Chapter Forty-Seven: I’m Just Lining Up—The Formation Mustn’t Falter

Tang Yi still had to attend school the next day. It was impossible for him to install a surveillance camera at home to monitor Ralts around the clock—such a perverse thing was simply beyond him. Therefore, he decided to cut down Ralts’ internet time at the source. Wouldn’t it be better for her to focus on composing novels, singing, or learning to draw? She couldn’t be allowed to spend all day lost in the virtual world.

Moreover, Tang Yi wanted to personally test which antivirus software was most effective. After some time, he planned to see which program blocked the most pop-up ads; only the one with the highest count would be worthy of being kept. He called this killing two birds with one stone.

With this plan in mind, Tang Yi returned to school in good spirits, throwing himself into the intense preparations for the university entrance exams.

“You seem to be in a good mood. Ralts must be all right now?” During the break, Gu Qingyue came over to check on her friend. She’d already heard the whole story via WeChat the day before.

“She has to undergo one more hypnosis session this weekend, but judging by things, she should be completely recovered by next week. Oh, by the way, did your Lucky Egg get over that syndrome?” Tang Yi looked up from his exercise book.

“My Lucky Egg got through it last month—no medicine, no injections, just recovered naturally.” Gu Qingyue boasted a little, then asked curiously, “You made it sound pretty serious the other day. Why not just go to the hospital for some medicine?”

“Hypnosis works too, doesn’t it?” Tang Yi had looked into it after returning home yesterday. Hypnosis could indeed alleviate the growth-stagnation syndrome, but with the rise of new medicines in recent years, this method had gradually fallen out of favor in major hospitals due to its inefficiency.

“It can, but it’s too slow. Don’t forget there’s the second round of the selection tournament next month. You’d better hurry and train Ralts.” Gu Qingyue reminded him, then glanced at the workbook Tang Yi was working on and laughed. “Is this the gift Ralts gave you the other day?”

“That’s right. My plan is to finish all the problems in this workbook.” Tang Yi forced a smile, making light of his hardship. He knew that even if Ralts didn’t say it, she’d be very sad if he failed to complete it.

A sudden thought struck him, and he asked, “When a sprite’s transitional period ends, she’s considered an adult, right? Did you prepare a present for Lucky Egg when she came of age?”

Gu Qingyue shook her head, a little bemused. She knew what Tang Yi was getting at.

“It’s obvious you haven’t done enough basic reading. After sprites become humanoid, there are no males among them. Their reproduction occurs between two eligible girls of the same species and compatibility, who, through a special process of energy exchange, produce a concentrated energy core—the sprite egg.”

“This unique form of reproduction means sprite girls have no clear concept of parents, nor of birthdays. If you want to celebrate Ralts’ birthday, you’ll first have to educate her about human birthdays and the notion of parents, as well as how human children are born. Are you sure you want to go through all that with Ralts?” Gu Qingyue’s face was full of mischief.

Tang Yi replied with righteous indignation, feigning disgust, “Your mind is filthy! I never expected you to be like this, Gu Qingyue!”

Gu Qingyue retorted with disdain, “Tsk, you understood me so quickly—clearly your thoughts aren’t so pure either. I never expected you to be like this, Tang Yi!”

Well then.

Gu Qingyue’s words made Tang Yi temporarily abandon the idea of celebrating a birthday, though he tucked it away for later. She also reminded him that there wasn’t much time left before the second round of the selection tournament. With both tournament preparations and the university entrance exams to focus on, time was tight.

Tang Yi had no intention of interrupting Ralts’ treatment plan for this. He trusted the old doctor’s judgment. Hypnosis therapy might be slow and time-consuming, but it could fundamentally heal any potential aftereffects left by the syndrome.

As for the tournament, he would wait until Ralts had fully recovered before worrying about it.

That was Tang Yi’s decision. However, as one of Tianying High School’s representative contestants, the school clearly had no intention of letting them idle about.

Later that day, the vice principal created a special chat group and added all four winners from the first round, including Tang Yi.

Vice Principal: Last week, the school held a meeting and decided to hire a senior trainer who once placed in the national top four. For the next month, he’ll be responsible for your special training. We hope you’ll all do your best and win honor for the school.

Li Yaowen: Hello, everyone. My name is Li Yaowen. At the school’s invitation, I’ll be responsible for your training for a while. Let’s all work hard and aim for great placements—and of course, success in the university entrance exams as well. [smile.JPG]

Zhang Chen: [applause.JPG]

Jiang Hai: [applause.JPG]

Yang Fu: [applause.JPG]

Tang Yi: Ah, sorry, I won’t be joining for now.

Zhang Chen: Tang Yi, you’re ruining our formation.

Tang Yi: Oh, all right. [applause.JPG]

Vice Principal: …

Vice Principal: This won’t interfere with your exam prep. Training will take just one hour at noon and one after school. The school has arranged special facilities and you’re allowed to bring your sprites to campus.

Tang Yi: It’s just that my Ralts is having a rather severe bout of growth-stagnation syndrome right now. I’ll join you all for training once she’s better.

Li Yaowen: If the syndrome is severe, it’s indeed unsuitable to train right now. That’s understandable.

Vice Principal: Very well. The rest of you will start today. Let’s make good use of our time, all right?

Zhang Chen: Got it! [strive.JPG]

Jiang Hai: Got it! [strive.JPG]

Yang Fu: Got it! [strive.JPG]

Tang Yi: Got it! [strive.JPG]

Jiang Hai: Didn’t you just say you wouldn’t be joining, Tang Yi?

Tang Yi: Yes, but I’m just keeping the formation.

Vice Principal: …

Tang Yi didn’t take part in the chat after that. Whenever the other three posted emojis in sequence, he simply followed suit—formation must be maintained, after all.

As Li Yaowen said, if the syndrome’s symptoms were severe, intense exercise or training was not advisable. Tang Yi had already consulted the old doctor about this at the hospital the previous day.

To Tang Yi, Ralts’ health was far more important than the outcome of the second-round selection tournament.

The vice principal took this matter quite seriously. That afternoon, he even spoke to Tang Yi personally. Once he confirmed Tang Yi’s reasons for not participating, he could only leave with a sigh.

Tang Yi remembered that the vice principal was mainly in charge of the university entrance exam selection tournaments. The school valued these events highly. If their students achieved good results in official tournaments, it would greatly enhance the school’s reputation—not only favoring their ranking in the Education Ministry’s annual evaluation, but also attracting better applicants each year. That was why the school was willing to fund special training to boost the four students’ abilities.