Bab 73: I am currently quite wealthy.
The summoning stone of the magical hound is a material that does not exist in this world, more precious than diamonds; however, one would be unable to sell it for a diamond's price at a jewelry store. I never truly agreed to be her boyfriend; rather, I am deeply concerned for Pan Li'er's safety due to my foresight of the future. "My predictions have always been accurate; if I reject her now, she will surely disregard my words in the future. Should anything unfortunate occur, my conscience would be burdened. If I can help Pan Li'er evade this disaster, I will consider these matters later. But who exactly is that mixed-race man? Why would he wish to harm Pan Li'er?" The ability to foresee the future, while often precise, is regrettably unstable. Such premonitions arrive unbidden, yet when I seek them, they elude me. As a philosopher once remarked, the sole outcome of learning is an increased awareness of the vastness of the unknown. The gift of foresight brings with it a sense of helplessness; for instance, I know I will undoubtedly fail my exam tomorrow, yet I can only watch as it unfolds. Even employing deceitful tactics cannot alter this future; at best, it would merely add a record of misconduct to my already dismal academic standing. This future is immutable, yet it does not guarantee a logical outcome. The scene I envisioned could just as easily transform into the mixed-race man extorting ransom from the government as it could into him smiling and thanking Pan Li'er for participating in a public service advertisement, with seagulls expressing their gratitude.
My home is not far from the school, and Pan Li'er's insistence on shopping was merely an excuse. I certainly could not allow a girl to escort me home, which necessitated our eventual return. Throughout the journey, Pan Li'er remained mostly silent, leaning against me in a manner reminiscent of a traditional couple walking side by side, leaving me no opportunity to deviate from convention. I could not fathom how Pan Li'er could be involved with the mixed-race man I had just seen. The only conclusion I could draw was that "he poses no threat to me; otherwise, my abilities would have already severed the causal link and revealed his true intentions." This sudden anxiety left me feeling somewhat disgruntled: "Why was my life so ordinary before my arrival on Demon Island, yet upon my return, I find the world fraught with peril?"
After arriving at Pan Li'er's doorstep, I anticipated a typical farewell. To my surprise, she suddenly rose onto her toes and planted a gentle kiss on my cheek before bounding away like a startled deer, laughing as she disappeared. It took me a moment to process the event, and as I touched my cheek, I realized having Pan Li'er as a girlfriend might not be so bad after all. "Very well, for that kiss, I shall strive with all my might to become the dragon knight from my vision of the future, ensuring no harm befalls her."
As expected, during the subsequent final exams, I indeed failed spectacularly. For students, the anticipation of summer vacation typically surpasses that of winter break; however, for someone like me, who has resolutely decided to catch up on studies, both vacations hold little distinction. Pan Li'er's seaside trip was thwarted by my stern prohibition, yet she seemed unconcerned and continued to visit me daily to study. My initial attraction to Ye Ying over Pan Li'er stemmed largely from Ye Ying's academic prowess, while Pan Li'er's performance was rather average, slightly below mine. However, as we studied together, I began to realize I had underestimated her. When tackling the same math problems, Pan Li'er consistently outpaced me, and she memorized vocabulary more quickly than I could. Even in writing essays, her prose was far more eloquent than mine. I had always prided myself on my intelligence, believing my average grades were due to my penchant for play, yet Pan Li'er's superior abilities ignited my competitive spirit, compelling me to study with greater fervor.
Initially, my parents were somewhat taken aback by my new female study partner, but upon observing our effective collaboration, they graciously accepted our friendship. Every morning at eight, Pan Li'er would arrive punctually at my house, a task I needn't concern myself with; she even prepared lunch for me. However, I bore the responsibility of escorting her home in the evenings. Frankly, after spending so much time together, my expectations for this relationship grew, and accompanying her home became far from a burdensome obligation; on the contrary, I often found joy in it.
Now that summer has arrived, the weather is undeniably hot. Naturally, Pan Li'er, being such an open and attractive girl, dresses quite lightly, turning heads as we stroll down the street. An older acquaintance once remarked that a man's charm derives from the women around him, and I certainly relished the envious glances we attracted. On this particular day, after escorting Pan Li'er home, I felt the strain of my studies weighing heavily upon me and resolved to reward myself. Checking the time, I confirmed that the local arcade had not yet closed, and I decided to purchase a couple of the latest games to enjoy at home.
Our city boasts only one electronics market, which sells video games, computers, various hardware, and gaming consoles, rivaling those in larger cities. Occasionally, they offer some illicit goods meant for sale in other countries or even continents. After acquiring several games, I stumbled upon a specialty shop displaying a remarkably compact laptop. Its beauty captivated me, prompting me to linger longer than intended. The shopkeeper, skilled in the art of sales, showed no impatience toward me as a student and enthusiastically introduced me to the product: "This newly released laptop weighs less than one kilogram and features a low-voltage dual-core processor. Remarkably, the battery lasts seven to eight hours, and it employs the latest solid-state drive technology with a fanless design, ensuring absolute silence during use at night." The final statement struck a chord with me: "It operates silently at night!" While the laptop's performance may not rival that of a powerful desktop, it was more than sufficient for playing less demanding games, and the absence of noise meant I need not fear being overheard by my parents. In truth, this little device was incredibly practical. Yet, none of this is the most significant aspect; the most important thing is that I am currently quite wealthy!
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone