Chapter 47: Reunion and Solitude

Wei Zheng’s voice abruptly interrupted the students’ wild celebrations.

“I understand how happy you all are to be allowed out of school, and I share your joy. However, there are three things I must make clear to you in advance. First, while outside the campus, you are forbidden to switch roles unless you encounter a life-threatening situation; you are prohibited from bullying ordinary people and from interacting with unofficial guilds. Second, you are strictly forbidden from causing mischief or using your special abilities to disrupt social order and interfere with normal life. For example, some students with awakened electromagnetic abilities have tampered with traffic lights; others with ice magic have secretly frozen hotpots in restaurants. If the Evolution Center receives any complaints linked to our school, every culprit will be sent straight to a military tribunal!”

A chorus of disappointment rose—especially from the students who had studied magic. Many had been itching to try out their powers in playful pranks, eager to see others astonished and awed.

“There is one last point, and it is the most important of all: By five o’clock tomorrow afternoon—the twenty-ninth—before the Sphere of Evolution closes at the library, all students must return to school. Anyone who fails to return or arrives late will be personally apprehended by the Shadow Legion and confined in the dark cell for a week. I know some of you have wealthy or influential families and may be planning to escape abroad. You’re welcome to try, but I assure you, no matter where you run—even if you’re on a plane—we have ten thousand ways to make that plane turn around!”

A collective gasp swept through the students. Many had been unable to bear the hardships of the Evolution School and had considered fleeing abroad during this rare opportunity. But hearing Wei Zheng’s icy tone, the idea was quickly abandoned.

At last, a rare smile appeared on Wei Zheng’s stern face. “That’s all—remember these three points well. I wish you a happy holiday. Dismissed!”

“Hurrah! Long live the instructor! We’re on holiday!”

“It’s holiday time! Haha! It’s holiday time!”

“Mom, I’m on holiday! I’m coming home tonight. I’m not crying—I just really want your braised pork!” Many students’ first act was to call their families.

Ding Yan approached, his face alight with excitement. “Mo, let’s go! I’m treating you all to a feast! After a month cooped up, I’m about to burst—we’re going to have the time of our lives tonight!”

Chen Mo gestured at his sister. “I’m afraid you won’t get to treat us after all.”

Ding Yan looked at Ning Xuan, who was radiating confidence. “You’re treating us?”

Ning Xuan replied smugly, “Absolutely! From now on, follow me, and I guarantee you’ll eat well and live well!”

Ding Yan had no doubts. Ning Xuan was the top student in the school—the undisputed leader. She must have plenty of equipment, and even selling one piece could fetch hundreds of thousands.

With a dramatic gesture, Ding Yan dropped to one knee. “Greetings, Princess! Please protect me from now on!”

Ning Xuan raised her hand with regal flair. “Rise. I appoint you as my Left Guardian!”

“Thank you, Princess!” Ding Yan responded with equal enthusiasm.

Chen Mo couldn’t stand it anymore. He rolled up his sleeves and reached out with a mischievous hand. “Ning Xuan, you little rascal, looks like you need a lesson before you get too full of yourself!”

With that, Chen Mo’s hand lunged for Ning Xuan’s waist.

Ning Xuan burst into laughter, darting away as she called out, “Guard me! Guard me! There’s an assassin!”

Ding Yan, deeply into his role, stepped in front of Ning Xuan. “Halt! How dare you attack the Princess? Prepare to face me!”

The three of them joked and tumbled about, earning countless side-eyes from those around them.

“So childish! Absolutely childish!”

“They’re a disgrace to our school!”

The trio continued their boisterous play all the way to the school gate, where Ding Yan’s father, the deputy director of the Traffic Bureau, had already assembled the family in anticipation of the holiday.

Ding Yan’s smile vanished instantly. “Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, Aunt—why are you all here?”

His mother rushed forward, cupping his face as tears streamed down. “Oh my precious boy! You’ve lost weight, you’re darker—you must have suffered so much! Your useless father, I told him to pull strings to get you out, but he wouldn’t. It infuriates me!”

Ding Yan’s father, clearly henpecked, protested meekly, “Honey, I told you—it’s a national policy. I’m just a deputy director, I don’t have that kind of power!”

“Don’t talk back, or I’ll show you when we get home. Come, son, let’s go—Mama will make your favorite dishes tonight!”

Ding Yan had planned to enjoy a carefree night out with Chen Mo, but faced with his entire family and his mother’s tears, he couldn’t bear to leave. He turned to Chen Mo. “Mo, maybe we can meet up tomorrow instead?”

Chen Mo smiled softly. “Go on, reunite with your family. I’m not making plans with you—I already promised Ning Xuan I’d take her to Window of the World tomorrow.”

Laughing and crying, Ding Yan left with his family.

The class beauty, Ye Zhiyan, was also whisked away by her family car.

All around were voices of laughter and reunion, tears of joy—only Chen Mo and Ning Xuan stood alone, no family at all, just each other.

Years of solitude had long since taught Chen Mo not to envy the happy families of others. For him, family meant only Ning Xuan.

Ning Xuan, on the other hand, was a little envious. She gazed longingly at her classmates’ reunions, her earlier bravado replaced by a quiet bitterness.

Chen Mo changed the subject. “Princess, didn’t you want to buy a new dress? Come on, let’s find the prettiest princess gown in the world!”

At the mention of a princess dress, Ning Xuan’s smile bloomed anew. “Yes! I want a princess dress—I want to buy lots and lots!”

The siblings ran off together into the evening glow.

“Haha! Brother, come catch me! You can’t catch me—na na na!”

“Mocking your brother, are you? Wait till I catch you—I’ll teach you a lesson!”

Chen Mo pretended to pant and lag behind, never quite catching up.

Ning Xuan skipped ahead, occasionally glancing back and making faces at him.

Before they knew it, they found themselves on an old-fashioned street lined with towering plane trees. On either side were shabby, decades-old houses.

Suddenly, Ning Xuan stopped running. Three students in school uniforms from their school blocked her path.

Chen Mo turned, only to see three more students behind him.

Ning Xuan recognized the chubby student in an A-class uniform. “Zhou Xiong, why are you blocking my way?”

Zhou Xiong had long disliked Ning Xuan. In school, fear of Wei Zheng’s favoritism kept him from making trouble, but now that they were off-campus, he wasn’t afraid of Ning Xuan’s reputation as the top student.

He puffed up his bulk and sneered. “Ning Xuan, you’d better step aside and mind your own business. I’m not here for you today—I’m here for your brother.”

He paused, eyes contemptuous. “Chen Mo, do you realize you’ve offended people you really shouldn’t have?”