Chapter 14: Senior's Great Kindness Cannot Be Repaid, I Can Only Offer My Body in Return

The afternoon sunlight shone in through the window on the side of the basketball court, spilling warmly onto the plastic floor. Chu Zihang sat upright, a book in his hands, his white clothes spotless.

The white light reflecting off the pages illuminated his face, softening the handsome features that already made him look like a model student. Lu Mingfei thought to himself that this scene was practically like something out of a teen idol drama!

If he hadn't been without a phone, Lu Mingfei would have at least found an opportunity to snap a picture of this moment.

What is true handsomeness? This is what you call handsome—handsome enough to make a gaming otaku like him, who usually "doesn't understand romance," develop a desire to take photos!

Of course, what he valued most was printing the photos out after taking them and auctioning them off at Shilan Middle School...

Back in the day, similar businesses were everywhere on the Shilan Middle School forum; there were always a few bold underclassmen and upperclassmen secretly taking photos, their skills so good it was as if Chu Zihang were cooperating with them for a photoshoot.

However, ever since Chu Zihang graduated and headed to Cassel College in America, this business had dried up.

Lu Mingfei still had a bit of a head for business, knowing that scarcity creates value! If he took a photo and sold it, wouldn't he easily achieve financial freedom?

But this was just a random thought in his head, coming and going quickly. He soon noticed that the paleness of Chu Zihang's face wasn't from the reflection of the paper, but was truly as white as paper, which led to his earlier question.

"I'm feeling a bit unwell." Chu Zihang nodded slightly, looking as if he were preparing to stand up to greet Lu Mingfei.

"Oh my, Senior, there's no need for that! If you're feeling unwell, you should just rest at home; it's not like I can't practice on my own."

Lu Mingfei hurriedly and fearfully pressed Chu Zihang back down, feeling moved to tears in his heart.

Senior really is a man of his word, a true hero who keeps his promises. No wonder the underclassmen and upperclassmen are so infatuated with him; if he were to change his gender, he feared even he wouldn't be able to resist!

"It's boring at home."

Chu Zihang seemed truly weak, as he was actually pressed back into the chair by Lu Mingfei. He simply gave up on trying to stand and explained faintly, "Sunbathing helps with recovery."

"So, Senior, do you have chloroplasts?" Lu Mingfei's brain short-circuited and he blurted out a piece of nonsense, "Photosynthesis or something..."

As his Proficiency in various subjects grew, Lu Mingfei's knowledge level was also rising rapidly; look at that, he could even add a bit of knowledge to his nonsense... though the quality wasn't very high.

"Photosynthesis..." Chu Zihang looked down in silence, relieved that his body hadn't turned green.

Sure enough, he still couldn't keep up with Lu Mingfei's train of thought.

Wait, the fact that he looked down meant he had already been influenced!

"Hahaha, I'm just joking..."

Lu Mingfei successfully killed the conversation. He laughed sheepishly and picked up the basketball, partly to change the subject and ease the awkwardness, and partly to avoid being electrocuted.

"Senior, just rest on the side, I'll practice by myself. If you have any pointers, just speak up; I'm absolutely top-tier at following orders!"

"Alright." With injuries on his body, Chu Zihang didn't force it.

Lu Mingfei officially began his training.

His 【Basketball】 Proficiency was now 52, still at a beginner's level, but before he had trained yesterday, his level was only 13!

In one afternoon yesterday, he had gained 39 points of Proficiency.

If the rate of progress remained the same, it would be basically impossible for him to break through and obtain a trait today.

But the growth of Proficiency depends on the big picture; compared to yesterday, Lu Mingfei now had the 【Physical Recovery】 and 【Super Speed Calculation】 traits!

The 【Super Speed Calculation】 trait was naturally useless when practicing basketball, but 【Physical Recovery】 was different.

Yesterday, Lu Mingfei had to slow down after a while due to limited stamina, and his movements would inevitably become distorted or even impossible to complete, but now... that was almost non-existent!

【Through diligent practice, your 【Basketball】 level has improved, gaining 2 points of Proficiency】

【Through...】

Lu Mingfei got more and more into it, even if it was just him bombarding the hoop alone. The feeling of improvement at such moments was just like playing a game; who could refuse to watch their stats get stronger bit by bit?

Chu Zihang, sitting on the side, naturally wouldn't ignore such an obvious change.

Chu Zihang was the type of person who, once he promised to do something, would definitely do it well. After Lu Mingfei started practicing basketball, he closed the book in his hands and observed Lu Mingfei's movements carefully, ready to speak up and correct him at any moment.

But not only were Lu Mingfei's movements not making mistakes, they were visibly getting better with every repetition.

If it were just that, it wouldn't be enough to make Chu Zihang take it so seriously. He was someone who had seen the world; what kind of genius hadn't he seen?

But combining this with what Chen Shu had reported to him this morning—about Lu Mingfei going to the gym yesterday, and him being sent home after the workout...

Chu Zihang lowered his eyes, pondering to himself.

Three hours of strength training, managing to finish it, and his strength still constantly increasing. After a night's sleep, he could actually crawl out of bed the next day full of life to go to school, and now he was playing basketball?

Could this still be considered human?

This couldn't possibly be human!

After hearing these things, the first word that appeared in Chu Zihang's mind was—Bloodline Awakening.

Only when a Hybrid's bloodline awakens is it possible to do these things.

And only this possibility could reasonably explain why Lu Mingfei could remember Chu Tianjiao!

But, a bigger problem followed.

Was Lu Mingfei, who could resist the effect of the Spirit Speech of the God King Odin, able to do so because his own Spirit Speech was special, allowing him to accidentally succeed in resisting it back then, or was it because... his bloodline was higher than Odin's, making him immune to the influence of Spirit Speech?

Should he report this to Cassel College?

This thought flashed through Chu Zihang's mind, only to be rejected, leaving not even a trace behind.

To report it, he would have to explain the reasons clearly, and it would involve the legendary Nibelungen, Odin, and the Spirit Speech that affects the entire world...

Although Cassel College is full of lunatics, at a time like this, the first thing they would consider is probably whether Chu Zihang had gone crazy.

That reason was secondary, though; the main thing was...

Chu Zihang's gaze followed Lu Mingfei as he moved.

Chen Shu had told him what happened when he sent Lu Mingfei home last night.

How could a person like that be an existence with a bloodline higher than Odin's?

Cassel College is full of lunatics because it is a school for Hybrids, and the root cause of why Hybrids easily go crazy is that Dragons are the craziest of the crazy—tyrannical, bloodthirsty, and fond of ruling the world!

In Chu Zihang's view, that kind of thing could even be considered bullying; how could someone take money and still treat their benefactor like that? A normal person would have lost their temper, and if it had been a Dragon, there should have been blood on the spot.

Chu Zihang was quite the gossip at heart. In Cantonese, the word for gossip actually carries a slightly derogatory meaning, referring to prying into people's privacy and being meddlesome. But for someone who is tight-lipped and provides help, this word becomes a compliment.

After hearing about that incident, what Chu Zihang was pondering in his heart was how to help Lu Mingfei without hurting his self-esteem.

Of course, Chu Zihang admitted that he had his own little ulterior motives in doing this.

Although he was not sure how Lu Mingfei had resisted that Spirit Speech of Odin, if he could figure it out, he would have a bit more certainty in dealing with Odin later.

After all, the one he had to face was a legendary God King.

But he would not tell Lu Mingfei about Odin, because he did not want to drag Lu Mingfei into this.

He was already a dead man, having died on that rainy night five years ago. The one who left the Nibelungen that night was merely a body filled with vengeance; there was no need to implicate other innocent people.

"Lu Mingfei?"

Thinking of this, Chu Zihang spoke up.

"Swish!"

Lu Mingfei was currently sending the Basketball into the hoop from the two-point line; his standard shooting form was already quite accurate, hitting seven or eight out of ten, and upon hearing this, he turned his head back, but unable to stop his practice, he simply dribbled the ball between his legs with a crossover step in place.

"What is it, Senior Brother?"

"Do you want to move out of your aunt's house?" Chu Zihang asked calmly.

Lu Mingfei was stunned: "Move... out?"

"Chen Shu told me about taking you home last night," Chu Zihang said.

"I have consulted a lawyer; a situation like this already constitutes a dereliction of guardianship, and one can file a lawsuit with the court to request the revocation of guardianship and pursue accountability.

Additionally, you can report this to the neighborhood committee and public security organs to carry out immediate intervention and let you move out. If your parents cannot be contacted, the civil affairs department can designate another guardian for you.

The court will also conduct a recovery of inherent property and remaining funds; you are almost eighteen, so you can manage them yourself after coming of age, though it would be no problem to have them given directly to you with a little maneuvering..."

Since seeing Chu Zihang yesterday, this was the first time Lu Mingfei had heard him say so much at once.

Although the tone was still flat, as if he were reciting a legal statute or a petition...

But didn't this just go to show that Senior Brother had him in his heart? He even specifically found a lawyer for his own affairs, and even memorized what he had been told!

"Senior Brother, your great kindness is something I cannot repay, I can only offer myself to you!" Lu Mingfei was incredibly moved.

Chu Zihang paused, thinking that this was really unnecessary.

But he also knew that Lu Mingfei spouting nonsense was not a one-day occurrence... although strictly speaking, the two had only known each other for a day or two, but such a distinct trait was truly unforgettable.

"Do you want to move out?" he sought confirmation.

"Move out... I think I can."

Lu Mingfei dribbled with one hand, scratched his hair, and quickly made his decision.

In fact, he also felt that after what happened yesterday, it was not very comfortable for him to stay at his aunt's house anymore.

The past is the past, and the present is the present.

Before, he could pretend not to know about certain things and let them pass, but now that things were out in the open, it was different.

Some things, if not put on the scale, don't weigh four taels, but once on the scale, even a thousand catties won't hold them down!

Even if he stayed on with a thick skin, the way his aunt's family looked at him would be vastly different from before, and the atmosphere would only become increasingly awkward.

Rather than that, it would be better to just move out; it would seem more straightforward.

"However, the recovery of inherent property... let's just forget it. The past is the past."

In his heart, Lu Mingfei didn't actually have much resentment toward his aunt and the others; it was the same old saying, if his parents didn't care, what could he expect from his relatives?

He slept in the same room as his cousin Lu Mingze, and while the food and clothing weren't much, he didn't go hungry, and there was no differential treatment at school...

Lu Mingfei had read *Harry Potter*, and compared to the life that savior lived at Aunt Petunia's house—living in a cupboard under the stairs, wearing old clothes, not being allowed to go to a good school, etc. —he felt he had lived reasonably well.

Moreover, his uncle was actually quite good to him, often secretly giving him some pocket money. It was just that his uncle was henpecked, the financial power was held entirely by his aunt, and there wasn't much to begin with.

Lu Mingfei was just that kind of person; he didn't have much feeling about those who were bad to him, as the people around him were all about the same anyway.

But if someone was even slightly good to him, even just a little bit, he would cherish that sentiment.

If it really came to the point of recovering the property, his aunt's family would probably have to sell their car and house to pay it back!

"Fine." Chu Zihang nodded in agreement, "Then we won't recover the inherent property, but we will recover the remaining funds."

Lu Mingfei nodded; of course he had to have that money, otherwise where would he live after moving out? He couldn't just wander the streets!

He was soft-hearted and kind, that was true, but he hadn't reached the point of sacrificing himself to accommodate others... that money was rightfully his to begin with!

By now, Lu Mingfei naturally understood that Chu Zihang was prepared to take charge of his affairs. Although one shouldn't bother the same person twice for the same thing, he couldn't keep "bothering" him and keep freeloading forever; his skin wasn't that thick yet.

And he also had his own little ulterior motives in his heart; if he had that money, would he be able to pay back the costs for the Basketball court rental and Fitness gym that Senior Brother Chu had provided?

Even if he couldn't pay it all back, at least he could pay back a portion. Otherwise, the more favors he owed, the more uneasy Lu Mingfei felt in his heart.

"I will arrange for a lawyer to come over."

Chu Zihang had always been swift and decisive in his actions; after confirming with Lu Mingfei, he took out his phone and began making arrangements, speaking as he did so.

"There is an advantage to not recovering the inherent property; this way, you don't have to go to court. You can have the lawyer go over and have them sign an agreement to get the money back, so you don't even have to go back and see them."

"Senior Brother, I trust your arrangements!"

Lu Mingfei felt a weight lift from his heart; just a moment ago, he had still felt a bit nervous, and his head ached at the thought of having to face his aunt's tantrums if he went back.

Chu Zihang had clearly considered this point and arranged everything for him; he could truly be described as meticulous.

"I can have someone help you pack your things so you can take them all at once... is there anything special you need to pay attention to?" Chu Zihang asked.

"Uh... I don't think so, maybe just some daily clothing?"

This question hit Lu Mingfei's knowledge blind spot; he was stunned for a moment, and after thinking carefully for a long time, he couldn't think of anything else, "And my books, there shouldn't be anything else."

"Good."

Chu Zihang typed very quickly, his tone still flat, like a heartless life-assistant robot, "Do you have any requirements for the residence?"

"Residence requirements?"

Lu Mingfei scratched his head, "I don't have any special requirements personally, as long as it's livable!"

"..." Chu Zihang paused slightly; this requirement was very broad, ranging from a detached villa to a coffin-sized room, all within the scope.

"I remember the family has purchased other properties that are renovated but have never been moved into."

Chu Zihang chose to make the decision for Lu Mingfei directly, "The property management fees are being paid anyway, and it's just sitting empty, so you should go live there."

"Senior brother, Lu has drifted for half a lifetime without meeting a wise master; if you do not forsake me, I am willing to acknowledge you as my foster father!" If he weren't worried about being electrocuted, Lu Mingfei would have almost dropped to his knees with a thud.

Chu Zihang fell silent once again.

"If you do not forsake me, I am willing to acknowledge you as my foster father"—that was said by Lu Bu, right?

When exactly is classmate Lu Mingfei planning to say, "How can a great man living between heaven and earth remain long in a subordinate position?"

"Oh right, senior brother, where is that house?" Lu Mingfei only just remembered to ask.

"It seems to be in the west of the city," Chu Zihang recalled, "California Sunshine."

(End of chapter)