TPPCGEM Chapter 29

Xia Zhinian’s face was ashen. Being jerked so hard made his head spin, and his stomach contracted. He clung to the seat for support, taking a moment to steady himself.

Yan Ci loosely circled his arm around Xia Zhinian, frowning as he observed the boy’s colourless lips. He glanced at his arm, which had been slapped away, and then refocused on the wilted Xia Zhinian, his voice softening.

“Feeling sick? Motion sickness?”

Xia Zhinian: “…”

Xia Zhinian wanted to puke.

The bus continued to bump along, bouncing over the dirt road. Xia Zhinian tightly closed his mouth, took a few deep breaths, and held it in. After a while, he felt a bit better.

Looking up, he met Yan Ci’s gaze and weakly nodded.

They were facing each other, very close. When Xia Zhinian looked down, he realized he was sitting on Yan Ci’s firm, straight legs, not a seat.

“…Damn it, how did I end up here?”

Feeling weak, Xia Zhinian tried to stand up, pushing against the seat to distance himself from Yan Ci.

Yan Ci didn’t pull him hard but gently supported him. “Do you want to go to the front and find someone to switch seats?”

Xia Zhinian, pale-faced, nodded and managed to stand up. His voice was weak and pitiful. “Please don’t pull me again.”

Just as he finished speaking, the bus jerked violently again. Xia Zhinian, feeling dizzy and unable to stand steadily, fell in the direction away from Yan Ci.

A pair of arms suddenly wrapped around his waist, not too forcefully but steadily holding him up.

“Classmate Xia.”

Seeing Xia Zhinian swaying, Yan Ci pulled him back, his voice calm and reassuring, “Switching seats might not work. We pre-arranged the front seats for those who reported motion sickness, but you didn’t list your name.”

Xia Zhinian: “…”

He hadn’t known he would get motion sickness on the bus.

Xia Zhinian’s face scrunched up in near tears. He looked like a withered little cabbage, slumped back into his seat.

“Never mind, I’ll just sleep for a while.”

Looking pitiful and exhausted, Xia Zhinian’s head tuft drooped. Yan Ci reached out and patted his head, unfastened his seatbelt, and stood up to retrieve something from his bag on the luggage rack.

Yan Ci stood firmly despite the swaying bus, not moving an inch. He took something out of his bag and handed it to Xia Zhinian, his arm extending to reveal a slender wrist.

“I didn’t know you had motion sickness, but I brought these here.”

Xia Zhinian opened his eyes. In front of him, Yan Ci’s cool, pale hand held a few brightly coloured fruit candies.

“… Teacher Qin’s candies?”

Xia Zhinian blinked and looked up at Yan Ci, his voice very soft, “Are these for me?”

The dazed Xia Zhinian looked adorable, making Yan Ci chuckle softly, the corners of his mouth lifting.

“Who else would they be for?”

Xia Zhinian, seeing the faint smile on Yan Ci’s face, hesitated for a moment, then tentatively took one candy, biting his lip and murmuring, “Thank you.”

Yan Ci placed all the candies next to Xia Zhinian.

“Get some sleep.”

Xia Zhinian silently looked at the small handful of candies in silence, then thanked him again.

Feeling miserable from the motion sickness, Xia Zhinian felt a bit better with the candy in his mouth. He curled up by the window, listless. Every bump of the bus made him wilt further until he finally fell asleep.

Yan Ci turned to look at him. The boy’s long, curly eyelashes cast tiny shadows on his face, his slightly pouting lips making him look like a sleeping child.

However, the boy seemed overly sensitive to others’ touches.

–

The observation point was in an open area. The sky had darkened, and a deep blue expanse was overhead. The air was cool and slightly damp.

Old Qin called out from the front, “Students, take your bags, snacks, phones, and cameras. Double-check you have everything!”

Not only were Class 1 students present, but some had also brought friends, making for a lively, noisy crowd.

“Old Qin, stop nagging!”

“Look at all the cameras over there!”

“Hahaha, they say kissing under a meteor shower deepens feelings!”

“Shh! The teacher is here, Yuan Lang. Watch it.”

Yuan Lang laughed, “Let me see who brought their significant other!”

Old Qin shook his head with a helpless smile, letting them be rowdy.

Amidst the cheerful chatter and laughter, Xia Zhinian took a few breaths of fresh air. He pulled out a small folding stool from his bag, took out a piece of bread, and began to eat while scanning the crowd.

Chu Qingjian was still with the girl in the blue dress from the banquet, sitting quietly together. They seemed… quite close.

Are they… friends?

Xia Zhinian pursed his lips, his delicate face showing some doubt.

“Classmate Xia.”

A deep voice suddenly sounded behind him, “Your eyes are practically glued to Chu Qingjian. Is he that good-looking?”

Xia Zhinian jumped, his tuft of hair standing up. He quickly turned around to see Yan Ci, who had somehow snuck up behind him, looking at him with a gentle smile.

Xia Zhinian: “…”

Instinctively, he wanted to retort but hesitated, feeling the candy in his pocket. After a moment’s thought, he cleared his throat and tried a different approach, his voice soft.

“…Yeah, don’t you think so?”

Yan Ci: “…?”

Did that sound like a compliment?

Yan Ci’s dark eyes stared at him for a moment before he smiled, “Don’t you think I’m good-looking?”

Xia Zhinian nodded like a little chick, his eyes curving into a smile, “You are. You’re also good-looking.”

You two look even better together, so fitting!

“But I still prefer Brother Chu.”

Yan Ci smiled, his expression gentle and refined. He didn’t say anything more; he followed Xia Zhinian’s gaze to Chu Qingjian, his eyes meaningful.

“Then, Classmate Xia, take a good look at him.”

At midnight, the meteor shower began as expected.

The night sky was dotted with stars. A streak of light suddenly tore through the sky.

Holding a camera, Yuan Lang shouted excitedly, “Oh, meteors! The meteors are here!”

The class erupted in excitement.

“Wow, it’s my first time seeing meteors!”

“When do we make wishes? I want to score 300 more points!”

“Damn, there’s another one!”

“Ah, so many meteors!”

Amid the joyful exclamations, soon, many streaks of light, like raindrops, illuminated the night sky with their brief brilliance.

“They’re here! Make a wish, everyone!”

“I wish for success in the college entrance exam!”

“Damn, I want to date Han Rourou!”

“Ahhh, those who need to kiss, do it now. I’ll cover for you from Old Qin.”

Xia Zhinian couldn’t help but smile at the commotion. Yan Ci, standing nearby, watched his bright, delicate face and asked softly.

“Did you make a wish, Classmate Xia?”

Xia Zhinian nodded, his eyes curving like little moons, “I did.”

I wished to resolve the main characters’ romance and return to my original world as soon as possible!

Yan Ci didn’t know what Xia Zhinian was thinking, but he smiled happily, assuming it was related to Chu Qingjian. He smiled and said nothing.

–

The meteor shower was to last for a while, and the sky filled with beautiful stars. Xia Zhinian turned to find Chu Qingjian, wanting to pair the protagonist gong and shou together.

However, after scanning the area, he couldn’t see him. Puzzled, he got up to look around.

… It’s weird, where is Chu Qingjian?

He walked a bit further. The lights were turned off for better viewing, making the surroundings dark except for the faint glow of the meteors.

Not far away, in a quiet spot away from the crowd, two figures sat together under the starry sky.

Xia Zhinian saw Chu Qingjian smiling at the girl beside him as the light flashed.

The girl smiled sweetly and leaned in to kiss Chu Qingjian. Chu Qingjian smiled back and held her right hand.

Xia Zhinian: “…?”

“???”

“?!?!?!”

“…Brother Chu?”

Xia Zhinian’s mind went blank, his pupils constricted, and he instinctively stepped closer to them.

But suddenly, his waist tightened as an arm wrapped around him, pulling him back against a warm chest. A light, cheerful voice whispered in his ear.

“Be good, Classmate Xia. Just watching is fine. It’s not nice to ruin others’ atmosphere.”

Xia Zhinian: “!!!”

He kept his eyes fixed on them and turned back to see Yan Ci’s smiling face, which was as white as a sheet. “Let me go,” he said.

He wanted to go to Chu Qingjian. How could the protagonist gong be… how could he…

Xia Zhinian’s head pounded, his almond eyes wide with confusion. He turned and, ignoring everything else, reached out to grab Yan Ci’s arm.

Yan Ci held him, his eyes calm as he looked at the boy. After a moment, he seemed to think of something, smiled gently, and loosened his grip slightly.

Xia Zhinian quickly moved forward. Chu Qingjian and the girl, hearing the commotion, also got up and walked towards him.

“Brother Chu.” Xia Zhinian bit his lip hard, his breath uneven and hurried. “You two…”

What is going on?!

This is the protagonist gong, who has never been in a relationship!

Chu Qingjian pursed his lips, looking at the panicked boy, and sighed. “I told you, I don’t like you. This is my girlfriend.”

Xia Zhinian: “…”

Xia Zhinian’s expression was almost blank. “Your… girlfriend?”

The protagonist gong’s… girlfriend?!

Xia Zhinian felt dizzy, the original plot and this world’s development clashing wildly in his head. His face turned pale, his voice weak. “Brother Chu, are you kidding me?”

“Why would I lie to you?”

Chu Qingjian clicked his tongue. “Funny thing is, I got a printed love letter a few days ago. I thought it was a new trend, so I read the others, too. Then I got together with Lin Yin.”

Xia Zhinian: “…?!”

Xia Zhinian looked like he had been struck by lightning.

That was the love letter he wrote for the protagonist gong.

Xia Zhinian’s face was full of disbelief. His head buzzed, his face pale as a ghost, and he struggled to breathe as he stared at him.

The protagonist gong falling in love would ruin the entire original plot!

Then how… how would he go back?

Chu Qingjian hesitated. “You… never mind.”

He sighed, turned, and left with the girl.

“Wait, Brother Chu…”

Xia Zhinian stared blankly; his lips drained of colour. He watched their backs, instinctively taking a step forward.

He tripped on a protruding stone and fell forward.

An arm swiftly wrapped around his waist, pulling him back. A gentle breath brushed past his ear, sending a chill down his spine.

“Classmate Xia.”

Yan Ci held the boy in his arms, his voice low and filled with a hint of laughter. “Just watching from afar is fine. Don’t disturb others.”

Xia Zhinian shivered in his embrace. He turned his head, his empty eyes looking at Yan Ci, processing the situation.

“…Did you arrange for them to watch the meteors?”

Yan Ci laughed, patting his head soothingly. His voice was gentle.

“Yes, I did. Classmate Xia is brilliant.”

Xia Zhinian trembled, his long eyelashes fluttering, a trace of fear flickering in his almond eyes.

… everything was messed up.

Yan Ci lifted his chin, forcing him to look in Chu Qingjian’s direction. His voice was cold yet gentle in his ear.

“Look,” Yan Ci chuckled. “They’re holding hands. I didn’t arrange that.”

The boy in his arms was trembling. Yan Ci tightened his hold, his expression almost joyful. He placed a light kiss on the top of Xia Zhinian’s head.

“Be good. Stop liking him, okay?”

Xia Zhinian was caught off guard by the soft touch on his head. He widened his eyes and quickly turned around.