"You didn't use growth hormones on it, did you?"
Chen Shu's father looked curious as he kept feeling the Slime's plump body.
"How could I? Little Yellow's a Level 8 contract spirit now. Isn't it normal for it to be this big?"
Chen Shu pouted. What was so shocking about this?
If I wasn't afraid of bursting through the house, I'd show you the Slime's ultimate form.
His father froze. "Level 8?"
His gaze swept back and forth over Chen Shu. As a Level 1 Beast Tamer himself, he understood just how difficult cultivation was for Beast Tamers.
It had only been a few months. His son had gone from Level 0 to Level 8?
Chen Shu raised an eyebrow. "Your son's the class president of the Special Training Class now. You know how much that's worth, right?"
His father looked skeptical. "You? Class president?"
Being class president of the Special Training Class meant being first in the grade—maybe even having a shot at Huaxia Academy.
"Of course. An Level 8 Beast Tamer becoming first in the grade is perfectly reasonable, right?"
His father nodded, then immediately asked: "Wait, does your class not consider character when choosing a class president? Do they only look at strength?"
"..."
Chen Shu's expression froze. Dad, what are you trying to say here?
You're actually doubting your son's character?!
Chen Shu put on a serious face. "Of course they consider character! My classmates and I get along great. Three weeks ago, they specifically gave me cultivation resources."
"The teacher values me highly too. Not long ago, she even let me experience the charm of nature."
His father, Chen Ping, nodded. Something felt off, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
Chen Shu seemed to remember something. "Oh right, Dad. Little Yellow's been a bit malnourished lately. When are we cooking that fish in the house?"
"Give me a break. It's already fat as a ball—malnourished?"
His father pouted, then asked, "Besides, where's this fish you're talking about?"
"That little red fish in the tank. Little Yellow's been craving it forever."
"That's my fucking CONTRACT SPIRIT!"
His father's mouth twitched as his eyes darted around. "Where's my belt? Where'd I put my belt?"
"I was wrong! I was wrong!"
Chen Shu dismissed the Slime and bolted out of the house without hesitation, shouting back: "I'm not coming home for lunch!"
Just as he got downstairs, he ran into a neighbor—Niuniu's mom.
"Aunt Wang, just got back from grocery shopping?" Chen Shu greeted her with a smile.
He kept glancing back nervously, terrified he'd turn around to see a belt flying at him.
"Yeah, Little Chen, heading out to eat?" Aunt Wang smiled and nodded, then seemed to remember something. She looked a bit embarrassed. "Little Chen, are you busy right now? I'd like to ask you a favor."
"Not at all, Aunt Wang. Just say the word!"
Aunt Wang spoke up. "Niuniu's dad has to work overtime during the National Day holiday. I need to prepare lunch, and Niuniu's about to get out of school. Could I trouble you to pick her up?"
"No problem!"
Chen Shu agreed readily.
"You little punk!"
His father had indeed found the belt and was about to chase after him.
Chen Shu's face changed. He activated extreme escape mode.
---
"Ah, the sweet taste of freedom!"
Chen Shu stepped outside the residential complex, feeling like he'd just escaped death.
"Niuniu goes to Chengnan Elementary in Nanjiang City, I think."
Chen Shu hailed a taxi directly.
Half an hour later, he arrived at Chengnan Elementary.
"I wonder if anyone still remembers me..."
Chen Shu sighed. He'd also attended this elementary school. It had been five years since he graduated.
"Stop right there! Are you a parent?"
The security guard at the gate called out, then suddenly looked Chen Shu up and down.
"Why do you look familiar?"
The guard's eyes rolled as he pulled out his phone, apparently searching for something.
Chen Shu caught a glimpse of the phone screen out of the corner of his eye. His expression froze.
Why the hell are you searching the wanted criminal list?!
"Uncle Liu, I'm Chen Shu..."
Chen Shu spread his hands and straightened up, ready to accept praise. After all, he was an outstanding alumnus returning to his alma mater.
"Chen Shu who graduated five years ago?"
The old man paused, then suddenly remembered.
Chen Shu grinned. "That's definitely me!"
"Wait a moment!"
The security guard took a step away from him, then started looking at the wanted criminal list even more intently...
Originally, he'd just been checking for fun. But once Chen Shu announced his name, the old man was getting ideas about becoming a bounty hunter...
Chen Shu's mouth twitched. "Uncle Liu, you're high jumping in a toilet—now THAT'S excessive!"[1]
A moment later, the guard asked with a confused expression: "How come you're not on here?"
"Give me a break. I'm going in to pick up my little sister!"
With that, Chen Shu strode straight into the school. He didn't want to deal with the security guard anymore.
An outstanding alumnus treated with such disrespect? How sad! How lamentable!
Chen Shu arrived outside the first-grade classroom and waited for school to let out.
Before long, Chen Shu picked up Niuniu just as she left the classroom.
Niuniu's eyes crinkled into crescents as she smiled happily. "Big Brother Chen Shu, why are you the one picking me up?"
"Your dad had to work overtime, so they asked your big brother to come get you."
Chen Shu picked Niuniu up and left the classroom area.
His tall build made him stand out completely at the elementary school—like a crane among chickens, surveying the landscape from on high.
Niuniu's classmates all looked over in wonder. Having a big brother like that was definitely something to envy.
Chen Shu brought Niuniu to the outside of the teaching building when he suddenly spotted two familiar figures at the stairwell.
He called out: "Loan King!"
"Chen Pi, is that you?"
Wang Qinghan looked up with a smile, but it seemed forced.
Beside her stood her younger sister, Wang Qingxue.
"What's wrong?"
Chen Shu noticed the little girl's eyes were red and puffy. She looked terribly aggrieved.
Wang Qinghan shook her head. "Nothing. Just a little friction with some classmates."
Chen Shu raised an eyebrow. "Friction? Just drop my name!"
"And who the hell are you? Drop your name? You really think you're somebody important?"
A voice rang out. Two people happened to be coming down the stairs.
One was just an elementary schooler. The other looked about Chen Shu's age.
The guy wore a mocking expression. "Funny, I don't think I've ever seen you before."
Chen Shu's expression froze for a moment, then he put on a gentle smile. "I'm a student from Nanjiang Second High School. Chen Shu."
The young man crossed his arms arrogantly. "Special Training Class member from Nanjiang Third High School—Xu Chang!"
He deliberately emphasized the words "Special Training Class"—being in a school's Special Training Class meant you were at least a candidate for a good university.
Chen Shu asked calmly, "Your little brother bullied someone?"
The boy muttered, "She wouldn't talk to me, so I just called her an orphan."
"Besides, she IS an orphan!"
The moment those words left his mouth, Chen Shu's expression went cold.
He suddenly stepped forward and swung a heavy slap.
"What are you doing?!"
Xu Chang's reaction wasn't slow. Though he tried to block with his hand, how could his body compare to Chen Shu's?
SMACK!
The little boy took the slap instantly. His expression crumbled as tears began to fall.
Chen Shu sneered coldly. "Acting this arrogant at such a young age—what will you become when you grow up?"