Chapter 5

Plot point incoming.

Su Mi: “From elementary school to now, my grades have never left the top three in the whole school.”

System: “……”

Su Mi: “I thought the original host was pretty smart since she could latch onto the antagonist’s thigh…… How could she……”

Su Mi held back from revealing an indescribable expression in front of Xu Nanqiao.

She carefully reviewed the original host’s transcript once.

It was clear that she hadn’t studied properly at all during the five years since enrollment, but she seemed to have decent talent in mechanics and math subjects. For several courses that would definitely score poorly without effort, her grades were actually a bit better than the simpler ones.

Although this “a bit better” didn’t mean passing.

But fortunately, the female lead was pure-hearted and kind.

Su Mi pursed her lips and showered Xu Nanqiao with a pitiful, fawning display. She then embellished a long backstory about her desire to study hard and get into a good university.

“……So, this time I really want to study hard.” Su Mi clasped her hands in a praying gesture, tilted her head up, and gazed at Xu Nanqiao with big, pleading puppy eyes. She added, “I know you’re busy with your own studies, Nanqiao, but you’re the only close friend I have who’s good at studying. I just hope you can help me organize a study plan and solve some problems for me.”

“Absolutely—absolutely won’t waste your study time.”

As the blonde girl spoke, her head swayed slightly, and the low twin buns on either side bobbed up and down.

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Xu Nanqiao, her lips curving up in eager anticipation.

Xu Nanqiao gripped her chopsticks and sighed. “Alright, it’s not a big deal. You’ve practically lectured a whole book here. If you put this talent into your essays, your language score wouldn’t be what it is.”

Su Mi chuckled.

She didn’t push her luck but instead grabbed Xu Nanqiao’s shoulder in a very sisterly manner. “Thank you so much! I’ll treat you to dinner this weekend for sure!”

Xu Nanqiao: “Aren’t you treating Ai Yiyi and the others this weekend?”

Su Mi: “There are two days in the weekend!”

Su Mi excitedly nailed down a tutoring plan with Xu Nanqiao for whenever she had time.

Once back in the classroom, Xu Nanqiao handed her a set of third-year Lolan Academy test papers.

Lolan Academy’s afternoons consisted entirely of elective classes. Even for sixth-years approaching the Unified Exam, the academy didn’t interfere with students’ choices. After all, those who could attend this school were mostly rich or noble—about half planned to study abroad afterward and skip the Unified Exam path altogether.

Even those taking the Unified Exam had no worries about university admission.

Xu Nanqiao had chosen advanced university prep courses. Su Mi checked her class schedule and discovered the original host had signed up for things like cooking and flower arranging.

Su Mi simply ditched them and sat alone in the classroom, working on the test.

She had forgotten most of her previous life’s high school knowledge, and this world’s system differed from what she knew. Su Mi chewed on her pen cap, struggling through it.

She jotted down her real answers on the light brain’s virtual screen but deliberately dumbed down many on the female lead’s test paper to align with the original host’s transcript without raising suspicions.

She always lost track of time when focusing on problems.

When she finally lifted her head from the last question on the diagnostic test, Su Mi rubbed her eyes. Glancing at the time, she realized school had ended over half an hour ago.

Wait, two hours?

Su Mi snapped fully out of her zone, her mind reeling in shock.

If memory served, the male lead and female lead met in the Small World plot today.

Su Mi wasn’t sure if those even more cannon fodder sisters would still corner the female lead like in the original plot.

She opened her messaging app, checked the group chat with her girlfriends, and saw they’d discussed a new dessert exhibit before dismissal—planning to check it out after school.

Su Mi relaxed a fraction and messaged Xu Nanqiao: Nanqiao, you home yet?

Xu Nanqiao replied instantly: On my way home. What’s up?

Su Mi: How’re you getting back? Want a ride?

Xu Nanqiao sent a smiling cat emoji: No need! Heading to my convenience store shift—quick walk.

A walk!

Su Mi asked the System: “Didn’t you say some major plot points in this world can’t be skipped?”

The System bubbled up: “Yes, host. Like the male lead and female lead’s meeting plot point—happening now^^.”

As it spoke, the System’s pink pixel bubble tail wagged cheerfully.

It seemed in high spirits.

Su Mi: Tsk.

Though she’d warned those sister groups earlier, Su Mi hadn’t truly believed a few words would derail the plot.

Still, watching it barrel forward irritated her.

She scowled, shoved her things into her bag, and slung it over one shoulder.

As she exited the classroom, she called Xu Nanqiao directly.

Xu Nanqiao picked up promptly, sounding puzzled. “Su Mi? What’s wrong?”

Su Mi: “Where are you? Stay put—don’t move. Finished the test. I’ll swing by and drop you off.”

Xu Nanqiao laughed. “No need. It’s a twenty-minute walk. Alley up ahead and I’m there.”

Su Mi: “No—”

Right then, Xu Nanqiao let out a sharp yelp.

“What are you doing?!”

The light brain’s smart mic filtered out distant noise, capturing only Xu Nanqiao’s panicked voice crystal clear.

She’d been cornered.

Su Mi cursed under her breath. Already in the underground garage, she slid into the new sports car and fired it up.

She slammed it into top race mode—a g-force shove pinned her back. Su Mi raised her wrist light brain and triggered Plan B:

Xu Nanqiao’s location from their chat pinged straight to Lolan Academy security.

Before afternoon study hall, as a precaution, Su Mi had tipped them off about overheard plans to ambush academy students after school at a specific spot.

With students from elite backgrounds, security was top-tier. They’d coordinated ahead; her location share got an instant “Received.”

Xu Nanqiao’s twenty-minute route? Su Mi blasted it in four.

She screeched to a haphazard stop curbside, hopped out, and yanked a golf club—gift from Shen Han—from the trunk.

She followed the light brain’s projected map.

Comms with Xu Nanqiao had dropped the moment Su Mi peeled out—whether hung up or forced.

The System, true to form as a plot-spouting slacker, offered no real help beyond summaries.

Su Mi stayed calm, timing security’s ETA. She ducked into an alley, spotting shadowy figures at the far bend.

Club and hand concealed behind her, she crept closer. Seven or eight rough-looking teens—seventeen or eighteen—crowded the alley mouth.

No blows yet.

But original plot had the male lead swooping in right as fists flew.

Su Mi hung back initially; narrow alley, too risky up close.

From a safe spot, she strained to listen.

—And caught an earful.

The leader drawled sleazily about the female lead “servicing young masters” at the noble academy—might as well let him get his rocks off now. Filthy, lewd words throughout.

Su Mi: “……Hey.”

Face twisted in disgust, she shouldered her golf club and strode out.

Then planted a brutal kick into the rearmost thug.

Packed tight, they dominoed forward—several sprawled in a messy pile.

Su Mi locked eyes with Xu Nanqiao and the leader at the dead end.

“Su-Su Mi!”

Xu Nanqiao stared, pale as a ghost, gasping.

Worse off than expected—deathly weak, sweat-slicked face, swaying on her feet.

The leader smirked, whistling. “Another tasty little dish.”

He waved; the ragtag crew encircled them both.

“Don’t worry.” Su Mi gripped the club, clasped Xu Nanqiao’s icy hand, and sized up the circle.

Original plot: thugs sent by original host to intimidate. Xu Nanqiao? Fierce, proclaiming independence and all that jazz—not frail like this.

These punks differed too. Original ones were just for scares, knowing her tie to Shen Han.

These? Glazed eyes, ragged clothes—street-level scum.

Likely one sister group harbored designs on Shen Han…

Hearing Su Mi call Xu Nanqiao “sister-in-law,” they snapped—out to destroy her.

Mind racing, Su Mi hadn’t settled it when the thug validated her hunch.

He ogled them. “Babe, classmate of yours? Hogging all the fun solo? Wanna double-team fly? Haha, works for me.”

Another: “Beta too. Figure you’ll hold up better?”

Kicked one hollered: “Bitch kicked me! I go first—then bros get turns.”

“Chill, plenty for you! Side out!” Frontman cackled.

Boss roared laughing. “Babe, you crashed the party—but bro saves you for later. Friend’s Omega; gotta claim her first.”

At that, Xu Nanqiao shuddered behind her, claws digging into Su Mi’s wrist.

Su Mi clocked the time—stall more.

“You know our school?”

Thug: “That Lolan Academy dump? Bagged plenty Lolan sluts. Hahaha!”

Big talk.

Su Mi leveled the club at them. “Guess this stick’s price tag?”

One spat: “Girly toy—big whoop…”

Su Mi cut in: “Ten grand.”

Thugs: “……”

Su Mi knew their employer swore the female lead was a penniless special admit—no backup.

Payout? Peanuts by her circle’s standards—tens of thousands max.

“My trunk’s got a full golf set like this.”

“Right—drove up in a global top1 Amissa limited top-spec sports car. S-VIP exclusive. Price?”

“Final Q: Family biz? Reach?”

Wrist light brain buzzed twice—security closing in stealthily.

Su Mi went for broke.

Male lead lurked nearby; plot gravity guaranteed a crisis for his heroic entrance.

She’d seize control—dim his shine in Xu Nanqiao’s eyes.

Meeting the leader’s wary, feral glare laced with doubt, Su Mi tugged Xu Nanqiao back, patted her hand soothingly.

No golf pro, but handy with fists. Gauging range, eyes on the pricey club, she whipped her wrist sideways in a slick arc.

The cue stick was already raised, pointing at the thugs. At that moment, it swung horizontally—the tip viciously smashed into the face of the thug leader.

Blood foam, mixed with shattered teeth, flew out from the thug leader’s twisted mouth, which was tilted to the side.

Before anyone could react, Su Mi lifted her foot and stomped viciously downward on the man.

She spun around and, with quick eyes and fast hands, smashed the cue stick tip into the face of another thug nearby.

“Su Mi!!!”

Xu Nanqiao cried out in fright.

The thugs behind them lunged forward to beat her. Su Mi wielded the cue stick like a staff, striking each one that came at her. She knew her body lacked strength, so she gathered her force to target sensitive spots that hurt enough without needing power.

As she handled those in front, her sharp ears picked up the sound of Guard Squad military boots approaching from outside the alley.

She was just about to turn her head and stylishly pull Xu Nanqiao into an ending pose when she suddenly heard a sharp scream from Xu Nanqiao behind her.

Turning back, she saw a thug grabbing Xu Nanqiao’s wrist, on the verge of doing something.

Su Mi didn’t have time to intervene when a figure dropped from the sky onto the alley wall. Upon landing, he delivered a crisp side kick, sending the thug holding Xu Nanqiao flying far away as he rolled two or three times.

The boy who landed was also wearing a Lolan Academy student uniform, with chestnut short hair and a cool, handsome expression. He had already steadied the teary-eyed Xu Nanqiao.

“It’s okay now,” the boy said.

Su Mi: ……

Su Mi: ……

Su Mi: ……

“System, I want to beat up the Male Lead,” Su Mi said.