That evening, at Fang Yu's home in Zhonglin Yufu Community.
"Bro, you're amazing!"
"Junior-College-to-Undergraduate Upgrade, direct-pass student? One every few years?" Both Fang Long and Fang Siyue were thrilled beyond measure, even happier than Fang Yu himself.
"Haha! Our Fang family is finally going to have a Martial Undergraduate," Fang Zhiyuan chuckled. "If your great-grandfather knew, he'd probably be over the moon, too."
When Fang Yu returned home today, he had naturally shared the good news with his family, which had led to tonight's celebration.
"An Elite Contract," Fang Ping'an said, his face brimming with smiles.
Not long ago, when he rushed home, Fang Yu had already arrived. After looking through the contract Fang Yu handed him, the anxiety in his heart had turned into uncontrollable ecstasy and excitement!
His expectation for Fang Yu had merely been getting accepted into a martial undergraduate program.
He never imagined Fang Yu would directly land an Elite Contract, surpassing his expectations by far... That was something only exceptionally outstanding martial undergraduate students could achieve.
"An ordinary martial undergraduate student receives 300,000 in annual development funds," Fang Ping'an said with emotion. "Xiaolong, Siyue, your brother's development fund is 1,000,000.
"Over two years of his martial undergraduate studies, that's 2,000,000 in development funds. How many regular university students couldn't save 2,000,000 in a lifetime?
"Your brother hasn't even awakened a Star Aspect yet. This came purely from hard work and martial technique." Fang Ping'an looked at the brother and sister. "You two must never slack off either."
"Yeah," Fang Long nodded repeatedly.
"My brother's martial technique is naturally top-notch," Siyue chimed in. Having trained under Fang Yu for a month, their admiration for him had only grown.
"Dad!"
"I need to correct you on one thing," Fang Yu said with a smile. "Once I arrive at Huguang Martial University... they'll retroactively pay me the special development funds from freshman to junior year all at once.
"So the money coming into my hands right away is 3.7 million Star Coins.
"And it's tax-free," Fang Yu added. Things like endorsement fees counted as income and were taxable, though Manager Huo and his people naturally covered that.
Special development funds like this were bonuses from the Blue Moon Alliance to begin with.
"3.7 million?"
"3.7 million?" The whole family was shocked. They had all seen Fang Yu's contract earlier and thought the development funds were only the 2,000,000 for the remaining two years of his undergraduate studies.
"3.7 million?" Fang Ping'an's eyes went wide, at a loss for words for a moment.
Over the years, he had worked hard running his supermarket and made a good amount, but investing in Fang Yu's martial arts, as well as the awakenings of his daughter's and younger son's Upper-Rank Star Aspects, had put him under immense pressure.
At the same time, he had always felt a pang of guilt toward Fang Yu... After all, when Fang Yu was undergoing foundation building, his investment hadn't matched what he gave Fang Long and Siyue.
He hadn't expected that in just a single day, Fang Yu would bring him such a tremendous surprise.
"Is this how fast a martial artist earns money?" Fang Long's eyes were wide, wonder filling his mind.
"3.7 million? That's my eldest grandson!" Fang Zhiyuan grew even more delighted. "I'm having a drink tonight."
Seeing his family like this, Fang Yu felt warmth and happiness surge inside.
Six years of middle school, three years of junior college.
Training through the sweltering heat of midsummer and the bitter frost of midwinter.
Bitter cultivation all the way.
What had it all been for?
Wasn't it for this very day?
And Fang Yu knew very well that this was merely the beginning.
...
After the celebration, the family dispersed to rest.
Only Fang Yu accompanied his father, Fang Ping'an, up to the small ancestral shrine on the third floor, where they paid their respects with deep reverence.
"If your mother knew about your achievements today, she'd be proud of you too," Fang Ping'an said with a faint smile, seemingly reminiscing. "Back then, when your mother was at Huguang Martial University, I don't think she ever got an Elite Contract either."
Fang Yu grew thoughtful.
When his mother went missing on the Primordial Star, she was already in her forties, but her Life Level was Level 28. Back at Huguang Martial University, she had probably been just an ordinary student.
"Dad."
"There are a few things I need to tell you," Fang Yu said.
Before long, Fang Yu told Fang Ping'an everything regarding Dong Xin and Manager Huo, no longer hiding even Manager Huo's dirty dealings behind the scenes.
After all, as the stakes grew bigger and bigger, he naturally couldn't keep it to himself any longer.
"You did the right thing," Fang Ping'an nodded. "Not exposing Manager Huo outright was the right call... However, signing that endorsement with him today was a bit risky."
"Risky?" Fang Yu was taken aback.
"With your current strength, you're not yet qualified to sign such a deal," Fang Ping'an said. "So if Tieshan Martial Club investigates Manager Huo in the future, your contract might very well get dragged into it, carrying the suspicion of illicit benefit transfer."
Fang Yu pondered. "But Senior Brother Dong said..."
"Your Senior Brother Dong promised to mediate, but that means putting your fate in someone else's hands," Fang Ping'an said, shaking his head. "Senior Brother Dong helped you, and you must be grateful to him.
"However, the rule of business is: never trust anyone completely.
"Do you have voice recordings of your conversations with Manager Huo?" Fang Ping'an asked. "Play them for me."
"Yes," Fang Yu nodded.
This was a good habit developed under his father's teaching: saving recordings of all conversations.
Soon, after listening through the recording of their conversation, Fang Ping'an seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "Not bad. At least you didn't threaten him, and there's nothing blatantly in violation of regulations. If trouble really breaks out in the future and it comes down to a lawsuit, the worst case would just be returning the money... Remember, if anything like this happens again, discuss it in person.
"It's best to meet in a place you're familiar with and can control, and bring in a powerful third party as a witness."
"Meet in person? A third-party witness?" Fang Yu asked, puzzled.
"For instance, your teacher Yan Fu." Fang Ping'an gave a slight smile. "If you asked him for help and had him represent the school as a witness to the endorsement contract, he probably wouldn't refuse.
"That way, would you have anything left to worry about?"
Fang Yu's eyes lit up.
The older, the wiser.
He truly hadn't thought that deeply.
"The current situation is acceptable as well," Fang Ping'an said. "As long as you keep up your rate of progress after entering university, an endorsement worth a few hundred thousand Star Coins is nothing to a big company. As a direct-pass student, you're barely qualified for it anyway, so presumably no one will make a big fuss over it."
Fang Yu nodded, feeling relieved.
"By the way, Dad."
"Once the development funds and scholarships come in, let me transfer some to you," Fang Yu said. He knew his father was under immense pressure, especially after having just bought a huge batch of treasures for him and his younger siblings.
"No!"
"Don't transfer a single cent. Keep it all yourself," Fang Ping'an shook his head decisively. "Don't think this is a lot of money; it's far from enough. I looked into it long ago. If you want to raise your Life Level to 39 in the future... and you never awaken a Void Star Aspect, let alone a few million,
"even tens of millions won't be enough.
"Your dad has limited abilities and won't be able to help you much going forward.
"As for your brother and sister, they have their own paths to walk... You're only their big brother, not their dad. It's not your place to shoulder some of these burdens." Fang Ping'an looked at Fang Yu.
"But, Dad..." Fang Yu looked at his father with concern. "Your health..."
"I know what you're worried about.
"When you become an Advanced Martial Artist and earn tens of millions on your own," Fang Ping'an smiled, feigning ease, "if you want to give some money to your brother and sister, I won't object.
"But absolutely not now."
Chapter 28