The Fourth Chapter

At seven in the morning, Huai Shi was startled awake by his alarm.

Having grown accustomed to sleeping until he woke up naturally, he didn't react immediately in his daze.

Only when he remembered that today was the first day of school did his mood suddenly become heavy.

Returning to the cage, walking willingly into the trap…

A series of adjectives popped into his mind. Compared to this heavy feeling, the pain of being chased and hacked at last night was nothing…

"Ah, I don't want to go to school."

He moaned weakly a few times and climbed out of bed.

As he turned over, he felt the itchy healing of his wounds all over and the dull ache of muscle strain.

Thanks to his growth spurt and Crow's medicine, the injuries that would have normally laid someone up for two to three weeks had healed overnight.

Even the scars were starting to fade, and soon they probably wouldn't even be visible.

But why couldn't they have healed for a few more days?

That way, he'd have an excuse to take time off. Going to school covered in blood would be so embarrassing; the principal might even have a stroke from the shock.

With a heavy heart, Huai Shi got up and went downstairs.

"Ah, you're awake?"

In the dining room, Crow was smiling like a dutiful wife, wearing a white mask as an apron. "I've prepared breakfast and lunch for you."

Huai Shi looked at the test tubes on the table and couldn't help but roll his eyes.

What kind of food looks like this?

"Why is there an extra one today? And it's different from the others."

Huai Shi picked up a particularly slender test tube and gently shook the viscous, dark green liquid inside.

Death Sense, which was showing signs of upgrading, was giving him a chill, telling him that this was definitely not some oral liquid, but something that would take half a person's life if a normal person drank it.

"As the saying goes, 'stool is rice, urine is dish'… isn't this meant to go with your meal?"

"Can you say something that makes me want to eat!"

"Alright, to put it simply, this probably contains some border substances and residual mineral toxins from the extraction process… Ah, don't worry, it's been diluted to a safe level where it'll only paralyze a normal person. If you drink it, it might dissolve a small amount of your muscles and cause some damage to your heart and blood vessels."

"...Do I look like someone who drinks this stuff because I think I've lived too long?"

"As the saying goes, you can't establish without destroying. Yesterday, I discovered that after you went through that beating… cough cough, that training, under the stimulation of your subconscious, your development actually accelerated quite a bit. It proves that at this stage, some stress and damage can speed up your absorption… After all, the essence of anaerobic exercise is to tear muscle fibers and then wait for them to grow back."

As she spoke, Crow pointed to the measuring tape on the table. "If you don't believe me, measure your height yourself."

A minute later, Huai Shi stared at the markings on the ruler in astonishment.

1.80 meters?

The last time he measured barefoot, it was 1.77 meters. That meant he had grown three centimeters in just two days?

"It's not just your height; your weight, body fat, and blood have also changed, but you can't see it here because there are no laboratory facilities. After about two weeks, your height will probably stabilize, and then we'll focus on reinforcing your bones, nerves, organs, and muscles until you reach the theoretical limit for a normal person.

Depending on your abilities, some aspects might even be further enhanced. The range of the Hand of Confinement is your hands, so your fine motor skills and dexterity will improve significantly then."

After Crow finished speaking, she used her wings to toss the Book of Destiny and the potions over. "However, before that, you should think about how you're going to earn back the money for next week's potion materials."

Huai Shi's expression stiffened.

The heavy burden of debt made him lose his smile.

It felt so good to swipe the card…

He sighed and pushed the door open. Behind him, Crow waved goodbye. "Be careful on your way, remember to take your medicine, and get along well with your classmates~"

What the hell, get along well!

"Are you my mom?"

"Oh, so direct?" Crow was taken aback, her expression seemingly shy. "If you want, you can call me Mom. Repeating it like that is a bit embarrassing."

"…"

Huai Shi almost tripped on the steps. He glanced back at her and then set off on his way to school.

.

One good thing about being an arts and sports student is that in the first semester of the third year, there are very few classes. Everyone is focused on the final sprint before the new year, as the college entrance examination isn't the only thing that determines the fate of arts and sports students; there are also the professional exams and university recruitment events before that.

Huai Shi only needed to show his face in class before he could go to the piano room to slack off and practice. Occasionally, he'd show up for evening study hall just to check in, which was incredibly freeing.

Others might enroll in cram schools outside, but Huai Shi, being the stingy person he was, would never spend tens of thousands of yuan on tutoring for these three months.

He'd do anything to save money!

Besides, he had already passed ABRSM Level 8 and was just waiting to take the professional junior exam in Jinling next month, so there was no need to waste money on that.

Over the years, he had always developed discreetly, choosing to be cautious whenever possible. However, when it came to the cello, he had never feared anything.

Even though he had become an Ascendant, he hadn't given up his dream of finding a legitimate job as a musician with his cello.

Conquering the world? Having a harem?

Compared to these things, he wished he could have his own spot in the Golden Hall of Vienna during his lifetime.

Thinking of this, he suddenly hesitated and tapped the violin case on his back – should he cut back on Crow's shopping list first to save some money to change his instrument?

Although he didn't necessarily need a masterpiece worth hundreds of thousands or millions, it would be nice to finally say goodbye to factory-made instruments.

As his mind wandered, he heard two familiar voices ahead.

"Oh, Dad, you can just drop me off here. The other students will laugh if they see you."

"Why would students laugh if a father sends his daughter to school?" the middle-aged man's helpless voice came, full of doting: "Is your allowance enough? I have to work overtime these days, want me to give you some more?"

"Mom already gave me some, and besides, I won't need to spend money at school anyway."

"What she gives is hers, what Dad gives is Dad's. Take it, take it..."

It sounded like a loving father and filial daughter, a heartwarming scene.

Except for the two people talking.

Huai Shi couldn't help but stop in his tracks, instinctively wanting to retreat, turn around, create distance, and hide behind a utility pole.

Unfortunately, it was too late.

When the girl turned around, she saw him, her eyes lighting up: "Hey? Huai Shi's here too? I've been calling you for the past few days but you didn't pick up..."

Huai Shi froze on the spot, stiffly turning his head.

He saw the girl, whose beauty was undiminished even in the uniquely idiotic Dongxia school uniform, and beside her... Director Fu of the Special Affairs Department, who was wide-eyed.

Then, he forced out a smile with great difficulty.

Oh my god, you guys are family? No wonder... you both have the surname Fu, why didn't I think of that!

"Oh, long time no see, class monitor, and..."

He smiled awkwardly, looking at Director Fu behind her, "Uncle Fu?"

"..."

The middle-aged man was silent, looking at Huai Shi with a calmness that was somewhat frightening.

Uncle Fu didn't speak.

Uncle Fu doesn't want to talk to you.

Uncle Fu is accumulating rage points.

Uncle Fu wants to kill you...

Fortunately, Uncle Fu finally calmed down, forcing a 'kind' smile onto his old face, "Xiao Yi, is this your classmate?"

"Yes."

Fu Yi boldly patted Huai Shi's shoulder, "Dad, this is the buddy I've been telling you about who taught me how to read music. His cello playing is amazing, and he's good at studying too!"

"Is that so?" Director Fu smiled. "Then you should get along well."

Despite the smile, his eyes made one think of a direct express bus to the Dongjiao crematorium.

Meanwhile, Fu Yi continued to praise Huai Shi to her father, while Huai Shi just wanted to cover his face and cry like a panda: "It's not me, I didn't..."

"Do you guys know each other?"

Fu Yi seemed to finally notice something, tilting her head to look at them, her lopsided ponytail swaying.

Glancing at Director Fu, whose face clearly said 'if you dare say anything, you're dead,' Huai Shi stammered for a long time before finally saying: "Uh... we've met a few times, a few days ago."

"Is that so?"

Fu Yi didn't suspect anything and believed him!

Seeing that he was so perceptive, Director Fu's expression improved slightly. He reached out and patted Huai Shi's shoulder, "You're a good kid, you need to study hard, understand?"

He deliberately emphasized the words 'study hard'.

Huai Shi felt like his shoulder blade was about to be broken by this old bastard.

Seeing that the school gate was just ahead, Director Fu stopped and smiled warmly at his daughter, "I'll only take you this far, hurry up and go, I have to leave too."

Seeing her classmates waving at her in the distance, Fu Yi nodded, waved goodbye to her father, and ran towards her classmates.

Leaving Director Fu smiling as he watched his daughter leave, and Huai Shi, whose shoulder was still firmly gripped by his vise-like fingers.

Huai Shi looked at her leave with tears he couldn't shed, then turned back to the middle-aged man whose expression was gradually turning cold. He could only force a weak smile and beg softly:

"Uncle Fu, gently, it hurts."

'Uncle Fu' almost spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning ashen. He lifted the hem of his jacket, showing him his gun holster. Huai Shi immediately shut up, awaiting judgment.

After a long while, Uncle Fu finally caught his breath and asked:

"Are you very familiar with my daughter?"

"Not familiar! Not familiar at all!" Huai Shi's small head shook like a rattle drum. "We've only met a few times..."

"How many is a few times? One or two?"

Director Fu wasn't buying his act. After so many years, he'd seen all sorts of trouble. Young Ascendants like Huai Shi were inherently destabilizing factors in society. At fifteen or sixteen, with hormones raging, they were like wild dogs, capable of anything from rape to robbery any day.

Especially since Huai Shi had yesterday's record. He couldn't possibly feel at ease with his daughter attending the same school as such a dangerous element. He had already intended to transfer Huai Shi as soon as he saw his file.

"Kid, tell me honestly—" He rested his hand on the grip of his pistol, his eyes fixed on Huai Shi, "What exactly is your relationship with my daughter?"

What other relationship could there be?

A pure boosting relationship!

Your daughter only knows how to spend money on games; she owes all her Diamond rank to me!

What else could Huai Shi say? He couldn't exactly say that their relationship had always been good, that they had even performed together at the school's cultural performance last time, with one playing the violin and the other singing opera, could he?

Not to mention, the performance had been quite good back then!

Asking like this only proved that Uncle Fu was an unqualified parent, not even coming to watch his own daughter's performance!

Moreover, for rehearsals, they had spent several evening study sessions alone in the music room... If Huai Shi had any intentions, something would have already happened!

However, if this daughter-controlling father found out, he'd definitely shoot himself in the street!

Thinking of this, Huai Shi couldn't help but want to praise him:

"Uncle, your daughter is truly beautiful!"