Chapter 91: Affinity for All Things

Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Affinity for All Things

"Zhengran, you’re being mean to me~"

After finishing his snack, Lin Zhengran suddenly flicked her on the forehead again. "Something right in front of your eyes, and you still want to argue with me, huh? You’re getting bolder and bolder."

Han Wenwen pouted as she got flicked, but she was actually ecstatic. She knew that whenever Lin Zhengran "hit" her, he never used any force at all, so it didn’t hurt one bit.

After that, the two didn’t have much time to talk, focusing on quickly finishing their snacks.

By the end, Han Wenwen was so full she looked languid. Lin Zhengran took her hand and threw their trash into a garbage can.

[Today, Dragon City held a Lantern Festival. You and the Demon Sect Witch strolled through the festivities. Your long journey together has made the Demon Sect Witch grow very interested in you, even to the point where she’s becoming inseparable from you. You sampled many of the delicacies at the festival together.]

[You have gained +7 Charm, +5 Physical Strength, +3 Strength, and +2 Energy.]

[Your cultivation level has successfully broken through to Level 50. You have received a bonus of twenty Charm Value points and a new Talent Skill: Affinity for All Things.]

[Affinity for All Things - Can only be unlocked when your Spiritual Qi level reaches fifty and your Charm Value is maxed out.]

[Affinity for All Things has five levels. Each level increases your proficiency with all things, applying equally to making friends, Alchemy, Talisman Making, learning Magic, and more. At max level, your initial proficiency with anything will be at least Master Level. It can be further raised to its peak by cultivating corresponding contracted partners.]

Lin Zhengran heard the system finally spit out another long string of text.

Lin Zhengran had actually already reached level forty-nine back in eighth grade, but his cultivation progress had been slow for all of ninth grade. Now, he had finally broken through. Plus, this Affinity for All Things sounded much stronger than the simple Charm Value he had before.

After all, Charm Value was only useful on people and had almost no effect on objects. But after upgrading to this new skill, it seemed to affect everything, based on the description.

He held Han Wenwen’s hand as they walked back to school, taking the opportunity to check his status panel along the way.

[Your current Spiritual Qi level is fifty.] [The Body Cultivation Stage has ended. You have successfully entered the Qi Refining Stage.]

[Your current stats are:]

[Strength: 68] [Unlocked: Strength will not decay and you are immune to disease.]

[Energy: 59] [Upon reaching 60, you will gain the special ability to go seven times a night without fatigue.]

[Physical Strength: 68] [Upon reaching 70, you will gain the special ability of double Physical Strength and triple endurance in all activities.]

[Affinity for All Things: Level 1] [Basic Affinity. You can quickly master all things, far surpassing ordinary people.]

He looked at the panel and saw that his Charm Value had disappeared. Once it was maxed out, it had been directly converted into the new skill.

Also, a new term had appeared after his Spiritual Qi level: Qi Refining Stage...

’Does that mean the previous four stats were just basic stats? After being maxed out, will they all turn into ultimate attributes like Affinity for All Things?’

Lin Zhengran used to think most of these stats weren’t very respectable, but now it seemed he just hadn’t unlocked their full potential. His Energy was also about to hit the threshold for a new ability; he was just one point away.

’Just one small event should be enough.’

As they were walking, Han Wenwen suddenly felt that something was a little different and glanced at Lin Zhengran. Lin Zhengran asked, "What’s wrong?"

Han Wenwen blinked and said with a smile, "I can’t quite put my finger on it. I just feel like Zhengran suddenly got even more handsome. Is it my imagination? Though you don’t look any different, since you were already handsome enough to begin with."

Lin Zhengran just smiled, pulling her along. "Stop talking nonsense. We’re back at school."

Han Wenwen’s cheeks flushed slightly as she stared at Lin Zhengran and tightened her grip on his hand. ’He really has always been this handsome,’ she thought.

They made it back to the school gate just in time.

Lin Zhengran glanced at the guard uncle in the distance and gave Han Wenwen a meaningful look.

Han Wenwen felt him let go of her hand and understood what he meant. She reluctantly pulled her hand back, but the warmth from his grasp still lingered.

Walking through the school gate, Lin Zhengran nodded at the uncle.

"Uncle, I’m back."

The uncle smiled. "Finished with your business?"

"Yeah, I finished the things the teacher assigned."

Han Wenwen thought to herself, ’Zhengran is a pretty natural liar.’

The two returned to the rehearsal room for the show, just as students from Class Three called Han Wenwen over to practice. Han Wenwen called back in acknowledgment.

So, the two had to part ways in the hallway.

Before leaving, the Little Fox waved at Lin Zhengran with a grin. "See you tonight, Zhengran. By the way, I really did get to be the first one to hold your hand."

Lin Zhengran watched her walk away, thinking, ’Didn’t I hold her hand a long time ago? Back when she was sick.’

He walked toward the other practice rooms until he saw a classroom with a piano inside through a window.

Lin Zhengran was just about to open the door when he happened to see Jiang Qian inside. She had changed out of her military training uniform and was wearing a form-fitting white dress.

Her long hair draped over her shoulders. From outside the window, he could only see the girl’s frosty, cool side profile. Paired with the piano, she looked exceptionally noble, like a snow lotus on an icy mountain.

Even though Lin Zhengran didn’t pay much attention to most girls, he had to admit that Jiang Qian’s posture surpassed that of many others. Even just sitting there alone, she always maintained a dignified and elegant composure.

Her slender fingers slowly settled onto the piano. As they danced across the keys, a beautiful and melodious piano piece began to play.

Lin Zhengran didn’t actually know much about the piano. Even with the help of his system’s learning ability, he barely had the skill of someone who had played for ten years.

But now, after listening for only a short while—perhaps due to his Affinity for All Things—Lin Zhengran was surprised to find he could quickly identify both the excellent points and the flaws in her music.

Hearing the brief piece of music, Lin Zhengran smiled. ’Even though the system said Level 1 Affinity wouldn’t be obvious,’ he thought, ’my current piano skill is probably equivalent to an ordinary person practicing for thirty or forty years... And this affinity doesn’t just apply to the piano. It works for anything I use, giving me about thirty to forty years’ worth of experience.’

Jiang Qian stopped playing halfway through, seemingly trying to figure out where she had made a mistake. Then she started again.

The second time was much better than the first, but there was still a small issue. Lin Zhengran waited until she finished playing before pushing the door open. "That was beautiful."

Jiang Qian half-turned to glance at Lin Zhengran and stood up. "You’re here. A little late."

"Dinner took a little longer than expected."

Jiang Qian didn’t seem to mind. She looked at the other piano, eager to hear Lin Zhengran’s skill for herself.

"I prepared this piano for you. It’s no different from mine. You can give it a try."

Lin Zhengran said thanks and walked to the piano.