Two days later, Monday morning.

As soon as Lin Zichen arrived at school, he headed straight to the administration building to meet the principal and proposed holding a personal challenge tournament.

The rules were simple: he would defend the stage while any student in the school could challenge him.

The principal was stunned, “You’re only in your first year and you want to challenge the entire school? Are you serious?”

Without saying another word, Lin Zichen led her to a quiet corner of the gymnasium and showed her his strength by lifting a 700 kg barbell with one hand.

The principal was utterly shocked.

“Seven hundred kilograms! That’s stronger than Wu Tiancheng when he was in his first year! Am I dreaming?”

Once she recovered, her face lit up with excitement, “No problem! I’ll arrange your all-school challenge showcase right away!”

“Principal, remember to set up rewards. Without them, no one will be motivated to join.”

“Of course, leave it to me!”

“It’d be best to have two types of rewards. One for participation—to encourage people to challenge—and one cumulative pool that grows with each fight. Whoever beats me takes it all. But if no one beats me before the time limit, the prize goes to me.”

“Deal! We’ll do it your way!”

“Also, please keep my strength a secret for now. If people find out, no one will dare to challenge me.”

“Understood, understood! The principal will keep quiet!”

No matter what Lin Zichen asked, the principal agreed without hesitation. She looked nothing like the terrifying ‘female devil’ that teachers and students usually feared.

That was the charm of a once-in-a-generation genius—able to make even the school’s cold, authoritative principal act like a loyal follower, as if hypnotized.

* * *

During lunch break, the principal personally came to Class 1 with the event plan she had spent the whole morning drafting, handing it to Lin Zichen for review.

He skimmed through it quickly and nodded in satisfaction, “The plan looks great. Thank you, Principal.”

She smiled brightly, “It’s nothing, really.”

Teachers and students passing by rubbed their eyes, thinking they must be hallucinating.

What was going on?

The cold-faced, no-nonsense ‘demon principal’ was grinning like a fangirl in front of a student?

Was the world upside down?

Unlike everyone else, Shen Qinghan remained calm as she watched. Whether it was teachers fawning over Lin Zichen or even the principal doing so, she’d seen it all growing up.

She figured even when he reached university, the university principal would probably end up the same way.

Meanwhile, the principal was far too elated at discovering such a genius to care what anyone thought.

Once Lin Zichen approved the plan, she immediately pulled out her phone to notify every homeroom teacher to gather their students at the field at 2 PM for an important announcement.

* * *

At 2 PM, the students and teachers assembled on the sports field.

Lin Zichen stood on the stage beside the principal.

Once everyone was present, the principal took the microphone and announced Lin Zichen’s personal all-school challenge.

She laid out his basic information, his recent accomplishments and the rules and prizes in detail.

The crowd erupted in disbelief.

“Principal, are you serious?!”

“She’s gone insane!”

“You’re a first-year freshman and you’re challenging the entire school? Where’s your confidence coming from?”

“You think you deserve to challenge us?”

“Just because you beat one second-year elite class, you think you’re hot stuff? You didn’t even touch the third-years!”

“So arrogant! You think you’re Wu Tiancheng, the strongest in school history?”

Many upperclassmen were offended by the idea of a freshman challenging them and shouted angrily.

But Lin Zichen simply said calmly, “Starting tomorrow, I’ll be defending the stage in the gymnasium every day during the two-hour lunch break. Anyone is welcome to challenge me.”

* * *

After school, Shen Qinghan looked at Lin Zichen curiously with her soft, glimmering eyes, “Xiao Chen, why are you suddenly going public like this? That’s not really your style.”

“High school’s too boring. I just wanted some fun.”

“Liar!”

“Can’t fool you, huh?”

“Tell me!” she said, playfully clinging to his arm.

Lin Zichen smiled, “Not yet. I’ll tell you after I’ve thought up a good excuse.”

“???”

Seeing her pout, he decided to tell her the excuse he’d already prepared, “The principal saw my performance in class sparring and wanted to test my limits, so she arranged this challenge for me.”

“You actually agreed? That’s not like you.”

“Of course I agreed—there’s money involved,” he said with a grin, “Once I get paid, our families should go out for a big dinner together.”

“Deal!” Shen Qinghan nodded eagerly, already drooling at the thought.

Lin Zichen chuckled. Such a foodie—just like when she was little.

* * *

That night, after dinner and some rest, Lin Zichen began his usual daily training.

Last night he’d trained strength, so tonight was for speed.

After changing shoes and grabbing his keys, he stepped outside for a run.

As he left, he heard a soft, sweet singing voice drifting from the building next door—Shen Qinghan practicing for the singing competition in late December.

Her voice was gentle, tender and full of emotion. She was sure to win something.

‘I should buy her a bouquet when she wins. But what kind? Maybe I’ll stop by a flower shop while I run.’

With that, he took off toward the nearest flower shop.

* * *

On a bustling street.

A young man with a slightly handsome face stood by the roadside, holding a 4-yuan cup of lemon tea, watching passersbys.

Strangely, he ignored all the women.

Whether in stockings or cheongsams, he didn’t spare them a glance.

His eyes were fixed solely on young, handsome men.

‘Unbelievable—was Shanhai City really this disappointing? All I need is one perfect 10 out of 10 pretty boy and I can’t find a single one? Every single one has some flaw! This is infuriating!

If I can’t complete the sacrifice mission perfectly, what will the Cult Leader think of me? Will the others in the cult start looking down on me?’

The thought made him furious—he even considered dragging a random man into an alley to vent his frustration.

He was both obsessive and a perfectionist, unwilling to complete a sacrifice any less than flawlessly.

He’d even thought about capturing a male celebrity, but they were always surrounded by bodyguards. As a mere Rat God Cult rookie, that was beyond him.

‘The deadline was near. What should I do?!’

He grew increasingly desperate, on the verge of stomping his feet.

Just as he was about to give up and settle for someone ‘good enough,’ he spotted a perfect 10 across the street—in the flower shop.

‘Holy crap, he’s gorgeous! Talk about a miracle find! Pikachu, it’s decided—you’re the one!’