TMLSG -Chapter 108 Favoritism

Tang Zhen felt a little dazed.

Wasn’t it agreed that after the female lead went offline, she wouldn’t have any more interactions with the male lead?

So why were they crossing paths again so soon?

111 was also puzzled.

The identity it had chosen for Tang Zhen was supposed to ensure she would never meet the male lead in this lifetime.

And yet, just a few days after they separated, they ran into each other again.

Who could have predicted that?

The conversation in the distance continued.

Ren Yanjing’s tone was cold: “I need you to recount that day’s events, scene by scene, exactly as they happened.”

Li Ran felt helpless at this interrogative tone. “Ren Yanjing, believe me, I really don’t know how she disappeared.”

“While we were talking, she just vanished. Later, I even suspected that maybe it was a prank she planned.”

“Maybe one day, she’ll just appear out of nowhere and say, ‘It was just a joke! Were you scared?’”

How else could this scene be explained?

The alley had no surveillance. She even suspected now that Tang Zhen arranging to meet her there had been a setup all along, designed to leave her trapped with no way to defend herself.

Now she was the focus of police monitoring, simply because she was the only one present besides Tang Zhen.

“She wouldn’t do that,” Ren Yanjing said firmly.

Tang Zhen was too softhearted, too understanding. How could she do something that would make others worry?

Ren Yanjing added coolly, “Don’t project your thoughts onto her. She’s not like you.”

If it weren’t for the farewell in his dream, he would have already sent Li Ran to prison. After all, she had motive and was the prime suspect.

Li Ran had no words.

In the end, the two of them parted on bad terms, the argument ugly and tense. Li Ran left with a stormy expression.

After Ren Yanjing left, Tang Zhen didn’t speak up, nor did she appear before him. She listened to his footsteps fade away until they were completely gone.

Tang Zhen clenched her fists on her lap. Since they had already broken up, she wouldn’t recklessly disturb his life.

111 tried to comfort her: 【Zhen, the male lead was just speaking out of emotion. You’ve only been apart three days, not three years. If he really waited three years, THEN I would respect him as a real man!】

【And now that the female lead is offline, the male and female leads can start their romance. The story will return to the main track, but that’s no longer our concern.】

Tang Zhen hesitated. “But… next semester, I’m going to B University Affiliated High School…”

【Zhen, you’ll be at two different schools. The campus is huge. You won’t run into him.】

Tang Zhen rested her chin on her hand, uncertain. “With my new identity, really, no one will suspect anything?”

【Zhen, don’t worry. Your new identity will have a perfectly reasonable and legitimate explanation!】

Soon Tang Zhen discovered what this “reasonable and legitimate” explanation was.

The main system had arranged a classic “switched at birth” scenario.

So she didn’t need to change her body or identity. She was still herself. Originally, she had no relation to Tang’s mother; it had been Tang’s mother and President Liu who had switched babies. Now, everything was returned to where it belonged.

Returning to high school was also President Liu’s decision. He considered her previous school inadequate, so he arranged her withdrawal and had her retake the entrance exams.

Tang Zhen: …

It could even be like this…

At least her new identity was now firmly established.

Even if she encountered people like Tiantian, she wouldn’t need to pretend not to know them.

According to 111, even if she and Ren Yanjing were in the same city, as long as she didn’t reveal her identity, they wouldn’t cross paths again.

She could finally begin a free, new life.

Without missions, Tang Zhen and 111 had some leisure time.

She spent her first New Year in her new home. During the holiday, she met many new friends—all good people.

Occasionally, she would think of Ren Yanjing, Ren Yanfu, Ren Yanli, and Ren Yanen, but she and 111 tacitly avoided mentioning them.

Time passed quickly until the sixth day of the lunar new year.

That day, B University held a micro-calculus competition, a top-tier contest among academic elites. Tang Zhen’s new older cousin had already staked out a spot in B University’s livestream room, pulling her along to watch.

Cousin: “Let’s observe the intellectual duel between top scholars.”

It was the preliminary round, with nearly a hundred participants. Each question had a three-minute time limit, and exceeding it meant automatic elimination.

Her cousin’s eyes sparkled. “Although I’m a poor student, I really admire the top scholars.”

Then she asked Tang Zhen, “My dear little cousin, how’s your calculus going?”

Tang Zhen blinked her beautiful eyes and shook her head honestly. “Not well.”

Her cousin nudged her with a shoulder and teased, laughing, “Looks like we’re evenly matched. Neither of us looks down on the other.”

The cameraman didn’t show every participant; he randomly focused on a few contestants.

Those selected were all quick with their answers and had advanced to the next round.

The announcer on stage said into the microphone, “Eliminated contestants, please leave the venue.”

The lecture hall emptied quickly, a large portion of seats suddenly vacant.

With fewer people around, the remaining contestants stood out even more.

Tang Zhen hadn’t intended to look, but her eyes immediately found Ren Yanjing sitting upright in his seat.

It had been over a week since she last saw him. He seemed slightly thinner, his hair cut shorter, the jawline sharper and cleaner, radiating an exceptional aura.

Cold, noble, and detached.

Her cousin noticed immediately as well. “Wow, that guy is so handsome!”

Her cousin had been abroad all these years, only returning for the New Year, and would go back overseas after the holiday. She had never seen videos of Tang Zhen and Ren Yanjing together and didn’t know their relationship.

Her cousin, full of gossip, whispered, “I wonder if he’s single.” Before Tang Zhen could respond, she added, “But looking at him, there’s no way he’s single.”

Tang Zhen instinctively asked, “Why not?”

“Because he’s too handsome and a top student. His luck with admirers must be through the roof.”

Tang Zhen said nothing.

After the preliminary round came the semifinals. When a certain girl appeared on the camera, her cousin said, “This girl is really strong.”

Tang Zhen wasn’t surprised to see Li Ran.

She was the only girl among the four semifinalists.

The semifinal questions were harder than the preliminary round.

The time limit for each answer was four minutes.

In the preliminary round, contestants answered while seated. But in the semifinals, they had to go on stage and write their answers on the blackboard.

They had to finish each question within four minutes, and the two with the most correct answers would advance to the finals.

In the arena, aside from the chalk scraping against the blackboard, there was complete silence.

It came as no surprise that the two finalists were Ren Yanjing and Li Ran.

Her cousin’s curiosity peaked. “Oh my gosh, this is a showdown between the top male and female scholars.”

“They’re both incredible.”

Tang Zhen smiled faintly, sincerely agreeing, “They really are amazing.”

Both were top-tier scholars.

Otherwise, how could they be the male and female leads?

“Do top scholars clash fiercely, or do they respect each other?” her cousin mused, propping her chin with her hand. “But with one male and one female top scholar, I guess mutual respect is more likely?”

Tang Zhen whispered, “Probably.”

Yet, contrary to her cousin’s speculation, the atmosphere at the competition was tense and confrontational.

Between the semifinals and finals, there was a ten-minute break.

This short interval was specifically for contestants to adjust their state.

Ren Yanjing casually picked a seat in the first row to rest. Li Ran stood before him, chatting casually, “See, Ren Yanjing, we’re on the same wavelength.”

In a micro-calculus PK contest, they might compete against each other, but they could also be allies—friends who encouraged each other, advancing side by side.

Could Tang Zhen understand that?

She understood nothing!

Ren Yanjing said coolly, “Too many people are on my wavelength.”

Whether it was Zhang Mian, Shen Quanli, or Du Qiyou, the six members of the Future team all counted as people on his wavelength. They understood each other’s dreams, knew each other’s ambitions, and worked hard together toward their goals.

But so what?

He already had trusted friends and companions.

Li Ran, incredulous, said, “Can you even have too many friends?”

What’s one more friend?

Ren Yanjing: “No, but that person will not be you.”

He had always had many friends, and would have more in the future. But he could not be friends with Li Ran, nor could they be companions. They would remain strangers.

Li Ran struggled to maintain her composure. “That’s so unfair! Does the Future team know you’re being so capricious?”

One more ally would have made their future path smoother.

Yet, because of his tiny prejudice against her, he wouldn’t even give her a chance at friendship!

As the leader of Future, wasn’t his behavior unfair?

Ren Yanjing, a bit impatient, noticed the ten-minute break was almost over. He stood and said flatly, “I don’t care if they know or not.”

“Anyway…”

He paused slightly, then continued, “My heart has always been biased.”