Chapter 46: I'll Handle It, You Can Rest Easy

Reality World, Station 13.

The audience’s attention, however, wasn’t on Chen Kong—now completely swayed by Tian Dao’s effortless charm—but on the moment just before, when Chen Kong had stared at Isabelle’s retreating back with an intensity that bordered on obsession.

“Oh no… Kong, you’re officially smitten.”

“‘The Story of How I Met a Cold-Hearted Lady at a Noble School’—poor boy falls for rich girl trope? It’s cheesy, but hey, I love cheesy. Woof woof!”

“No way, A-Kong, she just tossed her hair—did you really lose your soul over that?”

Just as the dimension viewers were mercilessly roasting Chen Kong’s obvious crush, Tian Dao strolled toward the classroom building, whistling a cheerful tune, clearly in high spirits.

No wonder. That little performance had not only boosted his popularity significantly but also ensured the first season’s main plotline remained firmly within its original, stable framework—preserving his crucial advantage of foresight.

Because, according to the original script, the one who should’ve stepped in to rescue Chen Kong wasn’t anyone else… but our very own proud, pouty twin-tailed princess—Isabelle.

Even the move where Tian Dao splashed soda on Dekola? That was her signature tactic from the original story.

Yes, the first meeting between the main characters had been subtly rewritten thanks to Tian Dao’s meddling. But he didn’t see it as a betrayal of the narrative. Far from it. He was confident—everything was still under control.

---

Afternoon at Trelan Junior High. Classroom 1-1.

Chen Kong stood alone at the back door, arms full of two boxes of Blue Melody Mountain City soda, stepping into the classroom like a man on a mission.

The students nearby exchanged glances. Curious, yes—but too reserved to ask. They just watched, quietly, as he made his way to the front.

The sudden spotlight made Chen Kong’s already shy demeanor crumble. He shifted awkwardly, sweat forming at the nape of his neck.

Then—his gaze locked onto a golden-haired silhouette sitting at the front.

In that instant, the quiet, invisible boy vanished.

Chen Kong took a deep breath, then announced loudly, “U-um… classmates! These drinks were bought by our other exchange student—Tian Dao Siming—for all of you.”

“He said, even though we’ll only be classmates for a month, temporary classmates are still classmates. We should all get along.”

“So he asked me to bring these over, hoping it’ll help us build good relationships quickly.”

Out of kindness—and something deeper, a strange pride—he didn’t just repeat Tian Dao’s words. He added things the man had never said.

And then, disaster struck.

The moment he finished speaking, the classroom fell silent.

Every eye turned toward him, not with curiosity—but with a strange, almost eerie scrutiny.

Time froze.

Even the viewers watching from beyond the screen could feel the suffocating awkwardness, the sheer, soul-crushing embarrassment that made you want to dig a hole and crawl in.

It wasn’t hard to understand why.

Trelan Junior High was a prestigious private academy in the Coastal District. Most students were either prodigies with exceptional talent—or children of the ultra-wealthy, the elite.

A single bottle of soda? Barely worth a second glance.

And Chen Kong? He’d only arrived that morning. No connections. No reputation. No charisma. He was barely more than a stranger.

So when a stranger—someone with no social standing—suddenly offered gifts, and claimed they were from another exchange student? Naturally, suspicion flared.

But Chen Kong, raised in the ruins of Yujin Base, had no idea how different this world was.

Back in Yujin, even if he—a so-called Stellar Prodigy, universally known as the invisible kid—was the one delivering the message, everyone would still take the drinks. Because everyone knew: Tian Dao was the one who brought them.

That was the rule.

But here? This wasn’t Yujin Base. This was Trelan. And the rules were different.

Chen Kong hung his head, ready to bolt—when a flash of gold caught his eye.

A golden strand of hair.

He looked up.

Isabelle stood before him, her hand outstretched.

“Hand it over.”

She was helping him.

And just after the cafeteria incident? That was it.

Chen Kong’s heart shattered—then rebuilt itself in an instant.

Maybe… maybe she’s an angel.

But then, she frowned.

He still hadn’t handed her a drink.

How dense can a person be? No wonder Dekola picked on him. Honestly, it’s not even surprising.

Still, for reasons unknown, she ignored his lapse.

She pointed to a boy in the back row.

“Liao. You and the others distribute these.”

"Got it, squad leader."

The tension shattered like glass.

The classroom breathed again.

As classmates began helping, Chen Kong finally snapped back to reality.

He looked down, embarrassed, whispering, “Th-thanks…”

Isabelle remained calm. “No big deal. Maintaining class harmony is my duty as class president.”

Then, with a casual shift in tone, she added, “By the way… you said these were bought by your exchange student friend. Can you tell me a bit about Tian Dao? What was he like at your old school?”

“No offense,” she added, “I just don’t want the cafeteria incident to happen again. Need to know what kind of people we’re dealing with.”

Chen Kong, still half-dazed, didn’t catch the subtle edge in her voice.

He launched into a heartfelt, unfiltered description of Tian Dao—except he cleverly disguised the truth.

He replaced “Yujin Base” with “my old school.”

He changed “Stellar Prodigy” to “a classmate.”

And he spun the story like a master storyteller.

So the brutal, tyrannical bully who ruled Yujin with an iron fist?

Now, in Chen Kong’s version, he was a sunny, kind-hearted, model student—cheerful, generous, beloved by all.

From Chen Kong’s perspective? It was honest.

That was how he saw Tian Dao.

And Isabelle, who knew nothing of Tian Dao’s past, had no reason to doubt him.

Especially after seeing the man risk social isolation to defend someone he barely knew.

If he wasn’t a good person, she thought, why would he do that?

She cut him off mid-sentence.

“Alright, that’s enough. Thank you.”

She almost called him by name—then paused.

She didn’t know it.

But she wasn’t Chen Kong. She didn’t panic over small mistakes.

She simply asked, “Oh, what’s your name again?”

“Chen Kong. ‘Chen’ as in dust, ‘Kong’ as in air.”

“Chen Kong?” Isabelle nodded. “Thank you, Chen Kong. I’ll make sure you and Tian Dao settle in smoothly. And don’t worry—Dekola won’t cause any trouble.”

She turned and walked back to her seat without another word.

Left standing there, Chen Kong grinned like an idiot, rubbing the back of his head in quiet joy.

He’d been called by name.

The viewers, watching from above, couldn’t help but groan.

“Dude, stop smiling. Your house is being robbed and you’re grinning like an idiot!”

“Oh my god, Kong—didn’t you notice? You’ve been here all morning, and no one remembered your name. But Tian Dao hasn’t even shown up, and she already knows yours? How are you still smiling?!”

“I can smell the pain. This is pure, unfiltered heartbreak fiction.”

Just as Chen Kong basked in his fleeting happiness, and the audience facepalmed in despair…

Tian Dao stepped out of the office after finishing registration—only to be immediately pulled onto the rooftop by Kalolin.

He had no idea what was happening in the classroom. No access to the Dimensional Screen.

No clue about the chaos he’d accidentally caused.

“Hey, Kalolin,” he asked, “what’s up? Why’d you drag me here?”

“Here,” she said, handing him a tablet. “This is a mission brief from Yun Meng.”

Tian Dao took it, feigned concentration for a moment, then handed it back.

“So… someone’s planning to kidnap Isabelle during next week’s retreat?”

“Yeah.”

“And what’s Yun Meng’s take?”

“She says we should play along. No need to act. Just stay alert. Let them come to us.”

“Fine. I’ll handle it. Just a few shady Dark Stellar Envoys—easy. I could take them all on my own.”

He was about to dismiss it—when he noticed Kalolin’s expression.

She looked… hesitant.

“Hey,” he said, “what’s wrong? You’re not done, are you?”

Kalolin paused, then said carefully, “Tian Dao… did you cause any trouble today?”

“What?” Tian Dao stared at her, stunned.

“Not trusting me? I never cause trouble.”

Kalolin raised an eyebrow. “Exactly because it’s you, I don’t trust you. Keeping you calm is harder than getting you to give up sweets.”

Tian Dao clutched his chest dramatically. “You wound me!”

Kalolin didn’t blink.

He tried again—switching tactics.

“Kalolin, I know you’ve got a bad impression of me. But I swear—today, I didn’t do a thing.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Hmm… I’ll trust you… for now.”

“Wait—what do you mean, for now? Come back! Explain!”

She just smiled.

“Heh.”

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(End of Chapter)

Chapter end