Chapter 16: The Protagonist
A Quiet Lunch Break
During the lunch break, Yu Li was alone in the empty classroom, resting.
Her expression was serious and focused, as if deep in thought. Her delicate hands gently stroked the trembling fox curled up on her lap.
“How are you feeling… any better?”
Yu Li’s tone was gentle as she spoke to Liu Li.
(Well…)
Liu Li was still trembling, as if gripped by fear or enduring something unbearable. Still, she responded softly.
Tracking Ye Sheng
Just moments ago, to confirm something, Yu Li had slipped away while Chen Ya wasn’t paying attention and tracked down Ye Sheng. She found him outside a small alley.
But he acted as if he had never met Yu Li before.
“There are only two possibilities for why he doesn’t recognize me. One, he’s in the same situation as us—someone replaced him.”
Yu Li shook her head.
“Though it’s possible, it’s unlikely.”
Analyzing Ye Sheng’s Hatred
While comforting Liu Li, Yu Li explained.
“The hatred and killing intent he exudes toward Lan Yi and Ling Hao are real. If someone else had taken his place, such genuine emotions wouldn’t surface.”
As she spoke, Yu Li’s silver vertical pupils flickered. Her eyes could see people’s emotions, so she was certain the hatred was authentic.
“Of course, we can’t rule out the possibility that something else, something that also hates those two, has replaced Ye Sheng.”
Yu Li’s expression grew serious.
The Rebirth Theory
“The second possibility is that he’s a reborn person from the future. In the future he experienced, he was likely mortal enemies with those two, and… we didn’t exist in that future.”
(Re-reborn? Could something like that really happen?)
Liu Li’s voice echoed in Yu Li’s mind, tinged with doubt.
“I crossed over to this world, so why wouldn’t a reborn person be possible?”
Yu Li said with certainty.
The Protagonist Halo
“So… that halo…”
Yu Li recalled the moment the halo appeared around Ye Sheng. It seemed to confirm that, regardless of which theory was true, a new Ye Sheng had emerged.
“Is it really… a protagonist halo?”
Whether it was the melodramatic clichés from the novels she read in her past life, the radiant glow of a chosen one, or the possibility of rebirth or transmigration, everything suggested that those with halos were like the protagonists of this world.
If this theory held true…
Ye Sheng, Ling Hao, Lan Yi, and… Ai Xinglan were all protagonists of this world.
(Pro… protagonist?)
Liu Li’s fox body shivered instinctively. Yu Li’s theory filled her with a trace of fear. The idea of protagonists made the world feel absurd to her.
(Then what about me…?)
Liu Li’s Uncontrollable Hatred
“These are just my guesses. Don’t take them too seriously. More importantly…”
Yu Li gently stroked Liu Li’s fur and asked:
“Have you calmed down? What happened just now?”
Just moments ago, when they got close to Ye Sheng, Liu Li had nearly lost control, erupting with intense hatred and killing intent toward him. But Liu Li shouldn’t even know Ye Sheng.
That’s why Yu Li abandoned her conversation with Ye Sheng, focusing instead on suppressing Liu Li and quickly leaving.
Even toward the Yu family, Liu Li couldn’t muster such strong hatred, let alone a desire to kill. Yet, faced with a stranger like Ye Sheng, she couldn’t control her urge to kill him.
(I… I don’t know. The closer I got to him, the more I couldn’t stop myself from wanting to kill him… In that moment, my mind was filled with nothing but hatred… as if countless voices were screaming in my head, telling me to kill him.)
Liu Li didn’t want to recall that feeling. Her voice trembled. The urge to kill Ye Sheng felt like an instinct, completely beyond her control.
She hated that feeling. Having finally gained her freedom, she didn’t want to lose herself.
Strange Whispers
Listening to Liu Li’s explanation, Yu Li fell silent.
(Actually… when I saw Ye Sheng and Ling Hao at the plaza, I felt something strange… like someone was whispering in my mind, but… I couldn’t make it out.)
Seeing Yu Li’s silence, Liu Li continued, as if determined to share all these strange occurrences with her.
“Ha…”
Yu Li let out a soft sigh, followed by a helpless chuckle.
“Heh, if they’re the protagonists, then we’re the villains, aren’t we, little Liu Li?”
One needed to provoke the protagonists’ emotions to feed on them and grow stronger, while the other couldn’t stop herself from wanting to kill a protagonist. Weren’t they textbook villains?
(We… villains?!)
Liu Li let out a startled exclamation but quickly fell silent. Recalling her uncontrollable hatred, she thought it might actually be true.
Unanswered Questions
Ignoring Liu Li’s outburst, Yu Li sank into thought. Even though her theory sounded far-fetched, it felt strangely plausible. Yet, there were still things she couldn’t explain.
If this was true, why didn’t Liu Li react to Lan Yi…
Yu Li unconsciously bit her finger.
And… little Ai…
(Um… Yu Li, aren’t you going to check on Lan Yi? She looked like she was in so much pain… And that gem—I clearly remember she didn’t take it.)
Liu Li broke Yu Li’s train of thought. Perhaps recalling Lan Yi’s pained expression, she instinctively asked.
“Are you… an idiot? If my theory is correct, Lan Yi is one of the protagonists too, you know?”
Yu Li looked at Liu Li helplessly, surprised that she would bring up Lan Yi out of nowhere.
(Ugh… but aren’t you two friends? And… I didn’t feel anything strange when I was around her…)
Ling Hao’s Presence
Hearing Liu Li’s words, Yu Li was silent for a long moment before speaking.
“Friends, huh… Now’s not the time to see her. Besides, Ling Hao is probably with her right now.”
(Ah…)
“Can you guarantee you won’t lose control around Ling Hao like you did with Ye Sheng?”
At Yu Li’s words, Liu Li fell silent. She truly wasn’t sure if she could avoid losing control again.
The Mysterious Gem
But Liu Li’s words gave Yu Li some insight. When Lan Yi had pulled her away, the gem was still in Ye Sheng’s hands.
Yet today, that gem, which should have been with Ye Sheng, was in Ling Hao’s possession.
That gem had served as evidence for Ye Sheng but also became the spark for conflict, as if giving the protagonists a reason to clash.
All three in this drama—Ye Sheng, Ling Hao, and Lan Yi—were bearers of protagonist halos, as if protagonists were destined to fight one another.
But Lan Yi seemed different. Rather than a protagonist meant for conflict… she was more like the gem itself, a reason for the protagonists to compete.
The Halo’s Concentration
“So… is it a matter of concentration?”
Muttering to herself, Yu Li seemed to realize something.
(Huh? What concentration?)
“Lan Yi, as a protagonist… isn’t pure enough. Unlike Ye Sheng and Ling Hao, her halo has some impurities. That might be why you didn’t react to her.”
Ling Hao’s fiery red protagonist halo and Ye Sheng’s black one were both pure in color.
But Lan Yi’s was different. Her halo shimmered with fiery red patterns, matching the color of Ling Hao’s halo. It was hard not to draw a connection.
“So… if this is all true, then Lan Yi is likely Ling Hao’s female protagonist…”
A Troubling Conclusion
Though her thoughts were unraveling, Yu Li’s brows furrowed, as if reluctant to reach this conclusion.
Then… who would little Ai be the female protagonist for? Is that why Liu Li didn’t react to her?
Yu Li’s fist clenched unconsciously but loosened the next moment.
No… little Ai’s halo is pure too…
(Yu Li?)
Seeing Yu Li’s expression worsen, her brows tightly knit as she sat silently, Liu Li spoke up, puzzled, interrupting her thoughts.
“…I’m fine.”
Snapped out of her reverie, Yu Li instinctively rubbed her temples, responding to Liu Li with a sigh before deciding not to dwell on it further.
Little Ai… always so special… special enough to give me a headache.
Facing New Enemies
Yu Li shook her head lightly, stood up, and stretched.
“No matter what, our enemies have grown in number, haven’t they…”
(…)
Yu Li sighed helplessly, and Liu Li, seeming to realize this, fell silent.
“We if we’re really the villains, then everything we’ve done so far has been pointless. Positive emotions alone… won’t be enough.”
A hint of coldness flickered in Yu Li’s eyes, her thoughts unreadable.
“That way… our strength grows too slowly.”