CH 7

Updated: Apr 4, 2021

Cheng Ran's housekeeper was an elderly, grey-haired man in his fifties.

When they settled in Spark City, all the tanks were pulled back by others, therefore they bought a small white car that was suitable for city traffic.

After assisting Cheng Ran into the vehicle, the old man sat in the driver's seat and slowly pulled away from the villa.

Shi Qingyang glanced in the direction of the car and immediately turned onto a side lane.

According to what he had observed over the past few days, Cheng Ran's health was already very poor, and so his housekeeper was in charge of everything he wanted to purchase. His decision to go out at this time must have a specific purpose.

Visiting Spark Academy, for example.

Shi Qingyang simply needed to arrive before them, and then he'd do whatever was necessary as long as he gets to speak to them.

Shi Qingyang had spent most of his time near this mansion in the past few days, aside from working in the shop. Spark City's map was also thoroughly checked. He chose the route with cautiousness and raced with all his might.

Monitor the legs so that they move in a regular rhythm.

Cheque breathing to make sure wasn't rapid.

Carefully identify each intersection...

Unfortunately, his Rad-Power was still very low, and there wasn't much radiation energy in the area, so he was forced to rely on his body. Once he could outrun any dystopian creature after exploiting the Rad-Power that had engulfed him in his previous life!

Fortunately, Cheng Ran's housekeeper drove slowly, so Shi Qingyang he was able to overtake them even though he was only relying on his own two legs. However, this feat left him breathless.

He wouldn't have been exhausted if he had run like this for a while in his former life... Shi Qingyang decided to incorporate running into his hectic schedule.

Despite the fact that school doesn't start for another half month, there were many students moving through. They were here for Spark Academy's practise rooms.

After seeing the white car approach the gate from a distance, Shi Qingyang took a deep breath and made an immediate decision.

He judged the speed and trajectory of the vehicle and then climbed up the wall of the Spark Academy, and touched the alarm system without delay. Although the wall around the Academy at first glance seemed plain and ordinary, it actually hid a security device. It would not only sound an alarm but also emanate an electrical current when someone touches it. This electrical shock was neither lethal nor even harmful, but would immediately cause a normal person to become numb and for a second lose control over their body.

In his last lifetime, Shi Qingyang was once captured by bullies to experience the "ecstasy" brought on by an electric shock… of course, afterwards he lashed back fiercely. He never knew compromise at the time.

The siren rang, and instantly a numb and burning feeling flowed into his arm. Shi Qingyang released his hand and crashed with a sound like a "bang" perfectly on the hood of the car.

At once, the vehicle halted.

Many of these vehicles in the city have automatic braking systems. This was why Shi Qingyang decided not jump in front of the car but fall on it.

"Grandpa Gu?" Cheng Ran was taken aback and glanced at the housekeeper beside him.

“I’ll take a look, young master.” Gu Changjin stepped out of the car.

The victim had rolled off the hood onto the ground. Judging by his figure, he turned out to be a teenager.

“What happened here?” The security guard nearby heard the alarm and ran to see the situation. Who would trigger an alarm in broad daylight?

The numbness caused by the electric shock didn't last long. It was just a warning, but for a moment Shi Qingyang was left breathless.

After a brief pause, he sat up from the ground with a guilty expression: "I'm sorry."

For the last four months, Shi Qingyang had gone hungry and thinned out. Unconsciously, such a fifteen or sixteen year old teen wouldn't keep people guarded against.

“Kid, this isn’t the place to fool around. The wall is electrocuted.” When the security guard saw Shi Qingyang's ‘harmless’ appearance, he cautioned and returned to the gate. “Don’t be stupid next time.”

“I’m sorry, I won’t do it again!” Shi Qingyang nodded repeatedly.

The city was relatively safe, and Spark Academy didn’t keep secrets. The warning was actually to deter students from sneaking out of campus. Since the semester hadn't begun yet, the students were free to come and go as they pleased, so the security guard didn't give it much thought.

Shi Qingyang had a guilty expression on his face as he looked towards Gu Changjin. “Uncle, I’m sorry! Did I break your car? I… I... didn’t expect this to happen…”

He, of course, purposely scratched the hood. He made a mark with a knife he had with him, so he was forced to "apologized" and get in touch later to “compensate”.

This was the very same old trick they'd pulled on him in the past.

“Are you hurt? Do you want me to take you to the hospital?” Gu Changjin asked out of politeness.

He had little to do with the boy's accident. Surveillance in the area will prove that he was willing to send the other party to the hospital. Gu Changjin has gone through several turmoils.

If he was still in Yangtze River City, he would undoubtedly suspect this young man with ulterior intentions, but he was in Spark City. Cheng Ran's true identity was only revealed to two or three people, and he himself never stood out. Right now, he was an ordinary citizen, and no one had a reason to carry favor with him like before…

“No need, I’m alright.” Shi Qingyang refused, waiving his hands and then rubbing his body, ‘barely’ hiding a scowl.

The numbness caused by the electric shock had worn off, and the pain on his body was only a faint echo, but he needed to play up the pain for this to succeed.

He gave his all for his future meals!

As Cheng Ran saw Shi Qingyang's embarrassment, he also got out of the car and said slowly. "Or... let's go take a look, it should be painful…"

"It's all right, it doesn't hurt…" Shi Qingyang said, but then gasped with a "hissing" as he attempted to stand while holding on to the vehicle.

He now seems to note his filthy hands and the palm prints he left on the car and pulled them away, ashamed. He used the corner of his sleeve to wipe them away. He acted like a country pumpkin who had never seen the outside world. Such a disguise was ideal for duping people, and if anybody inquired at his background, they would discover that he was poor and had never left the city.

Gu Changjin was pleased to see this scene, but soon he frowned. "You are…"

"It's you, Uncle. I washed your tank a couple of days ago. Do you remember me?” Shi Qingyang "just now" recognized Gu Changjin's appearance and inquired, surprised.

"Shouldn't you be working at the tank shop? Why are you here?” Gu Changjin raised a trace of suspicion.

Shi Qingyang appeared to be oblivious to the suspicion. He carefully took out a notice from his arms:

“I'm a freshman here, and I'll start class this semester. I came to inquire whether there would be any other expenses besides tuition. I… I don't have a lot of money. I may have to search for another job.” He said this while uncomfortably rubbing his admittance note and making a complete pitifulness expression.

He had the note on him these days to let Cheng Ran know that they would be classmates, and it just so happened to be useful today.

In the past, Cheng Ran's housekeeper worked diligently to aid Cheng Ran in making friends. He prepared gifts and snacks for Cheng Ran to share with his classmates. Now that the old man was aware that this kid will be his young master’s classmate, his indifferent attitude may change.

The security guard at the gate recognized the notice from the school. "So you were a freshman? The tuition fee isn’t much. Most expenses come from renting the practice room. So don’t worry about it."

Shi Qingyang's face was a little pale: "I see…"

He carefully folded the note and placed it back in his pocket, gazing nostalgically at the Spark Academy's entrance.

Shi Qingyang's inner struggle could be seen at a glance. Gu Changjin came to the conclusion that he may not have enough money.

While he didn’t much care for the boy's circumstances, the other party might be Cheng Ran's classmate and a friend, therefore he persuaded. "Still you fell. It’s should be checked out." After speaking, he looked at Cheng Ran. "Master, please return in the car, your appointment time is about to start."

Cheng Ran nodded and was about to get into the car before he was held by Shi Qingyang's gaze. The teen’s face was still a little distressed, but as they faced each other, the other boy suddenly smiled.

Cheng Ran was taken aback by the bitterness in that smile.

***

After getting into the car, he looked at Gu Changjin with curiosity and asked slowly. "Grandpa Gu, is he unable to attend school because he lacks the necessary monetary resources?

“Seems so.” Gu Changjin answered casually, more concerned about Cheng Ran’s appointment.

He was well aware that studying other subjects, such as medicine, would be the wiser choice for Cheng Ran, but the young master's parents disagreed. They insisted on encouraging Cheng Ran to study Rad-Power and intended to obtain another Rad-medicine. He was just a steward; he had no influence over them, and the only thing he could do now was look after Cheng Ran.

***

The white car pulled slowly into the campus. Shi Qingyang sat at the school entrance, waiting for the car to return.

If Cheng Ran will support him, providing him with food and other resources, he in return will not allow Cheng Ran to be bullied and isolated at school, and will do everything in his power to ensure his safety in the future.

This was mutually beneficial, but he needed to act diligently right now.

***

Cheng Ran arrived in Spark City undercover and only the dean of the Spark Academy knew who he was. Gu Changjin brought Cheng Ran over to finish the school's admission procedures.

Spark Academy starts accepting students once they were sixteen years old.

They were divided into ten classes. The first eight were all made of elites. The latter two classes included all students who paid money to be admitted as well as students of low qualifications and poor backgrounds. And the only reason they were mixed was so the rich kids could amuse themselves and select few subordinates.

Cheng Ran was like this; it was impossible for him to enter the first eight classes, therefore, he got dumped into Class 10.

This outcome didn't faze Gu Changjin. He said nothing to the dean of the Spark Academy, where young master's father used to study. He simply requested a copy of the new students in Class 10. This materials were stored in a recorder. Gu Changjin flipped through it briefly before turning to Shi Qingyang's tab, where he saw the double C- results.

If he had heard about Shi Qingyang's Rad-tolerance and Rad-control before, he would have been rather disdainful, but in contrast to Cheng Ran's case, he thinks that this kid named Shi Qingyang was already fortunate. He no longer doubted Shi Qingyang after learning this details.

Cheng Ran also observed Shi Qingyang's info and, with a gleam of interest in his eyes, asked slowly, "Grandpa Gu, is he...my classmate?"

"Yes, in the future, he'll be young master's classmate." Gu Changjin responded while pondering about today's accidental meeting.

Gu Changjin saw Shi Qingyang again as the white car drove out of the school. When the young man saw them, he waved his hand as he stood at the entrance. He came to a halt when he saw Shi Qingyang approaching the car’s window, with a guilty look on his face.

"After you left, I discovered that the knife I was wearing had white paint on it. I must have scratched it before when I rolled down the hood… Let me fix the paint for you. I work at the tank wash and am somewhat familiar with it. Of course, if you want to go somewhere else to get a more professional job done, that's fine... I just don't have a lot of money to compensate it.”

Gu Changjin smiled. “It’s not your fault. You even got injured. Do you want to visit the hospital?” He had previously offered it insincerely, but now he had a scheme.

Cheng Ran was not only in a special situation, but also had an introverted personality. If he can, he hopes that Cheng Ran can have a friend who can look after him.

Based on what he saw, this young man might be in need of funds. Young master might not been as affluent as before, but he was not impoverished. Cheng Ran still a lot of monthly living expenses...

Perhaps he’ll invest some money in this young man and entrust him to look after young master at school