That single “Squeak!” shook the heavens and moved the earth, its effect more powerful than the strongest gravity controller.
Director Chen’s foot slipped, and he nearly fell flat on his face.
Wiping cold sweat from his forehead, he laughed awkwardly to himself. As expected of a special admissions student to the Federal Central Military Academy, the elite among elites. Truly bold and fearless.
In ancient times, there were those who remained unflinching even with Mount Tai collapsing before them.
Today, there are those who angrily squeak even with a starship poised to blast them from above!
He hurried over, pulled the clown mask off Lin Xiaohe’s face, checked her features to confirm it was his precious recruit, and nearly wept with joy.
“Talented one, you’ve suffered!”
…
In the Wasteland Star sector, aboard the starship Expedition.
[Main cannon charged. Fire?]
“Negative!” The captain’s fingers trembled.
By the black hole!
He had almost blasted a Federal Central Military Academy special admissions student to smithereens.
Would that have just been a student?
No. That would have been his own future, his own life!
Don’t be fooled just because inside the Federal Central Military Academy they fight like roosters, ready to stab each other—that’s internal.
But outside? Just let anyone try to bully a Central Military Academy student!
Hit one, and you’ll provoke a whole swarm!
From the First Star Ring to the Sixth, there would be hell to pay.
The captain couldn’t help but entertain a conspiracy theory: Was this a case of a superior wanting to get rid of him by using him as the blade?
After some thought, he didn’t order the ship back. Instead, it remained in the Wasteland Star sector while he reported the presence of a Central Military Academy special admissions student in the Grand Theater.
Following orders is a soldier’s duty, but the orders didn’t specify when to bombard the theater, only to do so “as soon as possible.”
The Expedition staying in the sector wasn’t disobeying orders.
If headquarters knew about the special admissions student here and still ordered the attack to proceed… well, then let headquarters face the wrath of the Federal Central Military Academy themselves.
…
Old Hei and Brother Thunder, who had just gathered the Lin family to embark on a life-or-death escape to the starport, looked at each other in shock.
Ah!
Lin Xiaohe was actually a special admissions student to the Federal Central Military Academy!
This news was unexpected, yet somehow made sense.
Lin’s father, unable to contain his excitement any longer, called Lin Xiaohe: “Hello! My dear girl, did you really get into the Federal Central Military Academy?!”
Lin Xiaohe stole a glance at Director Chen, who was bustling about on her behalf, and whispered, “If Director Chen isn’t a fraud, then maybe, probably, perhaps… I got in.”
She felt deeply uneasy, suspecting Director Chen had mistaken her for someone else.
How did I perform on the exam? Don’t I know myself?
To sum it up in one sentence: I couldn’t answer any of the regular questions, only the final bonus question was within my grasp.
In this interstellar era with so many planets, probability theory suggests it’s entirely possible for two people to look identical and share the same name.
The Lin family erupted into screams reminiscent of a groundhog’s call.
Lin’s father sighed with emotion. “So your abilities have already reached such heights. It’s a good thing you didn’t listen to us and apply to Mars Institute of Mechanical Engineering, or we would have held you back!”
Grandma Lin and Grandpa Lin wore looks of guilt.
They knew Lin Xiaohe was smart and capable, but they had vastly underestimated her true potential!
Self-blame, self-reflection!
Lin Chiyang was the most pleased of all. “Haha, I knew it! My little sister was sure to make it!”
The Lin family members fought to voice their thoughts, leaving Lin Xiaohe no chance to speak.
It wasn’t until her father’s phone credit ran out that they were forced to hang up.
Lin Xiaohe wiped away a nervous sweat. She was genuinely worried this was all a big mistake that would get her family’s hopes up for nothing.
Right after hanging up on her family, Teacher Li’s call came in.
On the other end were Teacher Li and her classmates, likely at Qian Sanyi’s celebration banquet.
Their eyes sparkled, faces beaming with shared pride and joy.
Teacher Li was so excited he could barely speak: “Xiao He, how could you hide it so well? You should have shown your true strength sooner. What’s a mere 20,000 star coins?”
Before Lin Xiao He could answer, Qian Sanyi squeezed in front of the camera, gossiping, “Lin Xiao He, how did you get into the Central Military Academy? Tell us your secrets!”
Lin Xiaohe…
She was afraid her “tips” would lead her classmates, and indeed all examinees from Wasteland Star, straight into a ditch.
She said with a bitter smile, “What if I said I don’t know how I got in either? Would you believe me?”
Her teacher and classmates shook their heads in unison.
Lin Xiaohe sighed. She couldn’t very well tell everyone she basically handed in a blank paper, could she?
“Slow birds should start flying early. Diligence can make up for shortcomings.”
Everyone nodded thoughtfully. Now that sounded right!
Teacher Li asked with concern, “Military Academy students have practical assessments. When will you go take yours?”
Lin Xiaohe glanced at Director Chen and answered honestly, “Not sure. From what the admissions office says, the assessment for special admissions students is a bit different from the regular one.”
“How so?”
“There are more rounds, and the content is harder.”
Teacher Li had never taught a student who got into a military academy before and had no advice to offer in this area. “I see. Well, you must work hard then! We’ll all be cheering for you!”
Her classmates chattered excitedly: “When you officially get into Central Military Academy and hold your celebration banquet, you have to invite us!”
“Don’t forget us when you rise to fame and fortune!”
…
In the real world, Lin Xiaohe was busy taking calls from all sides.
Meanwhile, on the Sixth Star Ring’s regional network, all hell was breaking loose.
The clown was Lin Xiaohe. Lin Xiaohe was the Federal Central Military Academy special admissions student.
This news was too shocking. The live stream audience hadn’t fully processed it when the stream was cut off completely!
Unable to vent their intense emotions, viewers swarmed en masse to the Sixth Star Ring Education Bureau’s official website.
[Is Lin Xiaohe really a Federal Central Military Academy special admissions student?]
[Why aren’t her college entrance exam scores and various metrics being published?]
[Why did other military academy applicants get their results and acceptance notices long ago, but Lin Xiaohe didn’t? Is there something shady going on?]
[You’re not deliberately suppressing Lin Xiaohe, are you? She’s the hope of our Sixth Star Ring!]
[You must protect her. Someone is targeting her. Many of us witnessed it firsthand.]
“Hmph.”
The masked man scrolled through the messages on the Education Bureau’s website, his expression growing colder and colder.
The Director of the Sixth Star Ring Education Bureau stood at attention as if on parade, not daring to make a sound.
“Why so quiet? Weren’t you quite capable? Sending someone to publicly reveal Lin Xiaohe’s status as a special admissions student.”
The Director felt bitter.
Having a subordinate who was too ambitious and too bold was a real headache.
The Masked Man stood up, opened the door, and his voice was as cold as Devil’s. “A special admissions student who hasn’t passed the assessment is just… expendable. On the battlefield, all sorts of unexpected accidents happen. You understand?”
The Director played dumb.
The Masked Man smiled, a sinister, chilling smile. “If you don’t understand human speech, you can go feed the mutated beasts.”
