Chapter 5: The Wrath of Yu Yanan

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Early the next morning, the door to Shen Xin’s rented apartment was pounded so loudly it seemed about to come off its hinges.

“Who is it? It’s only seven! Can’t a person sleep?”

“It’s me!”

The moment Shen Xin heard Yu Yanan’s voice, he dragged himself up and shuffled to open the door. As soon as it swung open, Yu Yanan stormed inside, cheeks puffed with anger.

“Speak! What did you say to He Xuantong? He came to my dormitory at dawn and confessed to me! He said you agreed to it!”

Shen Xin burst out laughing. “Ha, this guy really went for it, huh? Oh right, the one trailing you was him. He’s got a crush on you. Tsk tsk, how touching!”

Yu Yanan was furious, her voice rising in indignation, “Shen Xin, what kind of person are you? I’m supposed to be your future wife, and you push me toward someone else?”

“Future wife? You? Oh Yu Yanan, I treat you like a little sister, and you want to marry me?”

“What’s wrong with that? I’m tall and graceful, I’ve got a good figure and a decent face. I’m more than enough for you!”

Shen Xin sized her up from head to toe. Indeed, Yu Yanan was tall, her skin was fair, and her features delicate—she could easily pass for a pure, pretty girl. But Shen Xin felt nothing for her; otherwise, after six years as classmates, sparks of romance would have flown long ago.

“Yanan, you’re just not my type. He Xuantong may not come from a wealthy family and isn’t exactly handsome, but he’s hardworking—a guy with potential.”

“You jerk! You shameless... you... you...!”

Yu Yanan’s face flushed bright red with anger, and suddenly she burst into tears and rushed out the door.

Watching her retreating figure, Shen Xin finally realized—could she really like him? But in all these six years, she’d never said a word. How was he to know?

He hurried after her, but she was nowhere to be seen.

He was just wondering whether to go to class when Sister Dan called, summoning him for training.

After weighing his options, Shen Xin decided to skip class for training instead. His university wasn’t exactly prestigious, and graduation all but guaranteed unemployment. This new job, risky as it was, at least promised a solid income—ten thousand a month at the very least.

He called Yu Yanan several times, but she rejected every call. Left with no choice, he headed to training.

When he arrived at the secluded old yard, Sister Dan was actually waiting for him for once.

“Shen Xin, today we’ll test your superpower again.”

“Sure. No problem.”

She continued, “Before, you always transferred living things. Now try something inanimate.”

As she spoke, Sister Dan tossed him a stone weighing over a hundred pounds.

Shen Xin’s eyes flickered, and in the next instant, the stone appeared somewhere else.

“Old Mo, throw your knife! Shen Xin, change its location.”

Shen Xin knew how fast Old Mo’s knives were. As expected, in a blur, a knife sped straight toward him. Startled, he focused, and just as the knife was about to reach his face, it disappeared.

Sister Dan nodded in approval, then turned to Chen Jiawang. “Jiawang, help Shen Xin practice more.”

“Sure thing. I’ll train him to the brink! Shen, all the rookies go through this. Don’t hold a grudge.”

By noon, Shen Xin’s eyes were bleeding from fatigue before Chen Jiawang let him rest.

Lying on the ground and gasping for breath, Shen Xin couldn’t help but sigh—every penny earned like this was hard-won.

Because he’d strained his eyes too much that morning, Sister Dan sent him home to rest, telling him to return the next day.

After Shen Xin left, Chen Jiawang asked hesitantly, “Sister Dan, is it really necessary to train him this hard?”

She scolded him, “What do you know? This afternoon, you’ll train until you collapse—or I’ll get the whip!”

“Alright, alright! Sister Dan is the boss!”

Jiawang obediently went to lift weights.

For several days, Shen Xin was so exhausted he barely spoke, his eyes and brain feeling as if they’d been stabbed with needles.

But the results were obvious. Now, he could teleport boulders weighing five or six hundred pounds a full thirty meters away.

He could also use his ocular technique much more frequently—thirty or forty times in a row was no problem.

After a week, his counselor called, ordering him back to class or risk failing every subject.

Shen Xin didn’t dare skip anymore. If his parents found out, they’d break his legs.

He negotiated with Sister Dan to train in the afternoons and evenings, promising to deliver meals on time each day.

Now busier than ever, half a month flew by. Apart from classes, he rarely saw Yu Yanan, who was still clearly angry with him and ignored him completely.

Shen Xin didn’t want to embarrass himself further. He decided to give things time, or perhaps save up some money and invite her on a trip over the summer break.

It was Sunday, and aside from emergencies, the bounty team had the day off.

Shen Xin wandered aimlessly through the streets and ran into He Xuantong.

Both of them looked awkward.

Scratching his head, Shen Xin gave a sheepish smile. “Brother, about Yu Yanan—there’s nothing I can do. She won’t even talk to me now.”

He Xuantong managed a forced grin. “It’s fine. There are plenty of women in the world. Come on, let’s go donate blood!”

“Donate blood? Why?”

“There are lots of benefits! Plus, you get a cash subsidy. When I get the money, I’ll treat you to a feast.”

Shen Xin waved his hands in refusal, curious. “Xuantong, you tutor every day. You should be making three or four thousand a month—why bother selling your blood?”

He Xuantong explained, “That’s not the same. I donate every quarter; it’s good for you, and the annual nutrition subsidies add up to over two thousand—win-win, you know? So, coming or not? You’ll get a donor card.”

“No thanks. I’ve got a physical job lately—don’t want to overdo it.”

“Come on, we’re college students. We should use our brains to make money, not our bodies.”

“To each their own—I’m going to take a walk over there.”

Shen Xin was out today to buy a small gift for Yu Yanan. Life felt dull without her. He hadn’t noticed before, but now that she was gone, the emptiness was obvious.

In over two years of college, she’d joined him for nearly every meal. Now, even though he ate with his teammates, the warmth was missing.

He had little experience buying gifts. Spotting a nice hairband, he bought it on impulse, then walked to Yu Yanan’s dormitory and sent her a message, waiting quietly outside.

As Shen Xin stood there, bored and glancing around, suddenly a figure hurtled down from above.

With a sickening thud, the person crashed onto the concrete, blood splattering everywhere.

After a brief stunned silence, screams erupted.

Shen Xin’s heart leapt into his throat. The person had jumped from the fifth floor—right around Yu Yanan’s dorm room.

Could it be Yu Yanan? Had she really jumped?

No, no, no! Please, no! Silly girl, please don’t do anything foolish!