TCFGBH Chapter 88

The minimalist virtual clock on the desk emitted a soft white glow. The first two digits suddenly shifted from 22 to 23.

It was 11 p.m.

Ludwig furrowed his brows, his gaze repeatedly drifting toward the bed where a young man lay wearing a holo helmet. The device obscured most of the youth’s face, leaving only a sharp chin exposed.

Xia Yan’s skin was exceptionally fair, like freshly fallen snow in winter, with his rosy lips serving as the sole vibrant accent.

‘Why hasn’t he logged off yet?’ Ludwig thought, frustrated. ‘What’s so entertaining about the virtual world?’

He casually flipped a page of his book but moments later backtracked several pages, attempting to find where he’d left off during class earlier that day.

“Mm…”

A faint sound—almost like a gasp—escaped the young man’s lips.

Ludwig froze, his body stiffening as his fingers clutched the book. The edges of the page crinkled under his grip as he turned, prepared to say something.

However, Xia Yan hadn’t awakened.

It was merely an unconscious reaction from the intense emotions experienced in the holo-world, spilling over into reality.

Several minutes later, the youth finally exited the virtual world.

After removing the helmet, his face was fully revealed in the room’s dim light. His golden eyes glimmered brightly, and his soft, fair cheeks were tinged with a light pink hue. His breathing was slightly heavier than usual, carrying the faintest hint of exertion.

A breathtaking beauty brought to life.

Ludwig’s heartbeat quickened involuntarily, and his thoughts lagged as he stared for several seconds. Then, a sudden surge of inexplicable anger flared within him.

Late at night. A virtual world. Flushed cheeks and shallow breaths.

What else could he have been doing?

While the virtual world didn’t officially offer any illegal adult services, consenting individuals could still opt to “get to know each other” more intimately.

Xia Yan had everything—wealth, looks, and competence.

Although many in Central Military Academy disliked his personality, he remained incredibly popular among the noble children who either shared his arrogance or didn’t regard commoners as people.

Finding a partner for himself would be as easy as lifting a finger.

Ludwig’s fingers tightened around the book, accidentally tearing a page with a sharp rip. He pursed his lips, forcing himself to ask, “Were you meeting a friend tonight?”

“Hmm.”

Xia Yan gave him a puzzled glance.

In the original story, the relationship between the original owner and the protagonist gong wasn’t good. Hence, Xia Yan had daily tasks like bullying Ludwig.

What was with this sudden concern?

Ludwig’s lips pressed tighter. “Someone important?”

“Sort of.”

“You go online every night just to meet them?”

“You could say that.”

“…” Ludwig’s suspicions were confirmed—Xia Yan had been sneaking off to see a lover. Though he couldn’t entirely understand his emotions, he instinctively disliked whoever Xia Yan was meeting.

After a moment of silence, Ludwig offered a hypocritical excuse: “Practical combat training is imminent. You shouldn’t slack off.”

Bang!

A loud thud resounded as a glass collided sharply with the desk. Xia Yan raised a brow in irritation, his voice cold and warning: “Ludwig, where does a mere commoner like you get the guts to lecture me?”

“…”

“Don’t provoke me when I’m in a good mood.”

Having just finished a mech battle, Xia Yan was still riding a wave of adrenaline. He’d forgotten his role for a moment and answered Ludwig’s questions straightforwardly.

Fortunately, his quick thinking helped him salvage the situation.

After delivering his sharp words, Xia Yan ignored Ludwig and grabbed his pajamas to head to the bathroom. By the time he returned, Ludwig had returned to “normal,” staring expressionlessly at his book.

Though… the low-pressure aura surrounding him was hard to miss.

But what did the protagonist gong’s bad mood have to do with him, the cannon fodder?

As it grew later, Xia Yan was about to go to bed when he suddenly remembered sweating during the holo-session.

Even though his physical self had only mildly reacted to the virtual exertion, it still felt uncomfortable mentally.

Maybe… I should change the sheets?

The original owner had lived a life of luxury, and mundane chores like changing bedding were far beneath him. After some thought, Xia Yan decisively messaged Betty and Zhao Jiang.

Both were loyal lackeys of the original owner, obeying his every word without question.

This would also help Ludwig see his “true colors”—a spoiled young master who summons classmates late at night to do his bidding.

The dorm lights didn’t automatically turn off at night, relying on students’ self-discipline to determine sleep times.

Zhao Jiang, straightforward and simple-minded, was already asleep and didn’t see Xia Yan’s message. Only Betty Frohman arrived in the end.

“Young Master, I’ve come to change your bedding.” Betty’s clear face lit with excitement, as though performing some grand deed.

The youth nodded lightly.

The dorm room had a wardrobe, and Betty quickly found the spare sheets and blanket covers and swiftly replaced everything. She even tossed the used bedding into the washing machine on the balcony, setting it to start later so as not to disturb Xia Yan’s sleep.

“All done, Young Master,” Betty announced proudly.

Xia Yan, feeling a bit awkward under the girl’s fervent gaze, simply said, “I see. You can leave now.”

“Yes, Young Master. Let me know if you need anything.”

Walking on air, Betty left the room, thrilled at having been in Xia Yan’s dorm, let alone touching his bed.

After a long day, Xia Yan was exhausted. He wasted no time turning off the main light, leaving only a small warm bedside lamp on.

Under Ludwig’s “angry” gaze, he slipped under the covers. Hesitating briefly, he pulled the blanket over his head, cocooning himself completely.

This extra layer of “protection” eased his nerves, and exhaustion soon lulled him to sleep.

It wasn’t long before he felt too hot under the blanket. Still asleep, Xia Yan unconsciously poked his head out. His eyes remained closed, thick lashes casting faint shadows on his cheeks like delicate fans.

Ludwig stared at him for a long moment before finally looking away.

Xia Yan Gardner… Why do you always flirt? One person in the virtual world wasn’t enough, so now he had to toy with another peer in reality?

Clearly, robotic housekeepers could handle chores, yet he’d deliberately summoned a fellow student to do the task instead.

Did he think a robot’s hands were too dirty for his bedding?

Lost in thought, Ludwig reached out toward the innocent robot nearby with less-than-innocent intent.

The Robot: “???”

—

Meanwhile, the school’s forums were still buzzing late into the night.

Among the many threads, one post had just been published and sparked some discussion before being quickly buried.

#Rumor: Someone in our school passed exams through connections?#

【I heard some students can get materials from their families that ordinary people can’t access, using them to score high on exams.

If these exams are so important, shouldn’t we ensure fairness and put an end to such practices?】

The topic of unfair advantages was always a sensitive one, drawing curious students into the thread.

Comments:

【Exams should absolutely be fair. If they’re relying on connections now, are they going to hide behind their families on the battlefield too? This is disgraceful for the Central Military Academy!】

【Who’s doing this? Decode it for us!】

【Most of our exams happen in the campus network’s closed system with full monitoring by the main AI. Cheating seems unlikely.】

【You’re misunderstanding. The poster talks about getting test questions in advance, not traditional cheating.】

【…That’s incredibly unfair.】

【So who is it? I can’t imagine anyone being able to bribe Central Military Academy.】

【Uh… there are maybe one, two, three, four, five, six people who could. For example, the one everyone’s always discussing on the forum.】

【I agree that Xia Yan has a bad personality, but you can’t just make stuff up and say he’s incapable! An S-grade mental strength user wouldn’t need to resort to such things.】

…

The thread racked up over a hundred replies, yet the original poster never returned.

【Fishing post?】

【Let’s disperse. OP’s too scared to respond.】

—

The next day.

In light of the third year’s first practical combat training session yesterday, the school thoughtfully reduced their classes to give students time to strategize and coordinate with their teammates.

Military Academy students were destined to be life-and-death comrades in the future.

Even if personal conflicts arose, most students chose to tolerate one another for the sake of practical assignments.

No team had a more tense atmosphere than Xia Yan’s. The five of them spent the entire morning and managed only one dismal attempt at cooperation.

Others in the training area couldn’t help but glance their way, exchanging gossip with their nearby teammates.

“At this rate, do you think Xia Yan might lose his position as a top-ranked student because of a practical failure?”

“It’s just one exam. That seems unlikely.”

“Most of our upcoming courses will be practical combat. If this keeps up… I think it’s questionable. Sigh! Honestly, I used to admire him before I met him in person.”

Golden eyes, an S-grade mental strength, and the imperial family’s impeccable lineage—all signs of a destined emperor.

But…

One teammate’s expression turned complicated as they lowered their voice. “To be honest, I even voiced my support for him becoming crown prince back then…”

“Looking back now, we’d have been better off supporting Grover from the fifth year. Sure, he only has A-grade mental strength and lacks golden eyes, but he’s kind, courageous, and wise. He’d definitely be a king who protects his people.”

Grover Gillingham, a cousin of the current emperor.

The reigning monarch was an only child, as was the emperor before him. But the emperor before them had a sister—Grover’s grandmother.

By bloodline, Grover should call the current emperor “uncle.”

Before Xia Yan’s birth, Grover had been the most likely heir to the throne. No one anticipated that the Xia family—excluded from the line of succession for four or five generations—would produce a child with the imperial family’s golden eyes.

The game had been upended, and the deck reshuffled.

Xia Yan Gardner.

A noble with dual surnames and an S-grade designation, closest to the crown prince’s position.

If he lost to Grover, he would undoubtedly face a purge.

There was no retreat for him now.

---

TN: since I’m finally done with my other projects, I can give this story my full attention now! 🫡 I’ll be updating 1-2 chapters daily (how many depends on my mood and schedule, but y’all will definitely get at least one chapter every day). Thanks for sticking around and reading<3