"Hope you are all ready for this exam. You should not seen with any item that can implicate you. Anything found with you that does not relate to this exam is considered malpractice. Once you get your exam sheet, no form of communication is allowed," he yelled as he began to distribute the sheets.
"And if there are any questions, ask me."
"Your exam starts now! You have one hour thirty minutes left."
The students, upon hearing this, immediately picked up their pens and started scribbling things.
A few faces went pale.
Someone sucked in a sharp breath.
Tia sat frozen, his eyes glued to the exam sheet.
He hadn't written a single word.
Cold sweat slid down his temple.
After a moment, he slowly flipped the front page open.
His eyes scanned the questions.
Then he blinked.
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
" No way"
"You've got to be kidding me…"
The questions.
The sequence.
The same pattern.
His heart skipped.
He had studied endlessly for this exam in his previous life—only to barely write anything because of Feng Gi and his minions
But now…
"It's different.
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
So knowledge wasn't useless after all.
******
"Five more minutes!" the teacher yelled loud enough for the whole class to hear.
Soon students began submitting their exam sheets.
"Hahhhhhh."
"Finally done. I can't believe I failed this before."
Tia left the class immediately after he submitted his sheets and headed straight home.
"Thud!"
The force made him stumble back.
"Sorry," he apologized quickly.
"Huh? Just sorry? Tia Xu, you should be licking the dirt off my shoes."
Tia Xu quickly snapped his head up.
His eyes widened for a brief moment.
Oh no, this is bad.
Why do I keep encountering demons like him?
Lu Cheng.
Feng Gi's rival in everything.
Why me of all people… am I cursed or something?
Lu Cheng waved the tip of his fingers.
Immediately, the two minions behind him moved forward, locking tightly around Tia.
Tia didn't resist, his body trembling beneath their grip,heart racing, face pale.
What do I do?
I doubt he's going to let me off easily today.
"From your expression, I can see you have been anticipating this glorious meeting between us, haven't you?" Lu Cheng said, a wicked grin forming on his lips.
Glorious my ass.
Burn in hell, you piece of s***.
"Hmmm… are you so happy you've become speechless?" Lu Cheng continued, his voice trailing mockingly.
"Or is Feng Ji giving you a hard time at school?"
He leaned closer, smirking.
"I could help you deal with it."
Tia bit the edge of his lips tightly.
Then released it.
"L… let me g… go, please," he stammered, brows narrowed, eyes pleading.
"Bow!"
A fist slammed into his side.
Then to his face.
A breath forced out.
Pain flared.
Tia felt the force beside him ease slowly.
"You know I'm in a good mood today. Besides, you should be grateful that I, Lu Cheng, touched that pretty face of yours."
"Now leave on the count of one…"
Tia had already dashed out of school by the count of three.
Annoying.
So annoying.
Why am I running?
Why can't I stand up to them?
What am I even afraid of?
Where did even get the energy to run like this?
He stumbled to a stop, bent over, panting.
I could faint at any moment.
"Finally… home," he muttered, pushing the door open.
His only safe sanctuary.
Looks like Mom won't be back early today.
Good. Just what I need.
He headed straight to his bedroom, quickly unbuttoning his shirt and letting it fall to the floor.
The mirror reflected a familiar figure.
His eyes traced down to his chest — ribs.
Then to his back. Bruises and minor injuries covered him.
Not as bad as I thought… shouldn't leave scars.
A rumble interrupted his thoughts.
Prrrr…
His stomach growled.
"I should eat… I'm starving."
Ramen will do. I'm too lazy to cook anything else.
A few minutes later, he settled on the couch with a steaming bowl. Remote in hand, he flipped through the channels.
Gates.
Awakeners.
Government policies.
Blah, blah, blah.
Nothing worth watching.
He slurped a mouthful and glanced at the door.
Mom isn't coming back tonight.
He exhaled, leaning back.
Tomorrow's a big day.
I can't afford to fail.
What rank will I get this time?
Since I got a second chance… maybe it'll
be different.
A~rank…
No. S~rank.
Haha. In your dreams, Tia.
In your dreams…