Zhuang Lan was awakened by Li Xiaoqin.
His mother, filled with anxiety, finally relaxed after seeing Zhuang Lan open his eyes.
"I was calling you, and you wouldn’t respond; you scared me to death."
Li Xiaoqin reached out to check her son’s forehead temperature. "It seems a bit warm, wait here, I’m going to find the thermometer."
Zhuang Lan sat up in confusion, unable to differentiate between dream and reality for a moment.
The incessant chatter of Li Xiaoqin drifted in.
"You’re just studying too hard. Last night, I woke up at around one and saw your room light was still on. You can’t keep doing this; it’ll wear down your health."
Zhuang Lan stared blankly at the books spread out on the desk.
Studying hard? Wasn’t he a genius?
It took a while, but Zhuang Lan finally recognized reality.
Li Xiaoqin took Zhuang Lan’s temperature and, finding it wasn’t high enough to be a fever, breathed a sigh of relief.
Yet, seeing her son’s dazed expression, she remained worried.
"You’re already over an hour late, so I’ll call your teacher and ask for a leave of absence. You should rest at home today."
"I..." Zhuang Lan tried to say something, but his mother gently patted his head.
"Just rest for one day, just today, okay?"
Li Xiaoqin’s eyes were slightly red.
She knew her son’s stubbornness and understood that all her persuasions were in vain.
But she truly hoped Zhuang Lan wouldn’t push himself so hard, that even if his grades were poor, being happy would be enough for her.
Under his mother’s silent, earnest plea, Zhuang Lan nodded in agreement.
While tidying up the bed, Zhuang Lan took out a blue bag from under the pillow.
The words of the female shop owner echoed in his ears.
Could she really see the true thoughts? Could she really help him?
Zhuang Lan gripped the bag tightly, his thoughts unknown.
After eating, Zhuang Lan made up his mind.
"Mom, I’m going out for a bit."
Li Xiaoqin was overjoyed, thinking her son would otherwise be cooped up at home studying.
"That’s good, a new park has recently opened near our community, it’s quite nice. Or would you like to go to the mall? I’ll give you some money."
Zhuang Lan didn’t take the money, only placing the blue bag into his pocket.
Upon entering the fortune-telling shop, the crystal curtain made the same crisp tinkling sound as the day before.
Hua Miaofu sat at the table, not the least bit surprised to see Zhuang Lan, as if she had been certain he would return.
Zhuang Lan placed the bag on the table. "Is this psychological suggestion? ’What one thinks during the day, one dreams of at night’?"
Hua Miaofu clicked her tongue in wonder. "Are you still deceiving yourself?"
Zhuang Lan fell silent.
The dream from last night felt excessively real, unlike any dream he had ever had before.
And most dreams are forgotten upon waking up.
But this dream was deeply etched into his mind, as though it had truly happened.
Zhuang Lan still felt somewhat unable to move on from it.
Hua Miaofu coaxed gently, "Last night’s dream is your heart’s true desire. Don’t you want to become a genius, to surpass her?"
Zhuang Lan immediately asked, "How do you know what I dreamed about?"
Hua Miaofu smiled without speaking, taking a sip from her teacup.
Zhuang Lan’s gaze fell on the cup, and he almost thought he saw something inside move.
It must be an illusion.
Perhaps he really hadn’t rested well recently?
Zhuang Lan didn’t dwell on it and asked, "What do you want in return?"
"Don’t be so tense. I simply want to help you." Hua Miaofu took out a black crystal the size of a fingernail and pushed it towards Zhuang Lan.
"As long as you can place this black crystal near her, everything from your dream will come true."
Zhuang Lan furrowed his brow and picked up the crystal. "What do you mean?"
"It’s simple. The moment she touches this black crystal, her talent will become your talent." Hua Miaofu stared into Zhuang Lan’s eyes. "From then on, you will become a true genius."