RebirthⅠ: Controlled Nuclear Fusion

Part 9：Unexpected

Lingzhou City!
Happiness Community, Building 3!

Today was the second day after the exam results were announced. Jiang Fan's parents, Jiang Jingguo and Li Guiqin, had taken the day off to stay home with their son. Jiang Fan had scored only 300 on the college entrance exam, and they feared he might do something rash or become depressed.

However, to their surprise, Jiang Fan had woken up early, gone for a run for an hour, then come home to shower and eat, showing no signs of being upset at all. In fact, during breakfast, he even told them a joke, which, though not funny at all, brightened the mood.

At that moment, Jiang Fan was rummaging through boxes and cabinets. Li Guiqin softly asked Jiang Jingguo,
"Dear, what's going on with our son? He only got 300 points on the exam, yet he seems happier than ever. Do you think he's pretending?"

Jiang Jingguo sighed. "In all the years he's been studying, when has he ever smiled like this? Since he got the results, he's been smiling and even telling us jokes."

Li Guiqin thought to herself, "He must be pretending to keep us from worrying. I can't imagine how many tears he's shed in private!" Her heart ached for her son, who had worked so hard for a whole year, only to score 300. She couldn't hold back her tears.

"Guiqin, what are you doing? Don't let our son see you upset; he'll feel worse. Since he doesn't want to make us sad, let's try to be happy and support him."

Li Guiqin wiped away her tears upon hearing Jiang Jingguo's words.

"Dad! Dad!"

Jiang Jingguo quickly responded,
"I'm coming!"

He then turned to Li Guiqin, "Remember, we have to be happy."

Li Guiqin nodded, though her heart felt heavy.

Jiang Jingguo walked out of the bedroom and into the living room, where he found Jiang Fan waiting with an old video game controller.

"Come on, Dad, let's play a few rounds!"

Jiang Jingguo was taken aback but quickly smiled.
"Are you getting revenge on me for when you were younger?"

"Heh heh..." Jiang Fan grinned.

Jiang Jingguo took the controller and sat down on the cushion. They began playing the classic fighting game, "King of Fighters." As Jiang Jingguo fumbled with the controller, memories flooded back. He recalled that for Jiang Fan's eighth birthday, he had spent half a month's salary to buy him the game console.

Jiang Fan had been thrilled, and for months afterward, every time Jiang Jingguo came home from work, his son would pester him to play a few rounds of games. Jiang Fan was always the top student in his class, so Jiang Jingguo had never restricted him from playing. And Jiang Fan was disciplined; after an hour of gaming, he would put it down and study on his own. This made Jiang Jingguo proud.

"Dad, you've picked your signature character, Iori!"

"Afraid? Ha ha..."

Jiang Jingguo chuckled with pride. When he played as Iori, Jiang Fan could never win.

"Then I'll pick my signature hero, Vice," Jiang Fan said, a mischievous glint in his eye.

The game began.

On the screen, Iori, with his signature red hair covering one eye, appeared effortlessly cool, while Vice, with his loose, dramatic costume, revealed toned muscles that would surely attract attention from many girls if he were real.

The battle started.

Jiang Jingguo controlled Iori and immediately launched a Shadow Dance, Dream Wave attack toward Vice. But Jiang Fan's character dodged it with a jump!