Chapter 81.2
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
Chu Yan’s lifted heart completely fell back into the stomach, but he still nodded fervently. He won’t go back on his previous words, he’ll tell his guardians honestly and frankly! Anyway, as long as Qiao also wanted to participate, it actually means that he had passed half of the hurdle.
The registration time for the competition was about to expire. After persuading Qiao Zhiya, Chu Yan pulled him to find Chu Huai first, and carefully made his request.
“Mecha driving competition? The one that takes place every four years?” Chu Huai said, frowning, and then he refused. Without wasting any more time, Chu Yan busily pulled Qiao Zhiya’s sleeve.
Qiao Zhiya was instructed to take a step forward to suppress the guilty conscience of tricking his guardian, and said, “Dage, I also want to participate in this competition and experience it.”
Chu Huai refused to swallow his previous decision and looked back at him, his frown tightened. He asked again, “Do you really want to go?”
Qiao Zhiya nodded.
Chu Huai stopped talking and gave Chu Yan a vague glance. After a moment of consideration, he said, “My personal suggestion is not to participate. If you really want to go… then, go and ask for Xiao Rong’s permission. As long as he lets you, I will agree.”
“Thank you, Dage, for allowing me! Dage, you really love me!” Chu Yan immediately began to misunderstand his words, took Qiao Zhiya and slipped out the door, saying, “Dage, I know you are busy with many matters, so I won’t bother you anymore. I’ll go find Erge by myself. Bye!”
Chu Huai looked at him silently, and cursed, “I think you’ve been too audacious lately…”
Chu Yan pulled Qiao Zhiya out.
After getting Chu Huai’s “approval”, the two turned to Chu Rong’s study. Chu Yan hesitated for a long time and didn’t dare to come in. Finally, it was Qiao Zhiya who came inside, photon computer in hand.
“You want to test drive the mecha in the competition?” Chu Rong put down the file.
Qiao Zhiya nodded, still feeling a tad guilty by his dishonesty.
Chu Rong looked at him deeply and said, “No need to participate, I’ll help you with the test drive. The mecha is made for me. I can better know where the fault lies.”
“…” Chu Rong makes good sense and cannot be refuted.
Qiao Zhiya hesitated for a moment, and decided to tell the truth: “In fact… I don’t only want to test drive the mecha, but also want to see if I can get a set of combat systems that are more suitable for manually-piloted mecha, as the current ones are all built with a spiritual driving system in mind, so they might not be suitable. You and I are in a different situation, I haven’t been exposed to the conventional combat systems, and the ones I know are all on the ancient martial arts side, so it’s more appropriate for me to try.”
–And it’s true that the changes made when the maker understood the underlying reason will be better.
Chu Rong suddenly remembered the youth’s dazzling appearance when he ran in the wild forest last year. He indeed had sufficient self-defense capabilities, and was able to fight with all kinds of beasts. He also remembered that he was locked in the laboratory all day during this time. His heart softened as he reached out to him. “Come here.”
His tone was very gentle. Qiao Zhiya couldn’t guess whether it was because he was persuaded, or because he felt pity despite his unconvinced status. Qiao Zhiya stumbled over, and wanted to stand a step away from him, but was directly held by him, sitting on his lap. Then, at the next moment, Chu Rong tenderly kissed his forehead.
“You can participate in the competition.”
Chu Rong said, leaning his arm around his back to hold him closer. With his other hand, he gently tucked his bangs behind his ears as he said, “But you have to diligently train every day. You also have to attend a proper mecha-driving course on the Internet. You can’t be stuck in the lab all day. So, can you do that?”
Chu Rong suddenly became so nice? Qiao Zhiya felt a bit of disbelief.
“Yes!” He nodded quickly, his eyes lit up, happily hugged him and buried his head on the crook of the taller man’s neck. Excitedly, he said, “Chu Rong, you are the best! I will debug the mecha properly!”
Chu Rong bowed his head and kissed him with an affectionate look.
“In the future, ask anything directly, no need to beat around the bush.” He raised Qiao Zhiya’s head, stretched his finger and gently traced the youth’s face. He continued in a whisper, “And how did you know about this competition, hm?”
Qiao Zhiya froze, remembering Chu Yan who was still waiting outside, his heart shook. He buried his head like an ostrich, struggling hard not to be perceived.
In the end, Chu Rong knew it was Chu Yan’s doing. As for their training plan, Chu Rong made sure to supervise both of them every day. Of course, Chu Yan’s training was particularly “hardcore”.
Chu Yan felt sore all over his body, yet he was still happy. Again, he sighed at this humbling status in the family – he knew he was near the bottom now.
A few days later, reporting time was over, military school was officially in session, and Qiao Zhiya’s application to skip a grade came through.
After the story spread, all the students were in a mess. It’s been a long time since there’s a student who is capable of skipping grades in the Federal Military Academy. Not to mention, it was the mecha manufacturing major, who is famous for its difficult course and passing grade. Is Qiao Zhiya going to fly to heaven at this rate?
But they remembered that Qiao Zhiya won the championship with his special-grade mecha. They all silently agree — if Qiao Zhiya can’t skip a grade with a qualification like that, then he’ll just waste his time in the classroom.
Soon, the grade-skipping exam started. The exam is transparent and open to students who want to see it.
The exam questions for this exam were created by Master Shang together with some of the most authoritative teachers of the mecha manufacturing major. The content of the exam is very comprehensive and difficult, and the requirements are very demanding. For Qiao Zhiya to be declared passing, he must score at least 90 in all subjects.
The “backdoor” gossip that had faintly flowed out after the news of Qiao Zhiya’s skipping grade quickly disappeared. With a requirement like that, only fools would believe that Qiao Zhiya got special treatment.
The theory test is conducted in a large classroom. Many people went to watch from the sidelines. Qiao Zhiya sat on the podium alone, but he wasn’t flustered even under everyone’s watch. Thanks to the competition, he was used to being watched during high-stress situations. He completed his theory test with little pause. In the final test paper, he got a full score.
After finishing the exam, he got up and thanked the crowd as if he was still participating in the competition. Then he promptly left, looking all cool and chic.
The melon-eating students looked at the 100-point score still floating on the podium, and then mourned after being shocked – such a difficult question, Qiao Zhiya actually got a full mark. Ah, they’re finished. Qiao Zhiya will now be used by every parents’ and teachers’ “other people’s children” as a comparison to them.
As for the practical exams, they’re conducted in the large laboratory in the practice building. This time, more people came in and watched, even Luo Li came to watch the fun.
The practical exams were all advanced parts, and none of them were a part that Qiao Zhiya had assembled during the competition.
At first glance at the content of the exam, Qiao Zhiya knew that this question must have been given by Master Shang. Cocking his head, he reached out and started the exam from the nearest parts.
Probably because he had completed making a mecha, his understanding of part assembly was really thorough. His learning speed was much faster than before. Chu Yan estimated he needed two months to catch up his knowledge, but he knew that he could do it in a month and a half. Like now, all the parts he needed to assemble in this exam were the parts he had been studying lately.
Students who have watched the Star Network game find that Qiao Zhiya’s operation was as pleasing as ever. In fact, his real-life operation was even more shocking.
Among the students who were watching from below, there were some senior students. They looked at Qiao Zhiya’s skillful and precise methods when assembling parts, and compared them to their own. The gap was too big for any semblance of jealousy to form. There’s only admiration left.
Sure enough, there’s a sky beyond the sky, and some people really are born with endless talent. No need to compare, they cannot be compared to begin with.
In the first row of the seat, Xiang Kun watched Qiao Zhiya’s assembly method carefully. Subconsciously, his fingers moved also. Finally, he even pulled out a part model to practice by himself. His sheer focus clearly denotes that his days of being an impudent brat have long passed.
Chu Yan, who was also sitting in the first row, noticed his movement far away and froze. Then after a moment, he dropped his gaze. With a snort, he forced himself not to look at his archnemesis.
Yuan Xiu next saw him so glance over, seeing that Xiang Kun was not paying attention to the outside world, and was instead concentrating on practicing the assembly parts, and his mood became complicated for a moment.
Everyone has grown up. They’re no longer at the age when they can fight just because of a petty reason.
Thinking of this, he glanced back again, glancing over the acquaintances scattered in various corners one by one. All of them had matured in one way or another. He sighed, full of emotion, then moved his gaze back at Qiao Zhiya, hand resting on his chin.
‘It’s great, ah. Only Qiao Zhiya stays the same as when I first met him. He hasn’t changed at all.’
As soon as Qiao Zhiya put the last assembled part on the console, the system immediately graded it. He got full marks.
The watching students were once again shocked, and at some point Xiang Kun, who had already finished his own practice, suddenly took the lead in applauding. Then Chu Yan, who glanced at him, unwillingly applauded as well.
Spurned by this, the crowd erupted in a thunderous applause.
——It’s great. Qiao Zhiya’s assembly method is clean and neat. It is a perfect model for them to imitate. After watching the process, they felt touched.
Master Shang of the teacher’s seat smiled and said, “Congratulations, the grade-skip is successful.”
“Thank you.”
Qiao Zhiya smiled at him, turned around and thanked the students who applauded. He stopped and looked at Xiang Kun, then waved his hand, turned away from the classroom, and went to the administration area to go through the formalities of skipping grades.
After all the work was completed, Qiao Zhiya invited a few friends to come out and have a good meal in the trade area to celebrate his success. Both Jian and Ning Kongran didn’t come – the former cited that he had to help a teacher with a historical document, and later said that he’s busy studying.
Qiao Zhiya knows these are excuses, and although regretful, he understands their reason.
The relationship between the Empire and the Federation was messy. During this time, the Ning family and the Chu family were directly in opposing positions. Jian and Ning Kongran had their own concerns, and no contact was the best for all of them.
After dinner, everyone went back to their bedrooms. Qiao Zhiya and Sang Bu drove a hover car slowly around the campus and talked about some schoolwork. When walking to the garden area with many lanes, Sang Bu suddenly stopped talking. He gestured to the side.
Qiao Zhiya looked at where Sang Bu pointed at, and saw another hover car driving side-by-side.
Ning Kongran, who had just come over, turned his head and smiled at him, and suddenly got closer to his car. He reached over and knocked on the window.
Qiao Zhiya suddenly opened the window. Ning Kongran moved his hand, and a metal ball the size of a fingernail fell on him. After that, the older youth retracted his hand, then immediately left as if nothing had happened.
“What is this?” Sang Bu’s gaze moved to the small ball on Qiao Zhiya’s body.
Qiao Zhiya shook his head and picked up the metal ball. Seeing that it could be opened, he twisted it carefully, and then a scent of Withered Grass and Branched Pomegranate Flower wafted out.
He stared in shock, busy twisting the metal ball, and glanced at the direction in which Ning Kongran left. His expression became serious, but his ears fell down – he had hoped that Chu Rong’s investigation around the Ning family’s shady drug wouldn’t involve Ning Kongran. He liked Ning Kongran, as he was his friend, and he didn’t want this to affect his life.
Then, out of nowhere, it was Ning Kongran who sent him such a crucial item.
Helping outsiders investigate his own family. Just what was Ning Kongran think when he did this? What does he feel? Was he sad?
Sang Bu also smelled the concoction, and he didn’t like it very much. He asked, “What is that?”
“Nothing, he just gave me something.” He replied, clenching his grip on the metal ball tightly. As his mind drifted, he looked at Sang Bu from the corner of his eyes, instructing him: “Don’t buy the Ning family’s spiritual power booster. You have a health issue, let’s not aggravate it.”
“I didn’t buy that inexplicable thing.” Sang Bu frowned, seeing that he was not in a good mood, and stopped asking anymore questions despite his curiosity.
After receiving the drug, Qiao Zhiya did not study immediately, but was prepared to wait until he came home. The dose of the medicine was too small. He was afraid to use the Qiuqiu to test it directly, as the plant might accidentally drink the whole thing like last time.
The next day, he went to Master Shang’s laboratory and went through the procedure to legalize his position as a researcher in the lab. Then he filed several patents under the leadership of Luo Li, and completed a five-month suspension procedure due to his patents and status – he owned all the patents of the modified mechas and parts he made during the competition. Submitting them for formal review was just a trivial matter.
After finishing it all, he bid farewell to his school friends, like Sang Bu, and took out the brown suspension car that Chu Rong had prepared for him to go home.
Chu Rong won’t be able to get home until after work in the afternoon. When he got home, he first went to Zhuang Yu, and took out the medicine and gave her half. After that, he returned to the room with the remaining medicine and took Qiuqiu out.
“Qiuqiu, try it for me. This is not a good thing. You should be careful not to ingest too much of it.”
Qiuqiu rolled obediently, then carefully divided its thinnest vine and drilled towards the inside of the metal ball.
When it touched the potion, its body shook, and it shrank all its vine into a ball, rolling a little farther away from the metal ball.
“What’s wrong?” Qiao Zhiya looked at its weird movement and became worried.
Qiuqiu waved its vine and began to ask for magic power.
Qiao Zhiya’s expression became serious, and he gave it some magic power. He stared at the metal ball with a frown, and ended up putting Qiuqiu away. With his finger, he scooped up a tiny amount, then licked it.
Immediately after contacting the human body, the potion turned into a warm current and rushed straight towards the brain. A soothing and relaxed feeling spread out. His magic seemed to come alive for a moment as his small face tightened, and then he busied himself with a bottle of the soothing potion, his grip on the metal ball tightening.
There really is something wrong with this thing, and it’s a big problem.
If you can, please support me by donating on my ko-fi~ For every 2 ko-fis, I’ll release an additional chapter ^^
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chu Yan’s lifted heart completely fell back into the stomach, but he still nodded fervently. He won’t go back on his previous words, he’ll tell his guardians honestly and frankly! Anyway, as long as Qiao also wanted to participate, it actually means that he had passed half of the hurdle.
The registration time for the competition was about to expire. After persuading Qiao Zhiya, Chu Yan pulled him to find Chu Huai first, and carefully made his request.
“Mecha driving competition? The one that takes place every four years?” Chu Huai said, frowning, and then he refused. Without wasting any more time, Chu Yan busily pulled Qiao Zhiya’s sleeve.
Qiao Zhiya was instructed to take a step forward to suppress the guilty conscience of tricking his guardian, and said, “Dage, I also want to participate in this competition and experience it.”
Chu Huai refused to swallow his previous decision and looked back at him, his frown tightened. He asked again, “Do you really want to go?”
Qiao Zhiya nodded.
Chu Huai stopped talking and gave Chu Yan a vague glance. After a moment of consideration, he said, “My personal suggestion is not to participate. If you really want to go… then, go and ask for Xiao Rong’s permission. As long as he lets you, I will agree.”
“Thank you, Dage, for allowing me! Dage, you really love me!” Chu Yan immediately began to misunderstand his words, took Qiao Zhiya and slipped out the door, saying, “Dage, I know you are busy with many matters, so I won’t bother you anymore. I’ll go find Erge by myself. Bye!”
Chu Huai looked at him silently, and cursed, “I think you’ve been too audacious lately…”
Chu Yan pulled Qiao Zhiya out.
After getting Chu Huai’s “approval”, the two turned to Chu Rong’s study. Chu Yan hesitated for a long time and didn’t dare to come in. Finally, it was Qiao Zhiya who came inside, photon computer in hand.
“You want to test drive the mecha in the competition?” Chu Rong put down the file.
Qiao Zhiya nodded, still feeling a tad guilty by his dishonesty.
Chu Rong looked at him deeply and said, “No need to participate, I’ll help you with the test drive. The mecha is made for me. I can better know where the fault lies.”
“…” Chu Rong makes good sense and cannot be refuted.
Qiao Zhiya hesitated for a moment, and decided to tell the truth: “In fact… I don’t only want to test drive the mecha, but also want to see if I can get a set of combat systems that are more suitable for manually-piloted mecha, as the current ones are all built with a spiritual driving system in mind, so they might not be suitable. You and I are in a different situation, I haven’t been exposed to the conventional combat systems, and the ones I know are all on the ancient martial arts side, so it’s more appropriate for me to try.”
–And it’s true that the changes made when the maker understood the underlying reason will be better.
Chu Rong suddenly remembered the youth’s dazzling appearance when he ran in the wild forest last year. He indeed had sufficient self-defense capabilities, and was able to fight with all kinds of beasts. He also remembered that he was locked in the laboratory all day during this time. His heart softened as he reached out to him. “Come here.”
His tone was very gentle. Qiao Zhiya couldn’t guess whether it was because he was persuaded, or because he felt pity despite his unconvinced status. Qiao Zhiya stumbled over, and wanted to stand a step away from him, but was directly held by him, sitting on his lap. Then, at the next moment, Chu Rong tenderly kissed his forehead.
“You can participate in the competition.”
Chu Rong said, leaning his arm around his back to hold him closer. With his other hand, he gently tucked his bangs behind his ears as he said, “But you have to diligently train every day. You also have to attend a proper mecha-driving course on the Internet. You can’t be stuck in the lab all day. So, can you do that?”
Chu Rong suddenly became so nice? Qiao Zhiya felt a bit of disbelief.
“Yes!” He nodded quickly, his eyes lit up, happily hugged him and buried his head on the crook of the taller man’s neck. Excitedly, he said, “Chu Rong, you are the best! I will debug the mecha properly!”
Chu Rong bowed his head and kissed him with an affectionate look.
“In the future, ask anything directly, no need to beat around the bush.” He raised Qiao Zhiya’s head, stretched his finger and gently traced the youth’s face. He continued in a whisper, “And how did you know about this competition, hm?”
Qiao Zhiya froze, remembering Chu Yan who was still waiting outside, his heart shook. He buried his head like an ostrich, struggling hard not to be perceived.
In the end, Chu Rong knew it was Chu Yan’s doing. As for their training plan, Chu Rong made sure to supervise both of them every day. Of course, Chu Yan’s training was particularly “hardcore”.
Chu Yan felt sore all over his body, yet he was still happy. Again, he sighed at this humbling status in the family – he knew he was near the bottom now.
A few days later, reporting time was over, military school was officially in session, and Qiao Zhiya’s application to skip a grade came through.
After the story spread, all the students were in a mess. It’s been a long time since there’s a student who is capable of skipping grades in the Federal Military Academy. Not to mention, it was the mecha manufacturing major, who is famous for its difficult course and passing grade. Is Qiao Zhiya going to fly to heaven at this rate?
But they remembered that Qiao Zhiya won the championship with his special-grade mecha. They all silently agree — if Qiao Zhiya can’t skip a grade with a qualification like that, then he’ll just waste his time in the classroom.
Soon, the grade-skipping exam started. The exam is transparent and open to students who want to see it.
The exam questions for this exam were created by Master Shang together with some of the most authoritative teachers of the mecha manufacturing major. The content of the exam is very comprehensive and difficult, and the requirements are very demanding. For Qiao Zhiya to be declared passing, he must score at least 90 in all subjects.
The “backdoor” gossip that had faintly flowed out after the news of Qiao Zhiya’s skipping grade quickly disappeared. With a requirement like that, only fools would believe that Qiao Zhiya got special treatment.
The theory test is conducted in a large classroom. Many people went to watch from the sidelines. Qiao Zhiya sat on the podium alone, but he wasn’t flustered even under everyone’s watch. Thanks to the competition, he was used to being watched during high-stress situations. He completed his theory test with little pause. In the final test paper, he got a full score.
After finishing the exam, he got up and thanked the crowd as if he was still participating in the competition. Then he promptly left, looking all cool and chic.
The melon-eating students looked at the 100-point score still floating on the podium, and then mourned after being shocked – such a difficult question, Qiao Zhiya actually got a full mark. Ah, they’re finished. Qiao Zhiya will now be used by every parents’ and teachers’ “other people’s children” as a comparison to them.
As for the practical exams, they’re conducted in the large laboratory in the practice building. This time, more people came in and watched, even Luo Li came to watch the fun.
The practical exams were all advanced parts, and none of them were a part that Qiao Zhiya had assembled during the competition.
At first glance at the content of the exam, Qiao Zhiya knew that this question must have been given by Master Shang. Cocking his head, he reached out and started the exam from the nearest parts.
Probably because he had completed making a mecha, his understanding of part assembly was really thorough. His learning speed was much faster than before. Chu Yan estimated he needed two months to catch up his knowledge, but he knew that he could do it in a month and a half. Like now, all the parts he needed to assemble in this exam were the parts he had been studying lately.
Students who have watched the Star Network game find that Qiao Zhiya’s operation was as pleasing as ever. In fact, his real-life operation was even more shocking.
Among the students who were watching from below, there were some senior students. They looked at Qiao Zhiya’s skillful and precise methods when assembling parts, and compared them to their own. The gap was too big for any semblance of jealousy to form. There’s only admiration left.
Sure enough, there’s a sky beyond the sky, and some people really are born with endless talent. No need to compare, they cannot be compared to begin with.
In the first row of the seat, Xiang Kun watched Qiao Zhiya’s assembly method carefully. Subconsciously, his fingers moved also. Finally, he even pulled out a part model to practice by himself. His sheer focus clearly denotes that his days of being an impudent brat have long passed.
Chu Yan, who was also sitting in the first row, noticed his movement far away and froze. Then after a moment, he dropped his gaze. With a snort, he forced himself not to look at his archnemesis.
Yuan Xiu next saw him so glance over, seeing that Xiang Kun was not paying attention to the outside world, and was instead concentrating on practicing the assembly parts, and his mood became complicated for a moment.
Everyone has grown up. They’re no longer at the age when they can fight just because of a petty reason.
Thinking of this, he glanced back again, glancing over the acquaintances scattered in various corners one by one. All of them had matured in one way or another. He sighed, full of emotion, then moved his gaze back at Qiao Zhiya, hand resting on his chin.
‘It’s great, ah. Only Qiao Zhiya stays the same as when I first met him. He hasn’t changed at all.’
As soon as Qiao Zhiya put the last assembled part on the console, the system immediately graded it. He got full marks.
The watching students were once again shocked, and at some point Xiang Kun, who had already finished his own practice, suddenly took the lead in applauding. Then Chu Yan, who glanced at him, unwillingly applauded as well.
Spurned by this, the crowd erupted in a thunderous applause.
——It’s great. Qiao Zhiya’s assembly method is clean and neat. It is a perfect model for them to imitate. After watching the process, they felt touched.
Master Shang of the teacher’s seat smiled and said, “Congratulations, the grade-skip is successful.”
“Thank you.”
Qiao Zhiya smiled at him, turned around and thanked the students who applauded. He stopped and looked at Xiang Kun, then waved his hand, turned away from the classroom, and went to the administration area to go through the formalities of skipping grades.
After all the work was completed, Qiao Zhiya invited a few friends to come out and have a good meal in the trade area to celebrate his success. Both Jian and Ning Kongran didn’t come – the former cited that he had to help a teacher with a historical document, and later said that he’s busy studying.
Qiao Zhiya knows these are excuses, and although regretful, he understands their reason.
The relationship between the Empire and the Federation was messy. During this time, the Ning family and the Chu family were directly in opposing positions. Jian and Ning Kongran had their own concerns, and no contact was the best for all of them.
After dinner, everyone went back to their bedrooms. Qiao Zhiya and Sang Bu drove a hover car slowly around the campus and talked about some schoolwork. When walking to the garden area with many lanes, Sang Bu suddenly stopped talking. He gestured to the side.
Qiao Zhiya looked at where Sang Bu pointed at, and saw another hover car driving side-by-side.
Ning Kongran, who had just come over, turned his head and smiled at him, and suddenly got closer to his car. He reached over and knocked on the window.
Qiao Zhiya suddenly opened the window. Ning Kongran moved his hand, and a metal ball the size of a fingernail fell on him. After that, the older youth retracted his hand, then immediately left as if nothing had happened.
“What is this?” Sang Bu’s gaze moved to the small ball on Qiao Zhiya’s body.
Qiao Zhiya shook his head and picked up the metal ball. Seeing that it could be opened, he twisted it carefully, and then a scent of Withered Grass and Branched Pomegranate Flower wafted out.
He stared in shock, busy twisting the metal ball, and glanced at the direction in which Ning Kongran left. His expression became serious, but his ears fell down – he had hoped that Chu Rong’s investigation around the Ning family’s shady drug wouldn’t involve Ning Kongran. He liked Ning Kongran, as he was his friend, and he didn’t want this to affect his life.
Then, out of nowhere, it was Ning Kongran who sent him such a crucial item.
Helping outsiders investigate his own family. Just what was Ning Kongran think when he did this? What does he feel? Was he sad?
Sang Bu also smelled the concoction, and he didn’t like it very much. He asked, “What is that?”
“Nothing, he just gave me something.” He replied, clenching his grip on the metal ball tightly. As his mind drifted, he looked at Sang Bu from the corner of his eyes, instructing him: “Don’t buy the Ning family’s spiritual power booster. You have a health issue, let’s not aggravate it.”
“I didn’t buy that inexplicable thing.” Sang Bu frowned, seeing that he was not in a good mood, and stopped asking anymore questions despite his curiosity.
After receiving the drug, Qiao Zhiya did not study immediately, but was prepared to wait until he came home. The dose of the medicine was too small. He was afraid to use the Qiuqiu to test it directly, as the plant might accidentally drink the whole thing like last time.
The next day, he went to Master Shang’s laboratory and went through the procedure to legalize his position as a researcher in the lab. Then he filed several patents under the leadership of Luo Li, and completed a five-month suspension procedure due to his patents and status – he owned all the patents of the modified mechas and parts he made during the competition. Submitting them for formal review was just a trivial matter.
After finishing it all, he bid farewell to his school friends, like Sang Bu, and took out the brown suspension car that Chu Rong had prepared for him to go home.
Chu Rong won’t be able to get home until after work in the afternoon. When he got home, he first went to Zhuang Yu, and took out the medicine and gave her half. After that, he returned to the room with the remaining medicine and took Qiuqiu out.
“Qiuqiu, try it for me. This is not a good thing. You should be careful not to ingest too much of it.”
Qiuqiu rolled obediently, then carefully divided its thinnest vine and drilled towards the inside of the metal ball.
When it touched the potion, its body shook, and it shrank all its vine into a ball, rolling a little farther away from the metal ball.
“What’s wrong?” Qiao Zhiya looked at its weird movement and became worried.
Qiuqiu waved its vine and began to ask for magic power.
Qiao Zhiya’s expression became serious, and he gave it some magic power. He stared at the metal ball with a frown, and ended up putting Qiuqiu away. With his finger, he scooped up a tiny amount, then licked it.
Immediately after contacting the human body, the potion turned into a warm current and rushed straight towards the brain. A soothing and relaxed feeling spread out. His magic seemed to come alive for a moment as his small face tightened, and then he busied himself with a bottle of the soothing potion, his grip on the metal ball tightening.
There really is something wrong with this thing, and it’s a big problem.
If you can, please support me by donating on my ko-fi~ For every 2 ko-fis, I’ll release an additional chapter ^^
Chu Yan's lifted heart completely fell back into the stomach, but he still nodded fervently. He won't go back on his previous words, he'll tell his guardians honestly and frankly! Anyway, as long as Qiao also wanted to participate, it actually means that he had passed half of the hurdle.The registration time for the competition was about to expire. After persuading Qiao Zhiya, Chu Yan pulled him to find Chu Huai first, and carefully made his request.Mecha driving competition? The one that takes place every four years? Chu Huai said, frowning, and then he refused. Without wasting any more time, Chu Yan busily pulled Qiao Zhiya's sleeve.Qiao Zhiya was instructed to take a step forward to suppress the guilty conscience of tricking his guardian, and said, Dage, I also want to participate in this competition and experience it.Chu Huai refused to swallow his previous decision and looked back at him, his frown tightened. He asked again, Do you really want to go?Qiao Zhiya nodded.Chu Huai stopped talking and gave Chu Yan a vague glance. After a moment of consideration, he said, My personal suggestion is not to participate. If you really want to go then, go and ask for Xiao Rong's permission. As long as he lets you, I will agree.Thank you, Dage, for allowing me! Dage, you really love me! Chu Yan immediately began to misunderstand his words, took Qiao Zhiya and slipped out the door, saying, Dage, I know you are busy with many matters, so I won't bother you anymore. I'll go find Erge by myself. Bye!Chu Huai looked at him silently, and cursed, I think you've been too audacious latelyChu Yan pulled Qiao Zhiya out.After getting Chu Huai's approval, the two turned to Chu Rong's study. Chu Yan hesitated for a long time and didn't dare to come in. Finally, it was Qiao Zhiya who came inside, photon computer in hand.You want to test drive the mecha in the competition? Chu Rong put down the file.Qiao Zhiya nodded, still feeling a tad guilty by his dishonesty.Chu Rong looked at him deeply and said, No need to participate, I'll help you with the test drive. The mecha is made for me. I can better know where the fault lies. Chu Rong makes good sense and cannot be refuted.Qiao Zhiya hesitated for a moment, and decided to tell the truth: In fact I don't only want to test drive the mecha, but also want to see if I can get a set of combat systems that are more suitable for manually-piloted mecha, as the current ones are all built with a spiritual driving system in mind, so they might not be suitable. You and I are in a different situation, I haven't been exposed to the conventional combat systems, and the ones I know are all on the ancient martial arts side, so it's more appropriate for me to try.And it's true that the changes made when the maker understood the underlying reason will be better.Chu Rong suddenly remembered the youth's dazzling appearance when he ran in the wild forest last year. He indeed had sufficient self-defense capabilities, and was able to fight with all kinds of beasts. He also remembered that he was locked in the laboratory all day during this time. His heart softened as he reached out to him. Come here.His tone was very gentle. Qiao Zhiya couldn't guess whether it was because he was persuaded, or because he felt pity despite his unconvinced status. Qiao Zhiya stumbled over, and wanted to stand a step away from him, but was directly held by him, sitting on his lap. Then, at the next moment, Chu Rong tenderly kissed his forehead.You can participate in the competition.Chu Rong said, leaning his arm around his back to hold him closer. With his other hand, he gently tucked his bangs behind his ears as he said, But you have to diligently train every day. You also have to attend a proper mecha-driving course on the Internet. You can't be stuck in the lab all day. So, can you do that?Chu Rong suddenly became so nice? Qiao Zhiya felt a bit of disbelief.Yes! He nodded quickly, his eyes lit up, happily hugged him and buried his head on the crook of the taller man's neck. Excitedly, he said, Chu Rong, you are the best! I will debug the mecha properly!Chu Rong bowed his head and kissed him with an affectionate look.In the future, ask anything directly, no need to beat around the bush. He raised Qiao Zhiya's head, stretched his finger and gently traced the youth's face. He continued in a whisper, And how did you know about this competition, hm?Qiao Zhiya froze, remembering Chu Yan who was still waiting outside, his heart shook. He buried his head like an ostrich, struggling hard not to be perceived.In the end, Chu Rong knew it was Chu Yan's doing. As for their training plan, Chu Rong made sure to supervise both of them every day. Of course, Chu Yan's training was particularly hardcore.Chu Yan felt sore all over his body, yet he was still happy. Again, he sighed at this humbling status in the family he knew he was near the bottom now.A few days later, reporting time was over, military school was officially in session, and Qiao Zhiya's application to skip a grade came through.After the story spread, all the students were in a mess. It's been a long time since there's a student who is capable of skipping grades in the Federal Military Academy. Not to mention, it was the mecha manufacturing major, who is famous for its difficult course and passing grade. Is Qiao Zhiya going to fly to heaven at this rate?But they remembered that Qiao Zhiya won the championship with his special-grade mecha. They all silently agree if Qiao Zhiya can't skip a grade with a qualification like that, then he'll just waste his time in the classroom.Soon, the grade-skipping exam started. The exam is transparent and open to students who want to see it.The exam questions for this exam were created by Master Shang together with some of the most authoritative teachers of the mecha manufacturing major. The content of the exam is very comprehensive and difficult, and the requirements are very demanding. For Qiao Zhiya to be declared passing, he must score at least 90 in all subjects.The backdoor gossip that had faintly flowed out after the news of Qiao Zhiya's skipping grade quickly disappeared. With a requirement like that, only fools would believe that Qiao Zhiya got special treatment.The theory test is conducted in a large classroom. Many people went to watch from the sidelines. Qiao Zhiya sat on the podium alone, but he wasn't flustered even under everyone's watch. Thanks to the competition, he was used to being watched during high-stress situations. He completed his theory test with little pause. In the final test paper, he got a full score.After finishing the exam, he got up and thanked the crowd as if he was still participating in the competition. Then he promptly left, looking all cool and chic.The melon-eating students looked at the 100-point score still floating on the podium, and then mourned after being shocked such a difficult question, Qiao Zhiya actually got a full mark. Ah, they're finished. Qiao Zhiya will now be used by every parents' and teachers' other people's children as a comparison to them.As for the practical exams, they're conducted in the large laboratory in the practice building. This time, more people came in and watched, even Luo Li came to watch the fun.The practical exams were all advanced parts, and none of them were a part that Qiao Zhiya had assembled during the competition.At first glance at the content of the exam, Qiao Zhiya knew that this question must have been given by Master Shang. Cocking his head, he reached out and started the exam from the nearest parts.Probably because he had completed making a mecha, his understanding of part assembly was really thorough. His learning speed was much faster than before. Chu Yan estimated he needed two months to catch up his knowledge, but he knew that he could do it in a month and a half. Like now, all the parts he needed to assemble in this exam were the parts he had been studying lately.Students who have watched the Star Network game find that Qiao Zhiya's operation was as pleasing as ever. In fact, his real-life operation was even more shocking.Among the students who were watching from below, there were some senior students. They looked at Qiao Zhiya's skillful and precise methods when assembling parts, and compared them to their own. The gap was too big for any semblance of jealousy to form. There's only admiration left.Sure enough, there's a sky beyond the sky, and some people really are born with endless talent. No need to compare, they cannot be compared to begin with.In the first row of the seat, Xiang Kun watched Qiao Zhiya's assembly method carefully. Subconsciously, his fingers moved also. Finally, he even pulled out a part model to practice by himself. His sheer focus clearly denotes that his days of being an impudent brat have long passed.Chu Yan, who was also sitting in the first row, noticed his movement far away and froze. Then after a moment, he dropped his gaze. With a snort, he forced himself not to look at his archnemesis.Yuan Xiu next saw him so glance over, seeing that Xiang Kun was not paying attention to the outside world, and was instead concentrating on practicing the assembly parts, and his mood became complicated for a moment.Everyone has grown up. They're no longer at the age when they can fight just because of a petty reason.Thinking of this, he glanced back again, glancing over the acquaintances scattered in various corners one by one. All of them had matured in one way or another. He sighed, full of emotion, then moved his gaze back at Qiao Zhiya, hand resting on his chin.It's great, ah. Only Qiao Zhiya stays the same as when I first met him. He hasn't changed at all.'As soon as Qiao Zhiya put the last assembled part on the console, the system immediately graded it. He got full marks.The watching students were once again shocked, and at some point Xiang Kun, who had already finished his own practice, suddenly took the lead in applauding. Then Chu Yan, who glanced at him, unwillingly applauded as well.Spurned by this, the crowd erupted in a thunderous applause.It's great. Qiao Zhiya's assembly method is clean and neat. It is a perfect model for them to imitate. After watching the process, they felt touched.Master Shang of the teacher's seat smiled and said, Congratulations, the grade-skip is successful.Thank you.Qiao Zhiya smiled at him, turned around and thanked the students who applauded. He stopped and looked at Xiang Kun, then waved his hand, turned away from the classroom, and went to the administration area to go through the formalities of skipping grades.After all the work was completed, Qiao Zhiya invited a few friends to come out and have a good meal in the trade area to celebrate his success. Both Jian and Ning Kongran didn't come the former cited that he had to help a teacher with a historical document, and later said that he's busy studying.Qiao Zhiya knows these are excuses, and although regretful, he understands their reason.The relationship between the Empire and the Federation was messy. During this time, the Ning family and the Chu family were directly in opposing positions. Jian and Ning Kongran had their own concerns, and no contact was the best for all of them.After dinner, everyone went back to their bedrooms. Qiao Zhiya and Sang Bu drove a hover car slowly around the campus and talked about some schoolwork. When walking to the garden area with many lanes, Sang Bu suddenly stopped talking. He gestured to the side.Qiao Zhiya looked at where Sang Bu pointed at, and saw another hover car driving side-by-side.Ning Kongran, who had just come over, turned his head and smiled at him, and suddenly got closer to his car. He reached over and knocked on the window.Qiao Zhiya suddenly opened the window. Ning Kongran moved his hand, and a metal ball the size of a fingernail fell on him. After that, the older youth retracted his hand, then immediately left as if nothing had happened.What is this? Sang Bu's gaze moved to the small ball on Qiao Zhiya's body.Qiao Zhiya shook his head and picked up the metal ball. Seeing that it could be opened, he twisted it carefully, and then a scent of Withered Grass and Branched Pomegranate Flower wafted out.He stared in shock, busy twisting the metal ball, and glanced at the direction in which Ning Kongran left. His expression became serious, but his ears fell down he had hoped that Chu Rong's investigation around the Ning family's shady drug wouldn't involve Ning Kongran. He liked Ning Kongran, as he was his friend, and he didn't want this to affect his life.Then, out of nowhere, it was Ning Kongran who sent him such a crucial item.Helping outsiders investigate his own family. Just what was Ning Kongran think when he did this? What does he feel? Was he sad?Sang Bu also smelled the concoction, and he didn't like it very much. He asked, What is that?Nothing, he just gave me something. He replied, clenching his grip on the metal ball tightly. As his mind drifted, he looked at Sang Bu from the corner of his eyes, instructing him: Don't buy the Ning family's spiritual power booster. You have a health issue, let's not aggravate it.I didn't buy that inexplicable thing. Sang Bu frowned, seeing that he was not in a good mood, and stopped asking anymore questions despite his curiosity.After receiving the drug, Qiao Zhiya did not study immediately, but was prepared to wait until he came home. The dose of the medicine was too small. He was afraid to use the Qiuqiu to test it directly, as the plant might accidentally drink the whole thing like last time.The next day, he went to Master Shang's laboratory and went through the procedure to legalize his position as a researcher in the lab. Then he filed several patents under the leadership of Luo Li, and completed a five-month suspension procedure due to his patents and status he owned all the patents of the modified mechas and parts he made during the competition. Submitting them for formal review was just a trivial matter.After finishing it all, he bid farewell to his school friends, like Sang Bu, and took out the brown suspension car that Chu Rong had prepared for him to go home.Chu Rong won't be able to get home until after work in the afternoon. When he got home, he first went to Zhuang Yu, and took out the medicine and gave her half. After that, he returned to the room with the remaining medicine and took Qiuqiu out.Qiuqiu, try it for me. This is not a good thing. You should be careful not to ingest too much of it.Qiuqiu rolled obediently, then carefully divided its thinnest vine and drilled towards the inside of the metal ball.When it touched the potion, its body shook, and it shrank all its vine into a ball, rolling a little farther away from the metal ball.What's wrong? Qiao Zhiya looked at its weird movement and became worried.Qiuqiu waved its vine and began to ask for magic power.Qiao Zhiya's expression became serious, and he gave it some magic power. He stared at the metal ball with a frown, and ended up putting Qiuqiu away. With his finger, he scooped up a tiny amount, then licked it.Immediately after contacting the human body, the potion turned into a warm current and rushed straight towards the brain. A soothing and relaxed feeling spread out. His magic seemed to come alive for a moment as his small face tightened, and then he busied himself with a bottle of the soothing potion, his grip on the metal ball tightening.There really is something wrong with this thing, and it's a big problem. If you can, please support me by donating on my ko-fi~ For every 2 ko-fis, I'll release an additional chapter ^^
