The Light Goddess Butterfly disappeared in an instant. Chu Shiye froze for a second before slowly walking to the bedside.
Ji Mian pulled the blanket over his head.
Chu Shiye gently poked him.
Ji Mian didn’t move.
Chu Shiye thought for a moment and asked, “So, your mental manifestation can only be seen but not touched?”
Ji Mian’s voice came muffled from under the blanket. “Yes.”
Chu Shiye pondered further. “But it can fly everywhere?”
Ji Mian: “Yes.”
Chu Shiye began to piece things together.
He knew that the higher an ability user’s mental power, the deeper the connection with their mental manifestation.
Was it possible that the reason the butterfly couldn’t be touched was because touching it was equivalent to directly… touching Su Lan’s…
Chu Shiye: “…”
His face warmed slightly, and in a small voice, he said, “I’m sorry, I get it now.”
Ji Mian pulled the blanket down, revealing his face as he glanced at him.
Chu Shiye tried his best to maintain a calm expression.
Ji Mian: “Alright, I forgive you.”
He released his mental manifestation again. The Light Goddess Butterfly, oblivious to everything, flitted around him.
Ji Mian said, “You can poke it, but don’t touch it or pinch its wings.”
Chu Shiye: “Will it feel uncomfortable?”
“No,” Ji Mian said, his face expressionless. “The only one who will feel uncomfortable is me.”
Chu Shiye: “Oh—”
The connection between Su Lan and his mental manifestation was indeed deep. What felt normal to the butterfly translated into… something else entirely for Su Lan.
It seemed like there were some downsides to this.
Chu Shiye asked, “If this happens in a battle…”
Ji Mian replied, “Then it will shift into an intangible, incorporeal state instead of its current physical form.”
As he spoke, the Goddess Butterfly shimmered, and its form transformed. Dots of round light floated amidst its now translucent wings, flickering ethereally like a dreamlike sprite.
Ji Mian raised his hand, and the light butterfly passed through his palm. It was untouchable, yet undeniably real.
Chu Shiye was stunned.
Su Lan’s mental manifestation had two distinct forms, and it could switch between them freely.
…This was simply unheard of.
Chu Shiye said sincerely, “You’re truly amazing.”
Ji Mian smiled warmly.
—
Thanks to his recovered mental strength, Ji Mian returned to work the next day.
The streets were noticeably livelier after a few days of absence. Occasionally, uniformed ability users could be seen moving through the crowd.
Ji Mian asked, “Have they still not found the culprit behind those assaults?”
“No,” Chu Shiye replied. “But over the past few days, the security force has started patrols, and there haven’t been any new incidents.”
At a corner of the street, a young man with curly hair was pasting flyers on a wall. The flyers had a strange and unsettling red design, with the words “Heavenly Father and Savior Lusuk” boldly printed at the top.
Noticing Ji Mian’s gaze, the young man smiled at him. “Sir, it’s you again.”
“I wonder if you have some time—”
“No,” Ji Mian said curtly, “thank you.”
“It’s alright. You’re the only one who thanks me after refusing,” the young man pressed the flyer to his chest dramatically. “I’m so touched. I’ll remember you.”
Chu Shiye stepped forward silently, positioning himself between Ji Mian and the stranger. The curly-haired man gave Chu Shiye a smile before disappearing into an alley with his stack of flyers.
Ji Mian asked, “Is he a local resident?”
“I don’t know him,” Chu Shiye said. “But he’s suspicious. I’ll report him to the security force.”
This brief exchange passed, and Chu Shiye accompanied Ji Mian to the school gate.
Ji Mian reminded him, “This time, make sure you pick me up on time.”
Chu Shiye nodded. “Okay.”
He watched Ji Mian disappear into the teaching building before glancing at his communicator and turning to leave.
—
At the teacher’s office door, Ji Mian pushed it open to find a stranger sitting at one of the desks that had previously been unoccupied.
“Hey,” the man looked up at the sound, “you must be the new teacher.”
There was an odd hostility in his tone. Ji Mian nodded slightly.
This must be the third teacher who had been absent until now—Mark.
Mark looked Ji Mian up and down, clicking his tongue. “That face of yours must look amazing when you cry.”
“Don’t let the students bully you to tears. If they do, I’ll make sure to record it and replay it over and over…”
“Enough with your snide remarks,” a woman’s voice interrupted sharply. Selena stepped out from behind Ji Mian.
“Mr. Su is the most popular teacher in our school right now. His students are obedient and well-behaved,” Selena said with a smirk.
Mark exclaimed, “What? No way!”
“Why would I lie to you?” Selena laughed softly, covering her mouth. “Of course, someone like you who’s never been popular wouldn’t understand what that feels like.”
Mark snapped back, “So what! You’re just a temp. Once the original teacher comes back, you’ll be out the door. What are you so proud of?”
At that moment, the office door opened, and Xiao Zhang walked in.
Mark immediately stood up. “Principal.”
“Oh, Mr. Mark, you finally decided to show up today, huh?” Xiao Zhang said with a flat look. His tone made it clear he had no patience for Mark’s constant absences.
He then turned to Ji Mian, his expression softening into a warm smile. “Mr. Su, do you have any plans for the future?”
Before Ji Mian could answer, Xiao Zhang continued enthusiastically, “If not, why don’t you stay and become a permanent teacher with us?”
Mark: “?”
Ji Mian hesitated. “What about the previous teacher?”
“We’ll have him teach another class. It’s been a long time since our school had a new teacher,” Xiao Zhang said with a smile. “If you’re willing to stay, we can draw up a new contract. The salary for a full-time position is double that of a temporary one, plus you’ll get additional annual leave.” He rubbed his hands together eagerly. “What do you think? Lots of benefits.”
Ji Mian considered it. “Can I have some time to think about it?”
“Of course,” Xiao Zhang replied. “When you’ve decided, come to my office and let me know.”
Mark: “…”
Selena turned to Mark with a shrug. “So?”
Mark: “…”
—
As the bell signaling the start of class approached, Mark trailed behind Ji Mian at a distance.
He had seen that class before—nothing but troublemakers and delinquents. There was no way they were behaving like Ji Mian claimed.
He didn’t believe it!
Ji Mian was well aware of the figure following him but paid it no mind.
He stood at the classroom door as a student walked past.
Mark recognized him instantly. That kid! The notorious troublemaker of the class. The one no one could control!
To his shock, the student looked up and said cheerfully, “Good morning, Teacher.”
“Good morning, Teacher.”
“Good morning, Teacher!”
The students greeted Ji Mian warmly, then walked into the classroom obediently.
Mark: “???”
What was going on? Why were these students… acting like this?
It was like seeing a ghost!
The last student finally arrived, and Ji Mian, ignoring the stunned gaze behind him, walked into the classroom.
—
“Wow, this is so pretty! It looks expensive!”
In the center of the classroom, a group of students gathered around, marveling at something.
Standing in their midst, Ye Tiancai wore a smug expression. “Of course! My mom bought it for fifty thousand yuan!”
“Fifty thousand? That’s so much money!”
One of the students reached out a hand. “Can I touch it?”
“Don’t touch it!” Ye Tiancai said, pulling away. “What if you break it?”
He caught sight of Ji Mian approaching and opened his hand, revealing something glittering in the sunlight.
It was a ruby cufflink Ji Mian found very familiar.
Ye Tiancai raised an eyebrow. “Want to try it on?”
Ji Mian replied calmly, “No need.”
Ye Tiancai clicked his tongue and glanced at Ji Mian for a reaction.
Ji Mian, however, didn’t even look at him. Instead, he picked up his communicator and appeared to send a message.
Ye Tiancai: “…”
Ji Mian scrolled through his contact list and found Kane, whom he had recently added.
So Kane’s “good buyer” turned out to be from the Ye family.
If he’d known, he would’ve charged more.
Ji Mian sent Kane a message: [Chu Shiye’s location]
Kane responded immediately: [What? How would I know!]
Ji Mian: [That cufflink sold for fifty thousand.]
Kane: […]
Ji Mian: [You told me the buyer offered thirty-five thousand?]
Kane: […]
Ji Mian: [Chu Shiye’s location.]
–
At the entrance of the abandoned mine, a few people had gathered sporadically.
When Chu Shiye arrived, Fu Zeren, lounging under a sun umbrella, took a lazy sip of tea. “Right on time.”
“But we still have to wait for a bit.”
Chu Shiye glanced around. Apart from Fu Zeren’s subordinates, Berg stood nearby with a few of his own men, glaring at him.
Chu Shiye ignored Berg’s gaze completely.
Black Snake had yet to appear. The strongest B-level ability user on this planet was late.
Everyone else, including the city’s administrator, was waiting for him.
Chu Shiye’s communicator vibrated slightly. He glanced down to find a new deposit in his account.
Fifteen thousand. Sent by Kane.
Chu Shiye: [What’s this for?]
Kane: [I covered your medical bills earlier. Mr. Su sold the cufflink. This is what’s left after deducting the expenses.]
Chu Shiye was silent. Su Lan hadn’t mentioned this to him.
…Su Lan never told him anything.
…Forget it. He’d save this money for Su Lan.
Chu Shiye transferred the amount to a separate account, then sent a message back to Kane:
[Don’t tell him where I am.]
Kane: [What kind of person do you think I am? I would never sell out a brother!!!]
Footsteps sounded nearby, as though someone was approaching. Chu Shiye said nothing, closing his communicator.
He looked up.
Ji Mian was standing there, smiling at him.
“Long time no see, landlord.”
Chu Shiye: “…”
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