Quick transmigration Changed Something

The monotonous class finally ended as the school bell rang, signaling lunch break. The classroom remained silent until the teacher stepped out, and then, as if a dam had burst, noise filled the room. Conversations overlapped, chairs scraped against the floor, and even the most exhausted students were jolted awake by the sudden commotion.

Xi Lian stretched and yawned, his eyelids still heavy from nearly dozing off. Listening to the teacher drone on about an easy topic had been a battle to stay awake, but he somehow managed. Falling asleep in class was something the original Xi Lian would never do, and he didn't want to attract unnecessary suspicion.

Just as he was about to leave for the washroom, a sharp noise caught his attention. Turning his head, he saw Lu Minzhe narrowing his eyes in dissatisfaction—probably annoyed that someone had dared to wake him up. Xi Lian shook his head and hurried out. Lunch break was only 45 minutes, and he needed to freshen up before heading to the cafeteria.

By the time he arrived, most seats were already taken. The only vacant spots were at the back, where the well-known duo, Jun Hao and Lu Minzhe, sat. Last time, a girl had deliberately chosen that spot, hoping to get their attention, only to become the target of jealous bullying, forcing her to transfer schools. Xi Lian had no intention of inviting trouble, so he opted for a seat as far from them as possible.

A few minutes later, Li Xian entered the cafeteria. He had been delayed delivering homework to the teacher's office, and now, like Xi Lian, he found most seats occupied. Spotting Xi Lian sitting alone, he made his way over with a warm smile.

"Hello, classmate. Mind if I sit with you?" Li Xian asked politely.

Xi Lian was about to refuse when the system, which had been quiet for a while, suddenly spoke.

[Host, don't forget the side mission. While it's not mandatory, completing it will earn you rewards that could be useful in the next world.]

Xi Lian stiffened at the unexpected voice in his head. Li Xian, misinterpreting his reaction, hesitated. Did he scare him? For a brief moment, he debated whether he should just sit elsewhere.

"...Okay," Xi Lian finally muttered, his voice barely above a whisper but loud enough for Li Xian to hear.

Letting out a small sigh of relief, Li Xian sat down beside him, visibly pleased. However, just as he settled in, he felt a cold gaze pierce through him. A strange sense of unease crept up his spine, sending shivers across his skin. But when he turned to check, there was no one staring at him.

Maybe it was just his imagination.

Unbeknownst to Li Xian, as he turned his head back, two pairs of eyes once again flickered in his direction.

Lu Minzhe retracted his gaze and looked at Jun Hao, who was still staring at his cousin's table. A strange, unpleasant feeling gnawed at him. He couldn't quite put a name to it, but he knew one thing—he didn't like it.

"Hey, Jun Hao, are you eating or not? Lunch break will be over soon," Lu Minzhe said in a seemingly nonchalant tone, though a hint of dissatisfaction lingered beneath his words.

Jun Hao snapped out of his daze. "Mm," he hummed in response, picking up his chopsticks. But his mind remained elsewhere.

Why did he feel agitated when Li Xian approached his so-called cousin? And wasn't Xi Lian supposed to be timid? He had never been the type to talk to others, yet now he was chatting so easily with Li Xian.

Jun Hao frowned slightly. Even he didn't realize that his attention and expression toward Xi Lian were different from usual—different from how he treated others.

While Xi Lian was beginning to grow annoyed by Li Xian's constant chatter, the other boy seemed completely unfazed by the lack of responses. He spoke with unwavering enthusiasm, as if carrying the conversation all on his own.

When the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, a quiet sigh of relief escaped Xi Lian. But his relief was short-lived—since they were heading to the same classroom, he still had to endure the endless rambling of his self-proclaimed first friend.

As they walked back to class, Xi Lian couldn't help but regret letting Li Xian sit with him. At first, he had only agreed because of the system's reminder, but now he was starting to feel the consequences. Li Xian, seemingly unaware of Xi Lian's indifference, continued to chatter about random topics—his favorite novels, an argument he had with his younger brother, even his pet goldfish's latest antics.

Xi Lian sighed inwardly. How did a simple lunch turn into a full-fledged conversation? He had hoped the meal would pass quietly, yet now he had unknowingly gained a self-proclaimed friend.

Although Xi Lian didn't notice, his mood had unconsciously improved because of Li Xian's presence. Despite finding him annoying, the lively chatter had unknowingly kept his mind occupied, leaving little room for the usual exhaustion that clung to him.