Chapter 64: Change

Songyang High School.

In the cafeteria during lunch.

Zhao Tianxing hesitated, holding his tray.

The campus today seemed as calm as a still pond, everything the same as before.

But in truth, the conflict that erupted in the training ground yesterday had already spread throughout the entire school.

Almost every student knew that Zhang Yu of Class 1, Grade 10 had defected to White Dragon High School and clashed with Student Council Vice President Zhou Chechen and a group of upperclassmen in Grade 11.

Based on Zhao Tianxing’s observations and summaries among various student groups, most students’ evaluations were quite simple.

The loyalists of Songyang thought: “Isn’t this a school traitor? A class traitor? For profit, he sided with the White Dragon people—a traitor to Songyang! He should have his student status revoked!”

The jealous students suspected: “First Li Xuelian, then Zhang Pianpian—why can Zhang Yu attract rich women so frequently? I strongly suspect he didn’t get his surgery cleaned up; the school should thoroughly investigate him.”

Anger, jealousy… and hidden envy eventually turned into naked malice.

Most students who were afraid of trouble didn’t dare come near Zhang Yu at all, fearing they’d be implicated by the student council and the loyalists.

Zhao Tianxing was the same; he too feared that getting too close to Zhang Yu would get him targeted and picked on.

After all, Songyang High School had seen its share of student bullying incidents.

Zhao Tianxing had heard that Shuang Youpeng, from the previous grade, had ranked first in the monthly exams during Grade 10 and was quite the sensation.

But after entering Grade 11, as his grades gradually failed to keep up with the wealthy students, he began to suffer humiliation.

Things like being forbidden to do homework, forbidden to take medicine, forbidden to exercise, forbidden to pull all-nighters.

They even forced him to eat fried chicken, fries, beer, and desserts every day, making him watch his belly grow, his fat increase, and his hard-earned muscles slowly disappear.

They also forced him to watch videos, read novels, and play games every day, watching his grades drop bit by bit, feeling his heart for the Dao tortured.

Only after he utterly surrendered did Zhou Chechen let him go.

Just thinking about that process made Zhao Tianxing feel like he couldn’t breathe.

So today, when Zhang Yu invited him to eat together, he fled and said he had something to do and would go to the cafeteria later.

With this hesitant mindset, after getting his food and holding his tray, Zhao Tianxing saw Zhang Yu’s gaze again and subconsciously chose to avoid it.

That momentary glance away made a shadow fall over Zhao Tianxing’s heart.

“Sigh, now I can’t be friends with Zhang Yu anymore.”

Carrying his tray, he wandered aimlessly around the cafeteria for a few steps, then couldn’t help but look back at Zhang Yu’s spot.

When he saw Bai Zhenzhen and Qian Shen sit down beside Zhang Yu one after another, a trace of envy appeared in Zhao Tianxing’s eyes.

“Bai Zhenzhen and Qian Shen… why can they be so bold? Aren’t they afraid at all?”

“If only I could do whatever I wanted like them, that would be great.”

Though he always thought a lot, Zhao Tianxing never liked this trait about himself. He always wished he could stop overthinking, stop caring so much about what others thought—but he really couldn’t manage it.

Like at this very moment, Zhao Tianxing subconsciously gripped his tray, wanting to walk toward Zhang Yu’s seat, yet always feeling that the students around him were consciously or unconsciously glancing at him, as if sitting next to Zhang Yu would get him ostracized by the whole school.

Of course, he was just overthinking it. With so many people eating in the cafeteria, almost no one was specifically paying attention to him.

Watching Zhang Yu chatting happily with Qian Shen and Bai Zhenzhen, a look of yearning unconsciously crept into Zhao Tianxing’s eyes.

After going home yesterday, he couldn’t stop thinking about how Zhang Yu had stood his ground against Zhou Chechen without backing down an inch.

He envied Zhang Yu for being able to do that, and he desperately wished he could be as calm as Zhang Yu when facing any kind of pressure.

Just as Zhao Tianxing was hesitating and wavering, he suddenly saw Zhang Yu wave at him.

“Old Zhao! Over here!”

Zhao Tianxing was a little stunned: “Does Zhang Yu think I just didn’t find him?”

He gritted his teeth, then suddenly walked quickly to sit down beside Zhang Yu.

At that moment, he felt as if many people in the cafeteria were watching him, and he just wanted to sit down quickly and get Zhang Yu to stop calling him.

This time, he wasn’t wrong. Indeed, many people were looking at Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen, Qian Shen, and him.

But at this moment, Zhao Tianxing felt that he looked handsome again—perhaps in the eyes of others, he was as handsome as Zhang Yu had been yesterday.

He was wrong about that. In the eyes of most students, Zhao Tianxing at this moment was like a clown, likewise branded with an untouchable label.

The moment Zhao Tianxing sat down, Zhang Yu received a reply from Zhang Pianpian.

The message Zhang Yu had just sent to Zhang Pianpian was: “Sis, I have a classmate who really loves studying and wants to add you as a friend.”

Zhang Pianpian: “What score?”

Zhang Yu: “His highest.”

Zhang Pianpian: “Too low, not adding.”

Zhang Yu: “Ah?”

Zhang Yu thought to himself: “My sister here is also seriously score-discriminating.”

He suddenly remembered the call Zhang Pianpian had made to him before. Back then, when Zhang Yu couldn’t even reach 600 points, she probably saw him as nothing more than a human-shaped wet trash… no wonder she spoke so rudely.

But thinking about the environment at White Dragon High School, Zhang Yu felt… how to put it… it was pretty reasonable for the top student of White Dragon High to act like this.

He looked up at Qian Shen, who was staring at him full of expectation, and said apologetically: “I… she said your score of 620-something is too low. She won’t add you.”

Qian Shen was stunned for a moment, then blushed deeply and insisted Zhang Yu not forget the single-digit six.

“My highest time was 626!”

But after saying this, Qian Shen lowered his head, his gaze dim. Zhang Yu felt that in that instant, Qian Shen seemed to be thinking a lot. Finally, he saw the other nod and say: “My score really is too low.”

Then Qian Shen lifted his head again, his face full of longing, and said: “As expected of someone with 699. The way she chooses friends is so stylish.”

“Please tell her that I will definitely study hard, improve my score, and add her as a friend.”

“Also, even though I’m at Songyang High School, I’ve longed for White Dragon High School in my heart for a long time. I’ve even taken the entrance exam before, but I missed it by just a little…”

Zhang Yu understood—Qian Shen was a die-hard spiritual White Dragon person. Damn, does White Dragon High School even have sweeter air or something?

With a face full of disgust, he relayed this speech to Zhang Pianpian.

Zhang Pianpian: “From now on, don’t forward that kind of talk from people who only score in the 620s. People like that can’t keep up with us academically.”

Looking at Qian Shen, who was now all motivated, Zhang Yu thought about it but couldn’t bear to tell him what was said.

…

In the afternoon class.

!

The Chinese teacher was lecturing on the podium.

Bai Zhenzhen was diligently practicing his control over magical power below.

Just then, his phone vibrated lightly. He picked it up and saw it was a message from Mo Tianyi.

Mo Tianyi: “Bai Zhenzhen, did you and Zhang Yu defect to Zhang Pianpian of White Dragon High School?”

Ah Zhen was slightly stunned, immediately understanding, but he didn’t quite know how to reply.

Zhang Pianpian, the top senior of White Dragon High School, was definitely a symbol of the rich in the eyes of poor students like Mo Tianyi.

And with Zhang Pianpian protecting Bai Zhenzhen and Zhang Yu, in their view… she must have forcibly signed the two of them away from Songyang High School.

Otherwise, what other reason could there be? Bai Zhenzhen simply couldn’t tell Mo Tianyi that Zhang Pianpian admired the talents of Zhang Yu and her, so she wanted to take care of them and support them in getting into the Top Ten.

As for the sibling relationship between Zhang Yu and Zhang Pianpian, she had promised to keep it a secret, and unlike Zhou Tianyi, who liked to gossip everywhere, she couldn’t say anything.

But suddenly, she had a realization: why explain?

Explaining too much to them—was she supposed to tell them they hadn’t signed a contract? Expose the fact that she and Zhang Yu were going to take the Top Ten exam under Zhang Pianpian’s protection?

And what if Mo Tianyi and their leader also hoped Zhang Pianpian would protect them… what then?

Or if Mo Tianyi and the others blabbed around, letting the rich kids know about this, wouldn’t that stir up unnecessary trouble?

Right now, everyone thought they had been taken in by the rich girl Zhang Pianpian and would not take the Top Ten exam—this was a good thing.

At worst, after they actually got into the Top Ten, they could repay Mo Tianyi and the others for the tens of thousands of yuan they had invested, and if there was a chance, even help them get to the second level of Kunxu wouldn’t be out of the question.

"In the end, whether for me and Yu, or for Mo, being accepted into the Top Ten is what matters most."

"So the choice that increases our chances of getting into the Top Ten is the optimal one."

Thinking this, Bai Zhenzhen immediately replied: Mm, sorry, we really can't hold on anymore. We're not going to take the Top Ten exam anymore—we've already signed with Zhang Pianpian.

After a moment, Mo Tianyi replied: Sigh, I don't blame you. I've heard about the pressure Songyang High School put on you; it's normal to cave in. But regarding our matter, I hope you and Zhang Yu can keep it secret and not reveal it to anyone.

Bai Zhenzhen: Don't worry. Even though we gave up, we still hope you succeed. You are the last hope for us poor folks. Keep it up!

…

In the Spirit World.

Mo Tianyi looked at Bai Zhenzhen's sincere reply and breathed a slight sigh of relief, but a flicker of regret soon crossed his mind.

Whether it was Zhang Yu's stunning 4th place in the Law Competition or the willpower Bai Zhenzhen had once shown, both made him think that these two did have a slim chance of getting into the Top Ten.

But as it now seemed…

"In the end, they couldn't withstand that pressure."

Then he felt a bit of heartache over the money he had sent to Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen—it had all gone down the drain.

"If only I hadn't sent them that money. Wouldn't it have been better to save it for the boss?"

He sighed inwardly: "In the end, the one who will actually get into the Top Ten and lead us to break through this ceiling above our heads is still the boss…"

Just then, a line of text flashed before Mo Tianyi's eyes: Work has been idle for over 1 minute. Please return to your workstation and continue working immediately.

Mo Tianyi quickly pulled his thoughts back, reopened his connection to the Spirit World, and resumed his work.

Unlike other high schools, the Soul Cultivator students at Mangshan High School had to start taking on internship jobs from their freshman year.

Soon, dialog boxes appeared before Mo Tianyi one after another. His job today was being a customer service representative for a tutoring institution.

Customer: My son has already undergone a sterilization surgery, but the high school won't accept him. Now girls' schools and Soul Cultivator programs have also rejected him on grounds of physical incompleteness. What should I do?

Mo Tianyi replied: Girls' schools and Soul Cultivator programs have slightly lower entry thresholds, so they're very popular every year. Physical incompleteness is easy grounds for elimination. But it's not hopeless—you can have your son undergo a sterilization reversal surgery, then re-apply for interviews.

Mo Tianyi: If that still fails, he can repeat the year until next year and then undergo sterilization again. Having two sterilization surgeries on his résumé is a huge plus—it shows unwavering Dao heart. He'll definitely be admitted next year.

Mo Tianyi: We have partner hospitals we can recommend…

Beside Mo Tianyi, a dozen identical versions of himself were facing different dialog boxes, all working simultaneously.

The space in the Spirit World where these Mo Tianyis were situated was a room of about ten square meters, empty except for them and the dialog boxes.

After eighteen consecutive hours of work, he finally got a 5-minute break.

Looking at the wages he had earned, Mo Tianyi quickly transferred the money to his boss.

"The boss is in need of money right now."

Thinking that the wages he earned today could help his boss have a slightly better chance of getting into the Top Ten, Mo Tianyi felt a sense of satisfaction and anticipation.

"You've got to make it, boss. You're the only poor person in Songyang who might get into the Top Ten."

"Also the only chance for us to escape this kind of life…"