For several days in a row, Chu Yueyue had clung to the Cen siblings like a stubborn piece of adhesive.
No matter how much he provoked her, Cen Wu simply refused to take the bait.
Whenever the situation became unfavorable, she admitted defeat immediately, leaving him with no opening to exploit.
Every time he remembered the slap she had given him that night, Chu Yueyue felt his cheek ache all over again.
Unfortunately, the Academy of Supernatural Abilities prohibited students from fighting without cause.
If they wanted to spar, both parties had to agree first and submit a report to the teachers for approval.
“Teacher, Cen Wu and I are both Enhancement-Type ability users. Why can’t we be assigned to the same class?”
Chu Yueyue was genuinely puzzled.
Originally, he had expected to provoke her all day long.
Instead, he could only run over to the classroom next door and bother her during breaks.
Teacher Jun was Cen Wu’s homeroom teacher.
She smiled amusedly as she looked at Chu Yueyue.
“Enhancement-Type students can’t all be placed in the same class. As for why… why do you think that is?”
Although the Academy of Supernatural Abilities only admitted minors who had recently awakened their Innate Abilities, once supernatural abilities were actually used, their destructive power had nothing to do with age.
Chu Yueyue belonged to the type of person whose physical strength increased while his brain seemed to shrink.
“I asked because I don’t know, Teacher.”
Teacher Jun had originally wanted to pat his head.
Then she thought the child was already foolish enough and decided not to make matters worse.
Instead, she patted him on the shoulder.
“Go back to your classroom. Class is about to begin.”
The school bell rang the moment she finished speaking.
Chu Yueyue could only leave the office in frustration.
…
In the classroom next door…
Even after the bell rang, the teacher did not arrive on time.
Cen Wu and Cen Yuxing were discussing who would get to eat two portions of Mom’s homemade lunch when the academy director walked into the classroom with a young girl.
She was vibrant.
Radiant.
Among the students dressed almost entirely in black or gray, Lu You stood out in a pink dress, looking like a princess born to be one.
Cen Wu suddenly felt as though someone had gently squeezed her heart.
Even breathing became a little difficult.
“Younger Sister?”
Cen Yuxing took hold of her hand, worry appearing on his fair little face.
Cen Wu opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Her heart was filled with the fear that something precious was about to be taken away from her.
“Students,” the academy director announced, “this is Lu You. She’s a transfer student from Base No. 9 and will be studying here for the next six months. I hope everyone gets along with her.”
“Now then, let’s welcome her with a round of applause.”
Standing confidently on the podium, Lu You smiled.
“Hello, everyone. My name is Lu You.”
“I heard my dad say that the vice base leader’s daughter from Base No. 9 was coming to our academy. So it was true!”
“Isn’t Base No. 9 the one that developed the Regeneration Factor?”
“She’s so adorable. She doesn’t look like a child living in the apocalypse at all.”
“I’m changing seats later. I’m going to sit next to her and become her desk mate!”
The academy director nodded in satisfaction before looking kindly at Lu You.
“Student Lu, where would you like to sit?”
Lu You slowly swept her gaze around the classroom before stopping on Cen Yuxing.
What a cute little boy.
He looked just like the little prince in the animated films her older brother had bought for her.
She pointed at Cen Wu.
“Director, I want her seat.”
Without even asking for Cen Wu’s opinion, the academy director agreed immediately.
“Very well. Student, switch seats with Lu You.”
Of course, Cen Wu didn’t agree.
But…
She wanted to know what Cen Yuxing would do.
Lowering her head to hide the uneasiness in her eyes, she casually gathered the two books on her desk and walked to an empty seat in the second-to-last row.
With proud, graceful steps, Lu You walked over to Cen Yuxing and extended a hand toward him.
“My name is Lu You. What’s yours?”
Unlike Luke, Cen Yuxing was recognized throughout the family as their little sweetheart.
He always greeted people with a gentle smile and had an exceptionally mild temperament.
Yet at that very moment…
He looked up with an expression of complete indifference.
He looked exactly like Luke.
Cen Yuxing packed up his books as well before walking over to the student sitting beside Cen Wu.
“Let’s switch seats.”
His desk mate let out a delighted laugh.
“You’re really taking your blessings for granted.”
Then he happily exchanged seats and hurried over to sit beside Lu You.
Cen Wu was so touched that she nearly burst into tears on the spot.
“Older Brother… I thought…”
Cen Yuxing flicked her forehead.
“Don’t overthink it.”
He didn’t explain anything.
Yet somehow, it felt as though he had explained everything.
The stiffness that had seized Cen Wu’s body finally melted away.
Warmth returned to her limbs, and she could move again.
Seeing that the siblings completely ignored her, Lu You bit her lip unwillingly before glancing at the academy director.
Naturally, the academy director had no intention of offending the daughter of Base No. 9’s vice base leader.
His face darkened as he reprimanded the Cen siblings.
“Are you two planning to stay joined at the hip for the rest of your lives? Student Lu wants to sit with you—that’s doing you a favor. Hurry up and switch the seats back.”
Cen Yuxing didn’t move an inch.
Cen Wu simply folded her arms and let out a cold snort.
The academy director was so angry that his mustache nearly curled upward.
“Have the two of you become completely lawless? My words don’t mean anything anymore?”
Hearing the commotion, Teacher Jun hurried into the classroom to smooth things over.
“Director, they’re only children. Why argue with them? The Secretary-General is waiting for you at headquarters. You shouldn’t keep them waiting.”
Remembering the important meeting, the academy director finally suppressed his anger.
Even so, before leaving, he shot the Cen siblings a fierce glare.
He would deal with them after he came back.
…
The vice base leader of Base No. 9 had personally come for an exchange visit, so Base No. 18 naturally treated him with courtesy.
But that courtesy extended no further.
The conference room doors stood open.
The participants sat on opposite sides of the table.
Any negotiations, conditions, or discussions of benefits would be conducted according to Base No. 18’s rules.
The academy director arrived in a hurry.
The moment he stepped into the conference room, he felt as though he had fallen into an ice cellar.
I’m finished…
Cold sweat immediately broke out on his back.
The Base Leader was angry.
Everyone knew that the Base Leader of Base No. 18 possessed an Ice Ability.
If you felt cold while sharing the same room as her, it definitely wasn’t your imagination.
It was the tangible pressure radiating from her.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
The academy director apologized cautiously and sincerely.
“There have been too many troublesome students at the academy lately. Those children nearly upset Student Lu just now, so I was disciplining them.”
Lu Han, the vice base leader of Base No. 9, smiled calmly.
“My Lu You has been spoiled by me since she was little. I’ll have to trouble the Director to be more tolerant of her.”
The academy director smiled obsequiously.
“Vice Director Lu, you’re too modest. Student Lu is innocent and adorable. We all like her very much.”
With a single glance, Lu Han saw through the man’s flattering nature.
If not for his daughter, he wouldn’t have bothered speaking to him at all.
Cen Jiao opened her eyes.
She didn’t even spare the two men exchanging pleasantries a glance before taking control of the conversation.
“Half a month’s salary will be deducted for being late.”
She looked directly at Lu Han.
“Vice Director Lu, how long do you intend to stay at my Base No. 18?”
The academy director’s heart bled.
Half a month’s salary amounted to 1,500 points.
His resentment toward the two Cen siblings deepened even further.
Everyone with the surname Cen is nothing but trouble.
Lu Han answered frankly.
“I’ll return to Base No. 9 after my daughter has adjusted to life here.”
Leaders from different bases were not permitted to stay in another base for an extended period.
Besides bringing Lu You here to further develop her supernatural abilities, Lu Han had another, more important reason for coming.
His Guard Squad had uncovered information.
Someone resembling his biological daughter had reportedly been seen near Base No. 18.
Lu Han wanted to find her…
And bring her home.
But Cen Jiao wasn’t interested in vague answers.
Her voice remained cold.
“Exactly how many days?”