Chapter 20: Yao Xing Academy 20 Part 1

Lu Zhou was discharged from the hospital after staying there for a month. The Research Institute’s New Drug was extremely effective, and his ears had basically recovered by now.

Regarding the Ice Cellar incident at the Winter Sports Meet, the school had publicly released the investigation results, claiming it was an accidental mishap caused by leftover scrap magnetic sheets from the old armory. The school expressed deep regret and stated that it would fully cover the medical expenses for the affected students and provide them with condolence compensation.

There was no mention at all of the Micro Sonic Bomb.

Lu Zhou received the school’s compensation payment, which was a substantial sum for him. He wired the compensation money along with his previous savings to Xun Ji.

Xun Ji showed no particular reaction to it. In fact, ever since the day Xun Ji had messaged him demanding he fulfill their daily agreement—and he hadn’t replied—Xun Ji had not sent him another message.

Nor had he visited the hospital even once.

When Lu Zhou returned to school, it was just in time for the winter break. Luo Xunan was genuinely happy about his recovery and return, and he genuinely envied him for missing the final exams. Luo Xunan had visited him at the hospital frequently, but they had tacitly avoided mentioning the incident or Xun Ji.

“By the way, there’s some news you’ll definitely be happy about.” Luo Xunan leaned in close to his ear. “Yan Feng transferred schools!”

Lu Zhou paused while packing his bag. “Transferred?”

“Yeah, not long after you were hospitalized.” Luo Xunan said mysteriously, “They say he refused to go no matter what, but his family forced him abroad anyway.”

“Why?”

“There’s a rumor,” Luo Xunan hesitated and glanced at him before pointing toward the senior high school building, “that he offended that one.”

Lu Zhou lowered his eyes. “What did he do to offend him?”

“No idea, but Lu Zhou,” Luo Xunan said earnestly, “even someone with Yan Feng’s background gets kicked out of Yao Xing for offending that one. Even if you have to put up with a little grievance, you absolutely mustn’t…”

“Grievance?” Lu Zhou smiled. “Where would I have the right to feel aggrieved?”

“You…” Luo Xunan trailed off, wanting to say more but stopping himself.

“My relationship with him hasn’t reached the point where I have the qualification for grievances.”

Luo Xunan sighed and changed the subject. “Oh, right, someone else transferred too, though you probably won’t care.”

Without waiting for Lu Zhou to ask, Luo Xunan continued on his own. “It was Lin Yule.”

“A Xun, why are you sending me abroad?!” Lin Yule’s indignant shout came through the phone. “I’m not going! I want to stay with you!”

Xun Ji held the phone a bit farther away. “To keep you from causing trouble here.”

“I won’t cause trouble,” Lin Yule pleaded. “Don’t make me leave, okay, Brother?”

“I told you not to call me that,” Xun Ji said helplessly. “Here, you’re Lin Yule.”

“Brother, Brother, I’m worried about you being here alone. Let me stay.” Lin Yule was full of grievance.

“No.” Xun Ji’s tone left no room for negotiation. “I’ll figure out a way for your Task. Report any System messages to me immediately.”

Silence fell on the other end of the line.

Xun Ji thought for a moment and softened his voice. “The plane’s about to take off, right? Let me know when you land safely.”

After a long while, Lin Yule unwillingly mumbled an “mm.”

“Then Brother has to take care of yourself, call me often, and pick me up soon…”

“Yeah, yeah.” Xun Ji brushed him off perfunctorily.

He had been a perfectly capable subordinate before his identity was exposed. Now, how had he turned into this clingy mess?

Xun Ji didn’t deny that sending him abroad was not only to prevent him from messing up the Tasks but also a bit of selfishness… This past month, the kid had been sticking to him incessantly, even worse than when they were kids.

“…Also, don’t get too close to that Lu Zhou.” Lin Yule’s voice dropped lower. “If Brother wants to complete your Task.”

Once, he had tested Lu Zhou. After the first Key Plot Point Task, Lu Zhou’s Blackening Value had spiked to 60%, but then it started steadily declining.

That day in the classroom, he saw Lu Zhou peeling an Orange for Xun Ji. The black-haired boy’s somewhat gloomy dark eyes were filled entirely with one person. So he probed—

“Is he good-looking?”

In that instant, the Blackening Value, which had dropped to 20%, suddenly jumped to 30%.

Lin Yule knew he was right. The biggest factor influencing Lu Zhou’s Blackening Value had become Xun Ji.

He would definitely protect Brother. He would definitely make sure Brother’s Task succeeded.

If Brother wanted him to stay away from the Protagonist, then he would obediently stay away. There would be plenty of opportunities later anyway.

“Is Young Master Xun busy?” Lu Zhou knocked and entered Xun Ji’s room.

Xun Ji hung up the phone and smiled at him. “You’re out of the hospital? How do you feel?”

Lu Zhou’s tone was polite and courteous. “Thank you for your concern, Young Master Xun. I’ve fully recovered. The New Drug was very effective. I heard it was sponsored and developed by Xun Corporation, so I owe you another favor, Young Master Xun.”

Xun Ji smiled. “Mm, no big deal.”

Lu Zhou: “Also, thank you for taking care of Xiao Ting this past month.”

Xun Ji: “Mm, no big deal.”

Lu Zhou: “With winter break here, Young Master Xun will probably head back to the Xun Family for the New Year, right? I’d like to ask your permission to continue staying here during the break. Is that okay?”

Xun Ji kept smiling. “Sure, stay as long as you like.”

Lu Zhou nodded. “Thank you, Young Master Xun. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

Xun Ji: “? Wait.”

Hadn’t the Protagonist come to confront him? He’d been waiting a whole month for that confrontation?

Lu Zhou: “Does Young Master Xun need something else?”

Xun Ji decided to be direct. “About what happened at the Winter Sports Meet, don’t you have anything you want to ask?”

Lu Zhou lowered his eyes. “The school said it was an accident. There’s nothing to ask.”