Volume One: Rising to the Pinnacle Upon Debut Chapter Thirty-Six: The World of Abilities

Chen Jing looked at the overwhelmed and excited Li Qingwei, and smiled faintly. “Didn’t you say you wanted me to give it my all? In that case, you’d better be ready to use your full strength. Otherwise, if you lose too badly, it won’t be pleasant.”

Li Qingwei gripped his notebook tightly and nodded seriously. “Don’t worry, Boss Jing. With your song, I definitely won’t let you down. Just bring it on.”

“Heh—admirable courage.” Chen Jing nodded with a smile. “I already told you, I’m also going to compete with a rap song next. So this is going to be a fair duel.”

Li Qingwei was shocked. “Boss, you’re going to rap too? Isn’t that a bit much?”

“What, do you think I can’t rap?” Chen Jing asked.

Li Qingwei shook his head earnestly. “That’s not it. I just hoped you’d compete with me using your best style.”

“Don’t worry, I’m just as skilled at rap. All you need to know is that I won’t go easy on you.”

“All right, then.”

Back to the present—after several days of searching, Lin Zitan had finally helped Chen Jing find an excellent private kindergarten teacher. Today, Chen Jing had arranged to meet the teacher at his apartment.

Zhang Jingzhi was a kindergarten teacher, a graduate from a normal university with a major in early childhood education. After graduation, she worked at a kindergarten and was much loved by the children, making her very popular with the parents. However, due to an accident, she had to leave her familiar city and quietly moved to Xiang City. There, she became a private tutor, and thanks to her abilities, her reputation in the early education community was among the best.

This time, the job she was offered was to be a full-time tutor for a girl from a single-parent family. She planned to meet them today and see what kind of family it was before deciding whether to take the job.

Ding dong! Ding dong! Ding dong!

The doorbell rang, and Chen Jing went to open the door.

When he opened the door, a beautiful woman in a light green long dress appeared before him.

Zhang Jingzhi was a bit puzzled by the handsome young man who opened the door—wasn’t this a household with just a daughter? Why was there such a handsome older brother?

With a hint of confusion, Zhang Jingzhi asked Chen Jing, “Excuse me, is this the Chen Jing residence?”

“Yes, and you must be Teacher Zhang, right? Please come in.” Chen Jing opened the door wider to let her in.

“Oh. So you’re the ones looking for a kindergarten teacher?”

“That’s right,” Chen Jing nodded, then called toward the rooms, “Molly, come out for a moment.”

Zhang Jingzhi sat down on the sofa, and Chen Jing poured her a cup of tea. Molly timidly came out from her room, sat down next to Chen Jing, grabbed his hand, and peeked shyly at the unfamiliar woman across from her.

Zhang Jingzhi was surprised to see the little girl with short purple hair, then asked Chen Jing with interest, “Your little sister is adorable! Is her hair naturally purple?”

Hearing her mistake, Chen Jing smiled and explained, “You misunderstood. I’m not her brother. I’m her father.”

“Huh? You’re Chen Jing?” Zhang Jingzhi looked at him in disbelief. “That can’t be. You look so young!”

Chen Jing patted Molly’s head and smiled softly at her. “For certain reasons, I’m now Molly’s guardian, so yes, I’m her father.”

“Oh, I see.” Zhang Jingzhi nodded in understanding. She guessed that Molly, whose parents had both passed away, had been adopted by Chen Jing. So it made sense that he called himself her father.

Chen Jing looked up at Zhang Jingzhi and said, “Teacher Zhang, because of my work, I don’t have much time to look after Molly. And due to some things in her past, Molly is a bit withdrawn. That’s why I’d like your help in caring for her and educating her. Would you be willing?”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jingzhi didn’t immediately agree. Instead, she looked at Molly, trying to sense her carefully. After a moment, Zhang Jingzhi frowned slightly and hesitated. “How about I spend some time with Molly today? If I’m suitable for this, I’d be very willing to take the job.”

Chen Jing nodded. “Of course. Hearing you say that makes me even more certain you’ll be a good teacher. So please, let me know if you need anything.”

To get to know Molly better, Zhang Jingzhi took her into a room to begin early childhood education activities, while Chen Jing worked in another room.

Unknowingly, more than an hour passed. When Chen Jing sensed someone leaving the room, he set down his work and stepped out. Zhang Jingzhi was holding Molly’s hand in the living room.

Seeing him, Zhang Jingzhi smiled and said, “Mr. Chen, I’d be happy to be Molly’s kindergarten teacher. May I take care of her?”

“With great pleasure,” Chen Jing replied, looking at Molly holding Zhang Jingzhi’s hand. He was a little surprised—Molly was very shy around strangers. Lin Zitan had spent a long time before Molly would even let her hold her, and yet this teacher had already earned her trust. Clearly, a true professional was different.

Chen Jing and Zhang Jingzhi discussed the contract details and agreed she would start caring for Molly the next day. Afterward, Zhang Jingzhi took her leave.

After she left, Molly held Chen Jing’s hand and whispered, “Daddy, Teacher Zhang is the same as me.”

Chen Jing was startled. “You mean Teacher Zhang is like you?” He looked at Molly in surprise.

What she meant, of course, was that Zhang Jingzhi, like Molly, had a special ability. Abilities like these were strange and not something everyone could sense. Molly’s ability to perceive others with powers probably had something to do with her own gift, although Chen Jing still didn’t know exactly what Molly’s ability was.

Generally, those with abilities could not sense each other so easily. Usually, only high-level ability users could sense those with lower levels.

For Molly to sense Zhang Jingzhi’s ability, it might be due to the nature of her own power, or else Zhang Jingzhi’s ability was of a lower level than Molly’s.

Regardless of the reason, it was certain that Zhang Jingzhi was gifted. Her specific power and rank were unknown. Unfortunately, Chen Jing no longer had his own ability and couldn’t sense it; otherwise, with his former rank, he could have gauged her power easily. But without his ability, he couldn’t sense anything, even if he had once possessed it.

Molly tilted her head thoughtfully and then confirmed, “Yes, I can feel that Teacher Zhang is like me, just like many people I knew at the base—she has…” Molly didn’t yet know what to call these abilities; she could only sense them.

Chen Jing looked into Molly’s eyes and explained, “Lili, what you’re sensing is called an ability. In our world, ordinary people have six brain regions, but a rare few have a seventh. Those who awaken the seventh brain region gain abilities—just like you, Lili. But you must remember, never tell anyone about your ability, especially those you sense are like you. Do you understand?”

Molly nodded, then asked in a small voice, “Daddy, don’t you have an ability?”

Chen Jing shook his head. “Daddy used to…”

That night, Chen Jing called Sun Ruoqing to find out more about Zhang Jingzhi. Sun Ruoqing’s organization—Chen Jing’s former organization—was called the Dynasty, the largest and only officially recognized ability-user group in China. All known ability-users in China were recorded in the Dynasty’s registry.

Whenever a new ability-user was discovered, the Dynasty would send someone to guide and educate them. If their ability posed no risk to society, they could continue with their normal lives as long as they kept it secret. If, however, their power threatened social safety, the Dynasty would control or recruit them to prevent any impact.

The Dynasty’s regulations were strict—some might consider them inhumane, but this rigorous enforcement was a key reason for China’s social stability. The secrecy agreement regarding abilities was international; if the public learned of the existence of abilities, society would be thrown into turmoil. Imagine knowing someone could read your thoughts or control you without a sound—could you live at ease?

Ability-users were a tiny minority. Ordinary people formed the backbone of society, and ability-users came from ordinary people. Thus, stability was paramount.

“I found it. Here’s Zhang Jingzhi’s file,” Sun Ruoqing read over the phone. “Zhang Jingzhi, from Guangdong City, awakened her ability—emotional perception—last year. She was accidentally discovered to be different, causing quite a stir locally, so the organization arranged for her to relocate to Xiang City, where she now works as a kindergarten teacher. Her ability is currently ranked level 3.”

Chen Jing listened silently. Since she was registered with the Dynasty, there was nothing to worry about—he would just pretend not to know.

“What, you met her?” Sun Ruoqing asked.

“Yes. I was looking for a kindergarten teacher for Molly, and it turned out to be her. Molly sensed an ability in her, so I asked you to check.”

Sun Ruoqing was surprised. “Molly could sense her ability? Isn’t Molly only ranked level 3 as well?”

“Yes, so it seems Molly’s ability is related to perception.”

“Hmm… bring Molly to headquarters for a checkup sometime.”

Chen Jing replied helplessly, “I know. Let me finish the Voice of China competition first. Molly won’t go without me.”

“All right, then. Tell me when you’re about to come back, and I’ll arrange it.”

“Okay. I’ll hang up now—be careful on your missions.”

“Got it, Mirror…” Sun Ruoqing called out as Chen Jing was about to hang up.

“Yes?”

Blushing, Sun Ruoqing hurriedly said, “You looked really handsome when you sang ‘Under Heaven.’ I’m hanging up now.” Then she quickly ended the call.

Chen Jing shook his head with a laugh, phone in hand. “She actually told me I’m handsome—what a rare occasion.”