Those who had awakened superpowers showed varying degrees of excitement and thrill on their faces, while those who hadn't could only stare longingly at the playground from the windows.
The number of students who had awakened powers wasn't small; although it hadn't reached fifty percent of the school, it wasn't far off.
As spiritual energy continued to affect the world, more and more people would awaken abilities in the future.
At this moment, Bai Xuan stood with Sun Qiang, expressionless, radiating an aura of "keep out." In the midst of the others' excitement on the playground, he stood out even more.
Those who knew him, however, wouldn't be surprised—in fact, some would find it amusing.
Like when Bai Xuan recalled Sun Qiang performing "magic" in the classroom, he couldn't help but make a strange expression: wanting to laugh, but not daring to.
"Stare."
Sun Qiang turned to Bai Ye, eyes full of grievance.
"Xiao Bai, did I look ridiculous in the classroom?"
"You can change that rhetorical question into a statement. It's not about whether it's funny—it's a joke."
"Ha ha ha ha."
Bai Xuan finally couldn't hold back his laughter.
"How did you manage to awaken your superpower and already treat yourself as the protagonist?"
"Do you think you're the only one in the world with awakened powers?"
"At least try to test the waters—post something anonymously online. Or check websites from other countries; unlike ours, if someone awakens powers there, someone would definitely show off."
"That wouldn't be so bad—but you even used magic as an excuse to show off in front of Lele?"
"After three years of being around you, don't we already know what kind of person you are? If you were really good at magic, you'd have performed ages ago."
"Picking the day after the Seven Stars Conjunction to show off? Your timing is too obvious."
"And you're so pathetic—right now, all you can do is float a pen with psychokinesis. If anyone discovered you, how would you resist?"
"Really."
Bai Xuan couldn't help but criticize—too young, too naive. In his past life, even if only one classmate awakened powers, he could figure out certain things just by observing them. He was too familiar with people and had read too many novels.
Whenever someone's behavior deviated greatly from the norm, Bai Xuan would get suspicious.
Hearing Bai Xuan's harsh words, Sun Qiang's face immediately darkened.
"Although you're speaking facts, could you at least save me some face?"
Just as he was about to reply, Zhang Weiyang appeared beside him and patted his shoulder.
"Wanting to be the protagonist is understandable. Who doesn't want that, right?"
"But we need some self-awareness. The protagonist doesn't have to be twenty, but at least eighteen—and you're not."
Sun Qiang was confused.
"I'm eighteen?"
"I'm not talking about age."
Zhang Weiyang glanced at him calmly.
""
"I… have that too! Shut up, you jerk!"
Understanding what Zhang Weiyang meant, Sun Qiang's face turned from black to red to green, before finally silencing him.
Openly talking about… that? In broad daylight!
Not only Sun Qiang, but students from surrounding classes also glanced at Zhang Weiyang suspiciously, then coughed and averted their eyes.
"Looking at what? You guys don't have it, do you?"
Zhang Weiyang caught their gazes and stared back, and with his remark, anyone looking at him would be admitting something—so they all quickly looked away.
"Tch."
"I really want to hit him."
"Not just you, me too."
"The key is his expression—it's too asking-for-trouble."
Besides that, Zhang Weiyang's current expression perfectly matched a certain meme, naturally stirring anger.
"Forget it. Did you notice the guy next to him?"
"The former school basketball player, trained in combat, muscles solid as iron."
"Your wind-type superpower isn't enough to tickle him."
Someone quietly pointed to Bai Xuan next to Zhang Weiyang.
Having consciously trained his body after being reborn, Bai Xuan's physique was exceptional—at least among high school students, he was in a league of his own.
With the other student's newly awakened wind ability, the best he could do was float an eraser like Lele. Definitely no match for Bai Xuan.
Using his ability might at best give Bai Xuan a bit of fun.
After scanning Bai Xuan twice and himself twice, Zhang Weiyang finally said:
"Alright, I think you have a point."
Bai Xuan, noticing his gaze, felt speechless. How did this get tied to him again?
Moreover, Zhang Weiyang brought up… that thing again—twenty, eighteen? How many people in all of China even reach that length? Too ridiculous.
Still, Bai Xuan was too young to argue. The next moment, Zhang Weiyang turned his gaze to him, speaking excitedly:
"If we're talking about a protagonist among us, Bai Xuan has an eighty percent chance."
Huh?
If you say that, then I'm wide awake now.
They wanted to see why Zhang Weiyang considered Bai Xuan likely to be the protagonist.
"First, looks. Back in the school basketball days, which girl watching basketball didn't look at Bai Xuan?"
"Comes from a wealthy family, a second-generation rich kid."
"Academics? Top ten in the grade. Maybe not first, but anyone in the know understands—both talent and study attitude are outstanding."
"Bai xuan is different. He sleeps at ten every day. No one, genius or not, can match that."
"Handsome, smart, rich family, excellent physique. And the key? Bai Xuan's seat: back row by the window, brothers."
"Back row by the window—the king's homeland."
That was the protagonist's exclusive seat.
Normally, high school seats rotate periodically; no one could occupy the same seat permanently.
But Bai xuan's homeroom teacher had decided since freshman year that seats would be determined by grades. You could choose where to sit or with whom, but only if you earned it.
So even if others had better grades than Bai xuan, they chose the front rows, and over time, that seat became Bai xuan's exclusive spot.