Yan's Transformation Process (Part 2)

You Chen had simply used all sorts of excuses to get Yan to interact with other girls as much as possible.

Naturally, Yan's attention would be diverted as a result.

In this world where martial souls reigned supreme, coupled with Hu Liena's outstanding looks, even if Hu Liena's personality and both her IQ and EQ were somewhat concerning, she was indeed the most outstanding girl of the same age that Yan could come into contact with.

That would not change, nor was there any need for it to change.

Given the relationship between You Chen and Yan at the time, You Chen was not about to spend too much energy on Yan.

If Yan remained stubbornly obsessed, You Chen could not be bothered to drag him out of the mire by force.

He was not Yan's parent. He had no such responsibility or obligation.

He merely diverted Yan's attention from Hu Liena, forcing him to spread the time he had originally allotted to Hu Liena among other girls.

Even if it was only ordinary friendship, Yan would have to rack his brains with his level of intelligence.

Whether or not he could graduate from being a simp in one go, at least he would not sink any deeper and get worse.

After that, You Chen stopped paying attention to Yan's romantic developments for quite some time.

He only vaguely sensed that Yan seemed to have become much more popular in class than before.

Two months passed just like that.

Then the kid came to find him again.

"Teacher, another girl confessed to me..."

Once again, You Chen inwardly lamented how precocious the people of this world were. Damn it, these little brats were only eight years old!

"And? How do you feel about her?"

In truth, there was no need to ask. Seeing Yan's expression, You Chen could roughly guess the answer, but he still asked.

"She... is pretty cute, and quite outstanding, I suppose. She has a good personality too and treats me very gently. She brings me breakfast every day."

Naturally, even though Yan was nothing in Hu Liena's eyes, in the eyes of other girls, despite his rather ordinary appearance, he was absolutely a hot commodity.

It was not some sort of gold-digging mentality, but rather something engraved into the very nature of humanity—admiration for strength.

People, regardless of gender, were creatures who admired strength. Yan, who actually possessed the highest talent among the Golden Generation trio, was naturally seen as a strong person by his peers.

Thus, almost no girl would resent Yan taking the initiative to get close to them or build rapport. This was something You Chen had anticipated long ago.

And anyone who dared make a move on such a strong person was at least someone who believed she was qualified to catch up and did not feel inferior.

For such a girl to be judged outstanding by Yan was only natural.

But...

"But I still like Nana, so I rejected her."

A perfectly reasonable answer.

How could a creature like a simp stop simping so easily?

You Chen did not feel the frustration of failing to live up to expectations because of this. Rather, Yan had only now reached the second stage of the "trial" You Chen had laid out for him.

Upon hearing Yan's answer, You Chen began questioning him.

For Yan, who had come seeking comfort and strategies for pursuing Hu Liena, You Chen's questioning was naturally abrupt and bewildering.

But perhaps due to the authority and closeness of a teacher and elder, as well as his recognition of You Chen's wisdom, Yan accepted You Chen's questioning.

"Yan, you say you still like Hu Liena. Then let me ask you: what exactly do you like about Hu Liena?"

"Ah, well..."

Seeing You Chen watching him without the slightest hint of teasing, Yan hesitated and thought for several seconds before answering, "N-Nana is cute and beautiful, first of all! Then, while her personality isn't exactly good and she can be a little willful, I think that's part of what makes Nana cute. And then there's her talent! Nana is the only one in class whose talent is about the same as mine, and she's always worked very hard! Finally... I suppose it's the time we've spent together? Ever since I can remember, Nana, Xie Yue, and I have played together. I always felt like we were supposed to stay like this forever..."

You Chen did not interrupt Yan. He waited until Yan had finished speaking in fits and starts before opening his mouth.

"Mm, it is about the answer I expected. Appearance, personality, ability, and experiences. The reasons people fall for another person are generally related to those four things."

At You Chen's acknowledgment, Yan rubbed his slightly flushed face and revealed an honest smile.

Then You Chen abruptly changed his tone and said sharply, "But Hu Liena undoubtedly does not like you. She does not like your appearance, does not like your personality, does not care about your abilities, and does not care about the time you spent together!"

Yan's breathing hitched. He stubbornly raised his head and clenched his fists. "Teacher, are you trying to tell me how difficult this path is? But... no matter how difficult it is, I will persevere until Nana turns around and looks at me!"

That expression of I'm fired up! would absolutely qualify him as a named supporting character in a shounen manga. It suited the temperament of Yan's martial soul very well.

But You Chen could not appreciate this kind of brute-like "courage" in the slightest.

"Mm, your feelings are certainly not fake. Perhaps even many adults could not be as steadfast as you, right?"

When a shy smile of acknowledgment appeared on Yan's face again, You Chen swiftly drove the knife in. "But that was meant as criticism."

"Huh?" Yan looked utterly stunned.

"Was I not clear enough? Hu Liena does not like you not because you have not worked hard enough, but because there is not a single thing about you that can strike a chord with her. You are simply not her type! If it were you, would you still like Hu Liena if she were ugly?"

"I would!"

"..." Simps were really something else.

"Fine, fine, fine, let's say that's true! Then you said you liked the cuteness hidden within her spoiled temperament. If she treated you gently instead, like the girl who confessed to you earlier, would you still like her?"

Yan scratched the back of his head and fell into a fantasy. "Hehe, Nana... a gentle Nana."

"..." No, I did not say that so you could fantasize.

Even You Chen's self-restraint was beginning to fray. He immediately shattered Yan's little fantasy and said, "Didn't you say you liked Hu Liena's personality? Why do you still like her after her personality has changed?"

"Well... uh, Teacher, I don't know."

"You don't know, but I do! That proves you do not like Hu Liena's personality at all. It is only that your fondness for her other qualities outweighs your dislike of her personality!"

"No, how could that be! No matter what Nana is like, I like her!"

"Fine. Then if you could choose between a Hu Liena who treated people gently and a Hu Liena who was spoiled and willful, which one would you choose?"

"The gentle one!" He answered instantly!

"...You are pretty honest, at least. But now you understand, right? Don't you clearly prefer people with gentle personalities?"

"Eh, that actually seems to be true?"

"Next question. I remember the name of the girl who confessed to you today. In terms of appearance alone, she is indeed a little inferior to Hu Liena. Her talent is also inferior to Hu Liena's, and the time you have spent together is far shorter. Only in terms of personality does she have the upper hand. So here is the question: if, and I mean if, you put yourself into the scenario I am about to propose. If this girl had taken Hu Liena's place and grown up with you as your childhood sweetheart, while Hu Liena had merely been your new classmate for the past two years, which one do you think you would like more?"