Chapter 21 - Strawberry Flavored Scholar Gong (21): Bet you all cannot guess how the last 1% mission progress bar came to be
Translator: KunLin
Editors: Amaris, Grump
【System: Ding! Congratulations Master for receiving a deep sea snow fish! This fish originates from an A-rank world and is very useful for detoxifying poison and restoring vitality. It is worth 100 points!】
【The System who had been schemed against：…It’s all because it was still too young ( ＿ ＿)ノ｜】
【Gou Liang: Hurry, hurry! Little Wanton, hurry and open up an area in the system space, I’m going to raise it! 】
【System: Huh, is Master not going to eat it? 】
【Gou Liang could barely contain his excitement: How can I just eat it? Doesn’t your consciousness hurt from saying that?! 】
【Gou Liang: The flesh of a deep sea snow fish is translucent like snow, in the entire space and time it is the best ingredient for sashimi! Its texture is extremely supple as it enters the mouth and carries a clear and mild sweetness with a mouth-watering tenderness. Not to mention, it can allow souls to experience taste with twice the sensitivity, just one bite will allow the taste to linger in the mouth, the delicious taste not dispersing even after three days! Ao, I’ve been wanting it for a long time but since it’s a product from an A-rank world, the price for it is simply too high!! Now finally, at last—I can get it for such a low price, I’m so moved! What’s even better is, a deep sea snow fish reproduces asexually, when it comes of age, it will automatically split into two to produce young. If I properly raise it now then in the future…Muhahaha! 】
He could almost see the inexhaustible supply of deep sea snow fish flying towards him!
【The System was stunned speechless for half a day before finally saying: And here I thought just the strawberry soul force will be enough to satisfy you, ne. →^→】
【Gou Liang sighed: Unfortunately, after completing the mission I won’t be able to eat it anymore.】
Thinking of this, Gou Liang’s heart ached. His excitement from snatching the deep sea snow fish as a prize also dampened.
Shi Yu, as if sensing Gou Liang’s disappointment, aroused from his sleep. He hugged Gou Liang and asked gently: “Are you still feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”
Gou Liang buried his face into Shi Yu’s stomach, shaking his head while sulking silently.
“Shi Yu, you’re mine. At least… right now you must be mine.”
Shi Yu smiled, he rubbed Gou Liang’s head and said: “What are you saying, not only now, I will always belong to you.”
Even though Gou Liang knew that wasn’t possible, a radiant smile still unconsciously blossomed on his face.
With the start of a new semester, Shi Yu righteously moved into Gou Liang’s apartment with the excuse that it was located closer to school and was more convenient for his studies.
Mother Shi could only sigh, her son had grown up and could not be kept at home any longer.
Since young, her son never liked to be intimate with anyone and everything came easy to him no matter what he did because of his high intelligence. Yet at the same time, it meant that he never seriously did anything. Not to mention people of the same age, even those who were older than him might not be able to hold a conversation with him. There was finally a He Jin who could still somewhat get along with him but unfortunately she was met with a tragic fate. Like her husband had said, she was also afraid that her son would be alone for his entire life.
Now there was finally a person he cared about, whom he loved. Even though the other was a male, but he was lovable and clever as well as considerate of others. Everyone in the family could finally let out a sigh of relief—the latter half their son/grandson’s life could finally be considered as settled.
Unexpectedly, it was her son who married out. She could only look forward to the weekends when Shi Yu would bring Gou Liang home to visit. When they got older, the visit might lessen to just once a month.
Grandpa Shi didn’t comment on this matter. From his view, when a man had come of age he had to shoulder all good and bad things by himself; there was no need for others to interfere. On the contrary, it was Grandma Shi who secretly dragged Shi Yu aside and warned her good grandson to exercise restraint, to not overindulge just because they were young—especially since it would be taxing on Gou Liang as the receiver—it could have negative consequences in his old age.
Shi Yu agreed solemnly and kept in mind the advice Grandma Shi had consulted from an eastern medicine expert: “Do not do it more than twice a week”.
Gou Liang who was secretly watching this scene from the monitor: Oh no 【)TдT(】!!
A blissful period of time passed with Gou Liang’s moral integrity dropping lower by the day, he would constantly tease the unwavering Shi Yu who was obediently carrying out the doctor’s order before making his escape in a slippery fashion. Gou Liang brushed up the mission progress bar to 99% but was unable to obtain the last one percent. A month later, there was only a day left until the countdown for the college entrance exams.
【Gou Liang: Little Wanton, I’ve tried all the postures available on BaiKebut Shi Yu is still unmoved…say, what do you think he wants? 】
【System: Oh, Master, according to the common sense of this world, this is where the female lead becomes pregnant with a baby, preferably twins, a boy and a girl. This way, the Happy Ending achievement will be unlocked.】
【Gou Liang: Are you mocking me? ^ _ ^ 】
【System: M-master! I’m not, really, I swear!! ∑(￣□￣;) 】
【Gou Liang laughed coldly before saying: Say, do you think it’s because the favorability value is only at 99? Maybe I should take care of the favorability value first…En, this idea sounds very feasible.】
As he said this, he sank deep into thought, coldly ignoring the System who pitifully wanted to contribute.
The day of college entrance exams.
Shi Yu had always displayed a whatever attitude for any exams but at this moment, he very carefully inspected Gou Liang’s test-taking equipment before reminding him for the third time: “The weather is so hot, don’t stay in the exam room for longer than necessary after finishing the questions; if hungry, there are chocolates that I’ve packed in…”
“Shi Yu.”
Gou Liang suddenly called out to him.
“En?”
Shi Yu raised his head.
Gou Liang smiled, revealing a sweet pair of dimples. He leaned in towards Shi Yu’s ear.
Around them were sounds of examinees nervously discussing among themselves as well as voices from the teachers as they moved the students along. However, at this moment, Shi Yu’s world was completely silent. He only heard Gou Liang say: “Dear boyfriend, it seems that I have never said this to you&#k2026; I love you.”
Shi Yu’s eyes widened.
In this instant, it was as if he had returned to the first moment where his heart had been moved; the other’s smile was like the July sun, from it he could hear the sound of spring flowers blooming in his heart.
He said quietly: “Me too.”
【Ding! The target’s favorability value had been updated. Current favorability value: 100! 】
Gou Liang had never hated this world’s method of filtering talents this much—college entrance exams and whatnot could go die! It caused Shi Yu who had always been weak towards him to be unmoved by any of his advances, ying.
The night after college entrance exams were finished, Gou Liang finally got what he wanted.
Although he was perplexed that the last 1% of the mission progress bar still hadn’t moved, the strawberry-flavored soul force added with the 100 favorability value was enough to make him thoroughly intoxicated and unable to extract himself. He enthusiastically hugged Shi Yu, coiling around him, unwilling to let go. Only when they were both depleted of their stamina did he reluctantly stop.
Li LinLing and the others decided to plan a trip for their graduation.
However, considering Shi Yu had a shadow in his heart towards these kinds of events, Gou Liang still rejected the school flower and class flower’s invitation despite the ying ying ying cries of the two cute sisters.
Because of this, today Li LinLing called them and invited them to a meal gathering before their graduation trip. Although Gou Liang only wanted to stay in a little black room with Shi Yu and do embarrassing things, he still decided to go in the end.
This time, the party wasn’t held at Gou Liang’s house. Instead, a second rich generation of a restaurant chain provided a president suite for the location of their last gathering before graduation.
Surprisingly, both Zhan Yongzhe and Ye Hui were present.
There was not much to say about Ye Hui, because he was reckless during his period of recuperation, his legs remained injured even after they healed, causing him to have an awkward limp that could be noticed if one paid close enough attention—afraid of being mocked, it made him become even more unsociable.
Of course, the reason Gou Liang didn’t think he would appear here was because Yu Hui had completely messed up on his college entrance exam.
On the day of the college entrance exam, Ye Hui was unfortunately placed into the same examination room as him. The gaze Ye Hui had used to look at him was like it had been coated with poison. Gou Liang who had originally forgotten about Ye Hui’s existence felt very unhappy about this, thus he twisted the watch that he always wore around his wrist… Ye Hui once again learned what it felt like to take an exam with a forehead full of cold sweat while holding back the sharp pain in his stomach.
Ye Hui had a vain and competitive nature, so not hiding himself away after such an embarrassing failure would already be considered well done. Gou Liang didn’t expect that during the period when he hadn’t been observing him, Ye Hui’s psychological fortitude actually became stronger.
As for Zhan Yongzhe, after he was exposed for abusing the original host, his reputation in class had taken a sharp dive—the students didn’t try to ostracize him on purpose, but even classmates whom he had been close to previously, such as Chen LiBai, were unable to completely trust him again, causing them to become estranged. On one hand, Zhan Yongzhe was unable to tolerate the disparity of his current situation but on the other hand, he was also unable to face Gou Liang. He never went to any of Gou Liang’s house parties again afterward.
Li LinLing worried that Gou Liang would be affected so she explained to him in a low voice: “They saw the information posted in the friend circle and said they wanted to come. Chen LiBai and I thought, since afterward we’ll all be going on our own separate paths, then this last gathering…”
Gou Liang waved his hand and said: “It’s fine.”
Leaving the high school campus, the students finally treated themselves like real adults. They brought over so many cases of beer, it was as if they were expressing that they would not return home until all of them were drunk. This was their first time drinking alcohol at a party, making the atmosphere even more festive.
After they had eaten their fill, they would group together to talk about trivial matters or fight over the microphone to sing a song. Li LinLing who was staring at Gou Liang and Shi Yu with expectant eyes the entire time, turned around and suddenly proposed to play a simple game of truth or dare.
Everyone agreed in high spirits.
Twenty-or-so people stood around the table to make a big circle. A wine bottle was spun around in the middle. When it came to a stop, the tip pointed to Li LinLing while the bottom pointed towards Gou Liang.
Gou Liang asked: “School flower, do you and Chen LiBai have any other relationship aside from being deskmates?”
When he asked this, the usually carefree Li LinLing suddenly turned red-faced. Gou Liang raised a brow. With a vague smile, he looked towards Chen LiBai whose face had also turned red. He deliberately teased them: “Is this question hard to answer, do you want to choose a dare then? If so, hug the person on the right side of you for thirty seconds.”
Chen LiBai who was coincidentally on the left side suddenly blurted out: “We’re still just a platonic couple!”
Gou Liang: “Your answer is invalid.”
Chen LiBai hugged Li LinLing’s shoulder and said with a prideful face: “Can’t family members help each other?”
Gou Liang couldn’t help but grin: “Can, of course you can!”
Li LinLing’s face became burning hot. The students in the class, regardless if they had seen hints of this coming or not, all laughed good-naturedly as they teased and gave blessings to the two. Some people even teased them by saying that they must remember to send them an invitation when they get married. Chen LiBai smiled foolishly the entire time while replying he definitely would, provoking Li LinLing to extend her evil claws as she pinched his waist, causing him to bare his teeth in pain.
After this, Li LinLing stared at Gou Liang and Shi Yu with even more determination. After a few more rounds, her chance finally came—the bottle pointed towards Gou Liang and the questioner was Zhang Xiao.
Zhang Xiao gave the excited Li LinLing an ‘I got you’ look. She cleared her throat and asked: “Classmate Qi Cheng, may I ask, do you and Scholar Shi have any other relationship aside from being deskmates?”
She asked the same question Gou Liang had asked Li LinLing.
Everyone held their breaths as they waited for him to answer. However, Gou Liang acted even more bashful than the school flower, making them wait anxiously for an answer before smiling happily and asked: “What’s the dare?”
Zhan Xiao didn’t expect this question. Caught unprepared, she looked towards Li LinLing for help. The latter’s inner angel had long burst into a string of ‘ao ao ao’, at this moment she said out loud: “If you don’t answer truthfully, you have to pick a male student and kabedon him for ten seconds! And it must be done sincerely!”
Gou Liang was delighted. Without thinking twice he said: “I choose the dare.”
Li LinLing didn’t react at first, it was only when everyone else sucked in a breath did she cover her mouth and yelled, “Ah, ah, ah,” in a low voice.
Gou Liang domineeringly pushed down Shi Yu beside him. Like a rogue bullying a good family’s daughter, he lifted the other’s chin and said: “Yo, little brother is so handsome. If you follow this lord, this lord will let you eat fragrant and drink spicy.”
Shi Yu replied: “Okay.”
Gou Liang suppressed his laughter, pouted his lips and said to him: “You should at least struggle a bit, ah, there’s no sense of accomplishment this way.”
Shi Yu raised his head and pecked his lips, saying: “Husband, this humble one will follow you.”
Gou Liang burst out into laughter and collapsed on top of Shi Yu, the melon-seeds-eating crowds felt like they had been fed a mouthful of dog food.
Everyone was very curious about the story between the two scholars—only Ye Hui felt sickened by this scene. Unable to conceal the disgust on his face, he said he was leaving. No one cared about what he was feeling right now and no one stopped him—everyone was engulfed by the need for gossip. But unfortunately, neither Gou Liang nor Shi Yu was chosen again afterward.
When it was time to break up the party, Li LinLing cried and said: “I have only one wish, I just want to know, Ah Cheng, when did you get together with Scholar Shi? Such a small wish, but it still cannot be fulfilled…”
Gou Liang expressionlessly watched her cry ying ying ying. In the end, it was Chen LiBai who felt his head and heart ache. He said: “Ah Cheng, be merciful and just tell her, ba.”
Gou Liang: “Are you begging me?”
Chen LiBai was helpless: “Yes, ah, Uncle, I’m begging you!”
Gou Liang was satisfied by this, he held Shi Yu’s hand and said: “Today is the 612th day since we got together.”
Shi Yu’s smile grew even deeper.
612 days, this meant the two had been secretly dating each other for nearly two years right under their noses! Li LinLing was shocked by this. However, before they parted ways, she sincerely said to them: “Ah Cheng, Shi Yu, I wish you both happiness.”
Her sincerity moved both Gou Liang and Shi Yu. Shi Yu even took the initiative to speak to her and Chen LiBai: “Let’s keep in touch. I also wish happiness for the two of you.”
The four people parted ways at the intersection.
At this moment, Gou Liang suddenly heard the frightened sound of System’s warning ↓
【System: Ding!!! Master, be careful–】
The sentence wasn’t finished when it stopped talking again.
【Gou Liang: Little Wanton, what is it?】
In the split second that Gou Liang was distracted, he heard the ear-piercing sound of a vehicle speeding over. Subconsciously, he turned his head around, under the street lights, he was just in time to see a car going beyond the speed limits charging towards him as well as the twisted and resentful look on Ye Hui’s face—
Shi Yu pulled him aside!
When Ye Hui saw that he didn’t succeed, he stepped on the accelerator and ran for it.
Shi Yu’s face was pale with fright, he hugged Gou Liang tightly, not willing to let go even after a long while. When he composed himself again, he angrily took out his phone and contacted his father—he would make Ye Hui regret his actions just now for the rest of his life!
Gou Liang saw that he was angered to the point that his fingers were shaking. He hugged Shi Yu and said: “Dear, relax, Ye Hui won’t be able to escape.”
The phone call connected.
Shi Yu placed the phone by his ears while saying to him: “Since he dared to do this, I will make him pay the price for it.”
Gou Liang smiled, he was about to say something when Shi Yu suddenly widened his eyes in alarm and yelled: “Look out—”
Gou Liang only felt himself suddenly being embraced by Shi Yu as the two of them exchanged locations. Following after… he heard the sound of a sharp object piercing into flesh.
“Ah!!!”
There was suddenly an ear-piercing scream! He Lin, who had disguised herself with a hat and a mask, saw that the person she hurt was actually Shi Yu and collapsed onto the floor, scrambling back in horror.
“Shi Yu…”
“Shi Yu!!!”
The phone in his hand fell to the floor. Shi Yu’s tall figure, like it was completely sapped out of strength, collapsed.
Gou Liang instinctively supported him up.
【Gou Liang: Hurry and exchange for a regeneration prop! Little Wanton, quickly give me a regeneration prop!! Little Wanton—】
There were no answers at all in his sea of consciousness.
Gou Liang cusped Shi Yu’s face: “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, Shi Yu. We’re heading to the hospital right now, this instant!”
Shi Yu’s eyes were starting to lose focus, he opened his mouth and said with difficulty: “L… little fool, sorry, I can’t, keep my promise…”
Tears slid down the corner of his eyes, expressing his unwillingness. It mixed with the blood flowing from his mouth, falling onto Gou Liang’s hand.
Gou Liang shook his head: “No. Shi Yu, you won’t die. I will definitely save you. I will definitely save you—”
【Gou Liang: Little Wanton! Little Wanton, come out!! Little Wanton!!! 】
However it was all to no avail, Shi Yu’s life force slowly leaked away, his eyes losing their light.
Gou Liang trembled as he rubbed his back, the fruit knife was mercilessly stabbed into his back… lodging right where Shi Yu’s heart was.
“No, Shi Yu…”
【Ding, the mission progress rate has increased. Current completion rate: 100%.】
【Congratulations mission undertaker NO.00401 for completing the mission. Now commencing extraction, starting count down：10，9，8……】
The last thing that Gou Liang heard, other than the mainframe’s apathetic voice, was He Lin’s mournful cries and the ‘Hello? What’s wrong son? Xiao Cheng is it you?’ coming from the phone laying on the floor.
In the sea of consciousness.
The space was misty and spacious, made up of Gou Liang’s subconscious world that was usually always lively.
The System revealed its true form for the first time. Gou Liang had given it the form of a human child, making its appearance very soft and cute. The System was fair and tender. It was short and wore a red doudou on its chubby body. At this moment, its large eyes were trying to hold back a dam full of tears. It timidly approached Gou Liang who was sitting blankly in one spot.
System: “Master, are you alright?”
Gou Liang: “…Why didn’t you answer me.”
System: “Wuwu, Master, I didn’t do it on purpose, the Mainframe had suddenly frozen my hardware.”
Gou Liang: “Why, why did it suddenly become like this…? It shouldn’t be; the last group of mission undertakers had stayed in the world for sixteen years, Shi Yu should still have a long time to live… I-I originally could’ve had sixteen years of time before saying goodbye to him…”
The System remained silent.
【Ding, dear mission undertaker NO.00401, due to unknown reasons, the Lord God’s consciousness of world 001 had suddenly reawakened and disrupted the current timeline of the world, restoring it to its original trajectory, resulting in the end of the target’s life. Fortunately, the mission had already been perfectly completed. 】
【Ding, congratulations for completing your first mission, a shop lottery draw with be rewarded!】
【Ding, asking mission undertaker NO.00401 to organize their experience into a mission completion strategy guide and upload it onto the mission experience forum.】
【Ding, the second mission world has been confirmed, transfer will commence in 10 seconds, may the mission undertaker be prepared.】
The Mainframe’s robotic voice calmly notified him.
System: “Master…”
Gou Liang breathed in deeply and said in a quiet voice: “Let’s go, ba.”
The author has something to say:
The readers have the perspective of a god and know the true identity of the target. When the fragment is retrieved and Lord God’s consciousness is awakened, then the little gong will…you guys understand.
This is the first world, Little Fool was foolish and wasn’t prepared, but this stab will allow Little Fool to realize his feelings later on. When Little Fool realizes that the little gong is the same person in every world, his feelings will explode—the readers can also tell, when it comes to feelings, Little Fool’s IQ is still higher than his EQ (although he doesn’t know that the target will die, he knows that he will eventually leave at the end of the mission to continue the next one. Life is long, he won’t and does not dare to indulge himself). If Shi Yu was not killed, the proud but lovable dog will not admit that he had fallen for the little gong.
Also, after this lesson, next time he would be more prepared, la. He will strive to stay longer with the little gong~
【Little Theater】
The slumbering Lord God is a dragon egg.
His soul was reincarnated into the body of a human cub, he lived from age zero to age hundred before returning to age zero. Until at last! On a fateful day, he met his destined shou!
He loved and loved but accidentally loved too hard. The Lord God foolishly/accidentally broke through his shell—and woke up.
The little dragon cub was the size of a palm, he hugged his eggshell to go find his wife only to realize: Author you bastard, you actually lost my wife!! Do you believe I won’t kill you!!! （╯‵□′）╯︵┴─┴
Thus, the little dragon cub searched and searched, eventually growing from a little cub to a big black belly.
In the end he realized ↓↓
The one who stole my wife away was actually myself_(′ `」 ∠)_
And we are done with the strawberry arc!!!
‘Am I the only one who’s laughing because fruit gong got done in by a fruit knife? ‘-Grump
Onto the next bowl of dog food, the lemon flavored film emperor!