Restricted Fantasy Invasion

Chapter 25

"Sip..." "Stare~"

Inside the Yuanyue Academy cafeteria, at a corner table, Yan Huan was sipping apple juice.

Sitting across from him, Yuan Lina was staring intently at the paper carton in his hand as it gradually deflated.

She hugged her arms, her mouth pouting, looking thoroughly sulky.

"Stare~"

Yaqiao Mu, who was eating, glanced at Yan Huan beside him, then at Yuan Lina across the table, and couldn't help but ask,

"What's up with her today? Why does she look so weird?"

On the opposite side, Ashley, who was eating, let out a chuckle and replied without even looking up,

"What else could it be? She bombed the test."

"Stare~"

Yuan Lina's resentful gaze immediately swept over to Yaqiao Mu, making him unconsciously slow down his chewing.

"It's just the opening exam, it doesn't even count towards your GPA. The dean already said, it's just to help us get back in the groove."

Unable to withstand Yuan Lina's resentful stare, Yaqiao Mu had no choice but to comfort her,

"Look, the last place only got a 66, practically like a stick figure. You scored over six times higher than her, isn't that pretty impressive?"

"That's not why I'm upset!"

Yuan Lina sniffled, lightly slapped the table, her expression screaming "I'm going to settle accounts with everyone," looking utterly aggrieved,

"It's all your fault! What did everyone say in the group chat over winter break?!"

Her sharp gaze first landed on Yan Huan,

"President! You go first!!"

Yan Huan remained calm and smiled as he replied,

"Yuan Lina, you know me. I usually have to work part-time outside, and I even picked up an extra temp job over the break. Didn't you come to my shop for milk tea? Where would I find time to review?"

Yuan Lina pouted and looked toward Sakuramiya Hitomi beside her.

Elegantly wiping her pink lips, she said to Yuan Lina,

"You know me too. I just adopted a Maine Coon named Meiyue. Didn't you come over and pet her? She's in poor health, so I spent the whole break taking care of her, and didn't review at all."

Sakuramiya Hitomi was a quick learner, and Yan Huan had already set the tone.

Yuan Lina pouted again and looked at Yaqiao Mu.

No hesitation needed, accountant Yaqiao Mu raised his hand and jumped in,

"Secretary, you know me! I'm a total 2D nerd, grinding mobile games every day and spending money to draw waifus. Every time you asked me to play, I was online-I never even cracked open a book!"

Finally, Yuan Lina's eyes landed on Ashley beside her.

But Ashley shot her an even scarier look, saying expressionlessly,

"Are you serious? I was the one who said in the group chat that there'd be an opening exam and that you'd better review. They all said they were too busy, but you never replied, and then you just kept pestering them to hang out in private..."

"Waaaah, I get it now, you're all so talented! I'm the only dumb, lazy one... waaaah..."

She burst into tears and lunged for Ashley's arms, but Ashley blocked her with a hand, bouncing her straight into Sakuramiya Hitomi's embrace.

"Thud!"

The chest she landed in was flat, with almost no cushioning, making her head ache from the impact.

"Ouch!"

After that, Yuan Lina cried even harder,

"No! Waaaah, I don't want to be the student council's mascot! I want to be a study ace too! President, Sakuramiya, Yaqiao, help me!!"

Sakuramiya Hitomi gently patted her back, letting her squirm around in her arms as she pleased.

Meanwhile, a vein popped on Ashley's forehead as she forced a smile and said,

"So you're just going to leave me out when asking for help, huh? That's kind of annoying, you know..."

Yaqiao Mu thought for a moment and said to Yuan Lina,

"President just said this morning that we're restarting the study groups and forcing the underperformers to join. We talked it over and decided to handle it together. Yuan Lina, do you want to join?"

Hearing this, Sakuramiya Hitomi paused, and the arms holding Yuan Lina tightened a little.

But on the surface, she just looked naturally puzzled,

"The President already discussed it with Yaqiao? You don't need my help?"

What does that mean?

Doesn't that mean she'll have to study with that Spencer?

What if sparks fly and they fall in love?

Is this study group just a disguised matchmaking event?!

Sakuramiya Hitomi had already mentally excluded everyone else, feeling the situation was growing more dire.

Yan Huan smiled slightly and explained,

"Ah, it's just that this is a bit of a hassle... Yaqiao and I really need that summer internship at Golden Lion Group-it's super famous."

The real reason was that Spencer's modifier was so unusual that his own mind had been strangely affected by it, and he wasn't sure if it would have the same effect on Sakuramiya Hitomi.

He had no idea what role the "victim" would play in her modifier, since there were so many types.

For Sakuramiya's safety-and to make things easier for himself-Yan Huan decided not to get her involved.

"Sakuramiya doesn't need any of that, so why bother..."

"It's fine~"

Sakuramiya Hitomi smiled, making Yuan Lina, still in her arms, look up in surprise.

Because she suddenly felt the temperature in Sakuramiya Hitomi's embrace plummet,

"It just so happens I've thought of a whole series of ways to help struggling students improve their grades-maybe we could try them out and see how they work."

Sakuramiya Hitomi parted her pink lips, internally harboring a terrifying "kill Spencer" agenda as she spoke,

"Every day, two full sets of exam papers for all subjects, ten pages of math practice problems, ten exam essays, ten reading comprehensions, social studies recitation and random checks, and then..."

Whether Spencer would be able to handle it was still unknown, but right now Yuan Lina's face was growing paler and paler as she listened, and she started to struggle in Sakuramiya Hitomi's arms, her expression full of fear.

"N-no... please!! I don't want to be a study ace anymore, I don't want to! I'll just be the mascot, waaaah..."

She quickly escaped from Sakuramiya Hitomi's embrace and dove into Ashley's arms, and this time Ashley didn't stop her.

Ashley just sighed speechlessly and pinched her ear, saying,

"Sakuramiya was joking with you-there's no way you'd have to do that much."

"Hehe..."

Sakuramiya Hitomi covered her mouth and laughed softly, but looked completely serious.

Yan Huan propped his chin in his hand and looked at the pitiful Yuan Lina, comforting her,

"Yuan Lina, there's no need to get so hung up over one test. It's just the opening exam, it doesn't decide anything. You know, you're the only one who's ever thought of yourself as the student council's mascot."

"President."

Yuan Lina looked at Yan Huan with deep emotion, but Ashley, who was holding her, immediately poured cold water on her,

"It's not just you, I feel the same way~"

"Ashley!"

As for Sakuramiya Hitomi-

Yan Huan slowly tidied up his nearly empty tray and asked them,

"Alright, we're just about done eating. I'm heading back to class for a nap-what about you guys?"

Ashley and Yaqiao Mu were planning to go to the commercial street outside the school to buy some things, while Sakuramiya Hitomi still chose to return to the student council office.

Yuan Lina, completely forgetting her earlier misery, was now all set to run off to play with the seniors in the third-year class.

After returning their trays, they parted ways at the cafeteria entrance, and only Yan Huan and Sakuramiya Hitomi headed toward the first-year teaching building.

Yan Huan yawned lazily, the breeze blowing his messy bangs down to partially shade his eyes.

Beside him, Sakuramiya Hitomi walked with elegant steps, as if she had picked up the breeze tinged with Yan Huan's scent, making her long, slightly pink-tinged side locks flutter.

Petite as she was, standing next to the 1.84-meter Yan Huan, she didn't seem the least bit fragile. It was that unique aura of hers.

Spring was in the air, youth was in full bloom-a boy and a girl, walking side by side.

They had always been such a perfect match.

"President."

Just as Yan Huan was yawning with his eyes closed, Sakuramiya Hitomi suddenly spoke up.

"What is it, Sakuramiya?"

"About wanting to join the study group-I don't think you ever answered me, did you?"

Earlier, Yuan Lina's interruption had actually cut off Yan Huan and Sakuramiya Hitomi's conversation, and then Yan Huan had ended lunch, so they never finished.

Until now, she brought it up again.

Yan Huan blinked, giving a helpless smile.

The main issue was that Spencer's modifier was bad news, and it was closely connected to Sakuramiya.

Sakuramiya had no resistance to it-what if the modifier warped her mind?

After half a year of friendship, as good friends, there was no way he could let her get hurt, right?

"I got your hidden meaning, it's just..."

"President, you've been yawning a lot these past couple of days."

Before he could finish, Sakuramiya Hitomi beside him spoke up again.

Yan Huan was slightly taken aback and turned to look at Sakuramiya Hitomi beside him, only then realizing that she had already raised her head to look at him.

"President is already very busy on a daily basis, having to juggle both studies and student council matters, and after class you even have to work a part-time job. Now, with the study group on top of that, you must be really tired, right?"

Sakuramiya Hitomi looked at Yan Huan, her eyes filled with sincerity,

"So, even if it's just a little, I can help share the burden for you, President. After all, I'm also the Vice President of the student council."

After the word "after all," her words paused, as if the girl had secretly swapped something in her heart.

"."

Although Yan Huan's fatigue wasn't really because his body couldn't handle the workload-he seemed to have endless energy every day, probably due to his yang energy being unspent and his innate strength-but...

Hearing Sakuramiya Hitomi say this didn't feel bad at all.

He didn't yawn again, but could only smile and politely decline,

"Whenever I need help, I never hesitate to ask you, Sakuramiya, but this time, let's just leave it. Next time, for sure."

"."

Sakuramiya Hitomi pressed her lips together, but since the conversation had reached this point, she could only nod and let the topic drop.

They'd talk about it another time.

As they walked, they had already reached the bottom of the teaching building, and it was about time to part ways.

"President, good afternoon."

"Good afternoon, Sakuramiya."

Yan Huan was heading to Class A on the first floor, while Sakuramiya Hitomi went up the stairs.

The teaching building was empty at noon, and there wasn't a single person in their class. The commercial street outside the campus was probably livelier.

He planned to come back, tidy up his books, then take his backpack and find a quiet place to nap for a while, followed by some self-study, and after that, go play mahjong. It was Tuesday, and he was originally going to attend the handicraft class with Ye Shiyu as an elective. Yan Huan had picked this class for her to increase their chances of meeting, and to always check on her and the modifier's situation.

But the handicraft teacher had sent an email in the morning, saying she volunteered to go downtown to buy materials and had chartered a school bus, so if you weren't going, see you Thursday.

Yan Huan had already bought the materials at the start of the semester, so he was spared from this afternoon's class.

Mahjong, here I come.

Having made all his arrangements with satisfaction, Yan Huan hummed a tune as he walked out of the classroom, but was greeted by a familiar floral scent.

No way?

Yan Huan was just arriving at the classroom door, his steps pausing, but when he poked his head out the door, he saw a cool and aloof girl standing in the hallway outside.

She was wearing a white dress, her black hair cascading down like a waterfall, and her perfectly beautiful, expressionless face finally softened a little when she saw Yan Huan walk out the classroom door.

No need to say more-it was Ye Shiyu.

She was holding a cloth bundle in her arms, as if something was inside.

"."

Yet Yan Huan felt a bit like he couldn't hold it together.

At this moment, he felt a bit like a Friday office worker about to clock out and welcome the weekend.

Just as you're happily about to clock out, your boss suddenly comes over and tells everyone there's a meeting...

That was pretty much how he felt.

Thank goodness for Perfect Expression Management, so Yan Huan was still that cheerful boy.

"Sister Shiyu!"

He smiled and greeted Ye Shiyu, and upon hearing him, Ye Shiyu also walked up to him with her usual blank expression.

"......"

"Why did you suddenly come to the first-year building, Sister Shiyu? Is there something you need?"

Ye Shiyu looked at Yan Huan in front of her and nodded.

"."

Just as Yan Huan's smile was about to collapse, she suddenly opened the small cloth bundle in her arms and took out a small black lunchbox.

No need to ask-the lunchbox had her name written on it.

Ye Shiyu gently opened the lunchbox, revealing neatly arranged cookies inside.

Yan Huan was slightly surprised at the sight, looked up at Ye Shiyu in front of him, and asked,

"Did Aunt Chen prepare these for me?"

"."

Ye Shiyu tilted her head, hesitated for a moment, then spoke,

"...I made them."

Yan Huan raised his eyebrows, just about to say something, when Ye Shiyu spoke again,

"There's something I'd like your help with."

Her words came suddenly, as if pushed out by some emotion inside her.

She lowered her head, took her laptop out of her cloth bag, and said to Yan Huan,

"Since last night, my computer has been really slow for some reason. Everything takes forever to open, and weird ads keep popping up. I'm not familiar with this area in Linmen, and I don't know where to get it fixed, and I don't really want to bother Mom, so..."

"I see."

Slow? Can't open the browser and other apps? Pop-up ads?

Is it a disk issue or...

Thinking of this, Yan Huan asked,

"Sister Shiyu, did you bring your charger?"

"Mm."

Yan Huan glanced at the time and said to Ye Shiyu,

"I know a bit about computers. I'll take a look for you first, Sister Shiyu. If I can fix it, you won't have to bother going to a repair shop."

"Okay."

"Then let's go to our classroom. There's hardly anyone there."

"Mm."

Yan Huan led Ye Shiyu into the empty classroom, went to his seat, put down the laptop, plugged in the charger, and turned it on.

Actually, he didn't really turn it on, since the computer was already in sleep mode.

Ye Shiyu seemed to think the computer could heal itself-leave it alone overnight, and it would magically be back to normal the next day.

However, that didn't work. The next day, it was still just as slow.

Sitting down and moving the mouse on the touchpad, Ye Shiyu sat beside him, hands on her lap, blinking her long eyelashes as she watched him operate.

"Sister Shiyu, have you done anything on the computer recently?"

"No."

"Downloaded anything?"

"No."

Well, she doesn't know anything-better check it myself.

"Password, Sister Shiyu."

"Mom's and my birthdays, 06270903."

Yan Huan glanced at Ye Shiyu, typed on the keyboard, and opened the screen, revealing a life-sized doll in elaborate clothing as the background image.

As he dragged the mouse with the touchpad, Yan Huan immediately felt it was unusually sluggish.

Like it was stuck, extremely hard to operate.

He glanced at the desktop and the lower right corner-Ye Shiyu hadn't installed any strange software, no weird wallpaper apps or anything, it was extremely clean.

"I don't see any rogue software..."

"Mm."

Ye Shiyu nodded.

"There's plenty of disk space too... C drive, D drive..."

"Mm."

Ye Shiyu nodded again.

"."

Hearing this, Yan Huan turned to look at Ye Shiyu beside him, and she stared back blankly.

Every time he muttered or checked something, she would nod along in response.

It really felt like a girl who knew nothing about computers or games sitting next to you, watching you operate, and just agreeing with everything you say.

Secretly pleased.

You could only say it was secretly pleasing.

But if it's not this or that, then what's wrong with the computer?

Yan Huan thought for a moment, opened Task Manager, went to the performance tab, and prepared to check the CPU and disk status.

He didn't know until he looked-CPU usage was already maxed out at 100%!

But there were no apps open at all.

He opened the processes tab, and Yan Huan found that it was the system process hogging all the CPU.

System processes using up the CPU for so long was abnormal, and with pop-up ads...

It must have been infected with a downloader virus, right?

Yan Huan raised his eyebrows and said to Ye Shiyu,

"It's probably a virus, Sister Shiyu. Just download an antivirus program online and run a scan-it's no big deal."

"Mm-hmm."

Yan Huan is really skilled at this, too.

Ye Shiyu thought to herself, her gaze falling on the cookies she cradled in her arms.

This was her thank-you gift for asking him to help fix the computer this time.

But the return gift she'd prepared out of guilt before still hadn't found its way to him.

Yesterday, she'd clearly meant to ask him what he liked, but in the end, she just couldn't bring herself to say it.

Now, with just the two of them here and the atmosphere seeming quite good, it felt like the perfect time to ask.

She parted her lips, lifted her eyes, and the words were already on the tip of her tongue.

"Yan-"

However, the moment she looked up, she saw Yan Huan move the mouse toward the browser icon.

And in the pinned bar below, that icon was already there, meaning the browser was still open.

Suddenly, she remembered: that morning, she'd tried to open the browser, wanting to visit that strange website again.

She'd managed to get in, but it was incredibly laggy.

And just then, it was time for school-Aunt Chen came to hurry her, so she minimized the page, closed the laptop, and stuffed it into her backpack, planning to let Yan Huan take a look.

A whole morning of classes made her completely forget she'd left the browser open.

And now, was Yan Huan about to click into that browser?

"Sister Shiyu, I'll just download an antivirus online and run a scan for you-it'll be fixed in no time."

Inside-

Inside there's... something he absolutely must not see!!

Beside her, Ye Shiyu's face was getting paler and paler. In her hand, her phone silently slipped down, glowing with a wicked purple light.

Her lips trembled, and suddenly she called Yan Huan's name-the one only her mother would use,

"Xiaohuan."

"Huh? Sister Shiyu, wha-"

Hearing that name, Yan Huan immediately turned his head in surprise to look at her.

But what he saw was a deep purple vortex on the phone screen, a purple phone display he couldn't be more familiar with.

[Effect: Individual Hypnosis]

[Duration: 15 minutes]

[Countdown, start]

Yan Huan: "????"

(End of this chapter)