Chapter Seventy-One: Hope Lies in Fighting with All Your Might

After returning home, Qin Anyi immediately rushed into the bathroom, turned on the shower, and let the icy water pour over him. He was utterly powerless; the gap between them was so vast, he couldn’t even begin to gauge it—what’s more, the time left to him was obviously running out.

That innate arrogance in Yi Qiu was unmistakable; people like him possessed a twisted self-confidence, and, inevitably, a severe lack of patience. A year from now, if Wang Yiran truly advanced rapidly and reached the standards required—if she were freed from the constraints of the engagement—then Yi Qiu would never sit idly by. It was precisely because of his pride that he would never allow himself to fail. Besides, according to what Yi Qiu had said, Wang Yiran’s family held great power and status within the Dragon Riders. Even for the sake of profit, by then, Yi Qiu would surely eliminate any possible threat.

The reason Yi Qiu hadn’t struck today was likely because, in his eyes, Qin Anyi was no competition at all. Possessing at least enough strength to stand on equal footing within a year… it felt like an impossible mission. After all, Yi Qiu was a prodigy—the youngest Dragon Rider in history was proof enough. In just a year, who could say how much stronger such a genius might become?

Qin Anyi knew himself well. Without the Kirin, he was just an ordinary high school student. Even with the Kirin, to catch up to a super-genius in a single year… it would take more than mere effort—it would take desperation, risking everything for even a sliver of hope.

After the bracing cold shower, Qin Anyi finally managed to calm his restless heart. He dried off, dressed, and had just stepped out of the bathroom when he saw his parents sitting on the sofa, their expressions grave and troubled.

“Anyi, sit down—your father and I have something to ask you,” his mother, Zhou Xueqin, said sternly, patting the empty seat beside her.

Qin Anyi was puzzled; as far back as he could remember, his parents had never looked so serious. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“Anyi, tell me—just now, that… Yiran… is she really your classmate?” Zhou Xueqin began, while Qin Lianshan, as usual, remained silent.

Like most families in the Republic, their household followed the tradition of the woman managing the home and the man handling affairs outside. Qin Lianshan seldom commented on family matters, leaving them to Zhou Xueqin’s discretion. Still, if Qin Lianshan did speak, his word was final.

“Yes, we’ve been in the same class since our first year of high school. What’s wrong, Mom? You look so worried—if you’re concerned about something, just say it.” Qin Anyi smiled, already guessing the source of their anxiety. It was nothing more than the gap between families; no matter how modern society became, matching family backgrounds remained a major consideration in choosing a partner.

“It’s just hard to believe there’s such an outstanding girl among high school students. Anyi, what does Yiran’s family do?” Zhou Xueqin sighed and pressed on.

“I’m not exactly sure about the details, but her family’s very wealthy—they live in a villa by the sea. Oh, and the tutoring job I mentioned last week, the one I took, was to give Yiran lessons. She’s the one who pays me,” Qin Anyi explained with a smile. He knew he’d have to tell his parents something about Wang Yiran’s background, since they would eventually meet. Naturally, he left out the parts he couldn’t possibly reveal, but her identity as the daughter of a tycoon was impossible to conceal.

However, to say that Wang Yiran had fallen for him because of this was equally out of the question. The more exceptional a person, the higher their standards. Qin Anyi was well aware that, with what he currently brought to the table, there was still a considerable gap before he could truly win her heart.

“Well, you’ve brought her home, and the fact that she was willing to come here for dinner already says a lot. Your father and I won’t interfere—you’ve never given us cause for concern since you were small. If anything, it’s your father and I who owe you. I’m just worried… about our family’s circumstances…” Zhou Xueqin shot Qin Anyi a look, finally voicing her concern.

“Mom, you’re overthinking it. Yiran and I really aren’t at that stage yet. Besides, you’ve seen it yourself—she doesn’t care about those things. Even if we did decide to get closer in the future, our family background wouldn’t be an obstacle,” Qin Anyi said, trying to reassure her.

“Oh, Anyi, you and Yiran are still young—you haven’t experienced the world yet. I can see that Yiran is a truly good girl, not the least bit condescending, but you have to understand that in families like hers, marriages are rarely up to the children. No matter how much she likes you, if her family doesn’t agree, there’s no future for the two of you,” Zhou Xueqin said worriedly. It was precisely because her first impression of Wang Yiran was so good that Zhou Xueqin feared her son would fall too deeply in love, only to be hurt all the more when reality intervened.

“Mom, I know what I’m doing, don’t worry. All these years, have I ever given you reason to be anxious?” Qin Anyi said helplessly, hoping to gloss over the subject. The truth was far too strange to tell anyone.

“Enough, Xueqin. You know our son’s character—no need to lecture him. I trust he’ll handle it well,” Qin Lianshan finally spoke, bringing the family meeting to a close.