Chapter 4 Awakener

Although the previous options mentioned that the Earth Spirit Fruit could enhance defensive power and physical fitness, it did not specify the extent of enhancement, so unless a test was conducted, Zhang Yanhang probably couldn't learn much more.

Of course, Zhang Yanhang could assess the Earth Spirit Fruit from other angles, such as its taste, which wasn't at all like apricot, instead bearing a resemblance to goji berries with just a hint of sweetness. However, taste wasn't really important; after all, he wasn't eating it because it was delicious, but for its effects.

Another important aspect was that, although the Earth Spirit Fruit grew on an apricot tree, it was unlike regular apricots in that it had no pit, meaning Zhang Yanhang could not reproduce this Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure through planting.

Even though he did not yet have the conditions to grow Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, people always need to have dreams, right? Okay, perhaps the idea of producing and selling it himself was a bit far-fetched, bordering on daydreaming.

...

My name is Zhao Yalan, an insignificant member of the millions of Awakeners in the Empire, struggling to become an Internet sensation after gradually realizing that my college major might not suffice to make a living in a future society imbued with Spiritual Qi, thereby avoiding post-graduation unemployment embarrassment.

Today, Zhao Yalan was on her usual path to Internet fame (actually, it was just on her way to school), when suddenly, she felt something off about the seam of her stocking on her right toe. The irritation came mainly because the seam had shifted from its original position, making walking somewhat uncomfortable.

Normally, Zhao Yalan might have endured it, but today was different—she felt increasingly bothered. Many can relate to suddenly fixating on something trivial, a sensation that can arise quite randomly and seems bizarre. At that moment, Zhao Yalan felt that unless she adjusted the position of the stocking seam, she couldn't be comfortable.

So, she casually sat on a public bench by the roadside, frantically adjusting the seam. Anyone who has worn socks knows they can sometimes be bothersome.

It couldn't be adjusted too low below the toes or too high above the nail bed; either extreme would be annoying. Therefore, a slight adjustment to find a perfect balance was necessary to alleviate Zhao Yalan's discomfort.

This was precisely why Zhang Yanhang had previously commented that Zhao Yalan was unskilled at adjusting her stockings. Although she was indeed fussing with her sock, in her mind, she was adjusting the stocking seam, which made her actions seem somewhat off.

Just as Zhao Yalan had adjusted the seam of her right stocking, she suddenly saw a tall, burly young man sprinting towards her at a hundred-meter dash speed.

Before Zhao Yalan could even comprehend what was happening, the burly young man had already reached her, yelling, 'Wu Lake!' As he shouted, the sports shoe she was just about to put on soared straight up and landed perfectly, following a parabolic trajectory, on the top of a pine tree about twenty meters away.

Looking at that seven- to eight-meter-high pine tree and her white sports shoe hanging from its top, Zhao Yalan couldn't help but be dumbfounded. But in her moment of shock to gather herself and start looking for the suspect, she found that the man who had kicked her shoe had already disappeared.

"What in the world just happened?" Although Zhao Yalan was confused, her camera had recorded the whole incident. She reviewed the footage and indeed, it was just a strange man who had suddenly sprinted from afar and kicked her shoe away.

"If I'm guilty, the law should punish me, not let a stranger sprint a hundred meters just to kick my shoe off and then flee the scene..."

Zhao Yalan was confused before watching the video, and even more baffled after watching it because she couldn't figure out what the stranger's motive was.

...

September 30, 2020, the day before the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday, noon, twelve fifteen.

Zhang Yanhang was finally on the right track home. He was reminiscing about the kick he had impulsively delivered not long ago. How should he put it? Surprisingly precise. He thought it would land on the ground, but it hooked perfectly onto a pine tree. Of course, that wasn't the point. Since he used the word 'reminisce,' that meant the focus was on the taste.

When he stood next to that Zhao Yalan, he smelled a sour stench that shot straight to his brain—no doubt emanating from Zhao Yalan's foot and sneaker.

It was precisely because of this strong, stimulating stench that Zhang Yanhang abandoned fame and glory, kicking the sneaker away and fleeing without even sticking around to see what happened next.

While there might be some professionals thrilled to comment on Zhao Yalan's feet with something like, "This acidity is just potent enough!" Zhang Yanhang was certainly not one of those people.

...

September 30, 2020, noon, twelve thirty-one.

Zhang Yanhang was running a bit late because he stopped to buy three chicken cutlets, a fried chicken and two hamburgers. Just as he entered the building, he saw a middle-aged woman, heavily made up and holding a purse, thanking a young woman. The middle-aged woman took out five hundred yuan from her wallet and put it in the young woman's hand.

Then some conversation ensued, but Zhang Yanhang didn't pay much attention as he was already climbing the stairs, giving only a cursory glance to the two women.

Additionally, even though it was just a glance, Zhang Yanhang picked up a lot of information. For instance, the purse that the middle-aged woman was carrying was actually a lady's wallet from GUCCI, worth four thousand five hundred yuan. "Hmm? So, I didn't lose five hundred yuan, but five thousand yuan?"

"No, the point should be that there really was a middle-aged rich lady waiting for me, scary. Luckily I didn't go for that option..." Zhang Yanhang suddenly felt that lining up for lunch might have been a wise decision.

Even though Zhang Yanhang didn't mind being a kept man, the type of sugar mommy he wanted was the kind with fair skin, beautiful features, and long legs, or perhaps a white silk, twin ponytail JK sugar mommy. Ideally, one who would demean him with filthy money, but otherwise place no limits on him. Yes, and let him freely date too.