Misplacement Game Chapter 1

Xu Ziyue opened his eyes and noticed that this ‘Love-Attack!' game had a rather generic main page – there was an interface for saving and loading game files, as well as another for selecting new story chapters.

It's just that the b.u.t.tons for saving and loading game files were greyed out – the hand that Xu Ziyue had placed on them had no effect. The b.u.t.ton to exit the game was also greyed out. Only the ‘Select Game' b.u.t.ton seemed to work.

However, this was inevitable because Xu Ziyue could no longer leave the game; when he had bound to this gaming system in his spiritual body, his physical body had died.

Of course, this was because Xu Ziyue had died in a car accident – the kind where even if an ambulance had arrived, he would still have died. And so, he had finally agreed to bind with the Love-Attack! gaming system that had been entangling him for more than two years already.

He had then entered into this illusory s.p.a.ce, which was also the main menu of the Love-Attack! game.

The system began to dutifully explain the rules. “The number of players in each game is not set, but the number of targets available is set, so Host must grasp all opportunities and not let go of your target!”

Xu Ziyue absentmindedly poked the greyed out ‘Exit Game' b.u.t.ton and replied, “Whether I let them go or not is entirely dependant on their appearance. Are your game targets handsome?”

“Of course! We've consulted and integrated many data packages for the target NPCs' images, drawing only upon what is most popular. So, as for their appearances, Player, please feel rest a.s.sured!”

At this, Xu Ziyue finally gained some interest but he still didn't know if the system's words were trustworthy.

In the end, the final evaluation has to be given by Xu Ziyue himself. Even if the system equated the targets to beautiful flowers at this moment, Xu Ziyue would still remain a bit skeptical.

“Has the Player adjusted your mindset and mentally prepared to enter into the game?”

Xu Ziyue took a few deep breaths, banished the scene of the car accident from of his mind, cursed the taxi driver who had been driving drunk, and finally felt his heart feel a bit better.

“Okay, let's start the game.” Let him see how good-looking these supposed ‘ultrgood-looking' game targets really were! Xu Ziyue didn't set his standards too high – if the other was a man, then they should at least be on the level of his high school basketball team's school prince. If it's a woman, then at least as pretty as that long-haired school idol in the neighbouring district. Only like that would he actually have the interest to chat with and pursue the other.

If the target is good-looking, then even if their temper is a bit bad, he can still bear with it… but in general, for most dating simulation games, every main character should have an attractive, endearing side to them so Xu Ziyue wasn't too worried.

Even if he failed the game and couldn't obtain the affections of the most handsome target, then at least he could still admire their beauty! Xu Ziyue half wanted to slap himself for his tendency to focus only on the superficial outer appearance, but his other half was also filled with excitement and desire for what's to come.

Even though he didn't fully believe in the system's promises, his heart was still filled with antic.i.p.ation.

Ah… could he really experience love in a game with attractive people who have wholesome personalities? Just thinking about it made him very happy heh heh.

The system intoned, “Selecting the game – introductory level: novice difficulty.”

Xu Ziyue nodded and then felt his vision blacked out, his body beginning to fall. Following, he came into contact with something firm and he sat down.

He opened his eyes and found that he had appeared in a cla.s.sroom.

Cla.s.s was currently in session, and the teacher at the front was lecturing about math modules. Xu Ziyue swivelled his head around and looked excitedly at his new cla.s.smates.

System: “Those with green symbols on their heads are players; this game has 20 players. Your available targets are all the NPCs of Shangyang High School. Please explore the game by yourself, there is no tutorial. Once you've successfully obtain the affections of your target, this game will end.”

Xu Ziyue stroked his chin and started to evaluate his cla.s.smates with a sense of expectation.

70 points, 60 points, 85 points… There were a lot of good-looking people – one of his fellow players even achieved a high score of 89 points. However, the type of people who look so handsome that one can't help but want to jump on them… Xu Ziyue still hasn't seen one yet.

Suddenly, he noticed that the male player sitting next to him inexplicably had a very ugly expression on his face. After realizing this, Xu Ziyue observed the other players and saw that most too had similar grimaces.

Xu Ziyue grew a bit curious, and the sense of novelty and excitement also grew. He took out a small eraser and threw it at the table of the player beside him.

Lowering his voice, he asked, “Hey, what's your name? Did you also die and then come into this game world? My name is Xu Ziyue. Have you picked a target yet? If so, I will avoid them. After all, the significant others of friends are off limit– ”

“Xu Ziyue!”

Xu Ziyue was startled and quickly looked up at the teacher who had just shouted his name. Trembling slightly, he stood up. Caught so quickly by the teacher ah… He had thought that the NPC teachers would ignore the actions of the players… It seems that he had guessed wrong.

The math teacher standing at the podium did not directly start to chide Xu Ziyue, but instead said, “You come up here and solve this question.”

Xu Ziyue wordlessly opened his mouth – he didn't know what to do. He looked at the fellow player beside him, only to find that his attention wasn't on himself at all. Instead, the other player's face was pale, as if he was deathly afraid of something.

Xu Ziyue could only temporarily dismiss the idea of seeking help from this comrade.

He took a pen and poked the back of the male sitting in front of him.

The male very obviously flinched abruptly, and then turned around to look at Xu Ziyue with an unfriendly gaze.

Xu Ziyue, however, was stunned, and his eyes lit up with joy.

“Don't ask other students for help!” The math teacher knocked on the podium with a pointer, his tone severe.

“Teacher, I'm sorry.” During his life, Xu Ziyue was the kind of student that always knew how to get on people's good sides. Although he was not the most academically inclined – only being about average in his cla.s.ses – he was the type of person who knew how to liven any atmosphere. “I wasn't listening just now, so I don't know the answer. But, I promise! I will pay attention from now on!”

"Sit down. Listen carefully." The teacher indeed did not continue to make things difficult for Xu Ziyue, and after seeing him take a seat, continued to lecture.

Xu Ziyue let out a sigh of relief and started to fiddle with the pen he had just used to poke the student sitting in front of him.

He had found his target – it was the male sitting in front of him!

He was so handsome ah… It's just that his face was a little pale, and his body seemed a little weak, as if he hadn't been eating well lately.

If you ask science-inclined-Xu Ziyue to describe the student before him, then the most poetic he could think of is ‘beautiful with light and delicate features'. After all, the other was still young and his features hadn't fully formed yet.

It's just that his eyes were slightly darker than that of the average person, and seemed rather listless. If he had a bit more spirit, then he would probably be more eye-catching.

Xu Ziyue mentally a.s.signed this cla.s.smate an ultrhigh score of 93 points.

Xu Ziyue wanted to talk to him, chat a bit, but unfortunately the teacher up front was still keeping a close eye on himself and so he could only sit straight and continue to listen to the lecture.

There was a seating table to the upper lefthand corner of his desk. Xu Ziyue noticed that all players had this chart, whereas the NPCs didn't, so he concluded that this was probably a prop meant to familiarize the players with the current game. The student sitting in front of him was called Sun Mo, and the other player whom he had designated his comrade was Lu Renjia.

Sun Mo… Xu Ziyue repeated the name in his heart. It seems this character won't be very easy to approach. He had merely poked the other's back and then was glared at with such fervour… but, he was not disheartened!

If this was reality then Xu Ziyue might have cared a little more, but… He had already died once, and this was a love game in the first place, add in the fact that he's a single dog without any attachments… If he really wants to fall in love, then what's wrong with being a little shameless?

Yes, what is face? In front of his target, he didn't need any of that! [1]

After the dismissal bell rang, Xu Ziyue didn't notice the unspoken communication and subsequent congregation of the other players, and instead walked over to Sun Mo's table and began to chat.

“Sun Mo, how could you not help me earlier, the teacher was so fierce ah.” Xu Ziyue whined grievously, squatting beside Sun Mo's desk and resting both hands on the table, even proceeding to rest his chin on them.

Sun Mo glanced faintly at Xu Ziyue, but appeared disinclined to speak.

“Did I poked your funny bone just now? Then I will apologize, okay? Can you talk to me, I want to hear your voice ah.”

As Xu Ziyue was talking to Sun Mo, the other 19 players gathered in a remote corner of the cla.s.sroom.

Someone asked, “Should we call that person over?”

Another replied, “We can't help those who seek death. He doesn't even read the newcomer's manual, and doesn't understand the importance of meeting with us  to exchange information. If he were to join us, then he would just bring us death flags.”

The person who had spoken before fell silent.

If there weren't any specific tasks triggered, and if they didn't actively talk to the NPCs, then the NPCs generally wouldn't take notice of the players; therefore, these players weren't too worried about visibly gathering together.

“I'm sure everyone's already read the background information of this world. After Shangyang High School changed princ.i.p.als, the old abandoned school building was renovated. We are students who've just entered into the third year, and we were relocated into this new cla.s.sroom here. The reason this building had originally been abandoned is very likely the key to our escape. Also, we were all placed together into this cla.s.sroom and not spread out amongst the other cla.s.ses, so that's another important clue…..”

“Oh? What are they talking about?” Xu Ziyue turned his head slightly and looked curiously at the large group of players congregated together in the corner.

Sun Mo, who had been ignoring Xu Ziyue's existence, also turned to follow Xu Ziyue's gaze.

“What are they talking about?” Sun Mo asked quietly.

Xu Ziyue's eyes lit up. "As expected, your voice sounds really nice!" Sun Mo's words had a strange rhythm and there was a sense of emptiness, but the tone was very crisp; Xu Ziyue's only complaint was that he spoke too little. He himself had said so much, and yet Sun Mo had only said one sentence, which was actually a repet.i.tion of Xu Ziyue's own question.

Xu Ziyue met Sun Mo's gaze and puffed out his cheeks. “I don't know ah, I asked you this question first.”

If he had to guess, he'd say that they were discussing and distributing the various NPCs as personal targets. Though, with so many people in the school, there shouldn't be anyone rude enough to come fight him for Sun Mo right? He saw Sun Mo first!

Even if they couldn't be lovers, he still wanted to be together with Sun Mo in this world… Look at his wonderfully clear and smooth complexion, and his fine facial features!

Ah… He's so handsome!

[1] – 面子, “face” – there's a lot of literature on the Chinese concept of Face, you can google it for more in-depth explanations, but basically it's personal dignity. You can't act shamelessly because it'll cause you to lose face, and then you will be shunned and mocked by society etc. Something like that. It's very complicated~

Roamer -

h.e.l.lo everybody!!! I am SO excited to be starting on this new novel with y'all – I've been following this one for quite some time and I must say, I really like this story! I will try to release the first five chapters within the next few days so that you can get a feel for it, so please stick with me for a few chapters at least and try it out ?