Chapter 29
“You never hated me from the beginning, right?”
“Ding-ling-ling-ling—”
The bell for class rang, and Boyi High School in Shenhai City quickly returned to silence. Before long, the sound of students reading aloud echoed over the teaching building.
In the office, the principal had a complex expression. He set down the grim report card bearing Yang Xiaodao’s name and hesitated for a moment before speaking:
“Well, although we are a private high school, we still have certain academic standards. If your child wants to transfer here with such grades, it’ll probably…”
Leaning back in his chair, Bai Sheng was just about to casually prop up his long legs and slide his hands into his pockets when Shen Zhuo cleared his throat beside him.
Bai Sheng immediately caught on and, in a rare move, sat up with a neatly humble posture, earnestly facing the principal: “Understood, understood. This kid may have a slightly lower IQ, but everything else is fine.”
“…” The principal said, “Ah, other aspects are not really a problem. The main issue is this grade…”
Bai Sheng pointed to the second page of the report card and argued reasonably, “Look, his performance in the humanities is quite good. In geography, except for the multiple-choice questions, he almost scored full marks!”
“85 in all three science subjects combined.”
“At least he passed history…”
“85 in all three science subjects combined.”
“His English grammar is also decent, except he didn’t get a single correct answer in the cloze test…”
The principal slowly said, “85 in all three science subjects combined.”
Silence filled the air.
Shen Zhuo nonchalantly stood up and said, “You two, go ahead and talk. I’ll take a walk outside.”
Before he could finish his sentence, he was firmly pressed back into his chair by Bai Sheng, giving him a stern look that conveyed, “Don’t even think about leaving me here alone to face this embarrassment!”
Shen Zhuo closed his eyes in silence, his expression suggesting that he probably wished he hadn’t shown up today.
“Mr. Bai,” the principal couldn’t hold back any longer, asking candidly, “With so many private high schools in Shenhai, why do you insist on transferring your child to our school? Couldn’t you consider an international high school and maybe send your child abroad in the future?”
Facts have proven that when dealing with Bai Sheng, there is a fundamental rule everyone should follow: don’t ask questions; don’t give him spotlights, microphones, and stages; don’t let him set his own background music.
As expected, in the next moment, Bai Sheng channeled his inner actor, grabbed Shen Zhuo’s hand, and expressed with genuine emotion:
“—Our little Yang Xiaodao is truly a pitiable child!”
Principal: “?”
Shen Zhuo tried to free his hand, but no one on Earth could escape the terrifying grip of an S-class evolutionist.
“This child lost his mother at a young age; his father gambled and abused him, even denying him an education. Every time he drank, he would beat him, leaving him covered in bruises. In order to study, he shouldered the burden of life from a young age, often picking up trash along the streets to sell bottles and collect scrap…”
Shen Zhuo whispered from the corner of his mouth, “Did you write a script for Yang Xiaodao with regular updates?”
Bai Sheng turned a deaf ear and continued, “…Using the money from selling scrap to pay the tuition, to the extent that he can’t even afford to buy draft paper. To make matters worse, five years ago, this child was collecting old phones in the streets to exchange for stainless steel basins. Suddenly, one of those basins fell from the sky and hit him on the head, resulting in instant cerebral palsy…”
The principal was utterly shocked by this unexpected revelation.
“What was once a student excelling in all subjects, well-behaved and outstanding, suddenly turned into a mentally handicapped child who struggles with three-digit addition and subtraction—but he didn’t give up, nor did he abandon himself! Starting from scratch with basic arithmetic and relearning the 26 English letters, through tenacious self-rehabilitation, he successfully cured his own brain disorder…”
With a dramatic flourish, Bai Sheng opened Yang Xiaodao’s report card and said emotively, “And today, five years later, he has achieved a remarkable score of 85 in all three science subjects combined!”
Principal: “…”
“All these stories tell us what lesson?” Bai Sheng encouraged, looking at the principal with a persuasive tone.
The principal was at a loss for words.
Bai Sheng concluded decisively, “This unwavering character, this indomitable spirit, is exactly what we encourage and advocate for. His future is promising!”
The principal’s office was so quiet that one could even hear a pin drop.
After a long time, the principal finally forced himself to close his mouth and raise his hand to clap appreciatively. “I’ve dedicated my life to education, and I have never seen such a persevering child!”
Bai Sheng nodded humbly.
“But… I still want to know,” the principal, while applauding cautiously, inquired: “Why do you insist on transferring such a determined child to our humble school? What merits and abilities of our school have caught your attention?”
“Oh, it’s like this,” Bai Sheng casually pointed at Shen Zhuo: “This beautiful friend of mine here bears a striking resemblance to the child’s mother. To ensure the child feels the warmth of a mother, I thought it would be better to choose a school close to his workplace for convenient commuting.”
Shen Zhuo: “…”
Principal: “…”
The reason Bai Sheng has reached adulthood without ever being beaten by someone could be attributed to the three factors of good looks, being the only child of a wealthy family, and the S-level evolution. If any of these buffs were missing, there was a high probability that he would have been beaten to death by someone due to his mouthiness during his growth.
“I understand, Mr. Bai.” After pondering for a while, the principal realized that he couldn’t handle this person, surnamed Bai, on his own. With a determined mindset, he came up with an excuse, “How about this? I will discuss this with the school board first. You can go back and wait for a few days. Later, I will arrange for the school board to personally visit your home…”
Bai Sheng sighed faintly, “Must it be like this?”
The principal, with a forced smile, said, “I believe the school board will definitely give you a satisfactory answer…”
Bai Sheng sighed again, “It seems that today I won’t be able to soften your hardened heart.”
The principal thought to himself, if you don’t leave soon, it won’t be a hardened heart but a heart attack!
“Well, in that case, there’s only one last option. Let’s solve this problem in an adult way.”
Leaning back, Bai Sheng crossed his long legs and, under the watchful eyes of the principal, picked up the report card. He leisurely and thoroughly tore it into pieces, then asked seriously:
“Will donating a teaching building be enough?”
Shen Zhuo almost choked on his tea right then and there.
“…………” The principal remained silent for a while, then reluctantly said, “Mr. Bai, we are not that kind of school. Although we are private, we have noble educational principles and strict self-requirements…”
“A library will be added, the three dormitory buildings will be completely renovated, and even the floors will be imported from Europe.”
The principal stood up, shaking Bai Sheng’s hand in delight at the unexpected profit that had fallen from the sky. He then said firmly, “Deal!”
***
Honks of car horns sounded, and the traffic began to move slowly under the changing traffic lights.
On a bench near the high school gate, Yang Xiaodao had his hands in his pockets, his handsome face hidden under a cap, looking indifferent as he gazed at a nearby kindergarten that had just finished school.
“Mommy, mommy, I want that…” “Today, Jiajia behaved very well!” “Teacher, how much did our child eat today?” “Cross the road, stop at the red light, and go on the green light…”
Children were crawling, playing, screaming, and laughing. Each of them was either lifted into cars by their young parents or guided away by grandparents driving electric folding bikes. The enticing aroma of freshly cooked skewers and egg cakes wafted through the air from a nearby stall.
Yang Xiaodao closed his eyes, burying his head deep in his palms.
The bustling and trivial human fireworks receded like a tide. A torrential rain passed through time and space, making a thunderous roar in his ears.
—Run, run fast.
In a trance, he became frail and small, desperately running forward. Every organ in his body ached from hunger, and all he could hear was the rapid sound of his own breath.
“…Your parents don’t want you, and it’s us who raised you. You white-eyed wolf 1…” “As an evolutionist, the police dare not touch you. What’s wrong with helping us a bit?” “Isn’t it just making some more money for us? Is that too much to ask? What’s the use of keeping you if you can’t even do this little thing?!”
…
Berating, whipping, and the constant addition of fists and kicks.
Run faster, just run faster, a bit farther—bang!
With a muffled sound, the young boy collided with someone, stumbling and falling into a puddle.
Ignoring the pain, he got up and ran, but in that moment of passing, he was effortlessly grabbed by the collar: “Hey, little devil, are you rushing to reincarnate?”
The young boy anxiously looked up and saw a pair of smiling eyes behind sunglasses.
The person was young, very tall, and leisurely holding a black umbrella. There was a playful gleam in his handsome eyes, giving off an air of not being very serious.
But he exuded an extremely powerful and mature aura, familiar to his own kind.
“…,” the young boy trembled all over, hunger and fear flooding every inch of his nerves. After a long time, he finally took his shaking hands from behind him and opened his palms. In the pouring rain, his hands were covered in fresh blood.
“…I… I killed… killed someone…”
“They wanted to… to beat me to death; I didn’t mean to…”
The man raised an eyebrow, softly saying, “It turns out you were rushing to send someone else to reincarnate.”
Under the dirty cuff, the arm was thin and fragile, covered with scars from whippings and cigarette burns, resembling the marked limbs of a wounded young beast.
“…still didn’t make it in time…” the man sighed softly, “Forget it.”
He held the bloodied hand, seemingly unconcerned that his own palm was stained with blood, leading the young boy toward the distance.
“You—where are you taking me?” The young boy staggered behind, looking up with a face full of uncertainty.
“To a place where you can eat and study like a normal person.” The man had long legs, but his pace allowed even a little boy like him to keep up. His smiling voice echoed clearly in the pouring rain.
“Even beasts need to learn how to protect themselves, how to use their fangs correctly, and how to coexist peacefully with the people in this world.”
…
Knock, knock. Someone tapped the back of the bench with their knuckles.
Yang Xiaodao suddenly woke up from his thoughts and turned around, only to see Shen Zhuo.
“What’s wrong?”
The street was bustling with cars passing by. Yang Xiaodao lowered his head and wiped his face. When he looked up again, his expression seemed nonchalant, though his voice carried a hint of hoarseness. “…Nothing. Where’s Bai Sheng?”
“He went to the car.” Shen Zhuo said, “Enrollment procedures are done. Come over the day after tomorrow to report for classes.”
“Okay.”
He didn’t ask how Bai Sheng got him into this school, what price was paid, or what Bai Sheng planned for him in the future. He was like a young wolf on the verge of adulthood—rebellious, sensitive, and silent. He would unconditionally give his loyalty and follow the powerful alpha of the pack.
Following Yang Xiaodao’s gaze, Shen Zhuo looked across the street at the lively kindergarten.
“How did you meet Bai Sheng?” he suddenly asked.
Yang Xiaodao was on immediately guard and replied, “None of your business.”
“What about your parents?”
“Dead.”
“Do you still remember what your parents looked like?”
“I forgot a long time ago.” Yang Xiaodao coldly squinted, “What exactly do you want to do?”
“…”
Shen Zhuo stood behind the bench with one hand in his pocket and the other resting on the back of the bench.
The chief supervisor of Shenhai City had a slender figure. Yang Xiaodao couldn’t see his eyes when looking up; he could only see his expression concealed in the shadows. After a while, Shen Zhuo slowly spoke:
“…Yang Xiaodao, 16 years old, originally from Yangjia Village, Pingliang County.”
Yang Xiaodao stiffened.
“Parents divorced when you were young; their whereabouts are unknown. You were left in the care of distant relatives. You suddenly evolved at the age of 11. In the same year, your distant relatives died mysteriously, stabbed in the abdomen with an unknown weapon. The crime scene was staged to look like a home invasion robbery, but no weapon or suspect could be found, and it was eventually filed as an unsolved case.”
“After that, you met Bai Sheng, were brought back to Shenhai in anonymity, and have been living as an ordinary teenager since then.”
In the noisy afternoon street, this small space seemed to freeze even the air.
“The intelligence unit of the Supervision Office is not just for show.” Shen Zhuo calmly looked down at the tense young man, asking, “Was it really a home invasion robbery?”
“…” Yang Xiaodao’s fingernails dug deep into the flesh of his palm, and he growled with hostility, “What does it have to do with you?!”
Unexpectedly, Shen Zhuo didn’t get angry, and he seemed not to care much. He squinted at the lively scene across the street from the kindergarten after school and suddenly said:
“In fact, I don’t remember either.”
Yang Xiaodao stood still for two seconds before realizing that he had answered the question about his parents’ appearance.
“Everyone remembers what their parents looked like before they died, except for me. Maybe it’s because they passed away too many years ago. I wanted to remember later, but then I felt it was meaningless.”
In the bustling afternoon street, the people’s voices were loud, but in front of Shen Zhuo, there seemed to be a cold and transparent barrier, coldly observing the distant and bustling human world.
“Parents are the initial anchors in our lives, but not every anchor chain is unbreakable. If, unfortunately, the anchor is lost, even in the face of a raging storm, one must set sail alone immediately. This is an unavoidable reality.”
For a moment, Yang Xiaodao almost suspected that the person in front of him was not the high and mighty chief supervisor of Shenhai City but someone who had undergone soul transmigration.
There were two honks in the distance, and a black SUV squeezed into the traffic, honking arrogantly twice at them.
Shen Zhuo patted the back of the seat and said, “Let’s go; Bai Sheng is here.”
***
Young Master Bai owned numerous properties in Shenhai, but upon returning to the country, his favorite place to stay was a large top-floor penthouse less than fifteen minutes’ walk from the supervision office. According to him, it was because he had once shared delightful nights with Supervisor Shen at this location, leaving behind unforgettable memories. Every time he revisited those memories with Chen Miao, there would be blush-inducing pink bubbles in his eyes, completely disregarding Chen Miao’s wish to hit him with a stick and erase those memories.
“Yang Xiaodao will sleep in this room.” Bai Sheng, wearing a black vest and sweatpants, strolled down the corridor barefoot, pointing to a south-facing guest bedroom for Yang Xiaodao to throw his backpack into, “Same rules apply. The first thing to do after school is homework. No gaming, phone use, or playing loud music after midnight. Absolutely no sneaky notes to female classmates’ desks before entering university…”
“I don’t have any!!” The pure-hearted teenager blurted out, “There are no female classmates! And definitely no notes!”
“Is that so? Well, then you’re truly pitiable,” Bai Sheng smiled. “Even I received little notes during my school days—those torn grid papers from the back of exercise books. Our era was quite innocent. By the way, Supervisor Shen, have you ever received any? Not to be critical, but someone like Supervisor Shen, who is as ruthless to enemies as the autumn wind and as cold-hearted to oneself as the harsh winter, I wonder if during school days…”
“I never received any,” Shen Zhuo said calmly. “I started high school at the age of eleven.”
Bai Sheng: “…”
Yang Xiaodao: “…”
“You deserve this wave of sarcasm,” Yang Xiaodao whispered beside Bai Sheng.
The young man was pushed into the room by Bai Sheng to settle his meager belongings while Shen Zhuo strolled around. This top-floor penthouse had an area of over five hundred square meters. He had been here once before, unconscious due to severe injuries. This was the second time, but it seemed like he was already familiar with the internal layout. He casually poured himself a glass of ice water in the kitchen, took a sip, and noticed a custom-made magnet on the fridge.
It was a family photo of three.
The seven or eight-year-old little Bai Sheng was undeniably a very handsome little boy from every angle, although his face was filled with expressions like “Oh, I’m so cool.” His parents embraced him tightly on both sides, intimate and affectionate, with smiles on their faces. The couple, though not young anymore, displayed a strong bond.
“—I’ve to say,” came Bai Sheng’s teasing voice from behind.
Shen Zhuo turned around, only to see Bai Sheng leaning against the door frame, legs casually crossed, with a teasing look in his eyes: “Did you have my home’s floor plan drawn up and filed for records long ago? You seemed quite familiar with the route to the abandoned building last time. Do you pull out my file from under your pillow when you can’t sleep at night, just to pass the time?”
Shen Zhuo chuckled, lifted his glass toward the fridge magnet, and raised his chin: “Your parents?”
“Hmm, I inherited good genes.”
Bai Sheng entered the kitchen, casually took the glass of ice water from Shen Zhuo, then started boiling purified water using an electric kettle, saying, “My parents gave birth to me when they were in their forties, but they passed away early.”
Shen Zhuo’s expression subtly changed.
“Car accident.” Bai Sheng shrugged with his back to him. “The two of them went out on business in a car. Halfway through, they were rear-ended and overturned. The fuel tank caught fire and exploded, trapping them inside the car…”
No one spoke in the kitchen.
The kettle started to heat up, creating a faint noise.
“It made the headlines in the newspapers at the time,” Bai Sheng said lightly after a while. “I was a little over eight that year.”
After a moment of silence, the calm voice of Shen Zhuo finally echoed in the kitchen, “I read that article on the day you arrived in Shenhai.”
“…”
“It said the fire started more than five minutes after the rupture of the fuel tank, but no one came to their rescue. I didn’t read further after that.” Shen Zhuo paused and asked, “Have you undergone any psychological intervention?”
“What psychological intervention?” Bai Sheng laughed abruptly, “Saving someone is a favor; not saving is a common situation. After all, it’s a risky business. Who owes what to whom?”
A light click sounded as the hot water boiled, and he poured some into the cup.
“When I was a child, I didn’t understand things, was stubborn, and liked to brood over things. As I grew up, I gradually figured it out. People have to learn to reconcile with themselves.”
The icy water in the cup turned warm, enveloping the glass with a faint white mist that dispersed in an instant.
Shen Zhuo stood behind Bai Sheng with his arms crossed, maintaining a noncommittal stance.
“—But come to think of it, it did have an impact later on.” Suddenly, Bai Sheng changed the subject, turning to hand the cup back to Shen Zhuo with a smile: “Guess what my first awakened ability was?”
“…”
Shen Zhuo took the glass, did not immediately respond, and stared thoughtfully at him.
S-class individuals could possess an unlimited variety of abilities, but one thing was certain: the earlier the ability was awakened, the stronger it was. Bai Sheng’s Fatal Strike was undoubtedly related to causality, but he awakened another ability first. It was easy to imagine that it was connected to his most intense, unforgettable, and lingering obsession.
Bai Sheng looked into Shen Zhuo’s eyes and smiled slightly, and upon closer inspection, his smile seemed to carry an indescribable strangeness:
“It was fire.”
“I hated those people who stood by and watched back then. I will never reconcile with them. I want to find them and burn them all to death.”
The kitchen fell into a silent stillness, as if the air had solidified.
In the confined space, only the shallow and deep breaths of the two individuals could be heard.
“…” Shen Zhuo chuckled soundlessly, took a sip of warm water, and casually placed the glass back on the counter: “Not surprising at all.”
He turned around to walk out, but the next moment—
Bang!
The sudden force pulled Shen Zhuo back and pressed him forcefully against the refrigerator, emitting a muffled impact sound. Their bodies were almost touching. Bai Sheng gripped Shen Zhuo’s hand, closely overlooking the sharp and cold eyes before him, smiling as he asked, “Didn’t you hear what I said, Inspector?”
Shen Zhuo was forced to tilt his head back, saying, “I heard. What do you want?”
“Do you have no intention of sanctioning me at all?”
“What should I sanction you for?”
“…”
Bai Sheng raised his eyebrows slightly, scrutinizing the composed face before him. After a while, he said, “I harbor hatred and potentially dangerous motives, which could pose a significant social threat. Aren’t you supposed to immediately put an electric shock collar on me and find some excuse to throw me into prison for a lifetime?”
Shen Zhuo burst into laughter, finding it somewhat amusing.
“Harboring hatred.” He repeated those two words lazily and said, “People who harbor hatred don’t help subdue hijackers on planes carrying ordinary people. Nor would they, after dealing with the hijackers, use their abilities to carefully heal the injuries of the two pilots.”
Bai Sheng stared at him intently, “But those idiots shot at me. Maybe I was just provoked by them…”
“Then you wouldn’t have questioned who the bastard was who disregarded the lives of the hostages and refused to negotiate with the criminals immediately after the plane landed. Nor would you have later interrogated me about what I would have done if there were no evolutionists on that flight.”
“…”
“Everyone has selfishness, resentment, darkness, unresolvable obsessions, and unspeakable frustrations. If the soul were exposed to the light, no one in this world would be a saint. But that doesn’t prevent us from being good people.” Shen Zhuo freed one of his hands from the confinement and casually patted Bai Sheng’s face, “I believe, with your financial resources, you could have traced those onlookers from back then. I’m glad that, after a thorough investigation, I found out that you never tried.”
“As an S-class evolutionist, as long as you strive to be a good person, that’s enough for me.”
The two were almost facing each other directly, and Bai Sheng could almost see his own face reflected in those beautiful pupils. After a long time, Bai Sheng slowly, bit by bit, began to smile.
The icy and ferocious expression from earlier dissipated, revealing a cunning and true face.
“…To be honest, Inspector.”
Bai Sheng leaned close to Shen Zhuo’s ear, his lips almost touching the thin and transparent earlobe. His tone seemed to carry a lingering hook, “Actually, when we first met at the airport, you already sensed the same scent from me. You realized that we might follow the same principles…”
“You, who can judge life and death at a glance, didn’t dislike me from the beginning, did you?”
The two were close to each other, with no room for avoiding eye contact.
Bai Sheng, with his much stronger physique, held Shen Zhuo’s left wrist in this position, forcing his entire body against the refrigerator door. It was almost as if their hearts were pressed closely against each other’s chests.
Shen Zhuo looked up and down at this audacious young S-class. He chuckled for a moment, clearly conveying the message, “I’ll humor you for a bit; don’t push your luck.” Then he extended his hand, pointing outside the window:
“Do you see the road outside?”
From the top floor, the bustling river scenery and flowing crowds were laid out in full view.
“If you dare to go out and set fire, you’ll immediately get an immersive experience of my so-called principles.” Shen Zhuo patted the back of Bai Sheng’s head with a light, slow, and sarcastic tone. “At that time, I’ll definitely fulfill your wish, put an electric shock collar on you, lock you up, and use 200,000 volts three times a day. I guarantee you’ll enjoy it so much that you’ll ascend to heaven.”
Bai Sheng: “…”
Shen Zhuo suddenly exerted force, pushing Bai Sheng away, and was about to leave.
“Oh, you’re resorting to threats now!” Bai Sheng quickly came to his senses, immediately grabbing him and holding him around the waist, almost suspending him against the kitchen counter. Regardless of everything, he leaned down and pressed against him, “Really want to put a collar on me? Come on, demonstrate it to me…”
The door was pushed open with a whoosh.
“Where are you guys? Captain Chen has urgent matters to discuss with you. There was sudden breaking news on the internet just now—”
Yang Xiaodao’s voice abruptly stopped.
Beside the kitchen counter, the two guardians were entangled, their clothes in disarray. The Shenhai City Chief Supervisor, Shen Zhuo, who was always meticulous, looked disheveled, with his usually neat shirt now crumpled. A certain S-class individual, surnamed Bai, was unreasonably pressing him against the counter, with strong arms encircling his lower back, forcing his whole body into his embrace, with one knee firmly placed between his thighs.
Three pairs of eyes met each other, their expressions blank.
The atmosphere froze for a few seconds.
“You adults have no decency!!” The young boy, in the midst of his adolescence, broke in again, covering his eyes, slamming the door, and running away.
Chapter 29
“You never hated me from the beginning, right?”
“Ding-ling-ling-ling—”
The bell for class rang, and Boyi High School in Shenhai City quickly returned to silence. Before long, the sound of students reading aloud echoed over the teaching building.
In the office, the principal had a complex expression. He set down the grim report card bearing Yang Xiaodao’s name and hesitated for a moment before speaking:
“Well, although we are a private high school, we still have certain academic standards. If your child wants to transfer here with such grades, it’ll probably…”
Leaning back in his chair, Bai Sheng was just about to casually prop up his long legs and slide his hands into his pockets when Shen Zhuo cleared his throat beside him.
Bai Sheng immediately caught on and, in a rare move, sat up with a neatly humble posture, earnestly facing the principal: “Understood, understood. This kid may have a slightly lower IQ, but everything else is fine.”
“…” The principal said, “Ah, other aspects are not really a problem. The main issue is this grade…”
Bai Sheng pointed to the second page of the report card and argued reasonably, “Look, his performance in the humanities is quite good. In geography, except for the multiple-choice questions, he almost scored full marks!”
“85 in all three science subjects combined.”
“At least he passed history…”
“85 in all three science subjects combined.”
“His English grammar is also decent, except he didn’t get a single correct answer in the cloze test…”
The principal slowly said, “85 in all three science subjects combined.”
Silence filled the air.
Shen Zhuo nonchalantly stood up and said, “You two, go ahead and talk. I’ll take a walk outside.”
Before he could finish his sentence, he was firmly pressed back into his chair by Bai Sheng, giving him a stern look that conveyed, “Don’t even think about leaving me here alone to face this embarrassment!”
Shen Zhuo closed his eyes in silence, his expression suggesting that he probably wished he hadn’t shown up today.
“Mr. Bai,” the principal couldn’t hold back any longer, asking candidly, “With so many private high schools in Shenhai, why do you insist on transferring your child to our school? Couldn’t you consider an international high school and maybe send your child abroad in the future?”
Facts have proven that when dealing with Bai Sheng, there is a fundamental rule everyone should follow: don’t ask questions; don’t give him spotlights, microphones, and stages; don’t let him set his own background music.
As expected, in the next moment, Bai Sheng channeled his inner actor, grabbed Shen Zhuo’s hand, and expressed with genuine emotion:
“—Our little Yang Xiaodao is truly a pitiable child!”
Principal: “?”
Shen Zhuo tried to free his hand, but no one on Earth could escape the terrifying grip of an S-class evolutionist.
“This child lost his mother at a young age; his father gambled and abused him, even denying him an education. Every time he drank, he would beat him, leaving him covered in bruises. In order to study, he shouldered the burden of life from a young age, often picking up trash along the streets to sell bottles and collect scrap…”
Shen Zhuo whispered from the corner of his mouth, “Did you write a script for Yang Xiaodao with regular updates?”
Bai Sheng turned a deaf ear and continued, “…Using the money from selling scrap to pay the tuition, to the extent that he can’t even afford to buy draft paper. To make matters worse, five years ago, this child was collecting old phones in the streets to exchange for stainless steel basins. Suddenly, one of those basins fell from the sky and hit him on the head, resulting in instant cerebral palsy…”
The principal was utterly shocked by this unexpected revelation.
“What was once a student excelling in all subjects, well-behaved and outstanding, suddenly turned into a mentally handicapped child who struggles with three-digit addition and subtraction—but he didn’t give up, nor did he abandon himself! Starting from scratch with basic arithmetic and relearning the 26 English letters, through tenacious self-rehabilitation, he successfully cured his own brain disorder…”
With a dramatic flourish, Bai Sheng opened Yang Xiaodao’s report card and said emotively, “And today, five years later, he has achieved a remarkable score of 85 in all three science subjects combined!”
Principal: “…”
“All these stories tell us what lesson?” Bai Sheng encouraged, looking at the principal with a persuasive tone.
The principal was at a loss for words.
Bai Sheng concluded decisively, “This unwavering character, this indomitable spirit, is exactly what we encourage and advocate for. His future is promising!”
The principal’s office was so quiet that one could even hear a pin drop.
After a long time, the principal finally forced himself to close his mouth and raise his hand to clap appreciatively. “I’ve dedicated my life to education, and I have never seen such a persevering child!”
Bai Sheng nodded humbly.
“But… I still want to know,” the principal, while applauding cautiously, inquired: “Why do you insist on transferring such a determined child to our humble school? What merits and abilities of our school have caught your attention?”
“Oh, it’s like this,” Bai Sheng casually pointed at Shen Zhuo: “This beautiful friend of mine here bears a striking resemblance to the child’s mother. To ensure the child feels the warmth of a mother, I thought it would be better to choose a school close to his workplace for convenient commuting.”
Shen Zhuo: “…”
Principal: “…”
The reason Bai Sheng has reached adulthood without ever being beaten by someone could be attributed to the three factors of good looks, being the only child of a wealthy family, and the S-level evolution. If any of these buffs were missing, there was a high probability that he would have been beaten to death by someone due to his mouthiness during his growth.
“I understand, Mr. Bai.” After pondering for a while, the principal realized that he couldn’t handle this person, surnamed Bai, on his own. With a determined mindset, he came up with an excuse, “How about this? I will discuss this with the school board first. You can go back and wait for a few days. Later, I will arrange for the school board to personally visit your home…”
Bai Sheng sighed faintly, “Must it be like this?”
The principal, with a forced smile, said, “I believe the school board will definitely give you a satisfactory answer…”
Bai Sheng sighed again, “It seems that today I won’t be able to soften your hardened heart.”
The principal thought to himself, if you don’t leave soon, it won’t be a hardened heart but a heart attack!
“Well, in that case, there’s only one last option. Let’s solve this problem in an adult way.”
Leaning back, Bai Sheng crossed his long legs and, under the watchful eyes of the principal, picked up the report card. He leisurely and thoroughly tore it into pieces, then asked seriously:
“Will donating a teaching building be enough?”
Shen Zhuo almost choked on his tea right then and there.
“…………” The principal remained silent for a while, then reluctantly said, “Mr. Bai, we are not that kind of school. Although we are private, we have noble educational principles and strict self-requirements…”
“A library will be added, the three dormitory buildings will be completely renovated, and even the floors will be imported from Europe.”
The principal stood up, shaking Bai Sheng’s hand in delight at the unexpected profit that had fallen from the sky. He then said firmly, “Deal!”
***
Honks of car horns sounded, and the traffic began to move slowly under the changing traffic lights.
On a bench near the high school gate, Yang Xiaodao had his hands in his pockets, his handsome face hidden under a cap, looking indifferent as he gazed at a nearby kindergarten that had just finished school.
“Mommy, mommy, I want that…” “Today, Jiajia behaved very well!” “Teacher, how much did our child eat today?” “Cross the road, stop at the red light, and go on the green light…”
Children were crawling, playing, screaming, and laughing. Each of them was either lifted into cars by their young parents or guided away by grandparents driving electric folding bikes. The enticing aroma of freshly cooked skewers and egg cakes wafted through the air from a nearby stall.
Yang Xiaodao closed his eyes, burying his head deep in his palms.
The bustling and trivial human fireworks receded like a tide. A torrential rain passed through time and space, making a thunderous roar in his ears.
—Run, run fast.
In a trance, he became frail and small, desperately running forward. Every organ in his body ached from hunger, and all he could hear was the rapid sound of his own breath.
“…Your parents don’t want you, and it’s us who raised you. You white-eyed wolf 1…” “As an evolutionist, the police dare not touch you. What’s wrong with helping us a bit?” “Isn’t it just making some more money for us? Is that too much to ask? What’s the use of keeping you if you can’t even do this little thing?!”
…
Berating, whipping, and the constant addition of fists and kicks.
Run faster, just run faster, a bit farther—bang!
With a muffled sound, the young boy collided with someone, stumbling and falling into a puddle.
Ignoring the pain, he got up and ran, but in that moment of passing, he was effortlessly grabbed by the collar: “Hey, little devil, are you rushing to reincarnate?”
The young boy anxiously looked up and saw a pair of smiling eyes behind sunglasses.
The person was young, very tall, and leisurely holding a black umbrella. There was a playful gleam in his handsome eyes, giving off an air of not being very serious.
But he exuded an extremely powerful and mature aura, familiar to his own kind.
“…,” the young boy trembled all over, hunger and fear flooding every inch of his nerves. After a long time, he finally took his shaking hands from behind him and opened his palms. In the pouring rain, his hands were covered in fresh blood.
“…I… I killed… killed someone…”
“They wanted to… to beat me to death; I didn’t mean to…”
The man raised an eyebrow, softly saying, “It turns out you were rushing to send someone else to reincarnate.”
Under the dirty cuff, the arm was thin and fragile, covered with scars from whippings and cigarette burns, resembling the marked limbs of a wounded young beast.
“…still didn’t make it in time…” the man sighed softly, “Forget it.”
He held the bloodied hand, seemingly unconcerned that his own palm was stained with blood, leading the young boy toward the distance.
“You—where are you taking me?” The young boy staggered behind, looking up with a face full of uncertainty.
“To a place where you can eat and study like a normal person.” The man had long legs, but his pace allowed even a little boy like him to keep up. His smiling voice echoed clearly in the pouring rain.
“Even beasts need to learn how to protect themselves, how to use their fangs correctly, and how to coexist peacefully with the people in this world.”
…
Knock, knock. Someone tapped the back of the bench with their knuckles.
Yang Xiaodao suddenly woke up from his thoughts and turned around, only to see Shen Zhuo.
“What’s wrong?”
The street was bustling with cars passing by. Yang Xiaodao lowered his head and wiped his face. When he looked up again, his expression seemed nonchalant, though his voice carried a hint of hoarseness. “…Nothing. Where’s Bai Sheng?”
“He went to the car.” Shen Zhuo said, “Enrollment procedures are done. Come over the day after tomorrow to report for classes.”
“Okay.”
He didn’t ask how Bai Sheng got him into this school, what price was paid, or what Bai Sheng planned for him in the future. He was like a young wolf on the verge of adulthood—rebellious, sensitive, and silent. He would unconditionally give his loyalty and follow the powerful alpha of the pack.
Following Yang Xiaodao’s gaze, Shen Zhuo looked across the street at the lively kindergarten.
“How did you meet Bai Sheng?” he suddenly asked.
Yang Xiaodao was on immediately guard and replied, “None of your business.”
“What about your parents?”
“Dead.”
“Do you still remember what your parents looked like?”
“I forgot a long time ago.” Yang Xiaodao coldly squinted, “What exactly do you want to do?”
“…”
Shen Zhuo stood behind the bench with one hand in his pocket and the other resting on the back of the bench.
The chief supervisor of Shenhai City had a slender figure. Yang Xiaodao couldn’t see his eyes when looking up; he could only see his expression concealed in the shadows. After a while, Shen Zhuo slowly spoke:
“…Yang Xiaodao, 16 years old, originally from Yangjia Village, Pingliang County.”
Yang Xiaodao stiffened.
“Parents divorced when you were young; their whereabouts are unknown. You were left in the care of distant relatives. You suddenly evolved at the age of 11. In the same year, your distant relatives died mysteriously, stabbed in the abdomen with an unknown weapon. The crime scene was staged to look like a home invasion robbery, but no weapon or suspect could be found, and it was eventually filed as an unsolved case.”
“After that, you met Bai Sheng, were brought back to Shenhai in anonymity, and have been living as an ordinary teenager since then.”
In the noisy afternoon street, this small space seemed to freeze even the air.
“The intelligence unit of the Supervision Office is not just for show.” Shen Zhuo calmly looked down at the tense young man, asking, “Was it really a home invasion robbery?”
“…” Yang Xiaodao’s fingernails dug deep into the flesh of his palm, and he growled with hostility, “What does it have to do with you?!”
Unexpectedly, Shen Zhuo didn’t get angry, and he seemed not to care much. He squinted at the lively scene across the street from the kindergarten after school and suddenly said:
“In fact, I don’t remember either.”
Yang Xiaodao stood still for two seconds before realizing that he had answered the question about his parents’ appearance.
“Everyone remembers what their parents looked like before they died, except for me. Maybe it’s because they passed away too many years ago. I wanted to remember later, but then I felt it was meaningless.”
In the bustling afternoon street, the people’s voices were loud, but in front of Shen Zhuo, there seemed to be a cold and transparent barrier, coldly observing the distant and bustling human world.
“Parents are the initial anchors in our lives, but not every anchor chain is unbreakable. If, unfortunately, the anchor is lost, even in the face of a raging storm, one must set sail alone immediately. This is an unavoidable reality.”
For a moment, Yang Xiaodao almost suspected that the person in front of him was not the high and mighty chief supervisor of Shenhai City but someone who had undergone soul transmigration.
There were two honks in the distance, and a black SUV squeezed into the traffic, honking arrogantly twice at them.
Shen Zhuo patted the back of the seat and said, “Let’s go; Bai Sheng is here.”
***
Young Master Bai owned numerous properties in Shenhai, but upon returning to the country, his favorite place to stay was a large top-floor penthouse less than fifteen minutes’ walk from the supervision office. According to him, it was because he had once shared delightful nights with Supervisor Shen at this location, leaving behind unforgettable memories. Every time he revisited those memories with Chen Miao, there would be blush-inducing pink bubbles in his eyes, completely disregarding Chen Miao’s wish to hit him with a stick and erase those memories.
“Yang Xiaodao will sleep in this room.” Bai Sheng, wearing a black vest and sweatpants, strolled down the corridor barefoot, pointing to a south-facing guest bedroom for Yang Xiaodao to throw his backpack into, “Same rules apply. The first thing to do after school is homework. No gaming, phone use, or playing loud music after midnight. Absolutely no sneaky notes to female classmates’ desks before entering university…”
“I don’t have any!!” The pure-hearted teenager blurted out, “There are no female classmates! And definitely no notes!”
“Is that so? Well, then you’re truly pitiable,” Bai Sheng smiled. “Even I received little notes during my school days—those torn grid papers from the back of exercise books. Our era was quite innocent. By the way, Supervisor Shen, have you ever received any? Not to be critical, but someone like Supervisor Shen, who is as ruthless to enemies as the autumn wind and as cold-hearted to oneself as the harsh winter, I wonder if during school days…”
“I never received any,” Shen Zhuo said calmly. “I started high school at the age of eleven.”
Bai Sheng: “…”
Yang Xiaodao: “…”
“You deserve this wave of sarcasm,” Yang Xiaodao whispered beside Bai Sheng.
The young man was pushed into the room by Bai Sheng to settle his meager belongings while Shen Zhuo strolled around. This top-floor penthouse had an area of over five hundred square meters. He had been here once before, unconscious due to severe injuries. This was the second time, but it seemed like he was already familiar with the internal layout. He casually poured himself a glass of ice water in the kitchen, took a sip, and noticed a custom-made magnet on the fridge.
It was a family photo of three.
The seven or eight-year-old little Bai Sheng was undeniably a very handsome little boy from every angle, although his face was filled with expressions like “Oh, I’m so cool.” His parents embraced him tightly on both sides, intimate and affectionate, with smiles on their faces. The couple, though not young anymore, displayed a strong bond.
“—I’ve to say,” came Bai Sheng’s teasing voice from behind.
Shen Zhuo turned around, only to see Bai Sheng leaning against the door frame, legs casually crossed, with a teasing look in his eyes: “Did you have my home’s floor plan drawn up and filed for records long ago? You seemed quite familiar with the route to the abandoned building last time. Do you pull out my file from under your pillow when you can’t sleep at night, just to pass the time?”
Shen Zhuo chuckled, lifted his glass toward the fridge magnet, and raised his chin: “Your parents?”
“Hmm, I inherited good genes.”
Bai Sheng entered the kitchen, casually took the glass of ice water from Shen Zhuo, then started boiling purified water using an electric kettle, saying, “My parents gave birth to me when they were in their forties, but they passed away early.”
Shen Zhuo’s expression subtly changed.
“Car accident.” Bai Sheng shrugged with his back to him. “The two of them went out on business in a car. Halfway through, they were rear-ended and overturned. The fuel tank caught fire and exploded, trapping them inside the car…”
No one spoke in the kitchen.
The kettle started to heat up, creating a faint noise.
“It made the headlines in the newspapers at the time,” Bai Sheng said lightly after a while. “I was a little over eight that year.”
After a moment of silence, the calm voice of Shen Zhuo finally echoed in the kitchen, “I read that article on the day you arrived in Shenhai.”
“…”
“It said the fire started more than five minutes after the rupture of the fuel tank, but no one came to their rescue. I didn’t read further after that.” Shen Zhuo paused and asked, “Have you undergone any psychological intervention?”
“What psychological intervention?” Bai Sheng laughed abruptly, “Saving someone is a favor; not saving is a common situation. After all, it’s a risky business. Who owes what to whom?”
A light click sounded as the hot water boiled, and he poured some into the cup.
“When I was a child, I didn’t understand things, was stubborn, and liked to brood over things. As I grew up, I gradually figured it out. People have to learn to reconcile with themselves.”
The icy water in the cup turned warm, enveloping the glass with a faint white mist that dispersed in an instant.
Shen Zhuo stood behind Bai Sheng with his arms crossed, maintaining a noncommittal stance.
“—But come to think of it, it did have an impact later on.” Suddenly, Bai Sheng changed the subject, turning to hand the cup back to Shen Zhuo with a smile: “Guess what my first awakened ability was?”
“…”
Shen Zhuo took the glass, did not immediately respond, and stared thoughtfully at him.
S-class individuals could possess an unlimited variety of abilities, but one thing was certain: the earlier the ability was awakened, the stronger it was. Bai Sheng’s Fatal Strike was undoubtedly related to causality, but he awakened another ability first. It was easy to imagine that it was connected to his most intense, unforgettable, and lingering obsession.
Bai Sheng looked into Shen Zhuo’s eyes and smiled slightly, and upon closer inspection, his smile seemed to carry an indescribable strangeness:
“It was fire.”
“I hated those people who stood by and watched back then. I will never reconcile with them. I want to find them and burn them all to death.”
The kitchen fell into a silent stillness, as if the air had solidified.
In the confined space, only the shallow and deep breaths of the two individuals could be heard.
“…” Shen Zhuo chuckled soundlessly, took a sip of warm water, and casually placed the glass back on the counter: “Not surprising at all.”
He turned around to walk out, but the next moment—
Bang!
The sudden force pulled Shen Zhuo back and pressed him forcefully against the refrigerator, emitting a muffled impact sound. Their bodies were almost touching. Bai Sheng gripped Shen Zhuo’s hand, closely overlooking the sharp and cold eyes before him, smiling as he asked, “Didn’t you hear what I said, Inspector?”
Shen Zhuo was forced to tilt his head back, saying, “I heard. What do you want?”
“Do you have no intention of sanctioning me at all?”
“What should I sanction you for?”
“…”
Bai Sheng raised his eyebrows slightly, scrutinizing the composed face before him. After a while, he said, “I harbor hatred and potentially dangerous motives, which could pose a significant social threat. Aren’t you supposed to immediately put an electric shock collar on me and find some excuse to throw me into prison for a lifetime?”
Shen Zhuo burst into laughter, finding it somewhat amusing.
“Harboring hatred.” He repeated those two words lazily and said, “People who harbor hatred don’t help subdue hijackers on planes carrying ordinary people. Nor would they, after dealing with the hijackers, use their abilities to carefully heal the injuries of the two pilots.”
Bai Sheng stared at him intently, “But those idiots shot at me. Maybe I was just provoked by them…”
“Then you wouldn’t have questioned who the bastard was who disregarded the lives of the hostages and refused to negotiate with the criminals immediately after the plane landed. Nor would you have later interrogated me about what I would have done if there were no evolutionists on that flight.”
“…”
“Everyone has selfishness, resentment, darkness, unresolvable obsessions, and unspeakable frustrations. If the soul were exposed to the light, no one in this world would be a saint. But that doesn’t prevent us from being good people.” Shen Zhuo freed one of his hands from the confinement and casually patted Bai Sheng’s face, “I believe, with your financial resources, you could have traced those onlookers from back then. I’m glad that, after a thorough investigation, I found out that you never tried.”
“As an S-class evolutionist, as long as you strive to be a good person, that’s enough for me.”
The two were almost facing each other directly, and Bai Sheng could almost see his own face reflected in those beautiful pupils. After a long time, Bai Sheng slowly, bit by bit, began to smile.
The icy and ferocious expression from earlier dissipated, revealing a cunning and true face.
“…To be honest, Inspector.”
Bai Sheng leaned close to Shen Zhuo’s ear, his lips almost touching the thin and transparent earlobe. His tone seemed to carry a lingering hook, “Actually, when we first met at the airport, you already sensed the same scent from me. You realized that we might follow the same principles…”
“You, who can judge life and death at a glance, didn’t dislike me from the beginning, did you?”
The two were close to each other, with no room for avoiding eye contact.
Bai Sheng, with his much stronger physique, held Shen Zhuo’s left wrist in this position, forcing his entire body against the refrigerator door. It was almost as if their hearts were pressed closely against each other’s chests.
Shen Zhuo looked up and down at this audacious young S-class. He chuckled for a moment, clearly conveying the message, “I’ll humor you for a bit; don’t push your luck.” Then he extended his hand, pointing outside the window:
“Do you see the road outside?”
From the top floor, the bustling river scenery and flowing crowds were laid out in full view.
“If you dare to go out and set fire, you’ll immediately get an immersive experience of my so-called principles.” Shen Zhuo patted the back of Bai Sheng’s head with a light, slow, and sarcastic tone. “At that time, I’ll definitely fulfill your wish, put an electric shock collar on you, lock you up, and use 200,000 volts three times a day. I guarantee you’ll enjoy it so much that you’ll ascend to heaven.”
Bai Sheng: “…”
Shen Zhuo suddenly exerted force, pushing Bai Sheng away, and was about to leave.
“Oh, you’re resorting to threats now!” Bai Sheng quickly came to his senses, immediately grabbing him and holding him around the waist, almost suspending him against the kitchen counter. Regardless of everything, he leaned down and pressed against him, “Really want to put a collar on me? Come on, demonstrate it to me…”
The door was pushed open with a whoosh.
“Where are you guys? Captain Chen has urgent matters to discuss with you. There was sudden breaking news on the internet just now—”
Yang Xiaodao’s voice abruptly stopped.
Beside the kitchen counter, the two guardians were entangled, their clothes in disarray. The Shenhai City Chief Supervisor, Shen Zhuo, who was always meticulous, looked disheveled, with his usually neat shirt now crumpled. A certain S-class individual, surnamed Bai, was unreasonably pressing him against the counter, with strong arms encircling his lower back, forcing his whole body into his embrace, with one knee firmly placed between his thighs.
Three pairs of eyes met each other, their expressions blank.
The atmosphere froze for a few seconds.
“You adults have no decency!!” The young boy, in the midst of his adolescence, broke in again, covering his eyes, slamming the door, and running away.
