Chapter 40: Main Quest Completed, Massive System Reward

June 25th, the day the Gaokao results were to be announced.

Early in the morning, Wang Yanxing headed to the ancestral graves with incense and joss paper to pay his respects. His purpose, naturally, was to pray that the ancestors would bless Wang Donglai with excellent results.

By the time Wang Yanxing returned, Cao Shuxian was also beaming with excitement, her face full of smiles.

Wang Chenyue was supposed to have gone to school yesterday, but Wang Donglai had asked her to take a day off to stay home specifically to wait for his results.

Aside from Wang Donglai, the other three members of the family had barely slept a wink the previous night. They were filled with anticipation, nervousness, and a hint of trepidation.

After breakfast, the three of them sat restlessly, waiting for the clock to strike twelve and release the scores. Only Wang Donglai remained calm, focused on his book, seemingly unaffected.

"Brother, are you really not nervous at all?" Wang Chenyue looked at his composed demeanor, feeling both admiration and shock. Today was the day the Gaokao results came out!

"Stay calm. I told you all long ago that I would definitely be this year's top scorer in the liberal arts. You just wouldn't believe me, worrying and fretting needlessly. Just wait for the results peacefully," Wang Donglai said, without even lifting his eyes from his book.

"Brother, I feel like you've changed so much these past few months," Wang Chenyue suddenly remarked with emotion.

"Why? Do you think it's a good change or a bad one?"

"Good. It's just so good that I'm still adjusting. Since we were kids, you never won a single 'Model Student' award, your grades were mediocre, you liked to be bossy with me, and you lacked patience with Mom and Dad. But now, your grades are great, you've become better to us, and compared to before, the difference is massive."

"And you never used to like reading, but now you can sit with a book all day, and it's always something profound."

"Brother, you really have changed, but I think this change is wonderful!" Wang Chenyue counted off the changes on her fingers, pointing them out one by one.

"As your older brother, I've set the example. Don't go losing face for me. You know what you need to do, don't I need to tell you?" Wang Donglai put down his book and looked at her with a serious, smiling gaze.

"Alright, alright, I get it. I'm going to read now," Wang Chenyue pouted, her small face drooping as she picked up her own book to start studying.

Meanwhile, outside the house, Wang Yanxing and Cao Shuxian were tidying up the surroundings and discussing matters.

"How much money do we have left? If Donglai gets a good score, we need to treat his substitute teacher to a meal at a hotel, and people from your maiden family will want to come too."

"And once he goes to university, we need to buy him some nice clothes and shoes. We'll need to get him a trendy phone and prepare a computer. We can't let anything hinder his studies or affect his academic progress."

Cao Shuxian frowned, thought for a moment, and then whispered, "The wages from the construction site won't be settled until the end of the year. We only have about ten thousand yuan at home right now. We were originally planning to give five thousand back to your second brother first. Should we ask him to wait a bit?"

Wang Yanxing let out a low sigh, his upright posture suddenly sagging.

Money is a hero's courage, wealth is a man's backbone, gold is a mirror to reveal truth, and silver is a ruler to measure the heavens. Without gold and silver, even a hero must bow and bend.

"I'll go talk to your second brother and ask him to release the money first so we can prepare Donglai's school supplies. The phone, computer, and clothes must be bought. We may be poor, but we can't let Donglai go out feeling inferior," Wang Yanxing said, gritting his teeth.

"Mhm. Once Donglai's results are out, we'll look for another construction job in Tangdu. Chenyue is almost in her second year of high school; we need to save more money. We'll just have to work harder these next few years. As long as we can support the two of them through school, it's worth it," Cao Shuxian said, turning her head toward him while continuing her chores.

"Alright!" Wang Yanxing nodded, falling into a brief silence.

Just then...

"Yanxing, I heard your Wang Donglai did quite well in the Gaokao this time."

A man with a solemn and dignified countenance walked over and spoke to Wang Yanxing.

"Third Great-Uncle, when did you get back? Donglai's results aren't out yet," Wang Yanxing replied with a polite, practiced smile.

The newcomer was Wang Shunguo, the person from Wang Family Village who had achieved the highest official rank; he currently held a division chief position at the Tangdu Sports Bureau.

Maintaining a high posture, Wang Shunguo said, "It's the Gaokao season, isn't it? I just sent Wang Huan to the Tangdu Sports Institute and finished the paperwork. Now only Wang Yang is left. Once his results are out, I'll give him some guidance on his university major and help him out once he graduates."

"So, how is it? Is your Wang Donglai confident about getting into university? If he makes it, your branch of the family will have produced its first college student, and there will finally be something to look forward to."

"The results will be out shortly. I believe my Donglai won't disappoint me."

Wang Yanxing could hear the mockery in Wang Shunguo's tone, but because of their unequal social status, he could only respond with a neutral, non-committal remark.

"When going to university, one must choose a major carefully. Otherwise, you'll be unemployed right after graduation. Supporting a college student isn't easy for people like you."

"If you don't know anything about it, you can ask me. Choosing a major is a simple matter for someone like me," Wang Shunguo said with a reserved smile, though a hint of ridicule flickered deep in his eyes.

When he had spoken to Wang Huan's father, he heard that Wang Donglai had ranked first in his school before the Gaokao and was even boasting that he would be the top scorer in the liberal arts.

Wang Shunguo had laughed on the spot upon hearing this. Coming from Anshui County, he knew the local educational standards all too well. Parents with even a little money sent their children to other counties or cities; those who stayed in Anshui High School were almost always average students. At best, Anshui High School had produced a few students who made it into Tangdu Jiaotong University. As for being a provincial top scorer? That had never happened in Anshui County.

In his mind, Wang Donglai was simply an arrogant youth who didn't know his place. Thus, Wang Shunguo wanted to see how Wang Donglai would handle the fallout once the results were released. He didn't believe for a second that the boy could actually be the top scorer.

"Donglai has his own ideas. He's already preparing for his university major. He's bought a pile of computer books; I heard he wants to work at an internet company as a programmer in the future."

Although Wang Yanxing didn't say it explicitly, the meaning was clear to everyone present.

"Oh, a programmer? I know about that. You sit in front of a computer all day, and the salary is decent, but you have to work overtime and stay up late every day. I heard your Wang Donglai loves reading novels; I thought he might become a writer instead," Wang Shunguo said with a warm smile, continuing the conversation.

Time ticked away.

Ten o'clock.

As Wang Donglai was reading, a system notification suddenly rang in his mind.

*Ding! Host has completed the main quest: "The Gaokao Decisive Battle"!*

*Host's total Gaokao score: 737. Awarded: Provincial Liberal Arts Top Scorer, National Liberal Arts Top Scorer. Upon system detection, the host's recent behavior meets the system's hidden evaluation criteria. All permissions are now unlocked. Full State activated. The system will now assist the player in discovering the mysteries of knowledge.*

*Ding! Rewards being distributed!*

*Intelligence +1, Constitution +1, 10,000 General Experience Points, one Double Reading Experience Card, one Lottery Chance.*

*The player may claim rewards at any time. Please note the reward descriptions.*

The system's notification rang in Wang Donglai's head like heavenly music. Before he could even wonder why the results weren't out until twelve, the system had already settled the main quest. His attention immediately shifted to how the system addressed him.

"Host? Player? What does that mean?" Wang Donglai thought to himself, receiving an immediate response.

"Although this system performed an immediate soul-binding with the host, it was based on a preliminary recognition program. Until the host meets the system's hidden evaluation criteria, the Full State cannot be activated. Once the host meets the criteria, the system will enter Full State, treating the player as the primary subject and the system as the assistant.

"The system's motto: Enjoy reading, enjoy the fun, omnipotent and all-capable."

After hearing the explanation, Wang Donglai fell into thought.

Host? Player?

The difference between the two names was significant. According to biological definitions, a "host" is an organism that provides nutrients and a place for a pathogen. In other words, being called a "host" meant the system viewed him as a place for parasitism.

The system was already bizarre and beyond human imagination; to possess such miraculous abilities meant that even if people knew they were being "parasitized," countless would still seek such a destiny.

As for "player," it literally meant one who is accompanied by games—a gamer.

Combined with the system's explanation, Wang Donglai began to understand. If his attitude toward studying had not been serious during this period, he likely wouldn't have been able to truly unlock the Full State; he would have remained merely a "host," and the system's permissions would not have been fully opened.

By passing the system's test, he had gained the upper hand in his relationship with the system.

With a "Player," the human is the master and the system is the assistant. With a "Host," the system is the master and the human is the assistant.

Even the least sensitive person could tell that the former situation was far superior.

In an instant, Wang Donglai's mind raced through these conclusions. Sensing a subtle shift, he turned his gaze toward another piece of information on the system panel.