Ch 85: After My Mother Returned to the Rich Family

【Based on the energy we currently have and the analysis of his last known location, there’s a 70% chance we can accurately lock onto him. But to ensure a successful strike to his mental domain, we still need approximately 6,000 more energy points.】

Ruan Cha gently exhaled. She tapped her fingertips against her thigh and lowered her voice in thought:

“Then don’t track him yet. Let’s wait until I finish reading another few dozen books. Once we’re confident we can win in one hit, we’ll strike.”

【Understood. If we act now and fail, we might never get another chance. Once we’ve built up enough energy and fully mapped his mental domain, I promise to take him down in one move.】

“Good.”

Ruan Cha’s expression eased, a determined glint flashing through her eyes.

The enemy was strong and ruthless, but so was she.

And this time, she wasn’t fighting alone.

[System 1128: “Yu Zheng also suffered metaphysical damage, but his mental domain is unscathed. I don’t have high confidence.”]

Hearing the system’s response, Ruan Cha wasn’t surprised—she had already guessed that Yu Zheng’s injuries likely didn’t affect his mental domain.

Now that Grandpa Shen was already hurt, and considering they had no idea what other cards Yu Zheng might still be hiding, Ruan Cha didn’t dare waste the final DNA tracking attempt—the second and last one they’d get in six months.

She made up her mind and said firmly, “We’ll save the tracking for now. Once we’ve gathered enough energy, then we’ll go after him.”

Yu Zheng had already escaped from Grandpa Shen twice. The first time even involved the police. She couldn’t afford to risk a third failure—next time had to succeed.

[System 1128: “Understood. I’ll go buy the medicine.”]

“Thank you, 1128.”

Just before leaving, the system paused. For a moment, it almost wanted to cry. Ruan Cha used to dislike it so much, and now she was showing concern—no blame for having once been bound to Yu Zheng, just… understanding.

Wuwuwu… If only it had met Ruan Cha when it first came online. Qaq.

—

After leaving the academic office, Ruan Cha and Fu Chen carried their new senior-year review materials and schoolbags to Class 1 of the third year. Compared to the bustling atmosphere of second year, the mood here was more serious and focused.

With only a few months left before the college entrance exam, the students were racing against time. There were hardly any cliques or exclusion going on—no one had the energy to waste on drama.

The class monitor of Class 1 was a round-faced girl with straight bangs and black-rimmed glasses named Lin Yushu. She sat right next to Ruan Cha, consistently ranking among the top five students in the grade.

After Ruan Cha took her seat, Lin Yushu reached out and placed a Pluto pendant on Ruan Cha’s desk, speaking softly:

“Ruan Cha, I heard you’re a Scorpio. Pluto is Scorpio’s ruling planet. I prepared this as a good luck charm to welcome you to our class.”

She’d heard from the homeroom teacher yesterday about Ruan Cha’s jump to senior year and had immediately gotten the gift ready—hoping to make the new student feel welcomed.

It was a shame Xu Nan decided to stay in second year. Otherwise, she’d have taken out a matching pair of pendants.

As for Fu Chen—

Lin Yushu subtly shook her head. As fellow student council members, she didn’t dare gift anything to that ever-intimidating president. Everyone in the council was half-traumatized by his constant pressure.

Ruan Cha hadn’t expected a gift on her first day in the senior class. Seeing the little Pluto planet pendant, which looked oddly similar to her own hair clip, she was momentarily dazed.

Could Grandpa’s old friend have known her birth month from him and deliberately chosen Pluto too?

“Thank you. I really like it.”

After accepting the pendant, Ruan Cha rummaged through her bag and pulled out a small tin of nougat. She opened it in front of Lin Yushu.

“I didn’t prepare a return gift. Do you like sweets? Help yourself.”

Lin Yushu nodded quickly. “I love them!”

A simple pendant and a few pieces of candy were enough to bridge the gap between two previously unfamiliar classmates, and soon, Lin Yushu began introducing some of the other students in class to Ruan Cha.

Compared to Ruan Cha, Fu Chen was already quite familiar with many people in Class One of Senior Year—after all, he had served as student council president for a whole year, and that wasn’t for nothing.

Originally, Fu Chen had planned to help introduce Ruan Cha to others, but a quick glance showed him that Lin Yushu, who was always eager to lend a hand to female students in the council, had already enthusiastically taken over that task.

He hesitated for a second, then decided not to step in.

At the same time, he couldn’t help but recall that Ruan Cha never seemed short of female friends.

In Class Ten, she had Huang Jiajia. In Class One, she had Xu Nan. And now, on the very first day of joining the senior class, she’d already gotten to know Lin Yushu.

As for himself—at school, it didn’t feel like he had a fixed place by her side.

Fu Chen: “…”

He had realized it too early.

—

During the final evening self-study period, the homeroom teacher of Class One entered the classroom carrying a box. She set it down on the lectern, clapped her hands, and called for everyone’s attention.

Looking out at the students she’d taught for three years, she smiled warmly. “Our annual Second High tradition is here. I hope it brings you a bit of joy in this last semester.”

Ruan Cha, who had only been at Second High for one term, looked confused. It was her first time hearing about any annual tradition—and one that only applied to the senior class?

Unlike Ruan Cha’s puzzlement, the rest of the students, Fu Chen included, were well aware of what the so-called tradition was. It was something exclusive to third-year students—

“Guardian Angels and Kings.”

The homeroom teacher lifted the box again and started walking down to the first row of desks, gesturing for each student to draw a card. “Come on, let’s see who you’ll be protecting as their guardian angel.”

While the card draw was underway, Lin Yushu quietly explained the rules of the game to Ruan Cha. But when Ruan Cha finally drew her card and looked down at the name written on it, she froze.

[Dear Angel, the person you will guard is: Fu Chen]

She stared at the two characters—Fu Chen—for a long moment, then scratched her head in confusion.

When she first saw Fu Chen’s name, Ruan Cha was certain she was happy.

In Class One, compared to getting to know entirely new classmates, it would be much easier—and more natural—for her to interact with Fu Chen. They already had plenty of casual chats over WeChat, so it wouldn’t seem suspicious or overly deliberate.

But once the happiness passed… why was she suddenly feeling a little nervous?

Hmm.

Ruan Cha turned the orange card over in her palm, silently slipping into thought.