Chapter 82

Please note the extremely important announcement in the work-related section before reading this chapter!

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Chenxian frowned slightly, somewhat unwillingly. If she had a choice, she would not want to accept the "protection" of the Raven King. Putting aside the fact that he was her mother's enemy, this request had a very obvious "hostage" nature.

"Can we refuse...?" she complained, not very hopefully.

Brad's response surprised her greatly, "Of course, in fact, b is preparing to do just that."

Chenxian's eyes widened in surprise. In just a blink, she realized the reason: her father, Di Tianxia, was the most popular young and strong cadre in the organization in recent years. After obtaining the management rights of the Hydra Council, his power, strength, and network of resources had become a threat to the last of the old giants in the "Snake" organization, the Raven King. Therefore, the Raven King, following tradition, demanded that he show submission by sending his only daughter to him as a hostage.

Whether it was because he was unwilling to part with his only beloved daughter or because he was planning to overthrow the status quo, Di Tianxia's refusal, without showing any weakness, clearly demonstrated a stance of resistance.

The girl clenched her fists and asked to the point, "Is Dad planning to hide me somewhere safe for the time being?"

"Sure, if the old raven hadn't made this demand, we could have maintained a peaceful coexistence for a few more years. But since he's torn off the mask, we can also have a decisive battle sooner..."

Speaking of battle, Brad happily took out a bottle of bourbon from his pocket and took a big gulp, "However, once the direct conflict begins, there will be no safe place within the old raven's sphere of influence. The only regions he has less control over are North America and East Asia, which are basically the last line of defense and the territory of the Hidden Dragon. You know, the Last Line has never been on good terms with us. So b plans to send you to the heart of the East Asian continent. There, an old gentleman in seclusion is one of the few people in the world who can refuse the old raven's face, and he happens to be an old acquaintance of your mother."

"Who is it?"

"The Red Sword Immortal of China, the honorary principal of Eagle Feather Academy. You will go there as an exchange student to this school that specializes in training elite talents."

"Eagle Feather Academy, I think I'll like it..." Chenxian closed her eyes, but her trembling eyelashes betrayed her excitement.

—This was the school that Li Pu had occasionally mentioned during their conversations, which was recruiting him.

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After Li Pu withdrew from the competition, Qin Xia'er continued to maintain her leading momentum in the top five competition, eventually winning the final championship of the Global Idol Chinese-speaking region. Her performances of five alien songs were very popular, with several of them causing a stir overseas. After adding a few more songs through the Avex company, she prepared to release a personal album for global release.

As the provider of several hit songs, Li Pu naturally received a share of the money—and would continue to receive a certain percentage of the profits from subsequent sales. As long as the sales met the predicted levels, it would be enough to cover his expenses for a long time.

However, the mid-term exams were just over a month away. Class President Xia'er, who had achieved her small personal dream, returned to her high school student identity with satisfaction. But now, as a nationally famous teenage idol, she was almost buried alive by the love letters, relationship proposals, and face-to-face confessions she received at school.

In comparison, Li Pu's reputation was much smaller, and his withdrawal from the competition gave some people a chance to criticize him harshly. However, it made no difference to him; he still maintained his daily routine of exercise and school.

The only difference was that whenever Chenxian left a message, he would reply through the Black Cloak website... and today, Chenxian's message left him stunned for a few seconds.

"Transfer to Eagle Feather Academy? Isn't that the school that Old Feng recommended to me before?" Li Pu took a deep breath. He had been somewhat interested in this school before, but he hadn't decided whether to apply—after all, he was used to being undisciplined. Being a bit lax in an ordinary high school was acceptable, but in a special school that gathered the nation's elite, it might not be appropriate.

But since his best friend was going to this school, he decided to apply and start studying seriously, developing his character and physical fitness. Besides, he didn't need to! Feng Kuzhan had already said he could write a letter of recommendation for him.

Thinking of this, he immediately took out his phone and called Feng Kuzhan.

"It's Xiao Li," Feng Kuzhan answered the call and laughed, "I watched your performance a few days ago. Wow, using the Great Toad Qi and the Purple Mansion True Words to sing, and you didn't even go off-key! You really are a mischievous kid. What do you need?"

Feng Kuzhan was one of the top martial arts masters in the Jiangnan region. However, he had always been very supportive of young talents like Li Pu and Zhang Shi, and Li Pu always felt that his character was as good as his martial arts.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Li Pu got straight to the point, "Uncle Feng, I've decided to go to the school you recommended." He thought for a moment and added, "Uh, it would be best to transfer me in as soon as possible."

"Hmm? Good, the young man has great potential and should serve the country! I've already written the letter of recommendation. Come to my place tomorrow to pick it up, and you can call them directly, mentioning my name," Feng Kuzhan was clearly very satisfied.

Serve the country? Actually, my political awareness isn't that high... Li Pu silently complained. He was a teenager with basic values, but he agreed to go to Eagle Feather Academy. Seventy percent was because of his childhood friend, twenty percent was out of curiosity about this school that gathered the nation's elite, and the remaining ten percent was patriotism.

The next day, after picking up the letter of recommendation from Tian Chan Temple, Li Pu immediately called the reception office. The man who answered the phone had a very stern voice. Upon hearing that Li Pu was recommended by Feng Kuzhan, he briefly replied, "Li Pu, is it? I've noted it down. Please bring Feng Coach's letter of recommendation to Beijing by next weekend."

"Next week? That's plenty of time. I can return the apartment, and since I've always been prepared to travel, I don't have much to keep. A single bag is my whole family." Li Pu thought for a moment and realized he still needed to handle the transfer procedures.

Uh, today I skipped class to go to Tian Chan Temple. When the teacher sees me wanting to transfer, they'll probably be overjoyed. But...

Unconsciously, there were people at school who needed to be said goodbye to.

A smile appeared on the young man's face. The little girl who used to boss him around had now become a national beauty. She might even be invited to the New Year's Eve gala this year. But in front of him, this high-and-mighty flower always seemed like a flustered little animal, making him want to tease her for fun.

Back at school, Li Pu first went to the school leadership to handle the transfer procedures, then climbed to the top of the teaching building and sat on the concrete railing. He took out his phone, calculated the time, and sent a text message to Qin Xia'er.

Not long after, Qin Xia'er walked up. The weather was gradually warming up, and a gentle early summer breeze tousled her hair. She pushed it back with her hand, revealing her smooth, white forehead. Perhaps due to some emotion, her delicate, unadorned face had a unique charm of a young girl. Seeing the young man on the rooftop, she smiled, "I'm surprised, you rarely take the initiative to call me."

—Perhaps because of this, she seemed to be in a good mood.

"Haha, I thought you'd ask why I skipped class first," Li Pu shrugged.

"Ah, if I keep bothering you with these things, you'll think I'm nagging like when we were kids, so I won't," the girl placed her hands on the edge of the railing, lightly pushed, and sat down next to him, "What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Oh, I'm planning to transfer schools," Li Pu said straightforwardly.

"Eh? Why are you suddenly transferring?" Qin Xia'er's eyes widened, and her good mood quickly disappeared.

"I'm going to the school Uncle Feng recommended," Li Pu said, "I'm leaving tomorrow."

"Why so urgent... But, didn't you say you'd wait until after high school?" Class President Xia'er asked hurriedly. She had just recently realized her youthful crush and was looking forward to their time together in the same school.

"Uh, there's been a small change," Li Pu pondered, "So I want to apply now." He laughed, "You know, a place like that is more suitable for someone like me, hahaha."

Qin Xia'er intertwined her fingers and mustered the courage, "Can't we finish high school together and then apply? Even for the military, you need to be eighteen and have finished high school, right?"

"That school is a bit special. They're looking for talent, not age or education," Li Pu shrugged, "Anyway, there's not much for me to learn in this ordinary high school. I might as well go earlier. Hehe, I've heard there's a very capable instructor there. I really want to see what new things I can learn..."

"..." Li Pu's reasons were very reasonable. Qin Xia'er's cherry lips parted, as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately didn't. She could only look down at her feet, feeling flustered.

—This is his choice, his life path. If I oppose it just because I want to stay together...

The girl closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling, her chest rising and falling as she took a deep breath, trying to dispel the waves of uncertainty.

"Hey," she suddenly suggested softly, "Let's skip class and go out to play?"

Li Pu looked at her in surprise, "Skip class to play? That's not a good idea, you're a celebrity in Shanghai. Not to mention the teachers, a bunch of reporters are watching you. If you dare to show up on the street with me, it'll be in the newspapers in no time. And your family, didn't you agree to focus on your studies and attendance after the competition?"

"…I don't care!" Qin Xia'er closed her eyes, "Wah! Let them say what they want! I don't care!"

Seeing the girl's obvious emotional fluctuations, Li Pu raised an eyebrow, "Okay, where do you want to go?"

"Let's go to the cinema first, then to the amusement park to play the claw machine… and more…"

Qin Xia'er lightly jumped off the railing, hiding her melancholy, and turned around with her skirt fluttering, giving the boy beside her the most sunny and perfect smile she could manage at that moment.

—I will get into that school. In that instant, the girl made up her mind.