Chapter 003: Heart of Water

“Huh? Boss, I notice you seem different.” At that moment, Liu Xu suddenly glanced at Chen Xiao with surprise.
“Different?” Chen Xiao was momentarily stunned before forcing a wry smile. Of course, he knew what Liu Xu meant.
“Yes, different,” Jiang Xianxiang said seriously. He examined Chen Xiao closely and added, “You’ve turned fairer. Boss, you’re even fairer than me now.”
“Tch, it’s because I spent the night in water,” Chen Xiao replied with an eye roll. “If you spent a night in water too, you’d be fairer than me.”
Without waiting for his three roommates to respond, Chen Xiao said, “Can you guys show some understanding for your boss? I’ve been in the rain all night—I’m exhausted. I’m going to bed first.”
After saying that, he jumped onto his bed and covered himself with the blanket.
“Huh?” The remaining three exchanged looks. Liu Xu asked, “He was in the rain all night? Didn’t he know to find a place to take shelter?”
Chen Xiao: “…“
……
At that moment, Chen Xiao was filled with inner conflict. He was afraid that talking to his roommates might reveal his secrets. Moreover, he didn’t want to reveal his supernatural ability until he was sure whether it was a blessing or a curse.
If others found out, it would only bring trouble. Chen Xiao had no desire to become a public figure.
But that didn’t stop him from studying his ability. After all, anyone who experienced something like this would be curious.
Lying in bed, Chen Xiao tried to recall the feeling he had when controlling water earlier. It seemed as though his mind had drifted outside his body, using his spirit to command the water to do certain things.
Yes, it was command, control, mastery.
“Could it be that I can control water because of that blue light? And was last night’s sudden heavy rain also caused by it?”
Lying still with his eyes closed, Chen Xiao appeared asleep, but his mind was racing.
“The mental exhaustion I felt earlier was probably because my spirit wasn’t strong enough to control more water.”
“Then the force that replenishes my spirit is the mental energy mentioned in novels? What exactly is that blue light?”
“Since I can control water through you, I’ll call you Heart of Water,” Chen Xiao decided after some thought, giving a name to the blue crystal inside his chest.
Chen Xiao concentrated all his mental energy, reaching out to Heart of Water in his chest. Warm currents, like flowing water, suddenly flowed out from his chest, nourishing his body and spirit. Strange sensations poured into his mind, and his physical and mental state improved steadily.
Chen Xiao was startled, and his focus wavered. The warm currents and strange sensations disappeared as well.
“Could it be…” His spirit surged again. It seemed he had discovered some trick—by concentrating his mind on his chest, Heart of Water could release some mysterious power.

“A legendary cultivation method?” Chen Xiao was so excited that his whole body trembled. “If that’s the case, if I can unlock all the power of this Heart of Water, then wouldn’t I be invincible? Water is the most abundant thing on Earth!”
At this age, people have rich imaginations. Chen Xiao could already picture himself controlling all the water in the oceans, becoming invincible under the heavens.
“Boss, what’s wrong? Are you having muscle cramps?” Liu Xu, who was sitting at the desk reading, looked at Chen Xiao, who was trembling on the bed, and asked curiously.
“It’s nothing, just a bit chilled,” Chen Xiao said, trying to calm himself down and making up an excuse.
“Chilled? Do you need to go to the hospital?” Qiu Cheng, who was playing DOTA, also looked up and asked.
“No need, I’ll be fine after sleeping for a while,” Chen Xiao replied quickly, then fell silent.
Qiu Cheng and Liu Xu exchanged a glance and shrugged simultaneously.
On the bed, Chen Xiao focused his mind again on his chest, trying to communicate with the ‘Heart of Water’ there.
Sure enough, the Heart of Water moved slightly, and that comforting energy appeared once again, flowing through his body over and over, strengthening both his body and mind.
…
“So great…”
After what seemed like a long time, Chen Xiao opened his eyes, jumped out of bed, and stretched vigorously.
“Huh, no one here? What time is it?” Chen Xiao checked his phone—it was twelve o’clock, meal time. The others in the dorm must have gone to eat.
“Well, even with superpowers, I’m still not a god. I still need to eat three meals a day.” Chen Xiao patted his stomach and left the dorm.
Since class had just ended, the school was crowded with people heading to the cafeteria or the snack stalls outside.
Chen Xiao patted his stomach and headed straight to the cafeteria. It was peak meal time, with long queues in front of every counter. Chen Xiao got a tray and joined the end of the line.
At this moment, Chen Xiao was no different from an ordinary person. He remembered he had superpowers but didn’t know how to use them or when to use them.
“Huh, it seems superhumans aren’t any different from ordinary people. You still have to queue when getting food,” Chen Xiao thought helplessly.
“Chen Xiao, why weren’t you in class this morning?”
Suddenly, a female voice rang in Chen Xiao’s ear.
Chen Xiao’s breath hitched, and his face started to heat up. Every boy, especially one around eighteen or nineteen, has a secret crush they’ve long admired, with their thoughts constantly revolving around her.
And the owner of this voice was Chen Xiao’s crush—Qin Mengyao, his classmate he had long admired secretly.
Chen Xiao was already not good at interacting with girls. Although he had admired her for a long time, he had never confessed his feelings. Even talking to her made him blush uncontrollably.
“Ah, it’s you,” Chen Xiao coughed to hide his embarrassment.

Qin Mengyao wasn’t the kind of stunningly beautiful woman, but her small face was very appealing, with big, watery eyes that seemed to speak for themselves. Her body exuded the youthful vitality typical of a girl her age.
“Huh? Why is your face so red?” Qin Mengyao walked up to Chen Xiao and looked at him in surprise.
Hearing Qin Mengyao’s words, Chen Xiao’s face turned even redder. Although he had blushed before when around her, his skin was originally a dark, millet-colored, so even when it turned red, it wasn’t very noticeable.
But now, after being transformed by the Water Heart, his skin had become fair and flawless, so even a slight blush was immediately apparent.
“It’s like this… Last night it rained, and I didn’t make it back in time. I got caught in the rain and have a fever…” Chen Xiao said, a bit embarrassed.
“I see.” Qin Mengyao smiled and said, “Then you need to take care of yourself. We have another military training session after May Day. Well, you stand here. I’m leaving now.”
With a faint fragrance trailing behind her, Qin Mengyao left with her friends.
Chen Xiao just stared blankly at her retreating figure, his eyes filled with admiration.
“Wait, there’s military training after May Day?” Chen Xiao suddenly realized, surprised. Hadn’t they already had military training when they started school? Why more training?