Chapter 1

Chapter 1

September marked the tail end of summer, but the heat waves still came on strong. Not only was the classroom's air conditioning running, several ceiling fans were also creaking overhead.

Gu Wang woke to the incessant chatter around him. With his face buried in his arms, he opened his eyes and leaned back a little. A basketball with peeling skin and several test papers scattered beneath the desk came into view.

-Jinyang High School, Year Two English Test (3)

Gu Wang was stunned.

He bit down hard on the tip of his tongue. This wasn't a dream?

He was already in college! Where had a Year Two English test come from? And what the hell was Jinyang High School?

He looked at the name field on the test paper and struggled to decipher the two chicken-scratch characters: Gu Wang.

Gu Wang: "..." The name matched, but that handwriting! He had always written in slender gold script. He couldn't remember ever producing handwriting this horrifically ugly!

He recalled the boys' love novel his roommate had shared with him before bed last night. His roommate had insisted he read it because one of the supporting male characters had the same name as Gu Wang.

The Gu Wang in the book had been born with every advantage. His grandfather had received over two billion yuan in compensation when his property was demolished, making Gu Wang the third generation of a demolition-compensation fortune. The generation above him all had a knack for business, and those billions kept snowballing. Though they were still nouveau riche to the bone, they were determined to transform the Gu Family's standing in Gu Wang's generation and establish an illustrious family.

As a supporting male character, Gu Wang had all the standard features: a face that outshone the protagonist's, a wealthy family, and a crush on the same person as the male lead. Unfortunately, he was all looks and no substance. Not only did he offend the male lead, but the person he liked also loathed him.

In the end, the Gu Wang in the book courted disaster by drugging the male lead's unattainable love. The male lead went after the Gu Family, which fell apart and collapsed in an instant. The Original Host also died on the operating table after a car accident.

Gu Wang tried to remember what he had said at the time. "If that were me, this novel would need a different male lead."

Now Gu Wang understood. You couldn't just go around tempting fate. Sooner or later, you had to pay for it.

What else could he do now? He would deal with whatever came his way. Maybe once he really changed the Original Host's fate, he could go back.

Having reluctantly accepted reality, Gu Wang lifted his head from the desk and habitually leaned back in his chair. He surveyed the classroom, looking calm while actually panicking like mad.

It wasn't much different from his old high school. More accurately, all high schools were like this: books piled so high on the desks that they hid the students, more stacks on the floor, and homework written on the blackboard.

It seemed to be break time. Some seats were empty, while girls clustered together, chatting and laughing freely.

The sight left Gu Wang a little dazed. He was actually in his third year of college, agonizing over whether to find a job or take the postgraduate entrance exam. Between endless credits to earn, research projects to finish, and troublesome interpersonal relationships, he had almost forgotten those uncomplicated days.

While Gu Wang stared into space, the people around him gave the little tyrant a wide berth. After all, this spoiled rich boy routinely cracked people's heads open when something displeased him.

Gu Wang leaned against the wall behind him and closed his eyes. In the book, the Original Host only met such a miserable end because he kept hanging around that unattainable love. He even dragged his family down with him.

Then all I need to do now is stay away from the male lead and his unattainable love.

With my abilities, the Original Host is bound to have a brilliant future...

A smile rested on the boy's face, unlike his old malicious grin that always suggested he was about to play a nasty trick. Gu Wang already had an exceptionally innocent-looking face. If he used it to act sweet and fool people, he would succeed every time.

Someone approached, blocking the sunlight and casting Gu Wang into shadow.

"Hand in your homework." The boy tapped the corner of Gu Wang's desk, a trace of impatience flashing in his eyes.

Gu Wang opened his eyes and asked reflexively, "What homework?"

His deskmate, Gu Wang's best friend in high school, patted him on the shoulder and said in a deeply pitying tone, "Wangwang, those papers under your feet."

Gu Wang stole a lightning-fast glance at his deskmate's name: Song Zhiyan.

This person had been fairly loyal to Gu Wang in the book. He had even tried to stop Gu Wang's moth-to-a-flame pursuit of that unattainable love. Song Zhiyan was on his side, Gu Wang concluded.

There was no need to rush things right now, either.

At that thought, Gu Wang tilted his face up and smiled at the boy before him. "Sorry, I didn't do it."

He Qinghuan's gaze swept over Gu Wang's eyes, and he scoffed. "I'll tell the teacher."

Gu Wang was inwardly stunned by the homework collector's looks, too. His features were exquisite, and together, they could only be described as beautiful. Yet there was nothing feminine about him. He even carried a faint chill that made people afraid to entertain any irreverent thoughts.

But why was he so hostile toward him?

He Qinghuan had never expected Gu Wang to actually do his homework. He was merely fulfilling his duties as class monitor. Turning around, he placed the stack of collected papers on his own desk, then left the classroom.

In the restroom, he washed his hands meticulously under running water. He had touched that person's desk just now.

Gu Wang withdrew his gaze from the departing boy's back, only for Song Zhiyan to turn his face toward him.

Song Zhiyan clicked his tongue twice and said incredulously, "Am I seeing things? Are you still the Wangwang I know?"

Gu Wang's heart lurched. Then he swatted Song Zhiyan's hand away and rubbed his cheek, which ached from being squeezed. "If I'm not, are you?"

"Still the same little shit, all right." Song Zhiyan shook his head. "If you hadn't been so cold to He Qinghuan just now, I would've thought you were possessed."

He Qinghuan?

He Qinghuan!

Gu Wang sucked in a breath inwardly. The boy who had come to collect homework was actually He Qinghuan, the male lead's unattainable love-the boy who looked as pure as moonlight but was actually ruthless!

At that thought, Gu Wang turned to Song Zhiyan with a very serious expression. "Did I look really cold just now?"

Song Zhiyan froze. Thinking Gu Wang was worried that his attitude had hurt He Qinghuan, he frowned and said hesitantly, "Wangwang, seriously, I'm not trying to put you down, but you and He Qinghuan really don't live in the same world. You've given him all those love letters and presents. When has he ever not thrown them away? With everything you have going for you, what kind of guy couldn't you find? Why insist on him?"

He couldn't agree too quickly, or Song Zhiyan would definitely notice something. Gu Wang deliberately hesitated for a few seconds before nodding and saying in a deeply sorrowful voice, "I'll think about it. After all..."

At that, Song Zhiyan excitedly pulled Gu Wang into his arms and said with relief, "We're brothers. You don't have to say anything else. I know. I understand!"

Gu Wang: "..."

Returning from the restroom, He Qinghuan stood at the back door for a while, his fringe hiding the mockery in his eyes. Words had to be backed up by actions. This was hardly the first or second time Gu Wang had said something like that.

Author's note: Gu Wang: I fucking mean it. Believe me!

I wrote the demolition compensation as over two billion because I know someone who received several hundred million. If there were more properties, ahem, it's not impossible. Don't debate this. Isn't it nice to let our Wangwang be super rich?

Chapter 2

Gu Wang was the only one in class who hadn't handed in his homework. He Qinghuan showed no favoritism, and their homeroom teacher happened to be teaching them that afternoon.

The woman at the lectern had a full figure and a calm, gentle gaze. Her long hair fell neatly down her back without a strand out of place. She waved a hand helplessly. When it came to Gu Wang, she was truly tired of lecturing him. Exhausted. "Gu Wang, go stand outside."

Being made to stand outside was an everyday occurrence for Gu Wang. Everyone was used to it and kept their heads down, doing their own thing without sparing him a glance.

Song Zhiyan clutched Gu Wang's hand and fought back tears. "Wangwang, my son, it's not that Daddy won't help you. Daddy really is powerless!"

Gu Wang couldn't help laughing. "Get lost."

He calmly walked out through the back door, tucked both hands into his trouser pockets, and leaned against the wall with his head tilted up and his eyes narrowed.

Growing up, Gu Wang had always been the child other parents held up as an example. More precisely, that only applied to his grades. He often made harmless mistakes, too, but because his grades were good, his teachers turned a blind eye. He had never experienced the sort of punishment the Original Host received, being made to stand outside just for failing to hand in homework.

Everyone else might be made to stand as punishment, but never Gu Wang. Later, he hadn't disappointed the teachers who favored him, either. He shared his study methods with his classmates, single-handedly raising the class's average scores and college admission rate.

Even years after his graduation, Gu Wang's photograph remained at the very top of the school's wall of honor.

He actually found an embarrassing situation like today's rather novel.

When Shen Zhao slipped out of his classroom to use the restroom, this was the scene he saw. He thought he must be possessed-he actually found Wangwang rather handsome.

It wasn't that he thought Gu Wang was bad-looking. It was just that Gu Wang never behaved properly, always slouching around and wasting that face of his. For some reason, Shen Zhao felt there was something different about him today.

After using the restroom, he ran over to Gu Wang in a few quick strides. "Why are you being made to stand outside again?"

Gu Wang had spent all of yesterday morning standing in the corridor, too. Was he planning to put down roots out here?

Gu Wang turned to look at the boy beside him. His first impression was that this guy was pretty good-looking.

He had a good memory and could remember practically every plot point and character he had read about in the book. Now that he was actually in it, the characters' names and experiences flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

Before long, he identified the person before him: Shen Zhao, the Original Host's childhood friend. Gu Wang was closest to him, followed by Song Zhiyan back in the classroom.

"Didn't hand in my homework," Gu Wang said succinctly.

"Oh, right." Shen Zhao was used to it. Then he pulled out his phone. "Want to team up?"

"..." Gu Wang didn't quite understand the world of failing students. His expression turned a little odd. "Aren't you going to class?"

"Eh." Shen Zhao waved a hand grandly. "Once the teacher sees me out here, he'll definitely make me stand outside, too. I'll start playing now. Same difference. But I definitely can't play while he's yelling at me, so I'll go AFK and follow you. Don't let me feed kills."

Gu Wang: "..." What a fucking plan.

"You in?"

"I'm in."

While the game loaded, Shen Zhao sat on the floor, busy finding the best position to play in. Without lifting his head, he said, "Wangwang, if you pick a marksman, I'll play support. We'll go bottom lane. I invited a few good players from our class, so let them take mid and top. Remember to stay back during team fights."

Gu Wang recalled that the Original Host wasn't just bad at studying. He was bad at games, too. There was practically nothing he was good at.

He and Gu Wang were polar opposites. Gu Wang was the kind of person who insisted on being the best at whatever he did. When he became obsessed with Honor of Kings, he studied guides and watched major streamers' techniques. To execute a single movement as well as possible, he could tirelessly practice it thousands of times.

He took out his phone, sat down beside Shen Zhao, and opened the game, almost blinded by the Original Host's skins.

The Original Host might have been terrible at the game, but he had money. He owned every hero and bought every skin. His skills might lag behind, but he had to look impressive.

Until he turned eighteen, Gu Wang's tuition had been funded by an anonymous sponsor. After that, he relied on scholarships and side jobs. He was nowhere near the Original Host's level of wealth, and sometimes he even had to get skins through random draws. He comforted himself: this world might be completely unfamiliar, but at least he was rich now, wasn't he?

Once he entered, he picked Li Bai, his best hero.

Seeing the gleaming character frame that seemed to belong to a different world from the rest of their broke asses, Shen Zhao was stunned. "Isn't Luban your favorite?"

"..." Gu Wang kept a straight face. "I feel like trying Li Bai today."

"Fine," Shen Zhao said despairingly, already preparing for a four-on-five match. Gu Wang was just there to fill a slot. He only hoped Wangwang wouldn't feed kills.

Fifteen minutes later...

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck! Wangwang, Wangwang, save me, save me!"

"Wangwang, that movement! Fucking awesome!"

"Wangwang, flash on him! Flash on him! Aah, aah, aah! Wangwang, I love you!"

After the match ended, the boys from the neighboring class all started calling him Daddy in the team chat. Shen Zhao calmed down, turned to Gu Wang, and asked in confusion, "Wangwang, when did you get so good?"

Gu Wang remained perfectly composed. High school boys were in their rebellious phase; they changed by the day. "I studied some guides at home. Is it that hard?"

Then he watched Shen Zhao's expression shift from thoughtful to frown