Wang Qiang was pouring wine for Wang Mingyuan.
Zhang Jiali said with some emotion, "Actually, thinking about it now, getting into university was really quite fortunate. Even though I didn't awaken, at least..."
"Fortunate my ass!"
A rough roar interrupted Zhang Jiali's words.
Zhao Dayong slammed his wine glass on the table, standing up with a flushed face.
"Zhang Jiali, stop putting on airs there!"
Zhao Dayong pointed unsteadily at Zhang Jiali's nose: "You think going to some shitty university makes you better than others? Let me tell you, in this damn world, not awakening means you're trash!"
The cheerful conversation in the private room came to an abrupt halt.
Wang Qiang quickly grabbed Zhao Dayong's arm: "Dayong, you've had too much to drink, sit down and talk..."
Zhao Dayong shook off Wang Qiang's hand, his voice growing louder: "You college students who haven't experienced the real world have no idea how hard us ordinary people have it!"
He staggered over to Zhang Jiali, breathing alcohol fumes as he spoke: "I stopped studying after high school graduation. Do you know how many jobs I've changed in the past six months? Five! Just because I didn't awaken, bosses fire me whenever they want!
Last month at our construction site, an awakener showed up—his ability was just making his hair grow back immediately after cutting it. That's it, and his salary was twice mine!"
Su Zhan's expression remained placid upon hearing this.
Even awakeners with completely useless Life Souls would be given top priority by companies.
Simply because awakeners were the clear "Good Person Cards"!
Zhang Jiali frowned: "Dayong, education still has its uses..."
"Useful? Hahaha..."
Zhao Dayong let out a piercing laugh: "My cousin, graduated from the same university as you, sent out three hundred resumes, and ended up becoming a food delivery driver! What's the use of higher education? Tell me!? Ending up doing work anyone could do!"
Li Yuqin whispered in a dissuading tone: "Dayong, don't be like this..."
"Don't be like what?"
Zhao Dayong turned sharply, his eyes bloodshot: "Li Yuqin, you're an awakener, stay out of this!"
Wang Mingyuan said sternly: "Dayong, calm down."
"Teacher Wang, let me finish!"
Zhao Dayong grabbed the wine bottle and took a big gulp: "Last year my brother went on a blind date. When the woman heard my brother wasn't an awakener, she left on the spot! She later married an awakener whose ability was just changing hair color! That's it! That's it!"
He suddenly lunged in front of Su Zhan, alcohol breath hitting Su Zhan's face: "Su Zhan, tell me honestly! Are you awakeners' farts more valuable than us ordinary people?"
The private room fell silent.
Everyone looked at Su Zhan.
Su Zhan slowly put down his chopsticks: "You've had too much to drink, to the point you're starting to disparage education. Studying is useful. You stopped after high school, so you have no right to say education is useless.
You also can't blame the whole society because of your personal circumstances—that's the most incompetent behavior."
Wang Mingyuan breathed a sigh of relief seeing this.
His student still had a clear mind.
Speaking this way was foolproof and wouldn't give anyone grounds for criticism.
If he had been foolish enough to agree with Zhao Dayong's words...
If an ordinary person said it, it wouldn't matter much.
But if an awakener said it, the nature would be completely different.
Awakeners were the privileged class—if they disparaged ordinary people, the impact would be too damaging.
Just like how the wealthy can't publicly say "the poor don't deserve to live."
If awakeners dared to blatantly discriminate against ordinary people, they would immediately be labeled with "class discrimination."
Such remarks would intensify social conflicts, threaten stability, and the authorities wouldn't stand idly by.
Su Zhan naturally understood this.
To use another example, it was like Black people could call themselves and their comrades the N-word, but people of other skin colors couldn't, otherwise it would be racial discrimination.
Maybe this example wasn't entirely appropriate, but the meaning was similar.
"Hypocritical! Hypocritical!!!"
Zhao Dayong laughed hysterically: "Hahahahahaha..."
But gradually, tears began to flow: "I wanted to awaken too... Why wasn't it me!"
Wang Qiang silently walked over to help him up.
Zhang Jiali hesitated to speak but ultimately didn't continue arguing.
Seeing this, Su Zhan understood completely.
The other party didn't hate awakeners—he hated that he wasn't an awakener.
He didn't hate privilege—he hated that he wasn't privileged.
After Zhao Dayong's outburst, the atmosphere of the gathering began to sour.
Li Yuqin remained silent throughout, eating her food.
She occasionally chimed in a few words but never had any direct communication with Su Zhan.
It wasn't until the gathering neared its end.
That Li Yuqin softly said to Wang Mingyuan: "Teacher, take care of yourself... in the future."
Wang Mingyuan nodded, responding gently: "You too."
As the dinner ended, everyone reluctantly said their goodbyes.
Wang Qiang patted Li Hua's shoulder, hesitating to speak, ultimately just saying "study well."
Zhang Jiali solemnly shook Wang Mingyuan's hand, as if expressing some silent gratitude.
Stepping out of the hotel, the breeze was slightly cool.
Su Zhan put his hands in his pockets, watching his classmates leave in small groups: "Teacher, do you think they genuinely care about us, or is it just because we're awakeners?"
"Both, probably."
Wang Mingyuan smiled, his gaze distant: "But at least tonight, they still remember you as their classmate."
Su Zhan was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Yeah."
Sigh, I have to admit.
With Du Shanhe's identity exposed, the Transcendence Society in Jiang City had really laid low.
They had exposed their whereabouts like this, yet hadn't faced any targeting from the Transcendence Society.
...
In the following days.
Winter break life became quite mundane.
During this period, Jiang City surprisingly didn't experience a single Mist Incident.
This was the first month without any since Mist Incidents began appearing half a year ago.
It seemed Du Shanhe, the biggest boss of the Transcendence Society in Jiang City and the surrounding three cities, had quieted down after his identity was exposed.
Probably spending every day thinking about how to evade Qin Bai's pursuit.
As for Qin Bai.
Previously he said he had his own methods to investigate Su Zhan.
Which made Su Zhan somewhat nervous.
But over this past month, there had been almost no movement at all.
The only action was summoning Su Zhan to the Aberrant Purge Division for interrogation.
Of course, it was routine interrogation.
Su Zhan, being treated so gently by Qin Bai, actually felt a sense of "being overwhelmed by favor."
The interrogation content was just those suspicious points previously raised by Director Liu.
No matter how he asked.
Su Zhan's answers were always—don't know, coincidence, good luck, they're deliberately framing me.
Qin Bai surprisingly didn't say much, even nodding and saying: "Thank you for your cooperation."
This unexpected response made Su Zhan feel a chill down his spine.
Was this guy saving up for something big?
Su Zhan thought to himself.
Other than that, during this winter break.
Su Zhan spent every day cultivating.
After all, Du Shanhe had quieted down, and no Mist Incidents occurred in Jiang City.
Thus he had nothing much to do.
During this period.
Su Zhan hadn't forgotten about his "trump card" matter.
But he wasn't in a hurry to record videos either.
First, Wang Mingyuan had been protecting him, living right next door.
If he turned into an aberrant to record videos at this time, wouldn't that be equivalent to exposing himself in front of Wang Mingyuan?
Second, he still hadn't found the right candidate for the "trump card."
The reason... had already been explained before, no need to repeat it now.
And so, the dull and tedious winter break ended.
Next, it was time to return to Vermilion Bird Academy.
Su Zhan thought of his teammates whom he hadn't seen for a month, feeling somewhat nostalgic.