Katie's Awakening

"The awakening period for mutants is generally during adolescence—this is the stage when human vitality is at its peak, yet physiologically and psychologically, it's correspondingly unstable. If at this time they encounter some kind of trigger, such as major emotional shock or physical stress like illness, then the X gene latent within has a very small chance of activating.

Many ordinary people fear mutants, but this is completely unnecessary, because research actually shows that ordinary people suspected of carrying the X gene make up eighty percent of the entire human population." On the blackboard, Storm was vividly teaching her mutant knowledge class.

Below, Lu Yifang was listening to the lecture with great interest. After the Abomination incident had brewed for a full week, he had finally returned to the academy as he wished.

Everything was going smoothly, except for the fact that he now had to take an hour-long bus to school. Still, since American schools start later and don't have so-called morning self-study, Lu Yifang wasn't worried about being late.

Of course, even if he missed Cyclops's morning practical class today, it wouldn't matter. Storm's concern was completely unnecessary—Cyclops would only turn a blind eye to Lu Yifang. After all, unlike Storm's theoretical classes, having Cyclops and Logan teach a student who could beat Magneto in a practical class made them feel a bit uneasy inside.

And this was also why Lu Yifang preferred theory classes. Besides genuinely being interested in this mutant knowledge, another reason was that he didn't have to restrain his power like he did in practical classes.

While Lu Yifang was attentively listening to the lecture, someone was staring at him—and these two were friends he knew very well: Ice Man Bobby and Fireman John.

When the afternoon dismissal bell finally rang, Lu Yifang had just stepped out of the classroom when those two caught up to him.

"Buddy, where have you been this past week?" John ran over and patted Lu Yifang on the shoulder.

"I found a decent part-time job," Lu Yifang replied.

"Part-time job?" Bobby and John exchanged glances, both reading confusion in each other's eyes. They had never heard of a Mutant Academy student going out to do part-time work.

"By the way," Bobby leaned in as well. "Yesterday, Storm teacher came to our dorm and took away all your stuff, saying you'd be a day student from today on. That's just absurd—I've never heard of our school having day..."

"But it's true," Lu Yifang turned back to look at Bobby and said earnestly.

"Bobby, you should trust the teacher."

Looking at Lu Yifang's serious expression, Bobby fell silent. Damn it, could he be blamed for not trusting the teacher? It was clearly Lu Yifang who was too strange, okay? A Mutant Academy student who could go out and find a part-time job and not live on campus—who would dare believe that if they heard it? Among all the students in the Mutant Academy over the years, he was probably the only one this eccentric.

Also a Mutant Academy student, I want to report this—your vibe is clearly different from ours.

"Any more questions? I need to go." At the end of the hallway, Lu Yifang turned to look at Bobby and John.

"Yes, I have one more question." Bobby hesitated as he spoke, as if unsure whether he should ask.

"What were you doing that night?" Bobby finally chose a middle ground, skirting the edge, and he believed Lu Yifang would understand what he meant.

Regarding the Abomination incident, although S.H.I.E.L.D. had tried their best to hide the truth, urban legends still existed—like one about "a mutant calling himself an Absolute Ability User who killed the Abomination."

Though these legends were just hearsay, someone as carefree as John might forget them after passing the time. But Bobby secretly remembered. On the night of the Liberty Island incident, Lu Yifang wasn't in the dorm, and during the Abomination incident, he had personally seen Lu Yifang rushing toward the city center at a terrifying speed.

Both events involved a mysterious, powerful mutant, and combined with the mystery Lu Yifang had always held in his mind, Bobby couldn't help but suspect his identity.

"That night? I went to save someone," Lu Yifang replied.

"Then are you actually..." Bobby pressed.

"Well, you guess." Lu Yifang patted Bobby on the shoulder and, under his somewhat stunned gaze, strode out of the school gate.

Standing at the school gate, Lu Yifang glanced toward home but ultimately turned his gaze in the other direction.

"It's still early, no rush to go home. I'll head to S.H.I.E.L.D. first."

Half an hour later, Lu Yifang was standing in front of the S.H.I.E.L.D. building. However, instead of going to ask Fury about his work situation, he headed toward the recovery ward.

After easily navigating a few turns, Lu Yifang finally stopped in front of a door. Taking a deep breath, he knocked.

"Come in," a girl's voice came from behind the door.

"Hey, how are you feeling today?" Lu Yifang opened the door with a smile.

On the white bed, a pale-faced brown-haired girl turned her head. When she saw it was Lu Yifang, a smile immediately spread across her face.

"Pretty good. The doctor said I was lucky—the rusty iron didn't damage my internal organs. Recovery after surgery has been smooth, and I can get out of bed in a few more days. Barring any surprises, I should be discharged next month," the girl explained with a smile.

"That's good news. Looks like that doctor is quite skilled." Lu Yifang nodded, then took an apple from the fruit basket beside him and slowly began to peel it.

"No, the doctor said the one to thank is the person who brought me in." The girl looked at Lu Yifang and blinked.

"He said that when he first saw me, based on the blood loss from such a large wound, I absolutely couldn't have survived more than half an hour. And the injury was from rusty iron—he said he was already prepared for an extremely long surgery. But when I entered the operating room, he found my abdominal cavity was very clean, so he finished the surgery in less than two hours."

"Thank you!" the girl said gratefully.

"What's there to thank? We're friends, aren't we, Katie?" Lu Yifang waved his hand casually and lowered his head to continue peeling the apple. His technique was good—he had already peeled a long, continuous strip.

"Just friends?" the girl quietly spoke at that moment.

"Snap!" The apple peel fell to the ground. Lu Yifang froze for a moment before looking up at Katie.

Locking eyes with the girl, the atmosphere suddenly shifted. Though Lu Yifang was a novice with no experience, he wasn't some brainless protagonist from a harem anime. With a normal mind and emotional intelligence, he naturally picked up on the hint.

In an instant, Lu Yifang felt his mind explode, his chest surging with turbulent emotions. Licking his dry lips, he felt he should say something.

"I... Single dogs don't want dog food... Fuck, what the hell?" Lu Yifang pulled out his phone, which had suddenly started ringing. Someone was calling him.

At that moment, he felt like smashing the phone directly. Who the hell was messing with him? But after taking a deep breath, he ultimately didn't throw it away.

This wasn't because the phone was a new one he'd gotten just yesterday, but because it was a special S.H.I.E.L.D.-issued phone. Apart from a very few people like Fury and Professor X, no one else knew the number.

So Lu Yifang had to answer it—just in case something important came up.

"Sorry, I need to step out and take this call." Lu Yifang glanced apologetically at Katie.

"Here, I'll be right back." Handing the peeled apple to Katie, Lu Yifang quickly walked out.

Watching Lu Yifang leave the room, a flicker of regret passed through Katie's eyes, but it quickly faded. She wasn't the type to wallow in self-pity.

Though there was a hiccup this time, there would always be another chance. After brushing against death's door, Katie had come to see many things clearly.

She was merely somewhat withdrawn, not a timid or hesitant girl. Since she had already made up her mind, she would pursue it resolutely.

Of course, Katie wasn't entirely without worries. In this regard, her only fear was becoming a burden to Lu Yifang. Recalling the anxious look on his face when she was half-conscious, she was deeply moved, but she never wanted such a thing to happen again.

"Power... I don't want to make him worry by getting hurt anymore," Katie murmured to herself.

"Thud!" In that moment of distraction, the apple she was holding suddenly slipped straight through her grasp and fell to the ground.