บท 11: Chapter 11: Transforming into a Popular Campus Hunk
After leaving his father's clothing factory, Zhao Yi went home to get his ID, opened a bank account, and then went to a familiar Internet cafe.
He walked up to the counter.
Leaning halfway across the counter, he winked at the girl, "Darling, gimme a machine to use!"
"You haven't been here in a few days, and now your words are so sweet!" The counter girl flashed him a sweet smile.
"Ha...ha..."
After handing over his money, Zhao Yi took his card and wondered to himself as he looked for a computer, "Does she know me? She does seem sweet."
He turned the computer on.
Time to start!
Zhao Yi decided to stop overthinking it. His time travel was a return to the past and recent memories were buried deep in his mind.
For example, the interaction with the girl at the counter just now.
Maybe they had talked before?
He recalled occasionally hanging out in Internet cafes and playing games during his sophomore and junior years in high school. It wouldn't be surprising if they had talked.
Zhao Yi opened his email and continued the unfinished task of adding his personal account details at the bottom of the email. This was so that Apple Company would know where to send the reward.
This was crucial!
The whole point of submitting bug reports to Apple Company was for their reward program.
After writing everything down and thoroughly checking it once more.
He sent the email...
Done!
Having closed the email, he returned to the main screen and suddenly found himself without a clue what to do next.
Only ten minutes had passed in an hour, fifty minutes were still left!
Since he had paid for it, it would be a waste if he didn't play.
Zhao Yi started browsing some games and quickly found something that interested him.
War3?
Frozen Throne? Classic!
He opened this incredibly popular RPG game from the early 21st century with slight unfamiliarity, selected the most familiar map, decided to have a PK (Player Killing) game with the computer.
Swordmaster!
Thrashing the computer...
Zhao Yi overestimated his skills. After repeatedly dying to the five challenging computers he had chosen, they bulldozed his high ground.
He decided it was time for some easy pickings.
He matched a game on a battle platform.
Although he hadn't played games in many years, his memory and practiced skills were still there, and these gave him an obvious advantage against pure newbies.
Zhao Yi achieved his easy victories!
Seeing the victory sign on the screen, he couldn't help but smile because of the game.
He turned around.
Turtle?
Chen Zhou, a chap with a buzz cut, was standing behind him smoking a cigarette. He took a puff and gave a thumbs-up, "Zhao Yi, you were awesome today! That speech was fantastic!"
"Want one?"
"No thanks."
Zhao Yi didn't want to take up smoking again.
"By the way, what game are you playing?" Chen Zhou pointed at the screen.
"Dota."
"Dota? It can be played online, right? You play well! Can you carry us?"
"Me...us?" Zhao Yi looked up to find a whole row of familiar faces behind him.
Classmates?
An entire row of classmates in an Internet café brought back an overwhelming amount of memories.
Never mind.
Zhao Yi shook his head, "I only booked one hour's time. I need to head back."
In the senior year of high school, studying comes first!
A system notification sounded--
[Entertainment and leisure, earned +2 Study Coins.]
Zhao Yi cleared his throat, "Although, I suppose I could play a little longer. Hold on a second, guys, I'm going up front to book two more hours!"
And so the afternoon passed.
Zhao Yi spent it in the Internet cafe, being a single pro carrying four noobs, playing several games back-to-back. The continuous beatings he took during the matches made him feel like smashing the computer.
Chen Zhou and the others, however, had a blast.
Students don't have a lot of leisure time; their competitive spirit isn't that pervasive. To them, playing a new game was just fun and interesting.
It was already 6 PM when they reluctantly left, still discussing the game on their way out--
"My Swordmaster was formidable!"
"The Swordmaster was indeed tough. He killed all the minions with just one spin!"
"You guys didn't notice my Axe Lord. I didn't have to do anything. He just automatically spun around and killed the minions."
Just as he thought!
Swordmaster, Axe Lord, both are noob favorites.
While cycling back home, Zhao Yi considered the game he had just played and suddenly felt guilty. Did he lead the children astray?
When he got back home and settled onto the couch, he started pondering over the system.
Gaming is useful!
He noticed a limitation on earning Study Coins.
After he started his first game, he earned two Study Coins. But even though he played online for a good while afterward, he only received two system notifications.
[Entertainment and leisure, earned +2 Study Coins.]
[Entertainment and leisure, earned +2 Study Coins.]
If the system calculated by time, then he should have received three or more notifications because he played for nearly two hours very dedicatedly after the first half an hour.
But he only received two notifications.
Both notifications were gained in the first hour.
"So, the same method can only earn a certain number of Study Coins. 'Entertainment and leisure' can earn up to six Study Coins per day?"
Previously when he took a nap in class, he would get a 'Study Coin +2' notification every twenty minutes. But he hardly received it in the afternoon nap.
'Extra rest' probably had a daily limit of six coins as well.
He wasn't sure about the other methods of earning coins, as he hadn't tested them, but it was reasonable to assume the limit was six.
So...
If he maxed out all categories, he would get about twenty to thirty Study Coins a day. So, after saving for three or four months, he should have sufficient coins for his next ability?
Considering the Study Coins spent on learning...
Half a year!
"I must get the next ability, otherwise getting admitted to Shuimu... it's just too hard!"
Zhao Yi thought calmly.
Even though he set getting admitted to Shuimu as his life goal, he was well aware of the difficulty, even impossible.
Getting admitted to Shuimu is not just about hard work.
The system dashboard clearly displayed his intelligence attribute, his IQ was just barely passing, logical thinking was not as good as he imagined, it is almost impossible to get admitted to a top university just by working hard.
Even though he has the "Causality Law" ability that can answer all choice questions correctly, it was still a long way from being admitted to Shuimu.
That's reality.
With the memories of having lived for a decade more, Zhao Yi wasn't intimidated, as the real world was just that way. 'There are gaps between people and effort doesn't always lead to success', is a real and honest saying.
He had long accepted this.
Zhao Zhenxi came back a little late that day.
The words spoken by his father, Liu Jing, have come true once again. Mother and son had a quiet dinner waiting for him for over an hour before he walked through the door.
A scolding was inevitable.
Zhao Zhenxi not only had to eat leftovers, but also had to wash and clean. When everything was done, he sat on the sofa and asked Zhao Yi in a low voice, "What did you say to the boss in the afternoon?"
"The boss?"
"It's a woman, pretty, wearing a skirt..."
"Ah?"
Zhao Yi quickly shook his head, "Nothing, nothing at all, just greeted her. She knew I was your son, so she just walked away."
"Really?"
"Absolutely!" Zhao Yi nodded confidently and then turned his head towards the TV.
Zhao Zhenxi muttered in confusion, "That's weird, why did she seem so passive-aggressive, as if she bears a grudge against me... was she dumped by her boyfriend?"
"Impossible. Everyone at the factory knows she's single."
The next day is the start of the school year.
When Zhao Yi ran to the school gate, he could sense the different atmosphere.
The students were very enthusiastic.
He ran all the way to school, being greeted by so many students along the way. At the school gate, he greeted the passing female classmates. The glances he received seemed different, as if he had become the beloved school hunk.
The most amazing part was...
Even Sun Jiali greeted him on her own initiative, showing a sweet smile, "Zhao Yi, you were great yesterday!"
"Thank you."
Zhao Yi replied with a smile and continued to run forward.
Sun Jiali watched his receding figure, her eyebrows unconsciously furrowed.
Has Zhao Yi changed?
Zhao Yi walked into the school entrance with his head held high!
A girl approached him, her face flushed as she greeted and handed him an object, then hurriedly rode away on her bicycle.
Zhao Yi didn't have a good look at her face. When he looked down at the item in his hand, his eyes widened immediately.
Is this...
A love letter, as in the legends!?
Zhao Yi stared at the envelope in his hand with deep feelings. Despite living for over thirty years, this is the first time he received a love letter from a girl.
Even if it were from an 'ugly' girl...
Cough, cough.
Zhao Yi carefully looked at the girl's receding figure. She had a good figure and spoke gently. She probably wasn't an 'ugly' girl.
Immediately, his mood brightened.
He walked into the classroom smiling, tossing the love letter onto the table in a high-profile manner.
Sun Liang leaned over and asked, "What's this?" He reached out to pick it up.
Zhao Yi quickly snatched it away, "Don't touch!"
"Could it be a love letter?" Sun Liang's face was full of gossip, "Someone actually wrote you a love letter? Who? Blind?"
"Get lost!"
Zhao Yi kicked him and sat down annoyedly. He wanted to open the love letter but thought it wouldn't be appropriate. He hadn't thought about having a romance.
During the third year of high school, studying should be the main focus, he shouldn't be considering anything else!
He'd better look at it when he got home!
Zhao Yi saw Sun Liang's gossiping gaze and quickly put the love letter away in his desk.
"Hmph, hmph!"
Two intentional hums drew the attention of those around.
Lin Xiaoqing at the front was organizing her desk and pulled out an envelope from her drawer.
Another envelope...
Another envelope...
Stacking up to a pile!
She then nonchalantly turned her head, displaying the pile of envelopes in her hand before throwing it away in the garbage bin.
Tear one up, throw it.
Then another one torn, and thrown!
And so, the cycle continued.
When she finished tearing the last one, she walked back to her seat, and casually shot Zhao Yi a contemptuous look as she passed by.
"Just because you're pretty doesn't mean you're better!" Zhao Yi clenched his fist in anger. Considering the difference in strength, he let go.
He took out a sheet of paper.
Tear, tear, tear... ripped to shreds!
Threw it into the waste bin!
Zhao Yi walked back to his seat, nonchalantly muttering under his breath, "So many people dare to send you love letters, they all must be... blind!"
"A pair of A's!"
"What did you say?!" Lin Xiaoqing swung her head around angrily, her clenched fist trembling.
"Cough, cough."
Zhao Yi took a deep breath, looking earnestly at her, "I said, you are truly beautiful. Your unique charm, perfect appearance, and enchanting gaze..."
He clutched his chest dramatically, speaking in sorrow, "Oh no! It's the feeling of a fluttering heart!"
Lin Xiaoqing was instantly pleased, she managed a small smile before turning away, "That's more like it!"
Sun Liang sat dumbfounded alongside, his mouth filled with a strange taste.
[Flirting with the girl, target: Lin Xiaoqing, Study Coin+1.]
Zhao Yi also laughed.
He quietly placed the love letter from his drawer between the pages of a book.
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