Chapter 151 My Pleasure
After many exchanges of letters and meetings, and nearly a month later, Lin Guantang was invited by Mr. Huo to go and accept the final decision of his fate.
It's about the integration of the two systems, and about the future of him and Huo Shizhen.
It’s all in this last statement:
"I could have directly changed the successor to the highest authority of the system to Lin Guantang, but the system shouldn't belong to a single person. It was created by countless geniuses in the empire and should belong to the empire."
"The two systems have been intertwined and integrated. By grafting the brain core of System X onto System Y, the two systems will be completely integrated into one, and they will also check and balance each other. A brain core that no longer belongs to any individual is more efficient than using a living person like Huo Shizhen as an assistant, and it will also make the empire feel more at ease."
After all, living people always have their own thoughts and selfish desires. They will act arbitrarily and cannot be controlled.
But the brain core that has lost its body and self-awareness is different. It will only provide sustainable energy for the system and no longer have any selfish motives. At least there is no need to worry about being like a living person. Even if it obeys orders completely, it can't help but worry about losing control at any time.
"Even if the brain core belonging to System X is taken over by the Empire, there is still a risk of rebellion."
"This is exactly why Huo Shizhen needs to live."
Lin Guantang smiled slightly, taking in the person who was avoiding his gaze at that moment——
Many disputes and contradictions have been compromised one by one in countless redundant discussions in the past, so this is said to be the final formal statement. However, even if they have been discussed in advance, at the last moment, people still can't help but want to confirm it more.
Lin Guantang didn't mind recounting the details—it was also a reminder that just because the system no longer needed Huo Shizhen didn't mean the Empire could dispose of him at will.
"Or rather, this is precisely the long road we still need to take to survive and support the public welfare of the empire."
"As the original brain source sharer of the Y system, he still has the original supreme control authority over the system, but after today, this control authority can be put into permanent dormancy."
"Just like I know that brain core consciousness, which I don't know if it still exists, and if it truly exists, how to find it, but as long as it doesn't actively appear and doesn't actively destroy it, I will never actively disturb it."
"And no matter which system attempts rebellion, as long as he and I are together, we can always check and suppress it."
"Then what should we do after you...are gone?"
To be honest, every time he heard this question, Lin Guantang couldn't help but want to laugh——
Everyone here is at least a generation older than him. Why worry about what will happen after he and Huo Shizhen die? By that time, the people here will no longer exist. It is really unnecessary to worry.
However, this answer is obviously not acceptable, so Lin Guanguan replied:
"By then, I believe the Empire will have complete control over both systems and will no longer need us."
"And I can also assure the empire that, until then, Huo Shizhen and I will dedicate our lives to the empire, until the moment it no longer needs us."
This is the best outcome.
There is no need for Huo Shizhen to provide brain power, there is no need for Huo Shizhen to deal with the powerful system, and there is no need to monitor his actions all the time, or to use any tasks to detect whether he is loyal to the empire.
Losing control of the system in exchange for eternal freedom from interruption is always more reliable than soul ascension.
Apart from this, there is no need to research any higher-level double S-level plans, or attempt experiments to break through the limits of the human body.
There will never be another system created with the power of the empire to help suppress the uncertainty caused by the double S-level. Until Huo Shizhen's death, this experiment had no effect except for creating extremely destructive yet extremely fragile violent monsters.
But this has nothing to do with Lin Guantang. He can only put forward proposals but cannot make decisions.
In a way, if this experiment continues, it may better ensure Huo Shizhen's survival and prevent the empire from doing something disgusting like killing the dog after the rabbit is dead.
In the research institute, Huo Shizhen was still asleep, but he was about to wake up.
If the intelligence is not fully grasped, it would be a fatal flaw.
Just like the chip connected to Huo Shizhen, although removing it would cause him to fall into a deep sleep and even endanger his life, no one has ever said that there is only one such chip and it cannot be replaced or changed.
Before reawakening him, Lin Guantang kissed his forehead, just like any ordinary person would before pushing their loved one into the operating room, and made a promise to reunite with him:
"I did it, giving you a free future."
"When you wake up, it will be a whole new world."
***
No matter what the matter is, big or small, the finishing work always seems to leave a long aftertaste, like a lingering cloud that seems endless, but can no longer be a big deal.
And one after another, everyone's life continues to move forward without stopping.
Like all other experiencers who lost their consciousness in the real-dimensional world, Ge Xihe regained his consciousness, returned to his original position, and woke up during the system's retrospection.
It's just that he was lost in the cracks for too long, and was deliberately thrown into a remote place. He came back very slowly and was always tired. He probably needed a lot of time to adjust his breathing.
Since he woke up, he met all his relatives and friends, but he had not met Lin Guantang.
It is said that Lin Guantang asked Sikong Tan to bring greetings and gifts, but he found various excuses and refused to meet him in person.
It was not until Ge Xi had almost recovered that he took the initiative to visit him.
"Why don't you want to see me? Was it not my heart that was cut off at that time, but your feelings?"
Ge Xihe said it in a relaxed and humorous tone, as if he was telling a joke, but when he saw Lin Guantang's silent and slightly guilty look, he also restrained his expression.
Then he said helplessly:
"I know you were lying to the system when you said those things. I don't blame you. On the contrary, I'm very grateful to you. If it weren't for you, I don't know where I would be right now."
That being said, however...
Lin Guantang could not forgive his cold heart.
"If you truly feel that what you did in the virtual world has hurt me, then why not abuse your power a little for personal gain as compensation?"
Ge Xihe shushed him, looked around, and whispered:
"Given my current physical condition, I probably won't be able to handle the job assigned after graduating from military school. I also don't want to rely on my parents at home, so after much thought, I decided to open my own shop."
"I heard that the new university you're the president of is officially starting to accept students. How about you try to get me a place on campus where they can open a gourmet food shop? I heard it's very hard to find one."
This is what abuse of power for personal gain is like...
Lin Guantang was at a loss whether to laugh or cry for a moment.
But Ge Xihe took the initiative to come over and comfort him, he couldn't continue to be awkward.
Lin Guantang immediately agreed to his request.
Although the so-called president of the newly opened university is actually just an honorary president.
I am talking about the university in Linyi District. The original intention was to create a brand new all-O college, but after careful consideration and consultation with many parties, the school finally became a comprehensive university fully included in ABO.
However, some teachers were transferred from the military academy to directly match the upper-level teaching standards. Its ultimate goal is to surpass the Central Military Academy and become a frontier university in the empire.
The exquisite structure of the campus was widely publicized as part of the enrollment promotion, but it was obvious that all of these could not compare to the reputation of the honorary principal Lin Guantang. Almost half of the people who first registered for this school came because of Lin Guantang's reputation.
Lin Guantang believed that his abilities were far from enough to qualify him for the title of president of a thriving university, and he didn't have much time to devote to managing the school. Rather than being overwhelmed by the situation, it would be better to just find someone suitable to take on the role.
However, being just an honorary principal is not unacceptable.
This not only attracts students to apply, but also makes many people smell business opportunities and want to be the first to take over the business of shops in the campus commercial street. How can it not be difficult to find a shop?
The original QuanO College will undergo a thorough reform, abolishing all the old and corrupt rules and courses, and directly introducing new school directors from various places. With more than half of the teachers being new from outside the area, even if someone wants to restore those corrupt rules, they will not be able to speak with one voice.
Although Quan O College did not invite Lin Guantang to be the principal, it was already a well-known fact that he was a well-known alumnus of Quan O College.
The Central Military Academy does allow BO admission, but it does not lower any admission or teaching standards except for the isolated accommodation areas or necessary training areas.
From time to time, Lin Guantang is specially invited to participate in various assessment settings, which is also a mysterious job. As to whether it is a surprise or a shock to the students, it is unknown. After all, sometimes Lin Guantang's serial escape assessment plan is still very dizzying.
Next is the construction of basic education in District 35. Although other reform measures have almost ended in failure, teaching those street children to read must be promoted. Lin Guantang has already found teachers who will never run away.
Although he was questioned by the people in District 35, Lin Guantang was very confident that this time he would not fail.
Because it was Jian Yinglai who went.
Young Master Jian has been spoiled since he was a child. Theoretically, he would definitely not be able to withstand such harsh conditions, but compared to being in prison without seeing the sun, this kind of life is quite comfortable.
——Of course, when he went to District 35, he was only responsible for courses such as mathematics or handicrafts that did not involve ideological education.
Leaving aside the others, Jian Yinglai volunteered to use his life to atone for his sins without even thinking of bargaining. He attempted to return to the imperial capital and become a pampered young master again.
But somehow, word got out that he had signed an agreement that "if District 35 doesn't become one of the top ten districts in the empire, he will never leave District 35." Then everyone sighed, thinking that this was probably the so-called farewell.
Although he couldn't find the source, Jian Yinglai was very sure that this rumor must have been spread by Wen Tiange, in retaliation for him putting him in solitary confinement for being allergic.
Wen Tiange disagreed with this and thought that he was a magnanimous person. He allowed the poor guy to relieve his pain by slandering himself.
Wen Tiange, like Tian Ye, stayed at the school as a counselor, but Tian Ye was full-time and very dedicated, and was working hard to become a formal teacher at the Central Military Academy.
He only shows up when necessary, and usually plays a game of finding people with students, guessing when they can be contacted. As for what he is busy with and what his life goals are, even he himself is not sure yet.
Shao Qingbai joined the police station naturally after graduation, and was very professionally responsible for the connection between the police station and the military academy. He even worked as a training instructor. But it seems that he was caught leading a mischief or something...
Lin Guantang just listened to it for a while, and then Shao Qingbai yelled at him and forced him to swear that he would never ask about such embarrassing things again.
As for Sikong Tan, when Ge Xihe had almost recovered, he went into hiding again.
He is looking for clues about the remaining people in the Garden of Eden everywhere. He will not stop until the Garden of Eden is completely wiped out. In a sense, this is the meaning of his life.
Yin Zhiyou also went back to being the eldest son of the Yin family. He gradually became known as a new star in the business world. He rarely showed his sniping skills, but he would occasionally be called out to help snipe someone, which was considered a change of pace in his life.
As for Huo Shizhen, after waking up, he was in a "sick and weak state" and remained in this state for a long time.
Although his strong physique and tall stature had nothing to do with these two words, the empire hoped that since he was unable to perform large-scale movements due to illness, it would not matter if he was a daily sick-patient and could be a civilian professor at the Central Military Academy.
Then he would take sick leave openly and follow Lin Guantang to various places in the empire.
The rumor that has been circulating widely within the Central Military Academy is:
That civilian professor who is obviously very strong but always sick,
Is it reasonable that the best fighter in the Central Military Academy is a professor who often takes sick leave?
as well as--
I saw the news that Councillor Lam was going to ** to attend an event, and I calculated that Professor Huo should call in sick.
Or maybe Professor Huo is on sick leave again. After some calculations, Teacher Lin should be on field work again. Let's guess where they are going this time.
——So this is not a leave application, it’s clearly dog food.
Yuan Wenjun and Pu Xinglan also returned to their family after graduation. The former is working hard to learn how to take over the family business, while the latter and her fiancé are in the process of terminating the contract and trying to maintain a relationship. It will probably take a long time for them to figure this out.
Oh, and Shao Qingzhu has also started her new volunteer journey again, but this time she doesn't have to worry about being discovered if she sneaks out, and she starts to get annoyed because her parents support her too much and worry about her too much, and are afraid that she will be killed again or something.
But when he complained, his tone was much more cheerful.
The final result is to participate in the new round of joint activities between [Dream Home] and [Imperial Clinic], which is the best of both worlds.
But this was a long process. Before leaving, she went to attend the opening speech of Linyi University where Lin Guantang gave a speech.
As the honorary principal, he gave a congratulatory speech at the first freshman opening ceremony. Of course, other people were also present. Even if they were unable to come for various reasons, they would directly make a live video call.
After the speech ended and we waited for various interviews and photo sessions to be over, there was finally some quiet time, and a group of people went over to congratulate us.
Shao Qingzhu also thanked him solemnly:
"If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't be alive today."
"I should be thanking Senior. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have been able to meet so many friends—at least not so early on."
Lin Guantang recalled the beginning of everything. If Shao Qingzhu had not pulled him into that magical group chat, he would not have achieved what he has today.
Although human destiny is like the branches of a river, no matter whether its direction is changed intentionally or unintentionally by rocks, plants, pavilions and towers, as long as it does not dry up and stop, it will eventually converge and flow into the rivers and seas.
Perhaps even without this group chat, there would be various other opportunities that would lead him to this path, but that is only a hypothetical future, not a direction that has already happened.
So he is still grateful and very lucky.
However, Shao Qingzhu showed a bewildered look, thinking that he was talking about the time when he gave him a ride back to the capital. He smiled and waved his hand quickly, saying:
"It has nothing to do with me. It was the school's notice asking me to take you back to school and help you find your way around. Even if it wasn't me, there would be others who would help you."
Lin Guantang said:
"But after all, you are the one who led the way. If you hadn't asked me to join that group chat, I wouldn't have grown so quickly."
Shao Qingzhu asked casually:
"What group chat?"
Lin Guantang thought about it and decided to show her the previous screenshot directly, then said:
"It's a group chat that used to have people from both the Military Academy and O-House, but some people have left and no one's been chatting in it for a long time."
"I've actually been in this kind of group with you. Aside from you, aren't all of them S-rank alphas here—wait, this is definitely a military academy group chat, right?"
Shao Qingzhu had just taken a casual glance, but after looking at the screenshots of the group chat and thinking about it carefully, he was shocked.
She felt that one of her and Lin Guantang must have had a memory lapse—and it must have been Lin Guantang:
"How could I possibly recommend you to join this group? I don't even have this group chat."
Then she was betrayed by her younger brother Shao Qingbai:
"But it was you who pulled him in, sister. I thought you took my advice and created a small account to come in."
"…What suggestions?"
Shao Qingzhu searched his memory but had no recollection of it.
Shao Qingbai said:
"It just lets you choose an S-rank person in the group chat to date."
Shao Qingzhu: ...
She now suspected that someone between her and Shao Qingbai had a memory problem.
Then I heard Tiange ponder for a while, then suddenly realized and said:
"So that's what you were planning. I was saying that you were so attentive to Haitang at first, and it seemed like you had a very close relationship with him, but you didn't show any abnormality when you let Haitang and the senior pretend to be a couple. It turns out you were afraid that your little trick would be discovered."
Tian Ye interrupted, confused and asking:
"When did they pretend to be a couple? How come I didn't know? Haven't Xiaolin and Senior always had a good relationship?"
Wen Tiange: ...
The most honest man among them emerged.
In the video, Jian Yinglai was speechless and had her hands on her forehead, having lost the desire to participate in this confusing topic.
In the strange silence of the group of people, Tian Ye also realized that he might have misunderstood something from the beginning.
In short, it's completely wrong.
When several people were frantically searching their memories to reconcile the accounts, suddenly a group of young students ran in with smiles on their faces and wanted to take Lin Guantang out to meet someone.
It is so easy to guess what young children are thinking. They all have mysterious expressions but can't hide their smiles. Even before seeing them, Lin Guantang already knew who they were.
Before leaving, Huo Shizhen said that he had other things to do and might not be able to come. Lin Guantang simply assumed that he would not come, but now that he is here, it is not surprising.
What was surprising was that Huo Shizhen did not come empty-handed.
The crowded square automatically separated into a path, allowing Lin Guantang and Huo Shizhen, who had rushed over, to meet smoothly.
Lin Guantang stood at one end of the aisle, watching Huo Shizhen holding a flower crown and slowly walking towards him in the spotlight of the crowd.
It was a wreath crown woven from fresh crabapple, jasmine, olive branches, and gold and gems.
The perfect combination of natural beauty and man-made structure has attracted everyone's attention since it appeared on campus.
Even though no one recognized Huo Shizhen's identity at first, they were attracted by his long silver hair and the gorgeous flower crown in his hand, and they called each other over to see what was new.
It wasn't until an insider revealed that he was Lin Guantang's mysterious boyfriend who had come back from the dead that almost everyone in the school rushed over to watch.
By the time Lin Guantang was pulled over, the place was already surrounded by people and it was impossible to get through. They could only squeeze out a passage by greeting each other with great difficulty, and more and more people were attracted over.
So almost the whole school was watching, and Lin Guantang let him walk up to her and put the flower crown on her head.
He looked up at the drooping branches, then looked up at Huo Shizhen and asked with a smile:
"Is this a belated apology?"
"This is a gift of congratulations."
Huo Shizhen looked at his lover who had grown into the Begonia of the Empire and said with a chuckle:
"Congratulations on your success today. You have become a symbol of the empire."
This is not an exaggeration.
But even if it's an exaggeration, so what? No one can control what he says.
but--
Perhaps the atmosphere is too warm, always making people can't help but say things that they would never dare to say in normal times, just like now, suddenly someone shouted with laughter:
"Master Huo, you are no longer worthy of our Haitang principal!"
Lin Guantang was almost choked by the sudden loud shout, and other people around him were obviously frightened and gasped.
Especially those who know Huo Shizhen——
Except for Lin Guantang, everyone else thought that this person was an absolute poisonous-tongued devil, and that if they offended him, they would be doomed.
So he shook his head left and right, and couldn't help but want to see which warrior dared to say such words.
He really wasn't afraid of being retorted by Huo Shizhen's sharp tongue.
Lin Guantang wanted to laugh.
I wanted to stop it, but during such a celebratory time, I always had to think carefully about my words so as not to ruin the atmosphere.
He looked at Huo Shizhen thoughtfully with a smile on his face, and when he saw the slight smile on Huo Shizhen's lips, he knew that he didn't need to worry about this problem anymore.
"My pleasure."
Huo Shizhen said with a smile.
He didn't seem dissatisfied with this statement, but he didn't even look away, just staring at the person standing in front of him.
Then he slowly knelt on one knee on the ground.
Amidst the shouts of "Is that that?", "This is a proposal", "Oh oh oh oh, it's coming"... Lin Guantang's eyes suddenly widened and he was stunned with a smile.
He actually took out a ring:
"Then, may I have the honor of inviting Principal Haitang to accompany me forever, body and soul?"
The last words were silent, "My Jasmine", which was completely drowned out by the noisy voices. Only Lin Guantang could hear and feel it.
Lin Guantang just felt his heart beating wildly.
If the gift was given to me during the opening ceremony to commemorate my official appointment as honorary principal, it would be within my expectations.
But proposing was not part of any plan.
However, that did not affect the endless joy that surged from his pounding heart after a moment of shock.
It also did not affect the booing sounds that were heard all around.
Mixed with comments like, "What? He hasn't proposed yet?!", "Didn't you get married a long time ago? Why are you still single?", "Wait, since you're not married yet, it seems like you shouldn't say your deceased husband has returned."
And so on and so forth, strange remarks.
But more voices were still trying hard to suppress the excitement in their hearts, just waiting for Lin Guantang to respond, so that they could vent it out at the loudest voice.
What the reaction would be is self-evident.
"certainly."
Lin Guantang smiled even brighter, leaned forward slightly, extended his finger, and answered with the most serious and sincere emotion in his life:
“It’s my honor too.”
Amidst huge cheers, Huo Shizhen put on the ring engraved with jasmine and crabapple patterns.
Then there were two loud "bang, bang" sounds, and colorful tiny ribbons fluttered all over the sky, falling down in large numbers, like colorful rain and snow.
It also surprised countless people, wondering who was so smart and foresighted.
Although the atmosphere is indeed quite good, the problem is——
Standing in the crowd, Wen Tiange clutched his heart and said with lingering fear:
"It was so loud all of a sudden, and there was no warning. I thought it was a terrorist attack or a bomb."
"It was a bomb."
In front of Wen Tiange's speechless eyes, Tian Ye tried to explain:
"It's just two colored balls I brought along. It's normal, right?"
"No one would think it's normal to carry bombs with them."
"It's just a paintball."
"No one would carry that in their pocket every day. Wake up!"
…
Amidst the huge cheers and noise, Huo Shizhen stood up and shook hands with Lin Guantang.
They smiled at each other, held hands, and hugged each other.
A new and glorious era has thus begun.
--over--
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