Chapter 2 The Underwear Ascends to a Higher Level

The progress bar outline on the underwear was white, with the inside filled in black.

Suddenly, the black interior began to fill completely.

It was as if something had been unlocked.

“A divine-grade set has been activated.”

At that moment, a gentle female voice whispered into Zhou Wen’s ear, startling him.

This was a men’s restroom—where on earth was that woman?

Zhou Wen quietly listened to the sounds around him.

There was no one else in the restroom, yet where had that voice come from?

Suddenly, a humanoid silhouette appeared in his mind.

The figure radiated a soft white glow, faintly revealing garments—clothes, a hat, pants, shoes, and more.

“Saved a life by jumping into the river; gained 10 virtue points. Underwear leveled up from 0 to 1. Wearer’s strength +10, intelligence +10.”

The female voice sounded again.

In his mind, the crotch area of the silhouette suddenly illuminated, and an object resembling a pair of underwear materialized there.

Beside it appeared a progress bar, marking levels 1 through 4, currently stuck at level 1.

Zhou Wen was utterly astonished.

Underwear? What on earth was this?

The vision in his mind gradually faded, as if nothing had occurred.

He looked down at his underwear—it had turned red.

No longer the black he had worn moments before.

Zhou Wen jumped in surprise.

He had never encountered anything so bizarre—his underwear had changed color on its own.

And that sudden apparition in his mind, along with the soft feminine voice—what could it all mean?

He was utterly bewildered.

“A divine-grade set? Virtue points? Leveling up? Strength +10, intelligence +10 for the wearer.”

Zhou Wen pondered the key information from the voice.

“Could this underwear be some kind of treasure? Did it activate because I saved someone from the river?”

He tried to recall, but no matter how hard he tried, the human silhouette would not reappear in his mind.

He only vaguely remembered that the silhouette was adorned with more than just underwear—there were clothes and other items as well.

He attempted to remove his underwear.

It could be pulled down to his knees to use the restroom, but no further.

Zhou Wen exhaled in relief.

At least he could use the toilet without embarrassment.

Clatter!

His phone slipped from his pocket and fell to the floor.

Luckily, it hadn’t dropped into the toilet.

He picked it up and glanced at the time.

“Oh no, it’s 6:50—I’m going to be late!”

Zhou Wen hurriedly pulled up his pants and dashed out of the restroom.

Outside, he sprinted toward school.

He was a senior high student in the second semester of his final year; the college entrance exams loomed just months away, and the school’s academic demands were especially rigorous.

Moreover, Zhou Wen attended Yiming No.1 High School—the strictest and most prestigious school in Yiming City.

Though it was Sunday, Zhou Wen had two evening study sessions scheduled from 7 to 9 pm.

“This is disastrous. Teacher Li Dan is a real tigress. Even if I rush there, I’ll be late. With her fiery temper, I doubt she’ll believe my story about saving someone from the river!”

As he ran, Zhou Wen fretted about the consequences.

Li Dan was his homeroom teacher and Chinese instructor. Though under thirty, her teaching and disciplinary methods were impressively mature.

The only drawback was her explosive temper.

Zhou Wen, a notorious underachiever, had been scolded numerous times.

Upon arriving at school, he hurried to the classroom.

…

In the classroom of Senior Three, Class Five, homeroom teacher Li Dan stood at the podium, her face blazing with fury, eyes almost shooting sparks.

The room was silent, deathly still.

“Report!”

A sharp voice rang out.

Zhou Wen, panting, straightened up and stood at the classroom door.

“Zhou Wen, so you still know to come to school! Do you realize the whole class has been waiting just for you? Look at the time—how late are you? Do you even have a sense of time?” Li Dan snapped angrily.

“Teacher, I didn’t do it on purpose—I was late because I saved someone!” Zhou Wen shouted.

“Saved someone? Saved who? Being late is being late. Don’t spin me lies. I know exactly what kind of person you are!” Li Dan’s face contorted with anger.

“Teacher, I really was late because I saved a little girl from the Taiping River!” Zhou Wen pleaded anxiously.

“Saved someone! Why don’t you go to heaven next? Can’t you come up with a better excuse next time?”

Li Dan slammed her desk and commanded, “Zhou Wen, stand at the back during evening study. Don’t sit down without my permission!”

“Zhou Wen’s the worst in the class. He’s late and lies. Honestly, he might as well quit and pick trash on the streets—at least then he wouldn’t be late!”

This was spoken by Wang Chi, the second-best student, seated in the second row.

“Wang Chi’s right. Zhou Wen should just drop out and work!” others chimed in.

Laughter erupted through the classroom.

Zhou Wen’s face darkened, his heart filled with grievance.

Why?

Why didn’t they believe him?

Lowering his head, he pursed his lips and moved toward the back of the classroom.

As he reached the third row, he quickened his pace—there sat the school beauty, the girl he had admired secretly for three years.

Yet Zhou Wen knew they had no chance of crossing paths meaningfully.

She was a model student; he was a troublemaker.

As Zhou Wen passed her, the ponytailed beauty cast him a casual glance, her eyes full of disdain and disappointment.

His gaze grew complicated—everyone believed he was lying, even the school beauty.

Suddenly, her expression stiffened.

Why was his hair soaking wet, with bits of grass tangled in it?

Could it be true? Had he really jumped into the river to save someone?

Impossible!

A student who ranked last academically, loafed around all day, and even shirked class duties—could such a one be a hero?

Suddenly, Li Dan slammed her desk.

“Enough, Zhou Wen!” she thundered.

The classroom fell silent.

Was she not going to punish him further?

“Stand outside the classroom. Don’t disrupt the others!”

Her words sparked cheers throughout the room.

Zhou Wen halted mid-classroom.

Did he not even deserve to stand inside?

With a bitter smile, he turned to leave.

At that moment, hurried footsteps sounded from outside.

“Teacher Li Dan, is Zhou Wen here?”

Before the footsteps reached the door, a man’s voice echoed.

A group of people slowly entered the classroom.

Li Dan froze.

At the forefront were two middle-aged men—one the discipline director, the other the principal!

What was happening? Why were the discipline director and principal suddenly in the classroom?

Li Dan grew uneasy.

The discipline director addressed the room, “Which one is Zhou Wen?”

Li Dan pointed at the figure in the center, “Sir, that’s Zhou Wen.”

The principal frowned, “What’s going on? It’s evening study and you have a student standing in the middle of the classroom?”

A student in the front row immediately stood up to explain, “Principal, Zhou Wen was late today and lied to the teacher, saying he saved someone from the river. The teacher made him stand as punishment!”

“This kind of chronic liar shouldn’t just stand—he should be expelled immediately!”

The student spoke with smug satisfaction.

The principal was a rare figure around here.

This was a chance to impress.

Others felt resentful, wishing they’d gotten to show off first.

“This your name?” the principal asked sternly.

The student’s face lit up with a grin, “Report, Principal, I’m Wang Chi!”

“Wang Chi! Get outside this instant!” The principal’s face darkened, voice furious.

Wang Chi’s smile vanished, replaced by a pout, “Principal, why me? It should be Zhou Wen!”

“Did you not hear the principal? Now! Outside!” the discipline director barked angrily.

The discipline director was terrified—behind them, the woman holding the little girl’s hand was watching intently.

This foolish student was still babbling nonsense!

“Why?” Wang Chi shouted, pointing at Zhou Wen, “Why can’t he stand? He was late and lied!”

“Because he saved my daughter,” a cold female voice rang from the back.

Everyone turned swiftly.

A middle-aged woman holding a little girl’s hand stepped forward behind the principal.

The woman retained an elegant charm; the girl was impeccably dressed and utterly adorable.

The classroom instantly fell into stunned silence.

The woman’s words echoed: “Because he saved my daughter.”

“Zhou Wen really saved someone?” whispers stirred.

After the woman spoke, the principal and discipline director hurriedly made way.

Unlike her earlier flustered demeanor in the park, she now moved with dignified poise.

She spoke softly, “Today, my daughter fell into the Taiping River in Yiming Park. Only Zhou Wen had the courage to leap in and rescue her.”

“And that’s why Zhou Wen was late!”

“But you all thought he was lying?”

“Would a student risk his life, jumping into a deep river, just to lie?”

The classroom was speechless.

Wang Chi’s face flushed red, wishing to disappear underground.

Li Dan felt the same—she was the first to falsely accuse Zhou Wen.

Several students quietly felt relieved they hadn’t tried to impress in front of the principal.

The school beauty’s eyes flickered as she looked at Zhou Wen nearby, her expression softening.

“Principal Yao, a school’s work isn’t just about academic rigor but about cultivating students’ character. I believe your school still has much to improve!” The woman’s face darkened as she addressed the principal.

“Yes, ma’am! We will immediately devise a plan for improvement!” the principal hastened to respond.

“Zhou Wen, come here quickly!” the discipline director waved him over.

Zhou Wen was stunned; he had simply rescued a little girl.

His status suddenly seemed significant.

But how had the mother and daughter found him?

As he approached, the woman smiled, “I wondered why you ran off so hastily after getting out of the water—it was because you feared being late. Such a good child!”

“Zipei, come thank the big brother,” she urged the little girl by the hand.

The shy Zipei toddled forward, her small voice saying, “Thank you, big brother.”

“You’re welcome!”

Zhou Wen felt joy swell inside; seeing the lively little girl assured him all was well.

“Zhou Wen, if it weren’t for you, my little girl might have drowned in the Taiping River. I don’t know how to thank you enough,” the woman said emotionally.

Zhou Wen replied softly, “Auntie, you’re too kind. If this happened, every student at our school would have done the same.”

His words were well-spoken, delighting the principal and discipline director, almost prompting thumbs-up gestures.

A teachable child indeed.

Though he’d been scolded moments ago, this remark redeemed much of his image.

Other students’ faces reddened; Zhou Wen’s words indirectly praised them, stirring their guilt.

The woman turned to the principal and discipline director, “It seems your school is not beyond hope!”

The principal and discipline director were pleasantly bewildered, hastily flattering her—her status was evidently significant.

The woman suddenly recalled something, smiling, “I almost forgot to introduce myself—I’m Qin Yi, Zipei’s mother.”

“Hello, Auntie!” Zhou Wen greeted politely.

Qin Yi pulled a small red booklet from her bag. “Zhou Wen, you left your student ID at the park. Here, take it and don’t lose it again.”

Only then did Zhou Wen understand—his information was on the card, enabling them to find him.

Feeling the moment was right—after all, the classroom was still watching—Qin Yi smiled lightly.

“Zhou Wen, give me your contact information. Our family would like to invite you for a meal to properly thank you.”

Embarrassed, Zhou Wen declined, “Auntie, really no need.”

Half-jokingly, Qin Yi replied, “No number, no student ID.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll give it.”

Seeing Zhou Wen’s anxious expression, others chuckled.

She handed the student ID back to him, and Zhou Wen obediently gave Qin Yi his phone number.

After finishing, Qin Yi turned to the two men behind her.

“Director Zheng, Principal Yao, I must take my leave now, so as not to delay you.”

With that, Qin Yi left with the little girl; Director Zheng and Principal Yao followed, and Li Dan was called outside by the two leaders.

As she left, the little girl waved to Zhou Wen and made a playful face—utterly adorable.

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