Chapter 63: Favors
Returning to Godolkin University, Lu Chen felt as if he had switched from a war movie to the set of a teen campus drama.
The sun was bright, students were laughing and playing in twos and threes on the lawn, and the air was filled with a scent of mixed hormones and marijuana.
Lu Chen immediately went to the secret training room that belonged to him.
Pushing open the door, everything inside was exactly the same as when he left, with no traces of having been tidied up.
It seemed that Professor Brink and his subordinates clearly understood the weight of the four words "Absolutely Private."
However, caution was a habit engraved in Lu Chen's bones.
He did not trust anyone from Vought.
He took out his phone, found Jordan Li's number, and dialed it.
"Hello?"
A clear, slightly lazy female voice came from the other end of the line.
"It's me, Lu Chen."
"Of course I know it's you, my big hero."
The voice on the other end became teasing, "What, you finally remembered your old friend? I thought you'd forgotten about us classmates still struggling at the bottom after being personally mentored by Professor Brink."
Lu Chen smiled, listening to her familiar tone, which was nothing like the slight restraint and wariness they had when they first met.
"Are you at school?"
"Otherwise? Except for big shots like you who can run around everywhere, we all have to behave and attend class."
"Come to my training room, South District, Building 11, third basement level. I need your help with something."
"Oh? The future big star actually has something to ask of me? Fine, wait there."
The call ended.
Less than ten minutes later, the door to the training room was pushed open, and an Asian girl wearing a sports tank top and leggings walked in.
She had short, neat hair, and her eyes held a hint of defiance.
It was Jordan Li in her female form.
She looked Lu Chen up and down and whistled, "Hey, haven't seen you in a few days, you seem to have gotten even more handsome. Tell me, what do you want? I'm stating in advance, I don't do manual labor."
"Help me change the door lock." Lu Chen pointed to the door he had just broken, "This one is broken."
Jordan rolled her eyes, "Change a lock? You're asking me to change a lock? Do I look like a locksmith to you? Can't you just find someone from the logistics department for something like this?"
Lu Chen didn't say anything more; he opened his banking app directly and transferred a sum of money to Jordan's account.
Soon, Jordan's phone chimed with a payment notification.
"Holy shit!" Jordan's voice instantly went up an octave, "Fifty thousand dollars?! Did you fucking rob a bank?"
"Consider it payment for this time," Lu Chen said.
Although this money didn't mean much to him now, he had always remembered this favor. If it hadn't been for copying Jordan's ability to help him pass the Lamp Lighter Academy test, he likely would have been assigned to the Crimson Countess Academy, where all the superpowers were flashy but useless, and his starting phase would undoubtedly have been much slower.
Jordan stared at Lu Chen for a long time, the shock on her face slowly fading, replaced by a complex, playful expression.
She put her phone back in her pocket, walked up to Lu Chen step by step, almost pressing against him, and lowered her voice.
"Bro, I felt you were weird the first time we met."
Her breath, warm and faint, brushed against Lu Chen's ear, "Tell me, have you been harboring ulterior motives for me for a long time?"
She scrutinized Lu Chen's face carefully, her bright eyes flashing with cunning, then as if thinking of something, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she added in an even lower voice, "Actually... it's not impossible."
Lu Chen was choked by her sudden direct approach and coughed twice, subconsciously taking half a step back to create distance.
"Cough, cough... You're overthinking it, I'm still quite conservative."
He had no interest in developing any cross-form friendships in a place like this.
Jordan scoffed, the blush on her face instantly disappearing, and she returned to her irreverent self, "Boring. Fine, for the sake of the money, I'll take the job. I guarantee I'll change it to a lock that even the CIA can't pick."
Lu Chen waved his hand and turned to walk out, "I have things to do, send me a message when it's done."
He didn't stay any longer and left the training room directly.
Walking out of the training room, Lu Chen found a quiet corner on campus and sent a message to Cate.
"[See you at the old place.]"
The place he was going to was the abandoned old gymnasium.
That was the place where they first "cooperated," the place where Golden Boy was knocked down, and it was also the witness to them becoming "accomplices."
When Lu Chen arrived at the gymnasium, Cate was already waiting in the shadows of the stands.
She was wearing a simple hoodie, her hands in her pockets, head down, her toe unconsciously kicking a small stone on the ground. She looked a bit haggard, with faint dark circles under her eyes.
Hearing footsteps, she suddenly raised her head, and seeing it was Lu Chen, a flash of light instantly appeared in her eyes, but it was soon replaced by a complex and indescribable emotion.
It was intense anxiety.
Like a cat that had been abandoned by its owner once, when seeing the owner again, it was both eager to be close and afraid of being pushed away again.
"You..." Cate opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.
Lu Chen could feel the violent fluctuations in her emotions.
He had forcibly intervened in her life, dragged her out of her originally set track, and then disappeared without a word for so many days. Anyone would feel neglected and panicked.
"What have you been doing all these days?" Cate finally mustered the courage to ask softly.
Lu Chen looked at her and said half-jokingly, "Being hunted by Homelander, and luckily survived."
He thought she would laugh, or at least make a snarky comment like "Boring."
But Cate didn't.
She just looked at him with concern, her beautiful blue eyes filled with seriousness.
"I know there are many secrets about you, and I don't have to ask," her voice trembled slightly, "But, can you... not suddenly burst into my life and then suddenly pull away?"
She paused, as if having made a great resolution, and continued, "If it weren't for me... me secretly inquiring about you and finding out that you haven't had a formal girlfriend to this day, I would have thought... I would have thought you were just bored and looking to mess around with me."
By the last sentence, her voice already carried a trace of barely detectable choking.
Lu Chen's heart moved slightly.
He looked at this girl who was heartbroken for him, looking at the unreserved fear and sincerity in her eyes, and all those well-prepared scripts for soothing and manipulating her suddenly couldn't be spoken.
He didn't say anything else, just stepped forward, reached out his arms, and pulled her tightly into his embrace.
Cate's body stiffened for a moment, then, as if she had found a harbor to rely on, she slowly relaxed and buried her face in his chest.
Lu Chen could feel the slight trembling of the petite body in his arms.
He raised his hand and gently stroked Cate's smooth, long blonde hair, then her cheek.
It felt warm and delicate to the touch.
"It won't happen again," he promised in a low voice.
Just as his palm touched Cate's cheek, the familiar system panel popped up in front of him.
"[Detectable target for Copy found...]"
"[Cate Dunlap]"
"[List of selectable abilities:]"
"[1. Mind Control (LV5): Absolute behavioral compulsion; full-dimensional memory manipulation; mental cage...]"
"[2. Super Physique (LV2): Basic physical resistance increased, resistance to impact enhanced, recovery speed slightly accelerated.]"
Lu Chen's movements did not pause at all, his eyes still gazing gently at Cate, as if he were holding the most precious treasure in the World in his arms.
But deep in his heart, a clear voice made the choice.
Choose Mind Control.
This was the "Master key" to the core of Vought's power that he had been eyeing from the beginning.
With it, the secrets of the "Woods," the living experiment field beneath Godolkin University, everything would open its doors to him.
Feeling the weak but definitely existing energy flow from his palm, Lu Chen tightened his arms around Cate a little more.
As for feelings...
Perhaps there were some.
But before obtaining the power sufficient to Master his own destiny, all emotions had to take a backseat.
"[Selection: Mind Control (LV5)]"
"[Ability Copy started... Estimated time required: 24 hours]"
Chapter 64: The Plan to Eliminate Superhumans Was Formulated by Shetty
The embrace did not last long.
Lu Chen could feel that the girl in his arms had calmed down, and her body had gone from rigid at the beginning to soft.
He gently let her go, looking at her slightly flushed cheeks and somewhat evasive eyes, like a cat that had finally lowered its guard.
"Let's go for a walk," he said in a low voice.
Cate was stunned for a moment, then nodded gently, the corners of her mouth curling up unconsciously.
The two walked side by side on the tree-lined path of Godolkin University, the afternoon sun filtering through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled light and shadows on the ground.
Surrounded by students coming and going, full of youthful clamor, the heavy and secretive atmosphere in the gymnasium just now dissipated a lot.
They were like the most ordinary couple, enjoying a rare moment of leisure.
"So, being hunted by Homelander... is that true?" Cate broke the silence cautiously, her tone still carrying worry.
"Of course it's fake." Lu Chen laughed, turned his head to look at her, "I just went to participate in an 'internal training' at Vought International. You know, the kind for future superheroes... um, corporate culture building activities."
He recounted some anecdotes he had seen as if they were his own experiences.
For example, how he used a little cleverness to make a guy with a high opinion of himself, whose ability was'super smell', mistakenly think he smelled priceless truffles, resulting in him digging in the mud of the training ground for an entire day.
"...In the end, he was hugging a mud-covered stone, crying like a three-hundred-pound child, muttering 'My truffles' over and over."
"Pfft." Cate finally couldn't help but laugh out loud, the corners of her eyes and brows relaxing, blooming with charming radiance again, "You are too bad."
"For that kind of self-righteous guy, this is the mildest method." Lu Chen shrugged, looking at the smile on her face, his mood also relaxing a bit.
This feeling was strange. He was very clear about what he was doing—weaving a cage with tenderness and lies while stealing the other person's most precious ability. But watching her smile because of him, a strange, shouldn't-exist emotion still quietly sprouted in the bottom of his heart.
Perhaps this was that ridiculous and pathetic contradiction in human nature.
"Speaking of which," Cate's laughter gradually stopped, seemingly remembering something, her tone becoming hesitant again, "Dean Shetty... she talked to me these past two days."
Lu Chen's heart stirred, but his face remained calm. "Oh? What did she say?"
"She said that suppressing my ability all the time isn't a solution, and it's not good for my mental state. She encouraged me... to try to use it, to learn to control it, instead of blindly avoiding it." Cate lowered her head to look at her toes, "She makes a lot of sense, but I'm still... a little scared."
Scared of losing control again, scared of hurting others again, and even more scared... of turning back into that version of herself that everyone treated like a monster.
It seems Shetty's plan is about to begin. Lu Chen's eyes turned cold imperceptibly.
He knew the background of Dean Shetty better than anyone. This educator, who appeared amiable and caring toward students, buried the deepest hatred for Homelander and even all Superhumans in the depths of her heart.
Her husband and daughter had all died not long ago on that Flight 37 that Homelander "abandoned."
Although Homelander covered up the truth perfectly in front of the public, as a Vought executive, Shetty must have found clues through her own channels.
Her encouraging Cate to use her ability at this time was definitely not out of some bullshit kindness. She was forging a knife that could stab at Homelander, or even subvert all Superhumans.
And Cate was the sharpest blade of that knife.
These thoughts flashed through Lu Chen's mind, but his facial expression didn't change in the slightest, remaining that gentle and attentive look.
"Fear is normal, Cate." He stopped and looked into her eyes seriously, "But Dean Shetty is right, avoidance doesn't solve problems. You need self-confidence, you need to believe that you can control everything."
As he spoke, he glanced unintentionally at the small bag she was carrying, which revealed a small white medicine bottle inside.
"By the way, what is that thing you always carry in your bag? Is it medicine? You mentioned before that you were taking medication, are you sick?" He asked in a concerned tone.
Mentioning this, a look of gratitude and relief immediately appeared on Cate's face, as if that bottle of medicine were some kind of amulet.
"You mean this?" She took the small white bottle out of her bag and shook it in front of Lu Chen, "This is medication specifically developed for me by the Dean. Let me tell you, she really is the best person to me!"
Her tone was full of trust and dependence on Shetty.
"I used to always be able to hear what people around me were thinking. Those voices gave me a headache, and I couldn't sleep at all. It was the Dean, she knew my pain and researched this medicine specifically for me."
Cate opened the cap, poured out a white pill into her palm, "This medicine helps me stabilize my ability, and after using it, I won't have headaches or amnesia anymore. And after taking it, I can no longer hear those annoying inner voices. She even texts me every day to care for me and reminds me to take my medicine on time."
Listening to Cate's innocent words, Lu Chen even felt a bit of pity.
Shetty is good to her? Of course. After all, no one would be willing to break the sharpest weapon in their hands.
These pills were not "stabilizers" at all, but "inhibitors." They not only suppressed Cate's telepathic ability to read others' thoughts unconsciously—after all, how could a person full of schemes allow a living lie detector to be by their side?
More importantly, these drugs were also subtly and significantly weakening Cate's mental manipulation ability, especially the depth and breadth of memory manipulation. A weakened and easier-to-control Cate was the perfect tool Shetty wanted.
In a sense, he should perhaps even thank Shetty. If it weren't for these drugs, he would probably have to take greater risks if he wanted to Copy Cate's ability now.
Lu Chen calculated in his heart that once his ability Copy was complete, perhaps... he could help this silly girl and let her see the true face of this "best person."
"That sounds really great." A look of approval appeared on Lu Chen's face, and he took the opportunity to change the subject, "Speaking of which, is the cafeteria at Godolkin still that bad? I sort of miss that pizza place on the corner in Queens."
"Of course! Especially the'surprise' meat rolls on Tuesdays. I suspect they're made from the gym's yoga mats..."
The two chatted about these inconsequential campus trifles, and the atmosphere became relaxed and pleasant again. The sunlight stretched their shadows long, overlapping each other, looking intimate.
Just at this moment, Lu Chen's phone suddenly rang.
He took out his phone and glanced at it; it was Professor Brink.
"Sorry, I have to take a call." Lu Chen made a helpless expression to Cate.
He walked to the side and pressed the answer button.
"Lu Chen," Professor Brink's voice came from the other end of the phone, "Do you have time? Come to my office."
Lu Chen put away his phone and turned around to see Cate looking at him, her eyes carrying a trace of imperceptible disappointment. The atmosphere that had just warmed up was instantly interrupted by this sudden phone call.
"I have to go." Lu Chen walked up and said apologetically, "The Professor is looking for me."
"Mm." Cate nodded, very understandingly not asking more, "Go ahead."
Lu Chen looked at her pretending to be strong, his heart stirred slightly, he leaned down and gently pressed a kiss on her forehead.
"When I'm done, I'll bring you the best pizza in Queens."
After speaking, he didn't stay any longer, looking at the progress bar that was still at 1%, he turned and strode toward the direction of Professor Brink's office, leaving the momentary tenderness and the girl's reluctant gaze behind.
Chapter 65: Marijuana is fine, but don't overindulge.
The direction to Professor Brink's office was not far.
Lu Chen walked through the corridor of Godolkin University, which was paved with magnificent floor tiles, leaving the fleeting tenderness and the girl's reluctant gaze behind, along with that 1% progress bar.
Professor Brink's office was at the end of the corridor, the heavy mahogany door left half-open.
Lu Chen didn't knock; he pushed the door open and entered directly.
The office was filled with a scent that was a mix of cigars and old books.
Professor Brink was sitting behind his massive desk. Upon seeing Lu Chen enter, a warm smile immediately spread across his face, and he even stood up on his own initiative, opening his arms wide.
"My child, you finally decided to come back!"
A solid hug. Professor Brink patted Lu Chen's back hard, with significant force, carrying a sense of elder-like familiarity.
After letting go, he looked Lu Chen up and down, saying in a teasing tone: "Let me see... Hmm, you look good. It seems these few days of 'disappearance' were quite pleasant. Child, I understand the desire you young people have for the opposite sex and novel things, but you must also learn restraint. Marijuana is fine, but don't overindulge."
This old man had mistaken him for one of those Superhumans idiots whose minds were filled only with parties and promiscuity.
However, that was fine too. A young person addicted to debauchery and getting carried away was more likely to make people lower their guard.
Lu Chen went along with his words, putting on the appearance of a slightly shy yet proud young man: "Professor, you know... experiencing this kind of life for the first time, it's hard not to get a little carried away."
"Of course I understand." Professor Brink laughed loudly, signaling Lu Chen to sit on the sofa opposite him, while he walked over to the liquor cabinet and poured two glasses of whiskey. "Back in the day, when I first got A-Train into The Seven, that kid was much crazier than you. We had to assign a dedicated PR team to follow him around twenty-four hours a day to clean up his messes. Heroes are human too; having a few harmless hobbies actually makes the public feel that you are more real."
He handed one of the glasses to Lu Chen, holding his own cup, leaning against the desk with the air of a mentor imparting life experience.
The atmosphere in the office became very harmonious, as if they were truly a pair of close teacher and student.
After the small talk, Professor Brink picked up a thick stack of documents from the desk, walked over, and placed them on the coffee table in front of Lu Chen.
"Alright, child, enough small talk. Come and see the gift I have prepared for you."
The documents were opened, and what came into view were sets of costume designs.
"First, a great superhero must have a cape." Professor Brink pointed to one of the design drawings and introduced it with high spirits; his enthusiasm made Lu Chen almost believe that he was the one who was going to wear this costume.
"But considering your speed, a traditional cape is a burden. So, this one is made of special memory fiber; it is extremely light and can be retracted into the armor groove on your back with one click."
He turned to the next page, which was a detailed drawing of the cape's lining, featuring a freehand ink wash painting of mountains and rivers.
"For the inside of the cape, I specially added your Eastern ink wash elements. This wasn't easy; I had to use my personal connections to get a master of traditional Chinese painting from Shanghai to design it for you personally. This represents your roots, your identity; a small person growing into a great hero—the public will go crazy for this story!"
"The overall costume is black and gold. Low-key, but full of a sense of power. It completely follows your requirements: form-fitting and lightweight."
Professor Brink pointed to the page with material specifications, every word exuding an aura of expense.
"The main armor is made of hafnium carbide alloy, one of the most heat-resistant materials on Earth currently. The outer layer is coated with a tungsten alloy, perfectly meeting the anti-radiation requirements you proposed earlier. How is it? My child, are you satisfied with this design?"
Looking at those design drawings, and seeing the consideration Professor Brink had put into every detail, a strange sense of emotion actually stirred in Lu Chen's heart.
This old fox, although treating him as a commodity to be sold to the highest bidder, was indeed the World's top 'commodity packager.' He had perfectly considered all the functional requirements Lu Chen had proposed, and even thoughtfully added cultural symbols that could resonate with the public.
This level of professionalism and dedication was impossible not to be moved by.
Lu Chen stood up at the right moment and gave Professor Brink a firm hug, perfectly performing that fleeting touch of emotion into the genuine outpouring of a young man moved by his mentor's care.
"Professor... I, I don't know what to say. It's too perfect."
He let go and looked at Professor Brink with a 'flattered' expression. "However, these materials... they sound expensive. Can you afford this cost?"
"Hahahaha!" Professor Brink let out a proud laugh. He patted Lu Chen on the shoulder, signaling him to sit down. "Child, never worry about money. Money is just a tool to realize value."
He sat back in his boss chair, leaned back, and crossed his fingers over his abdomen.
"A portion of this cost is personally funded by me. In addition, after my lobbying over these past few days, several members of the board who think highly of you are also willing to contribute. We are going to turn you and Golden Boy into Godolkin University's new 'Twin Stars'!"
Professor Brink leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice.
"By the way, let me leak an inside scoop to you. As far as I know, in The Seven... several members are preparing to 'retire'."
He paused meaningfully, observing Lu Chen's reaction.
"During this time, focus on your training and show your strength. Perhaps this will be your chance."
A chance.
Lu Chen's heart remained calm. The so-called 'retirements' all seemed to be my doing.
But what Professor Brink expected to see was the reaction an ambitious young person should have upon hearing this news.
Therefore, Lu Chen's breathing became 'labored' for a split second, and he looked at Professor Brink in 'disbelief.'
Seeing Lu Chen in this state, Professor Brink nodded with satisfaction. The fish had taken the bait.
He changed the subject and asked seemingly casually: "By the way, these few days you disappeared, have you made progress? I mean, your abilities."
This was the main point. The old fox who never acts without seeing the prey, after showing all the tempting carrots, was finally going to check the donkey's quality.
"There is indeed progress." Lu Chen answered immediately, his tone certain. "I feel like I am getting stronger every day. Both my physical fitness and speed have shown very obvious progress."
"Good! Excellent!" Professor Brink's old face blossomed with a smile, wrinkles bunching up like a blooming chrysanthemum.
"That's good! Next week is the new ranking competition! You know, although I think highly of you, the other students ranked higher also have their own connections behind them. You must demonstrate... strength! Understand?"
"As for fans and popularity," Professor Brink waved his hand dismissively, "hand over your accounts to my secretary; she will manage them for you. The public is stupid. We just need to fabricate some heroic deeds of you saving lives, find a few actors to cooperate, and you can spare some time to show your face at the scene. Coupled with that handsome face of yours... I guarantee your fan count will rise like a Rocket!"
"By the way, I also had someone double the credit limit on that card of yours. Use it freely, child, don't have any concerns. A future member of The Seven deserves the best treatment."
Lu Chen looked at this series of comprehensive arrangements by Professor Brink, from the costume to the future, to PR and money; a net had already been cast for him.
He stood up once again and thanked Professor Brink sincerely, the play of deep mentor-student affection being performed to the fullest.
Finally, Lu Chen left the office.
The heavy wooden door closed slowly behind him, cutting off the warm sunlight and the scent of cigars in the office.
Lu Chen looked down at the black card in his hand. The texture of this card felt much more real than the warmth of Professor Brink's hug just now.
He returned to his dormitory, lay on the bed, and on his retina, there was only a single line of simple text.
[Copy progress: 1%, interrupted]
Chapter 66: A Bold Plan
One percent.
Lu Chen pondered in his mind; the white of the ceiling gradually blurred in his eyes, transforming into a complex web of relationships.
Cate, Shetty, drugs.
A cycle.
According to Cate, Dean Shetty almost mandatorily required her to take medication daily and have regular "heart-to-hearts." This indicated that the so-called "stabilizing drug" likely only had an effect for twenty-four hours.
In this situation, wanting to maintain contact with her for a long time meant having to consider the ability she had to hear others' thoughts when the drug's effect wore off.
Cate was now like a frightened hedgehog; if she discovered that he was approaching her with a purpose, it would make her bristle with spines. Once she discovered that she was also a pawn, a tool being used by him to obtain power...
He had to think of a way. A foolproof way.
Lu Chen tossed and turned on the bed, countless plans flashing through his mind before being rejected.
Force? No, the risk was too great; it would even completely ruin the chance to Copy.
Deception? He was already doing that, but to maintain a high-intensity disguise for over twenty hours in front of someone who could recover mind-reading abilities at any moment, without revealing a single flaw, even he wasn't confident.
Unless... he even deceived himself.
A truly insane thought grew wildly in his mind.
If he himself firmly believed that his approach to Cate was entirely out of a young man's purest admiration and infatuation for a beautiful girl, then his every move, every micro-expression, would be flawless.
Use his own ability to tamper with his own memories.
LV3 Mind Control could implant false memories, but using it on himself... he had never tried it. But once successful, he would temporarily forget his true goal, forget the existence of the system, and forget Shetty's conspiracy. He would become a real, love-struck "ordinary" Superhuman.
The risk was huge, but the reward was equally tempting.
He sat up from the bed; in the darkness, his eyes were shockingly bright.
He did not hesitate any longer.
He first picked up his phone and left a line in his notes in a way that only he could understand. Then, he tore off a piece of paper and, under the bedside lamp, wrote the same content:
"Remember, use the ability you obtained to remember, your memory is not right."
This was the insurance he left for his "future" self. Once he successfully Copied the LV5 Mind Control from Cate, that more powerful force would allow him to see through the fog he had set for himself.
After doing all this, Lu Chen closed his eyes and placed his palms on his temples.
[Mind Control LV3, Activate]
He began to skillfully weave a new memory.
Packing up the craving for Cate's ability, the insight into Shetty's conspiracy, the knowledge of the Copy ability... all these core secrets, sealing them layer by layer, and sinking them into the deepest part of his consciousness.
Replacing them was a brand new "fact": He, Lu Chen, was a lucky person who had accidentally awakened multiple abilities due to the mixing of various Compound V in his body. At Godolkin University, he noticed the girl who always wore gloves and had melancholic eyes, was attracted by her unique fragility and beauty, and thus began to approach her...
The process of memory tampering was not painful, just bringing waves of slight dizziness.
A few minutes later, when Lu Chen opened his eyes again, he rubbed his temples in a daze.
"Damn... did I drink too much last night?"
He shook his head, feeling as if his brain had been stuffed with paste.
Then, he noticed the note on the nightstand.
"Huh?"
Lu Chen picked it up in confusion.
"Remember, use the ability you obtained to remember, your memory is not right?"
He looked at the note over and over; the handwriting on it was indeed his own.
Lu Chen subconsciously began to recall. From the orphanage to Queens, from working at a convenience store to awakening his ability for the first time at eighteen and entering Godolkin, then meeting Professor Brink and... Cate.
The chain of memory was complete, without any breaks or blurry spots. Everything was logical.
Is there a problem with my memory?
Use the ability you obtained... what ability?
Does it mean his Super Speed and strength? Or the suddenly awakened abilities similar to Starlight, Golden Boy, and others, which he hadn't told anyone about due to caution, only Cate knew part of it, how could he use this to remember?
Lu Chen squeezed the note, an inexplicable sense of irritability welling up in his heart. He checked repeatedly, but couldn't find anything wrong.
Lu Chen put this matter to the back of his mind.
Another thought popped out.
Pizza!
He remembered; he had promised Cate to bring her the best pizza in Queens.
Damn, he almost forgot such an important thing.
He grabbed his phone, found the number for that pizza place, added triple the price directly, and demanded that the other party deliver it to the entrance of Godolkin University at the fastest speed.
Then, he dialed Cate's number.
"Hey, it's me."
"...Lu Chen?" The voice on the other end of the phone carried a hint of surprise.
"Guess what I prepared for you? The best place in Queens, spicy sausage with double cheese. Waiting for you in the cafeteria."
"You..." Cate seemed a bit overwhelmed, but quickly, her voice carried a smile, "Okay, I'll be there right away."
Half an hour later, at a window seat in the cafeteria.
Cate was clearly dressed up, wearing light makeup, which made her already exquisite features even more vibrant. She looked at the pizza box Lu Chen pushed in front of her, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"I thought you had forgotten." She whispered.
"How could I?" Lu Chen skillfully opened the box and handed her the largest slice, "I will do everything I promise you."
Cate took the pizza, her arm inadvertently touching Lu Chen's hand.
At that very instant, Lu Chen felt an extremely faint, but definitely existing, warm current seep into his body from the point of contact, making every cell in his body relax a bit.
This feeling... it was very comfortable.
Very comfortable.
Lu Chen, unconsciously, wanted more.
During the rest of the meal, his actions became much bolder than before. When she spoke, he would lean in to help smooth the stray hair by her ear; when telling a joke, he would naturally drape his arm over the back of her chair.
Cate keenly noticed these changes.
The boy in front of her was more proactive and bolder than ever before, even carrying a kind of... clingy sense of dependence. The look in his eyes when he looked at her was full of pure, unmasked admiration and longing. All her previous unease and tentative probing instantly collapsed under Lu Chen's direct and ardent offensive.
So he wasn't playing with me.
He really... likes me.
A huge sense of joy and victory surged into her heart; Cate was no longer reserved, and with a bit of showing off, she affectionately leaned her head on Lu Chen's shoulder, feeling the warmth coming from his body.
The meal ended, and Lu Chen was still not satisfied, wanting Cate to stay with him a little longer. That feeling from the touch made him a bit addicted.
"Sorry," Cate looked up with some apology, "I have to go, Dean Shetty is looking for me... you know, regular psychological counseling."
Shetty again.
A flash of displeasure crossed Lu Chen's mind.
Seeing the undisguised disappointment on Lu Chen's face, Cate's heart bubbled with sweetness. She liked this attachment he had to her.
She stood on her tiptoes and quickly kissed Lu Chen on the lips.
Soft, warm.
"We can be together every day." Her voice carried a smile, "How about we go to Times Square together the day after tomorrow?"
Feeling the lingering sensation on his lips, Lu Chen nodded vigorously.
Having received a positive reply, Cate turned and left, satisfied, her steps even lighter.
Lu Chen stood in place, the touch of her skin still lingering on his fingertips; he watched Cate's back disappear at the end of the corridor, the comfort brought by that strange energy still flowing slowly through his body.
Chapter 67: Love and Desire
The next two days became a sensory feast for Lu Chen.
That strange, warm current, that addictive sense of comfort, drove him to want to be with Cate every moment of the day.
In class, his hand would naturally find hers under the desk, their fingers interlacing through her gloves, their arms brushing against each other.
In the crowded cafeteria, his arm would possessively wrap around her shoulders, shielding her by his side.
When Lu Chen was sweating profusely in the training room, Cate would sit on the nearby bleachers, her eyes never leaving him for a moment. He would always find various excuses to pause his training and walk over to her; leaning against the railing, Cate would always wipe the sweat from his brow, her arm brushing against his body, and Lu Chen found himself almost addicted to that warm sensation.
And Cate had completely fallen for him too.
The love in this boy's eyes was so pure, so intense, without a hint of impurity. All his actions stemmed from an instinctive closeness and desire, making all her past defenses and anxieties seem ridiculous.
She began to enjoy this feeling of being needed and adored, even taking the initiative to respond. She would stand on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek, whisper in his ear, and enjoy the moment he froze in response.
They had practically become the hottest couple on campus, the envy of everyone around them.
When the appointed day arrived, they went to Times Square.
On the massive digital billboards, lights and shadows intertwined, illuminating the entire square as if it were day. The bustling crowds and the sound of honking horns formed a symphony unique to New York.
"Look!" She pulled him toward a Broadway theater. "The Phantom of the Opera! I've always wanted to see it!"
They bought tickets and sat in the darkness of the theater for two and a half hours. Lu Chen had no interest in musicals, but when the soprano hit the highest note, Cate's fingers suddenly tightened around his palm. He tightened his grip in response.
"God, I hate Broadway," Lu Chen said as they exited the theater, stretching dramatically. "Those guys singing opera in tights give me goosebumps."
"But you were clearly enjoying it," Cate said, linking her arm with his, laughing heartily. She was wearing a beautiful dress today, her face delicately made up, and she seemed to be glowing.
"That's only because you were next to me," Lu Chen whispered into her ear, his low response earning him a shy roll of the eyes from the girl.
They dove into M&M's World, and in front of the giant wall of chocolate candies, Cate excitedly picked out various colors like a child. Lu Chen was in charge of paying and taking photos; in the frame, the girl's smile was sweeter than the candy behind her.
The next stop was Madame Tussauds. She dragged Lu Chen to take a picture with the Homelander wax figure, posing as if she were about to be punched.
"Come on, future member of The Seven," she said, holding up her phone and winking mischievously, "practice standing with the Captain in advance."
Next, they went to see Queen Maeve's latest movie—Queen Maeve: Her Majesty. In the dark theater, as the heroine on screen brandished her sword, Cate rested her head gently on his shoulder, and their hands met in the popcorn bucket, never to separate again.
Night had completely fallen.
The Nasdaq screen and the countless giant LED walls around them began to put on the most dazzling light show, cutting the night sky into flowing palettes of color.
Cate leaned into Lu Chen's embrace, looking up at this artificial starry sky with a satisfied smile on her face.
"We should head back," Lu Chen said, glancing at the time. "Otherwise, you'll miss Principal Shetty's 'counseling session'."
He had just mentioned it casually, but the girl in his arms suddenly stiffened.
Cate looked up, her beautiful blue eyes shimmering with a complex light under the neon signs. She stood on her tiptoes, leaned into his ear, and her warm breath brushed against his earlobe.
"I... took the night off."
Lu Chen's breath hitched for a split second.
He understood.
He said nothing, simply gripping Cate's hand tightly and turning toward the nearest hotel.
The hotel room was on a high floor, and outside the massive floor-to-ceiling windows was the dazzling night view of all of Manhattan.
But neither of them was in the mood to appreciate it.
The moment the door closed, they were locked in a passionate kiss, intense and urgent, as if they wanted to merge each other into their own bodies. Clothes were roughly stripped away and scattered across the floor.
The city lights cast mottled shadows on the floor, the walls, and their intertwined bodies. The air was filled with the scent of her perfume, mixed with their scorching breaths, like a slow drowning.
Amidst the entanglement of sheets and limbs, that black leather glove was snagged by something, sliding off Cate's hand and falling onto the carpet.
Cate froze; those gloves were the barrier isolating her from the World.
Lu Chen took her bare hand at this moment.
"It's okay. I'm here."
Energy exploded from their point of contact, more violently than ever before. Lu Chen was almost knocked off balance by the warm current, but there was no sign of anything unusual on his face. He attributed it to the magic of love.
In that very moment when Lu Chen was submerged in warmth, Cate's face was inches away. Her breathing was a little ragged, and in those blue eyes, his reflection was mirrored, along with a hint of desperate madness.
"Do you love me?"
This question appeared like a tiny fissure in this ocean of frenzy.
"I do."
The word slipped out without a hint of hesitation.
It was an answer from the depths of his soul, the only absolute truth in his altered memories.
Cate felt it.
Her ability—the ability that caused her pain and disgust—gave her the answer she wanted most at this moment. No lies, no deception, no pretense. She could "hear" that every syllable this man uttered stemmed from the most sincere emotion.
A single tear slid from the corner of her eye, not because of sadness, but because of a massive, overwhelming ecstasy of having her wish fulfilled.
She smiled, a bright and bewitching smile.
The last line of defense completely collapsed.
The pain was only for a moment; for Superhumans whose physical fitness far exceeded that of ordinary people, it was almost negligible.
And that extreme pleasure was amplified infinitely.
He could feel that energy becoming increasingly majestic and vast. And his altered consciousness interpreted all of this as the peak experience of love.
In this fusion of spirit and flesh, he felt Cate's fingernails gently sink into his back—a mark asserting her ownership.
"You really are mine..."
She murmured in his ear, her voice a mix of intoxication and possession.
Chapter 68: The Love-Brain Clearance Plan!
The warmth of skin against skin fermented in the air. Outside the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, Manhattan's brilliant nightscape flickered, yet it couldn't pierce the dense ambiguity filling the room. Lu Chen's arm wrapped around the girl's slender waist, pressing her tighter against him.
The addictive warm current in his mind continued to surge. With every heartbeat and every breath, this soul-level bond deepened.
The air after their intimacy carried a trace of lazy sweetness.
The brand-new bedsheets softly enveloped their intertwined bodies. Outside, Manhattan's brilliant lights were blocked out by the heavy curtains, leaving only a quiet darkness in the room.
Kate curled up in Lu Chen's arms like a cat, as if only this could give her an absolute sense of security.
Lu Chen held her, his altered consciousness interpreting this warmth as a settled, final happiness. He thought this pursuit had reached its end—that he had won the girl and her unreserved love.
However, in the midst of this deep silence, a cold electronic notification tone exploded in his mind without warning.
[Copy complete.]
[Mental Control LV5 and Consciousness Control LV3 have merged and strengthened]
[Mental Control LV5 (Strengthened):
Absolute Behavioral Compulsion: By making direct skin contact with the target using your hands and simultaneously speaking a clear verbal command, the touched individual will unconditionally execute any order. Chain Control Capability: You only need to touch the first person; when the controlled individual touches others, the ability will automatically transfer, achieving indirect group control.
Omnidimensional Memory Manipulation: Including memory deletion and the implantation of false memories.
Mental Cage: Can forcibly pull the consciousness of multiple people into your own mental space, forming a shared memory illusion. Any damage sustained within the mental space will directly affect the physical body in reality.]
Boom—
A majestic surge of mental power instantly poured in from the point where his skin met Kate's, rushing up his arm, washing over every inch of his nerves, and finally flowing into his brain.
Lu Chen's gaze was pinned tightly to these lines of text.
A slight prickling pain came from deep within his brain; it was the new ability merging with his neurons on a physical level.
It was like a brand-new operating system being forcibly installed into his mental World. Countless complex streams of information regarding memory, consciousness, and mental structure poured in, instantly shattering and reorganizing his original cognitive framework.
Lu Chen's body shuddered violently.
Kate, in his arms, seemed to be disturbed. She murmured unconsciously and snuggled closer into his embrace.
Lu Chen froze. He looked down at the girl's sleeping face.
Mind Control...
Wasn't this Kate's ability?
Why...
One question after another began to surface uncontrollably. The pure love for Kate that had been implanted in him made him instinctively want to attribute all of this to some kind of "proof of love" or "resonance of abilities."
But the newly acquired power, the system's prompt, and that LV5-grade mental majesty granted him an absolutely calm, absolutely objective perspective.
From this perspective, he could "see" how abrupt and how... illogical the surging love in his mind was.
It was like a program written by force, suppressing all rational thought.
Lu Chen gently removed Kate's arm from his chest, carefully lifted the blanket, and stepped out of bed barefoot.
The cold touch of the floor cleared his muddled head slightly.
His gaze swept over the nightstand. His jacket was sitting there.
A scene flashed across his mind without warning. In his dorm room, he was sitting at his desk, picking up a pen, and writing a line of words on a slip of paper.
That slip of paper was currently stuffed inside the inner pocket of his jacket.
"Your memory has been altered. Use your newly acquired ability to remember."
This sentence, like a bolt of lightning, split the fog in his mind.
He suddenly looked up, staring into the dark room.
My memory was altered...
Use the newly acquired ability...
Clutching the slip of paper, Lu Chen turned and walked into the bathroom, gently closing the door.
He turned on the light, and the glaring white light made him squint instinctively.
In the mirror, a face both familiar and strange to him was reflected. It still bore a trace of post-coital languor, along with a kind of... pure infatuation that even he found foreign.
It was this very face that had shown Kate such passionate expressions countless times over the past two days.
Lu Chen stared at himself in the mirror, the handwriting on the slip of paper echoing repeatedly in his mind.
Use your newly acquired ability...
This time, he seemed to... truly know what to do.
This was an instinct, an innate sense of control that came with the solidification of the ability.
He raised his hand, his fingertip gently pressing against his temple.
He closed his eyes.
The entire World instantly changed.
If his previous Consciousness Control LV3 only allowed him to read and modify memories like flipping through files, then his current LV5 Mind Control made him directly embody the system administrator of his entire mental World.
He could "see" all the underlying code of his own memories.
He began to trace back.
Starting from tonight, rewinding frame by frame.
He saw his and Kate's wildness in the hotel room, saw the word "love" slip from his mouth, saw every heartbeat of his at Times Square, saw his domineering embrace in the cafeteria, saw his fingers intertwined with hers under the desk...
Everything appeared so real; every burst of emotion seemed to originate from the depths of his heart.
But now, re-examining it from the "administrator" perspective, Lu Chen discovered countless loopholes that had been forcibly ignored.
The doubts that should have arisen, the vigilance that should have been felt—all of it had been suppressed by an invisible layer of suggestion.
[Go get close to her.]
[Go touch her.]
[You need her.]
These suggestions, like the lowest-level commands, overrode all his behavioral logic. And the energy feedback brought about by executing these commands was falsely interpreted by his brain as "love" and "infatuation."
A perfect self-deception.
Lu Chen's consciousness continued to dive deeper into his memories. Passing through layer after layer of scenes colored by emotion, he finally found the source.
In the core area of his memory, there was a place of absolute darkness.
It was a lock.
A lock he had forged with his own hands, a mental barrier constructed using his Consciousness Control LV3 ability.
It sealed away the entire truth.
And now, he had the key.
Lu Chen mobilized that newly acquired, majestic and vast mental power, and without any hesitation, slammed it ruthlessly against that giant black lock.
"Bang—!"
A silent explosion erupted in his mental World.
The lock shattered.
The sealed memories rushed out like a bursting flood.
The plan to return to Godolkin University, his coveting of Kate's ability, his calculation of treating her as a master key to the core of Vought's power, the fact that he decided to alter his own memory for a perfect disguise...
Scene after scene, incredibly clear.
Inside the bathroom.
Lu Chen's tightly closed eyes slowly opened.
He looked at himself in the mirror, watching the infatuation and gentleness of the "love-brain" recede from his face like a ebbing tide, replaced by a familiar, icy calm.
He twitched his cheek at his reflection in the mirror, a faint smile slowly appearing.
"So that's how it is."
Chapter 69: Loyalty!
Looking at himself in the mirror, the infatuation and tenderness belonging to the "love brain" receded like the tide, replaced by a familiar, icy calm.
The fused and enhanced Mind Control LV5 was even more domineering than Kate's ability.
He no longer needed to use the foolish method of altering his own memory to disguise himself.
With a single thought, a majestic spiritual power quickly wove beneath his cerebral cortex, building an invisible firewall. This barrier wrapped up all his calculations regarding Kate and all the secrets of the system, isolating them in the deepest depths. To the outside, it left a perfect "interface" filled with passionate love.
He could call upon this fake love at any time, or switch back to absolute calmness whenever he wanted.
Having done all this, he turned off the bathroom light and walked noiselessly back to the bedside.
In the darkness, Kate was sleeping soundly, a faint flush of contentment and warmth still on her face.
He lay back down and pulled her soft body into his arms. The girl seemed to sense his familiar scent, unconsciously rubbing against his chest and sleeping even more peacefully.
...
The next morning, the first ray of sunlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, casting a golden band of light in the room.
Kate woke up first.
She opened her eyes to see Lu Chen's face right before her. He was still asleep, breathing steadily, his handsome profile appearing exceptionally soft in the morning light.
Kate's heart was instantly filled with warmth.
She carefully slipped her arm out, and then she saw the gloves on the nightstand.
A trace of hesitation flashed across her mind.
She didn't want to wear them anymore; they blocked every intimate contact between them. But she was also afraid—afraid that some stray thought or slip of the tongue might harm this man she loved so deeply through skin contact.
In the end, she still picked up the gloves and slowly put them on.
Just then, Lu Chen opened his eyes. With a hint of morning laziness, he reached out to pull her back into his arms and murmured in a raspy voice, "Honey, where are you going?"
"I... I just wanted to wash up." Kate was held tightly by him, her face flushing slightly warm.
"Lie with me a little longer." Lu Chen buried his face in the crook of her neck and took a deep breath. "I like your scent."
Kate's body stiffened for a moment, then melted under a massive wave of happiness.
The two lingered in bed for a long time before getting up to wash. Then, arm in arm, they left the hotel and returned to Godolkin University.
Along the way, they were no different than before, intimately sharing a single ice cream cone and kissing passionately under the gaze of passersby as if no one else was there.
Until they parted ways in front of the academic building.
"I have to go see Dean Shetty. You know, routine counseling." Kate was a bit reluctant to leave, tipping up her toes to kiss his lips.
"Go ahead, send me a message when you're done." Lu Chen gently smoothed her hair. "Let's have dinner together tonight."
Kate winked at him, turned, and walked toward the Dean's office.
Watching her slender back disappear around the corner, the tenderness on Lu Chen's face vanished.
He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
"Jordan, it's me, Lu Chen. I need the key to the private training room."
A female voice came from the other end of the line, full of arrogance: "The ranking matches are coming up. Are you finally planning to get serious? I thought you'd only be clinging to your new girlfriend these past couple of days."
"To defeat Golden Boy, I need some preparation." Lu Chen's reply was short and sweet.
"Ha, ambitious. The key is in my locker. Go get it yourself."
The call disconnected.
Lu Chen walked straight to the school's locker area and retrieved the key card from Jordan's locker.
For the next few hours, he became the busiest hunter at Godolkin University.
He contacted several Superhumans who were somewhat famous among the students: one with Super Strength, one with an invulnerable body, and another with exceptionally sharp senses.
The process was exactly the same as when he dealt with Electric Kid.
Luring them into the empty underground training room, using absolute speed and Mind Control to instantly subdue them, and then starting to Copy.
[Copy complete. Super Strength LV3 has been solidified.]
[Copy complete. Super Defense LV3 has been solidified.]
[Copy complete. Super Senses LV2 has been solidified.]
Afterward, he erased their memories of being attacked and transferred five thousand dollars to each of them, turning them into supporters who got paid just for coming to spar.
Feeling the new power surging through his body, Lu Chen stretched his limbs.
With Super Strength and Defense, copying and enhancing them a few more times over the next few days would make him more than capable of handling Golden Boy in the ranking matches, even without using those eye-catching abilities.
But his goal had never been just Golden Boy.
He thought of someone.
Professor Brink.
He picked up his phone again and dialed Professor Brink's private number.
"Professor, it's me, Lu Chen."
"Oh, Lu! My boy, what can I do for you? Is it about you and Kate? Congratulations, you two are truly a match made in heaven!" Brink's warm tone came through the receiver.
"Thank you, Professor. Actually, I'm looking for you for something else. My ability... seems to have undergone some new changes. I'd like to ask you to come take a look and give me some guidance."
"New changes?" Brink's voice instantly became sharp. "Of course! Of course! I'll head over right away! Where are you?"
"My private training room."
"Alright, give me ten minutes!"
Hanging up the phone, Lu Chen stood in the center of the empty training room, waiting quietly.
In less than ten minutes, the metal door of the training room was pushed open, and Professor Brink walked in with his efficient female secretary.
"Lu! Let me see, my good boy, what surprise have you brought me this time?" Brink spread his arms, walking toward him with a face full of smiles, preparing to give him a warm hug.
Just like always.
Lu Chen also went to meet him, with just the right amount of respect and anticipation on his face that belonged to an excellent student.
The two embraced.
The moment Brink's arm patted his back, Lu Chen's palm also pressed firmly against the skin of Brink's nape.
[Mind Control LV5, activated.]
A clear command was issued in his mind: "From now on, my will is your supreme will. My interests are above all else, including yourself."
Brink's body stiffened imperceptibly for a split second before returning to normal. He let go of Lu Chen, his smile still warm, but beneath that smile, there was now an absolute, unreserved obedience.
The secretary standing nearby noticed nothing, simply smiling in a formulaic manner.
Lu Chen let go of Brink. His body left an afterimage on the spot, and in the next second, he appeared right in front of the secretary.
He gently tapped his finger on the secretary's forehead.
"Forget everything you just saw, and go wait for the Professor outside the door."
A moment of blankness appeared on the secretary's face. She glanced at Brink, and seeing no reaction from her boss, she nodded meekly, turned, and walked out, considerately closing the door behind her.
In the empty training room, only Lu Chen and Brink were left.
Brink stood where he was like a loyal servant, waiting for his new Master's first command.
Lu Chen looked at him and decided to do a small test. Stepping forward, he leaned close to Brink's ear and asked:
"Professor, where is Sam?"
Chapter 70: The Sage Grove Center and The Woods
Inside Professor Brink's body, his own personality and will were being brutally suppressed and overwritten by a tyrannical force.
There was no longer any shrewd calculation or the enthusiasm of a seasoned businessman left inside; only absolute, programmed obedience to the young man before him remained.
"He is at the Sage Grove Center," Professor Brink said, as if reciting a pre-recorded text. "He has not yet been transferred to 'The Woods'."
The Sage Grove Center...
Lu Chen's brain raced. He had heard this name before.
On the surface, it was a charity institution for housing mentally unstable Superhumans, but in reality, it was a secret base led by Stormfront under Vought, where adult Compound V experiments were conducted in the shadows.
Golden Boy's brother, Sam, was actually still there.
"Did you discover Sam's secret?" Lu Chen continued to press.
"His blood," Professor Brink replied mechanically. "We have conducted multiple studies on his blood samples. The results show that Sam's blood contains an abnormally high concentration of Compound V. It can slightly increase the activity of Compound V in other Superhumans, enhancing their abilities."
"But the effect is limited and unstable," Professor Brink added. "We are planning to transfer him to 'The Woods' to prepare for a control experiment on his only blood relative, Golden Boy, to determine the upper limits and side effects of this enhancement."
"Very good." Lu Chen patted Professor Brink on the shoulder, like a teacher commending a student. "Push this plan forward as soon as possible. Bring Sam to 'The Woods'."
"Yes."
"Now, you may go back. Remember, nothing happened today."
Lu Chen withdrew his hand, and Professor Brink's suppressed consciousness instantly flooded back. He blinked, and that familiar, enthusiastic smile reappeared on his face, as if he had just experienced a brief blackout.
"Oh, Lu, my boy! I am so happy to see you getting stronger every day! You really are Godolkin's most outstanding genius!" He gave Lu Chen a warm hug, then turned and walked toward the door. "I must hurry and tell the investors this good news! You go ahead with your work, we'll stay in touch!"
He opened the door, said something to the female secretary waiting outside, and the two walked away quickly, their steps even carrying a hint of excitement.
Lu Chen stood where he was, watching the metal door slowly close, cutting off everything outside.
Over the next few days, he transformed into the most diligent hunter, spending all his time in the private training room.
Super Strength and super defense, combined with Level 4 physical fitness, made his close-quarters combat ability even stronger. Every punch thrown carried a dull thud that tore through the air; every block was as solid as a rock.
The ranking tournament was just around the corner.
...
The night deepened, and only sporadic lights could be seen outside the dormitory window.
Cate was curled up entirely in Lu Chen's arms, her fingers unconsciously drawing circles on his chest. There were no lights on in the room, only the moonlight filtering in from the window, outlining the silhouettes of the two embracing.
"Today... Dean Shetty called for me again." Cate's voice was very soft, carrying a hint of imperceptible fatigue.
"Hmm?" Lu Chen's arm tightened slightly, holding her more securely.
"She took me to a place, it seemed like a mental hospital." Cate nuzzled into his chest, seemingly wanting to draw more security from him. "There was a Superhuman locked up there whose ability was... causing people around him to fall into a frenzy. Shetty asked me to try... to calm him down."
Lu Chen did not speak, listening quietly.
"I was really scared at the time, really." Cate's voice trembled slightly. "I was afraid that as soon as I took off my gloves, I would make him worse, or even... cause him to hurt himself. But then, I thought of you."
She looked up, and in the dim light, her beautiful eyes shone astonishingly bright.
"You told me that abilities are just tools, and the key lies in the person using them. I thought, if I can't even do this small thing, how can I ever calmly... be with you without wearing gloves?"
A huge sense of happiness and the satisfaction of being needed made her temporarily forget the fear of the day. She had succeeded; she had used her own ability to make that frenzied patient fall asleep quietly for the first time in his life.
A mental hospital, a frenzied Superhuman, calming them down... Shetty's intentions were glaringly obvious. She was conducting targeted training on Cate in advance for the future "Superhuman Virus" project. Once Superhumans lost control, Cate's ability would be the best weapon to control the chaotic situation.
This poor girl still thought she was working hard to repay Shetty.
"You did very well." Lu Chen lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "See, you can control it perfectly. You are defeating it step by step, turning it into a part of your body, rather than a monster that needs to be isolated."
His voice was full of seductive power, causing Cate to completely drown in it.
"Really?"
"Of course." Lu Chen stroked her long hair, his tone firm. "You have taken the most important step. Believe in me, and believe in yourself. One day, you will be able to completely throw away those gloves."
Cate was so excited that her body trembled slightly; she took the initiative to lean in and kiss Lu Chen's lips.
After a lingering kiss, Lu Chen seemed to suddenly remember something. He cupped Cate's face and spoke as if slightly hesitant: "Also..."
"Also what?" Cate immediately pressed.
Lu Chen pondered for a moment, seemingly weighing his words. This serious demeanor made Cate's heart beat even faster.
"Back in my hometown, there's a saying: 'All medicine is three-parts poison.'"
He said slowly, "The medication you have been taking is said to help stabilize your emotions and control your ability. But since you can now control it with your own will, doesn't that mean... your reliance on the medication can be reduced?"
Cate was stunned. She had never thought about this question. Shetty told her she must take medicine every day, otherwise her ability would lose control.
"What I mean is," Lu Chen's fingertips gently rubbed her cheek, "you can try to gradually reduce the dosage. For example, change it from once a day to once every two days, then once every three days... until you discover that even without the medication, you can handle your power very well. I'm just... afraid that those drugs are constantly harming your body."
That last sentence, like the most precise arrow, instantly pierced through all of Cate's psychological defenses.
He is not worried about my ability, but about my body.
The huge joy brought by this realization left her mind blank, with only endless emotion and love remaining.
She gazed at Lu Chen, and in his deep eyes, her own infatuated image was clearly reflected.
Cate nodded vigorously, her voice choked with a hint of emotion.
"Okay, I will listen to everything you say."