Chapter 2

"Jiang Zhao, you should also be studying at Chen Cang No. 1 High School, not working a part-time cleaning job here."

Jiang Jian composed his thoughts and looked toward the young girl holding a trash can, his tone slightly cold.

Overwhelmed by his presence, Jiang Zhao was at a loss.

"The pre-exam break is too long, a full fifteen days. Spending money at school is too expensive."

She tilted her snow-white neck, not daring to look into Jiang Jian's eyes, and said in a low voice.

"So I thought I'd come home to stay and do some part-time work, then return to school when it's time for the exam."

Chen Cang No. 1 High School is a private school and does not cover students' room and board during holidays.

Jiang Jian shook his head, stepped forward, and took the cleaning tools from her hands: "I'll do it."

"Jiang Jian, I earned 30 Alliance Credits, I can buy medicine for you."

The young girl couldn't refuse him, handed over the broom, her tone filled with joy.

Jiang Jian put down his schoolbag and was just about to clean up the trash when he heard this, his hand pausing in mid-motion.

As his younger sister, Jiang Zhao had always known about Jiang Jian's illness.

The year he first came out of the public care center was the first time Jiang Jian had an episode.

He had been in a coma for five whole days.

It was a box of 30 Alliance Credit "Peace of Mind Nutritional Tablets" that had saved Jiang Jian.

"You came back from school and delayed your studies just to save money to buy medicine?"

Jiang Jian looked up at her, "The God-Given Grand Exam is right around the corner, how can you be so unable to distinguish what's important?"

Jiang Zhao pursed her lips tightly, feeling wronged in her heart, and said: "I finished my schoolwork before I came back."

"Only finishing the required schoolwork will never get you into a God-Given University."

Jiang Jian pressed his watch, his words brooking no argument, "After you finish dinner, go back to Chen Cang No. 1 High School to review."

"Transfer successful: 60 Alliance Credits."

"Your balance: 11 Alliance Credits."

Involving privacy, the identity device changes the frequency of the voice; only the bound user can hear it.

The next second, Jiang Zhao received the message.

Her expression changed, and she looked at her own watch: "60 Alliance Credits is too much, it's enough to buy two boxes of Peace of Mind Nutritional Tablets!"

Jiang Jian said: "It's the holidays now, your school doesn't provide room and board, just take it."

Jiang Zhao asked: "Then is the money you have left enough to buy medicine?"

"My room and board at school are fully covered, the money I saved is just enough."

Jiang Jian smiled, "The subsidy for Chen Cang County will also be issued in the next two days."

Most of the counties in Guangling City belong to the Shadow Zone.

Chen Cang County is one of them.

Residents of the Shadow Zone can receive a "Sunshine Subsidy" every month.

70 Alliance Credits per person.

Added together, Jiang Jian and Jiang Zhao have 140 Alliance Credits.

Although life is tight, it's not to the point of starving.

"Let's go, let's go home."

Jiang Jian finished his work, put the tools back in the cleaning area, and took the schoolbag from Jiang Zhao's hand.

"Wait!"

Jiang Zhao raised her wrist, opened the camera function, took a picture of the area, and uploaded it to the community's part-time platform.

A few seconds later, a mechanical voice sounded.

"Hallway cleaning audit passed, payment issued: 2 Alliance Credits."

Hearing that the money for the part-time job had arrived, Jiang Zhao said happily: "Let's go home!"

"How are you doing with this year's new textbook, 'Overview of Gods'?"

Using his key to unlock the front door, Jiang Jian asked.

Jiang Zhao blinked her eyes and said earnestly: "I have been trying my best to study it, but I always feel there are parts that are obscure and difficult to understand."

Jiang Jian took his schoolbag, found two books, and handed them to Jiang Zhao.

"One is 'Overview of Gods', the other is 'Brief Analysis of Stars'; both are required reading for the God-Given Grand Exam. I took notes when I read them; study according to my annotations, and don't slack off during this time."

Jiang Zhao took the textbooks and flipped through two pages.

Seeing that they were covered in dense footnotes, she immediately felt a bit dizzy.

Placing the books on the sofa, the young girl rubbed her forehead: "I know, I will work hard."

Chen Cang No. 1 High School is a key school, and Jiang Zhao's grades are among the best.

But compared to Jiang Jian, Jiang Zhao always felt she couldn't keep up.

Jiang Jian nodded, just about to speak.

But he suddenly steadied himself against the table, his figure swaying.

Seeing this scene, Jiang Zhao's expression immediately became serious.

"I'm going to the restroom."

Jiang Jian left behind a sentence and was about to get up.

"Don't go yet!"

Under the bright lights, the young girl stared at him, "Jiang Jian, did you not take your medicine this week?"

Jiang Jian stopped his steps and glanced sideways.

In the dressing mirror, he saw his own pale face.

Jiang Zhao stood up, walked in front of him, and said word by word: "Do you know that the doctor said your illness is very dangerous and you need to take a box of Peace of Mind Nutritional Tablets every week?"

Jiang Jian lowered his eyelids, meeting the young girl's clear eyes, and did not answer.

"I'll buy you medicine right now!"

Jiang Zhao bit her lip and tapped her identity device.

"There is still medicine left, no need to buy any."

Jiang Jian held his sister's wrist.

Jiang Zhao couldn't break free, her face showing suspicion as she said: "Then why don't you take it? Take it out and show me!"

Jiang Jian let go of her hand and fumbled in his schoolbag for a moment.

He took out a medicine box and held it up in front of the young girl: "Why would I lie to you? I really just forgot today."

Jiang Zhao still didn't believe him, snatched the medicine box, and saw that it was indeed "Peace of Mind Nutritional Tablets."

She shook it hard a few times to make sure there was still some left, only then did she slowly relax, urging: "Then take your medicine quickly!"

"Okay."

Jiang Jian replied.

The young girl urged: "The doctor said your illness is very dangerous; if you're not careful, you'll sink into an endless sleep. You must not be reluctant to take it."

Speaking of this, her tone became earnest, "Jiang Jian, if you do this again, I won't eat at school either, and I'll save all the money."

Jiang Jian was somewhat amused and frustrated: "You're already 17, still saying such childish things. Put more effort into your studies."

As he spoke, he put the medicine box back into his schoolbag.

The atmosphere eased, and Jiang Zhao made a happy gesture: "Jiang Jian, you're the top student at Guangling No. 1 High School, maybe you really can get into a God-Given University!"

"By then, we'll have money to buy better medicine and cure your illness!"

She didn't notice.

The "Peace of Mind Nutritional Tablets" box in Jiang Jian's hand had already faded somewhat.

In an inconspicuous corner, the marked production year was "3220."

It is now the year 3227.

And 3220 was the year she and Jiang Jian came out of the public care center.

Jiang Jian packed the medicine box and said: "God-Given University isn't that easy to get into."

He pointed his finger at the ceiling, "Guangling City is very big; we don't just have to compete with students from the Shadow Zone, but also students from the God-Illumination Zone."

"In my opinion, the students in the God-Illumination Zone are not as good as you at all!"

Jiang Zhao was somewhat unconvinced, "Your theoretical grades are perfect in every subject; even if you were in the God-Illumination Zone, you wouldn't be worse than them!"

"You also know that these are just theoretical grades."

Jiang Jian looked at his sister, his expression calm, "In the God-Given Grand Exam, theoretical grades only account for 50 points, and the God-Given gift also accounts for 50 points."

Jiang Zhao pouted: "I'm going to change my clothes."

As she spoke, she walked to the dressing mirror and changed out of her dirty work uniform.

"Although the God-Given gift has 10 levels."

"But a level 3 talent can get a perfect score of 50 God-Given points."

The young girl picked up a tissue and carefully wiped her face, "Remember when we were little, the God-Illumination Zone produced a level 3 talent, and they've been promoting it until now; my ears are calloused from hearing it."

"Jiang Jian, with your theoretical grades."

"Even if it's the worst level 1 talent, as long as you can get 20 God-Given points..."

Speaking of this, Jiang Zhao's words came to an abrupt end.

She turned her head, her slender fingers pressing on the faucet, and looked at Jiang Jian on the sofa, "It's time to pay the water bill."

Scattered black hair brushed past her fair earlobes, reflecting the young girl's beautiful profile.

Jiang Jian looked at her, was silent for a moment, and said: "Actually, theoretical grades and God-Given points are not completely unrelated."

"Professor Zhang Laoshi said that studying 'Overview of Gods' can slightly increase one's God-Given level."

"As a gold-medal teacher in Guangling City, Professor Zhang Laoshi's talent is 'Three-Inch Unbroken Tongue,' which enjoys a great reputation throughout the city."

"Although it's not suitable for cultivation, it is a solid level 2 God-Given gift."

Jiang Jian said while organizing his schoolbag, "Study the two books I annotated carefully; maybe the gods will have mercy and grant you a level 3 talent too."

The young girl sat back on the sofa, and upon hearing this, she couldn't help but look at the 'Overview of Gods' beside her.

"Jiang Jian, stop joking."

Although she said that, she still subconsciously reached out.

She took the book Jiang Jian had annotated and flipped through it casually.

The title page of 'Overview of Gods'.

"In 2785, gods were born on Neptune, 30 astronomical units away from Earth."

"Interstellar dust vibrated, countless civilizations in the Orion Arm noticed, and they gazed toward the solar system."

"That year, the tiny solar system was accepted by the Orion Nebula, becoming one of the star systems under its protection."

"That year, the Earth Alliance was established, and technology experienced an incredible explosion of development."

"That year, gods manifested in the eyes of the world, and all things in the world bathed in divine grace, setting off a wave of life evolution."

The young girl was engrossed in reading and said to herself: "Hundreds of years have passed since the birth of the gods."

"No wonder there are 10 levels of God-Given gifts, but in the hundreds of years on Earth, only level 7 talents have appeared at most..."

"So, the gods are not Earth's gods."

"But the gods of the entire solar system."

Bedroom.

"Water bill payment successful: 2 Alliance Credits."

"Your balance: 9 Alliance Credits."

After paying the water bill, Jiang Jian looked at his sister reading on the sofa and closed the bedroom door.

With a swipe on his identity device, a translucent screen suddenly appeared.

In the corner of the screen lay a piece of paper filled with text.

The four characters at the top were shining brilliantly.

God-Proof Contract.

One day ago.

"Jiang Jian, have you thought it over?"

The middle-aged man put down his paper cup, trying hard to make his tone sound calm.

"As long as you agree to dissolve the engagement."

"I will immediately transfer 100,000 Alliance Credits to your citizen account."

The steam from the coffee filled the air.

Sunlight shone through the carved windows, and dust motes danced in the beams.

Jiang Jian leaned against the back of the soft chair, gently shaking the cup in his hand, and did not answer.

A silence of more than ten seconds.

The middle-aged man coughed dryly, subconsciously brushed his suit cuffs, and spoke again: "Jiang Jian, you need to think clearly; even with the God-Proof Contract as evidence, the gap between you and her is too large. I advise you to give up..."

Jiang Jian suddenly pressed down on the paper cup, looking at the swirling mocha in the cup, and interrupted: "You misunderstood."

It was the middle-aged man's turn to be stunned: "What do you mean?"

Jiang Jian smiled, stretched out his pale fingers, and pointed at his identity device.

A translucent paper appeared.

The small characters on it were neatly arranged, glowing with a faint blue light.

The middle-aged man widened his eyes, and his breathing suddenly became rapid.

"Earth Alliance, Guangling City, God-Proof Contract No. 785639."

"Contract type, engagement; contract time, Earth calendar 3210; contract method, blood contract."

"Contractor, Earth citizen Jiang Jian, citizen number hidden."

"Contractor, Earth citizen Zhao Jianxue, citizen number hidden."

The middle-aged man stared fixedly at the contract, subconsciously reaching out.

Jiang Jian smiled, shaking his wrist.

The paper shattered into light.

"Dissolving the engagement, of course, is fine."

Jiang Jian's expression was calm.

"It's just that Zhao Jianxue and I have been classmates since childhood, childhood sweethearts, mutually admiring each other, and our feelings are very deep..."

"Nonsense!"

The middle-aged man's eye twitched, "You live in the Shadow Zone and haven't even met Zhao Jianxue; where did this classmate friendship come from?!"

"Then let me be blunt."

Jiang Jian sneered, "The money is too little."

The middle-aged man cursed inwardly, forced a smile on his face: "How much do you want?"

Jiang Jian pointed to the ceiling: "The Zhao family is wealthy and powerful; only taking out 100,000 Alliance Credits is really stingy."

The middle-aged man adjusted his expression, stared at the teenager in the school uniform opposite him, and lowered his voice: "I can make the decision to add 150,000 Alliance Credits for you."

Jiang Jian wiped away his smile: "Are you dismissing a beggar?"

The middle-aged man gritted his teeth and said: "250,000 Alliance Credits!"

"I think you look like 250,000."

Jiang Jian's face sank, "It seems your Zhao family has already decided to marry Zhao Jianxue off to the Shadow Zone."

"Jiang Jian! How much money do you want exactly?!"

The middle-aged man's eyes gradually turned red.

The bottom line the Zhao family gave him was 400,000 Alliance Credits.

The remaining money was his reward.

As a negotiation expert who swindles and bluffs.

Every time the middle-aged man increased the price, his heart was bleeding.

"500,000 Alliance Credits, transferred to my citizen account; not a single credit less."

Jiang Jian stood up.

He put his old schoolbag on his shoulder and walked directly out of the coffee shop.

"How... how much!?"

"500,000!?"

The middle-aged man gritted his teeth in hatred, sat blankly for a long time, and cursed in a low voice, "Go to hell..."

The door of the coffee shop was magnificent.

A shop assistant walked up to Jiang Jian with a warm smile.

"Sir, the two of you consumed 3 Alliance Credits this time, let's see..."

Jiang Jian's clothes were washed until they were faded, but the shop assistant still recognized them.

This is the school uniform of Guangling No. 1 High School.

Jiang Jian tilted his head and gestured toward the middle-aged man sitting behind him.

The shop assistant smiled knowingly and stepped aside.

(End of chapter)