Work

Shen Heng sighed softly and shook his head. Without dwelling on it, he picked up his phone and checked the time.

21:43.

"Time to head back."

After briefly tidying up, Shen Heng headed out of the training room.

With a crisp click, the brightly lit training area was instantly engulfed in darkness.

As Shen Heng walked out, he brought the special energy bar Wang Hai had given him after dinner to his mouth.

Like that meat cutlet, this energy bar was specially made to replenish the energy his body needed to grow.

The energy bar was on the sweet side and not quite to Shen Heng's taste, but he had no intention of being picky.

Chewing on the energy bar, Shen Heng looked around the complex.

The public security integrated services complex was especially quiet at night. As far as the eye could see, only a scattering of lights shone in a few buildings. Everywhere else was deathly still, without any other sound to be heard.

Over ten minutes later, Shen Heng reached the bus stop. A few more minutes passed before the bus slowly pulled in.

There were few passengers on the late bus and plenty of empty seats. Shen Heng chose a window seat and sat down.

He leaned back against the seat, then opened the window, ready to properly relax.

A gentle breeze brushed his face, and streak after streak of light flashed past along the streets. Everything felt pleasant, except...

"This damned ability. Am I really not even going to be able to zone out anymore?" Somewhat troubled, Shen Heng raised a hand and gently rubbed his temple.

After deliberating between watching videos and practicing his breathing, he considered the heavy burden and long road ahead, and his need to reach the third tier as soon as possible. In the end, he chose to practice the Heavenly Cycle Breathing Technique.

His eyes half closed, the tip of his tongue resting lightly against the roof of his mouth, he inhaled through his nose and exhaled through his mouth...

His breaths gradually grew long and steady, and the noise around him slowly faded away.

Another half hour passed before the bus slowly pulled over at a roadside stop.

Shen Heng opened his eyes, got off, and headed toward his residential complex. When he reached the entrance, his steps involuntarily stopped. Looking up, he saw Shen Shuning ahead, carrying a canvas bag. She looked as though she had just returned.

"Did you go somewhere today?" Shen Heng asked politely, out of consideration for their family relationship.

Shen Shuning clearly did not share his thoughts, however. She gave him a cold look and replied, "That's none of your business!"

With that, she turned and walked straight toward home.

Somewhat speechless at the scene before him, Shen Heng shook his head. He did not take her cold attitude to heart and followed her home from a distance.

By the time Shen Heng entered, Shen Shuning was nowhere to be seen. Only the light spilling through the gap around her door showed that she was in her room.

Shen Heng returned to his own room as well. Even in that cramped space, he did not slack off.

"Five Animal Fist, activate!"

Night, 22:53.

Click!

The sound of the front door opening reached Shen Heng's ears.

He stopped what he was doing, slowly drew a deep breath, and walked out of his room.

Outside his room, Xu Yuqin smiled when she saw Shen Heng come out. "Xiao Heng, did you need something?"

"Mom, I might not be coming home at night for a while," Shen Heng replied.

Xu Yuqin froze briefly, then asked anxiously, "Not coming home? Where are you going, then?"

"I found a job today. It's a night shift." Given his current status and the Supervision Bureau's confidentiality agreement, this was the only explanation Shen Heng could offer.

Hearing this, Yuqin immediately grew anxious. "Why would you go looking for a job out of the blue? Don't you still have school?"

"With my grades, there isn't much point in staying in school. I might as well start working sooner." Shen Heng shook his head. The original owner of his body could only score around 200 out of 750, which did indeed support what Shen Heng said.

Xu Yuqin opened her mouth as though she wanted to argue, but when the words reached her lips, she remembered Shen Heng's grades and felt that her words carried little weight.

"Mom, why don't you quit one of your jobs? Your body won't hold up if you keep working two jobs like this!" Shen Heng suggested tentatively.

For now, he had no intention of telling his mother that he already knew she was ill, afraid that she would break down emotionally. He would let her keep believing she had hidden it from him. At least she would have something to hold on to.

Yet when Xu Yuqin heard him say this, she assumed Shen Heng had found a job for her sake. Although she felt somewhat gratified, she still hurriedly said:

"Xiao Heng, don't worry about me. I can still hold on, don't worry! Hurry up and quit that job!"

"No. I've already made up my mind. You're the one who really should quit one of your jobs!" Shen Heng shook his head and spoke firmly.

"I really am fine!" Xu Yuqin shook her head just as firmly. "Xiao Heng, you can't do this. Going to school during the day and working at night-your body won't be able to take it!"

Although he had expected her refusal, Shen Heng still sighed softly. He shook his head and said:

"Don't worry. I just sleep at school during the day anyway, and this night-shift job I found is pretty easy. It won't tire me out."

Worried that Xu Yuqin would not believe him, he continued:

"Of course, if I really do find it too tiring later, I might quit and wait until after graduation."

After hearing this, Xu Yuqin hesitated for a long while before finally nodding and saying with feeling:

"All right. It looks like you really have grown up this time, Xiao Heng."

Once again, her tears refused to obey her and rolled down her face.

The next day.

Sunlight spilled across the school grounds.

Shen Heng glanced up at the sign for Senior Year Class 4, then stepped inside.

Soon, he reached a seat in the back row by the window. Looking at the youthful faces around him, Shen Heng could not help feeling momentarily dazed.

"Brother Heng, why didn't you come last Saturday?" a voice asked beside him.

Shen Heng turned to look. It was an ordinary-looking boy with short hair, Yan Sheng, a good friend of the body's original owner.

"Nothing much. I got sick and went to the hospital, then didn't feel like coming afterward," Shen Heng answered simply.

"Huh? There are only two months left until the college entrance exam. You should at least put in some effort, Brother Heng!" Yan Sheng urged.

"He'd like to put in the effort, sure, but with his current scores, unless he can raise them by 150 points in two months, he won't even get into a vocational college!" Just then, another voice came from nearby.

Shen Heng looked toward the voice. The speaker was Kong Haochen, one of the lackeys the original owner had taken in when he had money. But once the original owner ran out of money, everyone around him had scattered.

"Kong Haochen, what are you saying?!" Yan Sheng immediately snapped.

"I'm not making things up. Last year, our vocational college cutoff was 342. He can't even score 200 now. How could he possibly get into a vocational college?"

Kong Haochen spread his hands as though it were only natural.

"I reckon he'll be working in a factory once he graduates in two months."

"You..."

"Enough, enough! He's not wrong." Shen Heng reached out to stop Yan Sheng.

Kong Haochen lifted his head and said with a hint of mockery.

"Heh, looks like you do have a little self-awareness!"

"I do have self-awareness, but you seem to be a little short on it," Shen Heng replied flatly.