Leaving the gymnasium rooftop and returning to the dorm.

As soon as Lin Zichen opened the door, he saw Shen Qinghan working out in the training room.

The air‑con was off; she was drenched in sweat.

For comfort and ease of movement, she wasn’t wearing underwear while training. Her sweat‑soaked clothes clung tightly to her body, perfectly outlining her graceful curves—very alluring.

Looking at the sight before him, Lin Zichen couldn’t help feeling a little sentimental.

That little baby girl who used to pee on people without warning had, before he knew it, grown into a campus heart‑throb with full marks in both looks and figure.

Thinking back now, it felt like he just blinked and she had suddenly grown up—like playing a raising‑sim game, a touch unreal.

After a moment of idle emotion, Lin Zichen soon sat on the sofa, took out his phone and browsed the marketplace on the school app—the “credits mall” the upperclassmen always talked about.

Gene reagents, alloy equipment, high‑tech gadgets and so on—he just skimmed them. What he focused on was aberrant‑beast meat.

After browsing for nearly half an hour, his gaze finally settled on Living Dead Slug meat.

Before the college entrance exam, he had seen it in outside malls at 100,000 per jin.

But in the credits mall it cost only 8 credits per jin—basically a 20% discount, much cheaper.

Barring surprises, this should be a special price only Shan University students enjoyed.

He now had 769 credits in total.

At 8 credits per jin, he could buy 96 jin.

For the remaining 4 jin, he could pay cash at an outside mall.

That way, the Compendium entry for the Living Dead Slug could be unlocked.

He wondered what biological attribute he might gain…

With that in mind, Lin Zichen went to place an order for 96 jin of Living Dead Slug meat.

Just as he was about to submit, he reconsidered—it didn’t seem wise.

A freshman suddenly dumping 700‑plus credits to buy nothing but Living Dead Slug meat would look abnormal no matter how you sliced it—bound to draw attention.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, it is better to split the purchases.

Buy some each time, spaced out.

For this round, he’d start with 10 jin.

Thinking so, Lin Zichen spent 80 credits and ordered 10 jin of Living Dead Slug meat.

After that, he took out the Vitality Pills Liu Chuanwu had given him.

There were ten in all.

Each about the size of a soybean, bright red in color, giving off a faint fragrance.

Lin Zichen picked one up and put it in his mouth to taste. It melted instantly, turning into warm currents that flowed into his body; he felt comfortably warm.

At the same time, a numeric prompt popped up in the void:

[Vitality +108]

‘Only that much vitality?

With an effect like this, running a few kilometers under the boost of the biological attribute Use It or Lose It would add even more vitality. Better give them to Hanhan. Her Biological Level was lower—she should get good gains from them.’

Just as he was thinking that, Shen Qinghan came out of the training room.

She had a pair of fruit‑brand earbuds still playing music in her hand. Walking over to Lin Zichen, she stopped at his side, slightly out of breath, “When did you get back?”

“About half an hour ago.”

Lin Zichen handed her a Vitality Pill, “Here—take one and see how it works.”

Shen Qinghan took it and swallowed it without a second thought.

A few seconds later, sweat broke out all over her body. Her cheeks flushed red; she looked feverish.

“How do you feel?”

Lin Zichen watched her and asked.

With a note of surprise, Shen Qinghan said, “I feel really hot—my vitality inside feels much fuller. Xiao Chen, this Vitality Pill works so well!”

“Good, take the remaining eight then—no more than one per day.”

“You’re not taking them?”

“I just did. For me the effect is average—wasteful, really.”

“Oh, I see.”

Shen Qinghan nodded and accepted a small vial from Lin Zichen.

Looking at the eight pills inside, she smiled with crescent eyes, “Credits and Vitality Pills—this feels like being kept by a sugar daddy.”

Lin Zichen laughed, “If anyone’s keeping anyone, it’s you keeping me. I’m living in your dorm.”

“Then we’re keeping each other,” Shen Qinghan giggled, then asked, “What do you want for dinner? I’ll cook.”

Lin Zichen thought for a moment, “I’m a little sick of regular meals. How about rice‑vermicelli soup and a plate of cold cucumber salad? What do you think?”

“Sure—leave it to me. Half an hour and it’s on the table!”

She patted her chest in assurance.

Then, stripping as she walked, she headed for the bathroom.

She’d sweated too much during training; she needed a quick shower and clean clothes before cooking.

* * *

After dinner, they sat on the sofa with books, delving into advanced evolution theory.

After about two hours, when their food had mostly digested, they went into the training room again.

Shen Qinghan did strength work.

Lin Zichen sat cross‑legged, conducting a second round of Skin Tempering.

Around 11 p.m. they finished training, showered together and went to bed.

They didn’t fall asleep right away; instead, they lay chatting.

“Xiao Chen, you were too over the top in the Opening Trial today. Those so‑called peerless geniuses in my class were all stunned by you. I bet they’re still in an existential crisis.”

“Not that bad.”

“It is that bad.”

Shen Qinghan’s hands were restless; while expertly massaging Lin Zichen, she said, “I just scrolled the school forum—everyone’s talking about you. A lot of people took it hard. Not just freshmen, but upperclassmen too. Plenty of sophomores, juniors—even seniors—say they couldn’t solo the entire Gifted Class. They’re calling you a beast in human skin. And I even saw someone post a group—its name is ‘God Chen Support Club.’ That’s another fan group of yours.”

Here, a hint of envy crept into her voice. “From kindergarten to college, you’ve always had throngs of fans around you. Being held up like a star must feel amazing.”

“Too many fans is a hassle most of the time.”

Shen Qinghan disagreed, “Only after experiencing it would it be a hassle. For someone like me who hasn’t—if I could be adored like you one day, that would be sweet.”

“Your Gene Fusion Adaptability is as high as 21%. Your day will come.”

“I think so too. I hope it comes soon.”

Her hands were getting tired, so she stopped and, eyes glistening like peach blossoms said, “Um… I watched one of your study videos on your phone. The female lead used her feet to massage the male lead. It looked pretty comfortable. Do you want to try it?”

“Sure.”

Lin Zichen agreed without hesitation.

He was the one being massaged; all he had to do was lie back and enjoy—no reason to refuse.

Soon, Shen Qinghan began a somewhat clumsy foot massage.

It was her way of paying him back.

After all, just today alone she had gotten 90 credits and 9 Vitality Pills from him.

If she didn’t repay him somehow, she’d feel like she was being kept.

She didn’t like that kind of unequal relationship.

What she liked was both sides giving.

* * *

Time ticked by—about half an hour later, she stopped massaging with her feet.

It was mid‑September and hot. Prone to sweating since childhood, she now had a fine sheen of sweat all over.

Especially on those fair little feet—already sticky with sweat.

“I’m drenched—want to soak in the bath together?”

She pulled a few tissues, wiped both herself and Lin Zichen clean and suggested.

Hearing that, Lin Zichen sat up, slipped an arm around her waist, lifted her up and headed for the bathroom. He laughed, “In return for that massage, I’ll scrub your back.”

* * *

The next day.

Lin Zichen got up early to make breakfast.

Simple stuff—bread, a grilled sausage, an egg, plus a glass of milk.

Before long, Shen Qinghan stumbled out of the room, still sleepy.

After she washed up and finished breakfast, the two headed downstairs and then separated to go their own ways.

At the Pure Human Institute, Lin Zichen entered the living & recreation area—and as before, saw Song Yuyan inside doing yoga.

“Morning, Freshman King.”

Seeing him, Song Yuyan stopped and sat cross‑legged on the mat, smiling as she greeted him.

Lin Zichen smiled back, “Morning, Sister Yan.”

“Come sit, I want a proper chat,” she said with a pat of the mat beside her.

He went over and sat.

He knew what she wanted to talk about—yesterday’s Opening Trial, of course.

“I heard from the Dean your Biological Level is actually Ordinary Tier 6—and you’ve already learned Flesh Tempering?”

Song Yuyan’s bright apricot eyes shone.

Lin Zichen nodded.

At that, Song Yuyan was in disbelief, “Heavens, Zichen—you’re too gifted. Compared to you, my Kyoto list runner‑up is trash.”

Then she grew excited, “With you onboard, the Pureblood Human Path will definitely make a splash. When the time comes, our Celestial Pavilion will shock the world and change how people think!”

“Good. Let’s work hard together,” Lin Zichen said, eyes politely averted.

Her neckline was way too low—he could see the cleavage.

They chatted a bit more.

Soon, Lin Zichen stood and headed for the research area.

Not to do experiments, but to study the original text of the Blood‑Tempering Art.

Liu Chuanwu and Song Yuyan had worked on it for years but still hadn’t grasped the Opening‑Aperture Chapter.

Lin Zichen figured he couldn’t rely on them—he had to rely on himself.

Once he learned to read the original text, he was sure he could make progress faster than Liu Chuanwu and Song Yuyan.

After all, the effect of the biological attribute Innate Wisdom was no joke. When it came to research, he could get twice the result with half the effort—no, that was too conservative.

Boldly—one hundred times the result with half the effort!