Chapter 26: The Season of Being Rejected

A month passed in the blink of an eye, and Upper City High School ushered in its autumn break.

Upper City High School granted four holidays each year: two weeks each for spring and autumn, while the summer and winter breaks were much like those in Chen Shang’s previous life. Of course, this didn’t include the various national holidays.

In fact, Upper City High School was already considered one of the schools with fewer breaks. Many schools for ordinary citizens would happily give three days off each week, and teachers often missed classes without reason.

After all, everyone knew that studying in Night Pivot City was a dead end, destined to become labor for the capitalists.

These so-called schools were merely filters used by the capitalists to select quality fuel.

Thus, most schools adhered to the philosophy of “happy education.” They’d already pocketed the tuition fees, so whether students studied or not was of little consequence.

With the sound of the bell marking the end of class, Chen Shang packed his bag, ready to accompany Nayuta home.

Over the past month, Chen Shang had enjoyed the rare leisure of living an ordinary high school student’s life.

At the same time, he persisted in training at the combat club, not only slightly improving his basic attributes of Strength and Constitution, but also leveling up his Boxing skill to LV2, acquiring the “Boxing Fundamentals” skill.

Yet, even without taking any action, the aftermath of the Jin Yuchuang incident had still caused his Collapse Points to rise by about fifty.

Chen Shang stepped out of the classroom, but instead of his lively little sister, he was met by a cool and elegant senior with a hime cut hairstyle.

Though Chiyo Yasougi’s affection rating for him was as high as fifty-one, she hadn’t spoken with him more than a few times over the past month.

On one hand, their paths rarely crossed at school, leaving few opportunities for conversation; on the other, Chiyo Yasougi was exceptionally tsundere in matters of love—unless the boy took the initiative, she could easily bottle up her feelings until she suffered.

At school, Chen Shang had often caught glimpses of Chiyo Yasougi standing at a distance, watching him with a strange and resentful gaze.

The dignified heiress of the Yasougi Group, reduced to unrequited longing by a mere commoner—if word got out, it could easily cause the Yasougi Group’s stock to drop several points.

“Long time no see, Miss Yasougi~” Chen Shang put on his business smile and greeted her.

Chiyo Yasougi knocked him on the head with her knuckles, reproaching him, “Calling me ‘senior’ is fine, but ‘Miss’—what are you thinking?”

“Then what should I call you?” Chen Shang rubbed his head.

Chiyo considered for a moment, then quickly averted her gaze, feigning strength as she replied, “Just call me ‘Chiyo.’”

Chen Shang didn’t bother arguing, and straightforwardly asked, “What do you need?”

“The day after tomorrow is autumn break, so I’m planning to go somewhere to relax.” Chiyo brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, speaking casually.

But it was clear that this “casualness” was a façade—her words were brimming with hints.

Autumn break at Upper City High wasn’t long, but just right for a brief getaway. Thus, “taking the opportunity to invite someone out during autumn break” had become a popular method of confessing among the youth.

However, Chen Shang was never swayed by tsundere antics. He simply smiled and said, “Then I wish you a pleasant journey. Don’t forget to bring me some local specialties.”

With that, he turned and walked away, without a hint of hesitation.

Seeing her hints completely ignored, Chiyo grew anxious and barked, “Stop right there!”

Chiyo Yasougi was always the kind of beauty who drew attention. Her outburst only attracted more onlookers.

Seeing the heiress flustered, Chen Shang quietly chuckled, “Let’s talk somewhere else.”

The two moved to an abandoned classroom. Chen Shang sat casually atop an old desk, while Chiyo crossed her legs opposite him.

“If you have something to say, just say it.” Chen Shang gestured invitingly.

Chiyo Yasougi snorted in frustration and stated, “I want you to accompany me on my trip.”

Then, unable to contain her irritation, she muttered, “That I have to say it myself—what a hopeless man you are.”

“My dear, I don’t like dealing with people who beat around the bush.” Chen Shang sighed, holding his forehead, and earnestly lectured, “Just say what you mean.”

“Then after school tomorrow, come back to the branch with me.” Chiyo huffed, issuing her command coldly.

“No, I haven’t agreed to that…” Chen Shang found Chiyo’s ‘domineering CEO’ logic hard to tolerate. “I already have plans. I can’t go with you.”

“You…” Chiyo grew desperate, marched up to Chen Shang, and ordered forcefully, “I wasn’t asking for your opinion!”

Seeing her reach for his wrist, Chen Shang reflexively raised his leg to kick at her right ankle.

“Ah!” Chiyo jumped back in fright, her expression resembling a startled cat.

“You promised not to touch me there!” Chiyo’s voice trembled, tinged with grievance.

“But I don’t like being told what to do.” Chen Shang shook his head gently and strode out of the classroom.

Despite Chiyo’s affection rating for him, Chen Shang placed no trust in her and had no intention to waste his time.

In this game, the second male lead, Xu Qing, possessed an even higher “priority” in romance than the protagonist. If the player and Xu Qing simultaneously triggered a romantic event with a female character, she would always choose Xu Qing first.

In other words, no matter how high the player raised a female character’s affection, Xu Qing could easily snatch her away.

So from the start, Chen Shang never regarded her as a friend—he was merely going through the motions.

Pushing open the door, he bumped into a handsome blond youth.

The moment he saw the blond youth, Chen Shang felt a surge of disgust, but still managed a polite smile, bowed, said “sorry,” and walked away.

The blond youth merely nodded at the seemingly ordinary classmate and didn’t make a fuss.

When Xu Qing entered the abandoned classroom, he saw Chiyo Yasougi sitting in a chair, stewing in her anger. He immediately flashed a refined and charming smile.

“I never expected to find you here, Senior Yasougi,” Xu Qing closed the door and asked in a familiar tone, “Was that person your bodyguard stationed at school? I don’t think I’ve seen him before.”

Xu Qing certainly knew who Chiyo Yasougi was. Back when he enrolled, he’d used his family’s influence to investigate everyone in the school.

“Just a classmate from your year,” Chiyo replied, brushing her hair aside and sharpening her gaze, “Is there something you need, Junior Xu Qing?”

Xu Qing was highly popular among the first-years and, together with Chiyo, co-managed the student council’s disciplinary committee. They interacted fairly often.

Seeing the situation, Xu Qing produced a finely crafted invitation and got straight to the point: “We’ve been colleagues in the student council for over a month. I’d like to take this autumn break to invite you to our group’s resort hotel in the central district.”

The central district, as its name implied, was the very heart of Night Pivot City, where ninety percent of the city’s wealthy resided.

Here, skyscrapers of at least thirty stories were commonplace, the nights filled with music and revelry. The area boasted artificial lakes, forests, and even sunlight, all for the pleasure of the privileged.

Moreover, the central district was guarded round-the-clock by security robots, making the crime rate nearly zero.

It was, in essence, the paradise everyone dreamed of—a place most would never reach in a lifetime.

Faced with such an invitation, even the heiress of the Yasougi Group couldn’t help but be tempted. Especially when the invitation came from a campus idol with a charm rating of five and impeccable character.

“I refuse. I already have plans.” Chiyo Yasougi coldly pushed the invitation back and rose to leave the classroom.

“Ah?” Xu Qing was stunned, clearly not expecting rejection.

Only when Chiyo left and closed the door behind her did he snap out of his daze, gritting his teeth.

“She actually turned me down… Impossible…”

Muttering, Xu Qing walked out, his expression twisted.

Perhaps because he wasn’t watching his step, he bumped into a petite girl in the corridor.

In the next instant, Xu Qing’s facial muscles shifted rapidly, and he displayed a graceful, polite smile. “I’m terribly sorry, hope you’re not hurt?”

“Ah! N-no, I’m fine!” The petite girl, seeing it was Xu Qing, flushed and trembled with excitement, dropping a sealed letter from her clenched hands.

Xu Qing kindly picked up the letter for her, noticing it was addressed “To Xu Qing,” sealed with a heart-shaped sticker.

“This… is for me?” Xu Qing feigned surprise.

“Ah… um…” Caught in her confession, the girl blushed fiercely and explained, “Actually, I wanted to invite you to go out during the autumn break…”

Unexpectedly, Xu Qing returned the letter, gently and impeccably refusing, “Sorry, I already have plans.”

“Eh…” The girl watched in disappointment as Xu Qing strode away.

After all, Xu Qing was the acknowledged heartthrob of the first-year class, never lacking admirers.

But the girl failed to notice that as Xu Qing turned, his expression twisted into a grimace.

“What’s going on? How could a girl turn me down?”

Xu Qing kept muttering, Chiyo’s perfunctory rejection replaying in his mind.

For the first time, this man who was designed never to lose in love, experienced what it meant to be handed a “good guy card.”