In the living room, only Andrew Han and his father, William Han, remained. As for his mother, Linda Chen, she carried little Qian back to the bedroom.
Slurp.
Andrew Han took a sip of kelp and pork rib soup, then said in a low voice, "Dad, I want to think about what major to choose for the future over the weekend. It'd be best if I could see some things with historical significance in person, like ancient coins or similar artifacts."
"Oh?"
William Han squinted, holding his cup, and pondered for a moment. He had thought his son was just being whimsical, but clearly Andrew already had his own ideas.
This was a good thing.
William Han felt a bit gratified and chuckled, "Xiaodong, you know your Uncle Zhang, right? That's Uncle Roy Zhang—he likes collecting antiques. I'll ask him about it tomorrow."
"Really!"
Andrew Han's eyes lit up; he hadn't expected it to be so easy!
"Ha, he just loves collecting that kind of stuff," William Han waved his hand and looked at his son. "I'll tell him tomorrow that you want to take a look and broaden your horizons. Uncle Zhang is a good guy, so it shouldn't be a problem. You can just take a cab over yourself when the time comes."
"Alright!"
Andrew Han took another sip of soup and replied indistinctly.
William Han continued with a smile, "My son is really growing up, already has his own ideas. After the college entrance exam, make sure you get your driver's license..."
"Alright."
"Our family may not be wealthy, but we can afford college and a house. Just focus on your studies and make sure you get good grades. Don't study too late—rest early and take care of your health."
William Han reminded him.
Then, feeling a bit tired, he returned to the bedroom. Andrew Han watched his father walk into the room, secretly letting out a sigh.
Affording college really wasn't a problem.
And with current housing prices, the family might be able to scrape together a down payment, but by the time he graduated from college—four years from now—prices all over Huaguo would have soared, at least doubled! There'd be no way to come up with the money.
Andrew thought it over, but decided not to dwell on it.
After he graduated from college in his previous life... buying a house had become a major issue for young people. Some even gave up on the idea altogether, planning to rent for their entire lives.
"Mm."
"I'm thinking too far ahead, thinking too far ahead," Andrew Han muttered to himself. "Dad and Mom care so much about my grades, it's a serious issue. It's fine most of the time, but what about the next mock exam? And the final college entrance exam?"
"You can't fake your college entrance exam results, and you can't hide them."
If he really scored zero, he wouldn't be able to get into any college, and his parents would be heartbroken.
That wasn't Andrew Han's original intention.
He wanted his family of four to be reunited, so naturally he didn't want to ruin the family atmosphere because of himself. Andrew knew... his father hadn't gotten into college back then, so he placed great importance on Andrew's grades, pinning his hopes and expectations on him.
Getting into a top university was impossible.
But if he could reach a seventh-rank martial arts level, he could get into an ordinary college! That was his only hope.
......
The next day, Saturday. Ninety-seven days until the college entrance exam.
In the classroom of Senior Class 7.
Andrew Han sat in quiet contemplation, occasionally touching his left waist. Although it still hurt a little, it no longer affected his daily activities.
"Hey, Gavin Bright," a slightly lively and charming voice came from the desk behind him. "That copper coin you brought yesterday—was it really yours?"
Gavin Bright quickly turned around, eager to show off.
Behind Andrew Han and Gavin Bright sat two girls.
The girl sitting closer to the inside was named Cathy Feng. She wore a neat ponytail, sleepily rubbed her head, revealing part of her delicate forehead, and wore pure black, thin-rimmed glasses, giving her a gentle and somewhat frail air.
The girl on the outside was beautiful and lively, with bright red lipstick and a touch of makeup on her cheeks. She was Rina Xu, an art student and the source of the lively voice just now.
Rina Xu blinked her long, slightly curled eyelashes and smiled gently. "Where's that copper coin of yours? Can you lend it to me for a couple of days?"
Gavin Bright quickly replied, "I didn't bring it today. How about I lend it to you tomorrow?"
"Really?" Rina Xu giggled, tossing her long hair aside and revealing her breathtakingly delicate features, though a hint of anxiety flashed in her bright eyes.
Gavin Bright nodded earnestly, "Of course."
Rina Xu smiled, pursed her lips, then picked up her backpack and left her seat... As an art student, she didn't need to attend evening self-study.
A whiff of fragrance lingered in the air before fading away.
With her backpack on, Rina Xu left the classroom.
Sitting at his desk, Andrew Han shook off his stray thoughts and glanced at Gavin Bright, curling his lips. "Spring really is here... Gavin Bright in his mating season is especially enthusiastic."
Click.
Andrew Han shook his head, closed his black carbon pen, and looked at the clock hanging at the front of the classroom... It was almost time for evening self-study. After class, he could go home.
He was looking forward to it.
If Uncle Zhang, his father's acquaintance, really had a similar copper coin... maybe he could absorb the gray-white aura again.
"What a pity."
"I tried some metal objects at home last night, but none of them contained any gray-white aura. Thinking about it, the gray-white aura is just too mysterious—it can't be the kind of energy found in ordinary metals." Andrew speculated inwardly, tapping his fingers on the desk.
Thump.
Thump, thump.
The more he thought about it, the clearer his plan became.
His first priority was to find the gray-white aura, then use it to enhance his physical fitness, quickly improve his martial arts ranking, and finally achieve both his short-term and long-term goals.
Short-term goal... with a seventh-rank or higher martial arts level, get into an ordinary college.
Long-term goal... with a higher martial arts level, meet advanced martial artists and seek help to fend off monsters and ghosts.
"Sigh."
Andrew Han frowned slightly. "If I reach a fifth-rank martial arts level, I could get into a top university, even the one I attended in my previous life. But fifth rank is just too high—I can't aim too far above my means."
He was lost in thought.
Smack!
A light sound!
A boy in a blue and white school uniform with a tousled hairstyle slapped Gavin Bright on the shoulder and grinned, "You're something else! I heard you brought out your family heirloom yesterday and let Rina Xu play with it?"
Gavin Bright looked a bit displeased and grunted in response.
The boy brushed aside his messy bangs, letting out a low, ambiguous laugh, and casually glanced at Andrew Han, who was sitting further inside.
He was Kyle Gao, the same student Andrew Han had seen smoking at the school gate the day he was reborn.
Huh?
Kyle Gao?
Andrew Han glanced at Kyle Gao standing next to Gavin Bright, his eyes flashing with understanding... He'd spent some time today memorizing all his classmates, so he wouldn't have to face the awkwardness of recognizing a face but forgetting the name.
Like this Kyle Gao.
Kyle Gao was close with the two martial arts students in the class, and was considered one of the 'delinquents.'
He didn't study much, knew many martial arts students and 'delinquents' from other classes, which made him seem impressive to ordinary students.
The next moment.
"Andrew Han, why aren't you saying anything?" Kyle Gao continued to glance sideways at Andrew, half-smiling, as if joking. "You nodded and smiled after school the day before yesterday—looked pretty cool."
As he spoke, he pointed at Andrew Han with his right index finger.
Then, he reached for Andrew Han's head with his right hand, trying to show off his dominance.
Andrew Han leaned back, dodging Kyle Gao's hand.
"Tsk tsk..." Kyle Gao paused, letting out a low, ambiguous laugh. "Don't show off in front of me, really—it's my advice to you."
With that,
He tossed his bangs, slung his shoulder, and walked out of the classroom. He couldn't be bothered to talk tough, nor did he care to deal with someone like Gavin Bright—clearly a poor student, yet still obedient and foolish.
As for Andrew Han?
Just another ordinary classmate.
In fact, Kyle Gao had spent all of yesterday afternoon sleeping, so he hadn't witnessed martial arts student Sam Sun leaving the classroom with Andrew Han. That's why he didn't pay Andrew any attention. If he knew, he might think twice.
After all, having a martial arts student as a friend carried some deterrent power.
After all, having a martial arts student as a friend carried some deterrent power.
Gavin Bright looked upset. Luckily, evening self-study was about to begin, and Rina Xu had just left with her backpack—otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to swallow his pride!
In front of the girl he liked, Gavin Bright would never back down.
"Hey." Andrew Han narrowed his eyes. "Kyle Gao is a bit too arrogant."
When Kyle Gao pointed his finger at him just now, Andrew almost lost his cool.
He'd been suppressing himself ever since his rebirth... Rebirth hadn't given him much of an advantage; many memories were extremely vague, and even when he recalled them, they were just basic facts, not very useful.
Simply put,
This rebirth only made Andrew Han's mind more mature and his character more resolute and decisive. As for the supposed foresight and memory advantage, he couldn't see it—at least not yet.
......
Sunday, the first Sunday after his rebirth.
Suhe City has a wide river called Yuntong River running through it... Any building along the banks of Yuntong River is either a top-tier office, a dazzling entertainment mall, or a high-end residential complex.
A garden-style villa stood on the banks of Yuntong River, with the river even winding into the community, forming a meandering stream within the neighborhood.
Inside the spacious living room of one of these villas.
Andrew Han, dressed in light gray sportswear, opened his right palm and gazed at the slightly reddened coin in it, as if examining it carefully.
But inside, his emotions surged and churned like waves.