122 Little Ruo

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Upon hearing Zhong Yun’s words, Elder Huang was overjoyed. “Whatever conditions you have, just name them.” He indeed had the capital to take on the whole project; the president had granted him great authority to acquire rare flowers.

But Zhong Yun’s request caught him by surprise. “No one can know that these flowers are cultivated by me, not even the president. If you agree to this condition, I will help you.”

Elder Huang solemnly replied, “I agree.”

“Then I will deliver the goods to you in four months. As for the payment,” Zhong Yun smiled contentedly, “we’ll discuss it after the flowers bloom. I know you won’t let me suffer losses.” The thought of outwitting the president filled him with excitement and passion.

After finishing, Zhong Yun took his leave.

“Hey, he actually went to your house.” At the doorway, a man and a woman returning home saw Zhong Yun leaving Elder Huang’s residence. The speaker was a beautiful woman with long brown hair.

The handsome man beside her, with golden hair, snorted, “He must be here to ask my grandfather for a favor.”

They entered the Huang household. The man’s face now wore a bright smile. “Grandpa, I’ve come to see you.”

Seeing his grandson brought joy to Elder Huang, especially after resolving a pressing matter.

Elder Huang had three sons, but for reasons unknown—perhaps the family’s ancestral tomb’s feng shui was poor—all three married foreign women and settled abroad. This was his lifelong regret; sometimes he deeply regretted taking his sons overseas, which led to such outcomes.

The grandson’s name was Huang Litian, or Leon in foreign tongues. He was the second son of Elder Huang’s eldest son, raised in the Itan Empire, and had only recently come to Davo for a visit. The girl was his fiancée, Lily.

“Grandpa, did a guest come just now?” Huang Litian asked calmly.

“Yes. That’s an old friend of mine,” Elder Huang said kindly, looking at his grandson. His sons had been abroad for over twenty years; his wife had passed away early. For more than two decades, he had been alone. Suddenly, having a grandson accompany him was a great comfort.

Huang Litian was slightly taken aback. He had thought that fellow came to ask his grandfather for a favor but hadn’t expected his grandfather to value him so much. Perhaps he needed to reevaluate that guy.

“Oh, he looks even younger than me. What’s his name?” Huang Litian inquired.

“His name is Zhong Yun. He’s seventeen this year,” Elder Huang recalled Zhong Yun’s request and spoke vaguely. “I met him at the flower market. Quite a talented boy.”

Zhong Yun. Huang Litian etched the name firmly in his heart.

After leaving the Huang family, Zhong Yun began pondering what flower to cultivate. He had some ideas, but obtaining seeds was a major challenge. Rare treasures don’t appear out of thin air; good seeds were necessary.

Perhaps he could ask Chen Wen for help. Zhong Yun remembered the Chen family also had a flower garden.

Back home, Zhong Yun was unexpectedly greeted by a visitor.

“Xiao Ruo! What are you doing here?” Zhong Yun was surprised to see Xiao Ruo deeply engaged in conversation with his mother. His mind struggled to connect the dots—how did Xiao Ruo and his mother know each other? They seemed quite familiar.

“Zhong Yun…” Xiao Ruo’s eyes welled with tears as she trembled uncontrollably. Yun Rong patted her shoulder with pity.

Seeing his mother’s reproachful gaze and Xiao Ruo’s pitiful appearance, Zhong Yun suddenly felt guilty. He had been back for two days but hadn’t even called Xiao Ruo.

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In fact, not many knew about his boarding the Tongguang Starship. Even his parents were unaware at first; it was only after the accident on the Tongguang Starship that Yang Siqing came to inform them.

He never imagined that Xiao Qing would know about this incident. Now it seemed that during his absence, Xiao Ruo learned of it from her parents.

What was strange was that his parents hadn’t even told Tian Hai, so why tell Xiao Ruo? Zhong Yun found it puzzling.

The truth was simple: when Xiao Ruo came to visit that day, news about survivors on the Tongguang Starship was playing, and Zhong Pingjiang’s couple, stirred emotionally, unintentionally revealed the news.

“Well, you sit down. I’ll go to my room to put my things away first,” Zhong Yun couldn’t bear Xiao Ruo’s watery gaze and hurried upstairs.

What a big trouble. As he climbed the stairs, Zhong Yun sighed inwardly. His relationship with Liu Yunqi was steadily growing, and Xiao Ruo’s presence was an obstacle. Although Yunqi hadn’t said anything, he knew that Xiao Ruo was like a thorn in her heart.

But Xiao Ruo was different from other girls—so gentle, so quiet. All along, she had silently watched him without asking for anything.

If Zhong Yun said he was indifferent, that would be hypocritical. That was why he deliberately ignored Xiao Ruo, hoping she would fade out of his life.

Yet unexpectedly, she had unknowingly slipped into his home. Did he really have to cruelly crush her hopes? Zhong Yun hesitated.

After changing clothes in his room, Zhong Yun came downstairs. Xiao Ruo had regained her composure, at least outwardly.

Yun Rong invited Xiao Ruo to stay for dinner. The four sat around the table, looking like a warm family of four. But Zhong Yun felt extremely uneasy, especially due to his mother’s attitude toward Xiao Ruo, which was almost as if she were her own daughter.

Although he knew his mother wanted another daughter, this was too much. It made him very embarrassed. Zhong Yun was quite depressed.

After Xiao Ruo left, Zhong Yun finally found a chance to talk to his mother. “Mom, I already have a girlfriend.”

“Is that so?” Yun Rong responded casually, her eyes never leaving the TV.

“We’re very close,” Zhong Yun tried to convince her.

“Oh?” Yun Rong replied lightly, “Then what are you worried about?”

Zhong Yun was at a loss for words. Seeing his mother’s attitude, he knew arguing was useless and said no more.

Actually, Yun Rong’s attitude was reasonable. Zhong Yun was still very young. Davo’s legal marriage age was twenty-five, still seven or eight years away. Who could say what would happen in that time?

Besides, at his age, feelings were often changeable. According to Yun Rong, this was his first love. How many couples could maintain their first love all the way to marriage? It was too early to discuss such things.

She genuinely liked Xiao Ruo, a quiet and beautiful girl, and naturally wouldn’t change her stance because her son was still in adolescence.

Returning to his room, a bit frustrated, Zhong Yun immersed himself in the “Combat Simulation” space. Since learning the Yuan technique, his control over Yuan had become increasingly adept, especially during the five-plus months in the escape pod under the threat of death, where he practiced desperately every day. Now, he was barely qualified.

However, he only mastered basic techniques. What he needed now was continuous practice. Advanced techniques required his Yuan to reach level two, meaning his physical skill had to surpass level ten.

He had passed the fourth stage on the ship returning to Davo, but now he was stuck at the fifth stage. Each enemy in the “Combat Simulation” had distinct traits, like the four-meter-tall giant in stage four.

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The fifth stage was different. The enemy looked normal but was formidable due to mastery of various fighting techniques.

Zhong Yun had thought his fighting skills were decent, but facing this opponent was like Linghu Chong confronting Feng Qingyang—he couldn’t retaliate at all.

After failing five consecutive times, Zhong Yun entered the replay space again. This time, he learned a new technique called “Entangle.”

Watching the system’s demonstration and explanation, Zhong Yun was both amazed and delighted. The so-called “Entangle” involved releasing Yuan from the body, spreading like tentacles around to hinder the enemy’s movements.

Moreover, because of the unique nature of Zhong Yun’s Yuan, the spread of Yuan around his body not only hindered enemies but also acted like radar, sensing enemy movements and predicting their next action.

This was an extremely useful auxiliary skill, especially in close combat.

However, mastering it was not easy. As the system explained step by step how to mobilize internal Yuan, release it outside the body, and maintain connection with the external Yuan…

The “Entangle” technique was more complex than any he had learned before. But as long as he knew what to do, the rest was practice.

Zhong Yun spent the entire night in the “Combat Simulation” until the system kicked him out.

The next morning, he woke up refreshed, the previous night’s frustration gone. It was just Xiao Ruo. If he couldn’t handle her, what else could he manage?

At Moon Lake Private Academy, the teacher lectured above while Zhong Yun listened below, occasionally zoning out.

High school courses differed from middle school. Besides a few basic subjects like literature, mathematics, physics, and common language, other subjects were elective.

The school required each student to choose at least three electives in addition to the four core subjects.

Choosing a major at this point was crucial, as it influenced one’s entire life. In the intermediate civilization of Davo, there were no mismatches between jobs and majors.

Due to detailed social division and advanced technology, achieving success in any field required decades of study. Society now had specialists, not generalists. This was an inevitable trend of social development.

Thus, students began selecting majors in high school. Generally, they would choose three related courses—for example, Liu Yunqi, aspiring to be a musician, would select music theory, music history, and instrument performance.

The correct combination was two theoretical courses and one practical training course.

Every high school had a professional counseling office to provide students with expert advice.

Zhong Yun still hadn’t decided on his future direction, and his course schedule was due soon. He thought it best to discuss it with his parents.

PS: Thanks to all the brothers. This is already the eighth chapter. As promised, I will add three extra chapters. Tonight I’ll release one, and the rest tomorrow. Thanks again, everyone. Keep voting if you can! Let’s reach the seventh chapter and unlock another extra one. ^-^