Study Abroad?

While Chu Guang was pondering how to find a breakthrough with Pai, Pai was racking her brains over how to snatch Xiaoyu away from Chu Guang's clutches. Of course, "snatching her away" was clearly inaccurate. Xiaoyu was a free person, not someone's possession. Yet what frustrated Pai to no end was that while her good friend was wonderful in every way, she didn't have an ounce of independence! Who knew what kind of potion that fellow Chu Guang had fed her dear Xiaoyu, turning her into a broken record that parroted "Big Brother Chu said" all day long. Even so, Pai still wanted to bring Xiaoyu back to Camp 101. There was a real school there, along with a group of learned teachers who could help unlock her hidden potential. Pai was certain she wasn't mistaken: Xiaoyu's talent was exceedingly rare among wasteland survivors, one in ten thousand. That gift was already evident in language and arithmetic; she was like an uncut gem. Without exaggeration, leaving aside the lack of a neural chip, her innate talent was not inferior to Pai's own in the slightest. It was just that her environment capped her potential. There simply was no room here for her to develop her abilities to their fullest. Pai couldn't bear to watch her good friend squander this precious window. In a few more years, she would miss her prime learning years. While that didn't mean she would fade into mediocrity, missing this chance would force her to work twice as hard later on. As her thoughts churned, Pai unconsciously rode the elevator down to Floor B4 and walked toward the browsing room. However, perhaps because she wasn't watching where she was going, she rounded a corner and bumped smack into Xia Yan, who was just stepping out of a doorway. "Ouch!" With a short squeak of pain, Pai clutched her nose. Looking down at the teary-eyed girl who barely reached her chest, Xia Yan hurriedly asked in concern, "Sorry! Are you alright?" Rubbing her nose, Pai mumbled, "Ugh... I'm okay. I should be the one apologizing. I was lost in thought and didn't watch where I was going." Huh? This kid is pretty polite. Just as Xia Yan thought this, she noticed the girl rubbing her nose without stopping. A blush crept onto Xia Yan's cheeks, and she couldn't help muttering under her breath, "...Is, is it really that hard?" They'd even grown a bit recently. "Hm?" Pai looked up, hearing the older girl mumble something. Meeting those big, watery eyes, Xia Yan cleared her throat and changed the subject. "You're... Pai, right? Did you need something down here?" "Yes, I'm Pai! I... want to see your Administrator!" Pai had been hesitating, but the question spurred her to make up her mind. "That guy... I mean, the esteemed Administrator is busy right now. If it's not something super important, you can tell me instead." Treating Pai like a playful kid, Xia Yan spoke in a coaxing tone, though she didn't actually have a clue how to coax children. Seeing herself underestimated, Pai's eyebrows shot up, and she declared in all seriousness, "It is very important! It's about my best friend's future!" Her best friend's future? Before Xia Yan could voice her confusion, a nimble figure slipped past her and darted into the browsing room. When Pai stepped inside, Chu Guang was on a call with Luka, inquiring about the delegation. "...How is the situation on your end? Any casualties? Do you need me to send reinforcements?" Although the New Alliance had sent people to Boulder City before, this was their first official diplomatic mission. "We are in good shape; the only casualties were the attackers. Please don't worry about us, my Lord." Hearing the Administrator's concern, Luka sounded touched. After finishing his initial report, he continued, "I interrogated the attackers. They claimed they accepted the contract at the Pirate Bay Tavern from a man named Bite, hired by an employer who wished to remain anonymous. "According to him, the employer was exceptionally generous, completely unlike those stingy traveling merchants. The deposit alone was a thousand chips. Factoring in the broker's cut, the actual payout is likely even higher." Chu Guang pondered for a moment before speaking slowly. "Mm... I understand the situation. I will arrange for people to continue tracking down whoever is behind the attack." Though he had anticipated such interference, he hadn't expected them to strike so decisively. A faction was trying to prevent the New Alliance from signing a treaty of friendship with Boulder City. This incident served as a wake-up call. "Also, be extremely careful on the road. Even after you reach Boulder City, you must not let your guard down. Someone is trying to sabotage our relationship with our neighbors, and I doubt their methods will stop at roadside ambushes." Luka answered solemnly, "I feel the same way... I have a bad premonition that the real trouble is still ahead, waiting for us once we reach Boulder City." Chu Guang nodded. "Staying vigilant is the right approach. "Once you reach your destination, head first to our office in Boulder City to consult Shuyu on the local situation. Only then should you go to City Hall to discuss the treaty." Luka replied respectfully, "Understood, my Lord." After giving a few more instructions, Chu Guang ended the call, took off the headset, and set it on the desk. Pausing briefly, he spoke in a mild voice. "I'm finished now. Was there something you wanted to discuss with me?" Hearing Chu Guang, Pai realized she had been spotted behind the bookshelf near the door. Flushing crimson, she crept out with an embarrassed expression. "I—I didn't eavesdrop on purpose... No, wait, I actually didn't catch anything! I'm sorry!" Seeing Pai hanging her head, Chu Guang smiled. "I know. Don't worry about it." Of course he knew she had come here—in fact, he had known before she even stepped onto the elevator. Every square inch of the shelter was under his control. Even the floor tiles obeyed him, to say nothing of the elevator. If he felt like it, he could make the faucets in the public washrooms talk. He simply wouldn't do something so childish. If the call had truly been something she shouldn't hear, she wouldn't even have been able to take the elevator down, let alone walk in here. Even though Chu Guang told her not to worry, guilt was still written all over Pai's face. Accustomed as she was to doing as she pleased, she knew full well that eavesdropping on someone's conversation was bad manners. While she hadn't done it on purpose, failing to knock was definitely her fault. Just then, Xia Yan walked into the room. Glancing at Pai beside her and then at Chu Guang, she seemed to realize something. A faint glint of cunning flashed in her eyes, and she said with an apologetic tone, "Sorry, I couldn't stop her... That was my negligence." Nice. This girl really knows how to read me. Chu Guang gave Boss Xia an appreciative look, then shook his head gently and played along. "It's fine. Although I was discussing important matters with my confidant, Miss Pai from Camp 101 is our friend. I trust that even if she overheard, she wouldn't leak what I said to anyone else... Can I trust you, Pai?" Standing at the doorway, Pai felt her cheeks burning, wishing she could find a crack in the floor to crawl into. She hated troubling others, and she hated owing favors even more. Yet from the first half of Chu Guang's sentence, she felt as if she had overheard some terrible secret and caused a huge problem for her friends. Though she hadn't understood a single thing being said on that call, hearing it was hearing it. Thinking about this, Pai regretted not backing out immediately or announcing her presence instead of instinctively ducking behind the bookshelf. Now, no explanation could clear her name! "I... I'll delete that memory from my brain right now!" "That won't be necessary. As I said, I trust you." Chu Guang cleared his throat, hurriedly stopping Pai before she spiraled into complete panic. Could someone actually delete memories from their brain? Still, now wasn't the time to ponder that. Not wanting to seem too eager, Chu Guang didn't rush to reveal what he wanted. Looking at the silent Pai, he casually steered the topic, passing the conversational baton back to her. "You seemed to have something you wanted to discuss. Would you like to tell me what it is?" Guilt-ridden, Pai had lost all of her earlier momentum. Sneaking a glance at Chu Guang, she whispered, "I... want to take Xiaoyu back to Camp 101." Take Xiaoyu away? Chu Guang blinked, looking at her with a strange expression. "You want to bring Xiaoyu to Camp 101... Shouldn't you ask her own opinion?" Not to mention her parents or her brother. What's the use of asking me? Pai mumbled despondently, "I did ask... but she said that while she'd love to go see it, she wants even more to stay behind and help you. So I thought, if you could help persuade her... Is my request out of line?" Chu Guang considered for a moment before asking, "May I ask your reason for wanting to take her with you?" Pai replied in all seriousness, "I want to take her to school! We have real schools where she can learn so much knowledge that isn't available here! "Her mental talent is the greatest I've ever seen in anyone. Staying here will only waste her brilliance. She ought to receive a higher education!" "The greatest... Even greater than your teacher?" Xia Yan asked with an astonished look. Pai shook her head, maintaining a solemn expression. "Talent and knowledge are two different things... Besides, even within the realm of the mind, different fields vary tremendously. At least in arithmetic, her gift is among the finest I have ever encountered." Suddenly remembering something, Pai's eyes lit up. "Right! In your terms, she possesses the traits of an awakening!" Awakening?! ...Xiaoyu? Xia Yan froze, her eyes bulging like a goldfish's. She couldn't connect Xiaoyu with the status of an Awakened no matter how hard she tried. Sitting on the sofa nearby, Chu Guang was equally surprised, though he didn't show it on his face. Instead, he fell into deep thought. He had previously noticed that Xiaoyu learned remarkably fast. Her spatial imagination and computational skills in particular had astonished even him. Because of that, Chu Guang had specifically asked Heya to give Xiaoyu a physical examination. Yet to his confusion, while her Intelligence stat was somewhat higher than an average person's, it wasn't absurdly high. Seeing Chu Guang remain silent, Pai grew anxious, her speech speeding up. "...I just don't want to see her waste her talent. She clearly has what it takes to stand on a larger stage and achieve something truly wonderful. "Besides, if she learns a great deal of advanced knowledge, that would be helpful to you as well, wouldn't it?" Chu Guang looked at Pai. "Calm down first. Naturally, I agree with what you're saying, but this requires her consent before anything else." Pausing, Chu Guang continued, "I will help persuade Xiaoyu and her parents. If she has an interest in going, I will fully support her." Hearing this promise, Pai beamed with joy. "Thank you!" Watching the girl's delight, Chu Guang smiled. "You're welcome. She's still young, and if she can find better development over there, I naturally hope she can absorb more knowledge while she has her youth." Pausing a moment, he added, "Speaking of which, you'll be heading back in a few days, right?" Pai nodded eagerly. "Mhm, I have to report back to my teacher on the visit... Ah, don't worry, I'll put in a lot of good words!" Seeing that Pai had misunderstood his intent, Chu Guang shook his head gently. "There's no need to go out of your way to praise us; just tell him the honest truth about this place. However, there is indeed a favor I'd like to ask of you." Eager to repay the favor, Pai said with shining eyes, "Just say the word! As long as it's something I can help with, I'll do everything in my power!" "Are you familiar with the Administrator of Shelter 101?" Chu Guang asked. "Mr. Administrator?" Pai's eyes brightened, and she nodded. "Of course! We get along great... Why do you ask?" "That's wonderful." Chu Guang let out a slight breath of relief, a relaxed smile surfacing on his face. "I'd like to borrow something from your Administrator." "Borrow something? Leave it to me! Mr. Administrator is a really, really nice person, so he'll definitely lend it to you!" Pai patted her chest in a confident guarantee, then asked curiously, "By the way, what do you want to borrow?" "A VM, short for vital signs monitor," Chu Guang said, pointing to the wrist-mounted computer on his arm. "This thing." "A VM? I'll try..." Agreeing aloud, Pai tilted her head unconsciously. A screen worn on the arm? If it's just borrowing it, that shouldn't be too hard, right? He was a very easygoing person, after all. Then again, did Mr. Administrator actually have something like that? She didn't recall anything of the sort... ... After Pai left, only Chu Guang and Xia Yan remained in the browsing room. Watching that light, lively figure vanish past the doorway, Xia Yan wore a conflicted expression. She couldn't tell whether she envied Xiaoyu's youth, luck, or talent—or whether she was simply mourning her own past. When she had been that age, merely staying alive had consumed every ounce of her strength. The greatest favor Lady Luck had ever shown her was allowing her to escape the jaws of a Crawler with her life—and the price of surviving had been losing a leg. Xia Yan knew that, deep down, she did envy Xiaoyu. Xiaoyu could pursue what interested her, and happened to have the talent for it. Whenever she needed help most, someone was always there to lend a hand or point her toward the best choice. "When playing cards, everyone is dealt a different hand, but getting bad cards doesn't guarantee you'll lose." Hearing the voice behind her, Xia Yan looked back and rolled her eyes at Chu Guang. "Stop preaching to me like an old man all the time... You're not my dad." "Just passing a casual thought." Chu Guang chuckled. After a brief pause, he continued, "Could I ask a favor of you?" "Hearing the word 'favor' from you is quite a novelty," Xia Yan teased. "Speak up. What do you want me to do?" Chu Guang said, "Go study abroad with Xiaoyu." Xia Yan froze, caught completely off guard. "Study abroad? What's that..." Chu Guang answered succinctly, "It means studying elsewhere—learning things that we don't have here, or aren't good enough at yet." "But..." Seeing the hesitation in her eyes, Chu Guang continued, "I've taught you addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, geometry, algebra, and literacy, but I'm at my wit's end with anything more advanced; I'm not cut out for that kind of scholarship myself. If you want to make greater progress, you need to acquire it on your own. "It's never too late to learn. Besides, you're not old at all—in my hometown, you'd only be the age of an entering college student." Xia Yan asked in a low voice, "B-but... what could I study?" Chu Guang smiled. "Anything you like, depending on what interests you. I recall you enjoy tinkering with machinery, don't you? There are plenty of experts in that field over there. "Just remember to bring some solid skills back with you." Long ago, Shelter 404 had acquired a magnetically confined plasma cutting machine capable of atomic-scale machining. Yet up to now, it had only been used to process basic parts. No one had been able to unleash the "true potential" of that high-precision machine tool. "...Of course, this depends entirely on your own wishes. I won't force you if you don't want to." Xia Yan stared blankly at Chu Guang. After a moment, the hesitation in her eyes faded, replaced by growing resolve. "I want to go." Though she didn't quite understand what someone without talent like her could accomplish, deep down, she still harbored a faint yearning to grow stronger. This might be an opportunity. She felt she ought to seize it. Seeing Boss Xia finally make up her mind to take this step, Chu Guang nodded approvingly. "I'll arrange for someone else to take over the weapons shop. I'll settle this month's salary for you in advance. "After that, you won't have a regular wage, but I will still send you money periodically for living expenses." "I get paid without working...?" Xia Yan looked a bit self-conscious. Though she often slacked off, she still did her job. Getting paid without working felt strange to her. "If I don't give you money, am I supposed to watch you starve? Or do you make a habit of saving?" After the joke, Chu Guang paused before continuing in a serious tone. "This funding will come from the newly established Department of Education. You can think of it as... a government scholarship." Importing missing technologies from other developed survivor settlements was a key piece in Chu Guang's strategic layout for education, just as vital as archaeology. The methods weren't limited to inviting teachers to establish schools or proactively dispatching people to study elsewhere. Conditions were limited right now. Once the means became available in the future, he would send people to Ideal City or even the Academy to work or study. Looking at Xia Yan, who was visibly moved, Chu Guang added, "Take the next few days to get ready."