I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

No matter how hard you try, you can only come in second place in the end... You feel a little disappointed because you realize that you may not be able to fulfill your promise to your teacher... because that person who is only admired and not envied has already appeared in front of you.

[What's worse is that as time goes by, your situation gets worse and worse... and you start hearing "rumors" about you again.]

You're all too familiar with this kind of thing.

[And perhaps because everyone has grown up in high school, learned more, and become more proactive... their actions became unusually excessive this time, almost instantly escalating into something akin to "bullying."]

Even your dorm room wasn't spared. You still remember the day you returned to your dorm; your room was so messy it looked like it had been ransacked... What's worse, even when you went to find a practice room during your free time, people would come and bother you, just to interfere with your practice... It was truly disgusting.

You're feeling a bit irritable because the current bad situation is overlapping with past memories, even worse than before... All of this is making your thoughts chaotic and your mood increasingly worse.

[Furthermore, having suffered a severe blow to your talent and abilities, you now lack even the energy to prove yourself to others—because the existence of Eden makes your efforts seem extremely…boring.]

"It doesn't feel as good as... Eden"—no matter how hard you try, this is the only evaluation you'll receive in the end, and you might even be disliked and ridiculed.

It's truly... disgusting.

They did nothing wrong, they clearly saw your efforts, yet they can so easily invoke Eden to suppress you and verbally attack you... It's truly disgusting.

You're getting a little annoyed; some of the darkness buried deep inside you is starting to surface.

[I'm thinking of "getting rid of" them all, in a physical sense... anyway, it's quite simple, pens, bows, things like that... as long as I find the right spot, I can just take them out... wait, no, what are you thinking?!]

[You realize that you have such terrible thoughts, and quickly shake your head to get rid of them... Then you wonder why you know this method of killing that can "kill with one blow"—it's terrifying.]

You think you've probably encountered too many bad things lately, and you feel you should take a break and clear your head. Otherwise, these thoughts might affect your music, and could even lead to...something unpleasant happening.

[You sought help from your teacher and the school. After understanding your request and considering it for a period of time, the school found you a place where you could avoid being harassed by others and also where you could clear your mind.]

--------

"Hey? Our second-place player is in such a hurry today? Where are they going?"

Her long, silvery-white hair swayed gently, and her crimson pupils glanced at Hope, who had already packed her things and stood up. The girl's lips curled up slightly, and she asked in a tone that carried a hint of strangeness.

"Even if you go early today, you won't be able to get a practice room, okay? If you want to practice... you'll have to wait until tonight at the earliest. With so much free time... why don't you just come out with me? We're having a party and need someone to accompany us. You can perform and practice at the same time, hehehe..."

"...Thank you for your concern, Erjia."

Xi Wang paused slightly, then smiled and shook her head, denying it softly.

"I'm not looking for a music room."

Because I know I absolutely cannot find it.

"I have other things to do today, as for the party invitation..."

The so-called gathering was just a way to drag me there to be free performing labor, to turn me into a heartless playing machine... I couldn't even choose the pieces I wanted; I could only play the pieces you specified. This wasn't practice at all; you just wanted to drag me there to laugh at me and enjoy the process of conducting me.

"I'm sorry, please allow me to decline your invitation. I do have something to do today."

I've been through all of this before, so I won't go.

"Really? That's a real shame."

Elgar sighed, seemingly with some regret, but her words unconsciously carried a hint of mockery... How strange.

"Can you tell me what you're going to do? [Hope] classmate~ Hehe..."

Erjia asked casually, making another pun on Xiwang's name, and even chuckled twice at the end of her sentence, the meaning of which was ambiguous.

"I don't think our relationship is that good yet..."

"Don't say that, okay? After all, I'm the third one, right behind you, you know? We're both being overshadowed by the first one, so shouldn't we be closer to each other?"

"...There shouldn't be any connection between them."

Xi Wang shook her head, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and quickly left the classroom.

"Also, thank you for your concern and invitation, Erjia."

"……whispering sound."

Watching Xi Wang's departing figure, Erjia's smile quickly faded, and she pouted with some annoyance and resentment.

"Elja, you don't need to pay so much attention to him, do you?"

A girl who seemed to be close to Erjia moved closer and asked in a low voice with a hint of doubt.

"Even if he has excellent grades, you should know that he is not popular. If you associate with him, you will also be disliked by others."

“…I hope you won’t bring this up again, Irina.”

Erjia responded calmly.

"You wouldn't happen to have a crush on him, would you? Come to think of it, he is indeed a good person. He's good-looking, has excellent manners, and is also very talented and academically gifted. The only problem is that he's a bit of a 'player'..."

"Irina! Stop your love-struck nonsense!"

As if provoked, Elgar shouted sharply.

"I see... It seems you do have some feelings for him. Is it because he can tolerate your eccentric personality? Or is it because of the talent he has shown... But as the young lady of [Hidakoro], you should have more candidates, right?"

"........."

Erjia's gaze gradually turned cold.

"...Ahem, okay, okay, I had a brain fart, I was just talking nonsense, don't look at me like that, we're best friends, right...?"

“If you talk nonsense again, I’ll report you to Auntie for serializing an 18+ comic, and your brother even bought it without your knowledge.”

"No way! Do you want me to die?!"

"What does that have to do with me?!"

Elga pushed Irina away in frustration. There was really nothing Elga could do about her best friend, who was clearly very talented in art but spent all her time thinking about random things and focusing all her energy on some "not good" things... What could she do when their families were old friends?

"But it's hard to imagine... that you would fall in love with someone."

Irina has started again.

"However, if you want to gain someone's favor... you'd better change your personality and behavior, otherwise you'll scare them away, and... you'd better control your emotions."

"I want you to take care of it?!"

Erjia glared at her best friend, who was always thinking nonsense, frowned, and then emphasized it again.

"I've already said I don't like him, and I don't have any feelings for him."

"I haven't even said who it is yet~"

"I didn't say who it was."

"...Cough, miscalculation, but we all know who you're referring to, don't we? What's wrong with admitting it a little... Hey! Don't call! That's unethical! I... I was wrong!!!"

…………

knock --

"Sorry to bother you..."

A gentle knock sounded on the door, followed by a soft inquiry.

It was a beautiful female voice that was highly recognizable. Anyone from this school who had heard her voice could recognize her immediately.

Those still in the classroom looked up and, unsurprisingly, saw her.

Wine-red long hair, eyes as bright as gold, and an enviable figure that would make most girls feel ashamed, paired with that stunning face... Yes, it really is her, Eden.

"Excuse me... Xi Wang... um... is that his name? Is he here?"

When he read the name, Eden couldn't help but smile slightly.

Eden loves this name because the meaning of the word "dawn" or "hope" is... truly beautiful, just like her name, Eden.

"...You're too late. The first one had to leave early."

When Elgar saw Eden, a hint of displeasure flashed across her face. When she heard that Eden wanted to see Xiwang, she couldn't help but frown. But then, she still spoke.

"I see... Thank you for letting me know."

"...What do you want with him?"

"It's nothing, just some... trivial matters."

Eden shook his head, indicating that he hadn't come to see Xiwang for anything important. However, upon realizing he was late, Eden couldn't help but show a regretful expression as he turned to leave.

"........."

Elgar narrowed her eyes—she sensed something was wrong.

"........."

Irina narrowed her eyes—she felt there was some juicy gossip to come.

Fast forward to the chaotic scene, please! Then fast forward to the two girls fighting over a man, then fast forward to how, to find out who's more attractive, two beautiful girls with very different personalities kidnap the boy and take him to the basement, doing all sorts of things, and then making him decide who he likes better...

Finally, fast forward to the scene where Elgar is tied up in a corner, watching Eden do all sorts of things to others, unable to do anything but stand by in helpless rage!

Ah, the chilling scene involuntarily appears in my mind! Quick! Fast forward! Increase the intensity!

"Ah~ I can't take it anymore, I feel inspiration coming!"

"Irina! Put down your pen!!!"

Chapter Ten Eden: It's just... a little late (6008)

"Ugh……"

Carrying some simple luggage, Xi Wang walked along the road and subconsciously sighed. The pleasant mood that had surrounded her was replaced by frustration and depression, along with a little... irritability.

He didn't understand why simply extending kindness to others and helping with small things within his ability would ultimately provoke their disgust... or even intense targeting. Was this something wrong?

And if it were just that, it would be fine, but... once there is someone else doing the same thing but getting the completely opposite result to "compare", then the emotions in my heart will be constantly aroused... Why can others get friendly responses from others, while I have to be targeted?

Just because she comes from a good family, is beautiful, has a good personality, and also possesses top-notch talent and ability...?

Wow... looking at it this way, I really am no match for them at all.

"Ugh……"

Xi Wang sighed again, almost unconsciously.

He wasn't jealous of Eden or anything... mainly because Eden was clearly his [Pro Plus version], so it was normal for him to be more popular... and there was no need to be jealous. The problem wasn't with Eden, it was with the others.

And... a genius from a prestigious family... that's wonderful.