Rebirth Counterattack: I Heard That the Imperial Marshal Has a Crush on Me

Chu Muxi wandered around the school for a while, letting the tension that had built up throughout the day gradually dissipate. Since the morning, he had been through a whirlwind of emotions – worrying about his grandfather, scheming with Chu Tianhao, and now standing alone under the largest cherry blossom tree in his school, finally feeling a sense of relief upon hearing the news of his grandfather’s return.

This cherry blossom tree was remarkable because it had been growing naturally on the campus for hundreds of years, while most of the city’s flowers and plants were artificially cultivated in the New Interstellar Era.

Chu Muxi marveled at its beauty as the wind gently rustled the branches, showering him with fallen petals. Feeling a petal land on his lips, he instinctively stuck out his tongue and tasted its delicate sweetness.

‘Click’, the sound of someone taking photos interrupted his moment of reflection.

Startled, Chu Muxi turned to see two girls not far away, holding a device, frozen in embarrassment.

“You…” Chu Muxi furrowed his brows slightly.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, so sorry! We just happened to pass by and saw this beautiful scene. I couldn’t resist taking a photo. I apologize!” One of the girls with wavy hair blushed and repeatedly bowed in apology.

The other girl with short hair remained silent but had her head lowered shily.

Despite being somewhat annoyed at being randomly photographed, Chu Muxi’s gentlemanly manners prompted him to forgive the girls graciously.

“It’s alright, no need to be so nervous.” He said, reassuring them with a gentle smile.

The girl with wavy hair, taken aback by his gentle behavior, was stunned. When she looked up and saw his delicate features and his calm yet warm smile, her heart raced.

“You… you’re incredibly handsome,” she blurted out, her words expressing her admiration.

It was the first time someone had praised Chu Muxi in such a manner. The girl’s direct gaze made his heart race, and he cleared his throat, replying, “Thank you for the compliment. It seems like classes are about to start, and judging from your attire, you both must be freshmen. Be careful not to be late.”

The girls’ eyes widened in realization, and the one with wavy hair exclaimed, “Oh no! We’re going to be late!”

She promptly grabbed her companion and, while heading off to class, hesitated and asked Chu Muxi, “By the way, my name is An Ran. Can I ask for the senior’s name?”

Chu Muxi, with his hand casually tucked in his pocket, smiled and nodded. “Sure, I’m Chu Muxi.”

“Chu, Senior Chu, goodbye!” An Ran called out as she and her companions ran off.

Chu Muxi waved goodbye with the one hand. He watched them with a friendly smile as they disappeared into the distance.

.

An Ran, now some distance away, paused and patted her heart. She turned to her companions and said, “That senior is incredibly handsome and such a gentleman. Why haven’t I seen him before?”

“We’re just freshmen, and there are so many seniors. We probably haven’t had a chance to see him,” her companion replied.

“But his personality and voice are amazing. I might be in love with him at first sight. I used to think Tong Luo was attractive but now I think he’s not even close to Senior Chu,” An Ran gushed.

“Shh,” her companion cautioned, looking around discreetly. “Don’t say that. You don’t want to offend Tong Luo’s fans.”

“He’s just good at makeup, let me tell you. I saw him doing a photoshoot, and when he looked up, I could see right through his nose. It looked artificial and completely unnatural,”

An Ran’s family had a background in medical aesthetics, making her more attuned to the details of appearance and emotional nuances. In the New Interstellar Era, many people turned to artificial enhancement if they were not satisfied with their natural appearance, but the difference between natural beauty and artificial sculpting was quite noticeable. Artificial enhancements often had a more AI-like quality, with fading expressions.

Despite the rise of artificial intelligences in the entertainment industry, some people continued to protest, advocating for the revival of traditional film and television and a return to human emotions.

While many were enthralled by interstellar blockbusters and the sensory and visual stimulation they offered, a movement persisted to rekindle the essence of traditional filmmaking and explore the depth of human emotion.

.

Chu Muxi’s transfer to the Performance Department caught the attention of his classmates and the professor. The old professor, who had been ready to begin his lecture, was taken aback by the unusual situation.

“Who are you?” he inquired, his aging eyes fixed on Chu Muxi, who was a new and unfamiliar face in the department.

Chu Muxi introduced himself with a pleasant smile, “I’m a student who just transferred from the Department of Finance to the Department of Performance. My name is Chu Muxi.”

The student who had suddenly woken up from his slumber was utterly shocked. “Wait a minute. Are you telling me that you’re not the new student they referred to as a fool?”

Chu Muxi maintained his innocent smile and replied to the old professor, “I really have a strong interest in the Performance Department.”

The professor and the unknown student fell into stunned silence, unable to grasp the rationale behind this decision. They exchanged glances, wondering if the new student was out of his mind.