Being forced to grow like a pig? But I'm immune to the consequences!

Yan Liang felt something was off about what he was hearing.

But he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong; it seemed like nothing he said would be appropriate.

He could only manage a weak smile and a mumbled reply before lying back down on the bed, saying nothing more.

The dormitory fell silent.

Only Zhao Dele leaned against the headboard, a faint smile playing on his lips.

That smile contained a clear understanding of everything, as well as a faint mockery of the myriad aspects of human nature.

---

The fifth day since arriving at the Martial Arts Academy.

Early in the morning, several instructors posted the list of students who had applied for subsidies and organized a vote.

As previously arranged, Wu Sheng and the others all voted for Suoguli. Zhao Dele also garnered three votes—one of his own, plus two votes he obtained from elsewhere.

As for Yan Liang, he naturally cast his vote for the "friend" Xu Fei mentioned.

And he finally found out who Xu Fei's friend was.

It was none other than Ning Yi, the beautiful and tall girl.

Upon seeing this name, Yan Liang felt a mix of emotions, a feeling he couldn't quite describe.

Ning Yi's demeanor and attire clearly indicated she didn't come from a family lacking money or resources. Yet, someone like her was competing with outsiders like them for a subsidy quota?

Thank you.

When Ning Yi saw that Yan Liang had voted for her, she smiled and thanked him. Her smile was so bright that it seemed she had shown it to others countless times before.

"It's nothing, just a small matter."

Yan Liang responded subconsciously. Faced with such a beautiful girl, his inner fawning over "superiors" resurfaced—his earlier displeasure vanished without a trace.

Just then, two more boys came over to vote for Ning Yi.

Yan Liang recognized them—they were the two from last night's dinner party.

Ning Yi thanked them in return. The two boys waved their hands casually.

"No need to thank me, let's keep things separate. We gave you the tickets, and you gave each of us a potential-enhancing potion and even treated us to a meal. It's a fair trade, there's no need for thanks."

Ning Yi smiled sweetly upon hearing this.

That smile was incredibly charming.

But to Yan Liang, it felt as if a shard of ice had been stuffed into his ears.

One potential-enhancing potion per person? And a dinner party too?

Last night's dinner... wasn't it a gathering organized by Liu Zhi and his friends? Wasn't it to entertain "friends"?

So those two were the "voting friends"? They each had a potential-enhancing drug? So that's what that meal was all about?

Then what is Yan Liang?

Wasn't his vote a vote? He also voted for Ning Yi—how come he got nothing? Not only did he get nothing, he even paid for dinner last night, and then got a lecture from Liu Zhi!

These thoughts churned in Yan Liang's mind like boiling water, and his breathing became rapid.

He wanted to question them.

But when he opened his mouth, he couldn't utter a single word.

What could he say? Ask Xu Fei why he didn't give him the potential-enhancing drug? Ask why he only gave it to others and not him?

These words were tantamount to tearing off his own fig leaf—Xu Fei and the others had never thought much of him.

Yan Liang didn't want to admit it.

He didn't want to admit that despite all the time he'd been licking the boots, no one had ever really paid him any attention.

Moreover, if they were to break off relations, wouldn't that make him an enemy of Xu Fei and his group? What could a nobody from out of town possibly use to fight them?

—Maybe, maybe those two didn't get the medicine because of the vote? Maybe they had some other relationship with Xu Fei and the others?

Yan Liang told himself this.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging emotions within him. "Being Forced to Grow Like a Piglet? But I'm Immune to the Cost!" was among the top-ranked science fiction novels in the Cola Novels readers' poll! He walked aside and began practicing his body-tempering technique, trying to numb his inner turmoil with physical exhaustion.

That's right, we can't afford to break off relations.

I've only been in there a short time; there's plenty of time. Plenty of time.

……

In the afternoon, the voting results for the subsidies were finally released.

Just as Zhao Dele had predicted—some people received ridiculously high numbers of votes, while others only cast their own vote. Therefore, it wasn't necessary to have five votes to secure a spot.

Soguli got a spot.

Zhao Dele also got a spot.

Both of them were quite happy.

As agreed, even if Suoguli didn't make it into the top 32, the subsidy would be split equally among everyone. So Zhang Lin and Tu Nan were very happy.

As for Xu Fei, Ning Yi naturally secured a spot.

Another person who got a spot was Zhou Wei.

Xu Fei and his friends put their arms around each other's shoulders and laughed as they talked about having a good meal that night.

Yan Liang listened from the side, forcing a smile on his face, but his heart was filled with bitterness.

He secretly plotted: he was determined to get his money's worth at tonight's meal.

……

Time flew by and it was evening.

In the dormitory, Zhao Dele and his friends gathered together, discussing going out for a celebratory meal.

Suoguli looked at Wu Sheng: "Brother Wu Sheng, how about we go out for dinner tonight? I haven't properly thanked you for voting for me. This meal is on me."

Wu Sheng shook his head: "You guys go ahead. I still have to go practice with someone. We'll eat together when I'm less busy."

Suo Guli nodded, not forcing the issue.

The group then went outside.

Wu Sheng also got up and headed to the advanced training ground.

The dormitory was empty.

……

Meanwhile, on the training field...

Yan Liang was cleaning all by himself again, looking miserable.

This time, he had something to look forward to—he was waiting for Xu Fei and the others to call him for dinner.

I swept the floor while looking forward to it.

But as time passed, no one came.

He was getting a little anxious, so he quickly finished cleaning and then searched all over the martial arts college.

There are none in public areas.

He found Xu Fei and his classmates' dormitory.

There were only two other roommates in the dormitory.

"Where are Xu Fei and the others?" Yan Liang asked.

His two roommates glanced at him and casually said, "I don't know, they seem to have gone to eat."

boom--

Yan Liang felt as if he had been struck by a muffled thunderbolt.

Going to eat?

Then why not call him?

He stood there, stunned, the color draining from his face.

Anger, humiliation, disbelief—a flood of emotions surged up, almost overwhelming him.

He didn't know how he got out of that dormitory.

Standing in the empty corridor, he suddenly felt like a joke.

Great joke.

……

Meanwhile, in the courtyard of a private restaurant.

Ning Yi was celebrating with Xu Fei and a few others.

"Come on, let's have a toast!" Ning Yi raised her glass, her smile bright. "To celebrate Zhou Wei and I getting the subsidy slots!"

Xu Fei, Liu Zhi, Zhou Wei, and Shen Zitong quickly raised their glasses and followed suit.

The wine glasses clinked together, the liquid sloshing around, reflecting their spirited faces.

No one remembered Yan Liang.

Nobody ever took him seriously.

……