Reborn as a high school freshman with an awakened system, a fat boy transforms into a male god.

After school, Lin Bei and Su Wantang walked out of the teaching building together.

The electric car drove out of the school gate.

More and more leaves are falling on the sycamore-lined avenue, making a soft rustling sound as they are rolled over by car wheels.

"Lin Bei".

Su Wantang's voice drifted over from behind, somewhat scattered by the wind, but every word was clearly audible.

"Um."

"You...really signed up for the 800 meters today?"

Lin Bei's fingers paused on the handlebars. He sensed something in her tone—not doubt, but surprise.

"I've reported it," he said, trying to sound as casual as if he were talking about something very ordinary.

The back seat was quiet for a moment.

"But in your last PE class..." Su Wantang paused, seemingly considering her words, "you had a lot of trouble running the 800 meters."

Lin Bei knew which time she was referring to. During the physical education test, he ran for four minutes and fifty-eight seconds. After finishing, he bent over and leaned on the track, panting like a stranded fish. She was standing by the playground at the time, holding a bottle of water, wanting to hand it to him but then not doing so.

"That was the first time," Lin Bei said. "It's different now."

"What's different?"

Lin Bei thought for a moment.

"I run six kilometers every morning now," he said. "I've been doing it for over a month."

Su Wantang didn't speak. But Lin Bei felt the hand on his waist tighten slightly.

The car turned onto a side road, the electric scooter's headlights casting a dim yellow glow ahead, while the shadowy plane trees on both sides receded behind.

"You run every morning..." Su Wantang's voice rang out again, softer than before, "Just for the sports meet?"

"No," Lin Bei said, "it's for myself."

"I signed up for the 800 meters because I want to know how fast I can run." Lin Bei looked at the road ahead. "A little over a month ago, I almost died running the 800 meters. Now I want to try and see if I can run it in under four minutes at the sports meet."

The back seat fell silent for a moment.

"Do you even know what four minutes means?" Su Wantang finally spoke, her voice not loud. "You ran in four minutes and fifty-eight seconds a little over a month ago, and now you want to break four minutes?"

Lin Bei's lips curved slightly.

I want to give it a try.

Su Wantang did not speak.

But Lin Bei felt the hand on his waist tighten a little more.

The car drove off the side road and onto the main road. The streetlights suddenly turned on, illuminating the surroundings brightly.

Lin Bei glanced at her in the rearview mirror. The flickering light from the streetlamp swept across her profile, making it difficult to discern her expression, but her eyes were bright, fixed on him.

"Lin Bei".

"Um."

"You just said..." Su Wantang paused, "You said you were doing it for yourself. Then why do you insist on running under four minutes? Even if you don't run under four minutes, you've already improved compared to a month ago. Nobody is demanding that you run that fast."

Lin Bei remained silent for a few seconds.

"Because I wanted to see," he said, "to what extent I could achieve when I put all my effort into something."

In the rearview mirror, Su Wantang lowered her head. Her hair was blown by the wind, obscuring half of her face. She reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear, a slow movement, as if she were thinking about something.

Then she looked up and saw him in the rearview mirror.

"So how do you plan to train?" she asked.

Lin Bei was taken aback.

"I continue running every morning, and I do an extra set after school in the afternoon," Lin Bei said. "Zhang Mingyuan said he could help me correct my running posture."

Su Wantang nodded, her gaze lingering on the back of his head for a moment.

"Then I'll wait for you."

Lin Bei's fingers tightened on the handlebars.

"Waiting for me for what?"

"I can wait for you by the field after you finish training. I'm not in a hurry to go home anyway." Su Wantang's voice was calm.

[Host, Su Wantang's words can be translated as: "I'm willing to spend time with you because you deserve it." Another, more direct translation is: "Are you stupid? Can't you understand that?"]

Lin Bei: I understand...

[Not bad! The host's emotional intelligence is starting to catch up. Before, if someone said, "The moon is beautiful tonight," the host would probably reply, "Yes, it's a good time for a run."]

Lin Bei: ...

Lin Bei parked the bike downstairs in the residential area. Su Wantang jumped off the back seat.

The streetlights shone down from above, enveloping her in a dim, yellowish light.

Lin Bei locked the car, turned around, and found that she was still standing there, not going upstairs first.

The two walked into the building together and went upstairs. She went into room 502, and he went into room 501.

After finishing his meal, Lin Bei sat down at his desk.

He opened his math workbook, and his gaze inadvertently fell on the list that Old Gu had given him. The handwriting on the list was slender and strong, each stroke neat and tidy.

Looking at these words, Old Gu's image reappeared before my eyes. The person standing on the podium and the person silently sending out the money gradually merged together.

He suddenly remembered one of Old Gu's habits during class. When he got to the important points, he would tap the blackboard twice heavily with the chalk, like a hammer hitting a nail. Old Gu said, "That's how you remember it."

Lin Bei now felt that Lao Gu was like a nail. He had nailed himself to the three-foot-high platform, year after year, silently and unyielding. He had persisted in doing one thing for more than ten years in the most ordinary way, in the most inconspicuous corner.

Although the "Eye of Truth" ability had already failed, Lin Bei thought that he seemed to have seen more.

The next day, Saturday morning.

Lin Bei arrived at Yunqi Villa at the agreed time. He walked up the familiar stone path, and as soon as he turned the corner, he saw that the door of Villa No. 8 was already open.

Today, the old man stood at the door, wearing a dark brown jacket, his hair neatly combed.

"Xiao Lin, you're here?" The old man's voice was still so loud and full of energy. "Come in quickly, come in quickly."

Lin Bei quickened his pace and entered the courtyard.

"Grandpa Shen, why are you standing at the door waiting? It's windy outside."

"I just came out for some fresh air and saw you here." The old man smiled and gently patted his shoulder. "Come on in. The tea is ready. It's Da Hong Pao today, which your Uncle Wang brought last time. I haven't been able to bring myself to drink it, and I've been waiting for you."

Lin Bei followed the old man into the living room.

A chessboard sits on the coffee table, with the red and black pieces already arranged. A purple clay teapot sits on the tea tray, its spout emitting wisps of white steam, filling the air with the aroma of tea.

"Grandpa Shen, did you brew this especially for me?"

"Of course." The old man sat down, picked up the teapot, and poured Lin Bei a cup. "Tea tastes best when freshly brewed; it becomes bitter if steeped for too long. Try it."

Lin Bei picked up the teacup, smelled it first, and then took a sip. The tea was mellow and had a sweet aftertaste.

"It's delicious," he said.

"If you like it, drink more." The old man poured himself a cup, took a sip, and squinted his eyes. "This tea tastes one way when you drink it alone, but it tastes quite different when you drink it with the right person."

Lin Bei listened, holding his teacup.

"It's the same with playing chess." The old man put down his teacup, his gaze falling on the chessboard. "Who you play with is more important than how you play."

Lin Bei was taken aback.

The old man looked at him, and the corners of his mouth slowly curved up.