Chapter 64: Grade A Equipment

Chen Mo was certainly not foolish enough to text Moon Fox; he could switch to the Little Prince ID, ensuring that no matter how hard they investigated, nothing would trace back to him. Still, he would need to be even more cautious in the future to prevent his identity from being exposed.

That evening in the dining hall, Chen Mo, Ning Xuan, Ding Yan, and Ye Zhiyan gathered once more. Ding Yan boasted endlessly about his prowess, claiming he had performed a set of skills at home, and his family practically worshipped him as a deity, granting him anything he wished. He had even brought numerous gifts for everyone.

Ning Xuan grinned so widely upon receiving her gifts that her mouth almost twisted out of shape.

Ye Zhiyan appeared somewhat downcast, her eyes red. When Chen Mo asked what was wrong, she forced back her tears and insisted she was fine.

Ye Zhiyan had also brought back a trove of luxurious cosmetics for girls, many of which were limited editions from France—items money couldn't buy.

She gave all of them to Ning Xuan.

Ning Xuan's eyes sparkled, and she was so happy she seemed ready to nestle among her gifts.

Initially, Chen Mo didn't want Ning Xuan to accept Ye Zhiyan's presents, but seeing Ning Xuan so delighted, he couldn't bear to object. He turned to Ye Zhiyan and gently said, "Thank you."

It was perhaps the first time Ye Zhiyan had heard Chen Mo speak to her with such tenderness; her mood improved a little, and she smiled, "It's nothing—I really like Ning Xuan too."

After dinner, Ye Zhiyan helped Ning Xuan carry bag after bag of gifts back to the girls' dormitory.

Ning Xuan looked mischievously at Ye Zhiyan and said, "Sister Ye, do you like my brother?"

Ye Zhiyan turned away, embarrassed. "Ah... well..."

Ning Xuan declared triumphantly, "Don't worry, Sister Ye, I'll help you win my brother!"

Ye Zhiyan was so shy she couldn't find words, quickly set down the gifts, and changed the subject: "It's time for evening study—I, I'll go first!"

With that, her cheeks flushed, she ran off in a flurry.

During evening study, Chen Mo no longer attended language class. He realized he had taken language for a week straight, yet his Meditation had not increased at all, meaning the class was now of little benefit to him.

As the beloved student of Xu Jingrong, a nationally recognized language teacher, Chen Mo couldn't simply disappear without a word. So he went to Xu Jingrong's classroom. Unlike the first time, when the room was empty, more and more students now attended evening study.

This was because many classmates who had chosen the Mage role found that after a month of evening study, their Meditation increased by one point—a single attribute point, worth ten thousand credits.

The instructors had also noticed that Mages benefitted from cultural courses for their Meditation, and so encouraged students to take more of them.

"Chen Mo, you’re here!" Xu Jingrong greeted him warmly as he entered.

Seeing his teacher’s joy, Chen Mo found himself unable to speak.

Xu Jingrong, perceptive and gentle, immediately saw that Chen Mo had something on his mind and smiled kindly: "Chen Mo, what's wrong? Is something troubling you?"

"Teacher, I’ve spent this whole month on language. I... I’d like to try another subject..."

"Haha, you child—I thought it was something serious! Even if you hadn’t said it, I would have advised you myself. All subjects must progress together; you really should study something else. Go, child. Whenever you miss your teacher, you can always come back!"

Chen Mo nodded. "Yes, Teacher. I will return!"

Unlike the intimidating instructors like Wei Zheng and Moon Fox, Chen Mo felt no fear toward them; instead, he held genuine reverence for these teachers who devoted themselves to education, truly seeing himself as a student.

As he had hoped, Chen Mo switched to mathematics, immersing himself in geometric figures. Without realizing it, his mind focused intensely, and by the end of the night, his Meditation had broken through again.

[Meditation +1]

Others, after a month of burning the midnight oil, gained at most a single point; Chen Mo, with just one night of study, increased by one. Perhaps it was his 80 points in Meditation—making his learning efficiency dozens of times higher than others!

After evening study, Chen Mo returned to the dormitory.

Click! He turned on the light, and two white rabbits swayed before him again.

But by now, Chen Mo was used to it, and said calmly, "You’re back."

Shangguan Chaoyue didn't avoid Chen Mo's gaze. While wrapping her chest with white cloth, she replied coolly, "Yes, I'm back."

Once finished, Shangguan Chaoyue suddenly remembered something, a faint smile on her lips. "Tomorrow is the class promotion match. Are you really planning to challenge me?"

Seeing her disdainful smile, Chen Mo understood that Shangguan Chaoyue looked down on him.

Shangguan Chaoyue was deeply devoted to strength. In pursuit of it, she could even discard her feminine identity—let alone care for a roommate from Class F.

Chen Mo met her contemptuous gaze. "No, no challenge."

Shangguan Chaoyue wore an 'I knew it' expression. "Indeed, a wise man knows his limits. Although we haven’t interacted much this month, I’d rather not see you beaten down by me. With your ability, you have a shot against Class D, maybe even C."

She was recognized as the strongest in Class B, and supremely confident in her abilities.

"You’ve misunderstood me," Chen Mo cut off her confidence. "I meant there’s no challenge—because defeating you requires no challenge. It’s effortless."

"You... how dare you boast!" Shangguan Chaoyue was infuriated by his arrogance, and her freshly wrapped chest threatened to burst free. "Fine! I was going to spare you from a humiliating defeat out of roommate courtesy, but since you’re so bold, let’s see! Tomorrow, I want to see just how effortlessly you’ll win. Hmph!"

That coquettish 'hmph' finally made Chen Mo realize: Shangguan Chaoyue was a woman, not a man!

Regardless of gender, Chen Mo had decided that tomorrow’s class promotion match would be his moment to shine. He would show the whole school that he was not merely the brother of the top-ranked student—he, Chen Mo, was the school’s true number one!

He stepped into the fragrant bathroom, glanced at Shangguan Chaoyue’s intimate garments hanging there, and involuntarily swallowed. He had thought a month of living together would make him used to it, but every time he saw those clothes, a strange restlessness stirred inside him. Who in youth does not think of romance? And Chen Mo was a vigorous young man.

What am I thinking? I must be crazy!

He quickly turned away, refusing to look at those tempting, criminal garments, and hurriedly turned on the shower, letting cold water clear his mind.

After washing, Chen Mo dove into bed.

From his bunk came a faint, strange chant: Form is emptiness, emptiness is form; form is emptiness, emptiness is form!