Chapter 1: That Delicate Flower (1)

Song Qi pulled a book from her schoolbag and set it neatly on the corner of her desk. With her fair cheeks and a hint of baby fat, she looked like the sort of girl people trusted at first glance.

But anyone who looked closely would notice the simmering hostility between her brows.

System NZ watched her for a while, then sighed. [Host, I hope you can approach the quest with a more positive attitude.]

[T/N: NZ stands for Nǚzhǔ, meaning Female Lead]

Song Qi raised an eyebrow. Her smile cooled by a few degrees. “I don’t think you’d want to see me when I’m feeling positive.”

When she got serious, things tended to go badly for everyone around her.

A few days ago, Song Qi had been gravely injured in an internal conflict within the Alliance and lapsed into a coma. When she opened her eyes again, she had found herself in another space, forcibly bound to a system.

The system had told her she was badly hurt, and that completing its quests was the only way to recover fully. With the medical technology available to her people, even the best treatment would leave her with lasting damage. She’d never return to her peak.

Of course, completing the quests was hardly her only choice. If she refused, the system said, it would kill her outright.

Song Qi had only two words for that: “Heh.”

“Yangnuan, do you know how to do yesterday’s physics homework? It was so hard.” An Yao, sitting behind her, tapped her on the shoulder and leaned over.

Song Qi glanced back and opened her workbook. “I did it.”

“That’s amazing.” An Yao marveled, then immediately pleaded, “Yangnuan, let me take a look?”

Song Qi handed over the workbook.

“Yangnuan, I love you.”

This was the first world. All the system’s quests involved following the plot and getting the male lead to a happy ending. It didn’t sound too difficult.

Her role in this world was Xu Yangnuan, a soft-spoken girl who never raised her voice. At barely five foot three, she was six inches shorter than Song Qi herself. The most immediate effect was that the whole world seemed lower to the ground.

Uncomfortable.

The male lead in this world was Qin Xiao. He’d be transferring in ten minutes. A real handful, apparently.

Song Qi glanced at the schedule. First period was morning reading for Chinese.

She’d made a name for herself in battle at fifteen and had never gone to school. She’d taught herself most things. Now, at twenty-six, she’d somehow wound up back in her second year of high school.

Song Qi leafed through her book without much interest. With thirty seconds left, she glanced toward the door.

She could already hear the teacher speaking. An Yao hurriedly passed the workbook forward.

Just as the teacher walked in, Song Qi tucked her own book into her desk.

Her gaze shifted to the boy standing behind the teacher.

He looked about six foot one, with tanned skin and a hint of impatience in his eyes. As for his looks, male leads were never ugly—but Song Qi wasn’t interested in that sort of thing.

She’d spent years in military camps. Just watching Qin Xiao’s posture made her want to whip him.

Their eyes met. Song Qi looked away.

“This is our new classmate. I hope you’ll all get along.” The teacher smiled at Qin Xiao. “Why don’t you introduce yourself?”

Qin Xiao looked distinctly annoyed. He picked up a piece of chalk and wrote two words on the blackboard.

“Remember them. That’s all you need to know.”

Song Qi narrowed her eyes. His attitude was irritating too.

The teacher let it go, glanced around the room, and finally settled on Song Qi.

She was the only one without a desk mate. Her old one had transferred out.

“Xu Yangnuan, Qin Xiao will sit next to you for now. Since you’re class monitor, help him get used to the class.” The teacher looked at Song Qi. “All right?”

Song Qi frowned. “Teacher, he’s so tall he’ll block the view for the students behind him.”

Are we really sacrificing logic just to make the plot happen?

Qin Xiao smiled. “So, are you going to move to the back with me?”

“Then I wouldn’t be able to see the board.” Song Qi gave him a faintly amused look.

For some reason, Qin Xiao felt a chill run down his spine.

System NZ sighed. [Host, please. Just follow the plot.]

“If I did what I was told, I wouldn’t be Song Qi.” Her voice was calm.

The teacher looked surprised. Xu Yangnuan never usually refused anything she was asked to do.

“Sit up front for now. We can rearrange the seats in a few days,” the teacher said, ending the discussion.

Song Qi narrowed her eyes as the boy set his schoolbag down beside her.

“Desk mate, I look forward to working with you.” Qin Xiao gave her a challenging look.

Song Qi glanced at him, then looked away without answering.

“What are we supposed to do now?” Qin Xiao glanced at her Chinese textbook. She’d nearly reached the end.

“Read.” Song Qi flipped it back to the first page.

Qin Xiao raised an eyebrow. He picked up his own Chinese textbook and flipped through it. It was spotless—like it was brand-new. Or maybe it really was.

Song Qi had said she was going to read, but three minutes later she was face-down on her desk, asleep. She barely woke up when class ended, and even then she still looked groggy.

“Brother Qin Xiao.”

A girl’s voice stopped him just as he was about to drift off again.

Qin Xiao stared at the girl in front of him, then rubbed his hair. “Sorry. Who are you?”

The girl froze. Tears instantly welled in her eyes. “Brother Qin Xiao, it’s me, Gu Si! We used to play together all the time when we were little. How could you forget me?”

Song Qi finished handing in her homework and settled in to watch the show.

This was the infamous villainess. Unless something went wrong, Song Qi would be battling her all the way to graduation.

The girl looked even shorter than Xu Yangnuan, with the same cute sort of face. Every time she spoke, she sounded like she was pouting. If she didn’t make such a show of being delicate and helpless, she’d be much easier to like.

“I don’t remember you.” Qin Xiao frowned, then turned and saw Song Qi watching. “Class monitor, are students allowed to wander into other classes?”

Song Qi: …

She really didn’t want to deal with this.

“You can go outside if you want to talk to her.”

Gu Si bit her lip and looked at Song Qi with wounded eyes. “I’m leaving. Don’t make me go.”

“I’m not making you do anything. But you’ll have to hurry. Class starts in two minutes.” Song Qi checked the time and reminded her.

“Brother Qin Xiao, could we have lunch together? I want to show you around the school.” Gu Si reached for the sleeve of his uniform.

Qin Xiao immediately pulled away and looked at Song Qi. “Class monitor, isn’t that your job?”

“The teacher said to help you get used to the class. Nothing about showing you around the school.” Song Qi tapped on her desk.

Gu Si stared at Song Qi, biting her lip as if she’d been bullied.

The math teacher walked in with a textbook. Gu Si glanced at the front of the room, then tossed out, “Brother Qin Xiao, come find me at lunch,” and hurried away.

Naturally, she remembered to glare at Song Qi on her way out.

Song Qi watched the girl’s retreating figure. This girl doesn’t seem too bright.

“Class monitor, do you have something against me?”

“What was your name again?” Song Qi paused with her hand on her book.

Qin Xiao blinked. “Qin Xiao.”

“See? I don’t even know your name. Why would I have something against you?” Song Qi said.

Qin Xiao: …