9: Chapter 9 Preparations for the Victory Celebration Banquet

The next day, 10:00 AM.

Baijiang City No. 3 Middle School, Principal's office.

Luo Yu was wearing casual clothes, standing at the office door.

He raised his hand and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Pushing the door open and entering, Principal Li Jianguo was sitting behind his desk. Seeing Luo Yu, he took off his glasses, a smile appearing on his face.

"Luo Yu is here, sit down quickly."

Luo Yu sat down on the sofa.

"The admission notice from Modu University has been issued."

Li Jianguo poured him a cup of tea: "I heard from Old Wang that the military used their special privileges to specifically request you to go to Modu University?"

"Yes."

Luo Yu knew he couldn't hide it, so he just said it straight: "I have joined the military; I am an active-duty soldier."

"..."

Li Jianguo's hand paused. He stared at Luo Yu for a few seconds before speaking in disbelief: "Your talent... isn't it F-rank? Even that can join the military?"

"It is F-rank."

Luo Yu said calmly: "But my ability is quite special, and the military values it highly."

Of course, Luo Yu didn't say that with Godzilla's evolution, while his Talent: Mutated Lizard Control was indeed an F-rank Talent, it couldn't be helped that Godzilla's potential was invincible and could evolve. The ability had almost no upper limit, and the feedback it provided gave him D-rank strength.

Li Jianguo fell silent.

He had worked in the education system for thirty years and had seen all kinds of students.

But for an F-rank Talent to be valued by the military, to be accepted into the military as an exception, and to be specifically requested for Modu University, Luo Yu was the first.

"Since the military values you, I understand the rules and won't ask any more questions." Li Jianguo put down his teacup: "You came here this time for today's celebration banquet?"

"Yes." Luo Yu nodded: "Su Zhiruo asked me to come."

Li Jianguo laughed: "I knew it. You two grew up together, have good grades, and have a very close relationship."

He paused and said again: "However, I want to remind you that many people will come to today's celebration banquet, including parents, leaders from the Education Bureau, and representatives from some companies."

"They are all here for this year's outstanding Awakeners, wanting to recruit talent in advance."

"Your grades are very good, but your talent rank is very poor... you might be talked about."

Luo Yu understood what he meant.

An F-rank Talent, in that kind of situation, was indeed a joke.

"I know." Luo Yu said indifferently: "But I promised Su Zhiruo, so I will go."

Li Jianguo nodded: "That's good, as long as you know what you are doing."

He took a red invitation from the drawer and handed it to Luo Yu: "This is your invitation. 2:00 PM, school auditorium. Don't be late."

"Okay."

Luo Yu took the invitation, stood up, and took his leave.

Walking out of the principal's office, he took out his phone and sent a message to Su Zhiruo.

【Got the invitation, see you in the afternoon.】

Soon, Su Zhiruo replied.

【Great! I'll wait for you at the dormitory, let's go together!】 There was also a cute emoticon following it.

Luo Yu smiled and put away his phone.

He checked the time; it was only 10:30 AM, more than three hours until the celebration banquet.

"Where to kill time?"

Luo Yu thought for a moment and decided to go for a walk in the commercial street near the school.

He was a second lieutenant now, after all, with a monthly salary of 150,000. He couldn't keep wearing cheap clothes from street stalls. He had to buy some decent clothes.

Commercial street, a high-end men's clothing store. Luo Yu pushed the door open and entered, and a sales clerk immediately came up to him.

"Sir, what do you need?"

The sales clerk was a young woman in her twenties, quite pretty. Seeing the cheap T-shirt and sweatpants on Luo Yu, a flash of contempt crossed her eyes.

"Just looking around." Luo Yu didn't mind.

"Oh." The sales clerk's enthusiasm instantly dropped: "Then please feel free." After saying that, she stood to the side and took out her phone to scroll.

Luo Yu didn't care either and wandered around the store.

The clothes in this shop were indeed good, with novel styles and exquisite workmanship.

He picked out a black casual suit, a pair of dark gray trousers, and a pair of black leather shoes.

"I'll take these." Luo Yu took the clothes to the checkout counter.

The sales clerk looked up, glanced at the price tag, and her tone was a bit impatient: "Total is 8,600 yuan. Card or cash?"

"Card." Luo Yu took out his bank card and handed it to her. The clerk took the card, swiped it, and then froze.

"Sir, your card... has insufficient funds."

Luo Yu frowned: "Impossible, I just got paid yesterday." He took out his phone, opened the banking app, and checked the balance. 327 yuan.

Luo Yu: ... He forgot that the military salary wouldn't be paid until next month. The card still only had the previous relief funds.

"Sorry." Luo Yu took back the card, feeling a bit awkward: "Let me switch cards."

He took out another card. This was what General Zhan Kuang gave him yesterday, saying it was an advance settlement allowance, totaling one million. The clerk took the card and swiped it again. This time, the machine beeped. 【Payment successful: 8,600 yuan】

The clerk's expression changed instantly. Looking at Luo Yu, she immediately became enthusiastic. "Sir, do you need anything else? We have a new batch of spring arrivals in the store, I can introduce them to you."

"..." Luo Yu had no emotional fluctuation: "No need, these are enough." Saying that, he carried the shopping bag and turned to leave.

Walking out of the shop, he checked the time; it was already 11:30 AM.

"Go back to the dormitory to change clothes first, then go pick up Su Zhiruo."

Luo Yu took a taxi back to the officer dormitory building. Inside the dormitory, he took off his old clothes and put on the newly bought suit and leather shoes. He looked in the mirror.

The young man in the mirror had a tall and straight figure, delicate features, and after putting on the suit, he had a touch of maturity.

"Not bad." Luo Yu nodded with satisfaction.

He looked at the Little Lizard on his shoulder: "Do you think I'm handsome like this?" The Little Lizard tilted its head and made a "hiss" sound.

Luo Yu said narcissistically: "You're right, people rely on clothes, Buddha relies on gold clothing, I am too handsome today." Before he finished speaking, he packed his things and went out towards Su Zhiruo's dormitory.

---

Downstairs of the female dormitory building. Luo Yu stood downstairs and sent a message to Su Zhiruo.

【I'm here.】

A few minutes later, Su Zhiruo walked out of the building. She was wearing a light blue dress today, with long hair draped over her shoulders and light makeup on her face. Seeing Luo Yu, her eyes lit up.

"Wow, you look so handsome today!"

Luo Yu said with a grin: "You're very beautiful too." Su Zhiruo blushed, lowered her head, and whispered: "Let's go, let's go to the auditorium." The two walked side by side towards the school auditorium.

On the way, many students cast curious glances.

"Isn't that Su Zhiruo? Who is the boy next to her?"

"Seems to be Luo Yu, that top student who awakened an F-rank Talent."

"Why is he walking with Su Zhiruo?"

"Who knows, maybe they grew up together."

"Tsk tsk, one SS-rank Talent, one F-rank Talent, this gap..."

Whispers reached their ears, and Su Zhiruo's expression looked a bit unpleasant. Luo Yu didn't care, took the initiative to hold Su Zhiruo's hand, and said softly: "Don't mind it, let them talk."

"Okay." Being held by the hand again, Su Zhiruo's pretty face turned red. The two continued to walk forward.

Soon, they arrived at the auditorium entrance. Two security guards were standing at the entrance, checking invitations. Luo Yu took out the invitation and handed it to the guard. The guard glanced at it and nodded: "Go in."

Pushing open the auditorium doors, it was already full of people. Students, parents, teachers, leaders, and some corporate representatives in suits. Everyone was talking, and the atmosphere was lively. Luo Yu and Su Zhiruo found a corner seat and sat down.

Just after sitting down, a familiar voice rang out.

"Yo, isn't this Luo Yu?"

Luo Yu looked up and saw the rich second-generation Li Ming walking over with a drink, smiling.

"Could it be that even if you have good grades but trash talent, you can come to the celebration banquet?" Li Ming looked Luo Yu up and down, a flash of jealousy in his eyes: "Yo, you even changed your outfit, not bad." His tone was full of sarcasm.

Luo Yu ignored him. Li Ming didn't care and continued: "Right, I heard you skipped class yesterday to go to the nuclear power plant. It wouldn't be because you awakened an F-rank Talent and wanted to commit suicide, right?" People around heard this and cast their gazes over.

Su Zhiruo's face darkened: "Li Ming, watch your mouth."

"Yo, the genius Su has spoken." Li Ming said with a smile: "I'm not wrong, an F-rank Talent, isn't that just trash? You can only ever be an F-rank trash Awakener."

"You..." Su Zhiruo stood up in anger. Luo Yu pulled her back and looked at Li Ming calmly.

"Are you done?"

"Done." Li Ming shrugged.

"Then get lost." Luo Yu's tone was very light, but his eyes were very cold. Li Ming's smile froze. He stared at Luo Yu for a few seconds, sneered: "Fine, you've got guts. We'll see later at the celebration banquet." After saying that, he turned and left.

Su Zhiruo looked at Luo Yu worriedly: "He won't cause any trouble, will he?"

"Let him be." Luo Yu shrugged indifferently: "When soldiers come, block them with generals; when water comes, cover it with earth."