Chapter 40: Dream On

The next day arrived.

Lin Yizhou returned to school once again.

Even as a Monster, a so-called villain, he still had to coast through the credits he needed.

Although the school’s philosophy was Happy Education, no matter how happy it was, you still had to graduate, right?

“Yo, Big Brother, you’re still alive?”

The one speaking was, naturally, Lin Yizhou’s good brother and subordinate—Fan Zhicheng. He rolled his wheelchair up to Lin Yizhou, elbowed him, and joked,

“I thought you’d croaked. Then I could’ve smoothly taken over and become the top dog of ‘Ashes.'”

“I never planned to fight you guys for that position anyway…”

Lin Yizhou sighed.

“If I could, I’d rather just be an ordinary Monster and slack off.”

“Come on, Big Brother. Even if you wanted to be an ordinary Monster, would others let you?”

Fan Zhicheng seemed to think of something and continued asking Lin Yizhou.

“By the way, about what Nero from Red Rose talked to you about—what’s the deal?”

“I can’t really say.” Lin Yizhou shook his head. “She wants me to find out the Protean Witch’s true identity as soon as possible, but I can’t report it up the chain. What exactly are they plotting?”

“Well…” Fan Zhicheng pondered for a moment. “What else could Monsters be plotting? Either money or looks. I mean, Big Brother, look—even though the Protean Witch is as strong as a protean gorilla, you can’t deny she’s pretty cute, right?”

“True.”

“?”

Su Ziling, who was passing by, heard this and almost stumbled to the ground.

“Hm?”

Su Ziling’s commotion wasn’t small, naturally drawing the attention of the two.

Feeling Lin Yizhou’s strange gaze, Su Ziling quickly regained his composure and spoke to Lin Yizhou with a gentle smile.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Thanks to you, much better.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Su Ziling nodded and then left the sports field.

Fan Zhicheng watched his retreating figure and whispered to Lin Yizhou.

“Old Zhou… that junior seems to have thoughts about you.”

“He’s not a junior…”

“Hahaha!!” But clearly, Fan Zhicheng didn’t believe Lin Yizhou’s explanation and continued teasing, “Big Brother, I think you’ve been burned stupid. Can’t you tell men from women anymore? His student ID clearly says male.”

“He’s not male.”

“Uh… Big Brother, you’re not joking, are you?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

Lin Yizhou sighed. He really didn’t have the energy to explain this.

Besides, he seriously needed to give those Federation staff who registered IDs a piece of his mind.

“Fall in!!”

Just then, a sharp whistle interrupted their conversation. A stubbly gym teacher came out of nowhere.

“Today, we’ll continue practicing soccer. Stick to your original groups.”

Honestly, Lin Yizhou still couldn’t figure out why he had signed up for this elective course with Fan Zhicheng and Guo Hao in the first place.

And even more baffling was how this crappy university, which didn’t even have a soccer field and used the grass as a pitch, managed to offer a soccer elective.

They said it was to uphold the principles of Happy Education, but maybe it was just to create jobs for certain connected people?

Lin Yizhou found a spot on the grass and sat down. He had no interest or desire to participate in such activities.

“Lin, you’re not joining?”

“I still have a low fever. It’s not convenient for me to move.”

“Oh.”

The gym teacher himself was just there to clock in and get his pay, so he had no intention of forcing Lin Yizhou to do anything. After asking a couple of questions, he left.

“Fan Zhicheng! You’re the goalkeeper. Your legs don’t work, but your hands do, right?!”

“Screw you!” Fan Zhicheng flipped Guo Hao off. “You sure don’t treat me like a disabled person, but you also don’t treat me like a human!”

Watching the quintessentially youthful scene nearby, Lin Yizhou felt no ripples in his heart.

People’s joys and sorrows were not connected. He had always felt that being alone was more comfortable than being in a crowd.

There was nothing wrong with enjoying solitude.

Enjoying his peaceful time alone, rather than humbling himself, smoothing out his edges, and desperately trying to fit into this so-called collective.

Lin Yizhou lay down, staring at the clear blue sky, but his thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.

Like…

What’s for dinner tonight?

“Big Brother,” after who knows how long, Fan Zhicheng rolled his wheelchair over to him and asked, “Were you asleep?”

“I’m awake.”

“Don’t you want to go play? Even though it’s soccer, there aren’t really any rules. Just kick the ball a couple of times, and you’ll have this semester’s participation score sorted…”

He paused, then added in a low voice.

“And don’t you think it’s boring here alone? Come join the fun?”

“I’m free-spirited and unruly by nature. I dislike restraint. I love no one, hate no one. I have my own pastimes, so… no thanks.”

Lin Yizhou’s final two simple words flatly rejected the suggestion.

Fan Zhicheng seemed to want to say something, but he knew Lin Yizhou’s personality well, so he just let out a helpless sigh.

He wouldn’t try to persuade Lin Yizhou to enjoy the collective, get a girlfriend, or anything like that.

Because he also knew that it was precisely because Lin Yizhou had experienced, had tasted it, that he ultimately chose to enjoy solitude and immerse himself in the virtual world.

“Reality really is harsh,” Fan Zhicheng sighed. “No wonder so many people choose to play 2D games.”

“Different needs,” Lin Yizhou said, his tone carrying the calm of an onlooker. “Characters in gacha games are born to please the player, precisely providing emotional value.”

“And reality?” He curled the corner of his mouth, as if mocking himself. “It’s often one party taking endlessly, while the other can only barely cope…”

“If that’s the case,” Fan Zhicheng suddenly interrupted, his tone half-joking, half-serious, his eyes fixed on Lin Yizhou, “then do you think Su Ziling is the type to ‘take’?”

This question made Lin Yizhou fall silent for a moment. After a long pause, he finally spoke.

“…No.” He shook his head. “But he’s just an ordinary person. We’re not from the same world, so naturally, there won’t be any connection.”

“That’s true…” Fan Zhicheng nodded in agreement, resting his hands behind his head, his tone tinged with emotion and a hint of barely noticeable regret. “Ah… I wish she was a Monster. Or a Magical Girl like Meiluke would be fine too!”

He elbowed Lin Yizhou and said with a teasing smile.

“That would be right up your alley, wouldn’t it?”

“Dream on.” Lin Yizhou retorted helplessly. “And even if she were a Monster or a Magical Girl, what does that have to do with me?”

“Are you talking about me?”

Just as the two were going back and forth, Su Ziling’s clear and calm voice sounded behind them.

“What the hell!!”