Chapter 118: The 117th Online Rescue of the 184 Broken-hearted Male High School Student

Chapter 118: The 117th Online Rescue of the 184 Broken-hearted Male High School Student

In Yan Huan’s eyes, what kind of person is Sakura Kyoko after all?

She is a very elegant, very gentle good girl.

Yan Huan once thought that if his youthful campus life after rebirth was a story, then Sakura Kyoko would definitely be the heroine.

Because during the endless days and nights of striving for a future without parents, he had hardly forged deep connections with other girls.

The closest ones were only the three in the Student Council.

Among them, Sakura Kyoko was definitely the one he felt most favorably towards and enjoyed spending time with.

She possessed exquisite and beautiful features, the most delightful girl’s shyness, and enviable abilities coupled with a resilient character.

He still remembers the scene where Sakura Kyoko cuddled a cute kitten, gently cooing at it.

Clearly, she was the most favored opposite sex in his two lives, and also a girl who liked him too.

But why has it come to this?

In Yan Huan’s mind, the image of Sakura Kyoko tenderly holding the kitten was being warped and shattered by the Modifier’s power, producing cracks of distortion.

“Ka ka ka!!”

In the next moment, that picture was completely smashed into dust, revealing the heavy reality before him.

The reality was:

The Sakura Kyoko in front of him was shrouded in deep shadows, her head bowed, using the Modifier to alter her own common sense.

She bit her pale lips, trembled as she asked herself,

“But… President, this kind of behavior is quite normal, right?”

Yan Huan’s eyes narrowed slightly, even forgetting to wear the perfect mask of expression he usually maintained.

He could only stare blankly at the girl before him, his throat constricting, unable to produce any sound.

The most despairing part was that, in the moment of being modified, Yan Huan didn’t even have the qualification to question her.

“…Yeah.”

And so, he could only suppress his nausea, replying with words that were completely opposite to his inner feelings.

“Great, President.”

Sakura Kyoko, clutching her skirt, sighed in relief upon hearing Yan Huan’s response.

Earlier it was mentioned that after her barrier ended, the memories in others’ minds would undergo rationalization corrections.

But the common sense modification of the barrier was a deeply ingrained form of thought alteration, which also led to a stronger depth of memory modification.

In other words: even after leaving the barrier, the altered common sense would still leave traces.

If the same common sense was repeatedly altered day by day, it might eventually become permanently engraved in the minds of others.

That’s why just moments ago, she had clung to the idea of using the barrier to turn Yan Huan into a means of salvation.

Sakura Kyoko called this: Inertia of Common Sense.

As long as she used common sense alteration on the President a few more times afterward.

Then, everything would be fine.

Sakura Kyoko felt fortunate to have such super abilities, like a rat in a drain.

Yan Huan understood that rationally, he should immediately start analyzing what effects Sakura’s Modifier had.

But somehow, his brain felt heavy as if it were an old machine.

His gaze couldn’t pull away from Sakura Kyoko, whose image was utterly shattered before him.

Along with that, even his body began to feel heavy.

“Yan Huan, wake up! The resistance of the Modifier is directly linked to your will. If you keep being this down, it will really affect you!”

On his shoulder, Meow-chan’s panicked reminder rang out.

Yan Huan wanted to force himself to wear the perfect mask of expression, but then he realized that his expression had already stiffened and felt completely alien.

Cold sweat soaked through his front and back, making his breathing grow rapid.

Last night he spent half the night wondering if his feelings were real, then only slept for three hours, yet his mind hadn’t shattered.

This morning he came in only to be outed by Spencer about Sakura Kyoko’s obsession, and he tried to accept it without breaking down.

He simply wanted to hear Sakura explain things to him.

But instead of an explanation, he was met with her using the Modifier on himself.

Just the thought that Sakura Kyoko was also the host of the Modifier genuinely gave Yan Huan a feeling of suffocation for the first time.

The Modifier had already taken up every aspect of his life, but at least it had allowed him to keep two sanctuaries.

One was Tong Yingying’s Tavern, and the other was the Student Council.

The Student Council held his friends and the girl he liked; every time he was here, he felt relaxed, thinking:

Isn’t my fight against the Modifier supposed to be to maintain this kind of daily life?

But now…

Yan Huan tried several times, but it felt as if his face didn’t belong to him.

Without an expression, how could he possibly wear the perfect mask of expression?

His consciousness was being eroded by the Modifier.

“Meow-chan, I…”

Just when the barrier around him became increasingly dark, making Yan Huan clench his teeth and struggle to say a word.

“Bang!!”

The door was suddenly kicked open!

Then, a spoiled female voice came through,

“Yan Huan!! You need to arbitrate! Tell me, I’m a student of this school, how can I not be here!?”

“Unauthorized personnel, please do not interfere with our treatment of the patient. Please step aside.”

“Huh?”

The enveloping darkness that was nearly consuming Yan Huan was suddenly shattered; he took a deep breath, clutching his chest as he gasped for air.

Sitting across from him, Sakura Kyoko was momentarily stunned, glancing towards the door that had just been opened.

As expected, the one who broke the barrier again was the golden-haired Spencer.

Spencer pouted as she glanced back at Nairu and a group of medical staff following her with first aid kits.

Then, she turned back to the room.

Yan Huan looked at her tiredly, while Sakura Kyoko’s eyes were already red from her earlier distress.

It was this Spencer again!!

If she hadn’t shattered his barrier and revealed the evidence of him monitoring the President to her, he definitely wouldn’t have altered the President’s common sense!

Clearly, Sakura Kyoko had previously regarded this as a bottom line, vowing never to use such things on the President.

Yet now, it was to avoid making the President dislike her…

“Spencer.”

Sakura Kyoko’s face was still pale as she glared at Spencer like a demon and spoke through gritted teeth.

But Spencer boldly met her gaze, unhappily responding,

“Huh, what’s wrong, Sakura Kyoko?”

The two of them exchanged electric glances in midair, but before them, Yan Huan, who had removed himself from the barrier, gritted his teeth, putting on the perfect mask of expression again.

This was the first time he had done such a thing for Sakura Kyoko.

“…Sakura, who are these people?”

“Ah, President, they are…”

“We are a professional medical team hired by the Sakuraguchi family; here’s our ID. Based on Miss Sakuraguchi’s current health status, we’ll be taking her back for further examinations.”

Nairu leaned against the office door, while a woman in a white lab coat and mask stepped forward to show Yan Huan her ID.

“Unauthorized personnel, please vacate the area temporarily. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Sakura Kyoko held her heart, looking at Yan Huan and saying,

“Wait a second, you can just take me away. This is the Far Moon Student Council Office; he isn’t unauthorized personnel.”

She tried to stand, only to discover her legs had long since gone weak.

But Yan Huan merely stole a glance at her, and then walked over to his desk, picking up several documents regarding the “Club Battle.”

Then, he grabbed his bag, walking towards the door while saying,

“No worries, I have some matters as well. I’ll take the remaining work materials back and finish them up, so I’m leaving first.”

At these words, Sakura Kyoko’s eyes slightly widened.

Because this sounded just like what Yan Huan often said to her when she first joined the Student Council and he wasn’t coming to the office.

Was this an illusion, or…

“President.”

Sakura Kyoko reached out towards Yan Huan, but a multitude of white-coated figures had already crowded around her to check her condition.

Nairu stood at the office door, watching Yan Huan reach the exit, seemingly not hearing Sakura Kyoko’s call, leaving the office without looking back.

Seeing this, she furrowed her brows, but she had no idea what was happening inside while dragging the medical team to give her lady the chance to be alone.

Why did it feel like things had gotten worse?

“…”

Beside, the confused Spencer glared bitterly at the inside of the office before following after the departing Yan Huan.

With her hands behind her back, she shot a glance at Yan Huan, who was walking away with the documents, hesitated for a moment as if wanting to say something but couldn’t find the words.

So, she turned her head back to the path and walked downstairs with him.

But unexpectedly, Yan Huan actively spoke up,

“Got something to say?”

“Ah?”

Spencer glanced at him, hesitating for a second before asking,

“…Just wanted to check if you’re okay?”

Yan Huan was slightly taken aback and replied,

“What could be wrong with me?”

“Well, you previously liked that Sakura Kyoko, so… at times like this, wouldn’t you generally feel hurt?”

Yan Huan glanced at Spencer, who was mumbling hesitantly.

He didn’t answer that question, instead switching the topic back,

“So, what you mentioned earlier, ‘settling things,’ what exactly are you settling?”

“Ah? It’s about taking away your… most precious thing.”

“…Can’t you say it in a less weird way?”

Spencer’s face slightly flushed, and she even indignantly clenched her fist.

She must have misunderstood Yan Huan’s character and thought she had to bring up such an embarrassing topic.

“What’s wrong with that way of speaking? It’s just that thing from last week where I took your first kiss! According to the customs of your Dragon Kingdom, aren’t such things meant to be done only with your lifelong wife?”

“…”

Yan Huan opened his mouth, staring at Spencer in utter astonishment.

Upon confirming that she wasn’t joking, he genuinely felt a bit speechless and was directly amused by her,

“What kind of old nonsense is this? Is your IQ negative so you can travel through time?”

“Huh?! I’m just being kind…”

Spencer was most annoyed when others implied that she was stupid, instinctively retorting.

But as she spoke, she noticed Yan Huan’s face bearing a gentle smile because of her expression.

“…”

She observed Yan Huan for a bit before, weirdly, she abruptly stopped speaking and just snorted as she turned her head away.

Reaching the stairs, Yan Huan turned to Spencer and said,

“Anyway, thanks for today.”

Those words were genuine.

If Spencer hadn’t broken Sakura Kyoko’s barrier earlier, Yan Huan’s mental state might have truly collapsed, leading to a defeat CG.

Oh, and that defeat CG still had some chance of being triggered.

It was possible that it hadn’t even been triggered before it led to a GAME OVER.

“…No problem.”

“Let’s go back to class.”

Yan Huan waved his hand, taking the documents in the opposite direction.

Spencer turned to leave but then realized he wasn’t heading towards the classroom but rather towards the School Entrance.

So, she turned back to ask Yan Huan’s back once more,

“Are you really okay?”

“…”

Yan Huan didn’t reply, just waved his hand.

Then he stuffed the documents into his bag, tightening his coat around him.

“Rumble~”

Today was Tuesday, and the weather at Linyi Gate was awful; it was gloomy, with no sunlight in sight.

Clearly, it was about to rain soon.

“Pitter patter~”

By the afternoon, the rain finally couldn’t hold back any longer, drenching the bustling maritime city in a misty curtain of rain.

“It’s raining. Ugh, so annoying, I don’t want to open today; let’s take a break.”

In the South District, Tong Yao Tavern.

The doors and windows of the tavern were tightly locked; inside, wearing a casual T-shirt, Tong Yingying looked at the growing raindrops outside with a lost expression, contemplating slacking off.

So, she took out her phone, sent a message in the staff group saying, “Closed for today,” and tagged everyone.

After doing all that, she yawned and walked over to the bar, browsing through the shelves of liquor to pick out her “favorite” for the day.

“Knock knock knock!”

Just then, the tightly locked door was knocked on.

“…”

Tong Yingying paused slightly, turning to the door, where she saw a handsome young man standing outside, drenched from the rain.

“Yan Huan?”

She hurried to the door and unlocked it.

“I just sent out the message to take a day off, and here you are.”

“Sorry, I didn’t bring my phone today, Tong Jie.”

“Ugh, stupid, you didn’t bring your phone and also didn’t bring an umbrella, huh? You’re soaking wet like a drowned rat.”

Looking at the smiling young man outside, Tong Yingying suddenly thought of something and glanced at the time, frowning.

“Wait a minute, it’s Tuesday; you should be in school. How come you’re here so early?”

Yan Huan shrugged, letting out a breath of hot air with a wry smile,

“Tong Jie, can I please come in? I’m freezing out here, and I’m soaking wet.”

Tong Yingying glanced at Yan Huan’s current state and saw his fringe half-covering his eyes, his thin clothes drenched by the rain.

He looked like a pitiful lost puppy, prompting her urge to take him in.

Tong Yingying stepped aside, letting him in.

“Thanks for taking me in, Tong Jie!”

“…You’re making it sound like I’m some cruel boss.”

Tong Yingying locked the door behind him to prevent the cold air from getting in.

Then, she turned to look at the drenched Yan Huan and asked,

“So, what’s going on? Why are you here so early?”

“I took a day off this morning and didn’t go to school. I took the subway back at noon and went to the gym, practicing until now. Then it started raining on my way back, so I had to come here for shelter.”

She had planned to ask if he was unwell, but now it seemed unnecessary.

“Can I borrow your bathroom, Tong Jie? There’s clothes I can change into in the changing room.”

“Okay.”

Tong Yingying rested her chin on her hand, watching Yan Huan walk toward the bathroom with the clothes.

She casually grabbed a bottle of alcohol and curiously thought,

“Why does it feel like something happened to him?”

As she poured a glass of liquor, Tong Yingying listened to the sound of the shower coming from the bathroom upstairs, mixed with the sound of the pouring rain, creating a sense of comfort.

Before long, Yan Huan came down in a change of clothes, his hair dry.

“Thanks, Tong Jie.”

“No problem. Have a seat.”

“Alright.”

Yan Huan pulled out a chair and sat across from Tong Yingying.

Tong Yingying scrutinized his expression as she poured him another drink,

“…”

No reaction?

He merely rested his chin in his hands, gazing blankly outside at the rain curtain.

“…”

“Snap~”

Tong Yingying took out a lighter, igniting the flame, and took out a cigarette.

“…”

Still no reaction?

Holding the cigarette, she glanced at Yan Huan’s handsome profile and suddenly asked,

“What happened today?”

“Ah?”

Yan Huan came back to his senses, turning to look at Tong Yingying.

After a moment of silence, he shook his head,

“…Nothing much.”

“Still saying it’s nothing?”

Tong Yingying shook her drink and gestured to the cigarette in her hand.

“Usually you’d have stopped me by now, right? How could you just sit there while I’m pouring drinks and lighting cigarettes?! There must be something going on, and it’s not small!”

“…”

Yan Huan blinked slightly, showing no expression at all.

He didn’t reply but suddenly took Tong Yingying’s drink, downing half of it in one go.

“Smack!”

But the next moment, he felt Tong Yingying grasp his wrist like lightning.

That speed exceeded Yan Huan’s imagination.

He was momentarily startled, but the next second, a force pulled his wrist, the glass along with his face closer to Tong Yingying.

Tong Yingying’s mature face, devoid of her earlier aloofness, suddenly leaned close to Yan Huan, their eyes meeting.

After a brief moment of eye contact, Tong Yingying asked,

“Who bullied you? Tell me, and I’ll help you settle it.”

“…”

Yan Huan blinked, looking at Tong Yingying, and murmured,

“Don’t scare me like that, Tong Jie; why do you look like you’re about to go chop someone up?”

Tong Yingying examined him and then abruptly released his hand, scoffing,

“It’s because you look so pitiful! If no one is bullying you, then what’s the matter?”

She counted on her fingers, pondering deeply,

“Is it about schoolwork?”

“…Nope.”

“Is it about money?”

“…Not that either.”

As she pondered, Tong Yingying’s eyes suddenly brightened, raising her index finger; her “brilliant mind” started glowing,

“Oh, I know. It’s gotta be about a girl, right?”

“…”

Seeing Yan Huan suddenly go dumb, Tong Yingying realized she had guessed the answer correctly.

For whatever reason, that realization made her feel a bit impatient.

But when she looked up, she found that Yan Huan’s cheeks were turning an abnormal shade of red.

He frowned and glanced at the drink, dazedly asking Tong Yingying,

“Tong Jie, what’s the alcohol content in your drink? Why does it feel so dizzy?”

“Ah? Vodka, around forty percent.”

“Yikes.”

So that’s why it felt like the body’s constitution was prone to getting drunk.

Yan Huan covered his head, somewhat uncomfortable.

Yet, as he gazed at Tong Yingying, her gaze began to darken weirdly.

The irritation she felt from other women quickly dissipated, replaced by a sense of relief.

Tong Yingying knew that Yan Huan was popular in school; experiencing a bit of setback was a good thing, letting him understand that young romance wasn’t at all mature or reliable.

The key point was that if no other girl had hurt him, how could he be displaying that vulnerable and lost expression?

She stole a glance at Yan Huan’s expression.

But she saw him holding the glass, head bowed, eyes dim and lost, filled with a sense of confusion and fragility that made one want to mercilessly ravage him.

That expression was truly…

Exciting.

She swallowed a mouthful of saliva, suppressing her urge to look at the gloomy-looking Yan Huan.

Eventually, Tong Yingying turned her gaze back to the heavy rain outside and casually asked,

“Care to tell your sister what happened today?”

Yan Huan was quiet for a second before suddenly asking,

“…Tong Jie, what would you do if someone close to you turns out to be completely different from what you originally thought?”

“Different from what you thought? What do you mean?”

Due to the alcohol, Yan Huan’s head was throbbing.

As he rubbed his head, he replied selectively,

“Like, um, someone you felt quite fond of actually has some weird quirks about them, something like that?”

“…”

Listening, Tong Yingying suddenly froze.

She turned her gaze slightly and looked at the low-eyed Yan Huan, who seemed overwhelmed by distress, feeling somewhat at a loss.

Tong Yingying didn’t answer right away; instead, she nervously poured herself another glass of alcohol.

As she sipped, she thought in her heart:

Could it be that this kid has discovered a little bit of my own preferences?