Xu Yi looked utterly bewildered.
He eyed Ai Xiaoxing and asked hesitantly, "Are you Cockroach Antenna Dipped in Shit?"
Negative Emotion Points +50
A blush suddenly spread across Ai Xiaoxing's pretty face. "Don't say it so loud. Have some shame..."
"You really are Ai Xiaoxing, the Campus Belle?"
"Oh, come on. I'm just an ordinary person, not some Campus Belle."
Xu Yi stood there, dumbfounded, unable to react. Even now, he still hadn't processed what was happening.
After a long pause, Xu Yi finally said, "Campus Belle Ai, you're full of surprises."
Negative Emotion Points +100
Shocking! The pure and untouchable Campus Belle was actually like this online?!
The stunning beauty, hailed as every boy's dream girl, was actually an unhinged girl!
Cockroach antenna dipped in shit—now that was some real-life experience.
Negative Emotion Points +100
As Xu Yi muttered to himself, Ai Xiaoxing flushed bright red. She wanted nothing more than to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
"Oh, stop talking about it. Let's hurry up and get something to eat."
Perhaps she was so mortified that Ai Xiaoxing took the initiative to grab Xu Yi by the cuff and tug him toward the school gates.
"Wait a second... I think I forgot something."
"Oh, right. The asshole everyone's been cursing on the confession wall all day—that's me, isn't it? Oh, crap!"
Only then did Xu Yi finally realize...
Sure enough, he barely lifted his head before catching countless murderous glares aimed at him.
They weren't looking at him like he was a romantic rival. They were looking at him like he was an enemy.
The kind they wouldn't rest until they'd killed.
This is bad—I'm doomed—
Xu Yi's expression changed.
He couldn't guarantee that this pack of simps wouldn't do something extreme for love.
If he'd known this would happen, he never would've arranged to meet at the school gates. That was just asking for trouble.
How could being someone's meal companion put his life in danger?
Everyone, listen to me! I'm done with dating—I wouldn't dare get into a relationship, let alone hit on the Campus Belle!
Who put the Campus Belle in my bed?!
Negative Emotion Points +30
Negative Emotion Points +30
Negative Emotion Points +30
Negative Emotion Points +30
Hearing the system's notification chime go off repeatedly, Xu Yi paused, then broke into a delighted smile. His eyebrows shot up.
But then again, so what?
Let me ask you this: the Campus Belle asked me out to eat. So what?
Crick, crick, crick...
Listen closely. That was the sound of people grinding their back teeth to dust.
Damn it, I really want to kill him!
What's with that smug look? Is getting asked out by the Campus Belle something to be proud of? Though, yeah, it kind of is.
I'm so jealous I've ground my back teeth to dust. Can some brave soul please go beat him up first?
Isn't that Crown Prince Xu? Brothers, don't do anything rash. He's the Crown Prince of Furun Group!
Everybody, calm down. I heard Furun Group offered us fifty positions because of Xu Yi. And he personally applied for twenty more jobs later.
Hearing this, quite a few people's expressions softened.
Their murderous glares now held a hint of gratitude.
But that didn't stop them from wanting to beat Xu Yi to death.
"Xu Yi, why do you keep walking me around in circles by the school gates?"
"Shh, don't talk. Let's do a few more laps."
Ai Xiaoxing: "..."
"Keep holding my sleeve. Don't let go. Stay closer... Yeah, just like that."
Negative Emotion Points +50
Negative Emotion Points +50
Negative Emotion Points +50
Feeling the Emotion Points pouring in, Xu Yi couldn't have been more pleased.
He seemed to have found a new way to use the system.
This is fun! A little dangerous, though...
Xu Yi kept walking her in circles. In the cold wind, Ai Xiaoxing had already sneezed several times.
But Xu Yi acted as if nothing was wrong and kept leading her around.
Seriously, was something wrong with this guy?
Was he treating her like a donkey, making her turn a millstone?
They weren't even going to eat. They were just going around in circles.
How was he somehow even more unhinged than her?
Ai Xiaoxing rolled her eyes and complained silently.
But for some reason, she held it in and didn't lose her temper.
Negative Emotion Points +100
Negative Emotion Points +100
Negative Emotion Points +100
Xu Yi glanced at the Campus Belle, slightly surprised. A hundred Emotion Points had suddenly appeared among the thirty-point increments.
No need to guess where those came from. The Campus Belle had contributed them.
Girl, what's with you? Are you that easily annoyed?
Your face looks calm enough. Is this what they call a contrast?
The other students were just as speechless.
All right, we get it. You're going out to eat with the Campus Belle. Quit showing off.
What, is the Campus Belle some fish you caught? You've been bragging for twenty minutes.
Bro, please keep going around a little longer. I want to get a few more looks at the Campus Belle.
Seeing that everyone's expressions were getting worse by the second, Xu Yi knew it was time to quit while he was ahead. He couldn't let things get out of hand.
You had to harvest the leeks one batch at a time.
"Campus Belle Ai, are you hungry?" Xu Yi asked.
What do you think?!
"I'm fine. I'm not hungry." A faint dimple appeared in Ai Xiaoxing's smile.
"Then should we do two more laps?"
Negative Emotion Points +100
Nice try. You think I can't outlast you? Xu Yi laughed to himself.
Ai Xiaoxing's smile stiffened for a moment. "It's getting late. How about we go eat?"
"Sure. Let's get hotpot. That'll warm you right up."
"Okay."
Ai Xiaoxing hadn't wanted hotpot. These were new clothes, and they'd end up smelling like food.
But after standing in the cold wind for so long, her body had a more honest opinion than her brain.
When the students watched the Campus Belle finally get led out through the gates by Xu Yi, they contributed another hefty wave of Emotion Points.
Save up a little more money, and I can create a new identity. Can't wait!
In a rideshare car...
One leaned against the window on the left, the other against the window on the right.
The atmosphere was painfully awkward.
Ai Xiaoxing thought, Come on, mouth, say something! Where'd all that online unhinged energy go? I still need a favor from him.
Xu Yi thought, How can I keep milking the Campus Belle for Emotion Points?
Just then, the driver broke the awkward silence by speaking up.
"Are you two students?"
Ai Xiaoxing immediately relaxed and shot the driver's back a grateful look.
"Yes, yes," Ai Xiaoxing replied quickly.
"Sir, what do you do for work?"
The car fell silent for a moment.
The Campus Belle's face turned crimson, and she buried her head in her chest.
The driver gave an awkward chuckle, then continued, "Are you two going on a date?"
"No, no. We're just friends. We're having a meal together."
The Campus Belle hurried to explain, sneaking a glance at Xu Yi. When she saw that he hadn't reacted at all, she shrank back into her seat.
"Oh, just friends? The two of you look like you're in that ambiguous stage. Getting close, then pulling away. Keeping each other on tenterhooks."
Xu Yi perked up at once. "Sir, sounds like you're a real expert behind the wheel."
"Ah, I wouldn't call myself an expert. But I've driven plenty of cars.
"I've driven new cars and used cars. I've even driven cars with high beams... Anyway, lots of cars. Every one gave me a different experience.
"Used cars have a loose gas pedal, but they're easy to handle. New cars have a tight pedal, and they're a smooth ride.
"My bad back came from driving too many cars. But that's not the point. Do you know what matters most, no matter what kind of car you drive?"
"What?"
"You have to keep the car keys firmly in your own hands. If you let someone else drive and they wear down the gas pedal or get the car dirty,
"you're the one who'll feel the heartache."
"Right, right, right."
Xu Yi couldn't help applauding him. Every word was about cars, and not one word was actually about cars.
Xu Yi glanced at Campus Belle Ai and noticed the faintest smile tugging at her lips.
There was also something in her eyes he couldn't quite read.
He'd seen that look before: back in high school, on the face of the King of Filth girl who sat behind him.
She'd worn the same expression when telling jokes.
Mystery solved. This woman had definitely understood the joke. That meant, more or less, that Campus Belle Ai was a fellow expert.
So it was true: you couldn't judge an unhinged girl by her looks alone.
"Ha ha! You two are so easy to talk to. It feels like we've known each other forever. I could keep chatting with you all day," the driver laughed.
"That still doesn't give you an excuse to take the long way," Xu Yi said.
Negative Emotion Points +50
Before you continue