31: My face isn't white.

“Option Two: Pass the school test, meet the exam standards, participate in the Blue Abyss Trial, complete the reward, Talent Level +1.”

“Option Three: Erase Host.”

“Option Countdown: 7 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes.”

Looking at the options before him, it was the first time he had seen the “Erase Host” option, and it was surprisingly humane, even giving a countdown.

It was also the first time he had seen the system display a countdown.

Huang Ren looked at the dazed Shen Yi: “Are you planning to participate?”

Shen Yi nodded: “Yeah, haven’t you heard that saying?”

“What saying?” Huang Ren asked, puzzled.

“The bigger the waves, the more expensive the fish!” Shen Yi said with a profound expression.

“Huh?? What?” Huang Ren looked confused; what did that mean?

Shen Yi’s face showed a serious expression as he patted Huang Ren’s shoulder, then turned and walked outside, leaving him with a lonely, tall figure.

Huang Ren was completely bewildered. What was going on?

“Student, it’s not dismissal time yet; you can’t just leave,” a teacher standing behind them said when he saw Shen Yi about to leave.

“Teacher, I’m just going to take a test; I’ll be right back,” Shen Yi said with a playful grin.

Huang Ren: “......”

After school, he continued to go to Su Lanqing’s house to teach her some combat techniques. The only times Shen Yi found relatively enjoyable were two specific periods.

One was when he ate at Su Lanqing’s house, and the other was before he returned home each day, when he would receive a considerable sum.

It had to be said that Su Lanqing was indeed a person of extraordinary talent. After a few days of instruction, she could now fight Shen Yi back and forth in combat.

By the time he got home, it was already very late.

As soon as he entered the door, Shen Qiulin stared at Shen Yi.

“Dad, why are you looking at me? Where’s Mom?” he asked, puzzled.

Shen Qiulin pointed at the clock on the wall and asked, “Your mom’s working overtime at her company; she’ll be back later. But you, you’ve been coming home so late lately. Where have you been running wild? I don’t believe you’ve been cultivating.”

“Dad, didn’t I tell you? I’m cultivating with my classmate. Our school is about to start this year’s special training, and I want to seize the time to cultivate and participate in it,” Shen Yi explained.

“You cultivating? Every day you come back after showering, and I see a luxury car dropping you off every day. Son, tell your dad honestly, have you been kept?” Shen Qiulin looked at Shen Yi and said seriously.

“Kept... kept?” Shen Yi stammered when he heard his dad’s words. His dad’s imagination was too wild; it was a shame he wasn’t writing novels.

“Dad, how old am I? Where did you get the idea that I’m being kept?”

Shen Qiulin picked up Shen Yi’s backpack, opened it, and pointed at the money inside, asking, “Then how do you explain this? Where did all this money in your backpack come from?”

“When did you secretly go through my backpack?” Shen Yi’s eyes widened. His backpack was always in his room; when did his dad go through it?

“Son, if you’re short on money, tell your dad. Don’t ever go to unhealthy places to earn money. You’re still young, and your health is the most important thing,” Shen Qiulin said earnestly, seeing Shen Yi’s surprised expression and thinking he had guessed correctly.

“Dad, don’t overthink it. I haven’t. I’m just cultivating with a classmate. It’s really not what you’re thinking.”

Shen Yi even admired his dad’s thought process. Where did he get all these bizarre ideas?

“Then I ask you, is this classmate a boy or a girl?” Shen Qiulin asked.

Shen Yi: “A girl. We’re just purely cultivating and sparring together to prepare for the Secret Realm Trial.”

“How old is this girl?” Shen Qiulin asked again.

“She seems to be around my age, probably a year younger than me. I didn’t ask her age,” Shen Yi recalled hearing Su Lanqing mention once that she was actually a bit younger than him.

“What, a year younger than me? And you still say you’re not being kept? A year younger than me, she’s already the same age as your mom, and you call her a classmate.”

Shen Yi: “......”

He seriously suspected his dad’s ears had problems. What did he mean, a year younger than him?

Shen Yi sighed and explained: “Dad, I said a year younger than *me*, not a year younger than *you*.”

“Alright, your mom isn’t home today, it’s just us two. What can’t we talk about? You’re still young, and it’s easy to be tempted by some things in society. There are some things we don’t do, you know?”

“I’ve seen a luxury car drop you off at our community entrance several times. Your dad might not be able to afford such a luxury car in his entire life, but even if we’re poor, we must have integrity. Don’t try to take every advantage.”

“Although people’sConcept is that age is not a problem, the age gap here is too big. Listen to me, son, break it off now. You should study hard. If it doesn’t work out in the future, you can be a cutter like your dad; it’s pretty profitable too.”

Shen Qiulin rambled on and on.

Shen Yi listened to his dad getting more and more outrageous. It seemed like he hadn’t heard a single word of what he had been saying for so long.

He had originally planned to tell his parents about his upcoming trial when he got home, but he hadn’t even opened his mouth before his dad started babbling non-stop.

Shen Yi stopped his dad and recounted everything, from sparring with someone at school to being invited by Su Lanqing to her home to teach her combat techniques, explaining it all in detail.

“Don’t lie to me. With your talent, you can teach others?” Shen Qiulin still didn’t believe him.

“Your dad knows what you’re like. I don’t know who you take after with that stubbornness; you can’t even make up a decent excuse,” his dad said, glancing at Shen Yi dismissively.

Shen Yi said nothing, picked up his phone, and dialed Su Lanqing’s number.

“Hello, why are you calling me so late? You’re not calling to collect a debt, are you?” Su Lanqing saw Shen Yi’s call, her lips curving into a smile as she teased him.

“My lady, don’t talk nonsense. Could you please explain to my dad later that I am teaching you to cultivate?”

“Yes, why?” Su Lanqing asked, puzzled.

“I’ll hand the phone to my dad. You explain it to him. I can’t get through to him; he keeps thinking I’m being kept by a rich woman and is lecturing me,” Shen Yi said helplessly.

“Pfft~” A pleasant laugh came from the other end of the phone.

“You’re still laughing. Tell me how you’re going to compensate me for my emotional distress and reputational damage. I’m a good young man, and my dad has ruined my reputation by thinking I’m a gigolo, and my face isn’t even fair,” he said, then handed the phone to Shen Qiulin.

Su Lanqing, hearing Shen Yi’s explanation, collapsed onto her bed, laughing uncontrollably.

“Hello, I’m Shen Yi’s father.” Shen Qiulin took the phone, half-believing, half-doubting.

“Hello, Uncle, I’m Su Lanqing. Recently, Shen Yi has indeed been at my house. I asked him to guide me in learning combat techniques,” Su Lanqing said, quickly stopping her laughter and speaking seriously when she heard Shen Yi’s father’s voice on the phone.

To convince Shen Qiulin, Su Lanqing even made a video call to Shen Yi.

After hanging up the phone, Shen Qiulin awkwardly handed the phone back to Shen Yi.

“Well, your mom will be back soon. I’m going downstairs to pick her up,” he said, then fled as if escaping.

Shen Yi: “......”