Chapter 4: "Unforeseen Changes"

"Could it be due to the sunstroke a few days ago? Did I fall and hit my head?" Alan was stunned by the extent of his transformation. Throughout the afternoon, Alan remained in shock. To verify if his earlier experience was a hallucination, he retrieved all his textbooks and selected those he hadn't read before.

After reading, he promptly closed the books and started reciting the content in his mind. He was both amazed and scared. He could recall extensive information and even intricate scientific formulas flawlessly. After repeating the experiment, Alan confirmed the reality of his earlier experience.

Alan stared at the textbook and mumbled, "I actually have photographic memory!"

But why this sudden change? Alan lost in his thoughts again, fully aware of his usual abilities. It used to take him days, weeks, months of studying to memorize such material, but now things were drastically different. Alan, after reflecting for a while, could only shrug it off and decide not to dwell on it.

Over the next year, Alan realized that his photographic memory would help him catch up on missed studies and secure admission to a good university. With this ability, he could achieve far beyond merely getting into a reputable institution.

As thoughts of his future swirled in his mind, Alan's face reddened with excitement. Beside him, Zach Ross asked with concern,

"Hey, why are you acting so strange today? You're not going crazy, are you?"

"Get lost!"

Alan tried to give Zach a stern look but ended up laughing, "I'll still be sane even if you lose it."

"Ah, you can still joke around, that's the normal reaction I was hoping for! I was worried you might struggle and develop some mental issues. Don't let Roseanne affect you."

Zach's genuine concern touched Alan, who replied, "Zach, you're right. It's not worth agonizing over someone like her. I've already moved on!"

Since the moment he witnessed his mother's tears, Alan had decided to let go of Roseanne. He absentmindedly looked towards the front and saw Roseanne in the front row. Reminded of his past foolishness, he couldn't help but chuckle.

Maturity comes at a cost.

.

.

.

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Fortunately, Roseanne initiated the breakup early, allowing Alan to face reality. Otherwise, he might have dwelled on a monumental mistake. Looking at Roseanne's back, Alan felt only tranquility. He thought of the saying, "Don't mock the poor, as they are worth more than money!"

"I'll earn money if you value money so much, until money becomes just a number. But this isn't to make you regret or out of pride. It's for my mother and those who once mocked her. They'll come to regret their actions. But Roseanne, none of this concerns you anymore..."

With one final glance at Roseanne's back, Alan retracted his gaze. From now on, even if they cross paths on the street, they will be strangers.

Roseanne felt a gaze on her back and turned to see Alan, reading his book with a mix of seriousness and a smile. She shrugged it off, thinking he was just another poor person, no matter how hard he worked or if he got into university.

...

The calm afternoon passed, and it was time for school to end. Since it was the first day, there were no usual afternoon self-study classes. Alan declined Zach's invitation for a meal and decided to head home.

In Alan's eyes, even a comforting glance from a friend was enough to warm his heart. Zach's attempts to comfort him had already achieved that. Knowing Alan well, Zach didn't say anything more.

After parting ways, Alan hurried home and found Serena busy in the kitchen. "Mom, I'm back!" he called out.

Serena emerged with a smile, saying, "Ally, go upstairs first. I just have one more dish to prepare."

Alan wanted to help, but seeing the kitchen already crowded, he nodded and replied, "Alright then, I'll head upstairs."

Mother and son resided in an old townhouse in Cyan Stone county. The houses, mostly 3-4 stories high, lacked balconies and resembled simple hostels. These closely aligned houses faced a common corridor.

The residents were mostly low-income people, like Grandpa Zohan on the second floor, who collected and sold scraps for a living. Aunt Won on the first floor, similar to Serena, sold small dishes from a street vendor. A shared kitchen and large bathroom in the courtyard fostered familiarity among the tenants.

Except for the landlords, most renters were low-income earners, creating a harmonious environment where everyone helped each other. Serena had rented a place on the third floor. As Alan grew, she divided it into two rooms—a living area during the day and Alan's bedroom at night, with the dining table doubling as his desk and the sofa as his bed.

Sitting on the sofa, Alan hesitated. He couldn't decide whether to share his newfound abilities with his mother.

After careful thought, Alan decided to hold off, perhaps until after the exams, to surprise her. Imagining his mother's happiness brought a relieved smile to his face.

"Ally, could you help me with the dishes?" Serena's voice rang out.

Alan promptly opened the door and rushed downstairs. Serena had prepared four dishes and a soup, and watching her son enjoy the meal brought a smile to her face.

...

Lying in bed, Alan found sleep elusive. Such abilities would trouble anyone; they wouldn't be able to sleep easily either. "With photographic memory, getting into university won't be an issue. The real concern is, how long will this ability last? Will it fade after a few days?"

Such thoughts occupied Alan's mind. It was late into the night before he finally drifted off.

At that precise moment, a voice echoed in his mind:

"Host integration complete, A.I.-1 activation initiated."