Chapter 5: Another Cheat—Five-Second Precognition?

Qiling High School is built against the side of a mountain, and there are only two paths leading away from the school gate.

Heading down the slope leads to the bustling downtown area, where there are plenty of places to eat and play. Heading up the slope leads toward the city center, a long journey congested with heavy traffic. Consequently, most of the students who head up are from wealthy and influential families, as they are almost always picked up by private cars. Meanwhile, those who take the slope are mostly from ordinary backgrounds, dressed in simple, modest clothing, usually wearing their school uniforms.

When Chu Nan came to his senses and realized he was walking down this very slope, he could not help but laugh at himself. Deep down, he truly believed he was nothing more than a "lowly person."

"A lowly person is what I am, then. Isn't that fine, too? It’s full of the flavor of life."

Chu Nan walked with a light step. He wanted to wander around to familiarize himself with the surroundings and see if there were any business opportunities. He knew very well that since time had rewound more than a decade, re-familiarizing himself with the environment was his top priority.

By the time he was ready to cross this thousand-meter-long slope, Chu Nan was drenched in sweat. It was May, and the scorching sun hung high above; his throat felt like it was about to smoke.

"If only I had a drink of water."

Chu Nan looked up and, in a daze, saw an object falling from the sky—it looked like a flowerpot.

The next moment, the flowerpot smashed onto someone’s head with a loud *thud*. The person instantly collapsed into a pool of blood, their head cracked open.

Chu Nan let out a cry, his face turning deathly pale. Almost instinctively, he stepped back a few paces, large beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead.

"Are you sick or something? Don't you know how to walk?" a few boys behind him who had bumped into him glared at him in annoyance.

Chu Nan was dazed, only then realizing that he must have been seeing things.

But when he looked up again, the flowerpot appeared in the air once more, descending at an incredible speed. The entire sequence took only about five seconds!

"Look out!" With no time to think, Chu Nan shouted and instinctively lunged forward, grabbing a girl by the hand!

The next instant.

"CRASH!!!"

"CLATTER!!!"

"AH!!!"

Terrified screams erupted from those nearby. Like a bomb, the flowerpot exploded upon impact, sending dust and shards flying everywhere.

Chu Nan was breathing heavily, as was the girl in his arms. She looked at the shattered remains of the flowerpot less than a meter away, finding it hard to imagine what would have happened if this boy hadn't pulled her away...

"Could this... be my second cheat?" In a haze, Zhou Xiaonan heard the boy mutter something inexplicable.

"Are you all right?!" Chu Nan, still shaken, finally had a moment to look at the girl. He was stunned; how could this girl be so delicate and beautiful? She was easily a match for Jiang Yuwei. Moreover, he felt like he had seen her somewhere before.

"I'm fine, thank you!" Zhou Xiaonan said, then looked down at Chu Nan. "But you don't look all right..."

"I'm not?"

"Yeah..."

Chu Nan looked down and realized that the fabric of his trousers around his left shin was stained red. A piece of ceramic shard from the flowerpot was embedded there, and the unimaginable pain followed immediately.

"Oh—dammit!" Chu Nan doubled over, clutching his leg and howling. He secretly cursed himself for having such a slow reaction time.

"Oh, don't move, don't move! I'll pull it out for you!"

"Are you... are you trying to kill me by pulling it out? Go to the pharmacy nearby and get me some iodine, hydrogen peroxide, and gauze!" Chu Nan groaned. Was this girl trying to end him?

"Oh, wait here for me, I'll be right back." Zhou Xiaonan, also panicked, pushed through the crowd and ran off.

The terrifying, explosion-like sound eventually drew the attention of the school faculty. That same day, Chu Nan was hospitalized.

His tibia was nearly fractured, but thanks to timely treatment, the leg was saved. However, he would undoubtedly be stuck in the hospital for at least ten days to half a month.

The school did not inform his parents of the incident. This was partly due to Chu Nan’s strong insistence, and partly because Zhou Xiaonan’s father personally promised to cover all medical expenses.

Because of this event, the principal of Qiling High School called an emergency meeting with the senior leadership and contacted the police to investigate—whether the flowerpot was thrown intentionally or if it had fallen by accident. Regardless, they needed to find the owner of the pot.

Of course, Chu Nan was unaware of the final outcome; he was just glad to have kept his life.

"Thank you, young Chu," said the middle-aged man standing by the hospital bed. He was bald and pot-bellied, wearing a suit; it was hard to imagine that such a man could have a daughter as beautiful as Zhou Xiaonan.

"Don't mention it, Uncle Zhou. It was the right thing to do. I think anyone else would have chosen to help immediately if they saw the same situation," Chu Nan said modestly.

Zhou Guang paused, then shook his head with a smile. "I don't quite agree. In that situation, most people would have chosen to run away first. They wouldn't have pulled my daughter to safety like you did."

Chu Nan shook his head as well. "Not necessarily. Sometimes saving someone is just instinct. I didn't have time to think about all that."

In truth, there was something he didn't say: if he hadn't "seen" the flowerpot beforehand, he probably wouldn't have reacted in time either, and might have ended up dead himself.

"Good, good, good! What a fine lad! Being able to say that shows you’re a good kid at heart. I won't say any more; since you saved my daughter, just ask for whatever you want. As long as I, your Uncle Zhou, can do it, just say the word!"

Zhou Xiaonan, standing nearby, frowned but remained silent.

Chu Nan smiled slightly. "I wonder what you are capable of, Uncle Zhou."

Zhou Guang blinked, then laughed. "Money, a house, a job after you graduate, or even work for your parents—just name it. Let’s see if I can be of help."

Chu Nan smiled meaningfully. "Uncle Zhou, everything you've said revolves around the word 'money'..."

"You’re right, but that’s all I have to offer you..."

"Then..."

Before Chu Nan could finish his sentence, Zhou Xiaonan couldn't watch anymore. "Enough! Chu Nan already said it was the right thing to do, which means he isn't looking for a reward. Just go! Besides, it’s me who owes him, not you. Why are you even here? Leave! I don't want to see you!"

Chu Nan’s expression changed. *Wait, I was just about to say 'all right then,' because I'm actually a shallow person who likes money, but why are you chasing him away? I was just trying to act cool for a second, don't mind me!*

"Sigh, Xiaonan, what are you doing?!" Zhou Guang asked, looking embarrassed.

"What am I doing? Didn't I say you don't need to interfere in my business?! Get out! And even if he wants money, he’d ask me for it—what does that have to do with you?" Zhou Xiaonan said, using all her strength to push Zhou Guang toward the door.

"Xiaonan, I am your father! Have some respect for me!" Zhou Guang’s face darkened.

"You want respect? How about you have some shame instead? Get out before I say something truly unpleasant!" With that, Zhou Xiaonan slammed the door shut.

"Fine, fine, fine. You’re all grown up now and have grown wings, I won't bother with you anymore!" Zhou Guang said angrily before leaving.

A few seconds later, Zhou Xiaonan turned to look at Chu Nan. "Do you think I’m unladylike?"

Chu Nan hesitated. "I just think he’s your father, and doing that wasn't very nice..."

"Does a man who only knows how to spend his time drinking and chasing women deserve to be called my father?" Zhou Xiaonan said with disdain.

"..."