“Yi Bao, tell me, aren’t you a very powerful system?”
“Is there any quick way to learn?”
“This is driving me crazy, what should I do if I still can’t learn?”
…
Pouring out a belly full of grievances, Xu Xintong confided in Diudiu.
Ever since the incident involving Nong Wanshi last time, the relationship between the two seemed to have undergone some changes.
Nong Wanshi couldn’t quite put her finger on it either.
But upon waking up and knowing that Xu Xintong was by her side, she seemed a bit more at ease.
In her haziness, she had heard a familiar voice, and the warm embrace still held lingering tenderness.
Xu Xintong had been biting her lip the whole time, not daring to move much, actually afraid that she would once again want to get close to Nong Wanshi.
Her endurance had reached its absolute limit at that moment; if the police hadn’t arrived just in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Now she was an Alpha, and she needed to automatically keep her distance from Nong Wanshi.
“Yi Bao, I’m the Source Universe’s newest system, but when it comes to studying, you still have to rely on yourself.”
Diudiu offered earnest advice, watching its host pull at her hair in frustration over studying every day.
“However, Yi Bao, I can upgrade your Alpha rank!”
The sudden increase in volume startled Xu Xintong.
“Uh…”
“But I don’t really seem to need it, sigh.”
“Huh?”
“Yi Bao, why is that?”
Diudiu was puzzled. Don’t Alphas usually love improving their pheromone rank?
This was the programmed instruction knowledge instilled in it by the Source Universe all along.
Even though Xu Xintong was an Alpha now, she wasn’t actually very used to it yet.
She didn’t like the overbearing pheromones of Alphas and loathed their self-righteous attitude.
In her past life, she and Nong Wanshi, being Omegas, had frequently been looked down upon by Alphas and constantly gazed at with disgusting looks.
“Pero Yi Bao, your Alpha rank seems to have already gone up.”
“I noticed it recently.”
Looking at the pheromone change chart projected by Diudiu, Xu Xintong saw that her pheromones had much richer concentration, and her rank was rising by small increments.
“This is, how can that be?”
Xu Xintong hadn’t expected her Alpha rank could actually increase, even though the change wasn’t very large.
Diudiu explained, “Yi Bao, from what I see, it must be because of your own physical training and efforts.”
Diudiu carefully examined some data analysis and captured another key piece of information.
“Hey, hey, hey, Yi Bao, and you can also raise your grades to boost your Alpha rank.”
“Mm.”
Xu Xintong, of course, also saw the display screen in her mind.
“It’s just a bit difficult.”
Just thinking about how her host was struggling with studying, Diudiu felt that this method was still rather challenging.
“Diudiu, regardless of whether it can raise my Alpha rank, I still have to study properly.”
“I’ve already gone through this once, surely I can’t have zero impression left? Impossible!”
Xu Xintong answered her own question, filled with confidence.
Actually, the moment Diudiu told her that her Alpha rank could be increased, she had already thought of many things.
Now, since she was an Alpha, she ought to fulfill the responsibilities of an Alpha.
She couldn’t be weak, she couldn’t flinch, she had to face difficulties head-on.
In her past life, she lacked the ability to protect the people around her.
As an Omega, in the eyes of the world, she was always inferior to Alphas.
Her self-abandoning self, her purposeless self, her unfulfilled self, and her good-for-nothing self were all failures of her past.
In this lifetime, since she had been given a chance—though no longer an Omega, but an Alpha—she could also become an exceptionally fine person.
Watching Yi Bao rekindle her fighting spirit, Diudiu knew her host would definitely turn out to be an outstanding human being.
Fueled like she’d been injected with chicken blood, Xu Xintong disciplined herself to study for another three hours.
Only when she was exhausted to the point of collapse did she collapse onto the bed to rest for a bit.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Yi Bao, open the door for a moment.”
Her mother’s affectionate greeting pulled Xu Xintong back to reality.
Opening the door, her mother was holding a plate of fruit and had also warmed a cup of milk.
“Yi Bao, time to take a break, look at you studying for almost the whole day.”
“You must be exhausted, eat something.”
“Mom warmed some milk for you, drink it while it’s hot.”
A mother’s love is attentive and warm.
Feeling the care belonging to her own mother once again, Xu Xintong felt a pang in her heart.
“Mom, thank you.”
Thousands of words melted into a simple “thank you.” It wasn’t that she didn’t know how to speak, but that a single sentence carried too much weight.
Xu Xintong held back her emotions; she couldn’t possibly cry every time she talked and chatted with her family.
She was becoming much too sentimental.
Xu Li’an didn’t know what was wrong with this child either; recently she always seemed prone to crying. Could she be suffering some kind of grievance at school?
“Yi Bao, are you being wronged at school? Tell your dad and me if anything happens at school; your dad and mom will forever be your backing.”
Her mother wore a solemn expression, carrying a reassuring tenderness.
“It’s nothing, nothing, Mom.”
“I’m doing great, I’m doing very well at school.”
That’s right, her family would forever be her strongest backing.
Xu Xintong didn’t know how long she had been on her own.
Xu Li’an gently stroked the back of Xu Xintong’s hand, brushing over every knuckle.
Her child had already grown up this much.
Soon it was time for dinner, and the whole family washed their hands and sat at the table.
Looking at the sumptuous food, Xu Xintong was ecstatic. Previously, she had always eaten takeout, and her body had ended up in the hospital several times because of it.
Xu Xintong truly wished she could eat the meals cooked by her mom and dad every single day.
Seeing the child eating nonstop, not pausing even for a moment, Mom Xu and Dad Xue also felt that their cooking labor had received the best reward.
“Yi Bao, next time you go, take some things to Nong classmate, who helps your dad check his health, to thank her.”
Seeing Xu Xintong had finished eating and was tidying up the bowls and chopsticks.
She froze. Nong Wanshi, she…
She hadn’t even had the chance to thank the other person for such massive help.
Although she usually went to her house for tutoring, for so long, whenever they came out to study, the two of them didn’t chat much about other things.
Let alone proactively thanking Nong Wanshi.
Xu Xintong nodded in agreement.
Upstairs, Xu Xintong entered Nong Wanshi’s phone number—which she had recorded last time—into her contacts and also searched to add her chat method.
Quickly sending the other party a verification message, Xu Xintong tossed her phone aside.
She knew Nong Wanshi generally didn’t look at her phone much.
Yet unexpectedly, as soon as she dropped it down, a vibration sounded.
Picking it up to look, the request had actually been accepted so quickly.
It was as if she had been waiting specifically for her.
Xu Xintong thought to herself, but how could that be?
Thinking it was just as well, Xu Xintong wondered when she would have time to bring some things to Nong Wanshi’s house to thank her.
Without asking directly, she simply asked when the other party was free, as she and her family wanted to visit.
It carried a sense of distance and aloofness, yet clearly conveyed her intent.
Such polite words made it impossible for anyone to refuse.
No matter how Xu Xintong thought about it, she felt Nong Wanshi wouldn’t refuse; if you receive help, you must show gratitude.
Only, the other party sent a single line: “I’m free anytime. I appreciate the kind intentions of Uncle and Auntie, no need to make an extra trip.”
“Just come over.”
What the heck?
What does “Just come over” mean?
Before she could even savor that sentence, another message came in.
“When tutoring, come.”
Now she understood.
Heh, so she was going to subject her to brutal training.
Nong Wanshi was precisely that kind of serious and responsible person; whatever she promised, she would definitely follow through.
Xu Xintong’s head hurt.
If she had known this would happen, why act so hastily back then? Truly just paying lip service!
Though she was willingly walking into hardship again, having already been tormented in her past life, she still had to undergo the baptism of Nong-style education in this lifetime.
Yet she had to admit, Nong Wanshi’s methods were immensely helpful to her; otherwise, studying right now would be even harder than climbing mountains.
Xu Xintong felt filled with gratitude toward Nong Wanshi.
She had truly helped her too much, whether in the present or in her past life, she owed her a debt.
As she was thinking, a latest message popped up.
“Why don’t you come over now? Exactly in time to make up today’s lesson.”
It didn’t sound like an inquiry, more like a demand.
She had no choice, otherwise the other person wouldn’t be free later.
Knowing Nong Wanshi’s “anytime” was just politeness since she was busy every day—in her past life, she couldn’t even see her regularly—Xu Xintong packed her school bag and told her parents, who had just finished cleaning up, before heading out.
Buying a lot of things at the supermarket, Xu Xintong carried four heavy bags.
Walking the familiar path, Xu Xintong arrived at Nong Wanshi’s house.
At this moment, the weather outside had changed somewhat, pitch black and gloomy.
As soon as the door opened, Xu Xintong found that only Nong Wanshi was home.
Previously when she came, Auntie Dong and a few nannies were always around; perhaps it was a bit late today, so they had all gone back.
Putting down the things, Xu Xintong stood awkwardly to the side.
Nong Wanshi gestured for her to come over, thinking to herself that this person was always so dull and never spoke.
Actually, Xu Xintong was nervous, and she didn’t even know why.
Whenever she met Nong Wanshi, her heart rate would speed up—it was like that in her past life, and even more so now.
She was afraid she had contracted the “Nong Wanshi poison.”
“Relax, relax.”
Xu Xintong chanted silently to herself while adjusting her emotions.
“You seem very afraid of me?”
“Huh?”
“No, no.”
Nong Wanshi obviously didn’t believe it; she had overheard her inner thoughts.
Even though it had been so long, she still didn’t know why she could hear them.
However, hearing her inner voice didn’t seem so bad either; the person before her always looked so proper on the surface, but her internal monologue was remarkably active.
She was someone who could be controlled.
Nong Wanshi seemed to have figured Xu Xintong out long ago, while Xu Xintong was still wondering how to explain.
Rumble, rumble, rumble.
A low rumble of thunder rolled in from afar, shaking the earth as if it were trembling slightly.
Dark clouds gathered, fierce winds raged, and lightning pierced the sky like a silver sword.
The air was filled with a humid scent, and the wind began to grow urgent, whipping up fallen leaves and dust on the ground with a howling sound.
Trees swayed in the wind, their branches and leaves making a rustling sound of friction.
“No way, why did it suddenly turn out like this? Damn weather.”
Hearing the thunder, Xu Xintong was startled in fright. Now she was completely doomed.
She hadn’t brought an umbrella when leaving the house, and the weather forecast hadn’t mentioned rain either.
As Xu Xintong anxiously pondered how to get back, Nong Wanshi remained completely unruffled.
She slowly walked over to Xu Xintong’s side and leaned in close.
“You can stay over.”
Xu Xintong was frantic with anxiety, having never once considered staying the night.
Who would have thought Nong Wanshi would proactively bring it up.
Just as Xu Xintong wanted to refuse, Nong Wanshi had already guessed it.
“You can’t go back right now; the rain is only going to get heavier.”
“Stay here first until the rain stops.”
Nong Wanshi knew that after all, it was an Omega and an Alpha alone together, which wasn’t quite ideal.
Even though she always felt the other person wouldn’t do anything to her, being cautious was still best, given the previous close call.
Since Nong Wanshi had already spoken, Xu Xintong couldn’t find another excuse to back out.
Seeing that the rain showed no signs of stopping anytime soon, she had no way to get home either.
“Sit down and rest for a bit, you’ve been standing the whole time.”
“I’m going to take a shower.”
The moment she sat down, Xu Xintong was shocked.
What did she just hear?
A shower!?
“Why is she taking a shower?”
“Why on earth does she need to shower?”
At this, Xu Xintong’s facial expression management completely collapsed.
Hearing the pile of doubts inside Xu Xintong’s head, Nong Wanshi couldn’t help but chuckle.
“What on earth are you thinking?”
“I felt uncomfortable, that’s why I’m showering.”
Xu Xintong fell silent.
What a false alarm.
Recovering her wits, Nong Wanshi had already stepped into the bathroom.
Xu Xintong’s face flushed hot; she had been far too flustered just now, and her thoughts had completely shown through.
How embarrassing.
If there were a crack in the ground right now, she would desperately want to drill right into it and never come out again.
What she didn’t notice was that Nong Wanshi’s phone screen had lit up, receiving a weather forecast notification.