Evolving infinitely from ground zero

Time flew, and over a year passed.

Xiao Chen and Shen Qinghan’s school life had reached its fifteenth year.

That is, they were in their senior year of high school.

In the past year or so,

Xiao Chen’s Biological Level successfully evolved to ordinary Sixth Order, with all his physical data greatly enhanced.

A hundred-meter sprint took only 2.87 seconds.

A vertical jump from a standstill could reach 8.32 meters.

He could lift a weight of 2450kg with one hand.

During this time, in the summer vacation of his junior year, he once again brought a championship trophy to Shanhai High School, achieving an unprecedented back-to-back victory, breaking school history and becoming the first person at Shanhai High School with such a record.

Shen Qinghan wasn’t as outstanding, but in the past year or so, she also made great strides, constantly progressing in her studies.

Through day after day of effort, she had broken into the top 10 from the bottom in martial arts grades in her class, reaching the 12th from the bottom.

If counting from the first, she was the 34th in the class, ranking at the forefront among the more than ten girls in the class.

With such a relatively good result, even though she was admitted through backdoor connections, no one would use it against her anymore.

Thanks to this, her personality became more cheerful and outgoing with each passing day, seeming to return to her lively childhood years before school, smiling every day.

As for the research into superpowers, there had been no progress in the past year or so.

On this day, October 14th,

Shen Qinghan was celebrating her 18th birthday.

Xiao Chen was just a day older than her, having celebrated his birthday just yesterday.

So, both families got together in the evening and organized a simple celebration at home to hold an 18th birthday coming-of-age ceremony for the childhood friends who had grown up together.

“Okay, the candles are blown out, now it’s time for the gift-giving segment,”

“You two young handsome boy and beautiful girl, quickly bring out the gifts you’ve carefully prepared for each other, and I’ll take photos for keepsake.”

“I’ll handle the video recording.”

Lin Yansheng and Zhang Wanxin, a husband and wife duo, with the former handling video recording with a mobile phone and the latter taking photos with a camera.

Shen Jianye and Xu Meng, another couple, were quieter by nature, and simply sat smiling on the side, witnessing the moment the two kids exchanged adult birthday gifts.

“Xiao Chen, this is the gift I’m giving you.”

Shen Qinghan brought out a wrapped picture frame from behind, carefully placed it upright on the table, and said to Xiao Chen with a sweet smile.

The picture frame was large, approximately one meter in both length and width.

It was unclear what picture required such a large frame to bear.

“Go ahead and lift the cloth, you’ll definitely be surprised by the painting inside,”

Shen Qinghan said confidently with a smile.

Hearing this, Zhang Wanxin, who was in charge of taking photos, couldn’t help but tease, “Han Han’s words sound like a bride urging the groom to lift her red veil.”

Lin Yansheng joined in laughing, “Haha, true, I wonder when my son will lift the red veil.”

Shen Qinghan blushed at the teasing, becoming shy and casting her gaze away from Xiao Chen, too embarrassed to make eye contact with him.

Xiao Chen, however, remained calm, his lips naturally curving into a slight smile, and quickly went forward to grab a corner of the cloth, lifting it with a bit of anticipation.

In the next moment, a colorful portrait painting came into his view.

It was a watercolor painting.

Featuring three people standing together.

One was him, another was also him, and the remaining one was still him.

However, these three versions of him were distinct in form.

The one to the left and slightly behind was a winged Genetic Integrator, his eyes wild with abandon.

The one in the middle, closer to the front, donned the school uniform of a normal human, looking utterly harmless.

The one on the right and to the rear was a Mechanically Modified Human, his body mostly covered in alloy, exuding an air of cold and ruthless indifference.

The three forms standing together gave off the feeling that angels and demons were always accompanying an ordinary person, filled with contrasts and rich in artistic flair.

Upon this painting’s unveiling, before Lin Zichen could voice his thoughts, Zhang Wanxin at the front couldn’t help exclaiming:

“Han Han, you’re amazing, this painting is so beautiful, Aunt Xin is truly overwhelmed by it!”

“This watercolor painting is a masterpiece completed just two days ago, after a whole year of creation by Han Han. The draft papers that were discarded before its completion could fill a backpack,”

Xu Meng said with a smile.

Shen Qinghan had watched the devotion that went into this painting over the past year.

As a mother, she had to convey her daughter’s heartfelt intentions to Lin Zichen, to further deepen the connection between the two.

Observing the three versions of himself in the painting and listening to the mothers’ conversation, Lin Zichen looked up at Shen Qinghan before him, locking eyes with her, and said sincerely:

“This is the best gift I’ve ever received, and I will treasure it for a lifetime.”

“Of course.”

Shen Qinghan’s eyes curved into crescents, her face brimming with a joyful smile.

After hearing Lin Zichen’s response, she felt all the effort she had poured into the watercolor over the past year was fully rewarded.

Lin Zichen carefully stored the watercolor painting on the table and gently placed it on the couch nearby.

He then picked up a bag from the couch and handed it to Shen Qinghan, saying softly:

“This is my gift to you; I made all of it by hand. I hope you’ll like it after seeing it.”

“I’m sure I’ll love it.”

Shen Qinghan accepted the bag with an expectant smile, her voice tender.

She immediately opened the bag to find that the gift inside was also a picture frame.

Only this frame was a bit smaller, its length and width reminiscent of a student’s certificate.

But it was quite thick, as thick as a dictionary.

Inside weren’t paintings, but specimens of up to 20 types of miniature flowers.

There were starflowers, morning glories, plum blossoms, orchids, and more.

At the very center of the frame, the miniature flower was her favorite, the dandelion.

At that moment, these miniature flower specimens were fixed in the frame’s compartment with a special soft gel filler, seeming vivid and incredibly beautiful.

“Xiao Chen, I really love this gift!”

Looking at the flowers in the specimen frame, Shen Qinghan’s eyes shone with joy, holding onto the birthday gift from Lin Zichen as if it were a treasure.

Seeing that both their gifts were picture frames, Zhang Wanxin couldn’t help but ask with curiosity, “Both of your gifts are frames, did you two agree beforehand to give each other this?”

Shen Qinghan answered, “We didn’t plan it, it’s just a happy coincidence.”

Zhang Wanxin laughed, “Just like childhood sweethearts who have grown up together, you’ve both thought of the same gift. Perhaps you have developed a telepathic bond.”

After speaking, she added, “Come, sit together with your gifts, I’ll take a photo for you to commemorate this moment.”

Hearing this, Lin Zichen and Shen Qinghan each took their respective gifts and sat down on the adjacent couch.

They sat very close to each other, legs touching and shoulders side by side, looking exceptionally intimate.

PS: Bowls out, begging for monthly tickets and recommendation tickets!