4 Arc 1 Chapter 3

In the passing months Luo Yi became a regular guest at Xiao Jun's house. She shamelessly attached herself to him even after she passed the Comp Sci class. She carved out her own spot in his apartment despite his attempts to throw her out. Her messy lifestyle drove him crazy but she was like a plaster that super-glued herself to him. For some reason she wasn't fazed by his ice block face and static personality.

It probably started when she first came to his apartment for tutoring. She came and started talking about random stuff just getting distracted, but he just got down to business, dismissing her completely. Somehow his direct style of teaching ended up helping her out more than she expected. After her lessons she looked like she wanted to stay to chat with him but the first couple times he just kicked her out. He thought that just being around his presence would change her opinion of him. Ni Ni just rolled her eyes at his ignorance. [You need to talk to her. Chat with her when she wants to get to know you. SAY SOMETHING!!! Don't be a goddamn rock.]

Yeah but what do I say?

[I don't know, respond to her questions. Pretend like you're seriously listening to the crap she's saying. Look like you're actually interested...I'll try and guide you through the rest. I'll give you the red light when you're getting into dangerous territory.]

Okay

The next time Luo Yi came over he didn't kick her out after the lesson. Her face brightened up thinking that he was opening up to her. She excitedly started babbling at a mile per minute. His face was a rock as usual but he didn't stop her. It spurred her on thinking he was interested. After about half an hour her words dried up. He hadn't said a word the entire time and his eyes looked glazed over. She looked up at him and started questioning him.

"Sorry, I haven't let you say a word. So what about you? What's your story? Why do you always wear headphones? How come you always stare at my lips when I'm speaking? Why do you live alone?"

Xiao Jun blandly responded to her questions one at a time. "I have a hypersensitivity to sound, if I take these off I'll probably pass out from the pain. I've had seizures once in a while. I stare at your lips because I'm trying to read them to get what you're saying. I live alone because my parents died in a drive-by shooting when I was in middle school and I don't have any other family."

Ni Ni how was that?

Ni Ni facepalmed. His face didn't even change with every word. It looked like he was reading off of a script. There's no fucking way she'd believe his story. ⊙﹏⊙ but I feel like inside...deep,deep,deep inside he probably feels hopeful, I can't destroy that hope.

[It was great...you're doing great…] I have sold my integrity _(:3」∠)_

Luo Yi looks at him with pity and understanding in your eyes. "Poor you...No wonder you look expressionless all the time. It's your defense mechanism isn't it? Don't worry don't be sad. You have me now...I'll take care of you." She leaps forward and gives him a tight, crushing hug. Her face is slightly wet with tears as she cries pity tears for him. Xiao Jun isn't sure exactly what she's talking about but he knew that it was probably best to just agree with her.

"Okay. Thank you." His voice stays bland. His eyes are slightly shiny with wetness from the glare of the sunlight streaming through his window. Luo Yi interprets this as his emotional acceptance of finally receiving some care and loving.

Ni Ni can't really believe this turn of events. Σ(T □ T) OMFG what is up with this guy's godly luck? When has he been longing for loving? This girl is delusional. Which part of his face shows any loneliness? This rock? emotional? What a joke. What great timing for that sunlight...his damn luck is acting up again!!!... At least it worked out somehow ╮(╯∀╰)╭ maybe I'll get my promotion after all.

Since that day Luo Yi follows him like a guard dog. She pulled him along with him to introduce him to all of her friends. Maybe she privately told them his story because they looked at him with pity and fawned all over him. Xiao Jun just accepted all of their care, partially because he had no idea what they were saying or doing. His set plan of action was to always agree with whatever they were saying because it has been working out for him so far.

Xiao Jun has had a few run-ins with the female lead but nothing significant. Every time he ranks as the top student in the University he attracts jealousy, hate and admiration. The few times he saw Yang Xi she would give him a smile, trying to give him the impression that she's a kind, positive and outgoing girl. Her acting is top notch, she could get an Oscar; I mean no wonder since she was able to keep up the act her whole life in the original plot. He might have believed her if he didn't have the plotline and didn't feel her laser-like hate stares on his back as soon as he turned.

Just like that six months passed and it was time for the main plot to start. In these six months he was luckily able to turn people's opinion of him. Now they all saw him as a pitiful little cabbage in the snow. Xiao Jun was oblivious to it all, but Ni Ni laughed her ass off whenever he received those looks of sympathy.

At the University job fair he received many job offers from various companies when they recognized his stellar performance and flexibility in creating new technology. Out of all of the offers Xiao Jun wanted to join a small startup company called S*NY that he knew had a lot of potential. Unluckily in order to follow the plot he selected Zhao Corporation. During the recruitment process he had already submitted the information about his hypersensitivity condition, so they ensured that he would work independently. Xiao Jun sighed in relief physical contact still made him uncomfortable. Though Luo Yi had given him a higher tolerance through her excessive need for physical contact.

While Xiao Jun prepared for his orientation at the company Yang Xi already had her fateful encounter with the male lead. It started with a cliché run-in on the street causing her to sprain her ankle. The male lead, Zhao Yixuan, expected her to be another white lotus trying to seduce him. When she just apologized and started to limp away he stopped her. He offered to pay for her medical expenses. He thought she would use the chance to get closer to him but surprisingly she accepted the money and asked for money to pay for a taxi. For a moment he thought maybe she didn't recognize him, but she addressed him by his name so he knew she was aware of his identity. Finding her interesting, he insisted on taking her to the hospital himself and along the way he got to know more about her. Once he heard that she was a student at the prestigious University near the company he decided to offer her a job. Rather than being direct he told the recruiters to find a way to make sure that she takes the job. He didn't want her to think he was pursuing her but he also wanted to keep her close to find out more about her.

At the same time that Xiao Jun got his offer Yang Xi was chased by recruiters from the Zhao Corporation almost begging her to join. Her fellow classmates were green with envy at her luck and she almost glowed with pride. Just as she was about to burst from her superiority complex people started gossiping about how Xiao Jun also got a job at Zhao Corporation and that he wasn't just chased by the Zhao company but also by many other prestigious companies. All of a sudden Yang Xi became old news and Xiao Jun became the talk of the town. Yang Xi grit her teeth with anger and jealousy. That praise is supposed to be mine! Xiao Jun you bastard, trying to hog the attention? Just you wait, you're nothing compared to me.

Ni Ni was kind of bemused by the blackening of the female lead. [Hey Boss, your hate value just increased. The female lead is starting to see you as an eyesore. Better watch out!]

Wait why? I didn't even do anything...

[She's a narcissist with a superiority complex, you don't have to do anything. Just be better than her and she'll want to destroy you.]

….. I have nothing to say to that

Xiao Jun joins the company as a coding and design expert. He works alone and just sends his proposals, blueprints and work to his team leader. Being a genius he doesn't need to expend too much effort into his work. He uses his free time to complete an important project he's been working on. The hypersensitivity condition is seriously affecting his ability to complete the mission. He starts working on a pair of headphones that will streamline sounds and block out any miscellaneous sounds. It will change the sound wavelengths to be more suitable to his ears. The world won't be muted any longer and Yang Xi won't be able to use it as a way to destroy him.

Three months pass and the headphones are complete. He takes the chance to start eating at the company canteen to try to start socializing with others and give them a strong impression of him. It must be contagious, 'cause everyone he meets ends up looking past his stone face and seeing the pitiful cabbage within him. Maybe it's the matter of fact way in which he tells his depressing life story. Ni Ni doesn't know whether to laugh or cry when another mortal falls prey to his clueless glistening peach blossom eyes.

It is exactly six months after he joined the company that he walks out of the company and runs into the man who could determine his life or death. He sees a tall strong man with a defined face and explosive muscles. His suit wraps around his body perfectly defining his fit body. He gives off an authoritative pressure and overpowering masculine hormones. He looks down at Xiao Jun with sharp eyes almost suffocating him with the pressure. Xiao Jun immediately shuffles to the side making sure to get out of his way. However Zhao Yixuan's eyes stay focused on him. Xiao Jun bows towards him in respect and turns to escape.

Zhao Yixuan stares at his back with a thoughtful look. Throughout the entire encounter that man's expression never changed. He withstood his pressure without quaking. He reminds him of a haughty cat. What an interesting kitten. He turns to his secretary. "Find out everything about him."