Chapter 126: The Exam

When Du Zhengyi and Majiang returned to the courtyard where they were staying, Luo Qi had already returned and was sitting at the table, staring blankly at a steamed fish on the table, looking quite honest and submissive. Guan Xinyue was drinking yogurt while carefully sizing up Luo Qi; hearing them return, she looked up suspiciously and sized them up as well.

"Let's eat," Majiang said, raising his voice and clapping his hands to grab Luo Qi's attention. "After eating, the girl can continue her house renovation project. If she wants to keep replacing the furniture with the latest models, she can keep having workers deliver them. Luo Qi, you have an exam this afternoon."

"What?" Luo Qi shouted, the word 'exam' instantly jolting him out of his dazed state. "I haven't even been at school, why do I have to take an exam?"

He instinctively looked toward Du Zhengyi as if for help. Du Zhengyi sat down beside him, seemingly not noticing his fear at all, and even picked up his chopsticks.

"What do you mean 'why'? If you don't work hard yourself, do you want to be a firecracker that explodes at the slightest spark for the rest of your life?" Majiang said, also sitting down and picking up his chopsticks. "Girl, can I have steak tomorrow?"

"Does the whole city have delivery for Western food too?" Guan Xinyue was observing Luo Qi and said perfunctorily.

"Even this steamed fish of yours has delivery, why wouldn't steak have delivery?" Majiang said.

Luo Qi was still awkwardly putting up a final struggle, anxiously interrupting them, "But I've only read books for a few days. I'm only in Third Grade, I don't have any professional foundation at all."

"What do you call the first three years if not building a professional foundation? Look at Du Zhengyi; when he was in Third Grade, he had already finished two Seventh Grade concentrations," Majiang said.

Du Zhengyi reacted slightly to being named, but immediately buried his head in his meal just like Guan Xinyue. Luo Qi looked left and right, isolated and helpless, "Bullshit, can I compare to Du Zhengyi?"

"Watch your language," Majiang said. "Look at this unfilial attitude of yours. You're following me now, so I am your teacher, you know? If you're not satisfied with me, your dad is more capable than I am; why don't you just go home and find your dad?"

Du Zhengyi looked up and glared at him, but Luo Qi was staring blankly in despair and didn't notice the eye contact between Du Zhengyi and Majiang. Guan Xinyue nudged him from the side, "Don't get worked up. It's not a school exam, what are you afraid of? Even if you don't pass, he can't do anything to you."

"Hey, why is everyone here so difficult?" Majiang said quickly, stopping Guan Xinyue from continuing to teach Luo Qi to be disobedient. "Luo Qi, I'm making you take this exam to issue you a license to go out. If you don't pass, you'll stay at home and continue studying; don't go wandering around everywhere with Du Zhengyi."

"I was brought by Du Zhengyi in the first place. Why do I need your permission to go out with him?" Luo Qi said in surprise.

"Oh, ho," Majiang laughed. "Well, Du Zhengyi is sitting right next to you. Do you dare ask him?"

Luo Qi stared at Du Zhengyi for a few moments, but Du Zhengyi really didn't react, just quietly and slowly eating his lunch. Luo Qi had a strange, slight feeling of being betrayed. He poked at the rice in his bowl, unhappy, and after thinking for a long time, he still didn't understand what the two adults had been up to just now.

Du Zhengyi suddenly said, "How about you give him a simple exam this afternoon? Not starting from book knowledge? Start with a practical test?"

"What?" Two cries of surprise rang out simultaneously.

"Du Zhengyi, do you have to be so protective? I've known you for so many years and I really never saw you had this trait!" Majiang said.

"Du Zhengyi, you know I'm most afraid of practical tests! I've never passed an experimental exam. You saw with your own eyes that the rain cloud in the weather experiment followed my head! You're too vicious!" Luo Qi shouted.

Guan Xinyue laughed so hard she almost fell onto the table, "Brother Du, you are a classic example of pleasing no one."

Du Zhengyi sighed, turned his head, and said to Luo Qi, "Don't be afraid. You are not who you used to be."

"How am I different? Besides suddenly becoming a flammable and explosive item, what else?" Luo Qi said with a dark face.

"Your previous problems were largely because your parents blocked your Telepathy ability. This kind of blockage also brings limitations to your brain's capabilities," Du Zhengyi said patiently. "Theoretically speaking, since this blockage has been undone, your brain's ability to control power will increase. Many things you couldn't do before, you might not be unable to do now. Perhaps your abilities other than Telepathy aren't particularly outstanding, but they aren't necessarily poor either; it's even possible for your average to reach an excellent standard."

"Are you being too optimistic?" Luo Qi asked him in a low, hesitant voice.

"I am a person who values practicality," Du Zhengyi said calmly.

"Oh, oh," Guan Xinyue finally understood a little, "Like the story in 'Flowers for Algernon'?"

"Maybe," Luo Qi said. Guan Xinyue's words made him even more worried. He said gloomily, "If my parents put the shackles back on me, I will indeed turn back into a moron."

"Then you have to work hard," Guan Xinyue said. "You have to take the initiative in doing things."

Du Zhengyi and Majiang exchanged a look. Majiang laughed, "Starting from practice is indeed a good idea. Luo Qi, fill in that pit in the courtyard for me this afternoon—you are not allowed to use your hands."

Guan Xinyue laughed, "Otherwise, Luo Qi, why don't you try using your will to drive the chopsticks now? The effect might be better under the drive of hunger, and it just so happens you didn't eat breakfast."

Majiang heard that Guan Xinyue was taking the opportunity to get revenge for the unpleasantness that morning and couldn't help but laugh, "Women are truly terrifying, no matter how young they are."

Du Zhengyi didn't quite understand the cause and effect, nor did he care much. "Starting practice from reality can better train your brain to adapt to mental control."

Seeing that Luo Qi was no longer resisting, Du Zhengyi turned to give Majiang a rough account of what had happened the day before. Finally, he said, "I am indeed no longer suited to show my face directly. The Lotus Burners have clearly begun to demonstrate and openly promote their philosophy. I don't know yet if the clues to the further unraveling are all similar situations. Since the Lotus Burners have moved toward the public, I think the subsequent series of actions will gradually escalate. By then, relying on the strength of a few people will not be enough to control the situation; we must borrow the official help of Qionglin."

"Three months," Majiang said suddenly, also reminding Du Zhengyi, "As long as we can drag out the Lotus Burners' speed of action as much as possible, it counts as success. Three months later, Pei Shu will return, and with his prestige, he will be able to better mobilize the main force of the Mages. The Lotus Burners are, after all, a minority."

Du Zhengyi's expression was somewhat worried, "What if they also want to start an uprising during these three months when Pei Shu is away?"

Majiang nodded, "It's a pity that Qionglin is also suffering from internal friction now. Qionglin has been safe and sound for decades or even a hundred years; who knew that in just over ten days, it would become so turbulent. I don't know if this series of events is a random coincidence or something else. I always feel that this is just the opening, just the wind and rain before the storm. The next three months will be when the storm truly rages. We should indeed be prepared."

"How do we prepare?" Guan Xinyue said. "Is there anything I can do?"

"How to prepare? Start with Luo Qi. Luo Qi, you're done eating, right? Go to the courtyard and fill in the dirt," Majiang said.