57: Chapter 57 was practically about to expose her ID card...

Lu Cheng looked at his serious expression, and his own face suddenly looked a bit strange.

This guy... he doesn't still not know who he is, does he?

Lu Cheng recalled Lin Tianwang from yesterday and felt that it didn't seem like an act.

His attitude was truly open, and he fought with integrity. Lu Cheng thought for a moment and still took out his phone.

"Fine."

The two of them scanned each other's QR codes on the spot.

After adding Lu Cheng as a friend, Lin Tianjian was clearly in a good mood. He nodded at Lu Cheng again before turning and walking off the stage.

The surrounding audience watched this scene, and the murmurs grew louder.

"Lin Tianjian actually initiated adding someone?"

"This student is completely famous now."

"Damn, coming here today was worth it!"

Soon, an Arena staff member jogged up, their face practically beaming with joy.

"Mr. Lu, the prize money for your three matches has been settled, totaling 21,600."

As they spoke, they handed over the electronic transaction confirmation.

The staff member rubbed their hands together and asked again, "Will you continue? There are many people outside who want to watch you fight."

Lu Cheng glanced at the system panel.

He still needed two more matches for the Martial Saint's Blessing.

Naturally, he had to continue.

"Continue."

"Good! I'll arrange it immediately!"

The next two matches were much easier for Lu Cheng.

Perhaps it was because he had just finished a match with Lin Tianjian, his state was fully activated. Although the subsequent opponents had some ability, they were still a bit lacking compared to the current Lu Cheng.

After the two matches were finished, the entire venue's emotions had been completely ignited.

Lights swept back and forth across the ring, and the name on the electronic screen kept getting bigger.

Lu Cheng! Lu Cheng! Lu Cheng!

The tiered spectator stands were filled with shouts.

Some people stood on chairs waving their fists, some were so excited their faces turned red, and others were holding phones to record, muttering non-stop, "I've hit the jackpot, this video will definitely go viral once I post it."

Lu Cheng stood in the center of the ring, his own name filling his ears.

Just then, another figure squeezed out from the crowd, clearly wanting to get on stage and challenge him.

That person stared at Lu Cheng with a fierce look, already starting to warm up their wrists.

The staff member also looked at Lu Cheng, waiting for him to nod.

But Lu Cheng looked down at the time.

It was getting late.

Besides, he had achieved his goal for coming here tonight.

He had completed the ten matches for the Martial Saint's Blessing; continuing to fight wouldn't hold much meaning.

He waved his hand.

"No more. That's it for today."

That person's face darkened, and a chorus of disappointed boos rang out from the surrounding crowd.

"Don't!"

"One more match!"

"I haven't seen enough yet!"

Lu Cheng smiled, ignored them, and turned to walk off the stage.

When leaving, the Arena staff accompanied him all the way to the exit, transferring the remaining 18,000 in prize money to Lu Cheng.

Their attitude was very polite, and they even proactively asked for his contact information and basic details.

"Mr. Lu, if you want to come again in the future, just contact us first."

"We can arrange matches for you in advance, and the prize money and terms are all negotiable."

Lu Cheng nodded: "Fine."

After he walked away, the staff member let out a long sigh and turned to quickly return to the Arena office.

The office lights were dim, the blinds were half-drawn, and the noise outside was largely muffled.

The boss sat in a chair, legs crossed, a slender lady's cigarette dangling from her mouth, smoke drifting slowly upward.

Her makeup was exquisite, but her expression was a bit lazy. She tapped her fingertips lightly on the desk, looking at the match data that had just been submitted.

The staff member walked in, hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help asking, "Boss, why did you block those companies that wanted to find Lu Cheng?"

"Right after the match ended, several of them wanted to come over to discuss partnerships, but you had us turn them all away."

The woman raised her eyelids and exhaled a puff of smoke gently.

"For a genius like this, don't let those lousy companies waste his time."

She looked at Lu Cheng's profile on the screen, the corners of her lips curving slightly.

"Around the time of the Martial Exam, we'll find a way to secure him ourselves."

When Lu Cheng came out of the Arena, it was already getting dark.

He was still steaming from the exertion, carrying the meat and vegetables he had just bought at the roadside market, his steps lighter than usual.

The transaction text message on his phone lay quietly, and the string of numbers put him in an excellent mood.

"It's actually a pretty good place to farm gold coins..."

He muttered, thinking he could go there often when he had time in the future.

The hallway was the same as always; the lights flickered, the wall plaster was somewhat yellowed, and someone next door was stewing soup, the aroma drifting out through the door cracks.

Lu Cheng used his key to open the door, and just as he placed the groceries on the table, footsteps sounded outside the door again.

He looked back and saw that Chu Mu had also returned.

Today, she was carrying a large bag full of groceries, the opening stretched taut. Inside, one could see pork ribs, beef, several boxes of well-packaged seafood, and even a small bag of expensive spirit vegetables.

Lu Cheng was stunned at the sight.

In the past, the family might not have been willing to buy things like this even for the New Year.

Chu Mu had a rare, distinct smile on her face. After entering, she put down the bag, her forehead glistening with a bit of light sweat, but her tone was very lighthearted.

"Xiao Cheng, come take a look. Mom bought a lot of good things today."

Lu Cheng looked down and took a peek, unable to help saying, "Mom, have you struck it rich?"

Chu Mu was amused by him and raised her hand to pat him.

"It's actually about the same."

She changed her shoes, her tone filled with irrepressible joy.

"I got promoted today. From now on, I don't have to run around doing that tiring work in the front. Now I just need to sit in the office every day, and my salary has gone up—it's up to 15,000."

After hearing this, Lu Cheng's eyes lit up.

"15,000?"

"Mm." Chu Mu nodded, the smile on her face deepening.

"The manager told me personally, and the paperwork was completed today. It will be much easier and more stable from now on."

Lu Cheng watched her happy appearance, and he felt a weight lift from his own heart as well.

For some time, the family had been stretched tight—money was tight, life was tight, and even Chu Mu's expression had been perpetually weary for years.

Seeing her smile like this today, she looked much younger.

Chu Mu took the items out of the bag one by one, saying as she did so, "Oh right, one of my former colleagues also got promoted today. She'll be bringing her daughter over to our house for dinner in a while."

When she said this, she couldn't help but smile herself.

"Today really is a good day!"

Lu Cheng replied, "Sure, the more the merrier."

Chu Mu had already sorted the vegetables and carried a few things that needed processing to the small kitchen in the back.

"You rest for a while, I'm going to cook."

Lu Cheng originally wanted to sit down and check the system, but as soon as he leaned back in his chair, the sounds of chopping and running water came from the kitchen. Chu Mu was clearly in a good mood today, talking about her colleague while washing the vegetables.

"Speaking of that colleague, she's actually had it pretty rough."

"Her husband was a soldier. He died on the battlefield years ago while defending against the alien races."

"She's been raising her daughter alone all these years; it hasn't been easy."

Chu Mu put the vegetable leaves into a basin, her voice drifting out from the kitchen, filled with a bit of emotion.

"She also has a daughter who is very pretty. The little girl is coming over in a while, so don't you go bullying her."

Lu Cheng had been looking down at his phone, but upon hearing this, his fingers paused.

Chu Mu continued.

"Speaking of which, the little girl is also from No. 3 High School..."

"What's her name again? I suddenly forgot."

Lu Cheng's face darkened on the spot.

This timing. Getting promoted and a raise at the same time as Mom. Single-parent family. The daughter is from No. 3 High School. Hmm... it's like they're practically handing out Su Wan's ID number.

Lu Cheng stood in the living room, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly, Su Wan's cold and clear face already automatically surfacing in his mind.

This world is just too small.

However, complaining aside, Chu Mu was busy in the kitchen alone, so he couldn't just keep standing there in a daze.

Lu Cheng put his phone on the table and got up to walk over.

"I'll help you."

Chu Mu looked back at him and said with a smile, "Do you know how?"

"I can at least chop vegetables. Don't underestimate your son too much."

"Alright, then you peel the potatoes over there and cut the meat."

"Got it."

The small kitchen wasn't big to begin with, and it felt even more cramped with two people standing inside.

The sound of water, chopping, and the clatter of the spatula mixed together, and soon the air was filled with the smell of cooking oil and meat.

The money issue had finally eased up a bit.

After the prize money from the Arena arrived, he finally wasn't so strapped for cash.

If he needed money later, going over to fight a few matches was indeed much more convenient than looking for opportunities everywhere.

The steam in the kitchen rose bit by bit.

Chu Mu turned the pork ribs in the pot, her movements suddenly slowing down.

Lu Cheng was cutting meat; it was quiet for a few seconds, and feeling something was off, he looked up.

At this sight, his hand movements stopped completely.

Chu Mu's eyes were a bit red.

Tears were falling down her cheeks, but she kept her head down, continuing to pick vegetables as if afraid of being seen.

Lu Cheng's heart tightened.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

Chu Mu sniffled and forced a smile, but the smile was thin, and her voice carried a tremor she couldn't suppress.

"Xiao Cheng..."

She paused, her hands not stopping, but her voice became lower.

"Tell me, how much longer can we maintain a life like this?"

As soon as these words came out, the steam in the kitchen seemed to sink.

Lu Cheng looked at her, his heart suddenly feeling heavy.

He knew why Chu Mu was like this.

She got a promotion today, a raise, and bought groceries she hadn't been able to afford before—everything was clearly moving in a better direction.

But the more it was like this, the easier it was for the string that had been pulled tight in one's heart to loosen. Once it loosened, all the things one usually suppressed and dared not think about would all come bubbling up.

This world is not stable.

Alien races, vicious beasts, martial artists, war, death... these things were not far from ordinary people.

Lu Cheng didn't know what had happened in the past, but now that life had just started to improve, she was happy, but also afraid.

Afraid that this bit of peace wouldn't last.

Afraid that what is here today will be gone tomorrow.

Lu Cheng was silent for a moment, put down the knife in his hand, and spoke in a very steady voice.

"Don't worry, Mom, it will only get better from here on."

He looked at Chu Mu, his tone becoming much more serious.

"I'm about to reach the peak of the Body Refining Realm. After the Martial Exam, the school and the province will both give a large sum of money."

"When that happens, we'll move out, find a better place, closer to school, and in a safer environment."

"You won't have to be this tired anymore."

"Rest assured."

He said these few sentences very calmly.

But as Chu Mu listened, her tears fell even harder.

She didn't say anything else, just gave a low "Mm," and continued cooking.

The oil in the pot sizzled, and the chopped meat quickly released a fragrant aroma after being added to the pan.

Lu Cheng didn't say anything more either; he picked up the knife again, finished chopping the remaining ingredients, and handed them over one by one.

In the small kitchen, only the sounds of busy work remained for a time.

Chu Mu cooked in silence, her movements gradually regaining their steadiness.

Lu Cheng stood by and helped, occasionally handing over a plate, washing a vegetable, or casually sliding the chopped scallions, ginger, and garlic over.

Neither of them mentioned what had just been said, but the restless emotion that had been pressing on their hearts had dissipated quite a bit.

After a while, the doorbell in the living room suddenly rang.

Ding-dong~

The sound was crisp, echoing in the room.

Chu Mu snapped out of it, looked up, wiped the corners of her eyes, tried hard to pull herself together, and called out, "Xiao Cheng, go open the door. It should be Auntie Tang."

Lu Cheng's hand paused, and his expression suddenly became a bit subtle.

She really came.

He sighed in his heart, wiped his hands, and walked toward the door.