Li Shuyi

Urgent footsteps rang out as a girl with a ponytail, dressed in a well-fitted white training uniform, hurried into the hospital room carrying a basket of fruit.

"Shu Yi? I came to visit Bai Xiaowen," Zhou Yi said eagerly, his formerly arrogant face already piled with smiles. "Although it was an accidental misstep, it was still my responsibility. I didn't expect you to come too. If I'd known, it would've been great if we'd come together."

This ponytailed beauty in a white training uniform was Li Shuyi, Chihuo No. 1 High School's campus belle and Academic Ace.

Li Shuyi glanced at Zhou Yi, a faint trace of disgust flashing through her eyes. "Zhou Yi, your Basic Combat has reached Level 4, hasn't it?"

Zhou Yi replied with a placating smile, "It's alright. I can't compare to you."

"Bai Xiaowen's Basic Combat is only Level 1," Li Shuyi said. "Can a Level 4 really make a mistake against a Level 1?"

Zhou Yi looked somewhat embarrassed. "Shu Yi, you understand too. While the odds are low, it isn't impossible... All I can say is that Bai Xiaowen and I both had bad luck."

"If your father weren't the president of Botong Pharmaceutical Factory and hadn't donated ten million to the school, do you think you could still stay here?" Li Shuyi frowned. "Let me tell you again: Bai Xiaowen and I are just ordinary friends. We only walk home together after school because we're on the same route."

Although Li Shuyi had drawn a clear line between them, even a deaf person could hear how protective she was of Bai Xiaowen. Zhou Yi felt a little irritated and shot Bai Xiaowen a glance.

Even in a hospital gown, Bai Xiaowen's handsome appearance remained flawless. By comparison, Zhou Yi, dressed head to toe in designer brands, looked like a crab decked out in armor.

If someone else had been close to Li Shuyi, Zhou Yi might not have gone so far. But he felt an instinctive jealousy toward Bai Xiaowen. Besides, he knew perfectly well that Li Shuyi and Bai Xiaowen were more than merely close.

"Is there anything else?" Li Shuyi looked at Zhou Yi and frowned. "Bai Xiaowen is a patient. If you really care about him, don't provoke him. Go back to class early."

Zhou Yi's expression changed drastically before he finally forced out a smile. "Shu Yi, don't be angry... Fine, fine, I'll leave now." Once Li Shuyi looked away, he shot Bai Xiaowen a warning glare.

Wu Xiaoyan glanced at Bai Xiaowen, hesitated for a second, then quickly followed Zhou Yi out of the hospital. From beginning to end, she did not say a single word to Bai Xiaowen.

Only Li Shuyi and Bai Xiaowen's younger sister remained in the hospital room.

"Big Sister Shuyi, please sit!" Xiao Jun thoughtfully pulled over a tall stool, then said to Bai Xiaowen, "Brother, Big Sister Shuyi came to see you every day while you were unconscious."

After helping Li Shuyi sit down, Xiao Jun tactfully left the room and closed the door behind her.

"Thank you." Bai Xiaowen let out a breath.

"No... no need to thank me. This was partly my fault too," Li Shuyi said softly.

Whenever Li Shuyi faced Bai Xiaowen alone, she always felt a little uneasy, and a faint blush appeared on her face.

Memories surfaced in Bai Xiaowen's mind.

Li Shuyi had shown her affection for the old him with almost no attempt to hide it—good looks really were justice.

However, the old Bai Xiaowen had been introverted and sensitive. He could never have taken the initiative to pursue Li Shuyi, lest people call him a man living off a woman. Still, he had been full of affection for her as well—and because their soul memories had fused, the current Bai Xiaowen had inherited those feelings.

Their relationship was far from the ordinary friendship Li Shuyi had just claimed. To borrow a trendy phrase: more than friends, less than lovers.

Bai Xiaowen had already used his Insight Talent to examine Zhou Yi's personal attributes. Now, facing Li Shuyi, he activated Insight once again.

A stream of information entered Bai Xiaowen's mind.

[Li Shuyi]

[Race: Human Species/Human Race]

[Talent: Combat Zeal (Unactivated)]

[Attributes: Strength 4.9, Agility 7.7, Constitution 4.1, Spirit 3.5]

[Proficiencies: Basic Combat Level 5, Basic Weaponry (One-Handed Sword) Level 5, Basic Meditation Level 3]

"Li Shuyi's total attributes are 20.2. She's already reached the threshold of an Awakened!" Bai Xiaowen was shocked.

Under the influence of Psionic Particles, ordinary people's bodies became "partially datafied," as though they had embarked upon the path of evolution. They could strengthen their attributes and abilities through various methods. Once the sum of their four major attributes reached 20, they had to enter the Spirit Realm to undergo a trial.

Those who passed the trial could "change class," their bodies becoming "fully datafied," and become powerful Awakened! Thus, a total attribute score of 20 was a threshold. Earth humans who reached it were known as Quasi-Awakened!

When Bai Xiaowen looked at his own attributes again, he found himself vastly inferior to Li Shuyi. Only his Spirit attribute held a slight advantage. His first three physical attributes—Strength, Agility, and Constitution—were all far below hers, not to mention the gap in their basic proficiencies.

Even Zhou Yi was completely Suppressed by Li Shuyi in every aspect. If they fought, Zhou Yi would struggle to last even a minute. Moreover, Li Shuyi had yet to activate her talent skill, Combat Zeal. Her potential far surpassed Zhou Yi's, who had no talent skill.

Bai Xiaowen gained a deeper understanding of his talent, Insight.

Insight was far too powerful!

Before a talent awakened, even its owner had no idea whether they possessed one. Yet Bai Xiaowen, who had the Insight Talent, could see it directly!

With Insight Talent alone, Bai Xiaowen was destined to become the most discerning scout of talent. He could discover people with potential, pour resources into them, and mass-produce Awakened with talents!

The difference between Awakened with talent abilities and those without was immense. In a guild of Awakened, those with talents were the pillars supporting it, its core members. Awakened without talents would find it difficult to match the former's achievements even if they put in twice the effort.

If any major faction learned that Bai Xiaowen possessed such a talent, they would certainly offer him the best possible terms and invite him to join.

Unfortunately, Bai Xiaowen did not have the credentials to convince anyone. As an ordinary third-year high school student, he rarely even had the chance to meet an Awakened, much less recommend himself before the leaders of a major guild.

Besides, even if he had the opportunity, Bai Xiaowen would not dare go. Every major guild had allies and enemies. If hostile forces learned of him, would they make a move against Bai Xiaowen? The answer was certain. With Bai Xiaowen's current meager strength, if he were dragged into the vortex of conflict between Awakened factions, even the smallest wave could crush him to death.

Bai Xiaowen made up his mind to disguise Insight Talent as an ordinary scouting talent. He absolutely could not let anyone know it could reveal whether others possessed talents.

Li Shuyi had always kept a low profile. Unaware that Bai Xiaowen had already discovered her Quasi-Awakened strength, she said, "I'm going to leave school for a while."

"The National College Entrance Examination is coming up. You're leaving school now?" Bai Xiaowen asked.

Li Shuyi shook her head. "I might not take the National College Entrance Examination."

"Early admission?" Bai Xiaowen reacted quickly. "Congratulations. Which university?"

"It's in this city—Jinghai University."

Bai Xiaowen gave her a thumbs-up. "Amazing. As expected of our Class 17 Academic Ace."

Jinghai University was one of China's top five key universities and ranked within the world's top hundred. Li Shuyi's early admission meant Jinghai University had clearly taken notice of her Quasi-Awakened strength.

Bai Xiaowen thought further. Li Shuyi was probably leaving Chihuo No. 1 High School to enter the Spirit Realm and undergo the Awakened trial. Perhaps the next time he saw her, she would already be a true Awakened.

Bai Xiaowen keenly felt the gap between them.

Li Shuyi glanced at Bai Xiaowen, hesitated, then said, "Bai Xiaowen, I want to ask you for a favor."

"What is it? Go ahead."

"Promise me first," Li Shuyi said with a mysterious smile. "Otherwise, I won't tell you."

"Alright." Bai Xiaowen agreed immediately. He had nothing worth Li Shuyi scheming over, and besides, they were on good terms.

Li Shuyi said, "After school, I used to help out at my family's Alchemist shop. Once I leave, the shop will be short-handed, so I want to ask you to take my place and work part-time for a few months..."

"A part-time job at an Alchemist shop? Would such a good job really be short on staff?" Bai Xiaowen asked instinctively. Seeing Li Shuyi's slightly unnatural expression, he quickly understood that she was deliberately trying to help him.

In the Psychic Energy Era, people skilled at making Enhancement Potions were called Alchemists. Items containing large quantities of Psionic Particles could not be processed through mechanized production. They could only be blended and fused by hand by Alchemists, resulting in low output and high prices. Alchemy therefore became a popular field of study, and Alchemists were highly respected.

The profession of Alchemist had always been passed down from master to apprentice, so countless people tried every possible way to get into Alchemist shops, hoping only to become apprentices. If the Li Family's Alchemist shop posted a notice hiring part-timers, even college students would compete for the positions. How could it possibly be Bai Xiaowen's turn, a mere third-year high school student?

"It really is short-handed... Are you willing to go?" Li Shuyi curled her fingers around the hem of her white training uniform.

"Alright, I'm willing," Bai Xiaowen agreed with a smile. Then he said solemnly, "Thank you."

Li Shuyi smiled brightly. "You'd be helping me too... What's there to thank me for? Focus on recovering over the next few days. You can report to the shop anytime. I still have things to do, so I'll be going first."

As Li Shuyi reached the door, she suddenly turned back with a smile. "Bai Xiaowen, I've noticed you've changed a lot. That's good. Goodbye!"

"I think Big Sister Shuyi is right. Brother, you really have changed a lot," Xiao Jun said softly after entering the hospital room again. "Before, whenever Big Sister Shuyi wanted to help you, you always refused and made everyone unhappy. Also, when you faced that bastard Zhou Yi just now, Brother, you were really dependable."

Bai Xiaowen felt somewhat dazed. He recalled himself from another time and space and clearly sensed the changes in himself.

He did not know whether it was because two lives had overlapped, or because he possessed the Mystic Eye and Super Brain, but Bai Xiaowen had clearly become quite different. He was more confident and composed. In Xiao Jun's words, he had become dependable.

"This change... doesn't seem like a bad thing. I'm still me, just a better version of myself!" Bai Xiaowen stopped dwelling on it, and another thought came to him. "The job at the Alchemist shop Li Shuyi introduced me to might be a good opportunity."

I'm Yashe Luo. I'm back! (Awkward silence.)