In the video, Yue Xinghe sat on the hospital bed. Although he had been unconscious for three days, he showed little sign of weakness. The pale blue hospital gown could not conceal his robust physique. Even when he smiled, there was an intangible sense of authority. The reporters, without quite knowing why, dared not act up. They proceeded in an orderly fashion, and Yue Xinghe answered every question flawlessly, leaving no room for ambiguity.
The video was barely a minute long, yet it garnered tens of thousands of shares, comments, and likes.
“Thank goodness, the God’s mental powers weren’t affected. Looks like praying actually worked.”
“Yue Xinghe is truly something else. Just hearing him speak left me half-numb.”
“Being safe and healthy is what matters most. If I ever find out who caused this mess, I’ll blow their house up.”
“I heard Yue Xinghe is fine and got discharged today. The victory banquet should be happening soon, right?”
“I have a feeling the freshman ball is coming up too. I wonder who the Alliance University will invite this year? Last year’s action star was so cool and stunning.”
“What does it matter if you know? Without a student ID, you can’t get in.”
“Booohooooo, the perks at Alliance University are way too good. I heard they give a monthly living allowance of 500, not to mention countless competition prizes. I’m so jealous.”
“Which backwater planet are you from? Everyone in the Earth Alliance knows, if you excel, whether in academics or combat, you can make money!”
Lin Luxi had won the semifinals, which earned him the right to attend Alliance University.
Yue Xinghe had just been discharged and was resting in his room, so Lin Luxi went to the administration building alone to complete his enrollment. He picked up his student ID and the accompanying student supplies, including uniforms and combat suits.
Tuition at Alliance University was not expensive, around five to six thousand a year. Lin Luxi paid it without hesitation and was walking out with his clothes when he ran into Lin Leyin, who was also there handling some miscellaneous matters.
“What are you doing here?”
Lin Leyin was astonished to see Lin Luxi, his eyes wide and round. When he noticed the uniform in his hands, he immediately understood.
“Lin Luxi, are you feeling pretty smug right now?”
Lin Luxi’s eyes widened in surprise. “Why would you think that?”
Lin Leyin felt a flicker of relief, thinking that at least he wasn’t completely shameless, maybe there was hope for him, when he heard him add, “Be confident, take out the ‘why would you think’ part.”
Lin Leyin was stunned for a moment, then his anger flared. “Y-you… are you even shameless?”
Lin Luxi smiled. “I won the semifinals with my own strength. Why shouldn’t I be smug?”
Lin Leyin jabbed a finger at him. “If it weren’t for Yue Xinghe, what right do you think you’d have to stand here?”
“That’s strange. Being smug and being grateful to Yue Xinghe aren’t mutually exclusive.”
Lin Luxi genuinely thought the guy was a simple-minded powder keg. “Besides, you need to think long-term. The old me isn’t the current me. After a period of hard work and dedication, I’m not the same person I used to be.”
“Quoting fancy words makes you think you’re something special?”
Lin Leyin snorted. With a forceful push off the ground, he shot forward. “Let me see if you really are different.”
Facing Lin Leyin’s sudden attack, Lin Luxi didn’t even raise an eyebrow. With a slight shift of his body, he easily dodged the powerful punch. A few quick evasions later, he had unconsciously lured the increasingly furious Lin Leyin toward the stairwell. Then, with a light spin, he moved behind Lin Leyin and gave his rear a gentle push.
“What the hell!”
Startled by the sudden turn, Lin Leyin managed a 360-degree spin mid-air as he tumbled down the stairs, landing safely on the platform below.
Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, Lin Leyin heard some whispering. He looked around and realized that students and a few teachers had gathered nearby, their light-brains raised, recording videos.
Although he wasn’t hurt, he had lost all face!
Face pale, Lin Leyin turned to flee, but a teacher caught him and dragged him into the office for a thorough lecture: no fighting outside designated sparring venues like the training halls.
Lin Luxi didn’t escape scolding either, but since he had only defended himself, he got off with a few words of caution. The main reprimand was focused on Lin Leyin.
From outside, Lin Luxi watched as Lin Leyin’s head drooped lower and lower under the lecture.
Twenty minutes later, Lin Leyin was finally released, utterly deflated.
“Why are you still here?”
The moment he saw Lin Luxi, Lin Leyin’s expression soured. His face practically spelled “annoyed” on one side and “frustrated” on the other.
Without another glance, Lin Leyin turned his nose up and strode off.
“Hey, Xinghe’s victory banquet is in a couple of days.”
Lin Leyin slowed his pace, ears perking up.
Pretending not to notice, Lin Luxi brushed past him, his tone deliberately troubled. “I really don’t know what gift to get him.”
He made his way back. Just as he was nearing the student villas, Lin Leyin, who had been trailing him the whole way, gritted his teeth, quickly stepped forward, and blocked him. “Wait.”
Lin Luxi tilted his head in confusion. “Something wrong?”
The corner of Lin Leyin’s mouth twitched. He didn’t believe for a second that Lin Luxi hadn’t noticed him following. Since when was this guy such a sneaky little sesame-filled dumpling?
“I know a place.”
Lin Luxi looked puzzled. “What?”
Lin Leyin held back his irritation. “I’ll take you to buy a gift. But I have one condition, you have to bring me to Yue Xinghe’s victory banquet.”
Lin Luxi replied, “A gift is a gift, you can buy one anywhere. Why should I agree to that?”
“Because the place I’m taking you is somewhere ordinary people can’t get in.”
In his pursuit of chasing after his idol, Lin Leyin was going all out. To get into that place, you had to pay a hundred thousand just for membership, and without a member referral, ordinary people couldn’t get in either.
He wasn’t a member, but Zhao Fankong, that big spender, was.
Lin Luxi patted Lin Leyin on the shoulder with a smile. “Fine by me. As long as I can find a gift I’m happy with.”
With that, Lin Luxi walked into the villa.
Lin Leyin stood outside for a moment, then suddenly realized, Lin Luxi hadn’t actually given him a definite answer. Instead, he himself would have to spend money and owe someone a favor. It was a total loss on all fronts.
Inside the villa, Chris was lounging on the sofa painting her nails when a sudden shout of “Ahhh!” from outside made her streak polish beyond her nail. “Ugh! What the hell? Are you crazy?”
Still, she didn’t pay it much mind.
These past few days, because Yue Xinghe had won the championship, there had been many people wandering around outside the villa, both men and women, hoping to run into the freshman champion who had defeated a senior and maybe make an acquaintance.
Of course, in the end, the security system was activated, and they never even got near the courtyard gate.
Before setting off, Lin Luxi went to knock on the door of the master bedroom, wanting to see if Yue Xinghe was feeling any better. But after waiting a few minutes with no response, he assumed he was resting and didn’t disturb him further.
At a little past seven in the evening, Lin Luxi and Lin Leyin stood together in front of a towering building several hundred meters high. When he saw the two large characters reading “Blue Dream,” Lin Luxi really wasn’t surprised at all.
“What’s with that look?”
Lin Leyin’s face darkened. He had already called in a favor, if Lin Luxi dared to say he wasn’t going, he’d flip out on the spot.
It wasn’t that Lin Luxi had any objections; he just thought the map was really small.
Still, the building had several hundred floors and covered hundreds of square meters. It was truly massive, encompassing all sorts of things.
Lin Luxi followed Lin Leyin through a spacious hall, then down several corridors, winding around one corner after another. At one point, Lin Luxi glanced back and was surprised to see that the corridor behind him had disappeared, replaced by a wall.