First Encounter

The campus belle meets the domineering soldier king.

From a spectator's perspective, this is undoubtedly a scene that would make one smile with sweet, almost maternal delight.

Their first encounter, filled with conflict, is indeed the classic setup for a love-hate relationship.

But to others, it doesn’t look that way at all.

“How infuriating! That idiot dares to harass Qin Yao, the campus beauty!”

Qin Shan clenched his fists, wanting to curse Lin Chen but fearing a beating. His expression was a mix of frustration and resentment.

Liu Dachao was equally furious, his small eyes blazing with anger.

The two of them weren’t the only ones feeling this way. The other boys in the class were clearly uncomfortable too.

Couldn’t they see that the goddess didn’t want to sit with him? Yet this guy was still harassing Qin Yao like some thug!

At that moment, An Yi, with his books tucked under his arm and his hands casually in his pockets, walked confidently toward the back of the classroom where Qin Yao and Lin Chen were seated.

Qin Shan was stunned. “Brother Yi, what are you doing?”

“Looking for Qin Yao,” An Yi replied nonchalantly.

His voice wasn’t loud, but enough people heard it.

All eyes turned toward An Yi.

Looking for Qin Yao!?

Was he out of his mind? Did he even know what kind of family background Qin Yao came from?

Not to mention, she was the campus goddess! She had rejected countless suitors. What made him think he stood a chance? He was just setting himself up for humiliation!

“Hey, beautiful, mind if I sit here?”

A clear, cheerful voice rang out beside Qin Yao’s ear.

Beautiful?

Such a cliché pickup line. Who still used that?

Qin Yao frowned slightly, but when she looked up, she was momentarily stunned.

Standing before her was a handsome young man.

His features were delicate yet masculine, exuding a sunny charm. When he smiled, there was a hint of mischief that didn’t come off as annoying but rather endearing.

This was none other than An Yi.

His action immediately stirred up the entire class. The boys pricked up their ears, eager to see how this would play out.

Liu Dachao adjusted his glasses, a sleazy grin spreading across his face. “An Yi’s got some thick skin!”

All eyes were on An Yi, everyone waiting for him to be rejected.

“It’s… it’s you!”

Upon recognizing An Yi, Qin Yao’s face lit up with a surprised smile.

The entire class was shocked!

What was going on!?

This guy barely even attended classes. How did he know Qin Yao, the campus belle, so well!?

“I didn’t expect you to actually be a student at Donghai University, and in the same department too,” Qin Yao said, her tone filled with disbelief. “How come I’ve never seen you in class before?”

An Yi chuckled awkwardly. “I’m not very noticeable, so it’s normal you wouldn’t see me.”

“Have you been skipping class too much?” Qin Yao teased, playfully blinking her eyes.

Clearly, she was no stranger to skipping class herself.

Qin Shan, Liu Dachao, and Bai Xiu were completely dumbfounded.

They had been single for a whole year at Donghai University, never once receiving any attention from girls.

And yet, An Yi had somehow managed to get close to Qin Yao, the campus goddess!!!

Seeing Qin Yao’s radiant smile, their hearts were filled with mixed emotions.

“Sorry, this seat is taken!”

At that moment, Lin Chen, who had been silent all this while, suddenly opened his eyes. Thinking An Yi was about to sit next to Qin Yao, he shot a cold glare at him.

An Yi acted as if he hadn’t heard him. With a smile at Qin Yao, he walked straight to the very back of the classroom.

Lin Chen frowned slightly.

Was this guy not planning to approach Qin Yao after all? Good! He didn’t feel like dealing with some weak-looking pretty boy anyway.

As An Yi reached the back of the classroom, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Actively pursuing the campus belle? That would be too desperate!

An Yi was playing a gamble, counting down in his mind, his face calm and confident.

3!

2!

1!

0.5!

Sure enough, Qin Yao suddenly stood up, shooting Lin Chen a glare. “Just stay in your seat. Don’t follow me this time!”

With that, she walked to the back of the classroom.

Seeing Qin Yao get up, An Yi’s smile deepened.

Direct confrontation was for fools!

What he was doing was a strategic retreat to advance!

Qin Yao, holding her books, approached An Yi. “Is this seat taken? Mind if I sit here?”

“Of course not. It’s not like I own the school. Sit wherever you like,” An Yi replied with a grin.

He had guessed right!

Qin Yao disliked Lin Chen and didn’t want to sit next to him.

On the other hand, An Yi had saved her before, and she had some goodwill toward him.

Now, sitting alone at the back, surrounded by empty seats, it wasn’t hard to guess what Qin Yao would choose.

The entire class was in shock.

What the hell! What had this guy done!?

Why was Qin Yao, who usually ignored men, being so friendly to An Yi? And even asking to sit next to him!?

In an instant, the classroom was filled with the sour scent of jealousy.

This was Qin Yao we were talking about!

Her figure, looks, temperament, and family background were all top-tier, flawless in every way.

Such a perfect goddess was now showing favor to some ordinary guy!

If it had been Lin Chen, they might not have been so jealous.

After all, Lin Chen seemed like someone extraordinary, not your average person. They might have been a little envious, but not to this extent.

But An Yi!?

A broke loser who couldn’t scrape together two coins, with nothing going for him except his looks!

Yet this guy was getting so close to Qin Yao!

They were all frogs, so how come he got to eat the swan meat!?

Lin Chen’s expression darkened as he glared coldly at An Yi.

But An Yi acted as if he didn’t notice Lin Chen’s piercing gaze, remaining completely unfazed.

So what if you’re some chosen one? Since I’ve decided to steal the spotlight, there’s no need to tiptoe around.

What’s so great about being worth a hundred million?

Go ahead, punch me if you dare!

Besides, it was the campus belle who approached me. Why would you hit me?

After analyzing the situation, An Yi felt even more at ease.

Lin Chen, however, began to look at An Yi differently.

This guy wasn’t afraid of him?

Having spent years on the battlefield, Lin Chen had walked through mountains of corpses. His presence carried an indescribable aura of killing intent.

An ordinary person would’ve been intimidated by his gaze alone.

But this guy showed no reaction… or rather, he simply didn’t care about Lin Chen at all.

Something was definitely off!

Once class started, the boys’ minds were far from the lecture.

Bai Xiu stopped sleeping, Qin Shan was in a daze, and Liu Dachao was completely entranced.

At the back of the classroom, only An Yi and Qin Yao were seated together.

Sitting beside Qin Yao, An Yi discreetly admired her flawless profile.

Her skin was like jade, smooth and delicate, her features so perfect they seemed unreal.

Her eyes, in particular, were lively and full of energy, making it hard to look away.

“Pay attention to the lecture. Stop staring at me!”

Qin Yao’s cheeks flushed, whether from the heat or something else, adding to her charm.

Her shy demeanor only made her more captivating, and even An Yi found himself distracted.

She really was stunning, on par with Shen Muxuan in their own unique ways… but could he really pursue Qin Yao just because of a mission?

An Yi fell into deep thought.

Qin Yao was perfect, but Shen Muxuan wasn’t bad either.

Which one should he choose for this flower-picking mission?

It had to be said, An Yi was getting ahead of himself.

Having been single for eighteen years, never even properly holding a girl’s hand, he was now torn between two nine-out-of-ten beauties.

Qin Yao, too, was secretly observing An Yi.

Truth be told, An Yi wasn’t bad-looking.

With a charm score of 8.3 from the Villain System, anything above seven was considered handsome.

An eight or above put him in the league of campus heartthrobs, on par with some male celebrities.

But Qin Yao wasn’t that shallow.

If good looks alone could win her over, she wouldn’t have remained single despite having so many suitors.

Last night, An Yi had risked his life to save her, and today they had coincidentally met again, as if it were fate.

Thinking of this, Qin Yao’s ears turned red.