"Test complete. Your mental strength is A, and your physical fitness is A+."
With his mental strength dropping from A+ back to A, Huang Yan pushed open the lid of the smart pod and stepped out. The family doctor, Todd, had already seen the latest test results through his own optical computer.
"The suppression effect of the new potion is quite good. Your mental strength level is back to A. Your headaches aren't as bad now, right?
The improvement in your physical fitness is great news! Once your physical fitness breaks through to S-rank, you won't need to take inhibitors this frequently anymore!"
Huang Yan still had that listless look about him. The thought that his physical fitness was only A+ despite all his hard work made him feel hopeless about life...
Even if it reached S-rank, it would still be a whole rank behind his original SS-rank mental strength... It took him 3 years to go from A to A+. Wouldn't going from S to SS train him to death?
Doctor Todd, however, only felt gratified. After sending the medical report to Huang Yan's father, he walked up to the young man he had watched grow up.
"Training has been tough lately, hasn't it? But looking at the report, you haven't fallen behind on your nutrition. All your physical indicators are very balanced, so there's no need to prescribe extra supplements.
Seeing that you can take such good care of yourself puts my mind at ease."
Huang Yan froze for a moment upon hearing the family doctor's words. His headaches had been so bad lately that he completely forgot about taking supplements...
Speaking of nutrition... whether in the cafeteria, the school corridors, or during evening practice, whenever he bumped into Wang Tianwei, a pouch of nutrient solution would inexplicably appear in his pocket. That person was like a walking vending machine for nutrient solutions... He had never really paid attention to it before.
"It's Yida's nutrient solution..."
Todd didn't catch that.
"Hmm?"
"I said, I've been drinking Yida's nutrient solution lately."
Doctor Todd pondered for a moment.
"Yida? Their nutrient solutions haven't had any issues over the years... But to think it actually provides enough nutrition for your condition? That's quite honest of them."
Huang Yan chuckled lightly.
"It's probably a high-end version. I heard they added extra calcium, and it should be hitting the market soon.
Uncle Todd, you can look into it then and buy some for your daughter."
Todd paused for a half-beat.
"Uh... alright."
Huang Yan had seemingly never actively recommended anything to him before, especially for Jiajia...
"It seems you're doing quite well at Qilin. Have you made any friends who caught your eye?"
Huang Yan lowered his eyes and didn't answer. Todd said helplessly,
"Your father cares about you a lot..."
"Then let him ask me himself."
"...You know he isn't good with words."
"Oh? I didn't think he was bad with words when he was facing Lin Xue and Huang Haoyan."
"Huang Yan..."
Todd knew he shouldn't interfere in the Huang family's affairs.
But he had watched this child, Huang Yan, grow up... His biological mother was a commander.
SS-rank mental strength made him a peerless genius on any planet!
But when he was born, his physical fitness was only C+, and he almost didn't survive!
In the very beginning, he had to take a mental strength inhibitor once a week! He didn't know how the kid managed to endure it.
Over the years, through almost grueling training, his physique finally jumped three ranks... Sometimes, seeing the child's face covered in sweat made his heart ache!
Later, Huang Yan's mother died in a beast tide...
Huang Taihe felt the child was too young to be without a mother, so he married another woman.
But who was Huang Yan?
Since childhood, his intellect far surpassed ordinary people!
He had a massive argument with Huang Taihe on the spot, even saying that since the decision was already made, why bother putting on a show in front of him?
Since then, the father and son spoke less and less... Before long, the new wife had a child, and the father-son relationship dropped straight to the freezing point.
Judging by how Huang Taihe frequently asked him about Huang Yan's condition, he still cared quite a bit about this child... He probably just knew he did wrong back then but couldn't bring himself to say it.
He heard that this time he even donated a building to Qilin. Sigh... what a sin.
"Forget it. You father and son both have your own ideas, so I won't get involved.
A breakthrough in physique is a big deal. I've told your dad.
I'll leave you three more inhibitors. If your physique advances again during this time, remember to tell me."
Huang Yan rolled his eyes helplessly.
"Uncle Todd, you think too highly of me! Not even half-orcs advance that fast..."
"Haha, you're already A+. Is S that far away? Just in case!"
"...I'll have someone take you back."
"No need. It's rare for me to visit the Shuomo Planet. If I don't bring back some gifts, Jiajia will be unhappy."
Huang Yan had already returned to his room and plunged headfirst into his sleep pod.
"Shuomo Planet's specialties are rose stones and fried bugs. The commercial street has them all..."
Soon after, his voice faded away.
Doctor Todd gathered his things and glanced at the person sleeping soundly in the pod.
Taking inhibitors simply made one listless and lethargic... Huang Yan was already very used to the drug's aftereffects.
The boy's bedroom, just like the outside, was completely black and white.
The whole apartment had barely any furniture; instead, fitness equipment occupied the entire living room...
Huang Taihe would never mistreat this son when it came to money.
But the place Huang Yan lived in was completely different from Huang Haoyan's room, which was piled high with all sorts of mecha models, and different from Jiajia's pink bedroom.
"Sigh..."
Doctor Todd sighed.
It was hard to say whether SS-rank mental strength was a blessing or a curse for this child.
He was clearly a genius, yet he could only rely on monthly inhibitors to save his life...
The son born to his stepmother was S-rank, while Huang Yan had to disguise himself under the A-rank.
Growing up, he didn't have a single genuine friend by his side, and his dad was someone who only knew how to throw money around but didn't know how to talk...
Helping Huang Yan close his bedroom door, Todd quietly left the apartment.
He hoped this child could make a few close friends at Qilin... or even fall in love!
Pressing the down button on the elevator,
"Ding-dong."
The elevator doors opened, and inside stood a little girl with black and white hair. Todd couldn't help but take an extra look...
"Hello!"
The little girl greeted him energetically.
"Hello there."
The people of Shuomo Planet were surprisingly friendly.
"Are you Huang Yan's family?"
Seeing a stranger coming from Huang Yan's floor, Wang Tianwei asked curiously.
Their building had one household per floor, and she had never seen this person before.
Todd finally looked at the little girl properly.
"I suppose you could call me a relative... You know Huang Yan?"
"I'm his classmate! I live right above him!"
"Ah~"
Todd suddenly remembered. He had checked Qilin's forums a while ago, and this girl appeared with Huang Yan quite frequently...
His face suddenly turned kindly.
"Well then, classmate, are you and Huang Yan close?"
"We eat together every day and practice together at night. We just saw each other! He said he had something to do and left first. So it was because someone from his family came!"
"I see! Well, uncle has a favor to ask of you..."
