When system cheat becomes rampant!

Chapter 90 Kept Secret

After the banquet, Xiang Qingde insisted on cleaning up the bowls and dishes, saying that if he was to work here, then he should start now. Chen Xiuqin had no choice but to clean up with him.

Xiang Beifei also lent a hand on the side, and, taking advantage of a moment when no one was around, he asked the slightly intoxicated Kong Daming.

"Uncle Kong, I heard that you were once a pioneer as well. Can you tell me about my parents?" Xiang Beifei inquired.

Kong Daming's face was flushed with a rosy glow because his own son had achieved satisfactory results, and he was very happy. He didn't think too much about it and replied, "Your parents, ah, they were two remarkable individuals! They were much stronger than Xiuqin and me, with strong comprehensive abilities, top-notch in every aspect, they were the true elites among pioneers."

"If they really were elites, they should have been able to come home to take care of their child whenever, just like Uncle Kong," Xiang Beifei said.

Hearing Xiang Beifei's words, Kong Daming stretched out his broad palm and patted Xiang Beifei's shoulder, consoling him, "Being a pioneer is naturally accompanied by constant danger. Those in this line of work all understand this; no one knows whether they will see the sun tomorrow, but everyone strives their best."

"Then why don't you continue being a pioneer, Uncle Kong?"

Kong Daming said, "I was injured on a mission once, and it had a big impact on me, so I retired."

"Was it related to my dad?" Xiang Beifei asked.

"Uh, that..." Kong Daming hesitated.

"What place is the Northern District of the Essential Domain?" Xiang Beifei then asked.

Kong Daming was startled by the question, sobering up significantly. He looked at Xiang Beifei with a mix of alarm and suspicion, asking, "Why are you suddenly asking about this?"

"I'm of age now, and I'll try to find some answers," Xiang Beifei said.

Kong Daming asked in surprise, "Who have you been talking to about this?"

"I'm their son; they left a lot of things behind, and there are always some clues around the house," Xiang Beifei said.

Kong Daming murmured to himself, "You've actually managed to find out about this..."

After a long pause, he continued uneasily, "I can't disclose this matter."

"Why? I've come of age; I should be able to learn about the things I need to know," Xiang Beifei paused, then continued, "to understand my own parents."

Kong Daming sighed, "It's not that I don't want to tell you, but I'm under confidentiality. Your academic studies are very good, so you should understand that the system has restraints. If I chose to retire, then my work must be kept secret."

Xiang Beifei vaguely understood.

Being a pioneer is a noble profession; thus, within this profession, there must be Awakeners with formidable abilities.

Kong Daming was an S-level Awakener. If there were some SR-level individuals compelling him to maintain secrecy, then he would have no choice but to keep silent.

Xiang Beifei didn't ask any further. He understood the system better than anyone else, and if Kong Daming couldn't say it, there was no point in continuing to ask.

"Thank you for the hospitality tonight, Uncle Kong. I'll entrust Grandpa to Uncle Kong's care from now on," Xiang Beifei said politely.

"Of course... but you..." Kong Daming still had some worries about Xiang Beifei.

"Don't worry, Uncle Kong, I won't recklessly go looking for them without the strength," Xiang Beifei said.

Kong Daming was taken aback, and couldn't help but size up Xiang Beifei.

The boy seemed to have grown a lot, even to the point where he was incomprehensible to him.

Compared to the child from four years ago, he had undergone an earth-shattering transformation.

Was he really Xiang Tianxing's son?

His character was composed, unruffled.

Could it be the result of awakening a System talent?

Kong Daming could only attribute Xiang Beifei's changes to this reason: many people become different after awakening their systems, perhaps aided by the system itself. Maybe this child was the same.

Could he really have just awakened an N-tier system?

Now, Kong Daming was not so sure.

——

The college application process was next week, and Xiang Beifei had already determined his target, so he did not need to worry about selecting a school.

In the two days after the results came out, he continued to practice his cultivation.

Xiang Qingde was persuaded by Kong Daming to work at the restaurant, finally not needing to wake up at four or five in the morning anymore. The restaurant work didn't start that early, he could go after nine in the morning.

Of course, Kong Daming would not let the old man do any heavy labor; instead, he let the old man wander around the restaurant, ostensibly as a sitting manager, responsible for supervising the staff and handling some matters.

But Xiang Qingde took any job seriously. Kong Daming paid him a good wage, and he believed he needed to earn this pay, not wanting to live on charity, so he would personally take on even minor tasks like mopping the floor.

Even so, Xiang Qingde's job at the restaurant was much easier than selling vegetables. He no longer had to endure the market supervisor Ma Dongqiang's oppressive presence or put up with some people's attitudes.

Since Kong Daming, the owner and head chef, had given the word, none of the restaurant staff dared to disrespect the old man. They all treated him with the utmost reverence.

With Grandpa having switched to an easier job, Xiang Beifei felt more at ease. When it was time for him to go to university and not be at home, with Kong Daming's help to look after things, he wouldn't have to worry too much.

However, the calm days did not last long; Yu Lei still managed to push Xiang Beifei's story to the top of the trending searches.

It was Kong Xiuwen who first discovered it online, specially sending him a post to look at.

"The tale behind a 732-point student from the slums who declined an elite university is unexpectedly heartbreaking"

Yu Lei posted the article on his social media account, which stated:

——

The college entrance exam results have been released, eliciting mixed feelings of joy and sorrow.

According to the Jiuzhou Education Alliance, out of over five million candidates this year, a total of 121 scored above 700 points.

Among these individuals, one candidate's score is notably unique.

His name is Xiang Beifei, who scored 732 points.

This score might seem insignificant compared to Jiuzhou's top scorer Xia Hongtao's 761 points. After all, there are 74 other candidates with scores higher than 732.

But if we say that 732 points was Xiang Beifei's raw score, it becomes extraordinary.

Even Jiuzhou's top scorer Xia Hongtao only had a raw score of 711. His elevation to top rank came with an S-tier system bonus of 50 points.

As for Xiang Beifei, he scored 732 points as an N-tier Awakener without any bonus points, making him first in raw score.

It's hard to imagine that this year's highest raw scorer in academic subjects is an N-tier Awakener.

When I went to interview Xiang Beifei, the sky was overcast, mirroring the heavy mood of that young man.

Entering a dirty and narrow alley, I was faced with a stinking pile of garbage. This alleyway has not been cleaned all year, with trash haphazardly dumped, flies buzzing everywhere, and living conditions severe.

(Accompanied by a photo of the garbage heap)

Opposite this garbage heap stood a residential building with peeling, slightly cracked walls and a jumble of electrical wires. A gray, oppressive sky loomed over the building, enveloping it with an indescribable sense of oppression.

I was shocked to find that the candidate with the highest raw score lived in such filthy and chaotic conditions.