Professor 1
The role Tang Xi had to play this time was that of a genius but socially withdrawn young researcher.
[This is the ‘wealthy’ character you were talking about?] Tang Xi got up from the floor, looking completely incredulous.
He didn’t forget to question the system.
1551: [Yeah! His parents passed away two years ago, leaving him a fortune. Plus, you’re a researcher, so money isn’t an issue for you.]
[That’s not the point! The original character’s personality wouldn’t even allow me to spend that money!]
Tang Xi felt a deep pang of heartache at the thought that, in this world, he wouldn’t be able to eat cake or meat.
Not even a cup of milk tea.
The original character was a child with autistic tendencies. His meals were strictly fixed, and there was no way he would willingly eat anything different.
They say when God closes a door for you, he will leave a window for you. The original character wasn’t just an ordinary socially withdrawn child—he was a genius.
A prodigy who, at just eighteen years old, had been exceptionally admitted into a prestigious research institute.
He should have been a dazzling talent, yet his social withdrawal made his presence barely noticeable even after being recruited. He kept to himself, avoiding social interactions, and even conducted all his experiments alone.
His parents had been wealthy business people. Once they accepted his autism, they paved the way for him, allowing him to work in the lab without joining any teams. That was how he could seclude himself, tinker away in solitude, and still receive a salary.
Tang Xi sighed. What a tragic fate.
In fact, thanks to his parents’ relentless efforts, his autism had improved significantly. But a year ago, they died in a plane crash, causing his condition to deteriorate again.
Like a shellfish retreating into its heavy shell after being wounded by the outside world—sealing himself off completely, shutting out even the faintest ray of light.
After finally catching his breath, Tang Xi’s first instinct was to look in the mirror.
A delicate-looking young man gazed back at him with innocent eyes, his cat-like pupils filled with a dazed ignorance of the world.
[Why do I look exactly the same?]
Tang Xi touched his face, only to realize—it wasn’t just a resemblance. This was his actual body.
The system, feeling guilty, quickly explained eagerly:
1551: [That’s because, in the original storyline, this character was supposed to die in three years. We couldn’t just forcibly push his soul out, right? So we sent him to another world—one that’s more suitable for him. That way, you could take over his body instead.]
And they even conveniently changed the name to make it easier for him to adapt.
[I see.]
Tang Xi was curious. [So, how does he die in three years?]
He had only received the original character’s existing memories. As for the plot details, he wouldn’t get them until he met the villain or the protagonist.
The system, sweating profusely behind the scenes: [Stomach disease.]
???
Tang Xi suddenly understood why he had just felt that intense stomachache.
Even though he had transmigrated into this body, all the illnesses had carried over as well—giving him zero chances to act out of character.
He recalled the original character’s lifestyle and realized that ever since his parents passed, he hadn’t eaten breakfast for two years. For lunch, he only ate one specific flavor of instant noodles, and for dinner, he ate another flavor.
This had been going on for a whole year.
No wonder he developed stomach disease.
And because of his autism, he refused to change his habits. So, unless he wanted to break character, he’d have to keep living like this for the next three years.
Tiny cat face of despair.jpg
Tang Xi decided to ignore the system. He followed the original character’s routine and took a shower.
The system’s memory transmission hadn’t just given him knowledge—it even included muscle memory. His shower time matched the original character’s down to the second.
The only time he felt free from the constraints of autism was when he curled up on the bed like a cat. But to maintain the persona, he still turned off the lights and went to bed at exactly ten o’clock.
Even the way he slept was rigid—lying flat on his back, hands placed neatly over his abdomen.
Tang Xi: I don’t feel like I’m going to sleep—I feel like I’m being laid to rest in a coffin.
He didn’t need an alarm clock—he woke up automatically at exactly 6:30.
The first thing he did was head to the bathroom to wash up.
He brushed his teeth for exactly five minutes—not a second more, not a second less.
Even the number of sips of water he drank remained unchanged.
Tang Xi went to the research institute on an empty stomach. His parents had specifically bought him a house near the institute, so he only needed a fifteen-minute walk to get there.
Once he arrived, everyone treated him as if he were invisible. No one greeted him, and when they passed by, they didn’t even spare him a glance.
Unlike the enthusiastic classmates from his previous world, the researchers here were mostly older, serious, and busy. They had no interest in paying attention to a junior. As for the younger ones, even those who initially tried to be friendly with his original self eventually gave up due to his withdrawn personality.
Moreover, his original self only cared about his research. In many people’s eyes, he was nothing more than an oddball who had gotten in through connections.
They didn’t know he had autism—they just assumed he was arrogant and antisocial.
That, however, worked to Tang Xi’s advantage. In fact, it was the only good thing about this persona.
Without hesitation, he walked straight to his designated spot and resumed the research he had left unfinished the day before.
The research institute had many rooms, but Tang Xi wasn’t qualified to have his own lab yet. He could only work in the common area. Although it was called a shared space, in practice, everyone had their own assigned sections and rarely intruded on each other’s territory.
And those who had their own laboratories rarely came to this area.
“Alright, everyone, gather around!”
It was hard to tell how much time had passed—long enough that Tang Xi felt his vision blur from staring at the petri dish—when someone finally called for a stop.
A kind-looking elderly man with white hair stood in the center. He was the director of the research institute.
Seeing that he had everyone’s attention, he nodded in satisfaction and announced, “Professor Duan Sifei will be coming shortly to select an assistant. Anyone interested, please gather here.”
The name Duan Sifei was renowned—not only was he well-known in the academic circle, but he was also recognized outside the circle.
Tang Xi had no intention of joining the commotion. He simply lowered his head and continued his experiment.
However, less than five minutes later, a commotion erupted at the entrance.
Curiosity gnawed at him. Like a cat, he had an almost unbearable urge to see what was happening. But instead, he had the system relay it to him.
This was the first time he had interacted with the system since getting upset. 1551 immediately rushed to provide a real-time broadcast: [The villain himself is here to pick someone.]
Although it was officially called “choosing an assistant,” in reality, it was more like selecting a personal disciple—someone who would receive exclusive mentorship.
Naturally, everyone was eager to be chosen, vying for the opportunity with enthusiasm.
In the research field, age wasn’t the deciding factor. Even older researchers who lacked sufficient achievements were eager to seize this chance.
[He doesn’t seem satisfied yet… He’s coming this way.]
As soon as 1551 finished speaking, the system transmitted the storyline to Tang Xi.
He could only receive storyline updates when major characters appeared within his visible range.
Absorbing the new plot details all at once made him momentarily pause his work to process the information.
Originally, he had assumed this world’s villain would be an old man—or at best, a middle-aged professor. But to his surprise, just like He Wang from his previous world, Duan Sifei was also young and accomplished—only twenty-eight years old.
The moment Duan Sifei entered, his gaze swept past the crowd and landed directly on a researcher in the corner.
Through the layers of eager and overly attentive people around him, he spotted Tang Xi at first glance.
The boy looked small—so small that for a second, Duan Sifei wondered if the institute was employing child labor.
Sitting quietly, completely absorbed in his work, he seemed like someone who would be fun to tease.
Duan Sifei smirked inwardly but maintained a gentle smile. He raised a hand and pointed in Tang Xi’s direction. “That one.”
Though his expression was warm, his tone left no room for refusal.
The director followed his gaze and hesitated for a moment before motioning for someone to call Tang Xi over.
Tang Xi, who had been singled out, blinked in confusion, set down his tools, and walked over. His face, however, showed clear displeasure.
He hated being interrupted while conducting research. Any unexpected event that disrupted his workflow would instinctively be met with resistance and dislike.
Someone standing beside Duan Sifei muttered in a low voice, “That guy’s always gloomy. You’ll definitely regret choosing him.”
Duan Sifei’s smile didn’t waver, but he turned his head slightly and gave the speaker a single glance.
That was all it took to silence him.
Chen Duan shrank back instinctively. He couldn’t explain why, but despite the professor’s gentle smile, a chill ran down his spine.
Meanwhile, completely unaware of the situation, Tang Xi shuffled forward slowly.
He pursed his lips, refusing to speak, and instead focused intently on his shoes—almost as if he were trying to find hidden patterns on his clean white sneakers.
Duan Sifei bent down slightly, his tone as soft as if coaxing a child. “Would you like to come with me?”
But the little autistic cat that was Tang Xi didn’t answer. He simply shifted his gaze—from his shoes to his shoelaces.
Duan Sifei didn’t show any anger at being ignored. Instead, he let out a soft chuckle.
He had an undeniably handsome face. People often joked that he could easily rely on his looks but chose to rely on his talent instead. His deep-set eyes, hidden behind gold-rimmed glasses, carried an air of mystery. Despite the constant polite smile on his lips, there was an overwhelming sense of pressure about him.
Someone nearby wanted to urge Tang Xi to respond, but they were stopped.
Duan Sifei patiently repeated his question a few more times, and finally, Tang Xi reacted.
“No.”
His voice was so soft it sounded like he was talking to himself.
Duan Sifei was close enough to hear it clearly. He wasn’t discouraged. Instead, he gave Tang Xi a meaningful look and said, “That’s a shame. I hope you’ll change your mind. You can come to me anytime you want.”
Even after being rejected so directly, he maintained his gentlemanly demeanor, making no attempt to force him.
Tang Xi, however, remained indifferent. Without sparing him a glance, he turned and went back to his workstation.
He knew the villain wouldn’t let him off so easily.
In the original storyline, the villain was a deeply twisted individual—once he set his sights on something, he would stop at nothing to obtain it.
When he became interested in the protagonist shou, the protagonist shou kept him at arm’s length while also toying with other people.
So, the villain killed them all.
His methods were extremely cruel, his execution nearly flawless.
The police never even suspected him—until he finally reached for the protagonist gong.
But that man was someone blessed by fate. Even against the villain’s meticulous planning, he remained unscathed and even managed to stab him during their confrontation.
That single wound was what ultimately exposed the villain’s identity as a serial killer, leading to his conviction and eventual death sentence.
This was a villain who had killed before.
A villain who could dismember him without leaving a trace.
Tang Xi’s hands trembled as he picked up the research report, but he couldn’t afford to show fear. More importantly, he couldn’t let it be noticed.
He had to stay focused on his experiment.
Following the system’s step-by-step guidance, he restarted the experiment.
In the original plot, Duan Sifei was supposed to leave this place without finding anyone he fancied. It was only later that the protagonist shou caught his interest.
Tang Xi didn’t understand why the plot was already shifting when he hadn’t done anything. He only knew one thing—he couldn’t let Duan Sifei fall for the protagonist shou.
Because the moment he killed someone, the mission would be a failure.
Aside from completing the mission, Tang Xi now had a new goal.
—He would reclaim the glory that rightfully belonged to the original character of this body.
Author’s note:
Regarding the cat’s autism—everything is for the sake of the plot (QwQ). You can think of it as a parallel world where autism is different from how it is on Earth.
In reality, autism makes communication much more difficult and requires our understanding and acceptance~
I’m speechless at the author’s note ToT At least they’re self aware haha This new arc seems interesting~