Beat Her Up

Qingcheng Jiayuan.

Building C, Room 606.

When Qiao Sang returned with her mother, she was still a little dazed.

After all, she had endured nearly two hours of saliva-spraying lectures at school. If the class teacher's stomach hadn't growled later on, he probably could have kept criticizing and educating her.

Qiao Sang went to the bathroom and washed her face twice.

She looked at herself in the mirror. Her features were delicate, and she looked exactly like she had in her previous life.

She was just much younger, her face still plump with baby fat.

"Come out and eat." Her mother's voice came from the living room.

"Coming."

Qiao Sang answered, then silently washed her face one more time.

When she arrived in the living room, her mother, Ye Xiangting, shot her a sharp look. "The food's already cold. I just reheated it, so hurry up and eat."

In fact, the original Qiao Sang's family had a lot in common with hers. Not only did her parents look the same, but they were both single-parent families.

The original owner's father hadn't gone missing or died young. He and his wife had simply divorced.

They divorced when the original owner was three. That same year, her father, Qiao Wangyang, started a new family and had another daughter, who was now fourteen.

That was rather thought-provoking...

Perhaps because he felt guilty toward her mother, he had left both the child and the house to her in the divorce.

Ye Xiangting never remarried. She earned money and raised Qiao Sang all by herself.

Fortunately, her mother was an E-Class Beast Tamer, with a Faith Weng and a Fat Domestic Pigeon.

She usually made money by renting out flights to take people sightseeing in the sky, so they lived fairly comfortably.

Life had not worn her down into a haggard housewife, but it had made her a strong woman who was gentle on the outside and tough within.

Qiao Sang understood that deeply.

Her mother had sat through two hours of scolding with her, yet after returning home, she had somehow managed not to beat her up.

So strong!

But this really wasn't her fault. The Pet Beast Codex was inside her brain domain and couldn't be taken out, and she had never contracted an Extraordinary Creature. Without going to the Beast Taming Center for an examination, there was no way to prove that she had awakened on her own.

Qiao Sang ate without daring to say a word.

Her mother might be a strong woman, but there was no guarantee she would stay strong forever.

"Take a day off tomorrow. I'll take you to the Beast Taming Center." Her mother looked at Qiao Sang as she spoke.

Qiao Sang froze for a moment. "What are we going to the Beast Taming Center for?"

"Didn't you say you awakened on your own? We'll get you examined and obtain proof, then we can go to the Pet Beast Base and choose a pet beast." Her mother explained.

Since she had already awakened, the sooner she chose a pet beast, the better.

Qiao Sang was stunned. "You believe me?"

A smile flashed through her mother's eyes. "I gave birth to you. How could I not know you? You may be a little silly, but you wouldn't lie about something like this at such a crucial time."

Qiao Sang's feelings were complicated, indescribable. The mother in this world was not only similar in appearance—even her personality was quite alike.

"Mom, if you believed me, why did you watch me get scolded for two hours without saying anything?"

Her mother smiled. This smile was rather chilling. "Awakening on your own is one thing. Getting a zero on the exam is another. I haven't even asked you yet—why did you get a zero?"

Qiao Sang: "..."

Early the next morning.

Outside Hanggang Beast Taming Center.

An Extraordinary Creature with a fat body, about three meters long, brown all over except for red tail feathers, descended from the sky.

Qiao Sang climbed off the Fat Domestic Pigeon excitedly. It was her first time experiencing such close contact with the sky. It was unbelievably thrilling.

She had decided—she would definitely contract a Flying Type pet beast in the future!

"Fat Domestic Pigeon, you worked hard." Her mother stroked it.

"Chirpy~"

The Fat Domestic Pigeon shook its wings, then nudged its big head against her mother and rubbed against her affectionately.

With a wave of her mother's hand, a faint light shone over the Fat Domestic Pigeon. The next moment, it vanished from where it stood.

No matter how many times Qiao Sang saw it, she still found it miraculous.

Science could never have explained such things in her previous life.

After entering Hanggang Beast Taming Center, her mother led her straight to Service Counter No. 37.

Before the staff member could speak, her mother said first, "Hello, we're here for a Brain Domain Test." As she spoke, she gestured for Qiao Sang to take out her Information Card.

Qiao Sang obediently took out her Information Card.

After scanning it, the staff member said, "Hello, that will be 500 Alliance Coins."

Humanity had relied on the abilities of beast taming to leave Blue Star and develop and occupy three other habitable planets.

The unified currency used across all four planets was the Alliance Coin.

After her mother paid and the staff member finished registering them, the Information Card was handed back. "Just follow the Qiaoli Fruit inside."

A green Qiaoli Fruit, less than a meter tall, appeared behind the staff member.

Its head was round, with a pair of green antennae tipped in yellow. A staff ID badge even hung from its chest.

As a Plant Type pet beast, the Qiaoli Fruit had a gentle temperament and was always well liked, especially by girls.

"Qiaoli."

It walked up to Qiao Sang and made an inviting gesture with its three-toed right hand, looking highly professional.

As the provincial capital of Zhehai Province, Hanggang City naturally had the largest Beast Taming Center in all of Zhehai Province.

Qiao Sang followed the Qiaoli Fruit for more than ten minutes before finally reaching the brain domain testing area.

The Qiaoli Fruit scanned its work badge against the identity reader outside the door.

"Qiaoli."

Once the door opened, it called out to Qiao Sang.

Her mother said calmly, "Go in."

Though her mother appeared composed, her eyes held traces of anticipation. She clearly believed Qiao Sang, but until she had the result, she was still nervous.

Qiao Sang followed the Qiaoli Fruit inside.

What she saw was a short-haired female researcher in a white coat and a Bubble Bell floating in the air.

Qiao Sang had just read about Bubble Bells in a book the day before. She hadn't expected to see a living one so soon.

Bubble Bells had no gender differences. They were Psychic Type pet beasts and comparatively rare.

In fact, Extraordinary Creatures of the Psychic Type were all relatively rare.

Naturally, Pet Beast Bases did not have many of them either. They might only have five or six in a year, each starting at a million Alliance Coins. Ordinary families simply could not afford one.

A rich lady.

Qiao Sang immediately gave the short-haired female researcher in the white coat that label.

The researcher sat in front of a computer, typing nonstop and looking extremely busy. She was not surprised to see the Qiaoli Fruit and Qiao Sang enter, clearly having already received Qiao Sang's registration information.

"Go sit over there." She pointed at a single sofa nearby.

Qiao Sang went over and sat down where she indicated.

It was just an ordinary sofa, nothing special about it.

"Bubble Bell." Without looking up, the short-haired researcher called out to her partner.

"Bell."

Blue light suddenly glowed from Bubble Bell's body. Before Qiao Sang could understand what it was doing, a silver helmet connected to more than a dozen equipment wires floated over from more than ten meters away and settled onto her head.

Qiao Sang's eyes lit up at the sight.

This ability was so convenient. It was practically a lazy person's ultimate tool!

"Don't move."

The short-haired researcher still did not look up, but Qiao Sang knew those words were directed at her.

The silver helmet did not obstruct Qiao Sang's vision. She clearly saw the researcher slowly frown at the images and data being transmitted to her equipment.

Qiao Sang immediately tensed up.

Could there be a problem?

The short-haired researcher had a stern face. When expressionless, she looked like the director of studies at school, let alone now, with her face so grim.

Especially given her identity and what she was doing, Qiao Sang's heart practically leaped into her throat.

"You awakened on your own?" the short-haired researcher suddenly asked.

"Yes. Big sis, is something wrong with me?" Qiao Sang asked nervously.

"No, don't be nervous." Seeing the girl's unease, the researcher tugged her solemn face into an unnatural curve, attempting to reassure her.

That was even scarier...

Qiao Sang became even more nervous.

"Counting you, there are only six children in our city who have awakened on their own this year. Your grades must be very good, right?" the short-haired researcher asked.

A top student might not necessarily awaken on their own, but everyone who successfully awakened on their own was a top student.

Qiao Sang: "..."

She could call her smart or talented, so why did she have to bring up grades?

Qiao Sang knew she was trying to ease her nerves, but if she did not know how to chat, she really should not force it...

"I'm usually third," Qiao Sang said without blushing or skipping a beat.

"Third in the whole school is still pretty good. Plenty of first- and second-place students can't awaken." Though the short-haired researcher's smile was stiff, her voice was gentle.

"I was already first in this mock exam." Qiao Sang was no longer nervous.

"After awakening, the brain domain develops by 2%. Those who awaken on their own are generally around 5%, so it's perfectly normal for your grades to improve suddenly." The short-haired researcher explained Qiao Sang's rise to first place.

Qiao Sang: "..."

About two minutes passed.

The short-haired researcher looked up and called, "Bubble Bell."

"Bell."

Bubble Bell used Psychic Power to place the equipment on Qiao Sang's head back where it had been.

"Congratulations, your self-awakening was very successful. There are no other issues with your brain domain. It's just that the fluctuations in your brain domain are a little large, so make sure to rest well lately and eat more dried fruits."

The short-haired researcher took out a certificate, signed it, stamped it, then stood and handed it over.

"Thank you."

Qiao Sang accepted the certificate, and the weight in her heart finally lifted completely.

"How was it?" The moment Qiao Sang came out, her mother rushed forward and asked anxiously.

Qiao Sang sighed and handed her the result in her hand.

Her mother's face instantly turned pale, and for a moment, she did not dare take it and look.

"Mom, look." Qiao Sang held the certificate a little farther forward.

Ye Xiangting's heart went cold. She had not awakened on her own and had gotten a zero...

Actually, even if she had not gotten a zero, her daughter's previous grades would not have been enough for any Pet Beast High School. The prerequisite for attending Pet Beast High School was awakening a Pet Beast Codex through Magnetic Wave and then reaching the score requirement.

The High School Entrance Exam had a total score of 650. Last year's minimum cutoff was 332.

If she studied hard and still failed to get in, then so be it—at least she would have tried. But her daughter had gotten a zero and even lied about it...

In an instant, Ye Xiangting began doubting her own parenting.

Beat her up.

This child had to be beaten.

When Qiao Sang saw her mother accept the certificate and lower her head to read it, she unconsciously straightened her back.

Smack.

Qiao Sang was dumbfounded.