Life Is a Stage, and Acting Is Everything

Before long, everyone in the cafeteria had cleared out.

They probably wouldn't have run that fast even in an earthquake, Jimo thought.

He Zhenglin whistled, leisurely found a seat with the best view, and propped his chin on one hand to watch the show.

"Bro, I—I didn't mean to. I'm sorry. I can take your clothes to the dry cleaner, no, I'll pay you for a new outfit..."

Jimo lowered his eyes, his thick bangs covering them. He trembled all over, looking utterly terrified.

Timid, cowardly, and afraid of trouble.

Most people at the academy wore that same expression in front of them.

They were all the same. He Zhenglin had long since grown tired of looking at them.

He Zhenglin gave a bored snort. He had thought the prey Yi had chosen himself this time might be more interesting.

Of course they knew this person hadn't done it on purpose. He had clearly seen Yi move closer and stand silently behind him.

Getting food spilled all over himself had been an accident, though.

But even if it was an accident, someone had to take responsibility.

"Yi doesn't lack money, and besides, you couldn't buy that outfit of his even if you had the money."

He Zhenglin kindly reminded him. He had no interest in wasting any more time on such a boring person, so he stretched and sauntered out.

"Have fun. I'm heading back. Rather than waste time here, I might as well go catch up on sleep."

Ke Yueyi was still staring at him, seemingly undecided on how to deal with the person who had offended him.

With one of them gone, Jimo hurriedly stepped up his performance.

Trembling violently, he grabbed the hem of Ke Yueyi's clothes and even squeezed out two tears. "I really didn't mean to. I didn't see you behind me, bro. I'll do anything you want, as long as I can make it up to you..."

Jimo knew full well that these people looked down on spineless people most of all. In the original story, hadn't Jiang Wangshu aroused their intense interest through his repeated resistance and unyielding pride?

So, as long as he did the opposite, Ke Yueyi would soon lose interest in him.

Soon, he would return to his peaceful life as a faceless extra.

Sure enough, Ke Yueyi stared at him for a while, then finally seemed to decide that he really had misjudged him this time.

His brows knitted in disgust, as though he had touched something filthy.

He wiped his hand repeatedly on Jimo's clothes, then stood up and turned to leave without a second glance.

What a poser.

You reek of food, and I haven't even complained about you being dirty.

Jimo felt contemptuous but also relieved. Before he could rearrange his expression, however, he saw Ke Yueyi turn back.

With an air of lofty refinement, he extended one finger and pointed at the stemmed glasses of foreign liquor on the table.

Jimo scrambled to his feet, eager to please. "Bro, would you like a drink?"

Ke Yueyi's face was expressionless.

Jimo ventured another guess. "Then you want me to drink it?"

In the end, Jimo poured five glasses of foreign liquor over his own head. Only after looking down and enjoying the sight did Ke Yueyi leave, satisfied.

Jimo finally learned what the stemmed glasses in the cafeteria were for.

Where Ke Yueyi couldn't see him, Jimo glared fiercely at his departing back.

[System, can I assassinate him once the mission is over?]

[Suit yourself, if you're capable of it.]

The system paused, sounding rather gleeful at his misfortune. [But if that's all it takes, I'm afraid your assassination list won't be short by the time the mission ends.]

"Fuck." Jimo held it in as long as he could, but in the end he couldn't stop himself from swearing aloud.

In both his lives combined, he had never experienced a moment so humiliating.

Even someone as quick to adapt as he was wanted to kill. He couldn't imagine how the protagonist in the original story had endured that long, dark period.

Thinking of how Huang Zhenghao had pulled Jiang Wangshu away earlier, Jimo was still a little worried.

He had to hurry and check on him.

"Achoo..."

When the outdoor wind hit him, the top of his head was icy cold, and he smelled of alcohol all over. Jimo wrapped his arms around himself and sneezed.

As soon as he walked out of the cafeteria, a pair of hands grabbed him.

Jimo's entire body immediately tensed.

"Jimo, are you all right? How did you get so wet?"

Zhuang Zhe was terrified. "Why did you suddenly rush out like that? I couldn't even stop you."

When Zhuang Zhe saw what had happened earlier, he had nearly fainted on the spot.

As soon as Jimo saw it was Zhuang Zhe, he relaxed and shook his head. "I'm fine."

Anxiety filled Zhuang Zhe's eyes as he chattered on, his voice full of worry. "Ah, let's go back to the dorm and get you a hot shower first. You offended the head of F4 this time. I don't know if the student council will come after you. Oh my god, what are we going to do?"

Zhuang Zhe was a little timid and not very decisive, but he was actually kindhearted.

Jimo shook his head. "Later. I need to go out first."

He had to make sure Jiang Wangshu was safe.

Zhuang Zhe looked at him as though he were a weirdo. "Why don't you look in a mirror and see what you look like right now?"

He was sticky all over, and Jimo really did feel uncomfortable, so after thinking it over, he followed him back.

Once Jimo had changed into clean clothes, the first thing he did upon coming out was rush to Jiang Wangshu's dorm room.

It was empty, with no one inside, and there were pitifully few belongings.

Could he still be out?

Jimo had noticed the special-class students peeking out around him. When he turned his head, they were so startled they tried to shut their doors.

Jimo raised a hand to block one and tried to give a friendly smile.

"Has Jiang Wangshu not come back yet?" Seeing the look in the other student's eyes, Jimo hurriedly explained, "I mean no harm. I'm just asking."

The other student's expression grew even stranger at that. "He went out this morning and hasn't come back."

"Okay, thank you."

Was he taken away by the student council again?

The system spoke up. [Even if the protagonist has been taken away at this point, it has nothing to do with F4. Host, you can actually choose not to get involved.]

Jimo couldn't be bothered to answer it. This cold machine didn't understand human feelings.

Jiang Wangshu's misery had fully awakened his protective instincts.

Jimo had only taken a few steps out of the dorm building when, passing an alley, he caught a glimpse of a dark figure out of the corner of his eye. He paused, then went back.

In the shadows, he could just make out Jiang Wangshu leaning against a wall, looking uncomfortable.

Jimo hurried into the alley and supported him by the arm. "Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"

When Jiang Wangshu saw it was Jimo, his eyes shone startlingly bright in the darkness. He smiled. "You're here."

Jiang Wangshu seemed exhausted. Following the support Jimo offered, he leaned his upper body against him, his hands hanging at his sides.

The two stood in the darkness for a while. Suddenly, Jiang Wangshu's muscles tensed and his legs straightened. He put a hand on Jimo's shoulder and asked nervously, "Did Ke Yueyi just now..."

"I'm fine." Jimo knew what he wanted to ask and patted his shoulder. "How could a nobody like me be that important?"

"He'll forget about it once it's over."

"But..." Jiang Wangshu was still a little uneasy. Back then, he had only stepped forward once, and the student council had set its sights on him.

"I really am fine." There was a serious look in Jimo's eyes. "Even if something really does happen, I have a way to protect myself."

A faceless extra's ability to survive was as tenacious as a cockroach's. What were they best at, if not becoming part of the background and blending into the crowd?