Chapter 74: Even a Deadbeat Should Have Dreams—What If Fate Decides to Favor You?

The first-tier Awakening Serum was universally acknowledged as the best of its kind. Even with the school offering it for sale, you’d still need to spend a million credits—a sum that an ordinary family couldn’t hope to earn in a lifetime. As for the special-grade Awakening Serum, legend had it that it could guarantee awakening with a one hundred percent success rate. However, the production costs were astronomical, and the actual success rate was abysmal; even Gene Warriors had never seen it, much less obtained it.

So when everyone heard that Tang Shen had received a first-tier Awakening Serum, one could imagine the wave of envy it provoked.

While his classmates were abuzz with excitement and jealousy, Tang Shen remained perfectly calm. He stood, gave a nod to the homeroom teacher on the podium, and sat back down.

The teacher paused for a moment at Tang Shen’s composed and undisturbed demeanor, then smiled with satisfaction. She had always felt confident about Tang Shen.

“Bai Xue, ranked second in the year, entitled to a free second-tier Awakening Serum,” the teacher continued.

Immediately, all eyes in the classroom shifted toward a graceful figure. Her jet-black hair cascaded to her waist, her tall figure was perfectly proportioned, curves accentuating her slender frame. Even from behind, her beauty was evident, radiating an unmistakable femininity.

The boys looked at her with admiration; the girls, with envy.

Bai Xue was the acknowledged school belle. Her exquisite features and cool, aloof aura made every boy in the school flock to her. The greatest difference between her and Tang Shen lay in her formidable background—she came from a renowned and powerful gene family.

A wealthy and influential family background only made the boys more infatuated.

Bai Xue stood, her gaze complex. For three years, ever since she’d entered this school, she had been the pride of her elders, a childhood prodigy, the model “other people’s child” everyone spoke of. Her grades had always been first, a position she’d grown accustomed to—until high school.

Here, she was always overshadowed by one person, never once overtaking him. At first, she didn’t mind. But as she found herself perpetually in second place, she couldn’t help but care.

Three years passed, and she remained second; the one above her was always Tang Shen.

Tang Shen, eighteen years old, an orphan with no background whatsoever—he attended school and worked part-time after classes. Two months ago, he’d received a gaming helmet and hadn’t left his house since.

She knew everything about Tang Shen: every place he’d worked, every detail—perhaps even more than Tang Shen himself.

Yet it was this very person who became the mountain pressing down on her pride.

Beautiful? Yes. Powerful background? Unquestionable.

And yet, she was thoroughly surpassed by someone whose only remarkable trait, besides his handsome looks, was his utterly ordinary life.

She didn’t care much for the second-tier Gene Serum; what unsettled her was the unrest within her heart.

She glanced back, her gaze falling on Tang Shen, who was absentmindedly picking at his desk.

Tang Shen happened to look up and met Bai Xue’s gaze. He remembered her well—so very different from him: beautiful, outstanding, from a notable family. Their only interactions were as classmates and that time when the teacher wanted him to be class president. He’d refused, claiming he was too busy, and Bai Xue became class president instead. They’d barely spoken.

Their eyes met.

Seeing Bai Xue’s face, Tang Shen couldn’t help but marvel inwardly, “She really is beautiful. No wonder she’s the school belle—even top celebrities in my previous life couldn’t compare. And she’s not even wearing makeup.”

She was only in her final year of high school, just come of age; in a few years, she’d surely be a beauty beyond compare.

Tang Shen didn’t feel much, only that she was indeed lovely. He gave her a faint, warm smile—so different from his usual demeanor at school, bright and gentle.

Bai Xue was startled. She hadn’t expected to meet Tang Shen’s gaze, nor that he would smile at her. An inexplicable flutter rose in her heart, and a thought surfaced: “Is it just me, or has he become even more handsome?”

“What am I thinking?” She quickly cut off the thought, turning away in haste, her ears growing hot. “Thank you, teacher,” she said, then hurriedly sat down. Yet, she couldn’t stop envisioning Tang Shen’s dazzling, sunny smile. It was handsome, warm, and so unlike his usual self—a lethal charm for any girl.

The boys, seeing Bai Xue’s gaze toward Tang Shen, especially when Tang Shen smiled and Bai Xue turned away in embarrassment, were instantly indignant. She was the classic “rich, fair, and beautiful” girl, the goddess in their hearts, usually cold and unattainable.

Yet she’d looked at Tang Shen, and even blushed.

Normally, they couldn’t get close to her, but now someone had made Bai Xue shy—they felt as if their goddess had been stolen away.

How could they not be angry? Jealous?

Just because he was a little more handsome and had slightly better grades?

If looks could kill, Tang Shen would have been cut to pieces by now.

Tang Shen was taken aback. His keen eyesight caught Bai Xue’s reddening ears.

He felt rather pleased with himself. “Hmm, as expected, I’m just too handsome. Even the school belle has a crush on me—unbelievable! If I didn’t have so many virtues and hadn’t resolved to become powerful, maybe I’d be living off a rich girl by now.”

As for the envious and resentful stares, Tang Shen couldn’t care less. When you’re too handsome, there will always be jealous people—that’s just how it is.

He couldn’t be bothered with their petty grudges—he was simply too generous for that.

He discreetly raised a middle finger.

Returning his attention, he noticed the petite Xue Jiayi beside him, who was staring nervously at the podium. Her hands were twisting her shirt hem so tightly she was about to tear it, completely unaware.

Tang Shen knew her situation well. She was a bit slow, always asking him questions; he’d wanted to help, but when the exam questions changed, she’d get confused and fail to apply what she’d learned.

Her grades fell in the lower middle of the class. She was earnest and worked hard, but it just didn’t help.

By the total scores, she really didn’t have much hope—but this was a turning point in life, and everyone clings to hope.

Even a salted fish has dreams; how much more so a person?

Who knows—maybe fate would play a trick and she’d be called.

“Worried your name won’t be called?” Tang Shen tapped her, seeing her anxious expression.

“Ah?!” Startled, Xue Jiayi cried out. The entire class turned to look, the teacher paused, and Xue Jiayi shrank into her seat, her face flushing crimson, almost burying her head under the desk.

Everyone else glared at her in annoyance. At such a critical moment, someone had interrupted!