Chapter 63: Changes

Songyang High School.In the cafeteria during lunchtime. Zhao Tianxing hesitated, tray in hand.

The campus appeared calm and undisturbed, as if nothing had changed. However, the conflict that occurred on the training grounds yesterday had already spread throughout the entire school.

Almost all students knew about Zhang Yu from Class 1, Grade 11, defecting to Bailong High School and his conflict with Student Council President Zhou Chechen and a group of senior students from Grade 12.

Based on Zhao Tianxing's observations and summary across various student groups, most students' reactions were straightforward. The "Songyang Loyalists" believed: "Isn't he a school traitor? A class renegade? He defected to Bailong for profit, a Songyang betrayer! He should be expelled from the school!" Students consumed by jealousy suspected: "First Li Xuelian, then Zhang Pianpian, why does Zhang Yu keep attracting rich women? We strongly suspect his 'surgery' wasn't clean; the school should investigate him thoroughly." This mix of anger, jealousy, and hidden envy ultimately transformed into raw malice.

Most cautious students dared not approach Zhang Yu, fearing entanglement with the Student Council and the Songyang Loyalists. Zhao Tianxing was no exception; he, too, was afraid of being targeted or singled out if he got too close to Zhang Yu.

After all, student bullying was not unheard of at Songyang High School. Zhao Tianxing had once heard about Shuang Youpeng, a student from the previous cohort, who had achieved the top score in the monthly exam during his first year, making quite a name for himself. However, after entering his second year, as his grades gradually fell behind those of wealthier students, he began to suffer abuse. They forbade him from doing homework, taking medicine, exercising, or staying up all night. They even forced him to eat fried chicken, fries, beer, and desserts daily, making him watch his stomach grow, his body fat increase, and his hard-earned muscles slowly vanish. They also compelled him to watch videos, read novels, and play games every day, witnessing his grades drop point by point and feeling his devotion to self-improvement suffer immensely. He was only released after he completely begged for mercy from Zhou Chechen. Just thinking about the process made Zhao Tianxing feel breathless.

So, when Zhang Yu invited him to eat together today, he frantically claimed he had something to do and would be late to the cafeteria. With this hesitation weighing on him, Zhao Tianxing finished getting his food, picked up his tray, and upon seeing Zhang Yu's gaze once more, he instinctively looked away. This averted gaze caused Zhao Tianxing's heart to sink.

"Oh, well, I guess Zhang Yu and I won't be friends anymore." He aimlessly walked a few steps in the cafeteria with his tray before looking towards Zhang Yu's table again.

When he saw Bai Zhenzhen and Qian Shen sit down next to Zhang Yu one after another, a hint of envy appeared in Zhao Tianxing's eyes. "Bai Zhenzhen and Qian Shen... How can they be so bold? Aren't they afraid at all?" he wondered. "If only I could do whatever I wanted, just like them, that would be great."

Although he always overthought things, Zhao Tianxing never liked this trait about himself. He always wished he wouldn't think so much or care too much about what others thought, but he truly couldn't help it. Just like at this moment, Zhao Tianxing instinctively clutched his tray, wanting to go to Zhang Yu's table, but he constantly felt as if the surrounding students were consciously or unconsciously looking at him, as if he would be ostracized by the entire school the moment he sat next to Zhang Yu. Of course, he was overthinking; with so many people eating in the cafeteria, hardly anyone was specifically paying attention to him.

Zhao Tianxing watched Zhang Yu, Qian Shen, and Bai Zhenzhen chatting happily, and a hint of longing unconsciously appeared in his eyes. After returning home yesterday, he couldn't help but recall how Zhang Yu hadn't retreated an inch when facing Zhou Chechen. He envied Zhang Yu for being able to do such a thing and deeply wished he could appear as calm and unfazed as Zhang Yu when facing any pressure.

Just as Zhao Tianxing hesitated and wavered, he suddenly saw Zhang Yu wave at him. "Old Zhao! Over here!"

Zhao Tianxing was slightly stunned. "Does Zhang Yu think I didn't find him earlier?" he wondered. He gritted his teeth and suddenly walked quickly to sit down next to Zhang Yu. In that moment, he felt certain that many people in the cafeteria were watching him. He just wanted to sit down quickly and have Zhang Yu stop calling out to him. And this time, he wasn't mistaken; many people were indeed watching Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen, Qian Shen, and him.

But at that moment, Zhao Tianxing also felt quite cool, perhaps as cool as Zhang Yu had been yesterday in the eyes of others. He was wrong about this; at that moment, to most students, Zhao Tianxing appeared like a clown, similarly branded as untouchable.

As soon as Zhao Tianxing sat down, Zhang Yu received a reply from Zhang Pianpian. Zhang Yu's message to Zhang Pianpian had been: "Sis, I have a classmate who is very fond of studying and wants to add you as a friend."

Zhang Pianpian: "What's their score?"Zhang Yu: "Around 620-something at their highest."Zhang Pianpian: "Too low, no."Zhang Yu: "Huh?"

Zhang Yu thought to himself, "My sister really has serious score discrimination." He suddenly recalled a call Zhang Pianpian made to him in the past; back then, Zhang Yu, who scored less than 600, was probably like a "human-shaped wet garbage" in her eyes... No wonder she spoke so bluntly.

However, considering the environment at Bailong High School, Zhang Yu thought... it made perfect sense for the top student there to act this way. Looking up at the expectant Qian Shen in front of him, Zhang Yu awkwardly said, "She... she said your 620-something score is too low, so she won't add you."

Qian Shen was momentarily stunned, then, blushing, reminded Zhang Yu not to forget the 6 points in the ones digit. "My highest score 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 have thought a great deal. Eventually, he saw Qian Shen nod and say, "My score is indeed too low." Then Qian Shen looked up again, his face full of yearning, and said, "As expected of someone with a 699 score, even 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, although I'm at Songyang High School, I've long yearned for Bailong High School. I even took the entrance exam before, but I just barely missed getting in..."

Zhang Yu understood. Qian Shen was a true "Bailong spirit person," practically believing the air at Bailong High School was sweeter, right? With a look of disgust, he relayed the message to Zhang Pianpian.

Zhang Pianpian replied: "In the future, you don't need to forward messages from people scoring only 620-something. Their grades aren't good enough to keep up with us." Looking at the invigorated Qian Shen, Zhang Yu thought for a moment and couldn't bring himself to tell him what Zhang Pianpian said.

In the afternoon class. The Chinese teacher was lecturing at the podium.

Bai Zhenzhen was diligently practicing her magic control skills below. Just then, her phone vibrated lightly. Picking it up, she saw a message from Mo Tianyi. Mo Tianyi: "Bai Zhenzhen, have you and Zhang Yu defected to Zhang Pianpian of Bailong High School?"

Ah Zhen was slightly stunned, instantly understanding the situation, but unsure how to reply. Zhang Pianpian, the top student in her final year at Bailong High School, was undoubtedly a symbol of the wealthy in the eyes of poor students like Mo Tianyi.

And for Zhang Pianpian to "cover" Bai Zhenzhen and Zhang Yu, in their view... it must mean she had forcibly signed the two from Songyang High School. Why else would it be? Bai Zhenzhen couldn't possibly tell Mo Tianyi that Zhang Pianpian admired Zhang Yu and her talents and therefore wanted to look after them both, supporting them in getting into the Top Ten universities. As for the sibling relationship between Zhang Yu and Zhang Pianpian, she had promised to keep it a secret; she wasn't like Zhou Tianyi who loved to spread gossip, so she certainly couldn't say anything. But suddenly, she had an epiphany: Why explain?

If she explained too much to them, would she tell them she hadn't signed a contract? Would she expose the fact that she and Zhang Yu were planning to get into the Top Ten under Zhang Pianpian's protection? What if Mo Tianyi and their leader also wanted Zhang Pianpian to protect them... what then? Or what if Mo Tianyi and his group, being talkative, let the wealthy find out about this, causing unnecessary trouble? Right now, everyone thought they had been taken in by the wealthy Zhang Pianpian and wouldn't try for the Top Ten, which was a good thing.

At worst, if they truly got into the Top Ten later, she could repay Mo Tianyi and his group the tens of thousands they had invested, and even help them reach the second level of Kunxu if the opportunity arose. "Ultimately, for both me and Yu, and for Mo Tianyi, getting into the Top Ten is what matters most," she mused. "Therefore, the choice that increases the success rate of getting into the Top Ten is the optimal solution."

With this thought, Bai Zhenzhen immediately replied: "Yes, I'm sorry, we really couldn't bear the pressure anymore. We're no longer aiming for the Top Ten and have signed with Zhang Pianpian." A moment later, Mo Tianyi replied: "Sigh, I don't blame you. I heard about some of the pressure Songyang High School put on you; it's normal to not be able to hold out. But regarding our matters, I hope you and Zhang Yu can keep it a secret and not disclose it to anyone."

Bai Zhenzhen: "Don't worry. Although we've given up, we still hope you succeed. You are the last hope for us poor people. Keep going!"

In the spirit world. Mo Tianyi looked at Bai Zhenzhen's sincere reply, slightly relieved, but a flicker of regret quickly crossed his mind.

Both Zhang Yu's courageous fourth-place finish in the magic competition and Bai Zhenzhen's previously demonstrated willpower had made him believe that these two truly had a slight chance of getting into the Top Ten. But now it seemed...

"In the end, they still couldn't withstand the pressure." He then felt a pang of regret that the money he had given to Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen had gone to waste.

"I should have known not to give them money. How much better if I had saved it for our leader?" he lamented in his heart. "Ultimately, getting into the Top Ten and leading us to break through this ceiling above us will still depend on our leader..."

Just then, a line of text flashed across Mo Tianyi's vision: "Work stagnant for over 1 minute. Please return to your post immediately and continue working." Mo Tianyi quickly pulled his thoughts back, re-established his spirit world connection, and resumed his work. Unlike other high schools, students specializing in soul cultivation at Mangshan High School were required to participate in internships from their first year.

Soon, various dialogue boxes appeared before Mo Tianyi. His job today was to be a customer service representative for a tutoring institution. Client: "My son has already undergone sterilization, but high schools won't accept him. Now, even girls' schools and soul cultivation programs have rejected him due to his 'physical deficiency.' What should I do?"

Mo Tianyi replied: "Girls' schools and soul cultivation programs have lower thresholds and are very popular every year, but physical deficiencies can easily lead to elimination. However, it's not impossible; you could have your son undergo a sterilization reversal surgery and then re-interview." Mo Tianyi continued: "If that still fails, you can have him repeat a year and undergo sterilization again next year. Two sterilization surgeries are a significant bonus on a resume, demonstrating a firm dao heart, and he will definitely be accepted next year." Mo Tianyi added: "We have partner hospitals we can recommend to you..." Beside Mo Tianyi, over ten identical versions of him were working, each facing different dialogue boxes. These versions of Mo Tianyi in the spirit world were in a room roughly ten square meters, completely empty except for them and the dialogue boxes.

After working for eighteen consecutive hours, he finally got a five-minute break. Looking at the wages he had earned, Mo Tianyi quickly transferred the money to his leader.

"Our leader needs money right now." Thinking that the wages he earned today could give his leader a little more hope of getting into the Top Ten, a sense of satisfaction and anticipation welled up in Mo Tianyi's heart.

"You must succeed, Leader. You're the only poor person in Songyang City who might get into the Top Ten." "And the only chance for us to escape this life..."