Chapter Forty-Nine: You’re a Pervert!

Although Tang Yi had learned from both the old doctor and his books that, after their rapid growth phase, elven girls were considered adults, he had still underestimated the situation. Upon reaching adulthood, elves not only matured physically but also grew wiser. Tang Yi had to admit that he had let his guard down this time.

Ralts was about to come of age; she was no longer the shy, naïve girl she had once been, no longer someone he could fool with a few casual words. Tang Yi pondered that perhaps Ralts had sensed her browsing history had been exposed as soon as she returned from the hospital two days ago, yet she had remained composed until yesterday. Most likely, during the day while he was at school, she had secretly looked up how to delete her browsing history.

The elven girl was inevitably growing up, becoming more intelligent and adorable. This should have been double the happiness, double the joy, yet Tang Yi couldn't help but feel a faint sense of loss. It would not be so easy to pull the wool over her eyes anymore. The trick of peeking at her browsing history would no longer work. Tang Yi was about to shut down the computer when a sudden thought struck him. He reopened the browser and quickly typed a line into the search engine:

[So, who are you planning to use hypnosis on? Why have you become so diligent lately?]

After glancing at the new search entry, Tang Yi finally shut down the computer, smiling wryly. He wondered whether Ralts would respond the next time she saw it.

The next morning, Tang Yi packed his books and bag for school. As usual, Ralts saw him to the door, saying little, simply watching her trainer leave.

“I’m off, then,” Tang Yi said, just as he always did, reminding her, “Rest well at home, and don’t spend too much time online.”

“Okay,” Ralts replied lightly.

“See you later.”

“See you.”

Before leaving, Tang Yi and Ralts exchanged glances. The longing in her eyes had lessened, though she was still rather bashful. In the end, there was nothing different from her usual farewell gaze, no hint of anything unusual.

Heh, quite the actress.

It was another day of intense revision. During the day, the vice principal once again inquired about Ralts’s condition, still not willing to give up, and tactfully mentioned that the growth stagnation syndrome could be quickly alleviated with some medication.

But Tang Yi refused again, leaving no room for negotiation.

The vice principal was a little annoyed, but since he couldn’t force the issue, he decided to let Tang Yi be, with a hint of resignation. The other three students’ training had officially started, and every day Tang Yi saw Li Yaowen analyze each of their elves in the group chat.

This coach, whom the school had specially hired and who apparently had quite the background, was indeed capable. Zhang Chen, Jiang Hai, and Yang Fu—each a top student in their class—had naturally harbored some pride. Yet with just a day of training and observation, Li Yaowen had incisively pointed out the strengths and weaknesses of their elves, instantly humbling them and making them take the training seriously.

Tang Yi was quite tempted himself—once Ralts recovered, he would bring her over for Li Yaowen’s analysis as well.

Though he had twice refused the vice principal and explained his reasoning, others still felt that he didn’t take the selection tournament seriously, that he was either too arrogant or simply didn’t care. He only heard these rumors because Gu Qingyue, who was cheerful and well-liked in class, told him quietly.

Apparently, people thought he had lucked out and won the spot to represent the school, and now was getting cocky and looking down on others.

All Tang Yi could do was smile wryly; he really just wanted to wait until Ralts was fully healthy.

That evening, Tang Yi didn’t rush to turn on his computer. As usual, he had dinner first and chatted briefly with his parents about his studies. Mr. and Mrs. Tang respected him greatly. Though they worried about his college entrance exams, they felt that asking about them too often would only add pressure. Realizing this, Tang Yi would take the initiative to bring up the topic every few days.

After returning to his room, Tang Yi chatted casually with Ralts for a while. Their conversation was as normal as ever, a back-and-forth he had grown used to, since Ralts rarely initiated topics herself.

At nine o’clock, Ralts didn’t wait for Tang Yi to hint it was bedtime; she got up herself and went to her little bedroom to sleep.

At last, night fell and Tang Yi was alone. Eagerly, he turned on his computer, rubbing his hands together with anticipation and excitement, as though awaiting a lottery draw.

He felt a faint sense of unease—was he turning into some kind of pervert obsessed with peeking at her every day?

But this was his room, his computer!

With that comforting thought, Tang Yi reassured himself and opened the browser. As expected, yesterday’s and today’s browsing history had been wiped clean, leaving only a handful of search entries.

[I would never do anything illegal!]
[I want to earn money. I checked—the selection tournament offers a big bonus for top finishers.]
[You said so yourself, half the scholarship is mine. You have to keep your word! No backing out.]
[You really do check every day. You’re a pervert!]

Though they were search entries, they read more like messages, especially the last one—a bolt from the blue.

Who could put up with such injustice? Tang Yi felt the need to explain to Ralts the difference between a real pervert and someone acting out of genuine concern.

He immediately looked up the definitions for both terms, posted the links in the search history, and left a few more messages.

[Read the notes carefully! I am not a pervert!]
[What do you want to buy?]
[It’s not that easy to win a place in the tournament.]
[Video link]
[This is footage of last year’s final round.]

After some thought, Tang Yi had nothing more to add. Leaving messages through the search history was inconvenient; he could only focus on the important points.

He hesitated a bit—the mutual messaging was a strange method of communication.

Maybe he should just go and talk to Ralts directly. The old doctor had suggested spending more time with her lately, to help ease her worries.

But then he reconsidered. He knew Ralts’s temperament too well—shy and reserved. Even with him, she would have trouble voicing her thoughts face to face.

Tang Yi understood. Some people could be eloquent online, but in reality, might be too nervous to get out a single word.

He felt that Ralts, with her obvious homebody tendencies, fit this description rather well.