Ye Fei knew that this girl was probably jealous, so he quickly smiled and threw out a compliment, "It was nice, but not as nice as you, Ling!"
Lin Ling snorted and ignored him. However, Ye Fei, with a sheepish grin, persisted, "Come on, Ling, let me see."
Lin Ling simply turned her head away. Ye Fei chuckled, took out his phone, and started playing with it. In the military camp, phone usage was prohibited, and he only had limited internet access, which was restricted to two hours a day on the military network. However, there wasn't much of interest to him there.
Nobody, not even his family, knew that Ye Fei was the invincible hacker "Fragile as a Breeze" in the online world. It was puzzling how a frail boy like him had unparalleled talent when it came to computers. Starting at the age of thirteen, he had dominated the field with limited internet access daily. He even had free access to the central intelligence station of the powerful Western empire, the Empire of Americana. Over the past three years, he had become a legend in the online world. However, no one knew that this legendary figure was actually a sixteen-year-old boy who would be out of breath climbing four flights of stairs.
In the past, Ye Fei frequented forums related to hacking techniques. However, today, he suddenly lost interest in them. He aimlessly scrolled through various websites on his phone, clicking on them only to quickly lose interest.
Suddenly, as he opened a small forum, he saw a link with a very classical name—Greek Palace. Intrigued, Ye Fei clicked on it and discovered it was a novel website. Considering many of his classmates enjoyed reading novels, Ye Fei became interested and randomly opened one to read.
Ye Fei was a fast reader. By noon, he had nearly finished reading a novel. Although the writing style wasn't exceptional, the story was captivating. It broadened Ye Fei's horizons, someone who had always been confined to the boundaries of home and school. He was engrossed in the story until Ye Yunqi called out to him.
The siblings didn't go home for lunch, just like they did in their freshman year. After a brief exchange with Ye Yunqi, who went downstairs to get food, Ye Fei, though reluctant to have his sister serve him every day, felt powerless due to the daunting four-flight staircase.
The classroom soon fell quiet, with everyone except Ye Fei having left. Bored, he shook his head, reopened his phone, and immersed himself in the novel. The world depicted there was so fascinating, especially in its portrayal of intimate relationships, which intrigued him. However, what frustrated him was how the annoying author always seemed to cut off at critical moments, leaving him feeling helpless.
Before Ye Yunqi returned, Ye Fei had finished the book. Not because the author had completed it, but because the story had reached its current point. Feeling anxious, he wished he could track down the author and have them narrate the rest to him. But that was just wishful thinking, impossible to achieve. So, he reluctantly opened another novel.
Known for its rigorous academic attitude, the First High School had already kicked off intense studies on the first day of school. While Ye Fei used to enjoy classes, he found them less appealing now. Throughout the entire afternoon, he read novels on his phone, discovering a whole new and wonderful way of life. Reflecting on his past, he realized how mundane it had been.
During this time, he even contacted several authors to obtain their unedited novels. The explicit descriptions in these works stirred his emotions, making him feel excited. He couldn't resist stealing glances at Lin Ling beside him several times. During Yu Wuxia's class, he greedily stared at her voluptuous figure for a long time, wondering if the novels had influenced him, as he even stole a few glances at Ye Yunqi.
After school, Ye Fei finally put away his phone and his mind couldn't help but drift into fantasy. What if he could be like the protagonist in the book, traveling through the flowers, experiencing all the world's beauties? It would be great. It seemed like he had the ability, too. In terms of family background, in Wanghai, the largest city in the south, he could easily rank in the top three. In terms of talent, just the mention of his title as a genius hacker could potentially drive many women crazy for him. And as for looks, that went without saying. It seemed like he was really suited to be a protagonist.
However, he quickly remembered his own physical condition. Being as weak as he was, forget about experiencing all the world's beauties; he might not even be able to handle Lin Ling alone, let alone traveling through the flowers. It seemed that novels were just novels after all, with a gap between fiction and reality.
Feeling dejected after pouring cold water on himself, Ye Fei slumped down. Lin Ling had been watching him all along and seeing that he seemed a bit upset, she asked, "Ye Fei... um, what's wrong with you?"
Lost in his thoughts, Ye Fei replied without much thought, "I'm thinking about how my body is so weak, how am I going to satisfy you in the future?"
Lin Ling, not a naive girl, naturally understood what he meant. Blushing, she spat out, "Pervert!"
Only after the words left his mouth did Ye Fei realize his mistake. He tried to explain, but Lin Ling, embarrassed, refused to listen.
Helpless, Ye Fei smiled wryly, then leaned on the table and stared blankly. He felt even more dissatisfied with his body, but there was nothing he could do. Despite his efforts in the military camp over the past two months, he couldn't help but collapse from fatigue each time. His innate constitution doomed him to never improve significantly.
Sighing, he wondered whether the techniques given by that old man were effective or not. Years ago, he had encountered a strange old man who diagnosed him with a unique constitution. The details were a bit fuzzy now, but it was definitely a special condition. The old man had taught him a technique, promising that if he practiced diligently, he would eventually open his meridians. At that point, he wouldn't be weak and sickly anymore; he would be immensely powerful.
At the time, Ye Fei had just been beaten up by a few thugs and was desperate for strength. Following the old man's teachings, he had practiced daily for years, but he hadn't seen any improvement in his physical strength. Instead, his body had developed rapidly. Originally very short, he had caught up with his peers in height and even surpassed many.
Growing taller should have been a good thing, but for Ye Fei, it wasn't. His increased height also meant a significant increase in weight, making his already difficult mobility even more challenging. Now, even climbing four flights of stairs required a rest midway.