The Lecture of Flawless Boredom
Li Tianyi, adhering to his twin sister Tianyu's mandate, sat through the high-level Corporate Strategy lecture at Imperial Star University. He found the professor's theories on market growth utterly predictable, based on data that his internal future knowledge had long rendered obsolete.
He focused on being flawlessly bored—leaning back, occasionally letting a single, insightful question slip out that subtly dismantled the entire premise of the lecture, thereby demonstrating his innate superiority without undue effort.
The expected rival, Zhao Lei, the heir of the House of Lionheart, approached during the break. Zhao Lei was handsome, competitive, and carried the heavy arrogance of old pharmaceutical money.
"Li Tianyi," Zhao Lei began, attempting a casual, dominant posture. "I hear you're the new financial genius. I run the university's investment fund. Why don't we discuss your 'low effort' strategy sometime? I prefer hands-on competition."
Li Tianyi regarded him with the polite, distant analysis usually reserved for evaluating a depreciating asset.
"Lord Zhao," Li Tianyi replied, sipping bottled water. "Your strategy is based on historical data and aggressive risk. Mine is based on absolute certainty. We are not operating on the same plane of reality."
The Unnecessary Detour: Basketball Perfection
To escape the lingering social chaos, Li Tianyi decided to take an 'elegant detour' through the sprawling sports complex on his way back to the sedan. He found the indoor basketball court busy.
Zhao Lei, still determined to prove superiority, followed him, pointing to the court. "If you're so certain, Li Tianyi, how about a small wager? I was an amateur champion. Let's see your 'flawless' control translate to kinetics."
Li Tianyi sighed, rubbing his temples. So messy. Physical exertion is the ultimate inefficiency.
However, his transmigrated body retained the muscle memory and disciplined mastery from his past life—skills he now possessed without having spent a single, tiring moment training in this life. His body was simply a vessel of unparalleled, effortless physical potential.
"Very well," Li Tianyi conceded, taking the offered basketball—a cheap, slightly worn one. "One shot. I will demonstrate that even unnecessary physical skills, when executed with absolute precision, are superior."
Zhao Lei smirked, expecting a clumsy failure.
Li Tianyi did not warm up. He walked to the three-point line, his movements fluid and elegant. He didn't jump or contort. He simply executed a single, perfect Primal Light-level throw—a flick of the wrist so precise, so devoid of wasted motion, that the ball arced in an impossibly clean parabola.
Swoosh. Perfect, silent, not even touching the rim.
"Lucky shot," Zhao Lei scoffed, though his eyes widened slightly.
"Inefficiency requires luck," Li Tianyi corrected, already walking away. "Perfection requires only execution."
The Baseball Anomaly
Just as they exited the gym, they passed the baseball diamond, where the university team was holding an intense practice. A crucial moment was underway: the star pitcher, under pressure, missed his mark badly. The fast pitch sailed wildly toward the dugout, a hard projectile aimed right at a group of unsuspecting cheerleaders.
Chaos flared. The entire team reacted slowly.
Li Tianyi, annoyed by the sudden, uncontrolled risk to public assets, stopped. He didn't run. He didn't even drop his cup of coffee.
Without warning, Long Wei (his bodyguard) threw a baseball glove from his security bag. Li Tianyi snatched it out of the air.
In a single, lazy, elegant sidestep, Li Tianyi leaned out, his eyes locked onto the wild, fast pitch. He extended the glove with the casual ease of someone waving off a waiter.
Thwack. The ball slammed into the exact center of the glove pocket. The catch was absolute, performed with zero strain or visible focus—a Grandmaster-level defensive move executed by someone who only wanted a coffee.
He calmly tossed the ball back to the stunned pitcher, still holding his coffee cup firmly in the other hand.
The First Follower's Pledge
Zhao Lei stood frozen, his eyes wide in absolute astonishment. He wasn't just wealthy; he wasn't just intellectually superior; he possessed physical talents that defied reason and control that transcended discipline. The athletic display was a form of elegant, absolute power that Zhao Lei, the competitive champion, understood instinctively.
Zhao Lei walked up to Li Tianyi, his arrogance completely shattered. He bowed deeply—a sign of genuine submission that transcended social etiquette.
"Chairman Li," Zhao Lei said, his voice husky with respect. "I... I understand. You do not compete; you merely execute perfection. My family's ambition is messy and crude. I request the honor of serving as your Chief External Liaison at this Academy. I will absorb the chaos for you. I will enforce your elegance."
Li Tianyi paused, considering the proposal. Zhao Lei was aggressive, but focused. A usable tool.
"Very well, Lord Zhao," Li Tianyi conceded, adjusting his cuff. "Your loyalty will be useful for absorbing unnecessary social friction. Ensure your ambition is henceforth focused only on maintaining my tranquility."
Li Tianyi had secured his first follower, converted a rival heir, and accidentally saved a student—all before lunch, and all while demonstrating his elegant, unnecessary mastery over physical reality. He finally got into his sedan, his schedule now slightly more complicated, but his position utterly dominant.