Chapter 92: Whispers of Affinity

“Brother Zheng Ran, you’re scolding me~”

Lin Zheng Ran finished the food in his hand and suddenly flicked her forehead: “The things right in front of you are talking back to me? Your courage is getting bigger and bigger.”

Han Wenwen pouted after being hit, but she was actually thrilled because she knew Lin Zheng Ran never used any real force when he hit her—it didn’t hurt at all.

After that, the two didn’t have much time to chat; they focused on quickly finishing the snacks.

Finally, with Han Wenwen looking lazy and full, Lin Zheng Ran took her hand and threw the food wrappers into the trash bin.

[Today, Dragon City holds a lantern festival. You wander through the festival with the Demonic Cult Enchantress. Your long travels have sparked her deep interest in you, to the point where she’s becoming inseparable. Together, you savor many of the festival’s delicacies.]

[You gain seven points in Charm, five in Stamina, three in Strength, and two in Energy.]

[Your cultivation level successfully breaks through to fifty. You receive an extra twenty points in Charm and a new talent skill: All Things Affinity.]

[All Things Affinity can only be unlocked when your spiritual energy level reaches fifty and your Charm is at maximum.]

[All Things Affinity is divided into levels one through five. Each level up improves your proficiency with all things, including making friends, refining pills, crafting talismans, learning spells, and more. At max level, your initial proficiency in all matters will be at least master level—and can be further enhanced through cultivating contract partners to the peak.]

Lin Zheng Ran heard the system finally spout out a bunch of explanations.

Back in eighth grade, Lin Zheng Ran was already at level forty-nine. But throughout ninth grade, his advancement had been slow. Now, he had finally broken through smoothly. Plus, this All Things Affinity seemed much stronger than the simple Charm boosts from before.

After all, the previous Charm only worked on people and had little effect on objects. But with this new skill, from the description, it seemed to impact everything.

Holding Han Wenwen’s hand, he headed back to school and casually checked his status panel along the way.

[Your current spiritual energy level is fifty. The Body Refining stage has ended, successfully unlocking the Qi Refining stage.]

[Your current attributes are:]

[Strength: Sixty-eight. Unlocked: Strength does not decay and grants immunity to diseases.]

[Energy: Fifty-nine. Reach sixty to gain the special ability of seven times a night without fatigue.]

[Stamina: Sixty-eight. Reach seventy to gain double stamina and triple endurance in tasks.]

[All Things Affinity: Level one. Beginner affinity means you can master all things quickly and far surpass ordinary people.]

Looking at the panel, his Charm value had vanished; once it reached max, it directly turned into this new skill.

And now, after his spiritual energy level, there was a new entry: Qi Refining stage.

So, that meant the previous four stats were just base values? Once they max out, they all turn into final attributes like All Things Affinity.

Lin Zheng Ran had thought these attributes were mostly unserious before, but now it seemed they just weren’t fully unlocked. Energy was almost at the threshold too, ready for a new ability—just a bit more.

Probably just one small event away.

As they walked, Han Wenwen suddenly felt something off and glanced at Lin Zheng Ran. He asked, “What is it?”

Han Wenwen blinked and smiled: “I can’t quite say, but Brother Zheng Ran seems even more handsome all of a sudden. Is it just my imagination? Though he looked great before, so maybe not much change.”

Lin Zheng Ran chuckled and pulled her along: “Don’t kid around. We’re heading back to school.”

Han Wenwen stared at him, her cheeks flushing slightly as she gripped his hand tighter, thinking he had always been handsome.

They arrived right on time at the school gate.

Lin Zheng Ran spotted the distant gate guard and gave Han Wenwen a knowing look.

She noticed him letting go of her hand and understood, reluctantly pulling back, though the warmth from his grip lingered.

As they entered the school gate, Lin Zheng Ran nodded to the guard.

“Uncle, I’m back.”

The guard smiled: “All done?”

“Yeah, the teacher’s tasks are finished.”

Han Wenwen thought to herself that Brother Zheng Ran lied so naturally.

The two returned to the program practice room, just in time for the Class Three students to call Han Wenwen over for rehearsal. She responded.

So, they had to part ways in the hallway.

Before leaving, the Little Fox grinned at Lin Zheng Ran and waved: “See you tonight, Brother Zheng Ran. And hey, I got our first hand-holding moment.”

Lin Zheng Ran watched her go, thinking he had held her hand way earlier, back when she was sick last time.

He walked toward the other practice rooms until he saw a classroom with a piano through the window.

Lin Zheng Ran was about to open the door.

But he caught sight of Jiang Qian inside, changed out of her training uniform into a fitted white dress.

Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders; from the window, he only saw her cool, frosty profile, which looked noble next to the piano, like a snow lotus on a mountain peak.

Even though Lin Zheng Ran didn’t pay much attention to most girls, he had to admit Jiang Qian’s demeanor outshone so many others. She sat there alone, always graceful and poised.

Her slender fingers gently touched the piano keys, and as they danced, a beautiful piano melody filled the air.

Lin Zheng Ran didn’t know much about piano; even with the system’s help before, he only had about ten years’ worth of skill.

But now, he paused briefly—maybe due to All Things Affinity—and quickly noticed the strengths and weaknesses in her music.

Amid this short musical interlude, Lin Zheng Ran smiled, thinking that even though the system said level one affinity wasn’t obvious,

his current piano skill probably matched an ordinary person’s thirty or forty years of practice. And this affinity wasn’t just for piano—it applied to anything he used, giving him that level of expertise.

Jiang Qian stopped midway through her piece, seeming to search for her mistakes, then started again.

The second time was much better than the first, though still a bit off. Lin Zheng Ran waited until she finished before pushing the door open: “That sounded great.”

Jiang Qian glanced back at him halfway and stood up: “You’re here. A little late, though.”

Lin Zheng Ran: “Dinner held me up a bit.”

Jiang Qian didn’t care about that; she looked at the other piano, eager to hear his skill:

“I prepared this piano for you. It’s just like mine. Give it a try.”

Lin Zheng Ran thanked her and walked over to the piano.