10: Chapter 10 Debt Collection

On his way home, Shen Xingchen ran into Yang Xi.

Out of politeness, Shen Xingchen greeted her, "What a coincidence!"

Usually, pleasantries like this were just a front for people who weren't close to pretend to be friendly before going their separate ways.

Yang Xi said calmly, "It's no coincidence. I was waiting for you."

"Huh?" Shen Xingchen uttered.

Wait, what?

Is this right?

Why aren't you following the script?

Shen Xingchen offered an awkward smile.

Yang Xi continued, "I heard you reached the peak First-Order, while I'm only at First-Order Level 8. How did you do it?"

Yang Xi thought to herself that Shen Xingchen had liked her for so many years; how could he stop liking her just like that?

She only needed to make a slight effort, and she would get a response from him again.

Shen Xingchen spread his hands. "I don't know either. I just opened my eyes the next day and leveled up."

This was the truth, even though no one would believe it...

Yang Xi giggled softly, "You're still as funny as ever!"

This time, Shen Xingchen was truly speechless.

Seriously, girl?

Is that what you used to say to the original owner of this body?

Didn't you say that the original host trying to make you laugh was like a fly buzzing around, endlessly annoying?

Well, that wasn't entirely wrong—flies do love to buzz around shit...

Shen Xingchen lost all interest in continuing the conversation. "If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."

Yang Xi bit her lip, her eyes filled with tenderness as she grabbed Shen Xingchen's arm and whispered, "Let's make up, just like before."

These words were already quite explicit.

Yang Xi felt that by lowering herself to this extent, she was giving Shen Xingchen a huge amount of face.

She hadn't done anything wrong; it was Shen Xingchen who insisted on hiding his strength.

"What makes you think I'll always like you?" Shen Xingchen questioned.

Although he wasn't the original host and had never liked Yang Xi, he felt there was nothing wrong with saying this now.

The sincere feelings that had been trampled on—he would pick them up piece by piece.

Yang Xi said with delight, "So you admit that you used to like me?"

Shen Xingchen was completely speechless.

Still shit-testing, still shit-testing!

No matter how he answered a question like that, he would look like he was simping for her.

Say no? Everyone saw how much the original host had given; who would believe it? They'd just think he was being stubborn.

Say yes? Wouldn't that just prove she was indeed charming and he was just throwing a minor tantrum now!

Yang Xi didn't press further and shifted the topic, "You saw that student who awakened on the playground today, right? I think someone like that is truly amazing!"

Shen Xingchen instantly understood the implication behind Yang Xi's words.

It basically meant: "There are plenty of guys stronger than you, so don't get too proud. I'm already giving you a lot of face."

Shen Xingchen retorted, "And would someone like that even look twice at you?"

Yang Xi frowned. Today, Shen Xingchen was being far too disrespectful.

She said, "How do you know he wouldn't be charmed by me if he saw me?"

Yang Xi remained quite confident in her looks.

Even an S-rank Awakener wouldn't be completely immune to her charm.

"He's just like me; neither of us thinks anything of you. Believe it or not!"

Shen Xingchen slapped Yang Xi's hand away, leaped into the air, and jumped onto a roof beam.

If he listened to her any longer, he'd throw up the ten pork knuckles he ate today.

Yang Xi wanted to follow Shen Xingchen onto the roof beams as well.

Shen Xingchen was quick-witted and quick-handed; the instant Yang Xi jumped up, he kicked her back down.

Then he quickly left.

Just as Yang Xi's body took off, she was kicked in the stomach, doubling over like a shrimp before crashing back onto the ground.

Although she wasn't injured, the humiliation was immense!

Most importantly, she was completely bewildered.

Shen Xingchen had never treated her like this before!

...

Director's Office, Education Bureau.

Director Li Tianshuo received a phone call from Wudao No. 3 High School.

He hurriedly picked it up in excitement.

He had never hoped for a call from No. 3 High School as desperately as he did today.

Principal Chen Lingjun of Wudao No. 3 High School said, "Director, we found him! He really is a student at my No. 3 High School. His name is Shen Xingchen, and his strength is at the peak First-Order, having just promoted recently!"

Director Li Tianshuo breathed a sigh of relief. For the past few hours, every minute and second he had been terrified that the person was merely passing through Qiunan City!

Principal Chen Lingjun continued, "This child kept a low profile before. Who knew he secretly reached peak First-Order? I heard his attainments in martial arts are also quite high."

Director Li Tianshuo said excitedly, "Good, good, good! Send over his file, I'll review it myself!"

"Alright, Director."

After hanging up the phone.

Director Li Tianshuo soon received an electronic file.

He gave it a quick glance.

Then, Director Li Tianshuo said to his deputy, "Prepare the car. I'm going to Junmin Lane!"

...

As soon as Shen Xingchen got home, his little sister Shen Keke hugged his leg.

"Big bwolther, big bwolther!" Shen Keke called out affectionately.

Shen Xingchen smiled warmly, lifting his little sister onto his shoulders and making her giggle.

His little sister suddenly pointed inside the house.

There seemed to be an argument inside the room.

Shen Xingchen walked closer and saw two other people besides his parents.

Shen Xingchen recognized these two.

They were his eldest aunt and cousin.

His aunt said sarcastically, "Oh my, isn't this our high school genius from twenty years ago? How did you end up so destitute?"

Jiang Li's expression turned unsightly. "Sister-in-law, no matter what, my husband is still your husband's biological younger brother. How can you say such things?"

Shen Xingchen frowned.

He knew a bit about the family matters.

His father had been superior to his peers since childhood. As the older brother, how could his uncle not be envious?

Back when his father was at the height of his power, they could only look up to him with envy...

But once his father's meridians were damaged and he fell below even ordinary people, the resentment accumulated from years of jealousy erupted.

That was why this aunt of his always spoke so harshly.

His aunt continued, "It's not hard if you want me to speak nicely. Pay back the money you owed a few months ago right now!"

His aunt thought to herself: already so destitute yet clinging to pride, unable to handle even a few sarcastic remarks!

Jiang Li turned pale. "Back when Zhennan was in his glory, who knows how many benefits he gave you? Now that our family has fallen on hard times, we only borrowed four hundred dollars, yet you're hounding us like this?"

Four hundred dollars might just be the cost of one or two meals for an average family.

But for the current Shen Family, it was life-saving money!

Hearing Jiang Li's words, her aunt's eyes flickered slightly, but she still continued, "How many years ago was that? Now is now. Pay the money back and we'll leave."

"You!" Jiang Li's face looked terrible.

At this moment.

Shen Xingchen stepped into the room, instantly drawing several gazes.

Before his parents could speak, his aunt beat them to it and said, "Isn't this my good nephew? Coming home so late from school? You sure are working hard!"

Of course, she didn't actually like this nephew.

She had merely heard that her nephew's martial cultivation realm was very low, so she was making fun of him.

Knowing his aunt had nothing good to say, Shen Xingchen directly slapped four hundred-dollar bills into her hand. "You can leave now."

This was the money he had won from Jiang Cheng. He had withdrawn 1,000 as backup cash, which happened to come in handy now.

As for this aunt, he detested her to the extreme.

"Look at Little Chen, so generous."

Taking the money, his aunt was a bit surprised. "Did you go do child labor? Don't let it delay your martial cultivation! Look at my Yue'er, he's already at peak First-Order."

The young man named Shen Yue walked out from behind her with an arrogant expression.

He was two months younger than Shen Xingchen, yet his martial cultivation realm was considerably higher!

Naturally, he had the capital to be arrogant!

Smiling brightly, his aunt said, "You two brothers haven't seen each other in a while, have you? Why not have a spar right now?"

She had visited her brother-in-law's house several times before, and every time she suggested letting Shen Yue spar with Shen Xingchen.

But this dull nephew had refused every time, lacking even the courage to accept the challenge!

With disdain on his face, Shen Yue asked, "Cousin, do you dare?"

As one of the top fifty students in his grade at Wudao No. 1 High School, Shen Yue had his own confidence.

However, his cousin had never achieved anything noteworthy, so he definitely wouldn't dare agree.

If he actually dared to agree...

Then he would properly "teach" this older brother what martial arts truly were!

Just when everyone thought Shen Xingchen would refuse once again...

A gentle smile appeared on Shen Xingchen's face.

"Sure!"