After Transmigrating into a Book, I Stole the Protagonist

Chapter 1

Gu Han ran across campus, his handsome face tense as he checked the cheap watch on his wrist.

A few people turned to look at him as he passed.

Some girls nearby followed him with their eyes, whispering to each other, their cheeks faintly flushed.

Gu Han did not notice any of it. He just kept running.

As he turned a corner, he caught the sound of footsteps ahead.

Too late.

He tried to stop, sneakers scraping against the ground, but the momentum carried him forward.

A slim figure slammed into his chest and staggered back.

Gu Han reacted instantly, his arm snapping out to wrap around a narrow waist, pulling the other person back before they could fall.

He looked down—and immediately cursed his luck.

Before he could speak, Chu Mingxi was already frowning.

"Gu Han! What do you think you're doing? First you arrive late, and now you're running around like this?"

Gu Han sighed and arranged his expression into something passably sincere. He was about to apologize, but his mind was caught.

Up close, Chu Mingxi really was... unfair.

Clear skin, sharp brows, eyes that always seemed just a little too cold—and yet, there was something faintly soft about the lines of his face, just enough to blur the edge.

If that face ever softened into a smile...

A sharp jab to his stomach cut the thought short.

"Are you even listening?!" Chu Mingxi snapped.

Gu Han hissed, more out of reflex than pain.

The reaction made Chu Mingxi's expression shift immediately.

His eyes sharpened.

Without thinking, he grabbed the hem of Gu Han's shirt and lifted it.

Muscle, tight and well-defined, flashed into view—but Chu Mingxi wasn't looking at that.

His gaze locked onto the dark bruise blooming along Gu Han's side.

His lips pressed into a thin line.

"Hey," Gu Han said, one brow lifting. "Class Monitor, you know this could count as sexual harassment, right?"

As if only just realizing what he'd done, Chu Mingxi dropped the shirt at once. He glanced around quickly, only relaxing when no one seemed to be paying attention.

Then he looked back at Gu Han, frowning.

"Why are you still fighting?" he demanded. "Didn't you say you'd stop hanging out with those people?"

Gu Han felt a headache coming on.

He had no interest in those idiots. Unfortunately, they didn't seem to have gotten the message.

Yesterday, on his way back from the supermarket, a few of them had decided to "catch up" with him. One had even managed to land a lucky hit before Gu Han shut it down.

This body really needed more work.

"What can I say?" Gu Han shrugged. "They like me too much."

Chu Mingxi's frown deepened, clearly ready to continue.

Gu Han didn't give him the chance.

He slung an arm casually over Chu Mingxi's shoulders, steering him forward.

"Come on, Class Monitor, cut me some slack. I stayed at the library with you all evening yesterday—doesn't that count for something?"

Chu Mingxi stiffened but didn't pull away.

"And," Gu Han added, lowering his voice slightly, "I bought the ingredients for that pork cutlet you wanted. If you stop nagging, I'll make it for you tonight."

Chu Mingxi hesitated.

Then, with obvious reluctance, he clicked his tongue.

"...Fine. But this isn't over."

Gu Han grinned.

They made it to class just before the professor arrived.

Gu Han dropped into his seat, staring at the board like it had personally offended him.

Although it was an introductory course, it might as well have been written in another language.

Chu Mingxi shot him a warning look from the side.

Gu Han held out for a solid three minutes.

Then his eyelids started to droop.

While the professor droned on about the nervous system, Gu Han lowered his head onto his arms and closed his eyes.

Things had changed too fast.

One day, he'd been having dinner at his boss's house, celebrating a successful mission.

The next, he'd woken up here—stuck in someone else's life, surrounded by textbooks he couldn't understand.

All because he'd sat there listening to the boss's daughter ramble about some web novel.

He still didn't get half the terms she'd used.

But he'd understood enough.

This body belonged to some disposable side character—an annoying thug who got himself beaten half to death for pestering someone he shouldn't have.

And that someone...

Gu Han cracked one eye open, glancing sideways.

Chu Mingxi sat upright, focused on the lecture, expression cool and distant as always.

...was supposed to be the center of it all.

Gu Han closed his eyes again.

Whatever.

He had no interest in following anyone else's script.

If he was stuck here, he'd live his own life.

A sharp jab to his side woke him up.

Class was over.

Gu Han straightened, rubbing his ribs, and turned his head.

Chu Mingxi was already packing his things, his expression tight.

...Ah. Still angry.

Gu Han exhaled.

Out of everything in this new life, this was definitely the hardest part.

Wasn't this guy supposed to hate him?

So why—

why was he always paying attention to him?