Li Cheng's soul was exhausted.
Not his body.
Not his mind.
His soul.
Because nothing drains a man faster than:
— humiliating a football captain,
— gaining a new skill he never asked for,
— and realizing the system had another crisis already loading like malicious DLC.
Mengyu walked beside him as they left the field, hands in her pockets, expression calm… but faintly amused.
"That was impressive," she said lightly.
Li Cheng gave her a dead stare.
"Please don't encourage this. The universe already hates me."
Mengyu's lips curled into a small smile as they reached the main school courtyard. Students still whispered like he was a celebrity who'd just descended from Mount Olympus.
"Is that the CEO Football King?"
"I swear he used magic."
"Do you think he's single? Asking for a friend… and myself."
"Hong Feng's spirit left his body. I saw it."
Li Cheng rubbed his temples.
"I just want to sit down in class quietly like a normal, underappreciated, handsome student."
Mengyu raised a brow.
"Handsome?"
"I deserve one compliment today," Li Cheng muttered.
They stepped into the hallway—
And immediately, disaster.
DING!
[Host has entered a danger zone — Classroom Corridor.]
…A classroom corridor?
Li Cheng whispered, defeated:
"How is that a danger zone?"
[Reason: 32 gossiping students detected. Host at 93% risk of unwanted attention.]
Li Cheng: "…Just kill me."
Back to Class
Class 3-B was chaos the moment Li Cheng walked in.
Half the class stood up.
Half gasped.
The other half (because math is dead) immediately crowded him.
"Bro teach me how to curve a football like that!"
"Li Cheng, I didn't know you were so cool!"
"Are you joining the football club?!"
"Sign my shoes!!!"
"Sign my forehead!!!"
Li Cheng sighed deeply.
"I'm not a celebrity. Please return to the natural habitat known as 'mind your business.'"
They did not.
In fact, they got louder.
Mengyu stepped forward smoothly, placing a hand on Li Cheng's shoulder as if to shield him.
"Move," she said calmly.
The entire crowd parted like the Red Sea.
Li Cheng stared at her.
"…Sometimes I think you're scarier than the system."
She shrugged.
"You're welcome."
They headed to their seats, only for someone to suddenly slap a desk and stand up dramatically.
A girl.
Silky hair.
Sharp eyes.
Fashionable uniform.
Aura of arrogance and jealousy combined into one expensive perfume cloud.
Chen Meiyu.
Top beauty of the class.
Top gossip queen.
Top "I saw everything and I have opinions."
She pointed at Li Cheng dramatically.
"You!!"
Li Cheng blinked.
"…Me?"
"You humiliated Hong Feng!!"
"…Yes? And?"
Chen Meiyu slammed her hands on her desk.
"You RUINED him! Do you know how many girls like athletes?! Now he looks like a clown!"
Li Cheng tilted his head.
"And that is my responsibility because…?"
She stomped her foot.
"You should have LET him win!"
Li Cheng stared blankly.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Even the system went quiet.
Then Li Cheng said with a straight face:
"You want me to lose so your crush can keep his dignity? That sounds like a you problem."
The class ERUPTED.
"OH MY GOD—"
"He just folded her!"
"No one is safe today!"
Chen Meiyu trembled in embarrassment.
"You… you think you're so cool just because you're a young CEO!"
Li Cheng smiled politely.
"No. I'm cool because I embarrassed your crush in 14 seconds."
The class:
"OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
Chen Meiyu sat down, defeated.
Mengyu hid a laugh behind her hand.
Li Cheng exhaled.
"That felt good."
Lunch Break — The Longest Line of His Life
Li Cheng walked into the cafeteria, hoping for peace.
He found anything but peace.
Because the moment he stepped inside—
Students turned.
Eyes widened.
Whispers spread.
"It's him…"
"The football demon king!"
"The CEO dribble god!"
"Please step on my face—"
Li Cheng froze.
Mengyu grabbed him by the backpack and pulled him forward.
"Just choose a table before they start chanting your name," she said.
Too late.
Some guys already chanted softly:
"Li Cheng! Li Cheng! Li Cheng!"
Li Cheng pressed a hand over his face.
"I can't live like this."
They picked a table.
A few moments later, a shadow loomed over them.
Not menacing.
Not threatening.
Just… horribly familiar.
A tall boy with gelled hair, expensive sneakers, and the dramatic smirk of someone who thinks he's irresistible.
Qiao Ren.
The campus rich playboy.
President of the "I Am Handsome And Everyone Should Know It" club.
He leaned on the table.
"Yo, Li Cheng. You're causing a lot of noise today."
Li Cheng looked up slowly.
"…I know you're here to cause trouble. Can we skip to the part where I verbally destroy you?"
Qiao Ren froze.
"…Can you not ruin the script?"
Li Cheng gestured.
"Then get to the point."
Qiao Ren smirked and turned to Mengyu.
"Beauty Mengyu, since football boy lost, how about you hang out with a REAL man?"
Mengyu didn't even blink.
"No."
Qiao Ren smiled smugly.
"You didn't even hear my offer."
"I don't need to. I can smell stupidity from three meters away."
Li Cheng choked on his drink.
The cafeteria exploded.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH— MENGYU KILLED HIM—"
"HE CAN'T RECOVER FROM THAT—"
Qiao Ren's smile cracked.
"You're just cold because he's here. Don't worry, I forgive you. Beauty always acts shy around me."
Mengyu turned to Li Cheng and whispered:
"Does he have brain damage?"
Li Cheng whispered back:
"Probably genetically."
Qiao Ren slammed his hand on the table.
"Enough! Li Cheng! I challenge you!"
Li Cheng looked up with a dead stare.
"…Challenges again? What is wrong with the men in this school?"
Qiao Ren puffed his chest.
"I challenge you to a popularity vote!"
Li Cheng blinked.
"That's stupid."
Mengyu nodded.
"That's stupid."
Half the cafeteria:
"That's stupid."
Qiao Ren glared.
"Scared?"
Li Cheng sighed heavily.
"No. I'm tired."
But the system—
oh the cursed system—
DING!
[New Side Mission: "Humiliate the Playboy Crown Prince."]
Objective: Crush Qiao Ren in a popularity poll.
Reward: +15 Charm, +10 Prestige, +1 Passive Skill.
Failure: Lose face value. Earn title "Discount CEO."
Li Cheng closed his eyes.
"…I will give you exactly one chance to back out."
Qiao Ren grinned arrogantly.
"No need! I was BORN to win popularity contests!"
Li Cheng exhaled peacefully.
"Okay."
He stood.
Turned to the cafeteria.
And simply said:
"Does anyone here think Qiao Ren is more handsome than me?"
Dead silence.
Then—
LAUGHTER.
UNCONTROLLABLE LAUGHTER.
Someone shouted:
"Bro, even my dog is more handsome than Qiao Ren!"
Another yelled:
"Qiao Ren looks like a budget K-pop trainee!"
Someone else screamed:
"I WILL VOTE FOR MY LEFT SHOE BEFORE HIM!"
Qiao Ren trembled violently.
Li Cheng pointed politely.
"There you go. Humiliation achieved. Please reflect on your life."
The system chimed:
DING!
[Side Mission Complete!]+15 Charm+10 Prestige
Passive Skill Unlocked: Casual Aura — People notice you even when you don't want them to.
Li Cheng felt his soul break.
"Why would I want that?!"
The system ignored him.
After School — The Day Isn't Done
Li Cheng walked home with Mengyu, ready to collapse on his bed.
Birds chirped.
Sunset glowed.
Peace finally returned—
UNTIL.
A shadow appeared in front of his house.
A woman.
The SAME woman from last chapter.
Tall.
Beautiful.
Mysterious aura.
But now…
She was smiling warmly.
Not threatening.
Not dangerous.
Just… awaiting his arrival.
Mengyu's eyes narrowed instantly.
"Her again."
Li Cheng's heart dropped.
"…Please tell me this is not another crisis."
The woman bowed gracefully.
"Li Cheng."
He froze.
She continued:
"I have come… to settle the final matter of your system."
Mengyu stepped forward.
"Explain."
The woman looked up.
"This is the last time I appear. After today, no more interference. No more disasters created by divine entities. No more goddesses lurking behind fate."
Li Cheng blinked.
"…So you're uninstalling yourselves?"
She smiled.
"In a sense. We are giving you full, unhindered control of your system. No trials. No random punishments. No forced events."
Mengyu raised a brow.
"Why now?"
The woman replied softly:
"Because he proved he doesn't need us anymore."
Li Cheng's heart skipped.
"…That's it? No explosions? No dramatic fights? No divine lightning?!"
She chuckled.
"Not everything needs to be dramatic. Sometimes… it's enough that you've grown."
A warm, golden glow touched Li Cheng's chest.
The system chimed:
DING!
[System Core Transfer Complete.]
[Host now has 100% Authority.]
[All divine influence removed.]
[Future crises will be normal life events ONLY.]
Li Cheng's eyes widened.
Mengyu exhaled in relief.
The woman stepped back.
"And now… my mission is complete."
She turned into sparkles of light.
Disappearing gently into the evening breeze.
No drama.
No danger.
Just… closure.
Li Cheng whispered:
"…So that's it. No more goddesses. No more chaos. Just normal life."
Mengyu nudged him.
"You say that like normal life with you is peaceful."
Li Cheng groaned.
"Please let me pretend."
She smiled.