I Can’t Keep Being a Scumbag Anymore—What Should I Do? [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 7

Ran Muqiu was stuck there, neither up nor down, feeling like he might faint from sheer irritation.

“One hundred and ninety!” he retorted spitefully.

Feng Qin let out a short, sharp “tch” and burst into laughter.

The bike seat was indeed a bit high. As the boy straddled it, his backside was forced into a high arch, pressing a soft bit of flesh against the cushion.

Is he really a guy?

Feng Qin leaned his elbows against his mountain bike, his lips curling upward. He scanned the boy a few times, his gaze lingering briefly on the most conspicuous spot before quickly darting away.

At least he stopped mocking him.

Ran Muqiu didn’t want to deal with him anymore and pedaled away at top speed.
It wasn’t until he hit a red light that Ran Muqiu braked and planted a foot on the ground. 【233.】

【What is it?】

【Are there any height-boosting potions in the Point Shop?】 Ran Muqiu held his breath in frustration. 【I remember seeing someone in the Great World saying they’d redeemed one before.】

【There are,】 233 replied, pulling up the shop interface for him. 【But first, this item cannot be used in this world. Second, it costs two thousand points.】

Ran Muqiu, whose entire net worth was only five hundred points: “…”

233 summarized: 【I understand the host wants his appearance to better fit the character archetype, but it is recommended to achieve that through personal charisma instead.】

Ran Muqiu: “…”

If he could rely on personal charisma, would he be trying to cheat with items in the first place?

With Li Zhu temporarily offline, Ran Muqiu had nothing to do for the next few days but try to follow the original script.

He and Feng Qin were love rivals, so he couldn’t use the same tactics he used on the “Protagonist Shou” against the “Protagonist Gong.”

Although 233’s advice was usually unreliable, Ran Muqiu thought it over and decided that when one Gong faces another, the only way to create a sense of crisis is to showcase masculine charm—thereby indirectly achieving the goal of breaking the other’s heart.

The basketball game in three days seemed like a perfect opportunity.

In the original script, the basketball game was a key turning point where the Protagonist Gong was supposed to suppress the School Bully’s arrogance, making him suffer his first defeat and lose his composure.

However, after carefully reviewing the plot over the weekend, Ran Muqiu realized that the reason the School Bully was targeted in the original script was mostly that his classmates were fed up with his domineering personality, so they naturally sided with the Protagonist Gong.

But now?

Ran Muqiu felt his relationship with Qin Wei and the others was actually decent. It wasn’t like the original script where the lackeys obeyed the bully on the surface but badmouthed him behind his back.

Yesterday, Qin Wei and “Slim Monkey” showed up to school limping—one with his arm in a sling, the other with a bandaged leg. They looked dejected, claiming they’d been jumped in an alley by someone playing dirty.

The class didn’t pay much mind; Qin Wei and his group were always getting into fights, so it was normal for them to hit a snag eventually.

Qin Wei naturally noticed the new face in class—the guy sitting arrogantly in Ran Muqiu’s old seat who didn’t look like a “good sort.”

During the break, Qin Wei hurried over to whisper in Ran Muqiu’s ear.

Once he heard the full story—how their “Brother Qiu” had been embarrassed by the newcomer and forced out of his seat—Qin Wei looked ready to drag his half-crippled leg over and yank Feng Qin off the chair right then and there.

“Forget it,” Ran Muqiu said, quickly pulling him back. “I’m fine sitting here.”

Only then did Qin Wei stand down.

He glanced at Ran Muqiu’s current seat, his brow furrowing in disapproval. He was about to say something when he looked up and met the boy’s clear, round eyes.

The words died in his throat.

Seeing that Qin Wei wasn’t leaving, Ran Muqiu steered the conversation toward the game. “Isn’t the basketball game coming up in a few days?”

“Yeah,” Qin Wei said. “Why, Brother Qiu? You coming?”

Ran Muqiu nodded.

Qin Wei was surprised; he’d almost never seen Brother Qiu on the court.

To say something a bit traitorous: most of the time, Brother Qiu wasn’t a “proper” school bully at all.

What kind of bully only uses his mouth to pick on people, and when he scolds them, it sounds like he’s acting spoiled?

But no one would ever say that to his face.

Privately, Qin Wei and the others thought Ran Muqiu was like a cat. Specifically, a Ragdoll cat—noble lineage, beautiful fur, but prone to sunbathing and oversleeping.

He thought he was aloof and untouchable, but in reality, he was so pretty and guileless that anyone could take a chance at touching him while he was napping.

Unaware of his lackey’s inner thoughts, Ran Muqiu glanced toward Feng Qin and said with a melancholy sigh, “But the new student will definitely be there. What if I don’t play well.”

Qin Wei, living up to his role as the script’s number one sycophant, caught on instantly. “What? He dares to have an opinion on you?”

“Don’t worry, Brother Qiu,” Qin Wei sneered. “My leg will be fine by then. I’ll make sure that grandson doesn’t get a single advantage.”

As the captain of the school team, Qin Wei had the right to be confident.

Ran Muqiu looked at Qin Wei’s thick, sturdy arms with sparkling, hopeful eyes.

Stunned by the look, Qin Wei coughed and hurriedly turned his head away.

“Th-then it’s a plan,” Qin Wei said, making a quick exit. The six-foot-tall guy actually looked a bit flustered. “See you on the court.”

Who was the idiot who said Xiaoya looked like Brother Qiu? I’m about to get led astray myself.

The day of the game arrived quickly.

That afternoon, even before the start, the gym bleachers were packed, and the sidelines were crowded.

Most people were there to see Ran Muqiu and Feng Qin.

Ran Muqiu was, of course, on Qin Wei’s team, warming up in a circle.

Aside from mandatory mission plots, Ran Muqiu didn’t actually like exercise. Although he had a full set of basketball gear—jersey, knee pads, wristbands—to fit his character, he realized when he pulled them out of the closet that the sizing he’d bought was a bit too large.

Fortunately, the waist fit.

Ran Muqiu tugged at it, hopped a few times, and seeing it wouldn’t fall off, headed onto the court with confidence.

When Feng Qin walked out of the locker room, he saw Ran Muqiu from a distance, standing in the center of the crowd.

The boy had his hands on his knees, his slender waist slightly arched as he huddled with several other guys to discuss tactics.

The others were all a size larger than him; in the middle of them, his fair skin looked strikingly out of place.

His jersey was baggy, the hem tucked into his waistband. Because his waist was so thin, the shorts seemed to hang on only by the grace of his rounded hips.

Feng Qin unscrewed a water bottle, tilted his head back to chug, and lowered his gaze. Taking advantage of the fact that the boy’s back was turned, he blatantly sized Ran Muqiu up from head to toe.

He reached a silent conclusion.

Can this guy even play?

He looks like a total amateur.

The referee blew the whistle, and the game began.

While nervously dribbling, Ran Muqiu asked 233 for encouragement: 【233, if I can’t dunk myself, it’s the same if Qin Wei dunks, right? It should still hurt the Protagonist Gong’s pride, right?】

233: 【Host, don’t think too much. Just do your best.】

Throughout the game, aside from passing the ball to Ran Muqiu to let him “shine,” Qin Wei was essentially locked in a death match with Feng Qin.

As the school captain, Qin Wei was playing like his life depended on it, treating it like a high-stakes regional final.

By contrast, Feng Qin was much more casual—almost lazy. When it came to physical contact, he actually seemed to go out of his way to avoid it.

He seemed a bit distracted.

Despite this, a rare dunk from him still sent a wave of screams through the crowd.

“Damn fangirls!” Qin Wei cursed before shouting from across the court, “Brother Qiu!”

Ran Muqiu reacted instantly, catching Qin Wei’s pass.

The game had reached a fever pitch; this shot was crucial.

He was in the perfect position. He jumped, releasing the ball for a clean, steady three-pointer. Swish.

Feng Qin, with his long legs, rushed for the block, but he was a second too late.

The referee announced Ran Muqiu’s team as the winners.

The spectators erupted.

Ran Muqiu was over the moon, momentarily forgetting to stay in character. His eyes crinkled into crescents as he bragged to the system: 【It wasn’t a dunk, but I hit a three-pointer! Wasn’t that cool?】

233: 【Very good. But unfortunately, no fluctuations in “Heartbreak Value” were detected.】

Ran Muqiu blinked and looked at Feng Qin.

The tall boy wiped the sweat from his forehead and was also looking at Ran Muqiu.

When their eyes met, Feng Qin actually smiled. Even though he’d just lost, he didn’t look upset at all.

Ran Muqiu recalled how, several times during the game when they almost collided, Feng Qin had moved aside to let him take the shot easily.

It was as if he were letting him win on purpose.

Ran Muqiu felt inexplicably guilty and looked away.

Since Feng Qin himself was being passive, there was no way to “break his heart.” Ran Muqiu sighed, told the system “never mind,” and stopped dwelling on it. He was quickly surrounded by a jubilant Qin Wei and the rest of the team.

Feng Qin stood a short distance away, his gaze drifting over seemingly by accident.

Ran Muqiu was the center of attention, shielded so tightly by Qin Wei’s group that the girls trying to offer him water couldn’t even squeeze in.

Someone said something funny, and Ran Muqiu laughed, his eyelashes curving beautifully. He looked much better than he did when he was huffing and puffing in front of Feng Qin.

However, from beginning to end, Ran Muqiu didn’t look his way once.

Feng Qin’s lips twitched. The amusement seemed to fade from his expression as if the situation had suddenly become boring.

He looked away, casually tossed the ball aside, and used one hand to lift the hem of his jersey to wipe his sweat. He turned on his long legs and started to walk away.

He hadn’t gone far when he heard a cry of pain from behind.

Feng Qin froze and spun around.

The ball had been thrown at a bad angle; it hit the iron rim of the basket and ricocheted sharply to the side.

Even though Feng Qin hadn’t used much force, the momentum of the rebound caught Ran Muqiu off guard.

He was knocked sideways by the impact, his eyebrows knitting together in pain.

Qin Wei froze, then turned around furiously. “Who the hell did that?”

Feng Qin stood there, looking genuinely stunned and unusually flustered for a moment. But seeing that Ran Muqiu seemed mostly okay and that Qin Wei was guarding him like a loyal watchdog—he paused, then lazily raised both hands.

“My bad. It was me. Hand slipped, missed the throw.”

Qin Wei glared at him for several seconds, made an uncivilized gesture, and immediately turned back to Ran Muqiu. “You okay, Brother Qiu?”

The hit had been quite hard, but Ran Muqiu remembered his “School Bully” persona. He didn’t let his eyes get red in public and endured the pain. “I’m fine.”

“That bastard is definitely getting revenge for losing the game.” Qin Wei cursed Feng Qin a few more times, but for the moment, he had other priorities. “Brother Qiu, come on, let’s get you to the infirmary.”

“I can go by myself, it’s not like my leg is broken.” Ran Muqiu pushed away Qin Wei’s hand as he tried to support him. “Didn’t Old Zhong say he was going to specifically check your homework next period?”

“Fuck, I forgot about that!” Qin Wei slapped his forehead, looking conflicted. “Fine, I’ll head back to class first. Message me immediately if you need anything.”

Having sent off his group of lackeys, Ran Muqiu headed to the infirmary alone.

The moment he reached a secluded spot, he crouched down, rubbing his aching shoulder while wiping his eyes.

He was incredibly sensitive to pain!

And that hit just now had really hurt!

The only reason he’d insisted Qin Wei and the others leave was that he was on the verge of tears; he didn’t want his subordinates to see him crying and ruin his “school bully” image.

【It hurts so much.】 With no one around, Ran Muqiu complained to the system with teary eyes. 【Being a ‘scum gong’ really does get you beaten up.】

A while ago, he only had to deal with Li Zhu. Although the Protagonist Shou was gloomy and taciturn, he was a Shou after all—his personality was relatively gentle. He never hit or scolded anyone, and he even cooked for him.

However, the moment he went up against the Protagonist Gong, things changed instantly.

In just a few days, not only had Ran Muqiu been mocked repeatedly by Feng Qin, but now things had escalated—the guy had actually started throwing basketballs at him.

【233: The Protagonist Gong probably didn’t do it on purpose.】

Ran Muqiu sniffled, not quite believing it.

After all, Feng Qin had shown such perfect control on the court—shooting when he wanted, yielding when he felt like it. He was lazy but arrogant, and his hands were so large he could practically palm the entire ball. How could his “hand slip” the moment the game ended?

He definitely did it on purpose.

While grumbling to the system, Ran Muqiu turned a corner and ran straight into a familiar figure.

The guy was tall but seemingly unable to walk straight; when Ran Muqiu moved right, he followed right; when Ran Muqiu moved left, he followed left.

In short, he was blocking Ran Muqiu’s path.

Ran Muqiu took a deep breath. Without looking up, he kept his eyes lowered and, as the other person moved left again, he quickly tried to dart past on the right.

He’d barely taken a step before a long arm reached out and yanked him back.

Unluckily, the guy caught him by the very arm connected to his injured shoulder blade.

Ran Muqiu’s face crumpled in pain again. The tears he’d been hiding from the system—which he hadn’t quite finished wiping away came rolling down.

“You.” Feng Qin stared at his face, stunned for a long moment. “Are you crying?”

Ran Muqiu lied through his teeth, denying it instantly: “No.”

His eyes were rimmed with red. A large teardrop rolled down his cheek, trembling on his small chin for a second before finally falling.

Even his voice was slightly raspy.

Feng Qin: “…”

Stubborn to the end.

Feng Qin stared at that pointed chin, feeling an indescribable sensation—partly irritation, partly guilt.

Irritation because the boy was crying.

Guilt because it felt like he was the one who had caused it.

There was something else too, something Feng Qin couldn’t quite identify, leaving him feeling only restless and impatient.

Lacking experience in dealing with such situations, he blurted out the only thing he knew: mockery. “And you’re supposed to be the boss of Nancheng? You’re more like the Princess of Nancheng.”

Ran Muqiu: “?”

【233, and you still say he didn’t do it on purpose?】 Ran Muqiu complained to the system. 【He specifically chased me down just to mock me!】

【233: “…”】

Seeing the boy dazed, Feng Qin furrowed his brows. “Why are you playing mute?”

Ran Muqiu looked up at him.

As the Protagonist Gong, Feng Qin had the quintessential look: sharp features, a high brow bridge, and an air of cold defiance when he wasn’t smiling. When he frowned, he carried a strange, menacing intensity.

He was truly not the “gentle and kind” type.

Ran Muqiu stared at Feng Qin for two seconds, mentally calculating his chances of winning if they got into a fight here in this deserted spot.

Then he turned and walked away.

This time, he practically broke into a jog.

Feng Qin: “…”

Feng Qin punched the wall in frustration, muttering, “Dammit.”

He quickly caught up again, grabbing Ran Muqiu by the collar. His voice held the same impatience as before, yet it was laced with an emotion Ran Muqiu didn’t recognize. “I give up.”

With that, he turned his back and crouched down in front of Ran Muqiu.

The boy’s back was broad, and his neck still glistened with sweat from his exertion, trailing down into his lean back and radiating a sense of vigorous heat.

“My bad for just now.” Feng Qin’s voice was several octaves lower than before. He paused noticeably before speaking again, clearly unpracticed at being humble. “I’ll carry you back. Is that enough?”