Free Web NovelChapter 249: Chapter 249: Second Superpower
She couldn’t remember when it happened, but Jiang Youchen had added Jiang Qingli’s fingerprint to his door lock.
However, Jiang Qingli rarely entered other people’s rooms. This was her first time using the fingerprint lock.
Opening the door, her eyes were met with complete darkness.
The curtains were drawn tight, letting in not a single sliver of light. It was like a safe shell, yet it also held a faint, suffocating sense of oppression.
Jiang Qingli scanned the room but didn’t see Jiang Youchen. She took out her terminal, about to call him.
She didn’t know why, but she suddenly felt a need to control Jiang Youchen’s actions.
Just as her fingertip touched the terminal, a gentle voice called from behind her, "Xiao Li."
Jiang Qingli jumped as if caught doing something wrong. She whipped around, hiding the terminal behind her back, and softly called out, "Third Father."
"Looking for Youchen?" Zhou Yanli asked.
"Yes, there’s a fireworks show tonight." Jiang Qingli composed herself, wondering why she had been so timid. Of all her fathers, Zhou Yanli was the gentlest.
"Youchen probably doesn’t have time. He went out early this morning, apparently to see Song Zhizhou about something important." Zhou Yanli closed the door to the room and led her downstairs. "XN has a new collection out. The models and designers are here. Why don’t you pick something you like to wear out tonight?"
"Why don’t you pick something for me, Third Father? I have to go home for a bit later."
Even though Doctor Meng had said Gu Nian was fine last time, Jiang Qingli was still a little worried and planned to go home to check on her.
Perhaps sensing Jiang Qingli’s worry, a message from Gu Nian arrived just as they reached the bottom of the stairs.
Nian: [Okay! I want to watch the fireworks with you, sis! (*^▽^*)]
Nian: [Back at the orphanage, I always saw the female lead on TV kiss the male lead during the fireworks... ⌯’ᵕ’⌯]
’She’s not even trying to hide it anymore.’
Jiang Qingli: [This is a proper fireworks show. Thank you.]
After sending her reply, she looked at Zhou Yanli expectantly. "Third Father, is Mom free tonight?"
The family had been spending more time apart than together recently.
She wanted everyone to be together.
Zhou Yanli stroked her hair and said gently, "Xiao Li, your mother and fathers all have work to hand over. They’ll probably be able to come back after the New Year. How about we all watch the fireworks together then?"
"You have to go back again..."
Jiang Qingli’s expression fell, and she looked reluctant. But the thought of being able to see them often later made her optimistic again, and she went to pick out her clothes.
Zhou Yanli watched her leave with a smile, but it slowly faded from his face.
He beckoned to Yi Nuo.
Yi Nuo stepped forward and heard Zhou Yanli say coolly, "Turn off all the cameras in the house. Notify the Imperial Royal Academy to prohibit sharing any information with him."
Yi Nuo froze.
Zhou Yanli gave him a cold look. "Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing. It used to be for protection, but what about now? Since he’s overstepped his bounds, don’t blame me for taking action."
When he spoke of him overstepping his bounds, his gaze was fixed straight on the other’s eyes.
Yi Nuo lowered his head in a panic but did not move immediately.
The man’s refined face held an unquestionable authority. "Yi Nuo, your master is Xiao Li. Have you forgotten?"
Yi Nuo’s voice was hoarse. "...I haven’t forgotten."
With that, he turned and left.
-
"Congratulations, Marshal Jiang! Your injuries are all healed. You’re in perfect health!"
Song Zhizhou walked into the office holding a report and showed the data to the young man sitting on the sofa.
The latter didn’t look at him. His brow was tightly furrowed as he propped his chin on one hand.
Song Zhizhou found it strange. "What’s with you? You’ve had that look on your face ever since you got here. Who owes you money or something?"
"No one."
Jiang Youchen denied it, pulling the digital screen closer and looking at the data.
After a few glances, his gaze drifted away from the screen, his mind clearly elsewhere.
After a moment, Jiang Youchen asked, "What’s the probability of awakening a second Superpower?"
"You awakened a second Superpower?!"
Song Zhizhou, who had just been about to take a sip of his tea, was so shocked that his hand jerked, spilling tea all over it.
He yelped from the burn and jumped around, grabbing a tissue to wipe his hand while shouting in disbelief, "Dude, seriously? Your first Superpower is already insane, and now you have a second one? Are you trying to defy the heavens or what?!"
"It’s not me," Jiang Youchen said.
"Oh, Qingli awakened a second Superpower—holy crap!" Song Zhizhou’s eyes widened, and he looked ready to jump out of his skin. "Are you kidding me? Awakening a second time is rare enough, but she got a whole second Superpower?!"
"Is she trying to defy the heavens?!" In his excitement, Song Zhizhou knocked over his teacup. The scalding pain nearly made him pass out, but he was still desperate to know. "What kind of Superpower is it? An Attack System one?!"
The probability of awakening a second Superpower is extremely low for both females and males.
And because the total population of females is smaller, it’s even rarer among them.
Currently, the most powerful dual-Superpower female is the Emperor, Qin Shiyi. Her first Superpower is a double-S grade Healing System, and her second is an attack-type Light Element Superpower.
Because of this, most people assume that a female’s second Superpower will be an attack-type.
Song Zhizhou never imagined that the little girl he’d watched grow up would be so powerful. He was so excited he started shouting, his voice so loud it was ear-splitting.
Jiang Youchen pinched the bridge of his nose. "I’m not entirely sure."
During the Assassin attack the other day, Jiang Youchen had felt a powerful surge of Superpower from Jiang Qingli.
But it only lasted for a few seconds before dissipating completely.
He had wanted to check on her condition more closely, but he didn’t dare approach her, so all he could do was guess.
Song Zhizhou rummaged for some burn ointment and began applying it, though he didn’t stop talking. "The fact that you could feel it means it’s at least a possibility."
"This whole second Superpower business isn’t like the first one, which just pops up when you come of age. The manifestation process is usually much slower."
"I read a case file once about a noble female from the Second District. Her first Superpower was Fire Element. When she was twenty-two, she found that her fire would sometimes fail to ignite. She thought it was malfunctioning, but a check-up revealed it might be her second Superpower manifesting—which turned out to be Water Element."
"But the news caused such a sensation that the media swarmed her. It made her so tense that her spiritual power became unstable, and the second Superpower’s full emergence was delayed."
"It was only after she stopped overthinking and calmed her mind that the second Superpower re-emerged a year later and stabilized."
"So my advice is, don’t say anything to Qingli about this yet. Let her discover it on her own. Otherwise, she might get nervous or overly expectant, which could actually hinder the process."
He thought for a moment, then added, "However, you can bring her in for a check-up in a few days. I’ll see if there are any changes in her data and try to predict what the Superpower might be."
Jiang Youchen nodded.
Song Zhizhou stared at him, confused. "This is strange. Qingli awakening a second Superpower is a good thing, so why do you seem so down?"
"I’m not," Jiang Youchen said, his head lowered.
"You’re not?" Song Zhizhou was exasperated. "It’s written all over your face that someone owes you money."
...
Jiang Youchen pinched the bridge of his nose with one hand, suddenly feeling the urge to sigh.
’He had always stressed that she was still young, that she couldn’t protect herself, and that he needed to be by her side to keep her safe.’
’But he couldn’t ignore the fact that Jiang Qingli was constantly growing, becoming stronger.’
’Once she awakens her second Superpower, whether it’s from the Attack System or a defensive one, she’ll be fully capable of protecting herself.’
’And... she would no longer need him.’
’So, should he still brazenly insist on staying?’
’Could he even do that anymore?’
Jiang Youchen opened his terminal and looked at the invitation again.
[Hey, hey, hey! You going to the fireworks tonight or not?]
After a long while, he watched his own hand type out a reply: [I’ll go.]
’It would still be some time before her second Superpower fully awakened.’
’Before that...’
’...just let him keep deceiving himself.’
