Chapter 66

Zhai Yi went to the cafeteria for the cheapest bowl of plain noodles, then returned to Class 1. Jian Xing was already back, sitting at her desk playing on her phone and muttering what sounded like curses.

Jian Xing noticed Zhai Yi but ignored her, focusing entirely on her game.

The moment Zhai Yi sat down, she heard Jian Xing curse, “Fuck! Your boosting skills are even worse than mine. Ten minutes in, and you’ve fed ten kills. With skills that trash, how dare you take boosting gigs? How do you even have the face to accept clients?”

Zhai Yi raised an eyebrow, turned around, and knocked on Jian Xing’s desk. “Got a minute?”

Jian Xing had just been killed by the enemy jungler. She shot Zhai Yi an irritated glare. “I’m in a shitty mood right now. Don’t come looking for an ass-chewing.”

Zhai Yi pushed up her glasses. “Want a booster with killer skills?”

Jian Xing frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Zhai Yi started pitching herself. “I can be your booster—take you to whatever rank you want. Great value, top-tier skills, totally reliable.”

Jian Xing: “….”

She stared at Zhai Yi like she’d seen a ghost.

Zhai Yi knocked on the desk and glanced at her phone screen. “You’re revived. The minion wave’s already pushing high ground.”

Jian Xing snapped back to attention and dove in to control her marksman and clear the wave.

She finally cleared it, only to get clubbed dead by the enemy Monkey again. Luckily, the wave was broken, and their inhibitor was safe.

Zhai Yi reached out. “Let me show you what I can do, then decide if you want to hire me as your booster?”

For some reason, Jian Xing handed over her phone—maybe figuring the game was hopeless anyway, so she might as well let Zhai Yi tank the loss and humble herself a bit.

Zhai Yi took control of Jian Xing’s marksman Sun Shangxiang and checked her build. Nothing major wrong, though she was a bit vulnerable to the enemy jungler ganks.

She cleared the high-ground minions first, then rolled to dodge Monkey’s ambush. One shot later, she’d blasted dead the Lu Ban and Wang Zhaojun who’d been jumped by Lü Bu.

Jian Xing’s eyes went wide as Zhai Yi snagged an instant double kill. Sun Shangxiang felt even more nimble in Zhai Yi’s hands. The enemy Monkey dove her several times but couldn’t land the kill—instead, the slippery Sun Shangxiang counter-killed him every time.

With Sun Shangxiang’s kill count climbing, the whole game flipped. Blue side had torn down three high-ground towers. Snag the Storm Dragon King, and it was a full comeback.

Jian Xing saw Monkey charging out to dive Sun Shangxiang again. She blurted anxiously, “Monkey!”

“No sweat, I’ve got Revival Armor.” Sun Shangxiang ate the hit and died, with Monkey hanging back on purpose—he knew about the item and waited.

Jian Xing clocked his plan. “He’s waiting for you to re…”

Her eyes bulged as Zhai Yi instantly sold the Revival Armor and snapped up Moonchaser.

Monkey waited for the revive, then ulted—but Sun Shangxiang Moonchaser-dodged it, flashed behind the incoming Lü Bu, and unleashed max DPS to steal Monkey’s head.

Jian Xing yelped, “Holy shit! You swap items that fast?!”

Zhai Yi led the team to grab the Storm Dragon King and shoved straight into enemy high ground. “Practice makes perfect.”

Jian Xing stared at the “victory” screen. The system tagged it a comeback win, with Sun Shangxiang as MVP.

Zhai Yi handed back the phone with a smile. “I play any position. Great value, high skill. Wanna hire me?”

Jian Xing stammered, “How much?”

Zhai Yi asked, “How much was the booster you had before?”

“150 an hour.”

Zhai Yi eyed the easy mark in front of her and stated firmly, “200 an hour.”

Jian Xing blinked. “Huh?”

Zhai Yi hadn’t expected this sucker to negotiate. She backpedaled a bit guiltily. “If you think that’s…”

“Deal!” Jian Xing pulled up WeChat. “Add me as a friend. I’ll send the cash.”

Zhai Yi smiled and fished out her phone. “You got it.”

Jian Xing eyed Zhai Yi’s phone—it was absurdly laggy. It took so long to open WeChat she could’ve finished another game.

“Seriously, can this thing even run games? Bet it can’t download them.”

Zhai Yi finally got the QR code up. “That’s why I’m trying to earn enough for a better one.”

Jian Xing knew Zhai Yi’s background and got her poverty. She bit her lip. “Hey… I’ve got a few old phones. Want one?”

Zhai Yi’s eyes lit up. “How much?”

Jian Xing wrinkled her nose. “I don’t care about the money. I’d just toss them anyway.”

“Aw, I’d feel bad taking it for free.”

Jian Xing laughed. “Didn’t see you feeling bad when you were hawking yourself like that.”

“That’s different. Earning money’s nothing to be ashamed of—freeloading without putting in work is.”

“You’ve got real professional ethics.” Jian Xing pouted. “Anyway, I’m not taking your money. If my bros found out I sold my used phones, I’d die of embarrassment.”

Zhai Yi thought for a second. “Tell you what: Toss it somewhere, and I’ll go pick it up.”

Jian Xing didn’t get it. “Is that necessary?”

“Very.”

“Why?”

Zhai Yi smiled. “So I can take it with a clear conscience.”

Jian Xing: “….”

She rolled her eyes. “Fine, where do you want me to toss it? School dumpster?”

Zhai Yi shook her head. “Nah. Pick a spot outside school you hit up a lot.”

Jian Xing was baffled. “Why? That’s such a hassle.”

Zhai Yi gave a bashful smile. “I’ve still got some pride.”

Jian Xing: “….”

Top students’ brains really were on another level.

Jian Xing asked, “You know the Shiguang Water Bar near school?”

Zhai Yi thought back. “Yeah, the fancy one—out the gate, across the street, right turn.”

Jian Xing nodded. “Trash bin’s right next to it. After school, I’ll head there. I’ll toss the phone in, you get there early and wait.”

Zhai Yi said, “Sounds good. Text me a signal on WeChat when you do.”

Jian Xing felt weird about it. “….Okay.”

The bell rang for class. Before turning around, Zhai Yi flashed Jian Xing an OK sign.

Jian Xing: “….”

She finally got what felt so off about it.

It was like some underground Resistance handoff from the wartime era.

Jian Xing watched Zhai Yi’s back, puffed her cheek, and muttered a laughing curse under her breath. “Kinda fun, actually.”

Old Class Teacher Feng walked in with the math tests. Spotting Jian Xing snickering down at her desk, he chucked a piece of chalk at her. “Scored like shit and you’re laughing!”

It nailed her right between the brows.

Jian Xing: “….”

Old Class Teacher Feng opened the test papers and took a swig of his goji berry water. “Alright, let’s break down this math test so you all see exactly where you’re lacking. Acting like hotshots every damn day. Such a basic test, and only Zhai Yi scored 130. Just ten passed—the rest bombed. Hell, I’d be shameless calling myself your homeroom teacher at this point.”

Jian Xing rubbed her brow, glancing at how Zhai Yi had dodged fast earlier. She muttered, “Didn’t even block for me.”

Zhai Yi leaned back. “I can block for you. Fifty a pop.”

Jian Xing gaped. “Do I look like that big of a sucker?”

Zhai Yi stayed silent—answer enough.

Jian Xing rolled her eyes. “Don’t need it. Fifty buys an umbrella I can huddle under—Old Class Teacher Feng couldn’t touch me.”

“Jian Xing! Talking back now?” Old Class Teacher Feng spotted the muttering and flung another chalk nub.

Jian Xing started to dodge—then saw Zhai Yi’s hand shoot out. She snatched the flying chalk midair and flicked it right back into the box on the podium.

Jian Xing: “！！”

Old Class Teacher Feng: “！！”

Classmates: “！！”

Zhai Yi said calmly, “Teacher, we’re low on chalk. Keep throwing and you won’t have enough for the board.”

Old Class Teacher Feng checked the box—only two or three left. He turned to the class monitor. “After class, go grab some more.”

The class monitor snapped out of it. “Oh, right away, Teacher.”

Old Class Teacher Feng picked up the test and saw the whole class still staring at Zhai Yi. He rapped the blackboard. “Okay, let’s look at the multiple choice. Which ones need explaining?”

The class turned to the front.

“Second question.”

“Fourth.”

“Tenth.”

“Last two.”

….

Old Class Teacher Feng went through them one by one. “First, question two—the axes are basic, no excuses. Listen up, you see….”

Jian Xing’s eyes darted. She whispered in shock, “Holy shit, how’d you catch that?”

Zhai Yi replied, “Just grabbed it.”

“That’s insane!”

“Real-deal great value, high skill. Wanna hire me to block chalk for you?”

Jian Xing scoffed. “Do I look that stupid to you?”

Zhai Yi shook her head. “You’ve got your good points.”

Jian Xing perked up. “I have good points in your eyes? Like what? Spill.”

Zhai Yi said earnestly, “You’re loaded.”

Jian Xing: “….”

Not sure why, but that stung worse than being called dumb.

Jian Xing shot back, “You money-grubbing maniac.”

Zhai Yi sighed. “You don’t get how important money is to me.”

“Huh?”

Zhai Yi turned back, dead serious. “I need to save up for university. Can’t even cover tuition and living expenses otherwise.”

Jian Xing guiltily looked away. “….”

She really was the worst.

Her current body only had a bit over 5,000 to her name. Sure, she got subsidies and scholarships every year, and all tuition had come from charity donations—including what it’d take for university later.

She ate and dressed as cheaply as possible, but expenses added up with daily school runs. Earning time was scarce, and she’d been underage before, so work options were nil. No real savings—not nearly enough for university living costs.

Her second wish: Ace into Jinghai University, save enough for tuition and living—no more charity. Stand on her own.

No set amount defined, so Zhai Yi checked: About 60,000 total for four years of tuition, living, gear, and misc.

Legal ways only, no crime, no cops. Daunting road ahead.

Jinghai Experimental No. 3 Middle School let out at 5:30, with evening self-study starting at 7 and running till 9.

Evening study was optional now—national push to lighten student loads. Up to personal choice.

Jian Xing bolted at the dismissal bell. Zhai Yi stayed chill, working through the three new math tests Old Class Teacher Feng had handed out.

Most of Class 1 stuck around for self-study. Only a few back-row slackers jetted.

Old Class Teacher Feng was used to it by now. No point managing it—didn’t stick anyway.

Once Old Class Teacher Feng left, Zhai Yi got up and followed him out. She knocked on the office door.

Seeing it was her, Old Class Teacher Feng beckoned. “What’s up? Stuck on a question?”

Zhai Yi shook her head. “Teacher, I’d like to apply not to attend evening self-study for all of senior year 3.”

Old Class Teacher Feng nearly choked on his own spit. He blinked. “Why?”

“You’re a top student, but even you need to keep consolidating. Slacking off messes with scores and mindset.”

Zhai Yi nodded understandingly. “Teacher, I guarantee I’ll hold year-top rank and scores without it. That work?”

Old Class Teacher Feng eyed her confidence. He knew her studies were solid—a real talent. Keep it up, and Jinghai University was in reach.

But why skip evening study all of a sudden?

“Tell me your reason for skipping.”

Zhai Yi laid it out honestly.

Old Class Teacher Feng fell silent for a long time before letting out a deep sigh. “Actually, the teacher can help…”

Zhai Yi shook her head. “Teacher, the road ahead is one I have to walk alone. I know you’re all helping me for my own good, but too much help will make me dependent on you and keep me from growing. There are some things I need to learn to handle myself.”

Old Class Teacher Feng took two sips of water and sighed again. “Alright then. But on the condition that you stay safe while working part-time. You must get back to school before the dorms close, send the teacher a message every night saying ‘I’ve arrived at the dorm’ so I can rest easy, and don’t let your studies slip. Got it?”

Zhai Yi smiled. “Thank you, Teacher.”

Old Class Teacher Feng watched Zhai Yi leave, his heart aching as he said, “This child is just too strong-willed.”

Zhai Yi returned to the classroom to pack her things when Jian Xing sent a message saying she was about to toss her phone and for Zhai Yi to hurry over before someone else picked it up.

Zhai Yi replied “Got it” and immediately slung her backpack over her shoulder as she headed out.

She tossed her glasses into the desk drawer. Her vision was perfectly clear now—it seemed she had fully fused with the original host.

Going without glasses really was the most comfortable.

Zhai Yi had just crossed the street when she messaged Jian Xing that she was almost there and could go ahead and throw it away. Jian Xing replied “Got it” and sent a photo of the colored trash bin.

Zhai Yi arrived at Shiguang Water Bar and checked the photo Jian Xing had sent—a blue trash bin.

The one right in the middle.

Just then, a server from the water bar emerged from the side door with a big bag of trash and dumped it straight into the blue bin.

Once the server went back inside, Zhai Yi hurried over to the blue trash bin and started digging through it for Jian Xing’s phone.

In addition to Jian Xing’s phone, Zhai Yi fished out a bunch of empty mineral water bottles, thinking to herself that this really lived up to being an upscale water bar—they couldn’t even be bothered to make a few bucks selling the bottles.

Zhai Yi rummaged through three trash bins in total, then grabbed a large trash bag and collected more than twenty water bottles. Jian Xing’s phone might have been second-hand, but it was still in great shape.

Zhai Yi smiled contentedly, planning to head to the scrap collector near school to sell the bottles. But as she turned around, she spotted Yi Lanting staring at her in shock.

At first, Yi Lanting had been surprised to see a No. 3 High School student digging through the trash bins. But when she realized it was Zhai Yi, she was utterly stunned.

Zhai Yi’s face was smudged with dust, making her look especially pitiful. Yi Lanting swallowed hard and said awkwardly, “Um… I had no idea you were struggling this much… The snacks you bought me? I haven’t touched them. Why don’t you… take them back and return them for cash?”

Zhai Yi: “…”

A bit awkward.