Across the Ocean: London
Adrian Wolfe was in a business meeting when his phone buzzed.
He glanced at it.
A message from Shen Rui: [Found something. Might be important. Shanghai. Come home.]
Attached was a video clip. A boy fighting off wild animals with professional precision.
Adrian's heart stopped.
Those moves.
That technique.
Phantom's technique.
He stood up abruptly. "Meeting's over. Book me the next flight to Shanghai."
His assistant blinked. "Sir, you have seventeen meetings scheduled this week—"
"Cancel them. All of them."
"But—"
"Now."
Adrian stared at the video again.
If there's even a one percent chance...
He'd searched for three years.
Traveled to forty countries.
Investigated hundreds of leads.
All dead ends.
But this...
This feels different.
He typed back to Shen Rui: [On my way. Don't let him disappear.]
Back to Lin Yuer
Lin Yuer sneezed.
[Bless you! (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و]
"Why do I feel like something bad is about to happen?"
[Probably because you have good instincts! ✧.]*
[Also: NEW MISSION!]
"Oh no."
[DAILY MISSION UPDATED!]
[Mission: Survive tomorrow without suspicious behavior!]
[Difficulty: EXTREME!]
[Reward: +20 Beauty Points!]
[Penalty: Complete identity exposure!]
"...Why is the difficulty extreme?"
[Because all four male leads are now actively investigating you! (ﾉﾟ0ﾟ)ﾉ]
[Good luck! ٩(◕‿◕｡)۶]
Lin Yuer stared at the system notification.
Then at the ceiling.
Then back at the system.
"I hate my life," he announced.
[But it's getting more interesting! (ﾉ≧∀≦)ﾉ]
"That's NOT a good thing!"
[Sure it is! Think of it as a challenge! ✧.]*
[Don't you miss the excitement of being Phantom?]
Lin Yuer thought about that.
The adrenaline. The danger. The thrill of outwitting enemies.
"...Maybe a little," he admitted.
[SEE?! (◕‿◕)♡]
[Now go to sleep! Big day tomorrow!]
[And by big, I mean potentially catastrophic!]
"You're the worst motivational system ever."
[But I'm YOUR worst motivational system! ♡]
Despite everything, Lin Yuer smiled.
This ridiculous second life...
Maybe it's not so bad after all.
Lin Yuer woke up to seventeen missed calls.
What the hell?
He checked his phone groggily. All from unknown numbers. And three text messages:
[This is Wei Feng! I got your number from the school directory! YUER! You need to see the school forum! NOW! - WF]
[Lin-ge! Are you okay?! Everyone's talking about you! - Chen Ming]
[Mr. Lin, please report to the Principal's office immediately upon arrival. - Principal Zhang's Secretary]
"...System?"
[Good morning, Host! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ:・゚✧]*
"Why do I have seventeen missed calls?"
[Oh! About that! ∑(゚Д゚)]
[You went viral again!]
"WHAT?!"
[Someone posted photos of you and Xie Yunlan at the café!]
[The headlines are: "Mysterious Student Catches CEO's Eye!"]
["Who is St. Amadeus's Hidden Beauty?!"]
["From Ugly Duckling to Swan - Student's Transformation Shocks School!"]
Lin Yuer pulled up the school forum on his phone.
His blood ran cold.
There were dozens of photos. Him and Xie Yunlan at the café. Xie Yunlan tucking hair behind his ear. Them walking to the subway station. Xie Yunlan's expression soft and fond.
The comments section was EXPLODING:
"WAIT, THAT'S LIN YUER?!"
"No way. Lin Yuer is ugly. This must be someone else."
"I have him in my class. That's definitely him. When did he get hot?!"
"Who is Xie Yunlan? Why is he looking at a student like that?"
"XYL is only the richest CEO in Shanghai, no big deal 😱"
"Is this a sugar daddy situation? 👀"
"Guys, Lin Yuer is 16. XYL is probably just mentoring him or something."
"Then why does XYL look at him like he's the sun??? 🌞"
"PLOT TWIST: What if Lin Yuer is secretly a hidden young master?!"
"Or what if he's XYL's secret illegitimate son?!"
"That's... that's worse actually."
Lin Yuer wanted to throw his phone out the window.
"This is a disaster."
[Or an opportunity! (◕‿◕)♡]
"HOW IS THIS AN OPPORTUNITY?!"
[Your reputation is changing!]
[Yesterday: School punching bag]
[Today: Mysterious beautiful boy with powerful connections!]
[That's character development! ✧.]*
"That's a TARGET ON MY BACK!"
[Well... yes. That too. (・・;)]
Lin Yuer got dressed in record time. His uniform was still terrible, but his face...
He stared at his reflection.
47/100 beauty points had transformed him significantly. He looked like a completely different person from a week ago. Soft features, clear skin, large expressive eyes, naturally pink lips.
If I show up looking like this, people are going to lose their minds.
[DING!]
[NEW MISSION: Survive School Without Causing Mass Hysteria!]
[Difficulty: EXTREME]
[Reward: +25 Beauty Points]
[Penalty: Social death and/or identity exposure]
"Your missions are getting worse."
[Life is getting more interesting! ✧.]*
"I WANT BORING! I WISHED FOR ORDINARY!"
The moment Lin Yuer walked through the school gates, silence fell.
Every single person stopped and stared.
Oh no.
"Is that..."
"Lin Yuer?"
"Holy shit, it IS him!"
"When did he get so cute?!"
"Did he get plastic surgery?"
"In three days?! That's impossible!"
"Then HOW?!"
Lin Yuer kept his head down and walked faster.
Don't make eye contact. Don't engage. Get to class. Survive.
"LIN YUER!"
Fuck.
Zhang Hao.
Of course.
Zhang Hao stormed over, his face red with rage. His cronies flanked him, looking confused and angry.
"What the HELL is this?!" Zhang Hao shoved his phone in Lin Yuer's face, showing the viral photos. "You're cozying up to Xie Yunlan?! What, sucking up to rich people now? Trying to climb the social ladder?"
I could break your arm in three places before you finished that sentence.
"It's not like that," Lin Yuer said quietly. "He just—"
"Just WHAT? Decided to randomly befriend the school's trash?!" Zhang Hao grabbed Lin Yuer's collar. "You think you're special now? You think you're—"
"Mr. Zhang Hao. Release him immediately."
Everyone turned.
A man in an expensive suit stood at the school entrance. Late twenties, handsome, with the kind of authority that made people automatically obey.
Principal Zhang himself hurried over, looking flustered. "Mr. Xie! We didn't expect you so early!"
Xie Yunlan walked forward with measured steps, his expression cold as he looked at Zhang Hao.
"I said," Xie Yunlan repeated, his voice dropping to something dangerous, "release him."
Zhang Hao's hand dropped like he'd been burned.
Xie Yunlan's gaze swept over Lin Yuer, checking for injuries, before returning to Zhang Hao.
"You are?" he asked, though his tone suggested he already knew and wasn't impressed.
"I—I'm Zhang Hao! My father is CEO of Zhang Industries! We're—"
"I'm familiar with Zhang Industries." Xie Yunlan's smile was sharp. "I'm also familiar with their current financial difficulties. Tell me, does your father know his son spends school time assaulting other students?"
Zhang Hao paled.
"I wasn't—it's not assault—he's just—"
"Just what?" Xie Yunlan stepped closer. "Just someone you think is beneath you? Just someone you can hurt without consequences?"
The entire school was watching now. Phones were out, recording everything.
"Mr. Xie," Principal Zhang intervened nervously, "I'm sure this is a misunderstanding—"
"Is it?" Xie Yunlan turned to him. "Because I've been reviewing your school's bullying incident reports. Or rather, the complete lack thereof. Despite multiple complaints about student Zhang Hao."
Principal Zhang's face went white.
"As of this morning," Xie Yunlan continued, "Xie Corporation is now the primary donor to St. Amadeus Academy. Which means I have a say in school policy. And I say: bullying will not be tolerated. Mr. Zhang Hao, you are suspended pending investigation."
"WHAT?!"
"You can't—my father will—"
"Your father's company currently owes Xie Corporation ¥50 million. I wonder how he'll react when he learns his son is jeopardizing that relationship." Xie Yunlan's smile was all teeth. "Feel free to call him."
Zhang Hao looked like he might cry or rage or both.
Then he turned and ran.
The crowd erupted in whispers.
Xie Yunlan turned to Lin Yuer, and his expression immediately softened. "Are you alright?"
"I... yes. Thank you, Mr. Xie, but you didn't have to—"
"Yes, I did." Xie Yunlan adjusted Lin Yuer's collar where Zhang Hao had wrinkled it. The gesture was unconsciously intimate. "I told you to call me if anyone bothered you."
"It's only been twelve hours since I saw you!"
"And yet you've already been assaulted." Xie Yunlan's expression darkened. "What if I hadn't come?"
I would've handled it myself. Eventually. Maybe. After suffering through it because the System told me to.
"I would've been fine," Lin Yuer lied.
Xie Yunlan looked like he wanted to argue, but Principal Zhang interrupted.
"Mr. Xie, shall we discuss the new donation terms in my office?"
"Yes. Lin Yuer, come with us."
"What? Why?"
"Because," Xie Yunlan said firmly, "we're implementing a new scholarship program. And you're the first recipient. We need to discuss details."
This is a trap.
He's using the school situation as an excuse to keep me close.
Smart bastard.
[He's so cool! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ:・゚✧]*
He's MANIPULATIVE!
[Same thing! ♡]
Lin Yuer sat awkwardly in an expensive leather chair while Xie Yunlan and Principal Zhang discussed "donation terms."
Really, Xie Yunlan was systematically dismantling every policy that had enabled Lin Yuer's bullying.
"—mandatory counseling for all students with behavioral complaints—"
"—security cameras in all hallways—"
"—anonymous reporting system—"
"—monthly reviews with student representatives—"
Principal Zhang was sweating. "Mr. Xie, these changes are quite extensive..."
"Then it's fortunate I'm providing extensive funding." Xie Yunlan's smile was pleasant and terrifying. "¥100 million should cover it, yes?"
Principal Zhang nearly fell out of his chair. "One HUNDRED—"
"Unless you feel the safety of your students isn't worth that much?"
"No! No, of course it is! We'll implement everything immediately!"
"Excellent." Xie Yunlan turned to Lin Yuer. "Now, about your scholarship."
"I already have a scholarship," Lin Yuer said carefully.
"Which barely covers tuition. This will cover tuition, housing, meals, supplies, and a monthly stipend of ¥10,000."
That's more money than I've ever had in this life.
"That's... too much."
"It's not." Xie Yunlan's expression was serious. "You're bright, talented, and have potential. Consider it an investment."
In what? Finding out if I'm Phantom?
"I have conditions," Lin Yuer said suddenly.
Xie Yunlan raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"I'll accept the scholarship. But I want it public that it's merit-based. I don't want people thinking I... that we..." He gestured vaguely between them.
The sugar daddy rumors need to die.
Xie Yunlan's lips twitched. "Ah. The photos."
"Everyone thinks I'm your... your..." Lin Yuer couldn't even say it.
"My sugar baby?" Xie Yunlan supplied, amused.
"YES! THAT!"
"Would that be so terrible?"
WHAT.
"I—you—that's—I'm SIXTEEN!"
"I'm aware." Xie Yunlan's expression sobered. "I apologize. That was inappropriate. You're right. We'll make it very clear this is purely educational mentorship."
Why does he look disappointed?
[Because he wants to wife you! (◕‿◕)♡]
SYSTEM, NO.
Principal Zhang cleared his throat. "I'll draft a press release immediately. 'Xie Corporation's Merit Scholarship Program.' Very respectable."
"Good." Xie Yunlan stood. "Lin Yuer, I'll have my assistant contact you about the scholarship details. In the meantime..." He handed Lin Yuer a black credit card. "For emergencies."
Lin Yuer stared at the card like it might bite him.
"I can't accept this."
"It's not a gift. It's a resource. If you're ever in danger or need help, use it." Xie Yunlan's expression was intense. "Please."
He's so worried.
Still guilty about Phantom.
Still trying to save someone he couldn't save before.
Lin Yuer took the card. "...Okay. But only for emergencies."
"That's all I ask."
As they left the office, Xie Yunlan paused.
"Lin Yuer?"
"Yes?"
"You look different today. Did you... sleep well?"
Shit. The beauty points.
"I... used some new skincare?" Lin Yuer tried.
"Hmm." Xie Yunlan studied him. "It suits you. You're becoming more..." He trailed off.
"More what?"
"More yourself," Xie Yunlan finished softly.
That's the second time he's said that.
What does he mean?
Before Lin Yuer could ask, Xie Yunlan's phone rang.
"Excuse me." He stepped away, answering. "Kai Zhen. You're early— ... Yes, he's here. ... No, you cannot— ... Fine. But behave yourself."
He hung up and turned to Lin Yuer with an expression that might have been apology.
"I have someone who'd like to meet you."
"Who?"
"An old friend. He's... intense. But harmless."