Chapter 10
Peacock
Lin Yan got caught in the snow yesterday.
When he went to bed at night, he felt a chill creeping across his back. He hurriedly climbed out of bed and swallowed a few pills.
After a while, perhaps the cold medicine took effect.
Lin Yan fell into a groggy sleep.
The dream was bizarre and chaotic. His head felt heavy, as if someone were prying open the hippocampus that stored long-term memories in his brain, desperately stuffing in life memories that did not belong to him at all.
Lin Yan dreamed again of the original host’s storyline in the book.
After the original host realized that he harbored both jealousy and joy toward the protagonist shou, he stopped asking the protagonist shou for money to buy high-end luxury goods. Instead, he wanted to rely on his own efforts to earn money and study.
Unfortunately,
he had already overspent on luxury products and could no longer return to a life where a single meal cost only ten Federal coins. Later, with the help of a kind classmate, he applied during the holidays for a waiter position at a bar in New Rosuda State—ten thousand Federal coins a month in salary, plus extra commission.
The original host was overjoyed. Yet amid the dazzling splendor, he picked up his old hobby from before entering Aurora—gambling. Amid deafening music and dance, his eyes turned scarlet. He wanted to become the next winner through something for nothing.
The ending was predictable.
The original host lost all his money. When he returned to the bar in a daze, his slender, fragile Eastern physique attracted the favor of a certain big shot there.
The original host suffered a round of sexual abuse.
He angrily wanted to call the police, but instead received a tip of one hundred thousand Federal coins.
The original host hesitated. It was that instant of hesitation that sent him plunging into the abyss from then on.
While drifting through life in a muddle,
the original host received a call from the protagonist shou. He remembered again his jealousy and joy toward him, and decided to help the protagonist shou escape the small dark room. During the escape, the race car malfunctioned. In the panic, the original host was shot dead, dying as the tide rose.
The dream was chaotic and illogical.
Gloomy colors stained every scene. Heaviness, oppression, jealousy, despair, and unease filled the entire dream.
Only when the original host’s life came to its end did the colors of the dream become vivid. The sea surged upward desperately. Amid the roar of a tsunami, Lin Yan saw a pale, despairing face.
After a long while, the eyes on that pale face moved, locking precisely onto Lin Yan. The corners of his lips seemed to twitch, revealing a ridiculous smile. His lips moved.
No sound came out.
Yet Lin Yan understood the lip movement.
He said,
“I am you.”
Lin Yan struggled awake from the dream.
The sun had risen over Aurora. Sunlight pierced through the clouds and fell upon the carved wooden dormitory window. The second hand of the alarm clock faithfully made ticking sounds. The dorm room was silent, except for slightly heavy breathing.
Just as the second hand overlapped with the minute hand,
and the alarm was about to ring, a sweat-damp hand stretched out from the gray quilt and precisely pressed down on the surface of the clock.
That hand, exhausted to the extreme, slid down onto the gray bedsheet. The back of the hand arched slightly, pale and almost translucent, bluish veins branching out like a collector’s rare treasure.
After a while, Lin Yan caught his breath.
He realized the cold medicine had worked. His whole body had sweated, and the soreness hidden in his bones had dissipated. Unconsciously, he reached up to touch his forehead—it was cool. The fever had gone down.
After washing up,
mist lingered in the bathroom. Lin Yan braced both hands on the sink and seriously looked at the face in the mirror.
The contours were cold, the complexion pale, the pupils pitch-black.
This was his face.
The original host in the dream did not look like this.
Different individuals have different ways of living.
He would not question or deny the original host’s way of living, but one thing was certain—he was definitely not the original host.
Lin Yan did not waste much time.
There was an early eight o’clock class today. Lin Yan cherished the opportunity to listen to knowledge and would not be absent without reason.
It was just that he had dreamed all night.
And in the dream, he had been forced to merge with the original host’s memories. His body felt indescribably heavy. His complexion was even paler, his slightly reddened eyelids drooping. Carrying a single-shoulder bag, he walked toward the classroom with a cold expression.
This time the classroom was on the first floor.
The first-floor classroom windows were all frosted one-way glass. Outside were lush green shrubs. Occasionally, small animals would lose their way and bump into the glass, then sit dizzily among the bushes, listening seriously to the professor’s teachings together with the figures inside.
Lin Yan sat by the window.
Fortunately, after these days of systematic study, at least in theoretical courses, Lin Yan could already keep up with the professor’s pace. He even had spare time to write some additional topic analyses.
He cast aside the emotions from the dream.
Lin Yan took notes seriously, and his mind grew clearer.
He had an excessively cold face.
The corners of his lips naturally drooped. Most of the time he wore an indifferent expression. His gaze was cold, his brows and eyes lowered. When he looked at someone with that cold face, it was as if he might start fighting at any disagreement.
The professor was startled by his half-dead expression.
Having just taken office and not knowing much about the class composition—only that nobles were arrogant and difficult—he nervously taught half the lesson before cautiously glancing toward the cold and beautiful student sitting in the shadowed corner. He found that his expression was serious, as if he was genuinely studying. Occasionally, when their gazes met, he even returned the look politely.
The professor slowly let out a sigh of relief. He circled around and eventually walked near Lin Yan, casually glancing at his notebook—clear handwriting, organized structure.
So he was a polite, good student.
The professor relaxed. He had changed many classes. It was only after hearing that this class had no particularly difficult or arrogant nobles that he came to teach here. He did not want his career to suffer a Waterloo as soon as he took office.
Lin Yan did not know
that he had finally been excluded from the ranks of “difficult and arrogant” nobles. He continued, expressionless like a small robot, scribbling notes.
The classroom was silent. The occasional sound of camera shutters that used to ring out during class had disappeared. In sharp contrast to reality, however, posts on the anonymous forum were gradually becoming heated.
【Topic: L is not in a good mood today.】
【1L: I’m convinced, I’m Kongtong, Kongtong!!! I clearly clicked “not interested,” so why does it keep pushing me L’s news? What’s L anyway—no background, no grades, skin so white it looks glazed, eyes black and bright, always wearing a cold face like someone owes him two million. And besides, who can be in a good mood for an 8 a.m. class? He wears the school uniform every day, probably doesn’t even have money. And that lousy dorm building of his probably doesn’t even have proper bed boards.】
【2L: Heh.】
【3L: Cold face… cold face… cold face L… (swallowing)】
【4L: Can low-class things speak less?】
【5L: Is he in a bad mood?】
…
【15L: Found out. Yesterday L was locked in the church side hall. Probably missed three classes of Professor Lucius and isn’t happy.】
【16L: No matter what, disturbing someone’s studies is very impolite.】
【17L: L always fights back. Why didn’t he this time?】
【18L: The one above wants to get beaten, huh? (the hidden thoughts of a seventeen-year-old boy)】
【19L: Fair point—weren’t that person’s lackey group a bit too much?】
【20L: The one above is quite brave.】
…
【45L: What does it have to do with me? He’s not my boyfriend.】
【46L: This time it’s really too much. You can’t stop someone from studying.】
【47L: Report—F4 will return to school in five days.】
—This post has been deleted by the administrator—
Lin Yan paid no attention to the faint, ambiguous gazes in the class.
Although he had previewed this lesson, he still seriously followed the professor’s train of thought to the end. Only after class did he put down his pen and lower his gaze.
He always felt that he had forgotten something.
Lin Yan pondered, rare confusion appearing on his face, as if something were stuck. He carefully recalled memories that belonged solely to him.
Until he heard an awkward “chirp.”
Lin Yan subconsciously turned his head and blankly encountered a strange sight—the tail feathers spread out like a slowly unfolding fan, exquisite patterns embedded within.
Sitting close, Lin Yan
could even see the trembling down on the tail feathers.
A peacock was fanning its tail.
An exclamation instantly rose in the classroom. Someone cried out, “Olivia!”
Olivia was a peacock in Aurora. Her tail feathers were large and exquisite, very beautiful. But the little peacock crowned with the surname “Ao” also had Aurora’s obvious traits—aloofness and arrogance. She rarely interacted with Aurora’s students, proudly staying in her own territory and seldom going out. Even when students encountered Olivia and tempted her with expensive food, she would refuse interaction like a lonely poet.
Lin Yan did not know this little peacock’s background.
In the blink of an eye, the little peacock had already folded her tail feathers, glanced proudly at Lin Yan, and retreated. A shy little deer hiding in the bushes poked its head out from the grass stems and looked at Lin Yan.
Lin Yan subconsciously reached for his single-shoulder bag.
It was bulging. Fortunately, he had bought the little deer’s special food last night and stuffed it into his bag early—as repayment for the little flower the deer had given him.
He had not expected the little deer to understand his words, come to find him, and even bring a good friend to perform for him.
Dizzily, Lin Yan passed the deer’s special food through the glass window to the little deer. He still had not fully processed it. Sensing that the little peacock seemed unhappy, he subconsciously promised to bring food for her as well.
The little peacock nodded reluctantly and led the directionless little deer back to the lakeside of Nabana.
Even when class resumed,
Lin Yan was still in shock. Could it be that he had truly transmigrated into some magical continent? He drifted off for quite a while before slowly coming back to his senses. His brows curved, and a soft smile spread in his pitch-black pupils.
Heavy breathing seemed to float in the classroom air.
In the packed classroom, unclear gazes stuck unintentionally to the exposed skin of Lin Yan, even fixed on the reddened corners of his eyes.
After a long moment, the sounds of pages flipping, chairs scraping, and pens scratching spread restlessly through the entire classroom, as if to cover something up.
It was only after school that Lin Yan remembered a problem.
He was not afraid of F4’s red card, but would it endanger the little deer and the little peacock who had come into contact with him?
His expression changed instantly. With a cold face, he took out his phone and logged into the anonymous forum to check messages.
Introductions about F1234’s issuing of cards flooded the entire forum.
It was nothing more than how the families behind F1234 monopolized the lifelines of the Federation, and how Aurora, as a miniature society, allowed F1234 to represent the school in disciplining any unruly or troublemaking student. The red card was the heaviest among all cards—meaning every student in the school could help discipline that unruly student.
Aurora elegantly referred to this behavior as “guidance.”
Lin Yan hurriedly skimmed through the information.
Just as he was about to type a question, he suddenly noticed a rising post under the name Animal Association.
【Topic: Introduction to the animal backgrounds within Aurora for newcomers】
【1L: As everyone knows, Aurora has a well-developed ecosystem. Large forests such as cedar woods, sycamore woods, and yew woods, as well as large lakesides like Nabana Lake and Half-Moon Lake, are far from the teaching and dormitory areas and serve as habitats for small animals.】
【2L: To improve Aurora’s greenery, all animals were donated by the families of F1234. In particular, the deer herd and peacocks by Nabana Lake were donated by F2’s family. According to rumors, F2 personally likes small animals and once installed surveillance at Nabana Lake.】
【3L: F4’s family donated a large number of birds within Aurora. It is rumored that before F4 had contact with finance, he liked being led around to visit birds.】
【4L: For your information, the animals in Aurora have deeper backgrounds than some people’s three generations combined.】
【5L: The red card targets people. Small animals are small animals.】
…
It seemed there should be no problem.
Lin Yan let out a sigh of relief. He pressed his swollen brow and opened his email, only to find that someone had sent him yesterday’s Religious Studies content and video from Professor Lucius.
He glanced at it and sent a “Thank you.”
Spam messages popped up again.
Lin Yan briefly saw words like “smile,” “cold,” “money,” and “woof.” After confirming that nothing serious had happened, he blocked those email addresses again and directly turned off his phone.
.
When Aurora saw snowfall again, it was no longer two hours of sleet like last time, but a vast, heavy snow.
The weather forecast station of New Rosuda State issued a blue blizzard warning, reminding the government and relevant departments to take preventive measures against snow disasters. Aurora followed the government news and promptly implemented measures—since it was close to the end of term, final assessments that had been booked in the academic system in recent days would proceed as scheduled. Other courses were suspended. Please pay attention to Aurora’s official reports for follow-up measures.
Professor Jacques’s elective course, Dance Art, would proceed with assessment as scheduled.
Lin Yan put on a black jacket.
He hurried toward the third floor of Shui Jietian.
Along the way, everything was covered in silver.
The weather was uncooperative. Dark clouds rolled over Aurora’s sky, the wind slightly strong. Even after changing its skin, the campus could not hide its gloomy atmosphere.
Professor Jacques’s Dance Art assessment required
each student to perform a five-minute improvisation.
To accommodate every student’s feelings,
the requirement for a C grade was that the movements be smooth.
Lin Yan had never learned dance and did not know how to dance, but he knew how to fight.
After pondering for a long time, Lin Yan felt that a smooth sequence of kicks, leg lifts, and turns should be manageable.
If it really did not work and he received a D grade,
he could only pay Aurora money—equivalent to losing money.
Lin Yan silently comforted himself and even gave himself a mental thumbs-up. His mood improved considerably, and he followed at the end of the line into the preparation room.
