Godly Beggar

The following week marked the end of the Mind Trials buzz, but the aftershocks of Jiang Han's victory lingered in the school halls. His reputation had soared, earning admiration from classmates and newfound respect from his rivals. Even teachers occasionally paused to commend him for his performance.

But Jiang Han wasn't interested in basking in the glory. His gaze was already fixed on the future.

A New Opportunity

During the lunch break, a soft chime from the Begging System interrupted Jiang Han's thoughts.

[System Alert! Major Mission Triggered.]

Mission: Assist Sheng Hui Qi with her independent science research project.]

Failure to comply will result in a loss of Observation Skills for 5 days.]

Reward: Science Knowledge (Advanced Level).]

Jiang Han leaned back in his chair, considering the mission. "Help Hui Qi with her project? That doesn't sound too bad," he muttered.

He glanced at Hui Qi, who was sitting across the room, her brows furrowed in concentration as she scribbled in her notebook.

Jiang Han stood and approached her desk. "Hui Qi, got a moment?"

She looked up, clearly surprised. "What is it?"

"I heard you're working on a science project," Jiang Han began. "Could I help?"

Hui Qi hesitated, her pen pausing mid-air. "Why do you want to help? Don't you have enough on your plate already?"

Jiang Han smiled faintly. "Let's just say I like a challenge. Besides, two heads are better than one, right?"

She studied him for a moment before nodding. "Alright, but don't slack off. This project means a lot to me."

That afternoon, Jiang Han and Hui Qi met in the school lab to begin work on her project, which focused on renewable energy innovations. The goal was to design a small-scale prototype that could harness solar and wind energy efficiently.

As Hui Qi explained her ideas, Jiang Han listened intently, impressed by her depth of knowledge and meticulous planning.

"I've been struggling with the energy conversion model," Hui Qi admitted, tapping her pen against the table. "The calculations don't quite add up."

"Let me take a look," Jiang Han said, leaning over her notes.

The system's rewards kicked in, his enhanced Observation Skills and Science Knowledge helping him spot the issue almost immediately. "Here's the problem," he said, pointing to a section of the equations. "The efficiency coefficient needs to account for variable wind speeds. If we adjust it, the model should work."

Hui Qi's eyes lit up. "That's brilliant! How did you figure that out so quickly?"

"Just lucky, I guess," Jiang Han replied with a shrug, though inwardly he thanked the system.

As they worked, Derek Lim wandered into the lab, his usual grin in place.

"Am I interrupting a science love story?" he teased, leaning against the doorway.

Hui Qi rolled her eyes. "No, Derek. We're working on a project. Unlike you, some of us genuinely take academics seriously."

Derek feigned offence, clutching his chest. "Ouch. That hurts Hui Qi. I'll have you know I'm the mastermind behind many great ideas."

"Name one," Hui Qi challenged, her tone flat.

"Uh…" Derek paused, then grinned. "Okay, you've got me there. Carry on with your genius plans, scientists."

Jiang Han chuckled as Derek left, his humour a welcome break from the intensity of their work.

After several hours of calculations, discussions, and minor setbacks, Jiang Han and Hui Qi finally made a breakthrough.

"We did it," Hui Qi said, her voice tinged with excitement as the prototype's simulation displayed promising results on the screen. "This might really work!"

Jiang Han leaned back, a satisfied smile on his face. "Told you two heads are better than one."

Hui Qi turned to him, her expression softening. "Thanks, Jiang Han. I couldn't have done this without you."

The system chimed in his mind.

[Mission Complete! Reward Unlocked: Science Knowledge (Advanced Level).]

As the reward was activated, Jiang Han felt his understanding of scientific concepts deepen, and the intricacies of energy systems and physics became second nature.

The next morning, as Jiang Han walked into class, he noticed an unfamiliar figure sitting near the back of the room. The boy had an air of quiet confidence, his sharp eyes scanning the classroom with keen interest.

Wang Jia Qi appeared at Jiang Han's side, her voice low. "That's the new transfer student—Chen Xun. Rumour has it he's a prodigy in biology and chemistry."

Jiang Han glanced at the boy, who met his gaze briefly before looking away. "Another prodigy?" he muttered.

"Yep," Jia Qi said. "Looks like you've got another rival."

As the day went on, it became clear that Chen Xun wasn't just skilled—he was extraordinary. During science class, he answered questions with ease, often providing insights that left even the teacher impressed.

When the teacher announced a lab competition for the end of the week, Chen Xun turned to Jiang Han, a small smirk playing on his lips.

"Looking forward to seeing what you've got," Chen Xun said, his tone challenging.

"Likewise," Jiang Han replied, his voice steady.

The lab competition was designed to test creativity and problem-solving skills, with students tasked to create an innovative experiment using basic materials. Jiang Han and Hui Qi teamed up, their focus sharpening as the competition approached.

Chen Xun, meanwhile, worked solo, and his confidence was evident as he meticulously prepared his materials.

"Don't underestimate him," Hui Qi warned. "He's good—really good."

Jiang Han nodded. "So are we."

As the competition began, each team presented their experiments to the judges. Jiang Han and Hui Qi's project—an efficient water purification system—drew praise for its practicality and ingenuity.

Chen Xun's project, a chemical process to accelerate plant growth, was equally impressive, showcasing his deep understanding of biology and chemistry.

When the results were announced, the judges declared it a tie.

Jiang Han approached Chen Xun after the competition, extending a hand. "Good work," he said sincerely.

Chen Xun shook his hand, his smirk returning. "You're not bad yourself, Jiang Han. But next time, there won't be a tie."

"Looking forward to it," Jiang Han replied with a faint smile.

That evening, Jiang Han sat by his bedroom window, the city lights twinkling in the distance. The system chimed softly in his mind.

[System Notification: Host has demonstrated adaptability and collaborative skills. Prepare for increased difficulty in future missions.]

Jiang Han smiled wryly. "You never make things easy, do you?"

Despite the challenges, he felt a sense of fulfilment. The competitions, the rivalries, and the friendships he was building all contributed to his growth—not just as a student, but as a person.

"I've still got a long way to go," he thought. "But for the first time, I feel like I'm on the right path."

With that thought, Jiang Han closed his notebook, ready to face whatever the future held.

As Jiang Han closed his notebook, his thoughts wandered back to Chen Xun. Their tie in the lab competition had left a strange taste in his mouth—not bitter, but certainly not sweet. It wasn't that Jiang Han hated the idea of being matched in skill; it was the sheer potential he sensed in Chen Xun.

"Another rival," Jiang Han murmured, leaning back in his chair. "I guess I should be used to this by now."

The system chimed softly, drawing his attention.

[System Notification: Reflection Mode Active.]

[Insight: A true rival is not an obstacle but a mirror. Use them to sharpen your own abilities.]

Jiang Han smiled faintly. "You always have something philosophical to add, don't you?"

He stood and stretched, his gaze shifting to the window. The stars outside shimmered faintly, as though silently encouraging him to keep pushing forward.

The morning started like any other, with Jiang Han navigating the bustling school halls as students rushed to their classes. Yet, there was a noticeable shift in the atmosphere. Whispers followed Jiang Han wherever he went, a mix of admiration and curiosity in the glances directed his way.

"You're becoming a bit of a celebrity," Wang Jia Qi teased, catching up to him as they walked into the classroom.

"Don't remind me," Jiang Han muttered, shaking his head.

Jia Qi grinned. "Come on, admit it—you like the attention."

Jiang Han smirked but didn't respond. The truth was, he preferred to keep his focus on his goals rather than the noise around him.

During the break, Chen Xun approached Jiang Han, a book tucked under his arm. His usual confident smirk was in place, though there was a glint of something else in his eyes—curiosity, perhaps?

"Jiang Han," Chen said, his tone measured. "Do you have a moment?"

Jiang Han nodded, gesturing for Chen to sit beside him.

"I've been thinking about the lab competition," Chen began. "A tie was unexpected, to say the least. It's rare to find someone who can match me in terms of skill and creativity."

"Is that a compliment?" Jiang Han asked, raising an eyebrow.

Chen chuckled softly. "Take it however you like. But it got me thinking—why don't we push each other further? A personal challenge, if you will."

Jiang Han leaned back, his interest piqued. "What kind of challenge?"

"Let's collaborate on a project—something bigger than a simple school competition," Chen said. "If we succeed, we could submit it to the National Youth Science Fair. It's the perfect stage to showcase our abilities."

The idea caught Jiang Han off guard. Chen Xun, the confident lone wolf, was proposing a partnership. It was unexpected, but Jiang Han couldn't deny the potential of such a collaboration.

"Alright," Jiang Han said after a moment's thought. "Let's do it. But don't think for a second that I'll let you outshine me."

Chen smirked. "I wouldn't dream of it."

That afternoon, Jiang Han and Chen Xun met in the library to brainstorm ideas for their project. Books and notebooks were scattered across the table as they discussed possibilities, their minds racing with excitement.

"What about sustainable desalination?" Chen suggested, flipping through a book on environmental engineering. "With water scarcity becoming a global issue, it's a field with a lot of potential."

"It's a good idea," Jiang Han agreed, tapping his pen against his notebook. "But we'll need to design something innovative—something that sets our project apart."

"How about incorporating renewable energy?" Chen proposed. "We could design a system that uses solar and wind power to drive the desalination process."

Jiang Han nodded slowly, a spark of inspiration igniting in his mind. "And we could add an AI component to optimise efficiency based on environmental conditions."

Chen's eyes lit up. "Now we're talking."

Over the next few days, Jiang Han and Chen Xun threw themselves into the project. They divided tasks based on their strengths—Jiang Han focused on designing the AI algorithm, while Chen worked on the engineering model.

Their collaboration wasn't without challenges. Chen's meticulous nature often clashed with Jiang Han's more intuitive approach, leading to heated debates.

"This variable doesn't make sense," Chen said one afternoon, pointing at Jiang Han's calculations.

"It works in practice," Jiang Han shot back. "Not everything needs to be perfect on paper."

"But without a solid foundation, the model could fail under real-world conditions," Chen argued.

Jiang Han sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine. Let's rework it."

Despite their differences, the duo found a rhythm, their shared determination driving them forward.

One evening, as they packed up their materials, Chen turned to Jiang Han, his expression uncharacteristically thoughtful.

"You know, I wasn't sure about this partnership at first," Chen admitted. "I usually prefer to work alone."

"Same here," Jiang Han replied. "But sometimes, teamwork brings out the best in us."

Chen nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You're not bad, Jiang Han. For a rival."

Jiang Han chuckled. "You're not too bad yourself. For a prodigy."

As Jiang Han walked home that night, the system chimed softly in his mind.

[System Reflection: Host has demonstrated adaptability and collaborative skills. Rivalry and partnership are two sides of the same coin. Use both to grow.]

Jiang Han smiled. "You're getting philosophical again."

The system remained silent, but Jiang Han didn't mind. He felt a sense of satisfaction—not just from the progress they'd made, but also from the lessons he was learning throughout the journey.

Rivalries weren't just about competition. They were about growth, pushing each other to reach new heights.

With Chen Xun as a rival and partner, Jiang Han knew they were on the brink of something extraordinary.