..." Fang Zhiyi didn’t know how to explain. He couldn’t exactly say that was the other idiot’s doing, could he?
"I wish I’d gotten closer to you sooner." She rested her chin on her arms, tilting her head to look at him.
Fang Zhiyi’s long-dormant heart skipped a beat. He couldn’t help but admire the original owner—how could someone like Liu Shishi not derail his simp tendencies? Damn, what a legend!
"Come on, I’ll walk you home," Fang Zhiyi said, standing abruptly, feeling unusually awkward.
Liu Shishi grinned. "Sure! But... can we walk instead?" She glanced at the luxury car parked nearby and lightly dragged her foot along the ground, avoiding eye contact. "That way, I get to spend more time with you."
"Whatever you say!" Fang Zhiyi agreed without hesitation.
"System, where did they go?" Jiang Ran demanded.
The system checked briefly. "They’re currently at Gu Shaoting’s mother’s hospital room."
"What? How?" Jiang Ran was surprised.
The system hesitated. "Perhaps... your sudden changes have altered the plot’s trajectory?"
"No matter. System, exchange for a Misfortune Talisman."
"Host, you can’t target them yet. The protagonists’ luck hasn’t weakened enough—you’ll suffer backlash," the system warned.
Jiang Ran smirked. "Not them. Look."
The system followed her gaze to where Fang Zhiyi was chatting with Liu Shishi.
"That simp is one of the reasons for the tragedy. I’ll start with him!"
"500 points deducted. Misfortune Talisman successfully exchanged."
Jiang Ran crept up behind Fang Zhiyi, about to slap the invisible talisman onto him—but he suddenly dodged. Stunned, she crashed face-first into a lamppost.
"Talking to you is so fun. If you hadn’t warned me, I’d have walked right into that," Fang Zhiyi laughed.
Liu Shishi turned and gasped at Jiang Ran sprawled on the ground, clutching her face. "Where did she come from?"
Fang Zhiyi narrowed his eyes. "Probably a scammer. Run!" He grabbed Liu Shishi’s hand and bolted.
Jiang Ran’s vision finally cleared, and she punched the lamppost in frustration—only to yelp in pain, cradling her hand.
"That bastard! I refuse to believe he’s always this lucky!"
The system chimed in. "Host, you can’t keep acting recklessly. Damaging the original host’s body isn’t ideal."
"Shut up! Ow..." Jiang Ran stood, took a deep breath, and stormed off in another direction.