Chapter 72: Returning to Campus Once Again

Of course, this trivial matter was of little concern to Tang Shen. Upon returning home, he picked up his phone and found a notification from the school. Apparently, the school had been paying close attention to the holographic game and, knowing that the game would be updated today, had called them back to campus for the Awakening, several days earlier than in previous years.

It suited Tang Shen perfectly, as he had no particular plans, so he tidied up and immediately set off for the school. Although he no longer needed the Awakening himself, he was still required to join the assembly, since the school would later escort everyone to the Gene Warrior Training Center for the assessment.

After all, the assessment required money, and for graduating students, the school would cover the cost. Tang Shen was strapped for cash; his credit points were nearly depleted, as was his bank account. Over the past few days, his appetite had grown so much that even the cheapest nutritional meals could barely sustain him.

He was poor—achingly so. The fastest way to make money now was to pass the assessment and become a Gene Warrior.

If his memory served him right, every student who succeeded in the Awakening would receive a bonus from the school. It wasn’t much, but for an ordinary family, it was a considerable sum.

Riding the electromagnetic levitating train in the sky, Tang Shen gazed curiously at the world below. Truth be told, he had never really taken in the sights: the metallic skyscrapers, the crowded residential blocks. Compared to his previous life, it was incredibly congested, with barely any greenery; every inch of space was utilized, including the sky itself.

After all, this world had only twelve such cities, and humanity had retreated into them. As stability returned, the population gradually increased, and the living space per person in the city naturally shrank.

He’d heard that the Federal Government was preparing to build a thirteenth city.

The electromagnetic train was fast and smooth—by far the quickest means of transport for someone of his modest means.

Confronting the school, which lingered so vividly in his memory, Tang Shen felt entirely different. The first time, he had just awakened as an ordinary person, unsure whether he could become a Gene Warrior, worried about his own survival. Now, he was supremely confident and serene.

Stepping into the campus, he found that everyone was returning today, and most students were discussing the holographic game. The topic of conversation was dominated by the identity of the game’s top player, Monkey D. Roger.

That was, of course, Tang Shen himself.

He listened to the envious, jealous, and resentful remarks, and also to the disdainful voices demanding that he reveal his shortcut to leveling up. Tang Shen smiled faintly. Only the weak forever crave the charity of others, always hoping for shortcuts rather than forging their own strength.

He had no reason to concern himself with such people. The moment they spoke like that, it was clear they and Tang Shen belonged to different worlds.

“Tang… Tang Shen.” A timid greeting sounded.

If Tang Shen hadn’t grown so powerful lately, with enhanced hearing, he might not have caught it in such a noisy environment.

He paused, turned in mild confusion, and saw a cute, slightly chubby face, her head barely reaching Tang Shen’s neck. She looked like a little girl who hadn’t grown up yet—adorable enough to be any eccentric’s favorite. But she was actually Tang Shen’s classmate, a senior, and his desk partner. Her name was Xue Jiayi.

She was one of the few students he had ever interacted with at school, and shared something in common with Tang Shen: she was also an orphan.

Tang Shen was taken aback, then smiled gently, “Oh, it’s you! Come on, let’s go to the classroom together.”

With that, he turned and continued walking.

“Alright.” Xue Jiayi was startled by Tang Shen’s smile, but quickly caught up, her big eyes blinking curiously at his back, tinged with a hint of admiration. She felt Tang Shen had changed somehow, though she couldn’t quite say how.

At the very least, he seemed more handsome, his skin fairer, his eyes brighter, and his demeanor gentler than before.

Tang Shen was low-key at school, but also quite famous. He kept a low profile because of his studies and part-time work, which made him somewhat aloof and gave him little time for socializing.

His fame came from being consistently ranked first in his grade, never surpassed, and from his handsome, refined features—he was the school’s heartthrob, without question.

He rarely smiled, but today, he had smiled at her, which Xue Jiayi found incredible.

Though he would occasionally help her with questions when she asked, he was never one for idle chatter.

Thus, the girls at school called him the Ice Prince, the Cold God, and he had legions of female fans across all three grades of the high school, and even many in the junior section.

Even though he was poor and an orphan, countless girls admired him. After all, in their teens, at the threshold of blossoming emotions, he stood as an ideal.

Along the way, many girls stole glances at him, eyes shining with excitement.

Of course, there was no shortage of jealous looks from the boys.

Tang Shen, however, had long since grown immune to such things—especially now, with his mindset utterly transformed. In just two short months, it felt as though a lifetime had passed.

Class 4, Senior Year—the classroom Tang Shen belonged to. From a distance, he could hear the chatter from inside; clearly, many students had already arrived.

The moment Tang Shen stepped into the classroom, it was as if someone had pressed the pause button. Everyone turned to look at the doorway.

Many girls immediately gazed at him with infatuated admiration, while most boys showed envy, and a few, jealousy.

Tang Shen, always first in his grade and the school’s heartthrob, was the favored candidate of every teacher and even the principal. After all, the higher one’s intelligence, the greater the chance of a successful Awakening, and such a student would leave a mark in the school’s history.

Naturally, there were those who felt disgruntled; Tang Shen’s brilliance inspired not only admiration, but also intense jealousy. Still, while jealous, they weren’t foolish enough to mock him openly. Instead, many harbored a mischievous hope: what if he failed the Awakening, and they succeeded? Then, they could finally mock him for once.

Once the Awakening was complete, the divide in status would become a chasm, and they could stand at the summit and taunt the figure they could never have caught up to.

Tang Shen looked at the faces of his classmates—familiar, yet strangely distant. He had arrived in this world by chance, but now, with memories fully integrated, this was his life.

His handsome face remained calm and serene as he walked slowly through the crowd, carrying a faint breeze in his wake.

The adorable Xue Jiayi followed behind, completely overlooked by everyone.

Taking his seat, Tang Shen fell into deep thought, his gaze distant, lost in a place no one else could reach.