Part 3
“No, it’s just that I realized it later. When I went for the checkup at Yongzhou, they said I needed to quickly improve my physical strength, otherwise there would be problems. Professor Lin isn’t targeting me; he’s doing it for my own good.”
Lu Qiujin: “He just pointed at you and called you ‘noob’ (vegetable).”
Luo Shizhen didn’t think much of it. If he were called stupid, he might be sad, but…
He scratched his head and gave an embarrassed chuckle. “I really am a bit of a noob. Professor Lin was just telling the truth.”
The others were speechless.
Cheng Yunshao and Lu Qiujin might not have realized it, but Lin Qi was deliberately provoking them.
Knowing it was one thing, but they really had been provoked.
Now, hearing Luo Shizhen put it that way, they felt it wasn’t necessary to get upset anymore.
Only Wen Hu said, “How are you a noob? You’re a Purifier; being able to hold on this long is already amazing!”
Luo Shizhen shook his head. “I’m still not strong enough. Otherwise, Professor Sui wouldn’t have to protect me. If I were strong enough, I wouldn’t have to trouble the professor.”
His training progress had always been a bit behind, but today, Luo Shizhen clearly felt that he was able to keep up with everyone else.
Luo Shizhen liked training. At times like this, he was doing the same things as everyone else. They were equally tired, and in the end, they all lay on the ground together.
He liked the feeling of being part of a group—it was just like what his grandmother had always taught him: he was just the same as everyone else.
Luo Shizhen also had his own plan. “I can already pass now. Next, I want to get a ‘Good’ grade.”
During his school years, he had never received a “Good” grade for his results.
Seeing his happy expression and the longing in his eyes, Lu Qiujin couldn’t help but smile as well.
“You’ll definitely get a ‘Good’ grade.”
“Your muscles must be very sore, right? Back at the dorm, I’ll give you a massage.”
Luo Shizhen nodded. “Okay! We’ll massage each other!”
Wen Hu paced around beside them. “I can help you with a massage, too. I can even turn into a tiger to help you. Why didn’t you ask me?”
Luo Shizhen spoke the truth. “We’re not in the same dorm, so it’s not convenient. Besides, you’re too strong; your massages hurt.”
Wen Hu: “…”
He was a Regression Sequence Awakener and indeed had trouble controlling his strength.
However, catching the scent of his own mark on Luo Shizhen, Wen Hu accepted the outcome.
Luo Shizhen was quite happy that his classmate offered to help. He felt that he was integrating more and more into the school.
He had missed Chu Xiao and his big brother before, but now that time had passed, he was gradually getting used to them not being around.
This was one of Luo Shizhen’s talents. For example, back in middle school, although he was very close to Chu Xiao and they were almost inseparable, when Chu Xiao had to take a medical leave of absence, Luo Shizhen was downcast for a few days but was soon able to study properly and start his high school career without being further affected.
The current situation was already much better than high school. Lu Qiujin had become his friend, and with Wen Hu and Cheng Yunshao, there was also some classmate camaraderie.
Though his body was exhausted, Luo Shizhen was in a very good mood.
Seeing him turn down Wen Hu, Lu Qiujin was also in a very good mood.
Once they returned to the dorm and he saw their beds pushed together, his mood became even better.
“I’m going to shower first.”
Hearing Luo Shizhen’s intimate tone about going to shower, Lu Qiujin’s good mood went from better to best.
“Okay.”
His voice was incredibly soft. “Go ahead. Don’t worry about anything else; I’ll wash the clothes together once you’re done.”
Luo Shizhen puffed out his chest confidently. “My strength will recover soon. It’s just washing a few clothes; I don’t need your help.”
He figured that Lu Qiujin was only asking because he felt tired himself and assumed Luo Shizhen was, too.
Luo Shizhen immediately asked out of concern:
“Why are you asking that? Is your body still feeling a bit weak and hasn’t recovered yet? If you’re too tired, I’ll wash them for you.”
Lu Qiujin: “…No, I was worried you’d be tired.”
“Go on and shower. I’ll wait for you.”
Luo Shizhen nodded. After showering, he lay on the bed and waited for Lu Qiujin to finish. The moment he came out, Luo Shizhen sat up. “Should I massage you first?”
Looking at Luo Shizhen wearing only his pajamas, Lu Qiujin felt a heat in his throat.
“No, I’ll go first.”
Luo Shizhen gave an ‘oh’ and lay down obediently. “Go ahead!”
Lu Qiujin leaned over him.
Despite his natural tone, this was his first time giving Luo Shizhen a massage. To prepare, he had specifically researched massage techniques and pressure on the internet.
Physical contact with another person was a completely foreign experience for Lu Qiujin.
This was different from a hug. This time, it was just the two of them alone in the dorm, and he was touching parts of Luo Shizhen that were usually covered by clothes.
Lu Qiujin’s long, fair fingers trembled slightly as he slowly reached out to touch Luo Shizhen’s defenseless nape.
Luo Shizhen’s skin was very fair, and his nape was no exception. The skin was delicate and looked like it would feel wonderful to the touch.
With his earlobes turning red, his fingers reached out.
—Thud.
The dormitory door was thrown open from the outside.
The students in solitary confinement had finally been released due to the increased training intensity.
Rong Nian burst in excitedly, followed by Xiao Shan. “Shizhen! We’re back!”
Chu Xiao, with a cold face, stepped into someone else’s dorm for the first time. The territorial instinct of an Awakener made him feel uncomfortable all over, but he had come anyway.
In an instant, he saw Luo Shizhen—and Lu Qiujin on top of him.
Luo Shizhen was delighted. “Chu Xiao! I missed you so much!”
Lu Qiujin: “…”
Luo Shizhen tried his best to look up. “You’re all back!”
Xiao Shan stepped into the room and also saw Lu Qiujin pressed against Luo Shizhen, appearing as if he were about to massage him.
Rong Nian sniffed the air and was shocked to find that the scent of his own mark on Luo Shizhen was gone, replaced by the scent of a tiger.
Then Chu Xiao saw the beds pushed together.
The dormitory instantly fell into a dead silence—
Translator’s Note (Chapter 59):
The dynamic between Sui An and Yin Qing is so funny! Old classmates who used to “beat each other half to death” are now using NDAs and security protocols for petty revenge. And poor Shizhen—trying so hard to be supportive that he almost poisoned himself with wasabi fried rice!
Translator’s Note (Chapter 60):
Cultural & Context Notes:
- “Fish spirits washed ashore” (魚精上岸 – Yújīng shàng’àn): A funny way of saying the students look like flopping fish out of water.
- “Noob” / “Vegetable” (菜 – Cài): In Chinese internet slang, calling someone “cài” (literally vegetable) means they are a “noob” or weak at something.
- “Meteor hitting the Earth” (隕石撞地球 – Yǔnshí zhuàng dìqiú): A common metaphor for a powerful, destructive clash between two forces.
- “Meteors” vs “Earth”: The principal’s joke that the students were the meteors and the school building was the poor Earth they destroyed is a recurring gag about how destructive young high-rank Awakeners can be.
See you in the next one!
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