Chapter 326: |
It was noon.
Wang Haoran slipped past the dorm supervisor and made his way quietly into the girls’ dorm floor.
Ren Jiaojiao and Mu Zhaozhao had already made arrangements—today was the day Jiaojiao would start moving in. As Wang Haoran helped Zhaozhao clear off the clutter from the vacant bed, his gaze naturally drifted to the new girl.
“What the hell are you staring at, huh? Never seen a beauty before?” Ren Jiaojiao snapped, clearly annoyed by his wandering eyes.
Wang Haoran arched a brow, unbothered. “Then why were you looking at me? Haven’t seen a handsome guy before?”
“I wasn’t looking at you,” she shot back.
“If you weren’t looking, how’d you know I was?” he replied, calm as ever.
“You—!” Ren Jiaojiao’s jaw clenched, her hands balling into fists as though ready to punch him.
“Come on, you two,” Mu Zhaozhao stepped in quickly, waving her hands to ease the tension. “It’s just a small thing, not worth arguing over.”
And with that, she turned and marched out of the room, heading off to haul up the next load of luggage.
Mu Zhaozhao gave a small laugh. “This Senior Jiaojiao’s kind of like a female thug, huh. Is this your type?”
“Don’t even joke about that,” Wang Haoran replied instantly with a shake of his head. Truthfully, if Ren Jiaojiao wasn’t a potential female lead, he wouldn’t have bothered giving her the time of day.
His real reason for being here was to scope out any potential new protagonist leads—perhaps someone helping Jiaojiao move.
But what caught him off guard was that she was doing everything by herself. No guys, no helpers, just her brute strength and stubborn attitude.
“Still, tomboy types have their own appeal. Are you sure you’re not into that?” Zhaozhao pressed.
“Absolutely not,” he replied flatly. “If I had to pick between her and you, I’d much rather go for you—the sweet big-loli type.”
He nearly bit his tongue at the end of that sentence and quickly rolled it back with a cough.
Zhaozhao’s cheeks flushed, but she gave a mock-threatening glare. “Careful what you say. I’ll tattle to Sister Yunhan.”
“I didn’t say anything bad. It’s true—your proportions are definitely… developed,” he said with a meaningful glance at her dangerously curvy figure.
Zhaozhao’s face turned redder.
She hesitated for a beat, then leaned in slightly. “Between Sister Yunhan and me… who do you like more?”
Wang Haoran didn’t answer.
Because at that moment, the subject of the conversation walked right in.
“Zhaozhao, what’re you up to? I thought we were—oh, you’re here too?” Qin Yunhan raised a brow as she spotted Wang Haoran.
“Helping Zhaozhao clear her dorm,” he replied casually.
“Nice. We’re heading to lunch after, you should come with,” she said, tossing him a smile.
“Sure,” he nodded.
“Zhaozhao, why’s your face so red?” Yunhan asked, noticing her friend’s glowing cheeks.
“Is it?” Zhaozhao blinked, reaching up to touch her face. It was burning. “Must be the heat. Haha…”
Right then, Ren Jiaojiao stomped back in with another box in her arms. “Heard y’all shouting about lunch. Count me in.”
Qin Yunhan glanced her way, unimpressed. “And you are?”
“I’m Ren Jiaojiao.”
“Oh… the sophomore campus belle, right?” Yunhan muttered, vaguely recalling the name.
“That’s me! I’m moving into this dorm floor. Let’s get along, yeah?” Jiaojiao said with an overly bright smile.
“Heh.” Yunhan offered a tight, perfunctory smirk.
After they finished moving everything, the group headed to the campus canteen.
Once they ordered food, Jiaojiao offered to get everyone drinks. She jogged off and returned a few minutes later with four bottles—one each for Wang Haoran, Qin Yunhan, Mu Zhaozhao, and herself.
Wang Haoran unscrewed his bottle and raised it to his lips. But just as it touched his mouth, his hand froze.
There was something off about the drink. Not poison, but definitely contaminated with something he didn’t like.
Zhaozhao and Yunhan had already taken sips from their bottles, but he said nothing. Their drinks were clean.
It was just his that had been tampered with.
“You’re not drinking?” Jiaojiao asked casually, noticing his hesitation.
“Not thirsty yet,” Wang Haoran replied, calmly sealing the cap and setting the bottle aside.
For a split second, Jiaojiao’s eyes betrayed a flicker of disappointment. She recovered quickly.
The food arrived, and everyone began eating.
Ren Jiaojiao, true to form, ate with zero decorum—chomping down like a starving man, slouched in her seat, limbs spread. At the end of the meal, she tipped her head back and chugged her entire drink in one go, letting out a massive burp without a trace of shame.
Zhaozhao and Yunhan exchanged a look. They both burst into giggles. The girl was so brash, so unapologetically wild, that she somehow became endearing.
Wang Haoran, meanwhile, frowned.
He’d seen many female leads—his standards were sky-high.
This Ren Jiaojiao, acting like a foul-mouthed tomboy with the manners of a construction worker? He had zero interest.
If it weren’t for the fact that he needed her as bait to uncover the protagonist, he wouldn’t even give her the time of day.
After lunch, Jiaojiao got up and stretched. “I need to hit the bathroom. You girls coming?”
Both Zhaozhao and Yunhan shook their heads—they hadn’t drunk nearly as much.
So Jiaojiao headed off alone.
While they waited outside, Wang Haoran grew bored. He casually activated his X-ray Vision.
And what he saw inside the bathroom made him choke.
Ren Jiaojiao was standing while peeing.
He stared, stunned. And yet, a few seconds later, she winced and dropped into a squat—seemed like she suffered the consequences of her bold decision.
Wang Haoran’s expression twisted. Just what the hell was this girl?
Even for a girl who acted like a guy, that was pushing it.
A while later, Jiaojiao reemerged, acting like nothing had happened.
Haoran instinctively took a step away from her.
The reason was simple—after suffering from her own ill-advised toilet technique, there was no way she smelled… fresh. Not that it was obvious, but it was enough to put him off.
“Man, it’s so hot today! Let’s hit the pool!” Jiaojiao suggested, bouncing on her feet.
“Sounds good,” Zhaozhao agreed at once.
“I’m in,” Yunhan shrugged.
“Then what’re we waiting for? Let’s go!” Jiaojiao whooped, and a glint of drool literally formed at the corner of her lips.
Wang Haoran watched her with a look of growing suspicion.
She looked more like a pervy man than a campus belle.
A… pervy man?
The thought hit him like a slap.
Suddenly, the strange vibe she gave off, her aggressive behavior, the awkward tampered drink, the standing bathroom stunt—it all clicked into place.
He had been working off the assumption that Ren Jiaojiao was a female lead, and so he he did waste any Villain Points investigating her background. He thought as long as he kept an eye on her, the protagonist would eventually appear.
But what if he was wrong? What if Ren Jiaojiao wasn’t just a side character? What if… she was the protagonist?
A male protagonist?
Without hesitation, Wang Haoran used his system to investigate.
【Protagonist: Ren Jiaojiao】
【Combat Power: 122】
【Charm Value: 189】
【Protagonist Halo: 1001】
【Skill (Golden Finger): Transformation System (Mainline mission: Become close girlfriends with 10 super-beautiful women. Once achieved, regain male body and instantly max out Favorability with all 10.)】
【Current Progress: Mu Zhaozhao – 25%, Qin Yunhan – 11%】
Wang Haoran narrowed his eyes, lips curling ever so slightly.
So that’s how it is…