Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Principal, let me make one cut!

Qian Qi did not want to give up such a good chance. A free, walking billboard who would even pay for the honor was hard to find. If she missed this crop, there would not be a next one.

So she lowered her head without answering the Principal’s question, her eyes fixed on the tips of her shoes as if she were brewing something inside.

The sudden silence made the Principal doubtful. Just as he was about to speak, Qian Qi snapped her head up. On that rather, uh, face of hers, a hint of sorrow slowly showed as she said: “Principal, do you refuse to believe your own student?”

She covered her chest and shook her head, her voice full of hurt as she said: “Your student has been working day and night, giving all her time to study potions, only to serve Humans and repay our school’s training. But in your eyes, is all that worth nothing?”

He had not expected that and stumbled over his words as he said: “I…”

It was not that he thought her work worthless. It was because the one claiming it was Qian Qi that he had a hard time believing it.

By now Qian Qi’s emotions had reached a peak. Tears rolled down like steel beads as she cried out: “How can you face your student’s honest heart? How can you face her big dreams? She has such a small wish, and you will not show support or trust. Then who in this world can help her hold to her heart and give her all to repay this country and this society?”

She raised her voice as she said: “All she asks is that after years of hard work, someone will test her research result.”

She threw her head back and shouted: “Principal, do not chill the hearts of us students!”

Her voice was very loud. The fiery speech drew a crowd of students, who whispered and asked what was going on. When they heard the yelling student had made One Second Stop Bleed and wanted the Principal to test it himself, many eyes filled with respect for a hero.

They thought: this classmate is fierce, she dares ask the Principal to test a drug himself.

Blasted by her rapid questions and long speech, the Principal’s head buzzed. He pointed at Qian Qi with a shaking finger and said nothing for a long time.

At the edge of the crowd, Su Ang let his eyes fall on the girl in flip flops and a worn leather jacket. Alone in the noisy ring of students, she stood with a bright, steady gaze. She was not moved by anyone around her. Faced with the Principal’s doubts, she did not back down. Her words were clear and strong, calm and sure.

He thought: she looks very certain.

He stepped forward, his voice even as he said: “Classmate, I will test it for the Principal.”

Qian Qi turned toward the voice. Up close, the young man was even more handsome, almost unreal. Her eyes dropped to his fair, long fingers and lingered there as she thought: [Such a pretty hand. His arm must look great too.]

She raised a small knife, itching to try.

The Principal was scared and rushed to shield his precious Su Ang behind him as he said: “No, no, no, let me do it.”

He did not want a scar on Su Ang’s perfect body. The young man was still so young. A mark on his arm would be ugly. Not to mention he was an S class Psychic Power Awakener and a future Commander. If he got hurt, it would be a loss for all of Central State.

He looked at the crowd of watching students and took a deep breath. The arrow was already on the string, and he had to fire. For his name, he had to help Qian Qi prove the Hemostatic Potion’s effect. If it turned out fake, with so many students as witnesses, he could rightly expel her.

He thought: since you, Qian Qi, were not kind, do not blame me for being unkind.

He rolled up his sleeve with a pained look, and still tried to save face with official words as he said: “As the Principal, I should encourage students to push their limits. I am willing to…”

Before he could finish, Qian Qi, who could not wait, had already made a quick cut on his forearm.

Two sharp hisses rose at once. The first was the Principal’s. The second was the crowd’s.

Qian Qi put on a showy face and called out: “Principal, how brave!” She bent and picked up a small bag of hemostatic powder from her street stall, then added with a smile as she said: “Principal, Hemostatic Potion is 998, plus 2 yuan for the bag.”

[Principal: ???]

He thought: [I already acted as a lab mouse and you are still charging me?]

She said with a sigh: “Principal, you know my family is poor.”

He cut her off, his face turning dark as he said: “Fine, fine, just hurry up.” He already regretted this. It hurt like crazy.

Qian Qi did not fear he would skip the bill. She had ten thousand ways to make him pay. She tore open the seal and sprinkled the Hemostatic Powder straight onto his arm.

At once the Principal felt the pain vanish. The powder even seemed to numb the area. In a blink, the blood stopped. Not a drop flowed out. He took out a handkerchief and wiped it. The cut from a moment ago had left no scar at all.

Qian Qi also saw it and let out a neat, classic curse as she said: “Wow, it really is that magical.”

[Principal: ???]

He thought: [Weren’t you just swearing it was guaranteed real?]

Realizing her slip, Qian Qi quickly raised the Principal’s still-bloody arm and shouted to the crowd with high passion as she said: “Classmates, look. This is the great proof of our Principal’s unconditional support.”

She lifted her chin as she said: “This is his trust from the heart. It is the best encouragement to us.”

She spread her free arm wide as she said: “Because we have such a great Principal, we will have a brighter future. Humans will live on forever in the long river of history.”

She swung his arm up again and roared as she said: “Let us remember this day, work hard, press forward, and repay the Principal and our school for their trust and training.”

She led the chant as she said: “Today I am proud of my alma mater, tomorrow my alma mater is proud of me.”

Her voice was contagious. The students around her were moved and joined the cry as they shouted: “Today I am proud of my alma mater, tomorrow my alma mater is proud of me.”

Voices rose from every side: “Long live the Principal.”

More voices piled on: “Long live the Principal.”

So many pure eyes looked at the Principal with respect and trust that he slowly lost himself in the young, high cries of “Long live the Principal.”

Just as he began to float with pride, Qian Qi pulled her voice to the limit and sold hard as she said: “Classmates, you saw the Hemostasis Potion’s effect. One second stop bleed is no lie. Even if you cut an artery, it stops at once. It is the best tool to save a life.”

She jabbed a finger at her crate as she said: “Not 99, not 88, and not 998. Only 1998, take it home right now.”

[Principal: ???]

He thought: [Wait, was it not 998 just now? This brat dared to raise the price on the spot, right in front of me.]