Lin Xiao woke up feeling more refreshed than ever. His room was bathed in the gentle morning light filtering through the curtains.
Posters of his favorite anime characters adorned the walls, and his desk was cluttered with textbooks, gaming gear, and a couple of open notebooks.
He noticed the digital clock on his bedside table flashing 6:30 AM. As he stretched, a pleasant surprise greeted him: 100 extra coins in his System Wallet.
He headed to the bathroom, the cool tile floor waking him up even more.
After a quick shower and brushing his teeth, Lin Xiao felt completely revitalized. When he returned to his room, Xiao Bai and Lil'blackie were already awake, bouncing around energetically.
Lin Xiao petted them, and they purred happily, their soft fur tickling his hands.
Once ready for school, Lin Xiao went downstairs. To his surprise, his younger sister wasn't at the dining table but was instead eating breakfast in the living room while watching TV.
His mother, usually strict about no TV during meals, seemed to have made an exception. This puzzled Lin Xiao, as his mother usually scolded him for such behavior.
Curious, Lin Xiao walked over to his sister and glanced at the TV.
The screen displayed a breaking news headline: "Mass Shooting in Zephyria: Details Scarce, Over 50 Dead".
Lin Xiao's eyes widened in shock. He sat down, trying to process the information.
Just as he was about to delve deeper into the news, his sister, Lin Meiying, excitedly turned off the TV and started talking to him with stars in her eyes.
"Xiao Xiao," she whispered, barely containing her excitement. "For the past two days, I haven't been able to sleep. I still can't believe you have superpow—"
Lin Xiao quickly put his hand over her mouth, glancing nervously towards the kitchen where their mother was. "Talk later, not in front of mom," he whispered urgently.
Lin Meiying nodded and got up, heading to the kitchen to finish her breakfast. Lin Xiao turned the TV back on, eager to catch more details about the news.
Unfortunately, the broadcast had already moved on to other stories.
Lin Xiao wanted to catch more news because he thought the incident might be related to some supernatural event, given the high death toll. Before he could switch channels, his mother emerged from the kitchen, her face stern.
"Lin Xiao, I TOLD YOU NO TV IN THE MORNING!"
Lin Xiao jumped up from the sofa and turned off the TV as fast as he could. "I wasn't watching TV," he lied.
Mother Lin calmed down a bit, shaking her head. "Come eat breakfast," she said, heading back to the dining room. Lin Xiao followed, forgetting all about the news in the rush.
After breakfast, Lin Xiao decided to walk to school. The air was fresh and crisp, and the morning sun cast a golden hue over the neighborhood.
As he walked, he noticed how vibrant everything seemed. The trees lining the streets rustled gently in the breeze, their leaves shimmering with a vivid green.
Birds chirped melodiously from the branches, and the flowers in the gardens he passed appeared more colorful than usual, their petals wide open to greet the day.
The streets were starting to fill with the usual morning bustle. Cars drove by, their engines humming softly, while cyclists whizzed past, some ringing their bells cheerfully.
He passed a bakery, the aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries wafting through the air, making his stomach grumble despite the hearty breakfast he had just eaten.
Children in uniform hurried along the sidewalks, chatting excitedly with their friends about school projects and weekend plans.
Shopkeepers were opening their stores, greeting regular customers with friendly smiles and waves.
Everything seemed more alive, more detailed, as if a filter had been removed from his eyes.
Lin Xiao couldn't shake the feeling that the world had subtly changed.
When he finally reached school, he noticed the students seemed happier and more energetic. Was it his imagination? He couldn't tell for sure.
As he entered the classroom, he saw Zhang Wei and Li Na already seated together, acting lovey-dovey. Lin Xiao couldn't help but wonder if he had given Zhang Wei too strong of a feeling for Li Na.
Then, he noticed Chen Manyao sitting at her desk, reading as usual. When she noticed his glance, she smiled at him, and he nodded back.
He thought to himself about how much his life had changed in just a few weeks.
The thought of pursuing Chen Manyao crossed his mind, but he hesitated. Dating him might complicate her life too much.
Lost in his thoughts, Lin Xiao didn't realize how confident he had become. The idea that Chen Manyao would want to date him felt almost certain in his mind, reflecting a newfound self-assuredness he hadn't noticed before.
As he settled into his seat, Lin Xiao noticed many kids whispering about the mass shooting in Zephyria. They seemed unsure of the details, only knowing that it involved one of the top companies in that country.
Lin Xiao's curiosity was piqued, but before he could eavesdrop further, the teacher arrived, and classes began.
The morning passed in a blur of lessons and notes. Lin Xiao tried to focus, but his mind kept drifting back to the news and his recent experiences.
Finally, the bell rang, signaling the start of the break.
Lin Xiao stretched and stood up, feeling a mixture of relief and anticipation. He glanced around the classroom, deciding whether to approach his friends or find a quiet spot to think.