Aiden pretended to ignore her
note and called out in his mind, SYSTEM. He remembered that in his novels, the systems
could communicate with people and function like an interface from a video game.
However, there was no response from the system at all.
It seemed to be a closed system that did not like communicating with its host. Thus,
Aiden had no choice but to experiment with other possible functions of the system. With
that, he pulled a math textbook from the drawer below his table.
When the surrounding students saw this, they stared at him, stupefied. A genius really
was different from a normal student. To think that he was actually reading a math book
during French class.
DING. ANALYZING HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEXTBOOK. MATH ABILITY.
PLUS ONE. CURRENT PROGRESS. ONE OUT OF TEN.
CURRENT LEVEL. BEGINNER. Aiden took out textbooks from other subjects one after
another.
Every time he flipped through the books, there would be a system notification. In a short
session, his abilities in various subjects had been upgraded to master level, just like his
French ability. With this in mind, he was now confident that as long as he was given one
night, he would be able to learn every subject taught in the entire first year of high
school.
The corner of Aiden's mouth curled up slightly. He was excited for the potential of his
new abilities. With this system, his life would definitely not be ordinary.
All this time, Viola was watching him. She was not listening to the lecture at all.
However, Aiden still ignored her, making her feel frustrated.
At one point, she even checked her face in her compact mirror and began to doubt her
own charm. Once school was over that afternoon, Aiden packed all his textbooks into his
backpack to carry home, even for classes without any homework. As he squeezed the
last book into the bulging bag, he realized Viola was staring at him and seemed prepared
to follow him.
Standing straight up with her head lowered slightly, her teeth bit into her lower lips as
her hand tugged at the hem of her shirt. Aiden was five foot nine inches tall, while Viola
wasn't quite five foot four inches in her chunky shoes. From Aiden's height, he could see
the back of Viola's snow-white neck.
It was sweet. Aiden's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained cold. Hey Viola,
did you want something? If not, I've gotta go.
Viola raised her head and looked at Aiden with big, watery eyes. I was just thinking that
we'd take the same path home. Would you like to walk together? I was hoping to ask you
a few questions on the way.
Aiden sighed. When he had asked her to walk with him a few days earlier, all he got was
a withering stare. But now, Viola was the one asking.
Oh, how the tables have turned! Though tempted, Aiden did not reject Viola, but nodded
slightly instead. Viola clapped her hands excitedly, then picked up her backpack and
walked alongside Aiden. At the entrance of Otis High, Miss Kane was standing by the
gate, waiting for her daughter, Viola, to walk home with her.
Seeing Viola's figure in the distance, Miss Kane immediately waved her hand. However, when she saw a male student beside Viola, her expression sank immediately. The one
thing she feared most was Viola falling in love with someone.
After all, she worried it would end up affecting Viola's studies. As the two figures got
closer, Miss Kane's face twitched as she recognized the boy to be Aiden. It was clear that
she had not yet recovered from the class that morning.
Mom, I will be walking home with Aiden, Viola said as they reached her. I happen to have
a few questions to ask him anyway. She let out a giggle while Aiden stood to the side
and smiled without saying a word.
Miss Kane responded, So that's how it is. If you're together with Aiden, then I'll be much
more relieved. Just remember to come home early.
Don't worry, Mom, Viola said as they passed through the gate. As she watched the two
disappear down the sidewalk, Miss Kane suddenly realized something. Couldn't she still
ask him her questions if the three of us walked home together? She then shook her head
with a bitter smile.
This girl had been complaining at home yesterday about Aiden, but look at her now. It
seemed that she could no longer hold her daughter back. Along the way, Viola kept
asking Aiden to tell her how he suddenly became so smart.
However, Aiden kept changing the subject and never answered her directly. Rather than
angering Viola, it just made Aiden seem even more mysterious in her mind. Aiden Dale,
can I just call you Aiden? If I keep calling you by your full name, it'll seem as if we're
distant, although we're table partners.
Of course, then I'll also call you Viola in the future. Viola, a flower blossoming in the
snow. Your name really matches your temperament, he said.
Hearing such explicit words, Viola's face flushed scarlet red from embarrassment. She
then said, how can I have any sort of temperament? Love is in the air. Flirting skills, plus
one.
Current progress, one out of ten. Current level, beginner. Damn, this skill can also be
enhanced, he thought.
This system really is amazing. Although Viola wanted to stay with Aiden for a while
longer, the two of them had already arrived at her house. Thus, there was no reason nor
excuse for her to continue pestering Aiden.
The moment of bidding farewell to Aiden caused Viola to feel rather disappointed. When
she thought of meeting Aiden again the next day, however, a smile appeared on her
face. On a street in the east side of Bayside District, there was a small, inconspicuous snack bar called Midnight Snack Corner.
The door of the diner was not very big or grand, and the decorations seemed to have
aged along with the place. Although it was already dinnertime, there weren't many
customers in the restaurant. Aiden walked up to the Midnight Snack Corner and shouted
in his mind, I possess the power of the system now.
From today onwards, no one can yell at me anymore. Stinking brat, what are you
standing there for? Hurry up and get over here to help! A high-pitched voice suddenly
resounded past Aiden's ears, losing his previous bravado. Aiden walked into the store
with his head lowered and said with an aloof tone, Mom, there are so few customers
today, why would you need my help? That's right, Aiden worked at the Midnight Snack
Corner.
This small restaurant had been passed down from Aiden's grandfather and was currently
managed by his parents. However, the two of them clearly did not have many talents in
business, as their management of the diner only got worse with each passing day. In
order to get Aiden into the prestigious Otis High School, the couple gritted their teeth
and spent most of their life saving on his education.
Aiden silently swore to himself, I didn't have this ability in the past, but now that I have
this system in my hands, I must help my family turn their situation around. No matter
how few customers there are, you have to keep learning how to manage the store. One
day, this shop will be yours, so don't be so useless like your father, came a voice from
the kitchen.
A middle-aged woman wearing a scarf came out carrying a bowl of soup to a guest and
continued talking to Aiden. This woman's figure was slightly chubby, but her face was
still well maintained. Her skin was fair and flawless, unlike the appearance of a mother
who had a 16-year-old boy.
This was Aiden's mother, Clara Dale. At this moment, a grumbling voice came from the
kitchen. What do you mean useless? If you were to try your best, I would have had the
time to lose weight a long time ago, Clara retorted without a trace of politeness.
Aiden shook his head in irritation, as it is a daily occurrence. No matter how long or how
much they argued with one another, it was always the same. With that, Aiden dropped
his school bag and slipped into the kitchen where a sturdy middle-aged man wearing a
chef's hat was currently immersed in the process of making dough for noodles.
From his facial features, Aiden's appearance could be vaguely seen. This middle-aged
man was naturally Aiden's father, Morris Dale, or Elder Morris, as most people in the
neighborhood called him. Morris did not even turn around as he directed Aiden to chop
the roasted chicken cooking on the counter.