Physical Examination, Part One

"Because you might still need the desk upstairs," Lin Yue replied flatly, expressionless. "I can't let myself affect you, so I should study down here at the dining table."

Not affecting others because of oneself, yielding anything good to others and keeping the less desirable things for oneself—these were manners etched into her bones, restraints written into her soul.

Hermione frowned and gathered the things Lin Yue used for writing papers into her arms. "Don't always think about other people. Think more about yourself. You should be the one placed first, shouldn't you?"

If even you did not consider yourself, then why would anyone else prioritize you? Wouldn't that just leave you at a disadvantage?

Hermione could not understand Lin Yue's way of thinking. She simply could not comprehend why Lin Yue instinctively put everyone else before herself.

But if Hermione had voiced all her thoughts, Lin Yue might have answered that suffering a loss was a blessing, and not being overly calculating was a basic rule of etiquette.

Mrs. Granger walked over and gently stroked Hermione's head. At her age, she had already met quite a few Easterners like Lin Yue.

Most of them were like Lin Yue: they neither fought nor competed. Sometimes, they would even yield opportunities, praise, and other things that rightfully belonged to them to others.

Mrs. Granger could only say that she respected their choices and methods, but understanding them was far too difficult. Cultural differences made that hard for them.

Now that she had met Lin Yue, Mrs. Granger barely understood why they could do this. They had acted this way since childhood and been taught this way. Naturally, they would continue to do so as adults—after all, it had become a "habit."

As for Lin Yue herself, Mrs. Granger felt that she seemed to take this even further than other Easterners. Even over something as minor as where to do homework, she wanted to leave the desk for Hermione.

And Hermione did not even need the desk at the moment. Mrs. Granger could respect the personal choices and ways of those adults.

But when it came to Lin Yue, she could not help wanting to say a few words. Otherwise, she had no idea how many opportunities and benefits that should have been hers Lin Yue might lose because of this habit.

"Lin Yue, if something belongs to you, or if it is something you can fight for, then work hard to obtain it. And fight for the best. When it isn't the time to yield, then don't yield. Do you understand?"

Mrs. Granger looked at Lin Yue earnestly. This child was simply too sensible. Children who were too sensible... got bullied.

Lin Yue's expression went blank. Mrs. Granger's words clashed violently with the understanding in her mind.

Do not fight, do not compete; be yielding and modest—wasn't that what the books taught?

The two thoughts collided in her mind, and Lin Yue could not force herself to tell which was right and which was wrong. She could only nod at Mrs. Granger without changing her expression.

"Okay. Thank you, Aunt. I'll do my best."

Hearing Lin Yue's utterly flat voice and seeing her expressionless face, Mrs. Granger suddenly felt something was off.

Could parental repression and being immersed in study alone really turn someone into this?

It was normal for that to make someone withdrawn and insensitive to the outside world, but surely not this rigid, this completely unmoved by anything around them.

Looking at Lin Yue like this, Mrs. Granger involuntarily recalled a notorious treatment from history, and a chill ran down her back.

Forcing herself to calm down, Mrs. Granger smiled at Hermione. "Hermione, take Lin Yue upstairs to rest. Talk for a while or something. Don't let her study anymore. It's the first night of the holiday—let her relax properly."

"Okay." Hermione nodded and took Lin Yue's hand as they headed upstairs.

Before leaving, Lin Yue politely said goodnight to the Grangers. "Aunt, Uncle, goodnight."

Only then did she follow Hermione upstairs. Watching the two children turn the corner at the top of the stairs, Mrs. Granger guessed they could no longer hear them and turned to her husband. Her forehead was already covered in cold sweat.

"Don't you think Lin Yue looks a lot like those people?"

Also a doctor, though he was a dentist, Mr. Granger still knew the relevant medical history. He understood perfectly what his wife meant.

He frowned, his heart pounding violently. "Probably not... That kind of operation was banned completely long ago. It's illegal. What doctor would dare perform it?"

"And no matter what, Lin Yue's parents are still her parents. They wouldn't be that cruel, would they? Besides, even if they were truly that cruel, what reason would they have? They wouldn't destroy a person like that just to make her obedient, would they?"

"Medical technology is so advanced now, and that procedure was proven harmful long ago. Surely no one could be that ignorant..."

Mr. Granger did not continue, because he was not sure what exactly was going on with Lin Yue.

"Never mind." Mrs. Granger shook her head. "Neither of us will go to the clinic tomorrow. We'll take Lin Yue for a full physical examination. Hermione can have one too while we're at it. Whether anything is wrong or not, we'll know after checking."

"Alright." Mr. Granger nodded, agreeing with his wife's decision. It would be good to check. If something was wrong, they would find a way to treat it; if not, they could put their minds at ease.

Meanwhile, upstairs in Hermione's room, Hermione sat on the bed playing with Lin Yue's hair.

Lin Yue simply leaned blankly against the headboard, allowing Hermione to keep winding her hair around her fingers.

"Hey..." Hermione sighed. "Everyone used to say I loved studying and was a bookworm, but compared to you, I feel practically lively."

"Who rushes home on the first night of the holiday and immediately can't wait to study and do homework? At least let yourself rest a little."

Lin Yue's eyes were like an ancient well, without the slightest ripple. She shook her head.

"Homework is only the most basic part. I need to finish it properly as fast as possible, then devote myself to independent study. Holidays are the best time to overtake others on the curve. I can't let others surpass me, and I need to use this time to surpass others."

"Overtake on the curve...?" Hermione looked utterly confused. Did that phrase mean what she thought it meant?

Passing the car ahead while on a curve? Wasn't that likely to cause an accident? And what did that have to do with Lin Yue saying that finishing homework during the holiday was only the foundation, and that she also had to study independently?

Hermione shook her head and wisely decided that if she could not figure out the phrase, she would stop thinking about it. In any case, she had keenly sensed that she probably would not like what it really meant.

Giving up on dwelling over the phrase, Hermione's eyes shifted as she came up with a good idea.

"Ahem, Lin Yue, can I discuss something with you?"

Lin Yue slowly turned to look at Hermione, her tone calm and devoid of any fluctuation. "Okay, go ahead."

Hermione raised a hand and scratched her cheek awkwardly. "Well, I really want to study with you, and I also want to play with you. This summer holiday... could you study when I study, and play when I play? Just to keep me company?"

"Okay?" Hermione looked at Lin Yue expectantly, forcing herself to put on a pitiful expression.

Without the slightest pause, a thought surfaced in Lin Yue's brain. I shouldn't slack off during the holiday. I can't slack off. I should keep studying during the holiday too. I can't let others overtake me on the curve. I should... surpass... others.

A faint pain prickled through her mind, interrupting Lin Yue's newly formed thought and causing it to stall again and again.

Another thought flashed up from the depths of her mind. Agree to her. As always, the thought told Lin Yue what to do.

"Okay..." Lin Yue obeyed the thought and nodded, her eyes still lifeless.

"Okay! It's a deal, then." Hermione smiled happily, lay back comfortably on the bed, and burrowed beneath her blanket.

When Lin Yue saw Hermione slip under the covers, she leaned over and switched off the bedside lamp. Hermione's room instantly fell into darkness.

Slowly climbing into her own bed, Lin Yue closed her eyes and immediately fell asleep.

Hermione had originally wanted to chat with Lin Yue for a while after turning out the light, but the steady breathing beside her made her heart ache.

Turning over, she carefully pulled Lin Yue into her arms and gently patted her back. It had already been so long since she had made Lin Yue sleep six hours every day.

Yet Lin Yue could still fall asleep so quickly. Hermione had no idea just how exhausted her mind must have been.

Lowering her eyes, Hermione's resentment toward Lin Yue's parents deepened by a few more degrees. Holding Lin Yue close, Hermione slowly closed her eyes.

In the pitch-black, silent depths of night, everyone had fallen asleep. Only an invisible presence quietly filled in part of Lin Yue's identity in this world and left an unlimited Worldwide Bank Black Card in the pocket of the trousers she would wear tomorrow...

Waking once every hour, Lin Yue got up punctually at six in the morning. She silently climbed out of bed and changed clothes, taking care not to wake Hermione.

The moment she put on her trousers, Lin Yue noticed that there seemed to be something extra in the pocket.

She took it out for a look. It was a black bank card, with no specific bank name and no card number. A note had appeared along with it, explaining how to use the card.

After briefly analyzing where the card had come from, Lin Yue easily classified it with the things she had previously found in her suitcase.

So this should have been given to her by the World Consciousness as well. Tucking the Black Card into her pocket, Lin Yue quietly left Hermione's room.

In the kitchen downstairs, she recited her Magical History textbook under her breath while expertly preparing breakfast.

More than half an hour later, a lavish breakfast had been laid out across the dining table.

Mrs. Granger, who had just gotten up intending to prepare something for Hermione and Lin Yue to take with them so they would not be hungry after their medical examination, froze at the sight of the full table of breakfast.

Hearing footsteps, Lin Yue set the last plate of sandwiches on the table and turned toward Mrs. Granger.

"Good morning, Aunt. Come have breakfast."

Mrs. Granger looked at the table full of tempting food, then stared at Lin Yue in disbelief.

"Good morning... You made all of this, Lin Yue?"

"Yes." Lin Yue nodded expressionlessly. "Does it not meet your requirements, Aunt? Or is there nothing you want to eat? I can make something else."

"No, no." Mrs. Granger hurriedly waved her hands. "I'm just... a little surprised."

Lin Yue was the same age as Hermione. The Grangers had considered Hermione independent enough already—she could clean her room and wash her own clothes.

But compared to the entire table of breakfast Lin Yue had made... Hermione truly could not manage this.

Nodding, Lin Yue mechanically pulled out a chair for Mrs. Granger.

Mrs. Granger pursed her lips awkwardly as she looked at Lin Yue. By the time she and her Husband had decided yesterday to take the two girls for medical examinations today, the girls had already gone upstairs to rest.

They had not gone up to disturb them again, thinking they could simply tell them in the morning.

She had not expected Lin Yue to get up so early to make breakfast. Medical examinations required an empty stomach, and Lin Yue had prepared such a huge spread only to be unable to eat any of it for now... Mrs. Granger felt rather guilty about it.

"Aunt, aren't you eating?" Lin Yue turned to look at the breakfast she had made.

She could not be sure what the Grangers liked, so she had made a wide variety of dishes in smaller portions, hoping there would be something they enjoyed.

But... did this mean there was nothing Aunt liked?

She had not thought things through carefully enough. She had not done well enough. Aunt was dissatisfied. Lin Yue lowered her eyes as angry curses echoed relentlessly through her mind.

"You can't even do this right. Do you have a pig's brain?"

Mrs. Granger came back to herself. Seeing Lin Yue standing beside her with her head lowered and eyes downcast, her heart tightened. She quickly reached out and pulled Lin Yue to her side.

Picking up a sandwich, she took a bite. "Aunt's eating it," she said. After chewing twice, Mrs. Granger's eyes lit up with utter sincerity. "It's delicious! Lin Yue, you're so good at cooking!"

She was not just saying that to comfort Lin Yue. Her cooking really was excellent! In Mrs. Granger's view, it was not much worse than a professional chef's.

Only after hearing Mrs. Granger's satisfied voice did the curses in Lin Yue's mind stop.

Lin Yue stared at her blankly, then shook her head and spoke mechanically. "My cooking isn't that good."

Whenever Parents ate her food in the past, they always pointed out problems with every dish—it was too salty or too bland, or the meat had been overcooked.

Mrs. Granger swallowed her mouthful of sandwich and shook her head. "Don't say that. Your cooking is very good, and not just compared to people your age. It's even better than mine."

As she spoke, Mrs. Granger reached out and rubbed Lin Yue's head. "Did you learn to cook from your mother?"

Lin Yue shook her head, her voice without a trace of emotion. "I taught myself from books."

Mrs. Granger froze for a moment, then could not help exclaiming in admiration, "You taught yourself? That's incredible..."

But... Lin Yue was only eleven now, wasn't she? That meant she had been even younger when she learned to cook. Ten? Nine? Why had she needed to learn this at such a young age...? Mrs. Granger felt a few doubts rise within her.

What puzzled her even more was that such a young child had been learning to cook—had her parents truly not worried? Kitchen knives, hot oil, gas... every one of them was dangerous.