Urban Powers After the Apocalypse

Could it be that the red Doomsday Fragment actually enhanced his neural reaction speed?! No wonder he hadn't noticed any change despite multiple tests—this kind of subconscious enhancement would only become apparent in sudden emergencies.

The infallible "Old Li Chalk Head" actually missed his mark this time. This was an unprecedented insult to the old teacher standing at the podium. In his decades-long teaching career, this was the first time a student had dared to defy his punishment.

"You! Very well! Xu Mo! Come to my office after class!"

After the algebra class ended, it was lunchtime. The students flooded into the cafeteria, but Xu Mo had no choice but to stand in the teachers' office, listening to the "pots and pans symphony," anxiously awaiting Old Li Chalk Head's final verdict.

However, Li Mingze didn't seem to have any intention of punishing Xu Mo. Instead, after throwing out a curt "Wait here," he left the office without another word on the matter.

This was a private office, occupied solely by Li Mingze. Besides the plaque on the wall that read "A Garden Full of Students," the most eye-catching feature of the room was the abundance of plants, which occupied nearly half of the space.

Li Mingze wasn't fond of smoking or drinking—his only hobby was cultivating flowers and plants. This passion was well known throughout the school. His office was considered the most nature-infused space on campus, a favored retreat for teachers looking to ease their tense nerves amid the greenery.

Since there was nothing else to do, Xu Mo decided to pass the time by observing the various plants in the room one by one.

"This is a clivia... that's an asparagus fern... and this... I've never seen this before... Huh? This! This!"

Xu Mo suddenly noticed a small green bead caught on the branch of an unfamiliar plant. At first, he assumed it was a bud or fruit, but upon closer inspection, he realized—it was a Doomsday Fragment!

There was another one here! He couldn't help but feel a stroke of luck, and even his resentment toward Li Mingze's intimidation tactics lessened considerably.

Glancing around to ensure he was alone, Xu Mo swiftly pocketed the green Doomsday Fragment and returned to his previous position as if nothing had happened.

Just as the afternoon class bell was about to ring, Li Mingze returned, looking quite pleased.

"You're still here?" Seeing that Xu Mo hadn't even shifted positions, Li Mingze was a bit taken aback by his obedience. Feeling it unnecessary to reprimand him further, he waved his hand and said, "Remember to balance work and rest—don't stay up too late. We'll forget about what happened today. Now go eat."

At this point, there wasn't much food left in the cafeteria. With a wry smile, Xu Mo thanked Li Mingze and headed back to the classroom.

"HeShang, got anything to eat?"

Left with no choice, Xu Mo turned to HeShang, who was known for always having snacks in his bag.

"Dear benefactor, you've come too late. The two bags of chips I brought today were just claimed by Lady Zhang Xiaoxiao. Shall I seek alms from other kind donors on your behalf?" HeShang pressed his palms together, his expression solemn.

"Seriously? You got nothing?" Xu Mo eyed HeShang's bag with suspicion.

"A monk does not lie."

"Get lost! Look at you, acting all holy!" Xu Mo was irritated by HeShang's faux-enlightened demeanor.

"You flatter me, my friend. My motto is: Give me a little sunlight, and I'll shine; give me a little flood, and I'll overflow; even give me a broken basket, and I might just lay a double-yolk egg..."

Xu Mo was at a complete loss for words. HeShang's grades hadn't improved, but his ability to spout nonsense had certainly reached new heights...

Just as Xu Mo resigned himself to an afternoon of hunger, the girl in front of him, Xu Bilin, suddenly turned around and placed a bag of bread and a carton of milk on his desk.

"Huh?" Xu Mo was stunned.

"What are you 'huh'-ing at? I passed by Mr. Li's office after lunch and saw you still standing there. Figured you wouldn't have time to eat, so I bought this for you." Xu Bilin casually pushed the food toward him. "Hurry up and eat, but remember to pay me back!"

"Oh... thanks."

Facing Xu Bilin's bright smile, Xu Mo suddenly felt at a loss. Though they had become quite familiar over the past few days, having a girl buy him lunch felt somewhat... ambiguous.

Luckily, everyone in Class 1 of Grade 12 knew that Xu Bilin was an outgoing and easygoing girl—friendly to everyone and lacking the arrogance common among pretty girls. She was extremely approachable. Plus, with the class heartthrob Si Mobai sitting right up front, even if someone wanted to start rumors about Xu Bilin, they wouldn't pick someone as low-profile as Xu Mo.

Xu Bilin rested her chin on one hand, watching Xu Mo eat with interest. Suddenly, she asked, "Hey, Xu Mo, I'm really curious about something..."

"Mmh?" Xu Mo's mouth was stuffed with bread, making his response muffled.

"A lot of the guys in our class have girlfriends. You're not bad-looking, and you're a decent guy—why don't you have one?"

Xu Bilin's unexpected question nearly made Xu Mo choke on his bread. After a coughing fit and several gulps of milk, he finally caught his breath. "Is that really important?"

"I'm just curious… Don't give me that school rule excuse—I won't buy it. Is it that you don't want one, or you just haven't met someone you like?" Xu Bilin pressed on with interest, clearly not planning to let him dodge the question.

HeShang, ever the opportunist, chimed in, "Oh, I know the answer. It's because he still can't let go of someone..."

"Get lost and go chant your scriptures, baldy!" Xu Mo shoved HeShang's face aside and turned back to Xu Bilin with a casual smile. That secret was something he kept deep in his heart. Other than HeShang, he wasn't ready to let anyone else in on it.

Especially not Xu Bilin.

"Fine, don't tell me. I think I can guess anyway..." Xu Bilin pouted but gave Xu Mo a meaningful look.

"Forget about him. Xu, what's your type of guy?" HeShang, finally doing his duty as a friend, redirected the conversation.

"Me?" Xu Bilin bit her finger in thought, looking adorably pensive. Unlike most girls who would be vague about such topics, she answered without hesitation. "I think I like the sporty, sunny type of guy—tall and with a strong sense of security. But not too handsome—otherwise, there'd be too much competition, and I might not be able to handle it."

"Another one going for the sporty type! That's the fifth time I've heard the same answer! Do all girls have the same taste? When will my type ever be in demand?" HeShang wailed in mock despair.

"Honestly, I think 'nerds' will never be trendy."

"I'm a tech nerd, damn it!"

That afternoon, the class had a PE lesson. Since senior students had little time for sports, the weekly session had practically become a formality. After making the students run a lap around the track, the teacher announced, "Free activity."

Some of the boys grabbed basketballs and soccer balls, organizing a game against Class 3, while the girls cheered them on from the sidelines.

Under a nearby tree, HeShang whipped out his PSP, engrossed in his game. Xu Mo sat beside him, headphones on, listening to music. However, his gaze was fixed on a lively figure near the basketball court, cheering for their team.

"You're looking at Xu Bilin, huh? Got feelings for her?" HeShang didn't even lift his head, yet he read Xu Mo's thoughts like an open book.

"I… I'm not sure." Xu Mo didn't deny it. He didn't know if it was love, but he definitely had feelings for her.

"Then go for it! Get her number, ask her out, buy her gifts—create some romantic moments, and before you know it, you'll have your happy ending."