59: I want to take the college entrance examination!

They acted incredibly understanding and considerate.

It was as if they weren't the ones who just moments ago wanted to tie Lin Yao up and force her to sign a contract.

The middle-aged man with the gold-rimmed glasses pushed his spectacles up, adding a sentence. His words were still unhurried, yet carried an unchallengeable, cold sense of rules.

"Of course, we respect your right to choose and will give you ample time to consider."

"However, there's something we need to remind you both about."

He held up a finger.

"All contracts we've offered today, whether SS-rank or SSS-rank, are based on the highest value assessment at 'today's' point in time."

"From today until the College Entrance Examination day one month from now, for every day that passes, the value of the contract will be proportionately reduced."

"This is a market rule, not something any of our companies can decide. After all, even geniuses have an expiration date, don't they?"

These words were spoken lightly.

But the threat they contained made the school leaders and teachers, who had just caught their breath, change their expressions again.

This wasn't a threat; it was an open conspiracy.

They were using time and money to place an invisible shackles on Lin Yao.

Every day, your value is eroding.

Every day, you are becoming "cheaper."

A month later, when you finish the College Entrance Examination and want to sign a contract, you probably won't even get half the price offered today.

They intended to use this method to force Lin Yao to make a decision quickly.

Lin Yu's face was devoid of any emotion.

He was too familiar with such tactics.

He pulled his sister, turning to leave.

"We understand."

Feng Rui and the others immediately made way, still smiling warmly as they watched them go.

But just then, a muffled voice spoke up.

"I also need to consider."

It was Zhao Tianyang.

He still stood there like an iron tower.

The company representatives looked at Zhao Tianyang, their smiles stiffening.

Another one!

A Mythical-rank profession, [Asura]!

"Student Zhao, your situation is different from Student Lin Yao's..." A representative hurriedly began.

However, before he could finish, several more voices rose from the crowd.

"Uh... I also want to think about it more."

The speaker was the male student who had previously awakened the Golden Epic-rank profession, [Holy Light Knight].

Beside him, the female student who had awakened the Purple Rare-rank profession, [Elementalist], also quietly agreed.

"Me too..."

One stone stirred up a thousand ripples.

Several students who had awakened high-quality professions, originally pre-locked by various companies and ready to sign on the spot, now all hesitated.

They had witnessed Lin Yao's experience.

And they had seen Lin Yu and Zhao Tianyang's firmness.

A thought they had never had before began to sprout in their hearts.

Perhaps... we don't need to be in such a hurry?

Perhaps... we can also fight for ourselves?

On the stage, the faces of the dozen or so company representatives finally completely fell.

Their smiles vanished.

One Lin Yao, they could wait, they could use time to pressure her.

But now, all the most promising talents were adopting a wait-and-see attitude.

This meant they might not sign anyone today!

This was an unprecedented sight for Linzhou No. 1 High School!

And it was a Waterloo these "human traffickers" had never encountered!

Seeing the atmosphere become tense again, the school leader finally found an opportunity. He stepped forward, addressing the company representatives.

"Everyone, today's awakening ceremony has concluded. Thank you for coming. As for the signing, let the children go back and discuss it thoroughly with their parents!"

He was effectively asking them to leave.

Feng Rui coldly glanced at the school leader, then at Lin Yao, who was protected by Lin Yu, and finally fixed his gaze on Lin Yu's calm face.

He said nothing, only turned and walked off the stage, filled with anger and unwillingness.

The others also left one after another, each giving Lin Yu a deep, complex look before departing.

But they weren't in a hurry, because among Linzhou No. 1 High School's students, not many came from affluent families, and these few were not among them.

They could wait; the ones who would be anxious were definitely the students.

Only when all the company representatives had left did the atmosphere on the stage truly relax.

The school leader let out a long sigh, feeling as if he had fought a battle, drenched in sweat.

He walked up to Lin Yu, looking at the student he had once held in highest regard and felt the most regret for, his expression a mix of emotions.

"Lin Yu..."

He had so many questions.

He wanted to ask where he had been for the past five years.

He wanted to ask why he had become like this.

He wanted to ask where he found the courage and strength to confront those dozen behemoths just now.

But in the end, a thousand words condensed into a single, heavy sigh.

Lin Yu also recognized the white-haired Principal Zhang before him.

When he was a student at Linzhou No. 1 High School, Principal Zhang had given him a lot of care.

"Principal Zhang, long time no see."

Lin Yu's greeting made Principal Zhang even more emotional.

"Yes, it's been a long time... You..."

He wanted to say, "You've finally come to your senses," but felt it was inappropriate. He wanted to say, "Welcome back," but felt it was too light.

Ultimately, he could only pat Lin Yu's shoulder.

"It's good you're back, it's good you're back."

Lin Yu nodded. He looked at the sports field, which had returned to order, and at the younger students, some excited, some disappointed.

Then, he suddenly spoke.

"Principal Zhang, I'd like to trouble you with something."

"Tell me, anything I can do," Principal Zhang immediately replied.

Lin Yu's words were calm, yet they stirred up huge waves in the hearts of everyone around who heard them.

"Please, help me print an admission ticket."

"I'm taking this year's College Entrance Examination."

One sentence left Principal Zhang stunned in place.

It also made Lin Yao, who had just recovered from that nightmare, suddenly look up, staring at her brother in disbelief.

Her mouth hung open, her eyes wide with shock.

Brother... is going to take the College Entrance Examination?

The brother who had given up the College Entrance Examination for five consecutive years, even breaking with his family over it, now said he was going to take the College Entrance Examination?

"Lin Yu, you... what did you say?" Principal Zhang took a step forward, suspecting that he might be hearing things due to his age.

"I said, I'm taking this year's College Entrance Examination," Lin Yu repeated, as calmly as if he were discussing a trivial matter.

This time, everyone heard clearly.

A deathly silence fell over the stage.

Principal Zhang's facial muscles twitched a few times. He looked at Lin Yu, his expression incredibly complex.

"Have you thought this through carefully! This is no joke!"

"You've deferred for five years; your difficulty is thirty-two times that of a regular examinee!"