The System Loves Me Again

After returning to school, the first class was still homeroom.

Lu Chen waited for the system update to complete while brainstorming more ideas for his novel. He didn't pay attention to English class at all.

With his 8 points in Intelligence, class had long since become optional. If it weren't for the mission keeping him at Haizhou Academy, he wouldn't waste his time here.

Of course, there were also... other reasons to stay—like the pair of beautiful violet eyes next to him that kept glancing his way.

Propping his chin up, Lu Chen scratched away at his manuscript in frustration. When he noticed Ei was watching him, he glanced over.

Their eyes met by chance, and both of them smiled softly.

Lu Chen cherished this kind of warm, quiet moment they shared.

"Writer's block," Lu Chen murmured, keeping his voice low. Could he really admit he'd only managed forty words in the past thirty minutes...?

"Is it that hard to write?" Raiden Ei asked gently.

"Yeah, I really admire novelists now..."

"Oh..."

Ei wasn't particularly interested in the novel or the mission, but she enjoyed the time spent with Lu Chen—and she liked watching his serious profile.

When Lu Chen focused and thought deeply, all his usual joking expressions disappeared, replaced by a clean, youthful look.

She really liked that side of him.

The classroom was quiet, filled only with the teacher's droning lecture.

Behind them, the ever-sleepy Kenshin Zhou had dozed off behind an English book.

He'd stayed up late gaming, and the dull rhythm of the class knocked him out in seconds.

His deskmate leaned her chin on one hand, not watching the teacher but instead sneaking glances at the two in front. She couldn't help smiling to herself.

As the local "CP Queen," she felt full of sugary dog food and very satisfied.

...

Just before the end of class, Lu Chen finally heard the system chime.

He put down his pen, packed away the page he'd been mentally wrestling with, and turned his full attention to the system.

[Reality Teyvat System — Version update complete.]

[New Challenge Missions:]

["Coach, I want to compete!": Assist Raiden Ei in winning the national championship (including both individual and team events).]

[Let the Wind of Mondstadt Blow Here: Help Venti's Song by the Sea album become a top seller, holding a Top 3 chart position for three consecutive weeks.]

[Each completed mission rewards: 3,200 Primogems, ¥3.2 million in real-world currency, and a special real-world skill.]

[Select one of the following real-world skills:]

1. Freestyle Combat Master

2. Outdoor Fishing Expert

3. Gardening and Flower Cultivation

4. Soul of a Popular Novelist

5. Makeup Master

[Note: Unlocking real-world skills requires meeting attribute prerequisites.]

[Bug Fixes: Assigned plausible identities for Teyvat arrivals; optimized Teyvat Gate's influence on the real world by limiting elemental leakage and ley line disturbances to inconspicuous areas.]

[Thank you for using the Reality Teyvat System—always your strongest support!]

Lu Chen figured his expression must've looked pretty stunned, because Raiden Ei kept glancing over with a worried look.

He gave her a slight shake of his head to reassure her, and she looked away.

His focus returned to the system.

Just as he'd expected, the system wasn't done stirring things up. Staying at Haizhou High and keeping Ei on the school team had been the right call.

What surprised him most was this "real-world special skill" feature. Had the system finally grown a conscience after all his non-stop complaints?

Completing these missions would let him choose one useful skill. Right now, Lu Chen was struggling with his awkward writing. If he could unlock the Soul of a Popular Novelist, would the ideas start flowing like a fountain?

Though he couldn't help but laugh at some of the other skills—they didn't all seem... fitting.

Freestyle Combat Master was reasonable. But Outdoor Fishing Expert? What was that supposed to be? Was he going to become a fisherman who never returned empty-handed?

Like, "Can't catch a big fish? I'll catch a small one. No small fish? I'll go for river shrimp. No shrimp? I'll steal a dog. Can't steal a dog? I'll pluck some corn. No corn? Guess I'll sip some pond water and move on..."

In short: A true fisherman never leaves empty-handed!

And Gardening and Flower Cultivation? Was he supposed to become a professional plant caretaker? As for Makeup Master—he had no idea what to even say.

Totally useless, right?

...

Well... maybe not completely. With online influencers being so hot these days, maybe he could cash in. He wasn't shy to admit—his 7 points in Charm meant he wasn't bad-looking. With a livestream, he could definitely go viral.

Still, his top priority now was the Soul of a Popular Novelist, with Freestyle Combat Master as a close second.

The system really did love him.

And all the required attribute prerequisites? Lu Chen had already met them. Writing needed Intelligence, fighting needed Agility and Stamina, and makeup... well, that needed Charm—which he had in spades.

Haizhou High's national tournament was still two and a half months away, so there was plenty of time. Raiden Ei's mission couldn't be completed just yet.

On the other hand, Venti's album had just dropped. So Lu Chen's plan was clear: help the album become a hit, get the Soul of a Popular Novelist, and then circle back to tackle Yae Miko's mission.

Mission complete.jpg

...

On the way home from school, Lu Chen walked hand in hand with Raiden Ei.

Seeing the subtle smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, Ei couldn't help but feel happy too.

"What is it? You look so cheerful."

"It's about the system..." Since it wasn't something he could talk about in class, Lu Chen told her everything that had changed after the update.

Raiden Ei was glad that the task had gone smoothly, but her smile faded a little when she heard about the national competition.

"There's no need to worry about the individual match. No one can beat me. But the team competition..."

Lu Chen understood her concern. He recalled their second match against the experimental school—not exactly smooth sailing. Though they'd won, it had been nerve-wracking at the start.

Ei's teammates were seriously lacking. Even if they found a few fencing masters to train them, two and a half months wouldn't be enough to fix that.

The experimental school's players had easily outclassed Haizhou's. And even they weren't top-tier at the national level.

That competition was filled with monsters.

"Yeah... that's true." Lu Chen frowned. Ei's next mission was going to be rough too.

"How about... I take up fencing too," Lu Chen said with a helpless smile.

He didn't want to sit in class anyway. If he joined the team, he could spend more time with Ei.

And most importantly—no more classes!