Chapter 15
"I'm not ready for that yet," Lin Yan said quickly. "I'd like to see the mining director. I'm preparing for the city university scholarship exam."
The team leader looked disappointed, but Lin Yan didn't wait for further questions. He turned and headed straight for the administrative sector.
Lin Yan had never met the mining director in person before.
However, he knew the man's voice very well—the same furious voice that echoed through speakers every day, shouting orders and pushing miners to exhaustion, as if they were tools instead of people.
When Lin Yan entered the director's office, the first thing he noticed was wealth.
Gold chains.
Silver chains.
A diamond wristwatch that looked heavy enough to break a wrist.
Decorations glittered everywhere, almost blinding.
The man sitting behind the desk was short, round, and… unfortunately unforgettable.
So this is him, Lin Yan thought. No wonder his name is Chǒu.
Director Chǒu looked up and immediately broke into a wide smile.
"Ah! Lin Yan!" Chǒu said warmly. "Please, come in. Sit down."
The sudden friendliness made Lin Yan's stomach tighten.
"I've been watching your performance," Chǒu continued, smiling even wider. "You always meet your mining targets. I like hardworking youths."
Lin Yan forced a polite smile. "Thank you, sir."
"So," Chǒu said, folding his hands, "what can I do for you?"
Lin Yan took a breath. "Sir, I would like to request two to three weeks off. I'm preparing for the city university scholarship examination."
The moment the words left his mouth, Director Chǒu's smile froze.
His face darkened as if someone had turned off the lights.
"Time off?" Chǒu repeated slowly.
Lin Yan's heart sank.
After leaving the office, Lin Yan returned home with a heavy mood. He showered, ate quietly, and lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
Inside his mind, he finally spoke.
"Star," Lin Yan asked, "you said if I consume beast meat… I can absorb part of their genes, right?"
There was a brief pause.
"Yes," Star replied calmly. "That statement is correct."
Lin Yan's eyes slowly sharpened.