Chapter 467: The fourth stage of the national competition

Yuhua Region.

Hanggang City, Zhehai Province.

A light drizzle drifted down from the sky.

A man in a black suit, looking to be in his thirties and quite handsome, walked with an umbrella into an old, weathered, and very dated residential area.

Huihe Community was considered one of the highest-priced communities in Hanggang City. Although dilapidated, it was a school district for Hanggang No. 2 Middle School.

And Hanggang No. 2 Middle School was the top-ranked junior high school in Hanggang City.

The man entered the elevator of one of the buildings and pressed the 5th floor.

The elevator ascended quickly. The man exited the elevator, took out his key, and opened the door to apartment 502.

The 106-square-meter apartment had three bedrooms and one living room, and its interior decoration was strikingly out of place with the exterior, showing that a lot of thought had gone into it.

A girl sitting on the sofa, wearing a Hanggang No. 2 Middle School uniform and playing on her phone, heard the movement. She quickly put her phone in her pocket and stood up, saying obediently:

“Dad, you’re back.”

Qiao Wangyang glanced in the direction of her pocket and frowned, “Why are you still playing on your phone? Have you finished your homework?”

“I was writing it. Mom said dinner was almost ready, so I came out to wait,” Qiao Ningning said.

Qiao Wangyang said nothing more. He went back to his room, took off his suit, and changed into casual clothes.

Soon, a woman in a beige sweater brought three dishes and a soup to the dining table.

“Did the results from last time come out? How did you do?” the woman asked gently at the dinner table.

“They came out. 571 points, 9th in the class,” Qiao Ningning replied.

Qiao Wangyang put down his chopsticks and reprimanded, “Why is it 11 points lower than last time?”

The woman said, “It must be that this test was harder than the last one.”

Qiao Ningning nodded like a pecking chick.

Qiao Wangyang said exasperatedly, “Scores are pulled by difficult questions. You’re almost at the high school entrance exam. How will you get into a key high school with these grades?”

Qiao Ningning shrank her head and silently ate her rice. As she ate, she suddenly thought of something, looked up, and said seriously:

“I think I might be able to awaken on my own! I’ve already thought it through. After my brain domain awakens, I’ll contract a Fire Fang Dog and participate in Saint Water Middle School’s special recruitment.”

The woman was a little surprised; she had never known her daughter had this idea.

Qiao Wangyang frowned, “How do you know you’ll definitely awaken on your own? Do you know how few people awaken their brain domain each year?”

Qiao Ningning’s expression was excited, and her tone conveyed admiration:

“Do you know Qiao Sang! 15 years old, three High-level Pets, she’s the first contestant from our province to advance to the National Competition in the National Campus Pet Beast League, and she participated in the third-year high school division!”

“She was specially recruited into Saint Water Middle School after awakening on her own in her third year of junior high. Did you notice, her last name is Qiao! My last name is also Qiao! We’re both from the same city, so it’s very likely we came from the same ancestors!”

“I’m not just guessing this casually. Look at her photo, doesn’t she look a little like me!”

As Qiao Ningning spoke, she opened her phone, operated it a few times, and then placed the phone screen-up on the dining table.

Qiao Wangyang and the woman looked at the phone simultaneously.

The next second, the dining table suddenly fell silent, and the atmosphere was inexplicably quiet.

Qiao Ningning sensed something was wrong and was about to ask.

But Qiao Wangyang suddenly stood up at this moment: “I’m full, you two eat.”

After speaking, he walked into the bedroom and closed the door.

“Mom, what’s wrong with Dad?” Qiao Ningning asked, puzzled.

Impossible! Absolutely impossible! It must just be that the name and age are the same, and it’s a coincidence that she looks similar. This Qiao Sang definitely isn’t that child… The woman suppressed the surging anxiety in her heart and forced a smile on her face:

“I don’t know either, maybe he really is full.”

…

Inside the room.

Qiao Wangyang looked at the news about Qiao Sang that he had searched for on his phone, his expression dazed.

[The Strongest High School Student in History!]

[Qiao Sang’s Ghost Ring Spirit Suspected to Be a Variant Pet!]

[Qiao Sang’s Growth Story Revealed by Acquaintances!]

[15 Years Old, How Did She Manage to Cultivate Three High-level Pets?]

[Race News Agency: Qiao Sang is Very Likely to Become the Champion of This Year’s National Campus Pet Beast League High School Senior Division]

[Qiao Sang’s Junior High Homeroom Teacher Says: Without a Doubt, She Is the Smartest Student I’ve Ever Taught]

[The Unspoken Understanding Between Qiao Sang and Ice Kexilu]

[Yuhua Daily Telegram: Congratulations to Qiao Sang for Successfully Advancing to the Top 17 in the National Competition!]

Qiao Wangyang scrolled through his phone screen, his heart growing increasingly uncertain and surprised.

He could hardly believe this was his daughter, but that face, the name, and some information from acquaintances’ revelations clearly matched his daughter.

Could he have given birth to such a child? Qiao Wangyang sat on the edge of the bed, his face showing an expression of doubting life.

He thought for a moment, opened his contacts, and dialed Qiao Sang’s phone number.

Although he had divorced Ye Xiangting, perhaps because he left with nothing and the child was too young, not wanting her to feel like she grew up without a father, Ye Xiangting didn’t deprive him of the right to visit the child.

However, after Qiao Sang grew up and learned the reason for his divorce from her mother, she became somewhat cold towards him. She wouldn’t come out even when he called her during holidays. Later, he focused all his attention on Qiao Ningning, and his contact with Qiao Sang also lessened.

Speaking of which, the last time they spoke was during Chinese New Year last year.

Soon, a voice came from the other end of the phone: “Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently busy…”

Qiao Wangyang didn’t think much of it, turned off his phone, and after a minute, dialed the number again.

“Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently busy…”

Why is it still busy… Qiao Wangyang put down his phone, and after two minutes, he tried again.

The familiar voice came from inside: “Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently busy…”

Who is she talking to, for so long… Qiao Wangyang frowned.

For the rest of the time, Qiao Wangyang called once every five minutes.

He kept calling until past 11 PM when the woman, who had already lain down, couldn’t take it anymore: “Who are you calling?”

Qiao Wangyang paused and asked, “Who do you think someone could be talking to from past 6 PM until past 11 PM? I’ve been calling for over 5 hours, and it’s always busy.”

The woman pondered for a moment and said, “Have you been blocked?”

Qiao Wangyang: “???”

…

Soon, it was the day of the fourth stage of the National Competition.

Zhongkong Region.

Shouyao Pet Arena.

Qiao Sang sat in the contestant area amidst everyone’s gazes and discussions.

A familiar brown and white Flying-type Pet passed by, holding a basket in its claws.

“Ya Ya!”

Yabao called out.

“Bite bite!”

The brown and white Flying-type Pet’s eyes lit up, and it immediately ran over. It hadn’t forgotten that this was once a big client!

Qiao Sang smiled at the sight, “Give them all to me.”

“Bite bite!”

The brown and white Flying-type Pet excitedly showed its QR code.

Qiao Sang paid the money and took the basket full of snacks.

“Bite bite!” The brown and white Flying-type Pet bowed, then flapped its wings and flew away.

“Which one do you want to eat?” Qiao Sang asked, placing the basket in front of Yabao.

“Ya Ya!” Yabao extended its paw, picked up a pack of melon seeds from inside, and placed it in front of its Yu Beast Master, its eyes shining.

When it came to food, Yabao actually thought of me… Qiao Sang was touched: “For me?”

“Ya!” Yabao nodded.

“Thank you.” Qiao Sang took the pack of melon seeds and smiled as she rubbed Yabao’s head.

“Ya!” Yabao called out expectantly, signaling its Yu Beast Master to eat quickly.

“Oh, you…” Qiao Sang’s heart melted. Under Yabao’s gaze, she opened the package and cracked a melon seed.

“Ya Ya!”

At the sight, Yabao immediately cried out in excitement.

If she ate its melon seeds, would it then be able to go on stage!

Qiao Sang: “???”

What are you talking about? What does eating melon seeds have to do with sending you on stage? Qiao Sang momentarily suspected her ears had misheard.

“Ya Ya!”

Seeing that its Yu Beast Master wasn’t speaking, Yabao blinked its eyes and repeated what it had just said.

Qiao Sang was silent for a moment and asked, “Who told you that eating melon seeds means you have to go on stage?”

“Ya Ya!”

Yabao pointed to the little Qunbao, who was stealthily hidden on its Yu Beast Master’s head.

Little Qunbao said it! It said that in the past, when it gave others milk, they never refused its requests, and other foods must be the same.

Little Qunbao: “…”

The hidden Little Qunbao stood motionless, pretending not to exist.

It hadn’t expected Big Brother Yabao to sell it out so quickly…