Put It in Writing

"Child, could you show me your ability?" Professor X asked with a smile.

Lu Yifang fell silent for a moment, then nodded. He glanced around before walking straight over to a piece of steel embedded in the wall. He extended a finger and pressed it in as easily as if he were poking tofu.

"An Enhancement ability." Cyclops, standing behind Professor X, frowned as he watched Lu Yifang's movements. This was the suspected Level 5 mutant Professor X had mentioned? It was somewhat different from what he had expected.

But Cyclops quickly dismissed that conclusion, because the steel began to change again. Lu Yifang's finger did not move, yet the piece of steel twisted on its own, forming a vortex centered on his fingertip.

"It's a Control ability. This child can manipulate metal, just like Magneto," Storm said in surprise.

"No, what he controls isn't metal. It should be energy," Professor X said, narrowing his eyes. When it came to distinguishing mutant abilities, no one in the world had more experience than he did.

Though he had only taken one look, Professor X had already guessed nearly everything.

"I call my ability Vector Control. I can manipulate force through my body—that is, the direction of energy," Lu Yifang said as he turned around. After hearing Professor X's name just now, he had finally recalled the identity of the man before him.

The hostility in his heart faded considerably as a result. Otherwise, why would Lu Yifang have demonstrated his ability for them?

"Child, your ability is far more powerful than what you've shown us." Professor X gazed calmly at Lu Yifang, as if trying to see straight through him.

But that was merely an illusion. Lu Yifang's body instinctively repelled any matter or energy that threatened him. Unless Lu Yifang allowed it, Professor X's Mental power could not invade his thoughts at all.

"Come with me. I'll take you somewhere you belong." Professor X held out his hand and smiled.

Professor X did not mind that Lu Yifang was concealing his true strength. In fact, he felt somewhat relieved. It was better for a powerful mutant to know how to hide and restrain his abilities than to use them recklessly.

"No!"

"What? What did you say?" Professor X turned back and looked at Lu Yifang in astonishment.

"The place you mean should be Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, the one you mentioned earlier. Sorry, but I'm not interested for now," Lu Yifang said, shaking his head.

"There may be some misunderstanding. We mean you no harm, and at my school, you'll be able to meet many companions like yourself," Professor X explained.

"To me, companions don't necessarily have to be mutants. There's nothing wrong with ordinary people either." Lu Yifang spread his hands.

"Well said." Professor X nodded.

Even after gaining superpowers, Lu Yifang could still view others as equals rather than considering himself superior. That was very good. In any other situation, Professor X might even have applauded in appreciation, but at this moment, he could not bring himself to feel happy.

"At my school, I can help you learn and control your abilities."

Lu Yifang's expression shifted at those words. Professor X's offer did tempt him, but after thinking for a while, he still shook his head. "No need. My ability is stable and controllable, so I can figure it out on my own."

Lu Yifang was not putting on airs. He truly did not want to go to Professor X's school right now.

Though many years had passed and the plot buried deep in his memories had become vague, Lu Yifang still recalled many important things.

He understood what sort of place Professor X's school was. The school took in many homeless children whose abilities were out of control, selflessly helping them until they could control their powers. In that respect, Professor X truly was a good person.

But anyone who had seen the X-Men knew that staying by Professor X's side was only slightly less dangerous than staying with Magneto. That was because Professor X and Magneto stood at the center of the vortex of conflict between mutants and ordinary people. Even veteran Level 4 mutants as powerful as Professor X and Magneto had repeatedly found themselves in danger.

Lu Yifang believed his ability was not weak, but he still had not completely familiarized himself with it. Entering the center of that struggle too early would be embarrassing if he ended up getting taken down by some unexpected trick. It was better to play it safe.

While Lu Yifang weighed his decision, Professor X's emotions were as complicated as a bottle of mixed flavors overturned in his heart.

"Stable and controllable ability."

Ah! What beautiful words. To Professor X, they sounded like heavenly music. Even if he dropped dead right then, he could rest in peace with a smile. After all, if another uncontrollable Level 5 mutant like Jean Grey appeared, Professor X truly felt he would be unable to bear it.

Unfortunately, those immensely comforting words were being used to refuse him. It was not as if Professor X had never encountered mutants who rejected him before.

Such mutants either had excellent control over their powers and could integrate into society, or they were fortunate enough that their relatives and friends did not reject them. Those mutants had not despaired of the world.

When he encountered such mutants, Professor X would generally wish them well before quietly leaving.

But Lu Yifang was different. The youth before him was a Level 5 mutant. It would be fine if Professor X left, but the problem was that Old Magneto would not so easily let a Level 5 mutant go.

Old Magneto would not follow the rules as Professor X did. If persuasion failed, he might very well cause trouble in secret, then suddenly appear before Lu Yifang when he came to hate society and say—

"Let the world feel pain!"

Yes, that was entirely possible. Lu Yifang appeared to be at that rebellious age, while Old Magneto was a rebellious teenager who had stayed that way for ten thousand years. He could absolutely drag Lu Yifang down to his own level, then use his abundant experience to mold him.

At that thought, Professor X became even less able to remain calm. He had to find a way to lure... persuade Lu Yifang into the school.

"Yifang, you'll be an adult soon. Once you're an adult, you'll have to leave the Orphanage. Where will you go then? Don't you want to find a place to settle down?" Professor X said earnestly.

"You don't need to worry about that. I've already picked out an apartment. The price is cheap and reasonable—just a hundred dollars a month. What, is your school's tuition cheaper than that?" Lu Yifang said proudly. He had gone through great trouble to find such a cheap apartment, and he had haggled with the landlord for ages before reaching an agreement.

"My school is free," Professor X said with a smile.

Lu Yifang, who had been looking casual just moments ago, suddenly shuddered. His head snapped toward the gleaming bald head in his field of vision like a sunflower turning toward the sun.

"What are the conditions? Do you provide food and lodging? Is there air conditioning? Does it come with a refrigerator, color TV, washing machine, hair dryer, spin dryer~@￥%￥... and most importantly, does it have Wi-Fi? Don't misunderstand, I'm not asking for that much. I mean, one or two of those things would be enough. If there's no air conditioning, I can accept an electric fan," Lu Yifang said excitedly.

"It has everything you mentioned," Professor X said calmly. What a joke. This professor had devoted fifty years to building an elite school. As for money, what even was that?

"One last question. Does your school offer scholarships?" Lu Yifang asked, staring fixedly at Professor X as if afraid he might miss some crucial keyword.

"Of course. If you come to my school, I can decide that this year's first-prize scholarship will be yours." Given Lu Yifang's talent as a Level 5 mutant, reserving the first-prize scholarship for him in advance was justifiable.

"How much is the first-prize scholarship per year?" Lu Yifang pressed anxiously.

"Ten thousand dollars." Professor X hesitated before giving the number. He was somewhat worried Lu Yifang would think it was too little.

But the scholarship amount had long been set in the school rules. Raising it too much would make it seem as though the backdoor had been opened too obviously for other students, which would not look good.

Yet the moment Professor X said those words, Lu Yifang spun around and rushed into the room, immediately making Professor X panic.

"Damn, don't leave! Why aren't you playing by the rules? If you're not satisfied, you can haggle with me! I never said the price was non-negotiable." But just as Professor X was looking anxious, Lu Yifang ran back out, now holding paper and a pen.

"What are you doing?" Professor X looked at Lu Yifang in confusion.

"Write me a guarantee, or I won't believe you." Lu Yifang stared at Professor X nervously, looking as though he were terrified Professor X might go back on his word.

Professor X: "..."

"Lu Yifang voluntarily agrees to attend Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. During his enrollment, tuition will be fully waived, with meals and lodging included. The room will be furnished with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a washing machine... and other amenities. An annual scholarship of ten thousand dollars will be provided. The following are supplementary clauses..." Looking at the document, Lu Yifang immediately felt that risks were nothing. All he needed was thirty percent luck, seventy percent wisdom, and then charge through the remaining ninety percent. After all, how could life always go smoothly? Without hardship, how could one see a rainbow?

"Since you've agreed, come back to the school with me." Professor X waved a hand. This document was a lavish offer to Lu Yifang, but to Professor X, it was hardly worth mentioning.

The only thing that made him sigh was how difficult it was these days for schools to recruit outstanding students.

"I'm afraid not right now. I can't leave with you immediately, because I have one more request." Lu Yifang suddenly put away the document, his expression turning serious.

"What request?" Although Professor X did not care about such a minor expense, Lu Yifang's repeated haggling still left him somewhat displeased.

"It's nothing much. I just hope you can send over an official admission notice, so I can leave the Orphanage through the proper procedures. That way, Ms. Emma can rest assured and won't worry about how I'll live after leaving the Orphanage." Lu Yifang looked at Ms. Emma, frozen beside him, with a complicated expression.

Lu Yifang's words clearly caught Professor X off guard. A few seconds later, Professor X nodded approvingly. "I agree."

Professor X felt that he had misunderstood Lu Yifang a little. Although the boy had initially refused his invitation, haggled with him, and even called him an old bald man when they first met—

Professor X knew Lu Yifang was a good child. Of course he chose to forgive him.