Chapter 5 part 1
Luo Shizhen’s leave request was approved with ease.
Now that nowhere was truly safe, Chen He’an, as a Safety Officer, couldn’t leave two young Awakeners alone at the school. He simply requested leave for Chu Xiao and Qin Yinian as well, taking them along to the official central base in Luoxia City.
Since they had requested leave before and gone through the proper channels with greetings from the higher-ups, there was no need to worry about the process for those two.
But this was Luo Shizhen’s first time. Chen He’an had originally intended to use his official status to coordinate the leave.
However, Luo Shizhen’s homeroom teacher agreed immediately, even considerately asking if the vacation time was enough and if he needed a few extra days.
Chen He’an had been a bit puzzled—was it really that easy for a Grade 12 student to get leave?
But after finding Luo Shizhen’s file and seeing his yearly report cards, he instantly understood.
With such consistently stable grades, it really didn’t matter whether he took leave or not.
At this moment, Luo Shizhen sat in the car, feeling a mix of nervous awkwardness and novelty. Leaning against the window, his eyes widened slightly as he gazed outside.
In the car were Chen He’an, Chu Xiao, Qin Yinian, and himself.
He had been arranged to sit in the front passenger seat. Since he was only familiar with Chu Xiao, he frequently turned his head to look back at him.
“Chu Xiao, this car is so comfortable.”
“Chu Xiao, so when you said you were going to a competition before, you were actually going to Awakener training.”
“Chu Xiao, are you uncomfortable sitting in the back? Zhang Chuan said you have to sit in the front of a sedan to avoid carsickness. Should I switch seats with you?”
Except when he was angry, Chu Xiao generally didn’t talk much. He only answered with “Mmn,” “Yes,” or “No need,” but the corners of his lips remained slightly upturned.
“What are you doing?” Qin Yinian, sitting in the back, watched him frolic like a puppy with its owner—every sentence was about Chu Xiao, with absolutely no intention of speaking to him. He couldn’t help but click his tongue. “Why are you acting like you’ve never ridden in a car before?”
Luo Shizhen turned back cheerfully. Ever since learning that Qin Yinian had saved him, he no longer avoided him like before.
“How did you know? This is my first time riding in a small car.”
He carefully touched the seat, as if touching some rare treasure.
“This car is really nice. It’s especially spacious, and the seat is comfortable too.”
The boy was completely oblivious to the unkind tone in Qin Yinian’s voice. Hugging a corner of the seat, with his soft hair looking obedient and his dark, bright eyes shining, he even smiled at Qin.
Qin Yinian had only meant to make a snide remark. He hadn’t expected Luo Shizhen to truly have never ridden in a car, nor for him to answer so enthusiastically. It threw him off completely.
Luo Shizhen doesn’t think I said that out of concern for him, does he?
Qin Yinian instantly felt awkward. And when he felt awkward, his words turned nasty.
“What remote backwater did you crawl out of? How can someone be this old and never have ridden in a car?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt something was wrong. It was too mean, like pointing at Luo Shizhen’s nose and cursing him for being poor.
Driving, Chen He’an frowned, his voice stern. “Yinian! Don’t say things like that. Apologize to Shizhen.”
Sitting next to Qin Yinian, Chu Xiao opened his eyes and said coldly:
“Just because you’re a young master, don’t assume everyone is like you.”
Qin Yinian, who had felt a twinge of regret, was provoked by Chu Xiao’s words, and that sliver of remorse was instantly suppressed.
Only the person being defended by the two didn’t mind at all. He still looked cheerful and replied happily:
“I have ridden in cars. I take the bus home with Chu Xiao every week. I just haven’t ridden in this kind of small car. But I have taken the high-speed train! Though I think this car is more comfortable than the train. It’s really nice, no smell at all. No wonder taxis are so expensive.”
The car Chen He’an was driving was a government vehicle. While not a top-tier luxury car, it was still worth over a million.
Yet in Luo Shizhen’s eyes, it was about the same as a taxi.
Qin Yinian felt like he had punched a pile of cotton.
Chen He’an repeated, “Yinian, apologize to Shizhen.”
Qin Yinian was unwilling. “He didn’t even understand what I was saying. What’s the need to apologize?”
Luo Shizhen finally realized their conversation was about him, and that Qin Yinian seemed a bit unhappy with him.
With his dark, bright eyes wide, he glanced carefully at Qin Yinian. “Teacher, no need to apologize. I don’t feel like it was anything.”
He had been raised by his elderly grandmother. She was old and her eyesight was poor, so naturally, she couldn’t take care of a child meticulously. When he was little, his clothes were always dirty, and he had once been surrounded by other kids and called a “trash spirit.”
Luo Shizhen knew his family was poor, unlike his wealthy classmates. Growing up, there were always classmates who laughed at him for it. But he didn’t hold grudges; after all, more classmates were sympathetic and would give him bread and candy they didn’t eat.
Later, when Luo Shizhen started washing his own clothes until they were spotlessly clean, fewer people laughed at him. After graduating from elementary school, those classmates who had once mocked or bullied him even came to apologize one after another.
Compared to the words he heard as a child, Qin Yinian’s remark was practically painless. He hadn’t even called him poor directly.
Besides, even if he had, it wouldn’t matter. It was the truth.
“He needs to apologize.”
Compared to his stern tone with Qin Yinian, Chen He’an’s voice instantly softened when addressing the obedient Luo Shizhen.
“Shizhen, when Yinian does something wrong, it’s wrong. We can’t just let it go because you don’t mind. This is for your good, and for his good too.”
Luo Shizhen repeated this sentence in his heart and happily committed it to memory.
Chen He’an called Qin Yinian’s name again. “Qin Yinian.”
Qin Yinian said reluctantly, “I’m sorry, Luo Shizhen.”
Luo Shizhen smiled at him, eyes sparkling. “It’s okay.”
Qin Yinian was dazzled by that smile. He thought to himself, Luo Shizhen really does have a good temper. Sometimes he’s actually a bit likable.
It’s just that his taste is terrible—he’s actually friends with Chu Xiao.
The drive was long. As Qin Yinian thought, exhaustion gradually washed over him, and he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
Chu Xiao got a bit carsick. Although it wasn’t serious, he had also fallen asleep early on.
Only the driver, Chen He’an, and Luo Shizhen remained awake.
Luo Shizhen was full of energy. He had been physically robust since childhood. Even on the old-fashioned buses that smelled of mixed odors, were crowded with people, and bumped along dirt roads every few minutes, he was completely unaffected. Back then, Chu Xiao would turn pale, weak, and nauseous every time, and Luo Shizhen always took care of him.
Now, sitting in this sedan, he was even more energetic.
Chu Xiao and Qin Yinian were asleep, and Mr. Chen had to drive and couldn’t be disturbed, so Luo Shizhen looked out the window by himself.
The outside world was too new to him. Before coming out, he had felt afraid, but now that he was actually out, with Chu Xiao and a gentle teacher like Mr. Chen by his side, Luo Shizhen wasn’t scared at all.
However, he still had some worries.
While waiting for a red light, he whispered to Chen He’an:
“Teacher, if I’m not that… Awakener thing, when I come back, do I have to buy my own bus ticket?”
Chen He’an was amused by the child’s worried question. “Don’t worry. With Big Yellow reacting so strongly, you are one hundred percent an Awakener.”
Luo Shizhen was still a little concerned. “But what if I’m not? I see Chu Xiao and Qin Yinian have ice and fire, but I don’t have anything.”
He had even secretly opened his mouth in front of the mirror during a bathroom break, but nothing special came out.
Chen He’an rubbed his head and coaxed, “Awakeners find it hard to control their abilities in the beginning. Those two were the same at first. How about this? If you’re worried, Teacher promises you: even if you aren’t an Awakener, Teacher will cover your ticket and travel expenses. I’ll even pay you for the days you took off. How does that sound?”
Recommended Reads
