“Finally, lunch break... President, want to grab some food?”
The bell signaling the end of the fourth class rang out, marking the conclusion of the morning's required courses and the start of the midday break.
Aixi Li, Head of Discipline and Yan Huan’s classmate in Class 1-A, approached his seat by the window, inviting him to lunch.
In Yuanyue Academy’s first year, there were five classes. Students were randomly assigned upon admission. Among the five members of the Student Council, Yan Huan and Aixi Li were in Class A, Yaqiao Mu was in Class B, while Ying Gong Tong and You Anlina were in Class E.
Typically, the Council members would eat lunch together if they didn’t have pressing work to handle, but today was an exception.
Smiling, Yan Huan declined,
“Go ahead with the others today, Aixi Li. I need to check on something in the senior department, so I’ll be late getting to the cafeteria.”
Aixi Li raised an eyebrow in surprise but didn’t press for details.
“Alright. I’ll let the others know—we’ll be at the usual spot if you decide to join us.”
“Thanks.”
As Aixi Li walked away, Yan Huan stood, ready to head toward the senior department.
The reason for his detour? Ye Shiyu.
Perhaps it was because the topic of bullying had come up during the Student Council meeting, but Yan Huan couldn’t shake his concern about the socially awkward Ye Shiyu becoming entangled in such conflicts.
Checking his phone earlier, he’d found a troubling number of recent reports about student incidents in Linmen. Even top schools like Xiuzhi Academy and Yuanyue weren’t immune; there were whispers of fights, depression, and even a student suicide at a neighboring institution.
Though Ye Shiyu had the Modifier to shield her from harm, her nature made it just as likely for her to become a perpetrator. The odds of her using the Modifier would only increase in a tense environment, and frequent use was the last thing Yan Huan wanted to see.
He’d worked hard over the weekend to weaken her Modifier—he didn’t want to come back and find it had been supercharged into an unmanageable threat.
Thus, Yan Huan decided to check on her personally.
Not every student rushed to the cafeteria as soon as the lunch bell rang. Some brought bento boxes, others opted to buy snacks, and many simply avoided the lunchtime crowd.
In Class 2-A, where a new transfer student had arrived that morning, the mood was still lively.
The boys had been ecstatic about the arrival of the stunning beauty, but their enthusiasm had quickly fizzled after just one period.
Her aloof demeanor and cold rejection of their advances created an unapproachable aura, deterring most attempts at interaction. By midday, only a handful of students dared to speak to her.
“Not eating yet, Yumiko?”
“I’m waiting for my boyfriend. He’s still at practice.”
“Track team already training? The Club Wars must be coming up.”
“Yeah. The rewards are supposed to be great this year. Besides punishing the losing clubs, the winners can petition the school board for a special request.”
“Last year, the winning club managed to cancel the semester finals. Wonder how President Yan and the Council will handle it this time...”
Sitting at her desk in a black dress, Ye Shiyu blinked when she heard the name “President Yan” in their conversation. Her mind wandered.
She still felt a pang of guilt over what happened with Yan Huan.
Despite realizing last night how much he’d done for her, she hadn’t even managed a simple “thank you.” Worse, she had nearly used the Modifier on him, a decision that now made her feel ashamed.
This morning, her first thought had been whether there was any way to repay him.
But she hadn’t come up with anything.
Buying a gift? He had given her the jellyfish plush, which now sat by her bed... but she didn’t know what he liked.
Inviting him back to stay at her house? He had expressed a longing for familial warmth... but she didn’t trust herself.
She feared the darkness inside her would take over again someday. She’d lose sight of his kindness, use the Modifier recklessly, and ruin him.
So...
Her second question lingered: Why is he so good to me?
Was it because of her mother? Because Ye Lan treated him well, it was only natural for him to be kind to her daughter?
Or was there another reason she didn’t know?
Lost in thought, Ye Shiyu sighed quietly.
If only dealing with people was as simple as dealing with dolls.
The classmates talking about Club Wars left the room, but Yumiko, seated beside Ye Shiyu, stayed. Noticing Ye Shiyu’s sigh, Yumiko smiled and struck up a conversation.
“Ye Shiyu, not heading to lunch?”
Ye Shiyu turned her blank expression toward Yumiko, responding after a pause.
“...I brought food from home.”
“Oh? I thought you were from Longguo. Do you usually bring bento?”
Ye Shiyu nodded slightly but didn’t explain further.
Instead, she asked,
“Is Yan Huan well-known at this school?”
“President Yan? Of course!” Yumiko perked up.
“When he first ran for Student Council, everyone was blown away by how handsome he is. His smile is dazzling! Plus, he’s a top student and so gentle...”
With Yuanyue’s gender ratio of two girls for every boy, Yan Huan had easily secured most of the female vote during elections.
Ye Shiyu realized something from Yumiko’s words: Yan Huan was very popular.
For some reason, that realization stirred an inexplicable irritation within her.
“Is that so...”
Her phone screen lit up as she unconsciously touched it.
“Didn’t expect Ye Shiyu to take an interest in our school’s most eligible guy so soon,” Yumiko teased.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have any standout boys in Class A, but I hear there’s someone interesting in Class B...”
Ye Shiyu’s uninterested expression deflated Yumiko’s excitement. Pivoting, she added,
“Anyway, President Yan is a first-year. He rarely comes to the senior department unless it’s for official business. Usually, he’s with Vice President Ying when he does—never alone. Wait—”
Yumiko’s gaze caught on the classroom door, where a familiar figure leaned casually against the frame.
“President Yan?”
Yan Huan smiled and greeted her.
“Hello, senpai.”
Hearing his voice, Ye Shiyu’s head snapped toward the door, meeting the gaze of the boy she had bid farewell to just last night.
Yan Huan had been standing there for a while, observing. Seeing Ye Shiyu chatting normally with a classmate eased his initial concerns, so he hadn’t interrupted.
Perhaps he’d been overthinking things.
Bullying incidents were real, but they weren’t happening every second. It seemed unlikely Ye Shiyu would stumble into such trouble on her first day.
Since he was already there, Yan Huan decided against sneaking off and instead greeted them openly.
Ye Shiyu suddenly stood, while Yumiko’s eyes darted between her and Yan Huan like a reporter uncovering a scandal.
"Shocking! I’ve discovered President Yan’s secret wife!"
Yan Huan instantly deciphered Yumiko’s expression but knew she had the wrong idea.
The headline should have been:
"Facing the Hypnotic Overlord! Why Did Yan Huan Visit the Senior Department at Noon?"
Smiling faintly, Yan Huan explained,
“Senpai, Ye Shiyu is my elder sister. I came to check on her.”
Elder sister...
Ye Shiyu’s throat tightened, and her gaze locked on Yan Huan with a faint tremor.
Wait. Different last names... elder sister? That can’t be blood-related, right?
Unless it’s some kind of... unique roleplay...
Choosing to believe Yan Huan’s words for now, Yumiko replied,
“Ah, elder sister? I see...”
Exchanging a few polite remarks, Yan Huan turned to Ye Shiyu.
“Have you eaten yet, Ye Shiyu? Want to join me at the cafeteria?”
Before Yumiko could mention Ye Shiyu’s bento, Ye Shiyu had already nodded.
“Okay.”
“...”
Yumiko fell silent, pretending to ignore the situation but clearly eavesdropping.
Ye Shiyu picked up her phone and walked to the door.
“The cafeteria’s this way, Ye Shiyu.”
“Mm.”
Following Yan Huan, she watched his back intently.
“My classmates said you rarely come to the senior department.”
“I don’t. It’s far, and I only have time during lunch. I was going to ask on Plane if you were adjusting well, but I figured the cafeteria’s layout might be confusing. It seemed better to check in person.”
Ye Shiyu studied his profile, his lazy demeanor softening into drowsiness as he yawned.
“Did you not sleep well last night?”
“Well, I got home late since I had to transfer trains from Jinghe District.”
"..."
So it was because of her...
Last night, Yan Huan had chosen to leave late at night, all to avoid upsetting her.
And yet, when she chased after him, she hadn’t persuaded him to stay. Instead, she’d caused him to miss his bus by borrowing a power bank.
Ye Shiyu blinked, guilt welling up inside her, making her want to ask Yan Huan about his preferences.
But just as it had been the night before, the words stuck in her throat.
Instead, her phone screen lit up again.
Panicking, Ye Shiyu used her left hand to grab her right, clutching the phone as if physically restraining herself. Absolutely no more hypnosis!
Her fumbling resulted in a loud "thud."
Startled, Yan Huan turned to her with concern.
“What’s wrong, Shiyu?”
Her face flushed slightly as she quickly hid the phone behind her skirt, avoiding his gaze.
“Just... hungry.”
“Then let’s hurry and eat.”
“Mm...”
The Yuanyue Academy cafeteria wasn’t within the school but just outside its gates, part of a larger campus-owned area that included a park, a shopping street, and other facilities.
The cafeteria was conveniently located in the southeast corner, close to the school.
Yan Huan returned to their table carrying a tray of Dragon Country dishes. In front of Ye Shiyu, there was also a fruit salad he had picked for her.
“You didn’t need to get so much.”
Ye Shiyu recalled hearing from her mother that Yan Huan worked part-time to support himself. After buying her a gift yesterday, he’d now ordered so much food...
“It’s fine. I just eat a lot,” Yan Huan said casually.
But Ye Shiyu quietly attributed the abundance of food to him hosting her. Determined not to waste his efforts, she picked up the chopsticks she always carried and began eating, even though she wasn’t particularly hungry.
The personalized chopsticks with her name engraved surprised Yan Huan—he hadn’t expected her to carry her own utensils.
“How’s your first day? Adjusting to the classes?”
“Mm. The teaching style feels quite different from schools in Longguo.”
“That’s true. The exams here should be easier for you. A lot of math taught in Longguo high schools isn’t introduced here until college.”
“Mm...”
As Ye Shiyu ate, the desire to ask him about his likes resurfaced. She bit her chopsticks, steeling herself to speak.
Before she could, a pink-and-red-haired girl’s head popped up from the edge of the table.
Clutching the edge of the table, the girl’s wide, curious eyes darted between Ye Shiyu and Yan Huan like a judge ready to pronounce a verdict.
It was You Anlina, the Student Council Secretary.
Her face bore a grave expression as she stroked her chin in exaggerated contemplation. Her eyes went from confusion to clarity, and then to judgment.
Just as she was about to exclaim something dramatic, Yan Huan swiftly used an untouched plastic fork to spear a piece of cantaloupe from the fruit salad and popped it into her open mouth.
“Mm!”
Chewing the melon instinctively, You Anlina’s face lit up with a goofy smile.
“So yummy...”
A second later, she seemed to remember her mission, exclaiming through muffled words,
“No, wait! President! You traitor! You just said you liked someone, and now you’re—mmm!”
Ye Shiyu’s gaze snapped to Yan Huan.
But Yan Huan only smiled, ignoring You Anlina’s awkward theatrics.
“Want more cantaloupe?” he asked.
“Yes! More! Love it!” You Anlina replied, her tone instantly turning sweet and innocent.
Ye Shiyu silently retracted her phone from the table, placing it back out of sight.
“Where’s Vice President Ying and the others?” Yan Huan asked, feeding You Anlina another piece.
“They’re just over there...”
Watching Yan Huan feed You Anlina, Ye Shiyu pursed her lips, tightening her grip on her phone.
She sensed someone approaching and turned to see a group of Student Council members.
One was a bespectacled boy absorbed in his phone—easily ignorable. Another was a short-haired blonde girl who caught Ye Shiyu’s attention briefly before her gaze settled on the third.
The third was a stunningly beautiful girl of petite build, who was also staring at Ye Shiyu.
Their gazes met for a brief moment before both looked away.
“Ugh, Ying Gong! Look! The President is skipping lunch with us to have a secret rendezvous with another girl! And you say he’s not dating anyone?!”
Ying Gong Tong gently hugged the indignant You Anlina. Noticing the cantaloupe in her mouth and her exaggerated sulking, Ying Gong comforted her,
“Alright, alright. Don’t jump to conclusions about the President’s personal life. You probably didn’t even ask before assuming things.”
“Ying Gong!”
Yan Huan, still smiling, introduced Ye Shiyu to the group.
“This is Ye Shiyu, my mother’s friend’s daughter. She’s my elder sister.”
“Oh, the President went to see his sister during lunch? How come we never heard about her being at our school?” Aixi Li asked, intrigued.
“She just transferred today, so...”
Understanding, the group greeted Ye Shiyu warmly. Yan Huan also introduced his companions to her.
Ye Shiyu only gave a brief nod, her face expressionless.
She listened quietly as they chatted, gleaning snippets of various topics.
Watching Yan Huan interact with his friends, his face lighting up with a natural smile, a realization dawned on her.
Perhaps his kindness wasn’t special to her or because of her mother.
Maybe he was simply this way with everyone.
That thought brought an inexplicable frustration, causing Ye Shiyu to put down her chopsticks.
“Finished already, Shiyu?” Yan Huan asked.
“Mm... Sorry.”
She has such a small appetite, Yan Huan thought, smiling softly.
Turning to his friends, he said,
“I’ll stay here and finish eating with my sister. Afterward, I’ll take her around campus.”
“Alright, we’ll head out first then, President,” Ying Gong said with a small smile.
Nodding, You Anlina turned to leave but quickly darted back to steal another piece of cantaloupe.
Before Yan Huan could say anything, she puffed her cheeks like a chipmunk and ran off,
“Quick, run! Aixi Li, help!”
“...”
Yan Huan sighed, his expression exasperated as he turned back to Ye Shiyu.
“Want some more fruit, Shiyu?”
“No.”
Ye Shiyu shook her head and glanced at the door, where Ying Gong’s petite figure was disappearing with the group.
For some reason, she felt uneasy about that girl’s gaze toward Yan Huan.
Even such a girl, Yan Huan treated warmly and kindly, with that same gentle smile.
Once again, Ye Shiyu was reminded: Yan Huan’s kindness might not be unique to her.
The Student Council dispersed. Yaqiao Mu returned to his class to game, Aixi Li to her classroom for a nap, and You Anlina likely to socialize somewhere.
Ying Gong Tong, however, quietly returned to the Student Council office on the top floor.
In the silent room, she retrieved a laptop from her bag, unlocked it, and opened a folder labeled “Research.”
Inside was another folder: “Surveillance Target: Yan Huan.”
Opening it revealed nearly a hundred subfolders labeled “Camera 1,” “Camera 2”... “Camera 100.”
Each contained countless photos, all of Yan Huan from different angles—studying, chatting, running in PE, smiling.
Most were taken in his classroom or the Council office, but Camera 100 even contained footage from the hallway outside his apartment.
Expressionless, Ying Gong scanned the photos. Her thoughts drifted to Ye Shiyu.
Despite combing through the camera feeds, there was no trace of the new girl, causing Ying Gong’s brows to furrow in dissatisfaction.
“...”
In the quiet, her voice broke the stillness, uttering a strange phrase.
"Room Boundary."
[Activate Room Boundary?]
[Current Modifier Level: 2]
[Coverage: Student Council Office]
[Effects: Individual Perception Modification, Domain Rule Alteration, Omnidirectional Surveillance]
Ying Gong stared at the ethereal text floating before her. After a moment’s pause, she quietly closed the laptop with a soft click.