Zhang Zhaomu snapped awake.
That wasn't a thought of his own. No matter how wildly his imagination roamed, he couldn't have come up with anything so abstract.
What did it mean that his persona was [Cat]?
Did [Cat] count as a persona? Wasn't that an animal?
But the familiar premonition sent a chill surging up from his tailbone, and Zhang Zhaomu shuddered.
The last time a thought had popped into his head so abruptly had been exactly a week ago, also when he'd woken up on Monday morning.
This week, my persona is [Refined].
Zhang Zhaomu remembered the thought clearly. Because of it, his life had been turned upside down: in a single week, he'd gone from an unknown nobody to a figure known throughout the school.
He'd originally thought his extraordinary encounter had simply given him the [Refined] persona.
But now it seemed...
He'd overlooked a key word. Did this thing actually trigger once every week?!!!
Besides, [Refined] at least made sense, but what the hell was [Cat] supposed to be?!
I can't possibly turn into a cat, can I?
Zhang Zhaomu hurriedly raised his hand.
Its joints were well-defined, its fingers long and slender, and it hadn't grown any fur.
Thank goodness, thank goodness.
He let out a long breath. Looks like I at least still look human. This so-called [Cat] probably means a catlike personality or something.
Although that wasn't exactly easy to accept either, it was much better than turning into a cat.
Then what about my [Refined] persona? Has it been replaced?
As soon as the thought occurred to him, Zhang Zhaomu felt as though he'd gained a new instinct.
It seemed he could load or unload the [Refined] persona at any time.
It was a marvelous feeling. Whenever the [Refined] persona was loaded, the aesthetic sense, fashion experience, and even lifestyle habits that came with it emerged as if he'd been born with them. After he unloaded it, he once again felt what it was like to be a pure salted fish, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time.
That's pretty convenient... This works too. The [Refined] persona is useful, but sometimes it's pretty inconvenient.
For example, when he'd been gaming over the weekend, he'd clearly wanted to pull an all-nighter and have a blast, but his body clock kept reminding him it was time for bed. His mind had also kept insisting that he'd spent the whole day at an internet café, so he must smell and had to shower and change clothes immediately. As a result, his gaming performance had suffered, and he'd even been mocked by Chen Zhenzhen.
Next time I play, I can unload the [Refined] persona and load it again when I need it!
As for when he'd need it... Zhang Zhaomu felt he would need the [Refined] persona's help when interacting with other people, at least. Otherwise, he felt it would be hard to maintain his dignity in an environment like Class Nine, where beauties gathered like clouds and all treated him like a hot commodity.
And the [Refined] persona was also indispensable when he needed to use his image design skills.
Before, the [Refined] persona was like being possessed, but now it's become a mask I can put on or take off whenever I want... Zhang Zhaomu couldn't help letting his thoughts wander again. How does that saying go? Wear a mask long enough, and you can't take it off. That's a little like my situation now.
At that thought, Zhang Zhaomu couldn't help laughing. In any case, wearing the mask felt great, so why think so much about it? Even if he couldn't take it off, the worst that could happen was that he'd spend his whole life as a handsome man admired by countless people. That wasn't too hard to accept.
Zhang Zhaomu finally recovered from his initial fright, then couldn't help yawning. He stretched out on the bed and gave a great, lazy stretch.
It's rare for me to still feel sleepy. I haven't gone back to sleep in ages, so let's do that.
When he opened his eyes again, it was already bright outside.
Zhang Zhaomu rubbed his eyes and felt he was still sleepy.
He was so sleepy it was almost as if he'd stayed up for two nights straight, yet he clearly hadn't gone to bed late last night.
Just a little more sleep...
Wait, it's Monday!
What does Monday matter... School is boring anyway. If I don't go, I don't go.
School is boring, true, but isn't the flag-raising ceremony on Monday morning? And I'm the class monitor! Isn't it a big deal for the class monitor to miss the flag-raising ceremony? No matter how good-tempered Old Chen is, he definitely won't stand for it!
If he can't stand it, then he can't stand it. It doesn't matter anyway, so why care? Sleep is what matters most.
Makes sense.
After wrestling with himself, Zhang Zhaomu ultimately decided to give in to his sleepiness.
The second round of going back to sleep ended, and he opened his eyes once more.
Sleeping feels so good...
Zhang Zhaomu stretched again, feeling his entire spine extend into an inconceivable shape.
He checked the time. It was already past eight in the morning.
Holy shit! I slept straight through to first period? Old Chen's probably blowing his top!
Zhang Zhaomu was startled.
But... I still haven't quite had enough sleep. Then another thought occurred to him. I'm already late anyway, so it doesn't matter if I miss a few more classes. The weather's so nice; I should sleep a little longer after all.
With that thought, Zhang Zhaomu easily convinced himself and closed his eyes again.
Still, I'm really sleepy today. From last night until now, I've slept almost ten hours, haven't I?
Hmm?
Wait!
No matter what, a human couldn't still be this sleepy after ten hours of sleep, right? It's not like I have a sleep disorder!
He suddenly realized. [Cat]!
He'd heard that cats were extremely sleepy animals. Although their sleep was broken up, it added up to at least sixteen to twenty hours a day.
I knew it! This persona stuff isn't that simple! Damn it, I actually fell for it!
Yes, it definitely wasn't because he'd wanted to go back to sleep too. At least he'd struggled with himself. He could only blame the [Cat] persona for fitting his own thoughts too well when it came to going back to sleep, which was why he'd been so easily persuaded!
Come to think of it, salted fish and cats might have something in common in certain respects.
No, wait. Cats are the natural enemies of salted fish.
Zhang Zhaomu couldn't stop his thoughts from wandering again. So, as a salted fish, it's perfectly normal that I can't resist the [Cat] persona.
Then it's fine. It's not that I didn't try; the enemy is simply too powerful!
Back to sleep. The sky won't fall-
Like hell it won't!
Even if I'm a salted fish, I can't give up so easily! I'm not at the end of my rope yet! I still have one last trump card!
Oh no! I can feel a surging force coursing through my body, and my blood is heating up against my will!
Zhang Zhaomu roared inwardly, Let me show you what a salted fish is capable of!
[Refined] persona, load!
Anxiety surged up instantly, and more clamorous thoughts echoed through his mind.
I'm done for, I'm done for! As class monitor, I actually missed the first flag-raising ceremony since the classes were divided. How utterly undignified!
It's not too late to mend the fold after losing a sheep. I have to get up right now!
Those thoughts finally overcame his body's sleepiness. Zhang Zhaomu straightened his back and sprang out of bed.
Thump.
A muffled sound rang out.
When Zhang Zhaomu realized it was the sound of his head striking the ceiling, his pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints.