Kapitel 4: Chapter 4: The City Exam
Seeing Su Ming put down his chopsticks, looking visibly drained, Zhao Ning approached with concern.
"Dear, are you still upset about what happened? Listen to your mother, there's no need to worry. Your father is already handling it. We'll find out who bullied you and make sure they face justice! As for school, you don't have to go back if you don't want to. I'll arrange a transfer to another school for you."
Su Ming's expression turned awkward at her words.
Why did it feel like he was following the script of a cannon-fodder antagonist?
"No need, Mother," Su Ming replied. "I don't have to transfer schools. Besides, the city exam is coming up soon. Transferring now could cause unnecessary trouble."
"Dear, it doesn't matter how you do in the exam," Zhao Ning said, still worried. She was afraid that returning to school would put too much psychological pressure on her son. She knew he had a sensitive and fragile personality, unable to handle stress well.
"You've always wanted to return to Starlight City, right? Don't worry, Mother. I'll do my best to score high enough to get there," Su Ming said earnestly.
The City Exam was one of the Old Federation's most critical academic milestones. For many, it was the only path to rising above their current circumstances—a true "carp leaping over the dragon gate" opportunity. It was also the main way for those in outlying districts or other planets to enter the three major cities.
The Su family had originally lived in Starlight City, one of these major cities. Back then, the Su family was a prominent and well-respected financial dynasty. However, Su Ming's father, Su Yuan, was the ninth son of the family patriarch, Su Zhentian. Due to his lackluster abilities, Su Yuan was reassigned to District 13, effectively exiled.
The industry Su Yuan managed—a stake in the district's waste processing plants—was a clear reflection of his status. In the context of interstellar civilization, being assigned such a task was far from prestigious.
Still, the waste industry was lucrative enough to provide the family with a decent standard of living. Yet, given a choice, who would willingly spend their life in an underground district?
The Su family could technically return to Starlight City, but it wouldn't be a grand homecoming. Their relocation to District 13 had been a form of punishment, and returning without justification would invite ridicule and scorn from the extended family.
However, if Su Ming excelled in the City Exam and earned a place at a prestigious institution in Starlight City, it would grant the Su family an honorable excuse to return. The family patriarch might even feel proud, as it would signify the emergence of another talented member of the Su lineage.
Hearing Su Ming's resolve, Zhao Ning felt deeply moved. Yet, she knew better than anyone else her son's capabilities.
As Zhao Ning mulled over how to gently temper Su Ming's ambitions to spare him future disappointment, an enthusiastic voice broke through the silence.
"Well said! That's my son!"
Su Ming turned to see Su Yuan approaching, his grin stretching ear to ear. He had overheard his son's declaration as he entered and was beaming with pride.
Zhao Ning, however, shot him a glare, her annoyance palpable. Su Yuan's smile froze mid-expression.
"What are you encouraging him for?" Zhao Ning whispered sharply. "You know what he's capable of. What if he gets his hopes up and ends up devastated?"
"Uh… Well, son, you know, the City Exam isn't everything. If it doesn't work out, you can always come back and inherit the family business," Su Yuan said awkwardly, backtracking.
Hearing this, Su Ming's lips twitched involuntarily.
To defuse the tension, Zhao Ning quickly changed the subject. "How did things go? Did you catch the culprit?" she asked Su Yuan.
Su Yuan's cheerful expression faded, replaced by a tired look. "No, we didn't. We questioned the person involved, but she had no idea about the incident. At the time, she was attending a special training session with her teacher. She only found out about it afterward. The person who targeted our son is clearly a tech-savvy individual. They skillfully uploaded photos of the letter to the school network and sent them to all the students without leaving much of a trace.
"You know how rare it is to find someone that skilled with information systems these days. Don't worry, though. Father has heard about this and sent down an information expert. They'll root out the perpetrator soon enough."
Listening to this, Su Ming's thoughts drifted. In his memories, the original Su Ming had secretly placed the letter in the girl's desk during lunch break when no one was around. By all accounts, no one should have known about it. So how had it been leaked?
"Couldn't they just check the surveillance footage?" Zhao Ning asked angrily.
"There's only surveillance in key areas, and it didn't capture anything. You know how sparingly they use monitoring systems unless absolutely necessary," Su Yuan explained helplessly.
The Old Federation's technological development was, in some ways, skewed. This was largely due to the devastating war a century ago against the silicon-based Mechanoid species.
During that conflict, the Mechanoids had infiltrated the Federation's communications, scanning devices, and information systems, silently altering and disabling countless systems. The resulting chaos left fleets crippled and vulnerable, leading to catastrophic losses.
Since then, the Old Federation had heavily restricted the use of information systems, opting instead for closed networks and hardwired systems.
Even now, the Third Planet's cities and districts relied on closed communication networks. Civilian use of signals was limited to specific zones, and surveillance equipment was rarely installed. After all, in any future conflict with the Mechanoids, such systems could easily become tools for the enemy.
"Father, Mother," Su Ming said after some thought, "I've decided to return to school tomorrow."
He didn't hold out much hope for the investigation. The person who had targeted him was likely a student—someone with extraordinary skills in information systems. Such individuals weren't common, and their actions, while malicious, probably wouldn't amount to much legally. At most, they'd face charges for violating privacy or committing a prank.
It was also relatively easy to deduce who the culprit might be. If Su Yuan's investigation had failed to yield any results, it suggested that the person was intentionally protecting their identity. Su Ming realized that he'd have to handle this issue himself eventually.
As for not transferring schools and insisting on returning, the reason was simple: there wasn't much time left before the City Exam. He couldn't afford to delay.
"You're going back to school? Are you sure about this?" Su Yuan asked, startled.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein