"Is this 'Love Beast Cup' Beast Taming Competition organized by Love Beast Supermarket?" Cheng Huaijin asked.

Song Siyun handed her the form: "It wasn't organized by Aishou Supermarket, but Aishou Supermarket is a sponsor."

The two walked side by side. Song Siyun was slightly shorter than Cheng Huaijin. From Cheng Huaijin's angle, she could see Song Siyun's neatly combed ponytail and a few barely noticeable white hairs.

“You don’t need to worry too much, it’s just an amateur competition. Beast Tamers from both East and West City will participate, but serious competitive fighters wouldn’t bother with this competition. They also call it the Amateur Fighter Competition,” Song Siyun continued. “The school has a few spots that will allow us to skip the preliminary rounds and go straight to the knockout stage. Only first-year students will participate; second and third-year students will need to prepare for the Middle School Beast Tamer League.”

Song Siyun spoke at a moderate pace, with almost no intonation: "This is a good opportunity for pets to accumulate experience points. By the way..."

Song Siyun asked casually, "I heard your Black Egg Beast has evolved?"

Cheng Huaijin noticed that Song Siyun's sentence had a noticeably abrupt transition and her speech was faster, as if she was quite embarrassed.

She doesn't consider herself someone who puts pressure on others, but Song Siyun seems to have very strong boundaries with her.

"Yes, I leveled up after the battle with the Golden-Winged Beast," Cheng Huaijin readily admitted.

Song Siyun asked, "Golden-winged Beast? Is that Coach Guan's pet beast?"

Cheng Huaijin nodded: "Yes, yes, that golden-winged beast was very strong. The black egg beast barely survived ten moves."

"What?!" Song Siyun suddenly raised her voice. The voice was so shrill that it was hard to believe it was Song Siyun's voice.

Cheng Huaijin asked blankly, "What's wrong?"

Song Siyun clenched her fist under her sleeve, her nails digging into her palm.

"It's nothing, you're very strong."

After a day of classes, Song Siyun packed her books and stationery into her bag. She saw Fang Juexia laughing and joking as she walked with Cheng Huaijin toward the pet training center. She lowered her head, slung her backpack over her shoulder, straightened her back, and walked steadily out of the school.

Song Siyun's home is in an upscale residential area not far from the school.

The moment Song Siyun pushed open the door to her home, she took a deep breath.

"I heard you're participating in the amateur beast-taming competition again this year." The old man with gray hair was sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper. He didn't even look up when he heard Song Siyun enter, and said in a detached tone.

The atmosphere instantly became tense. Song Siyun clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, the stinging sensation preventing her from being speechless in front of her grandfather.

She suppressed her slightly trembling body and tried to straighten her back: "Yes, Grandpa."

Grandpa Song shifted his gaze from the newspaper to Song Siyun: "Are you going to get second place again this time?"

Song Siyun said expressionlessly, "No, I will get first place."

"But I heard that the student who got first place in your class's supplementary exam is also going to participate in this competition. Are you confident you can beat her?"

Song Siyun wanted to say she was confident, but she hesitated.

She wasn't confident she could withstand ten moves from the Golden Winged Beast. She had seen that Golden Winged Beast before; it was a level 27 adult pet, and its mere presence was enough to overwhelm the Cauliflower Beast.

She couldn't beat Cheng Huaijin.

Noticing Song Siyun's hesitation, Grandpa Song grabbed a book from the table and threw it at her.

The pages of the book brushed against Song Siyun's cheek, leaving a thin red mark.

The loud "bang" startled the nanny who was busy in the kitchen. She came out and quickly tried to smooth things over: "Oh dear, Miss Siyun is back! Please put your things down; dinner will be ready soon."

"Useless thing! Don't you even understand the principle of 'even if you lose, you shouldn't lose face'?! You're not allowed to eat if you don't have the confidence to win! Our Song family doesn't have a child like you!" Grandpa Song angrily pointed at Song Siyun, "Get back home and reflect on your actions! You can come out again when you have confidence!"

Song Siyun lowered her head, her straight back hunched, and walked back to her room. The moment she opened the door, she heard her grandfather's words—

"If your dad and your sister were still alive..."

She could endure any amount of criticism and pressure, but this seemingly casual remark was like a poisoned blade, piercing the most vulnerable part of her body.

If she could, she would also like to die in place of her father, mother, and sister.

Song Siyun stood in the room, her eyes unfocused.

This is a very large room, and also a very spacious room.

Everything was white, not a speck of dust could be tolerated. There were no decorations, no clutter, none of the messy things a child this age should have.

Grandpa Song said that she had to shoulder the future of the Song family and she could not slack off.

After that accident that year, she was the only survivor and became the only hope for the Song family in Grandpa Song's eyes.

They say she is a child who survived a great calamity, and she represents hope.

But now she is so desperate that she wants to die.

If only she were the one who died.

Song Siyun stood there for a while, seemingly lost in thought. After a while, she opened a hidden compartment in the drawer and took out a piece of black paper.

There is only one communicator number on it.

She entered the number, but hesitated to press the "add friend" button.

This was a big decision, and she thought she needed the Cauliflower Beast's approval.

The wrist mark emitted a green light, and the Cauliflower Beast appeared in front of her.

"Huahua~" The light-colored pupils of the cauliflower beast reflected Song Siyun's pale face, and its tone was full of concern.

Song Siyun squatted down and patted the cauliflower beast's head: "I'm fine, but I have a decision that I need to ask for your opinion on."

The cauliflower-like beast rubbed its little cheek against her hand: "Flower~"

Song Siyun lowered her eyelashes and slowly said, "Do you remember the Black Egg Beast I told you about before? It can withstand ten moves from the Golden Wing Beast."

The cauliflower beast's eyes widened: "Flower? Flower!"

"Yes, it's powerful. But we must win the competition. There's only one way now, Cauliflower, are you willing to use the Energy Surge?"

She spoke almost word by word, through gritted teeth, until the very end.

Energy Surge Agent, one of the potions explicitly prohibited by the Beastmaster Alliance, can help pets level up and advance in rank in a short period of time, but due to the instability of energy, it may cause injury or death to the pet.

Song Siyun wanted to gamble, to gamble on a chance to win.

"Huahua~" The cauliflower beast tiptoed to touch her face, wiped away her tears, and said softly.

The Cauliflower Beast would definitely agree; since the beginning of their contract, it has never refused any of her requests.

The Cauliflower Beast wasn't a combat-type pet, but Song Siyun made it train and battle every day, and it did.

The cauliflower beast was quiet and shy, but Song Siyun asked it to fight in front of many people, and it did so.

As long as it's Song Siyun's request, Cauliflower Beast will do its best.

This time was no different; the Cauliflower Beast was willing to take the Energy Surge Agent.

Song Siyun gritted her teeth and pressed the add friend button.

Pandora's box has been opened.