The distance between them was uncomfortably close.
Zhang Haoran was already displeased by Zhao Chen's earlier indifference. Now that an opportunity had presented itself, he seized it eagerly, deliberately bringing up his relationship with Jiang Shasha.
Jiang Shasha frowned faintly.
She had only agreed to spend some time with Zhang Haoran—not to openly declare anything. His words were premature, and that displeased her.
Zhao Chen finally raised his head.
He glanced at Zhang Haoran once and replied with a single word.
"Oh."
Zhang Haoran's expression stiffened.
What was going on?
Wasn't this man supposed to be obsessed with Jiang Shasha? Weren't barons from backwater systems supposed to cling desperately to what little pride they had left?
Even Jiang Shasha looked at Zhao Chen in surprise.
Something about him felt… different.
"Heh," Zhang Haoran sneered, irritation surfacing. "A useless baron really is a useless baron. A piece of trash who's achieved nothing."
Li Wei finally lost his patience. "Zhang Haoran, don't go too far."
Zhao Chen's gaze flicked over calmly.
"And who are you?" he asked evenly. "If I'm a useless baron, then you're not even that.
"If I remember correctly, you failed your finals three years in a row. If not for your father's connections, you'd have been expelled long ago."
His tone was flat.
The words were lethal.
Zhang Haoran's face flushed red. Anger and embarrassment twisted together—this was his sore spot, the one thing he never allowed others to mention.
"So what if I have connections!" Zhang Haoran snapped. "My father already arranged a T2 starship for me next semester!
"And you?"
He laughed loudly.
"You'll probably scrape together a T1 relic at best. During live combat training, your ship will be nothing but target practice!"
[Triggering Random Task…]
[Task detected: Challenge Zhang Haoran to a starship duel and defeat him.]
[Do you wish to accept?]
Zhao Chen's heart skipped.
A random task—now?
Defeating Zhang Haoran wouldn't be easy, but compared to his quarterly mission, this was far more achievable.
More importantly, completing it would grant a task point.
System points alone weren't enough. Every exchange in the system store required a corresponding task point. A single T1 item needed both.
And right now, a task point was exactly what Zhao Chen lacked.
"Don't take it personally," Zhang Haoran continued smugly. "Facts are facts. I suggest you crawl back to your remote territory before you embarrass yourself further."
He mistook Zhao Chen's silence for shock.
Jiang Shasha said nothing. Zhang Haoran's words were harsh, but if they finally made Zhao Chen understand the gap between them… perhaps this was for the best.
Then Zhao Chen smiled.
Not wide.
Not warm.
Just faintly.
"Who's embarrassing himself," Zhao Chen said softly, "isn't decided yet."
For the first time, he met Zhang Haoran's eyes directly.
There was no anger in them.
Only amusement.
'Confirm task.'
[Random Task accepted.]
[Task: Issue a starship duel to Zhang Haoran and defeat him.] [Difficulty: D-rank] [Reward: 1 task point, 300 system points] [Failure penalty: −300 system points]
Zhao Chen noted the penalty calmly.
He currently had only 100 points.
Failure would plunge him into debt.
"You don't even own a starship!" Zhang Haoran roared, pointing at Zhao Chen. "What right do you have to talk like this? You should've packed up and left North Star long ago!"
"Then duel me."
Zhao Chen lifted his academy ID card from his collar.
The card was more than identification—it granted access to nearly every system within the academy.
Including starship duels.
Zhang Haoran froze, then burst out laughing as he stepped closer.
"A duel? You and me?"
"You don't even have a ship. What will you fight me with—your mouth?"
"Not today," Zhao Chen said evenly. "There's still one month before the semester ends. The duel will be scheduled before then.
"If I lose, I'll withdraw from the academy."
The room fell silent.
"And if you lose?" Zhao Chen asked, eyes hollow.
"I'll withdraw!" Zhang Haoran shot back instantly.
The situation had spiraled beyond anyone's expectations.
Li Wei jumped up and shoved Zhang Haoran aside, standing protectively in front of Zhao Chen.
"If you want a duel, fight me!"
Zhang Haoran glanced at Li Wei and shrugged. "Everyone here saw it. Zhao Chen proposed the duel."
Li Wei's background was formidable. Zhang Haoran had no intention of provoking unnecessary trouble.
"Li Wei," Zhao Chen said quietly, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Let me handle this."
"But—"
"If you still consider me a friend," Zhao Chen said seriously, "then trust me."
Li Wei clenched his fists, then stepped back.
A holographic interface materialized between Zhao Chen and Zhang Haoran.
[Third-year student Zhao Chen challenges third-year student Zhang Haoran to a starship duel.] [Timeframe: within one month.] [Confirm?]
Students nearby gathered, murmurs spreading rapidly.
Starship duels were rare. They were real combat—damaged hulls, destroyed systems, even casualties.
North Star Academy saw only a handful each month.
"I don't know where you get your confidence," Zhang Haoran said coldly, tapping his ID card against the projection, "but you'll regret this."
Confirmation flashed.
The duel was registered in the academy database.
Only the date remained undecided.
"Have you finished eating?" Zhao Chen asked calmly, standing. "If so, let's go."
Li Wei nodded numbly and followed him out.
Behind them, Zhang Haoran sneered.
A man without a starship challenging him?
Ridiculous.
"Sasha, don't worry," Zhang Haoran said confidently. "Once I defeat him and drive him out of the academy, he'll never bother you again."
Jiang Shasha watched Zhao Chen's retreating figure.
For reasons she couldn't explain, unease stirred in her chest.
From beginning to end…
He had never once looked her in the eye.
Had he truly let go?
Or was this just an act?
The thought unsettled her more than she expected.