The Domination System, but Twenty Years Early

Blurb:

The year Yu Xuanbai was in the middle class of kindergarten, an electronic voice suddenly appeared in his mind.

The electronic voice called itself the System and told him to seize the protagonist, Jiang Qiu, by force, take him from his nemesis, get together with him and build a business empire, destroy his rival's company, and become the richest man in the world.

Yu Xuanbai, lying on his father's back and trying hard to bite his lollipop: Huh? What are you talking about? I'm just a baby. I don't understand.

*

As the System tried to persuade him and explain things, a transfer student arrived in his class. The newcomer's name was Jiang Qiu.

He was so pretty and delicate that he looked like the finest doll in a display case. While Yu Xuanbai stared blankly, the class troublemaker, who loved stealing other people's snacks, rushed over with a new toy.

"Here, you can play with this. From now on, I'm your first friend here!"

[Ding ding ding! Quest triggered: At the party, badmouth the protagonist Jiang Qiu's nemesis and drive a wedge between them.]

Yu Xuanbai looked at the simple welcome stickers and streamers in the classroom and stared for a few seconds.

Is this the kind of party they show in TV dramas? The grown-up world is so hard to understand...

He had no idea who the nemesis was. He was only trying to be kind when he warned his new classmate, "He licked this toy all over yesterday."

Jiang Qiu had just grabbed the pirate cutlass. Hearing this, he burst into tears. "Waaah, you meanie! I'm never playing with you again!"

[Ding ding ding! Quest complete! Congratulations, Host. You have gained 1 point.]

Yu Xuanbai: I don't understand, but I'd better take the new kid to wash his hands. After all, I'm the class monitor.

*

Later, the children stumble and bumble their way through to high school, when Jiang Qiu's family suddenly goes bankrupt.

The once-refined, beautiful little prince is kicked out of his home. The news spreads throughout the school overnight, and everyone looks at Jiang Qiu with a little more sympathy.

The System now sends him a key quest: seize the protagonist by force and lock him up at home as a caged bird.

Yu Xuanbai ignores the nonsense echoing in his mind and hurries to Jiang Qiu.

He finds his friend in a corner, reaches out to pull him up, brushes the dust off his clothes, and asks, "Do you want to come over to my house today?"

In the original story, Jiang Qiu was supposed to cry and tell Yu Xuanbai to get lost. Instead, he grips his hand tightly.

He wipes away his tears and willingly goes home with him.

*

Tips:

1. Short story, very short.

2. Both leads are each other's first; happy ending. Check the tags.

3. There are several other short stories in my collection. Please feel free to read them.

4. In-line comments are enabled. I'll read all the comments, and the author never deletes them.

5. Criticism is fine, but please don't give unsolicited writing advice. You don't need to tell me if you're dropping the story.

Theme: Hold fast to the green mountain and never let go