Looking at the Pot While Eating from the Bowl

For Shangguan Che, today's school life could hardly be called dull.

Early in the morning, his classmate Ike Kanji took the initiative to approach him. After a brief exchange, they added each other on social media, and Shangguan Che was pulled into a boys' group chat created by Ike Kanji.

This group had gathered almost all twenty boys in the class. Shangguan Che was the nineteenth to join, with the sole exception being Hirata, who hadn't been invited.

After scrolling through the chat history, Shangguan Che instantly understood the reason—"normies" were simply not welcome in this group.

The group owner, Ike Kanji, harbored a deep-seated resentment toward boys who were popular with girls. Realizing this, Shangguan Che had to helplessly abandon his initial thought of adding Hirata to the group.

By noon, Shangguan Che noticed Ayanokoji looking around, seemingly searching for someone to talk to.

His heart stirred, and he took the initiative to walk up and invite him: "Ayanokoji, how about we go eat together?"

Ayanokoji remained expressionless, but his tone was crisp: "I'd be happy to. Let's go."

Watching Ayanokoji walk over at a leisurely pace, Shangguan Che nodded to himself. It seemed his previous analysis of Ayanokoji hadn't been far off the mark.

As soon as the three of them met, Ayanokoji suddenly spoke up: "Shangguan, is Sakura your girlfriend?"

Taken aback by the question, Shangguan Che muttered to himself: Are all cold, aloof people this direct?

Looking at Sakura, who already struggled to lift her head, she buried it even lower at that moment.

Shangguan Che quickly explained: "No, we're just ordinary friends, just like you."

For the rest of the way, it was mostly Shangguan Che trying to spark conversation, while Ayanokoji and Sakura only offered passive responses.

Sakura was naturally introverted; if you didn't ask her something, she wouldn't say a word.

After chatting for a short while, Shangguan Che felt a sense of frustration: his art of conversation was a total failure.

However, he soon let it go. After all, it was lunchtime, and since "one should not talk while eating," he no longer had to struggle to find topics for awkward small talk.

In the cafeteria, Shangguan Che was enjoying his free vegetable set meal.

Sakura looked at him, her lips moving as if she had something to say, but she didn't speak up.

Ayanokoji didn't have such reservations and asked plainly: "Shangguan, why are you eating the vegetable set meal?"

Shangguan Che replied casually: "Oh, most of my money is spent on things related to my lifelong happiness."

"May I be so bold as to ask specifically where?" Ayanokoji pressed.

Shangguan Che smiled at him: "At school."

Seeing that Ayanokoji was about to ask more, he quickly cut him off: "Let's talk after we finish eating."

He thought to himself: Learn from Sakura; eat properly when it's time to eat, that's the only way to grow properly where you need to grow.

By the time they finished their meal, Ayanokoji didn't pursue the topic any further.

But during the afternoon classes, Shangguan Che realized in hindsight: I'm the only one out of the three playing the role of a fake extrovert, putting on a one-man show. This is too bullying.

He had even accidentally "respected the teacher and valued the Way" during class earlier, leading to a small incident. The more he thought about it, the more helpless he felt.

As soon as the bell rang for the end of the school day, Shangguan Che played the role of Hirata's "savior" once again.

Hirata was surrounded by a group of girls and couldn't break free, so Shangguan Che stepped up, pulled him out of the "sea of flowers," and headed straight for the field to participate in soccer club activities.

When Shangguan Che's foot touched the soccer ball for the first time, a strange sensation surged in his heart. He felt as if he were an insurmountable peak in the world of human soccer.

Although the system had placed him at the "pinnacle of human soccer," the reality of the soccer world hadn't changed at all.

He couldn't help but complain internally: I'm not just standing on the shoulders of giants; I'm doing it without providing any benefit to humanity. It seems that when Newton said that, he might have just been trying to be humble.

Shangguan Che's foundation in soccer had been very weak, but today became a day for the soccer club members to witness a "miracle."

Bicycle kicks, world-class long-range goals, dipping shots, Marseille turns... a series of high-difficulty moves were performed one after another. Everyone on the field, including the soccer club members and Shangguan Che himself, was too shocked to speak.

Thanks to this stunning performance, Shangguan Che successfully became an official member of the soccer club.

The club president patted him on the shoulder and said firmly: "I guarantee that you will definitely become the absolute core of the soccer club in the future."

The president first asked for his name and class, and Shangguan Che replied: "Shangguan Che, Class 1-D."

The president immediately announced: "Shangguan, from now on you are an official player. I believe you will definitely become our ace."

Shangguan Che thanked him quickly, though he couldn't help but calculate in his mind: Thanks for the praise, President, but I wonder if this will increase my private points.

The president looked around and lowered his voice: "Use your private points sparingly."

He then patted his shoulder again: "That will depend on your own efforts."

Shangguan Che pondered to himself that the president's words likely meant that "increasing income" was difficult, while "cutting expenses" was relatively simple.

Regardless, having such a harvest on his first day in the soccer club could be considered an unexpected joy.

After school, Shangguan Che first confirmed the time and place for dinner with Sakura on his phone.

When the two met at the agreed-upon restaurant and sat face-to-face to eat, Shangguan Che used his Clairvoyance to occasionally observe Karuizawa Kei, who had been acting strange since the second day.

Going back and forth like this, even Shangguan Che felt something was off, muttering to himself: Why does my behavior feel like "eating from the bowl while looking at the pot"?

As soon as this thought emerged, he quickly denied it in his heart: Pah, what kind of nonsense am I thinking! This is all for their own good. Shangguan Che, you are putting in genuine effort now, don't let your mind wander.

While he was distracted, Sakura across from him spoke softly, her voice delicate and gentle: "Shangguan, why did you suddenly smile?"

Shangguan Che snapped back to reality and quickly covered it up: "Oh, oh, it's nothing. I just suddenly thought of something happy."

Sakura nodded and replied softly, "Oh, I see."

Seeing this, Shangguan Che took the initiative to bring up a new topic: "Don't you want to know what the happy news is, Sakura?"

Sakura looked up, her eyes filled with a hint of curiosity, and asked in a low voice, "What is it?"

Shangguan Che smiled and said, "I was thinking, why don't we go practice photography together this weekend? Didn't you say before that you were a bit interested in it?"

As soon as these words were out, Sakura's gaze instantly drifted away, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her shirt as she murmured, "About that..."

Watching her nervous and hesitant appearance, Shangguan Che chuckled to himself: shifting the focus from himself onto her was indeed an effective tactic; it had instantly moved past the moment of distraction from just a moment ago.

He didn't press the issue, instead picking up his chopsticks and smiling as he changed the subject: "Let's eat first; we can talk about that later."

Sakura followed his lead and looked at the food, her eyes gradually settling as she gave a soft "Mm."

The atmosphere at the dining table became peaceful once again, though Shangguan Che knew in his heart that his attention regarding Karuizawa would likely not cease for some time.

But these were all just minor matters.