Chapter 149 - 148: If You Don’t Feel the Heartache, I Do

Returning to the waiting area, Jian Yu sat down and looked at the red thread connected to her hand, then glanced up.

The other end of the thread gradually faded as Si Xu left.

The next time she peeked, once the distance shortened, she would know if this person was truly Si Xu.

’If I have a suspicion, I need to act on it. If I’m wrong, I’ll just chalk it up to overthinking.’

Jian Yu rubbed her fingers together and looked up at the approaching person.

"Hello, are these okay?" Shen Yinhong asked, handing over the Beast Fruits and a Star Coin Card.

She looked very nervous, her body stiff and strung as tight as a bowstring.

One hundred thousand Star Coins and two Beast Fruits.

Jian Yu saw the flickering balance on the Star Coin Card and felt the stares from those around her. She thought for a moment and decided not to disrupt the competition’s rules.

She nodded. "This is fine."

The very format of the assisted Contract competition was designed to let students with high bonding affinity earn some extra money.

If she refused, not only would she seem sanctimonious, but it would also give the impression that she was intentionally trying to show others up.

"Sit down first," Shen Gu said, pulling her to a seat.

Jian Yu whispered, "I’ll accept it for now, and I’ll give you some things in private later."

’By helping Shen Yinhong form a Contract and strengthening the Alien Beast’s power, if I encounter difficulties in the future, she might be able to offer me a layer of protection in return.’

If Shen Yinhong proved her worth, Jian Yu wouldn’t mind supporting her a bit more.

’If there’s no danger in this life, I’ll just treat this as a way to improve my abilities and get familiar with my golden finger.’

"Huh?" Shen Yinhong was stunned. ’Why would she give me things?’

She had only ever seen people complain that they weren’t getting enough, never someone who actively gave things away.

Jian Yu didn’t want to hide anything, but she didn’t plan to explain it all too clearly, either.

"I have a feeling I’m a bit different from others. If I help you successfully form a Contract, your Alien Beast might still be unable to resist approaching me."

"We’re not from the same planet, but we might meet again in the future."

"It’s fine if we’re far apart, but if we’re close, and I run into a crisis, I might need to borrow the power of your Contracted Beast."

Jian Yu pursed her lips and decided to offer a concession.

"If you’re not willing, I can still accept what you’ve given me. Since Shen Gu is my friend, I’ll help you this once."

After helping the dean form a Contract with the ling beast, Jian Yu’s mental energy was indeed greatly depleted.

According to what Shi Zhao had said, if she formed a Contract with an Alien Beast herself, the impact might be even greater.

’Without a Contract, the Alien Beasts’ strength won’t be enhanced. Even if they listen to me, they can’t unleash their full power.’

’I still have to help others form Contracts.’

’But for the next candidates, I hope I can choose people who aren’t likely to come into conflict with me.’

Looking at the dazed Shen Yinhong, Jian Yu thought she hadn’t understood.

They hadn’t actually formed the Contract yet, and Jian Yu still hadn’t mentioned that the Contract could strengthen both parties—though she knew she couldn’t hide it forever.

Wanting to probe further, she rephrased her statement.

"I’ll help you with the costs of raising the Alien Beast. As long as you don’t move against me, I will never sever your contractual bond."

"The downside is, when I need it, your Contracted Beast has to help me."

"Furthermore, even with a Contract in place, your Contracted Beast will likely be more attached to me."

Shen Gu took out the nourishing soup that Xi Yu had prepared and placed it in front of Jian Yu.

He tapped his fingers on the table. "Well, say something. Yu has talked her mouth dry."

This wasn’t Shen Yinhong’s first day at Weis Lan Noble Academy; she knew what had been happening in the competition these past few days.

She just couldn’t quite process it all at once and was thinking about how to answer.

"Like on the livestream that day, right? I saw it. They really like you, and even performed for you."

"I have no objections to what you’ve said. My spiritual power isn’t high, so just being able to form a Contract is already great."

Shen Yinhong hesitated for a moment.

She said hesitantly, "There’s something I want to say, but I don’t know if I should."

Shen Gu’s round, pudgy face wrinkled slightly. "Don’t leave us hanging. Yu isn’t scary."

"It’s okay, you can say it," Jian Yu said, blinking. She picked up a pink insulated mug and took a sip.

Shen Yinhong’s gaze was drawn to it for a moment.

She stared at Jian Yu’s fair, rounded fingers with a hint of light pink, her eyelashes fluttering as she lowered her gaze.

"Half-awakened with high spiritual power Levels are usually arrogant and proud. They would never agree to let their own Contracted Beast follow someone else."

"You have your own Soul Beast, so you can’t have another Contracted Beast. I can understand why you want to help others form Contracts. But I’m worried someone might regret it later and turn on you for the sake of their Contracted Beast."

"In a situation like this, it’s best you find some with low Levels. But even low Levels might not necessarily prevent this from happening."

"However, you can sever the Contract..."

Shen Yinhong trailed off, realizing she was stating the obvious.

She clamped her mouth shut, feeling a little helpless.

Jian Yu paused, silently picked up a bottle of water from the side, and pushed it over to her.

"I’ll be upfront about it with everyone. If they aren’t willing, I won’t force them."

Shen Yinhong wasn’t thirsty, but she unconsciously gripped the ordinary bottle of mineral water.

She lowered her head. "Mm."

Shen Gu hadn’t had much contact with Shen Yinhong, only knowing that she was from the Shen family.

Every time they met at the ancestral hall, she would always be timidly following behind her family, rarely initiating conversation.

An awkward silence settled over them.

Jian Yu glanced at the two quiet clams in front of her and announced the time.

"We can enter in three minutes."

’They’re like actual siblings, each one more introverted than the last.’

Jian Yu was the kind of person who forced herself to be bold and outgoing when surrounded by the timid and introverted.

She took the initiative to break the heavy atmosphere. "Have you decided what kind of Alien Beast you want to form a Contract with?"

Shen Gu, having already asked, answered for her. "She wants a D-level Alien Beast."

Shen Yinhong looked up and opened her mouth.

Since he’d spoken for her, she could only nod. "Mm."

"Shen Yinhong?" Yan Qin was passing by and strode over to them in a few quick steps.

She yanked Shen Yinhong’s arm. "It really is you! How can a good-for-nothing like you be allowed to compete?"

Shen Gu frowned and pushed her away. "If you have something to say, then say it. Keep your hands to yourself."

"I’m teaching her a lesson. What’s it to you?" Yan Qin swatted his arm away.

Only when she turned her head did she realize it was Shen Gu, that little tag-along.

"What are you doing here?"

Yan Qin’s gaze shifted, and she saw Jian Yu sitting behind the intertwined, climbing flower branches.

Shen Gu’s face darkened. "Why can’t I be here?"

He asked Shen Yinhong, "What’s going on? Does she bully you at school?"

Shen Yinhong lowered her head. "There was a competition at the academy. I beat her."

"Tch! That’s only because you relied on a man! With no talent of your own, all you know how to do is climb into men’s beds. It’s disgusting! Just looking at you makes my eyes feel dirty!"

Yan Qin took two steps back.

She looked at Jian Yu with jealousy and resentment. "You’re an Awakener with a Soul Beast, yet you’re willing to stoop so low and hang out with people like this. How pathetic."

Shen Yinhong’s fingers clenched. "I told you, the person in the surveillance footage wasn’t me!"

Yan Qin scoffed. "If it wasn’t you, then why was that guy always chasing after you? If it wasn’t you, how could you possibly be standing here today? You’re just a student here on special admission. What right do you have to compete?"

Shen Gu’s face was dark, his cheeks flushed with anger. "She’s part of my family. If I use my resources to pull some strings and get her in, is that any of your business?"

"..." Shen Yinhong tugged on her cousin’s sleeve. ’Could you please not sound so proud of pulling strings?’

Yan Qin herself was there to assist with a Contract, so she understood at a glance.

She pointed an accusing finger. "Someone like her? How many resources did that cost? To take the resources meant for the top students and squander them on a person like this... even if you don’t feel the sting, I do."

Jian Yu gave her a strange look. "You feel the sting? What’s that got to do with me?"

She glanced at the time. "It’s time. Let’s go in."