Chapter 5: " Daily Life"

The classroom fell silent as the students focused on their exams. The scratching of pens filled the air. Gu Dao looked at the first question and blinked. Huh. This… isn't too bad.

Despite not preparing, he found most of the questions manageable.

His habit of reading through various novels—no matter how poorly translated—had somehow given him decent English skills.

Guess reading novels does pay off, after all.

Zhao Fan occasionally glanced at him in disbelief. Gu Dao, who had "forgotten" about the test, was breezing through it while he himself struggled with some parts. Lin Yue, on the other hand, seemed confident, quickly filling in her answers.

_ _ _

An hour passed, and Miss Xu finally announced, "Time's up. Pens down."

The students sighed, some in relief, others in despair. The papers were collected, and the morning classes continued.

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

The morning dragged on. Math was as torturous as always, history was mildly interesting, and physics made Gu Dao wonder if cultivating formulas might actually be easier than this stuff.

During break time, Zhao Fan grumbled about a particularly tricky math question, while Lin Yue debated with another classmate about the correct answer.

Gu Dao just yawned and leaned back in his chair, feeling drained but relieved the exam was over.

The clock neared noon, and the bell rang, signaling the lunch break. Students stretched, packed up their books, and poured out of the classroom in a rush.

Gu Dao exhaled and stood up. Finally, freedom.

The moment the bell rang, the classroom erupted into motion. Chairs scraped against the floor, students chattered excitedly, and the usual lunchtime chaos unfolded.

Zhao Fan stretched his arms, groaning. "Man, I swear that math question was designed to ruin my life."

Lin Yue shot him a smug look. "Maybe if you didn't cram everything the night before, you wouldn't be struggling so much."

Zhao Fan clutched his chest in agony. "Lin Yue, you've wounded my heart."

Gu Dao ignored the usual back-and-forth and grabbed his bag. "Let's go. If we don't hurry, the cafeteria will be packed."

The trio made their way through the crowded halls, skillfully dodging students who were either sprinting toward the cafeteria or standing around chatting.

The scent of freshly cooked food hit them as soon as they stepped inside.

The cafeteria was already bustling with students lining up for their meals.

Zhao Fan's eyes lit up as he spotted today's menu. "Oh, they have braised pork today! I'm getting that."

Lin Yue wrinkled her nose. "You eat too much meat. Ever heard of vegetables?"

"I have! They're just side characters on my plate," Zhao Fan said proudly.

Gu Dao shook his head, grabbing a tray. He ordered something simple—rice, vegetables, and some tofu.

He wasn't too picky as long as it filled his stomach.

After getting their meals, they found a spot near the window and sat down.

Just as Gu Dao picked up his chopsticks, a voice called out.

"Yo, Gu Dao!"

He looked up to see a tall, athletic-looking student approaching their table with a grin.

It was Liu Feng, one of the school's top basketball players and a known troublemaker.

Zhao Fan muttered under his breath, "Here comes trouble."

Liu Feng leaned casually against their table, flashing a grin. "I saw you napping through physics earlier. You sure you're gonna pass, or is that just your strategy to breeze through exams?"

Gu Dao didn't even look up, picking up a piece of tofu. "Worried about my grades, Liu Feng? I'm touched."

Liu Feng slapped Gu Dao's back, laughing loudly. "Why are you so boring all the time? Loosen up, man!"

Gu Dao raised an eyebrow, his tone casual. "Why bother with that nonsense? I'd rather conserve my energy for something... worth it."

Liu Feng clicked his tongue. "That's your problem. You don't appreciate the finer things in life—like the beauties in our school."

Zhao Fan, who had just taken a sip of soup, suddenly perked up. His eyes gleamed with interest as he leaned forward. "Now that's a topic worth discussing."

Liu Feng smiled, clearly enjoying the attention. "See? Zhao Fan gets it. Alright, let's start with the obvious—Chen Xinyue, our class monitor. Top grades, a face straight out of a manhua, and that ice-cold attitude? Bro, she's the perfect beauty."

Zhao Fan nodded enthusiastically, lowering his voice as if discussing a top-secret mission. "I swear, man, she looks like the kind of girl who'd reject you with just one glance.

But imagine the satisfaction if you managed to crack that icy exterior…" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Gu Dao shook his head and laughed. "You mean she'd call the cops on you first."

Liu Feng laughed. "Nah, but I bet under that cold front, she's actually super soft. You just gotta know how to play the game."

Lin Yue, who had been eating quietly, suddenly scoffed. "You boys are so shallow."

Zhao Fan grinned. "Oh? You mean you've never had a crush on anyone?"

Lin Yue rolled her eyes but then leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "I'm just saying, if you want to talk about real high-class beauties, let's not forget the wealthy daughters in our school. Like Luo Qinghan from Class 1—her family owns half the shopping malls in the city."

Liu Feng whistled. "Yeah, Luo Qinghan's in a different league. Smart, gorgeous, and rich? That's a triple threat."

Zhao Fan sighed sadly. "Man, imagine dating a girl like that. Private drivers, luxury vacations, no more worrying about lunch money—"

Lin Yue smirked. "You just want a sugar mommy, don't you?"

Zhao Fan grinned shamelessly. "I call it financial stability."

Gu Dao almost laughed at Zhao Fan's shamelessness, his chopsticks pausing mid-air as he stared at him with an unreadable expression, still chewing his food without a care in the world.

Lin Yue narrowed her eyes at him. "What about you, Gu Dao? No opinions?"

Gu Dao sighed, shaking his head with a rueful smile. "I'm just a poor bastard. How could any of the school beauties even look my way? Let's be real here."

Liu Feng groaned. "You're really selling yourself short, man. You might not have money, but you've got your charm. Who says you need to be rich to catch someone's eye?"

Lin Yue smirked. "I've seen Chen Xinyue glance at you more than once. Looks like you've already got her heart, Gu Dao."

Zhao Fan gasped, clutching his chest as though wounded. "No way! You traitor!"

He pointed at Gu Dao accusingly. "You're stealing my goddess! The one who's been my unattainable dream since forever. And now, you—"

Liu Feng grinned. "Bro, you've been outplayed. Gu Dao's the real heartbreaker here."

Gu Dao laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Guys, it's just a joke. I'm still just a 'poor bastard,' remember?"

Zhao Fan sank into his chair, dramatically clutching his chest. "First, I've been rejected by every girl in this school, and now even my best friend's going after my dream girl?!"

Gu Dao glanced at him, speechless. "Come on, man, you're being overly dramatic."

The table burst into laughter. The sound echoed through the cafeteria, As Gu Dao glanced around the place.

Gu Dao let out a sigh, his fingers tapping absentmindedly on his textbook as Zhao Fan continued to ramble on about potential crushes. Another relationship talk, he thought. The idea of being tied down by someone felt more like a burden than a thrill. He leaned back in his chair, eyes glazed as he half-listened, half-dreaming.

And just like that, lunch passed in the usual chaotic fashion.

Afternoon Classes

The afternoon passed at a sluggish pace.

The droning voice of the physics teacher nearly lulled Zhao Fan to sleep, and even Liu Feng, who usually had endless energy, looked bored out of his mind.

Lin Yue, as expected, remained attentive, jotting down notes diligently.

The final bell rang, marking the end of the school day.

After School

As students packed up their bags and prepared to leave, Zhao Fan stretched with a yawn. "Finally, we're free."

Liu Feng grinned. "Alright, who's up for a game of hoops before heading home?"

Lin Yue shook her head. "I have cram school later."

Zhao Fan laughed at her. "Of course you do, nerd."

She rolled her eyes but didn't bother arguing.

Gu Dao shook his head. "You guys go ahead. I have work today."

Zhao Fan blinked. "Oh, right. You got that part-time job recently. Where was it again?"

"At a convenience store near my place," Gu Dao replied, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

Lin Yue looked mildly surprised. "You actually got a job? Didn't think you'd bother."

Gu Dao shrugged. "Gotta make some extra cash somehow."

Liu Feng smirked. "Damn, respect. Alright, don't work too hard, man."

With a casual wave, Gu Dao left the school.

Gu Dao shoved his hands into his pockets, the cool evening air brushing against his face as he walked down the familiar streets.

The city was still bustling, but it felt like a distant hum to him—one of those noises that you get used to and tune out.

He passed the neon signs of convenience stores, the faint chatter of people around him, but his mind wasn't really on any of it.

He was thinking about how his life felt like a loop—school, work, sleep, repeat.

Sometimes it felt like he was on autopilot, just going through the motions without ever really getting anywhere.

His phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen. Another message from Zhao Fan, making some ridiculous comment about the math test.

He rolled his eyes and stuffed the phone back into his pocket.

"Guess that's how it is, huh?" he muttered under his breath, glancing up at the sky. The stars weren't visible tonight—just a blanket of dark clouds. He had no idea why he expected anything to be different.

He was just a guy, doing his thing, with nothing more than the same tired routine waiting for him at the end of the day.

As he turned the corner toward the convenience store, the lights of the shop flickered on, marking the end of another predictable day. He sighed, pushed open the door, and stepped inside.

After greeting the owner, he spent his shift as usual, stocking shelves and assisting customers. When night fell, he closed up the store, locked the doors, and made his way home.

He opened the door to his small apartment and couldn't help but sigh as he stepped inside. The familiar, cramped space felt even lonelier today.

Looking up at the darkened sky through the window, he couldn't shake the feeling of solitude.

He sighed and shook his head. As usual, he made his way to the bed and sat down, pulling out his phone.

He quickly navigated to his favorite site and began scrolling through the list of xianxia novels. After a few moments, he found one that seemed interesting and settled in, reading to pass the time.

A few hours passed, and Gu Dao's mood shifted from casual to progressively more disgruntled. His fingers moved rapidly across the screen as he cursed the author with increasing fervor.

"Ugh, this is the last time I read anything from this guy!" he muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing at the screen. Then, without a second thought, he began typing a furious comment on the platform.

'From the beginning of the protagonist's Qi training, you keep arranging enemies for him to build his foundation. No matter what he does, there will be people who make things difficult for him. It's really disgusting to write it like this to advance the plot.

Also, the author is just trying to embarrass the readers, right? The knowledge of the previous life is really poisonous.

And the female characters appear one after another, pretending to be gentlemen. It feels like all the smart ones in the future are women. Fucking stud.'

He sighed, hitting 'submit' with a flourish. As he sat back, he stared at the screen, trying to figure out what had just happened. "Why do I do this to myself?" he asked helplessly, shaking his head.

The phone buzzed with a notification—a reply from another reader. It was just as passionate, if not more so. Gu Dao grinned, feeling a strange sense of camaraderie with his fellow disgruntled readers.

At least he wasn't alone in his frustration.

And just like that life goes by.

.....