Chapter 208: Volume 1, Chapter 208: Mermaid? Shark-person? (25)

Chen Qi Bai: 'Who?'

Jiang Zhi couldn't possibly tell him that she was already with the villain, so she might as well watch and give her blessings.

'Not someone from the school.'

Chen Qi Bai pushed up his glasses, his narrow eyes staring deeply at her face, not missing the slightest change.

The girl's brief hesitation made him think the person she liked was just an excuse to reject him.

A moment later, he said, 'I understand.'

When Jiang Zhi let out a sigh of relief, the young man added:

'But I won't give up.'

Jiang Zhi: '?'

Male lead, what's your worldview?

Being a mistress is not okay!

Seeing several teachers approaching, she hurriedly said, 'I won't like you, senior.'

Having said that, she hurried past him and left.

And this class.

The classroom was unusually lively, every seat filled, though most were female students who had come to see Chen Qi Bai.

'There are quite a few students today; this course seems to interest many.' The teacher joked.

Jiang Zhi wished she could skip class right then.

To her left sat the female lead He Jing Rou, to her right the male lead Chen Qi Bai, and in front were several important supporting female characters.

The characters in the book were almost all gathered.

Only the villain was missing.

Fortunately he wasn't there, or he would have ripped open the male lead's skull.

777 came out to joke: 'Host, this world is very popular.'

Actually, the previous worlds were popular too, but I didn't expect the Host to be indiscriminate—even the female lead couldn't resist her charm.

It had already noticed the female lead He Jing Rou sneaking glances at the Host seven or eight times in ten minutes.

Jiang Zhi listened to the system, propping her chin, weakly asking, 'The villain isn't nearby, right?'

777 firmly replied, 'No.'

Jiang Zhi finally relaxed.

In this world she doesn't need to farm Hatred Value; instead she must lower the villain's Blackening Value—if the villain were present, Hatred Value would definitely rise.

Blackening Value differs from Hatred Value; it refers to factors such as personal experiences or severe blows that cause one to become darkened, forming Blackening Value.

Hatred Value mainly arises from emotions, based on loving someone; when Love Points reach 100, if that person stops loving, betrays, deceives, or disappears, Hatred Value increases.

However, there are exceptions—for example, in the previous world Li Wen Nian, both Love Points and Hatred Value grew together.

The afternoon class ended.

Jiang Zhi picked up her bag, ready to leave.

The male and female leads spoke at the same time: 'Zhizhi, let me send you home.'

After speaking, they locked eyes, each with a hint of hostility.

Jiang Zhi expressionlessly said, 'No need, I'll get there quickly by subway.'

Having said that, she left straight through the back door.

Outside, the weather suddenly changed—thunder roared, lightning split the thick black clouds, and a downpour poured down, soaking the marble steps in front of the teaching building as students trudged by with umbrellas.

Jiang Zhi had forgotten her umbrella, so she could only stand under the eaves, waiting for the rain to ease.

'That person truly lacks self-awareness, good-for-nothing yet trying to seduce others, actually relying on her few looks to dream of marrying into a wealthy family.'

'Yeah, that person may not seem talkative, but her tactics are fierce—yet she doesn't even measure her own worth; does she really think she can dream of marrying into a prestigious family like the Chens?'

After a while she heard these remarks, all directed at her on purpose. Chen Qi Bai, as a school bigwig, is outstanding in looks, his family background ranks among the best nationwide—refined and noble, not aloof, often helping classmates, naturally earning the admiration of all the female students.

But the Chen family's threshold is too high; few dare to confess or flirt with him.

Seeing how close Jiang Zhi and Chen Qi Bai were, they couldn't help but mock and sneer at her.

Jiang Zhi didn't care.

On the contrary, the female lead He Jing Rou suddenly walked over to retort, 'What do you know? Zhizhi and Senior Chen have nothing to do with each other! Why are you smearing her here?'

The girl who spoke heard this, her words growing sharper: 'He Zhizhi, this slut—did she really seduce the senior? Everyone knows. Wait, you couldn't possibly like Senior Chen too, could you?'

He Jing Rou not only felt no shame at being exposed, but was eager to explain herself to them.

Jiang Zhi saw this, walked over, grabbed her wrist, and said, 'No need to explain.'

He Jing Rou was both anxious and angry—angry at them for saying such nasty things to Zhizhi for no reason, and angry at her own helplessness.

'Zhizhi, don't listen to them.'

Jiang Zhi nodded, 'I know, your uncle's here to pick you up—go home quickly.'

He Jing Rou turned, saw her father approaching, and told her again, 'I'll have my dad drive you home; it's raining, you'll have trouble getting there.'

Jiang Zhi shook her head, 'No need, my boyfriend's already come to pick me up.'

He Jing Rou was surprised.

Jiang Zhi feared a misunderstanding and whispered, 'It's not Chen Qi Bai—I already have someone I like.'

He Jing Rou, however, felt a bit down, not at all happy about this, lifted her head with a pale smile and said, 'Okay, I get it—see you tomorrow, Zhizhi.'

Saying that, she waved her hand.

Jiang Zhi watched her leave, full of doubts.

Why doesn't the female lead like Chen Qi Bai anymore?

Why is the female lead suddenly being so nice to her?

777 spoke the truth: "The Host's charm is too great."

Jiang Zhi: "………"

Stop it!

Those few female classmates still wanted to keep mocking her, but Chen Qi Bai walked over at that moment, and they instantly stared, their faces full of delight.

Chen Qi Bai opened his umbrella and held it over her head, saying, "I'll send you home."

Jiang Zhi quickly dodged his umbrella, saying, "Opening an umbrella indoors causes baldness."

She can't go bald.

Chen Qi Bai chuckled, lowered the umbrella and handed it to her: "Here you go."

Jiang Zhi didn't take it, saying, "No thanks, my boyfriend is coming to pick me up right away."

Chen Qi Bai paused for a few seconds, then said slowly, "Zhizhi, you don't need to make up a boyfriend just to reject me."

He gazed at her affectionately: "I know you've been alone from elementary school to now, you simply don't have a boyfriend."

Jiang Zhi: "……" No need to be so brutally honest.

What the male lead said is true; the original host wouldn't even have a boyfriend—she's completely male‑repellent, single from birth.

Not far away, a figure emerged from the misty rain, holding an umbrella and walking toward her at a leisurely pace.

Jiang Zhi's eyes lit up; she tiptoed, raised her hand and waved, "A Ting!"

Chen Qi Bai heard the voice, frowned and looked over, seeing the approaching man tall and slender like a green pine, his steps steady, wearing a mask; only a pair of slender pure‑black pupils were visible beneath his dark hair, exuding a cold‑blooded creature's feel.

"Zhizhi." A Ting grabbed her wrist, pulled her into his embrace, with one hand smoothed her soft black hair, his eyes devoid of any emotion, he gave a sideways glance at the youth beside her.

Jiang Zhi let him hold her, and noticing dark gold fish scales appearing where rain had soaked his sleeve cuff, she hurriedly said, "Let's go back."