Conquering the Stars and My Haters’ Hearts - Chapter 11

The onlookers wore expressions of pure terror. “…”

They had expected a much more brutal development. What happened to the infamous disdain for Xie Anning? Anders had arrived looking like he was ready to dismantle the boy’s very soul, but the moment they met, he started hitting on him?

Though, they had to admit—with Xie Anning’s new look, the urge to flirt was somewhat understandable.

Even Anders’ own lackeys were shell-shocked. They had prepared their best insults, only for their boss to drop that line. Those who had been a second away from shouting their own taunts felt a cold sweat, thanking the stars they hadn’t opened their mouths yet.

Xie Anning: “Pfft.”

“What are you laughing at!” Anders’ expression turned icy as he cursed himself internally. What just happened? Why did I blurt that out in front of everyone, especially the crowd I gathered myself? He had effectively set the stage just to trip over his own feet.

“Nothing, nothing,” Xie Anning said smoothly. “I just thought of something funny.” This Truth Serum is more effective than I imagined.

“Don’t think a single compliment makes you special,” Anders huffed. However, as long as he was near Xie Anning, he felt an uncontrollable urge to praise the boy’s aesthetics. He couldn’t help it, he was a slave to visual beauty.

Anders retreated a few steps to gain some distance, regaining his sneer. “I only came here out of pity. Since you’ve failed your makeup exam, it’s time for you to pack your bags and leave this school.”

“I didn’t realize you cared so much about me.” Xie Anning sighed, deliberately stepping closer to Anders. “I truly don’t know how to repay such kindness.”

Xie Anning’s beautiful, upturned eyes shimmered with mirth. Anders’ face flushed a deep crimson; he backed away further, turning his head as if he couldn’t bear to look directly at Xie Anning’s face. “Don’t try to play coy with me! You’re just a waste! I have no interest in knowing you. Someone like you should just crawl away quietly.”

The Audience: “…”

Your dialogue and your body language are telling two completely different stories, boss!

“I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you,” Xie Anning laughed. He leaned in, whispering almost directly into Anders’ ear: “I’m not going anywhere.”

“You, you.” Anders felt his knees go weak at the sound of that voice. By the time he processed the words and turned to glare, Xie Anning had already slipped through the crowd, leaving the onlookers staring with newfound respect. Anders muttered under his breath, “What does he mean? Did the brat actually pass?”

With Xie Anning gone, the “Truth Serum” effect on Anders began to stabilize. He tried to shove the embarrassment aside. “Let’s go see for ourselves,” he declared, regaining his commanding tone. He gestured to the crowd. “The Mecha Training Center isn’t open yet. Why not kill some time looking at the ‘masterpieces’ from the makeup exam?”

In reality, the Training Center was definitely open, but no one dared to correct the most untouchable person in school. However, after witnessing that exchange, the image of “Young Master Anders” had shifted significantly in their minds.

Regardless of their thoughts, they followed him toward the hall.

On the other side of campus, Yu Hongfeng and his group were reeling with admiration.

Whether he passed the exam or not, Xie Anning’s mental fortitude was superhuman. Who else could stay that calm even playful while facing Anders? He used to be so timid; had the constant bullying finally caused him to snap and lose his fear?

“That was incredible!”

“I’ve completely changed my mind about you today.”

“Yeah, even if the exam results aren’t great, you—”

“Thank you, everyone, but I actually passed,” Xie Anning said with a smile. “Looks like we’ll be classmates for a while longer.”

The group didn’t think much of it, offering their congratulations. In their minds, he had probably managed a Level D work and begged the teacher for a mercy pass.

Xie Anning declined any celebratory offers and hurried back to his apartment. He was acutely aware of the [Protagonist’s Halo (X-Point Face-Slapping Template] currently active on him. Staying out to celebrate was a recipe for disaster; knowing his luck, some random billionaire heir would probably show up just to pick a fight. He had too much to do to deal with cliché drama.

[Random Task Complete]: Earn 1,000 Popularity Points. System Mall is now unlocked.

The notification chimed the moment he stepped through his door.

Xie Anning settled onto his sofa and opened the interface. The “Mall” button was glowing. He clicked in and saw a list of items he had previously drawn:

• Truth Serum v1: 150,000 Points

• Truth Serum v2: 300,000 Points

• Physique Enhancement v1: 500,000 Points

• Stamina Potion: 100,000 Points

Xie Anning: “…” Lottery draws are definitely the better deal, he realized. He only had 500,000 points left, and the Physique Enhancement alone would wipe him out. Other items, like the Protagonist’s Halo, were even steeper at 800,000.

However, with the “Halo” currently active, Xie Anning felt lucky. He decided to dump his remaining 500,000 points into the lottery.

Back in the examination hall, a scream echoed out.

“This, this is a Level A Masterpiece!”

“Wait, so that mental pressure from earlier, someone was actually painting that live?”

“Since when does the Literature Department have someone this powerful? Why would a genius like this be taking a makeup exam?”

Anders was stunned. With his own strength, he could tell at a glance that the creator was no amateur. This required at least Level A Mental Strength. How had such a person remained anonymous? Even most teachers at this school couldn’t produce work of this caliber.

Anders glanced at the proctor, who was pale and drenched in cold sweat.

A thought—one so impossible it bordered on the absurd flashed through Anders’ mind. He was shaken by his own intuition. No way. That waste might have gotten better-looking, but there’s no way he suddenly became a powerhouse too!  he told himself, though his heart was racing with unease. I’m overthinking it.

But the other failing students couldn’t keep quiet any longer. They were bursting to share what they had witnessed.

“You won’t believe it! Xie Anning drew this!”

“What? No way.”

“It’s true! You didn’t see him!” One student looked on with pure worship, naturally shifting his address. “Senior Xie was incredible! He almost collapsed several times, but he pushed through with pure willpower to finish this!”

Another student gasped, “But isn’t Xie Anning’s ability only Level E?”

“This has to be fake! Senior Xie’s aura earlier, there’s no way he only has Level E Mental Strength! Even illegal enhancers couldn’t turn a useless waste into a powerhouse that quickly.”

“I think Senior Xie’s heart changed after facing all those setbacks, and his strength evolved with it, aren’t there stories like that in the ancient texts?”

The other students had witnessed Xie Anning’s recent transformation firsthand. The more they thought about his new, refined aura, the more they were convinced he was no ordinary person. Most of them were already believers.

Anders, however, looked increasingly grim. It wasn’t just that Xie Anning’s sudden rise to power left him reeling; it was the realization that he had actually felt a surge of relief knowing the boy hadn’t been expelled.

Why? A waste like that, no, I can’t call him a waste anymore. Xie Anning. I shouldn’t care about a person like him!

His lackeys, seeing Anders’ dark expression, wisely shut their mouths. Only one particularly dense follower failed to read the room, asking bluntly: “Master Anders, if you’re this angry, should we just force that waste to drop out?”

Anders shot him a frigid glare. “Am I the kind of person who resorts to such lowly, underhanded tactics? Even if I dislike him, I will humiliate him fair and square.”

The Lackey: “…”

Then who was the one who ordered the hit that put Xie Anning in the hospital?

Anders was completely distracted during his subsequent mecha match, though he still managed to ruthlessly dismantle his opponent in under a minute.

Afterward, he headed upstairs and found Ning Xiujin staring out the window, likely watching another viral livestream on his terminal. It made sense; Ning Xiujin was a mecha fanatic who would happily spend twenty-four hours a day inside a cockpit. The training center was his natural habitat.

Wait, does that mean he already knows about Xie Anning?

Anders’ heart skipped a beat. He tried to sound casual as he asked, “Do you, do you remember that guy? Xie Anning?”

Ning Xiujin didn’t even bother to look up. “I don’t.”

Anders let out a breath of relief. Right. Of course. Even if Xie Anning had become impressive in his own right, Ning Xiujin only cared about mechas. No matter how talented Xie Anning was with a brush, he’d never be able to pilot a machine.

The thought brought Anders an unexpected sense of ease.

Then, the realization hit him: he was actually happy that Xie Anning wouldn’t end up with Ning Xiujin. His expression darkened even further.

Why am I so obsessed with that Xie Anning?