Translator: ChuRen/ YuQiChen
Si Nuo arrived at the infirmary accompanied by Zhang Yu. The school doctor wasn’t surprised to see him. “What’s wrong this time?”
Apparently, the doctor was quite used to seeing this frequent visitor who showed up every few days.
Si Nuo sat down on a chair before the examination table. “Fever.”
The doctor handed him a blood test slip, probably meaning he’d need an infusion afterward. His body was just too fragile. Those advanced medical pods from the interstellar era were useless for him; traditional IV treatment was the only option.
Zhang Yu waited with him in the infirmary for a bit. “I’ll go get you something to eat. What do you want?”
Si Nuo shook his head. “You eat your own food. I have no appetite now.”
“You still have an injection coming up. I’ll bring you some porridge or something. Wait for me.” Zhang Yu patted him on the shoulder and didn’t give Si Nuo a chance to refuse before running off.
The blood test results came back quickly—just a common bacterial infection.
Even that could cause him to have a fever. The doctor told him to lie down and brought him a blanket. “Have you taken your gene medicine?”
Si Nuo replied, “Yes.”
The doctor nodded. “Good. Then just sleep. The infusion will take about two hours. It has to drip slowly given your condition. Rest well.”
“Thank you, doctor.”
“If you want to thank me, just don’t let me see you here again.”
Si Nuo smiled, “I’ll try.”
The IV worked quickly; his temperature soon dropped. Feeling much better after yesterday’s poor rest, he fell asleep quickly.
When he woke up, the infusion was not yet finished. Seeing the porridge on the table, he realized Zhang Yu had been there.
The doctor glanced over. “Your classmate just left. He brought you porridge—try to eat some; your stomach should feel better. Oh, and he said he went to class first and will come see you again after.”
Si Nuo looked at his drip bag—still more than half full—said nothing, and was about to eat the porridge when his wrist terminal buzzed with a message. Setting down the porridge, he opened it. It was from Zhuang Ning—
It’s Zhuang Ning: [Master, I took our seniors to see Lu Cen’s painting. They are all S-level. After seeing it, they didn’t feel anything unusual, just thought the painting was beautiful. So does this mean this painting only works for people between A-level and S-level like us?]
Si Nuo hadn’t expected such quick feedback from Zhuang Ning. If S-level psychics felt no reaction after seeing the painting, it probably meant his painting only affected A-to-S level psychics like Lu Cen and Zhuang Ning. Below A-level, it was ineffective as well.
[I got it, thanks ^_^]
It’s Zhuang Ning: [Master, you’re too kind. By the way, are you still taking commissions? Several of my friends want to commission paintings from you.]
Si Nuo didn’t expect his commission business to take off so smoothly. He replied, [I can take commissions, but only after your painting is finished. Ask your friends—if they can wait, then they can come to me afterward. Also, 100,000 yuan per painting. See if they can accept that.]
It’s Zhuang Ning: [Wow, Master, your paintings only cost 100,000?]
Seeing this message, a smile appeared in Si Nuo’s eyes. [100,000 is already a lot.]
If it weren’t that he had sold the painting to Lu Cen for 100,000 yuan and couldn’t lower the price, Si Nuo actually thought 20,000 yuan per painting was already expensive.
After all, before this, the highest amount he’d received for a commission was just in the four digits.
It’s Zhuang Ning: [Master, you’re really too kind. I’ll tell them—they don’t mind waiting!]
With orders like this one after another, Si Nuo might just save enough to buy the best gene therapy drugs.
Suddenly, life seemed full of hope.
After finishing the injection, Si Nuo got down from the bed, ready to pack up and leave, when loud noises came from the hallway. Soon, Zhang Yu and Ren Ju arrived, both with bruises on their faces.
The school doctor sneered upon seeing them. “Oh, fighting, huh? Spirits are really high today. Looks like your teacher gives too much homework. What happened? Are you jealous because your friend’s in the infirmary?”
That last remark was obviously aimed at Zhang Yu.
Zhang Yu’s eyes flared with anger as he shot Ren Ju a glare. “You should ask him—who told him not to talk like a human!”
Ren Ju sneered. “Aren’t you afraid of biting your tongue from talking so big?”
Si Nuo quickly moved beside Zhang Yu, looking at the injuries on both their faces. He had to admit Zhang Yu wasn’t too badly hurt.
“What happened?”
Before Zhang Yu could answer, Ren Ju said, “Si Nuo, looking at how weak you are, you’ve really raised a good dog!”
Upon hearing that, Zhang Yu immediately turned and grabbed Ren Ju’s collar. “You—damn it, are you—”
“Enough!” the doctor barked. “What do you think this place is? Separate them now!”
People following behind quickly pulled the two apart.
Ren Ju sneered coldly, “Why don’t you want to hear the truth when I say it? Honestly, I’m puzzled. He’s an orphan with nothing, and besides his face, there’s nothing worth looking at. So why are you so protective of him? I bet you two have some kind of weird relationship.”
Zhang Yu was furious and about to retort, but Si Nuo pressed him down from behind and patted his shoulder. “Go take care of those wounds on your face first. If he doesn’t mind the pain, how can you? Go.”
Zhang Yu shot Ren Ju a sharp glare before turning to go inside to treat his injuries with the medical equipment.
Si Nuo looked at Ren Ju standing there. Based on the original owner’s memories, Ren Ju had always been hostile toward him—more like one-sided hostility.
Although they once lived together in the orphanage, Ren Ju was later adopted.
But it was this very circumstance that made their relationship complicated.
Because the family who adopted Ren Ju originally wanted to adopt Si Nuo. However, upon learning that Si Nuo suffered from a genetic disease and probably wouldn’t survive long, they switched to adopting Ren Ju instead.
Ren Ju probably resented Si Nuo for not being their first choice.
Si Nuo really couldn’t understand this mentality.
How could someone with the better outcome resent the one with the worse?
Ren Ju noticed Si Nuo said nothing but stared at him with complex eyes, even showing a faint and indescribable sympathy, which irritated Ren Ju immensely. “What are you looking at?”
Si Nuo chuckled lightly. “Just feeling sorry for you.”
“What did you say? Si Nuo, if you’ve got guts—say that again!”
“Saying it a hundred times won’t change it—I feel sorry for you. I never understood why you’re so hostile toward me, but I thought about it a moment ago. Back in the orphanage, your adoptive parents originally wanted to adopt me. But at the last moment, they switched to you. Wasn’t it you who told them I had a genetic disease? Since you got what you wanted, why still target me? Because you feel guilty.
Seeing me reminds you of the past. And I guess life at your new home hasn’t been great either, right? I heard your adoptive parents had a biological child after adopting you?”
Si Nuo spoke calmly, even gently, but every word stabbed sharply at Ren Ju’s heart.
“Shut up! You don’t know anything! Even if you’ve somehow survived till now, what good are you? A cripple! Without government aid for your gene medicine, how long would you last?”
Ren Ju’s eyes reddened. If someone hadn’t grabbed him, it seemed he would’ve lunged at Si Nuo immediately.
The school doctor glanced at Si Nuo and then Ren Ju. “Alright, if you want to fight, go outside. Don’t quarrel here!”
Ren Ju shook off the person holding him and walked up to Si Nuo with a hateful glare. “I’ll be waiting to see how you die.”
He threw down the words, shoved past Si Nuo, and headed inside.
Zhang Yu came out from inside, shooting Ren Ju a cold glare as he walked up to Si Nuo. “Are the things you just said true?”
Si Nuo nodded, rubbing his nose bridge.
Zhang Yu spat, “What kind of person is that? Poaching the adoptive parents that should’ve been yours, and still treats you like this? He must be mentally twisted!”
Then he looked toward a few people standing not far away and sneered, “And you guys still hang around with someone like that? Hmph!”
Si Nuo patted him on the shoulder. “Enough, let’s go.”
As they were leaving, the doctor reminded him, “Remember to come for the injections tomorrow. Your condition will require at least three days of treatment.”
Si Nuo responded with a nod and left the infirmary with Zhang Yu.
After Ren Ju finished treating the wounds on his face and came out, he noticed the strange looks from a few people waiting by the door.
Before he could speak, one of them approached him. “Ren Ju, we just want to ask—was what Si Nuo said true? Did you really steal his adoptive parents away?”
Ren Ju’s face darkened and he shouted, “What do you mean by that? Just because he says it, you believe it? If so, why don’t you all just follow him then? Why are you still here waiting for me?”
With that, he tossed the words over his shoulder and walked away without looking back.
Those left behind exchanged awkward glances.
Zhang Yu and Si Nuo walked out of the infirmary. On the way, Zhang Yu was still fuming. “That little bastard Ren Ju, I’ll teach him a proper lesson one day!”
Si Nuo chuckled. “No need. Besides, he’s only targeting me. You don’t have to stoop to his level because of me.”
Zhang Yu turned sharply, disappointed. “He only bullies you because you’re too honest.”
Si Nuo patted his shoulder to calm him. “Tell me, how did you two end up fighting?”
Zhang Yu snorted. “I was coming to find you after class. They asked if you’d gotten sick again. Before I could say anything, Ren Ju was right there saying you have a genetic disease and are doomed to die soon. If it were him, he’d just die already. Staying alive is just suffering. Might as well end it sooner. I could’ve let it slide, but the guy doesn’t even have basic kindness. I showed him some face, and he just got worse. I’m disgusted!”
Si Nuo pictured how Ren Ju must have said that and advised, “Don’t stoop to his level. The more you give him face, the more he gets cocky. He’s nothing.”
Zhang Yu smiled, “I was wondering what you’d do. You should rest first and recover your health. How about we go hiking on a day off later?”
Si Nuo thought that was a good idea but said, “Do you think my body can handle a hike? I’ll just take a walk downstairs, not going too far.”
Zhang Yu figured that made sense. With Si Nuo’s fragile body like thin paper, if they went hiking together, he might end up right back in the infirmary.
“Then put on something warm so you don’t catch a cold again.”
Si Nuo nodded, grabbed a jacket from the closet, and put it on. Then he packed up his painting supplies.
Seeing this, Zhang Yu asked, “So you’re planning to paint today?”
“Maybe I’ll get inspired later. Don’t wait for me. I’ve slept a lot today, so I might not be able to sleep well tonight.”
“Alright, just don’t stay out too late.”
Si Nuo carried his art supplies out of the dorm building. The autumn night breeze was a bit chilly, but with his jacket on, he didn’t feel cold. Night had completely fallen, stars sparkling across the sky. Si Nuo headed toward the low wall area. Though he didn’t plan to paint maple forests anymore, this spot was quieter.
Setting up his easel, he planned to do a nighttime study of the starry sky.
From this angle, he could see the artificial lake not far away.
The moon’s reflection shimmered on the lake surface, the light and shadow on the water looking like sparkling fish scales.
Once he began to paint, Si Nuo’s mind became calm.
Standing in front of the easel, moonlight slanted down, bathing him in a thin layer of golden light.
Holding the board, he glanced at the distant scene, and as his wrist moved, colors appeared on the white paper.
Guan Xingchen stepped down from his hover car. Behind him, his aide said, “Your Highness, your residence has been cleaned in advance and is ready anytime. But don’t you want Dr. Jin Ya to check your health?”
“No need. How is the investigation I asked you to conduct? Any news?”
The man’s gaunt chin was hidden inside the dark collar, only sharp black eyes visible. His voice was hoarse, sounding like he hadn’t rested for a long time.
“It’s still ongoing. But current results show that in the last six months, no one in the empire has broken through to 3S-level psychic power. Only one person has reached 2S-level so far. I’m still tracking the situation.”
Guan Xingchen furrowed his brows lightly, muttering softly, “None at all?”
The aide walking behind didn’t catch that last sentence clearly and was about to ask, but then heard, “Alright, I know. You can go back now. No need to see me off.”
The aide had no choice but to stop and watch him leave.
Si Nuo didn’t know how long he had been painting. When he finally stopped, he felt his vision darken slightly and closed his eyes until it improved.
Rubbing his head, Si Nuo realized his body was stiff, likely from standing too long.
He raised his hand to press his forehead, then looked down at the paper depicting the lake under the starry sky, unable to suppress a smile.
Beneath the twinkling stars was the moonlit lake surface. The dark tones didn’t feel heavy or oppressive but rather peaceful and pleasant.
Si Nuo wasn’t sure if Zhuang Ning would like this painting, but he felt that for now, he couldn’t create a better one than this.
A notification came from his wrist terminal — Zhang Yu was asking why he hadn’t returned yet tonight.
Si Nuo thought Zhang Yu was probably about to be worn down by his nagging.
Carrying this warmth inside, Si Nuo packed up the easel and turned back to the dorm.
Immersed in painting earlier, he hadn’t noticed, but now he felt a chill all over.
If his condition worsened, the school doctor would probably scold him again.
The first thing he did upon returning was taking a hot shower, and after that, the chill finally left his body.
Zhang Yu put a cup of hot water on his desk. “I think you don’t want to get better—your body’s not healed yet and you went out to freeze yourself. So, did you finish the painting?”
Si Nuo took a sip of the hot water, his eyes sparkling with a smile. “Mission accomplished!”
With one hand holding the cup, he handed the painting tube over to Zhang Yu.
Zhang Yu took it. “You actually finished it? What did you paint?”
As he spoke, he pulled the painting out from the tube. The moment it unfurled, Zhang Yu’s eyes instinctively widened. “Wow, this is so beautiful! Does our school really have a place this pretty?”
Si Nuo put down the cup. “That’s our school’s artificial lake.”
“I never thought the lake was anything special, but your painting really is gorgeous. Too bad I never learned good words in elementary school to praise you properly. How did you get the color for the sky? It doesn’t look like a pure deep blue.”
“Yeah, I mixed in some ambient colors, otherwise the painting would look too dark. Do you think Zhuang Ning will be satisfied with this piece?”
“I think he’ll be more than satisfied.” Zhang Yu stared at the painting without wanting to look away. He didn’t even have psychic powers yet, but seeing this, he wondered how someone like Zhuang Ning—an A to S-level psychic—would react.
After a while, Zhang Yu still felt unsatisfied. He looked up at Si Nuo. “Bro, since we’re so close, can you paint one for me too? I don’t have much money though, give me a bro discount, okay?”
Si Nuo laughed at that. “You say we’re bros, so why talk about money—it hurts our feelings. Just tell me, what do you want? Still a landscape like this?”
Zhang Yu chuckled, “You can also paint people, right? How about a portrait for me?”
Si Nuo was a little surprised. “You want a portrait to hang in your dorm? Wouldn’t that be a bit scary? How about I draw a Q-version little cartoon character instead—a personalized mascot designed after you?”
Zhang Yu’s eyes lit up immediately. “You can do that? Awesome! Go ahead, but keep it small—I want to put it on my desk.”
Seeing how excited he was, Si Nuo smiled. “Alright, I’ll paint it once I’m feeling better.”
Zhang Yu quickly said, “Yeah, yeah, you rest up first. Don’t give yourself a headache or stomach ache again.”
He rolled the painting back into the tube and asked, “When are you planning to give it to Zhuang Ning?”
Si Nuo was already lying on the bed. “No rush, maybe next Monday. I want to see if I get better ideas later.”
Zhang Yu nodded. “Sounds good.”
Early the next morning, the empire’s top military academy issued a sudden notice forbidding students from entering the east district.
The notice was so sudden that freshmen might not understand, but the seniors immediately knew what it meant.
Someone of high status must have returned.
Lu Cen woke up that morning full of energy. Since buying the painting from Si Nuo and hanging it above his bed, he’d been looking at it before sleep every night. His sleep improved, and his spiritual sea remained calm without any turmoil.
He now felt better than ever.
During training yesterday, even the instructor praised him.
Although his psychic level hadn’t progressed, he was extremely satisfied with his current results.
After all, upgrading psychic powers isn’t easy—the higher the level, the harder and riskier it becomes.
For him now, as long as he could steadily rise to S-level, it didn’t matter if it took a little longer.
Zhuang Ning looked at Lu Cen, whose complexion was rosy and gait confident, feeling both bitter and envious. “Looking at you all smug like that, one would think you won the lottery or something!”
Lu Cen raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t this like winning the lottery?”
Zhuang Ning wanted to retort with a jab, but Lu Cen’s words were hard to counter, so he could only complain with a hint of grievance, “I wonder how the master’s painting of mine is coming along. You say seven days, but why does time drag so slowly?”
Lu Cen patted his shoulder. “Be grateful. Look at how many people are waiting behind you. Besides, for paintings like these, forget seven days; seven months and seven days, tell me if anyone would still be waiting!”
Hearing this, some of Zhuang Ning’s irritation melted away. “Right, they said the prince has returned. He’s staying in the east district now, so the school gave that notice—probably worried we’d disturb his rest.”
“Looks like the prince’s patrol ended. I wonder if we’re lucky enough to see him.”
“Probably. The prince hasn’t graduated yet, though he’s two cohorts ahead of us. If he comes for training, maybe we’ll really meet.”
Hearing this, Lu Cen said, “Then we should head to the training ground more often!”
Zhuang Ning rolled his eyes. “Training is tiring enough now. Where would you get the time to go to the training ground?”
Lu Cen chuckled, “I feel great now—full of endless energy!”
He even flexed his biceps at Zhuang Ning.
Zhuang Ning shoved him away. “Don’t push me, go away yourself!”
“Showing off what? When my painting arrives, I’ll show off too, okay!”
Tch~
Si Nuo promised Zhang Yu a Q-version portrait, and on his day off, he really painted one for him.
Looking at the tiny figure with the same hairstyle, eyes, and posture—only smaller and cuter.
Zhang Yu was instantly captivated. “Is this me? Am I actually this adorable?”
Si Nuo laughed at his reaction. “You like it?”
“Absolutely! Perfect size too. Let’s go buy a frame—I want to put it on my desk.”
Si Nuo stood up. “Perfect timing—I’m planning to meet Zhuang Ning to give him his painting, then we can go buy the frame together. Sound good?”
“Sure, no rush anyway. Plus, it’s a day off with nothing much going on. We can take our time to hang out.”
So Si Nuo sent a message to Zhuang Ning, who immediately replied—
It’s Zhuang Ning: [Master, you finished the painting? I’m free. Just tell me where to meet!]
Si Nuo still arranged to meet at the café opposite the school.
When he arrived with Zhang Yu, they saw Lu Cen standing there waiting.
Seeing them, Lu Cen came over accompanied by a boy about his height. “Master, we’re here to pick up the painting. This is Zhuang Ning.”
“Master, hearing is nothing compared to seeing. You truly have an impressive aura, a presence among men…”
Zhuang Ning’s praise progressively became more exaggerated, so Si Nuo quickly interrupted, “Let’s go inside and look at the painting first.”
He worried that if he didn’t cut him off, Zhuang Ning might say something even more over the top.
Inside, Zhuang Ning ordered four coffees and cakes.
Si Nuo handed over the painting tube cautiously, and Zhuang Ning accepted it delicately.
The way he handled it reminded Si Nuo of how Lu Cen had been before, so he smiled and said, “Relax. Open it normally; the painting won’t get damaged.”
Zhuang Ning seriously replied, “I just can’t bring myself to open it normally.”
Lu Cen chuckled, “Master, just let him be. He’s hardly calm right now.”
Trying to suppress his pounding heart, Zhuang Ning carefully unrolled the painting.
The moment he saw it, he felt as if his spiritual sea had been struck by something profound.
His eyes glued to the painting, showing no sign of looking away.
His unsettled spiritual sea instantly calmed, and it felt as if he was inside the painting—the vast, deep starry sky, the shimmering lake surface—all the scenery played out vividly in his mind.
At that moment, even his breathing appeared steady.
Having never felt such peace before, his heavy eyelids slowly closed. The next second, his head fell with a thud onto the table—and yet he still didn’t wake.
The other three were shocked.
Zhang Yu jumped up, “What—what happened? He was fine just a moment ago!”
Si Nuo looked on anxiously at the unconscious Zhuang Ning.
Lu Cen quickly regained his composure and smiled, “It’s normal. He’s just too deeply immersed in the painting. A nap and he’ll be fine. Don’t worry—when he wakes, he’ll be bouncing around again. I’ll pay for the painting on his behalf, and later he’ll treat the master to a meal. I’ll carry him home now so he won’t embarrass himself here!”
Si Nuo was about to say it wasn’t urgent whether the money got paid, as long as Zhuang Ning was okay.
But Lu Cen didn’t even give him a chance. His terminal tapped Si Nuo’s, and with their previous transaction record, the payment was completed instantly.
Without hesitation, Lu Cen hoisted Zhuang Ning onto his shoulder, grabbed the painting, and left.
Before going out, he called back, “When Zhuang Ning wakes up, we’ll invite you to eat at our school cafeteria!”
Watching them leave, Zhang Yu said nervously, “Do you think this is going to happen every time they look at that painting?”
Author’s note:
Guan Xingchen: I’ll be seeing my wife soon~~
No reuploading anywhere else.
Support the author 灰剑如羽 by buying chapters on jjwxc!!
Your ko-fi donations would be greatly appreciated.
If you don’t know what to read next you can try these out
After leaving the entertainment industry, the Ge’er became famous for his embroidery skills
[Quick Transmigration] The Paranoid Villain is Coveting the Beautiful Cat Again
I’m currently translating these novels as well~
Ko-fi goals? Extra chapter release once we reach our goal!!
