As someone in sequence 001, I also want to give up today.

The next morning, when sunlight streamed into the living room through the gaps in the curtains, Li Xian, for the first time ever, did not lie sprawled on the bed.

It's not that he's more diligent.

It was some little guy in the next room.

I've been in a low-powered state of excitement ever since the breakthrough last night.

I tossed and turned in bed as soon as it was dawn.

Finally, she simply got up and quietly changed into the new clothes with kitten paw prints that Li Xian had prepared for her in advance.

Then it spun around the living room like a little top.

Every now and then he would run to Li Xian's tightly closed door and listen intently.

"Old Deng! The sun's high in the sky! Time to go to school! Official registration!"

When Li Xian finally opened the door with messy hair and slippers, Lingdang immediately rushed over.

Her upturned little face showed no signs of sleepiness, only anticipation and excitement.

Although her golden cat ears were disguised, the way they twitched in place completely betrayed her mood.

"I know, I know."

Li Xian yawned deeply and walked towards the kitchen, still half asleep.

"What's the rush? The notice said it would start at nine in the morning, and it's only seven now. Also, you have to call him 'Dad'."

"Okay, okay, Dad!"

Bell readily agreed, but the urgency in her tone remained undiminished.

"Should we go early to get a good spot? I heard there are lots of fun things to do at school! And... the cafeteria!"

She spoke the last two words with particular emphasis.

His eyes gleamed with a persistent light for his dream of "unlimited possibilities," even though Li Xian had repeatedly "criticized" the cafeteria's communal meals.

"You'll only know if the cafeteria is good or not once you go there."

While using his mind to control the toaster and frying pan, Li Xian prepared a simple breakfast (compared to the previous few days).

"Just regular eggs and bacon, but the cooking time was perfect," he said slowly.

"However, Bell, remember..."

"I know, I know!"

The bell rang, and the student began to repeat the answer, counting on their fingers.

"First, I am 'Li Xiaoling,' Sequence 1314 'Mental Amplification,' a novice with very poor self-control. Second, hide your ears and tail, be quiet and obedient. Third, say you were adopted by your father, and that you don't remember anything from before. Fourth, keep a low profile, don't cause trouble, but don't be afraid of trouble either. Fifth, study hard, and eat more... uh, eat well."

She almost blurted out "eat more dried anchovies".

"Hmm, you've memorized it quite well."

Li Xian placed the golden-brown fried bacon and soft-boiled egg in front of her.

"I hope you can do it. Especially the two parts of 'quiet' and 'poor self-control,' try to act them more convincingly."

"Leave it to me!"

Bell patted her chest to assure everyone, then immediately became engrossed in her breakfast and began to eat heartily.

8:30 a.m.

Li Xian, holding a bell that was neatly dressed and carrying a small schoolbag (which only symbolically contained a few picture books and snacks), arrived at "Jiangcheng Potential Development First Experimental School" again.

Compared to the day of pre-registration, the number of people at the school gate today has increased.

Moreover, many more are like them, with parents bringing children who are clearly too young.

The air was filled with an atmosphere that was a mixture of excitement, tension, anticipation and a little anxiety.

Many children clung tightly to their parents' hands, looking around curiously, some with red eyes, clearly having just experienced separation anxiety.

"They all look like... tiny little kids."

Lingdang tiptoed to take a look and whispered to Li Xian.

His tone carried a hint of superiority, as if he were someone who had seen and experienced much.

"You're a little bean too."

Li Xian coldly pointed out that he was leading her to the "Preschool (6-7 years old) Registration Office" according to the signs.

The registration area for the preschool program was specially decorated in bright colors and full of childlike fun.

The walls were covered with posters of cartoon superheroes, and the floor was covered with soft mats.

There's also a small slide and a building block area in the corner, trying to ease the children's tension.

Even so, the scene was still filled with the sounds of children's voices—excited shouts, anxious cries, parents' comforting voices, and teachers' voices maintaining order.

The registration process is more detailed than the pre-registration process.

In addition to verifying identity information and checking temporary student cards again, a simple physical fitness test (such as running, jumping, and grasping) is also required.

More detailed mental strength baseline testing (wearing a sensory helmet in front of a more sophisticated, game console-like instrument to test reaction and basic strength).

In addition, a brief interview and observation by a specialized early childhood educator will assess the child's social adaptability, emotional stability, and basic cognitive abilities.

As expected, Lingdang's physical fitness test results were mediocre—she wasn't a strength type to begin with, and under the guise of it, she was too lazy to put in the effort, barely passing the test with running and jumping.

During the mental strength test, she kept in mind the setting of "poor self-control".

In front of the instrument, they "strived" to make the beam of light, representing mental strength, rise and fall, swaying erratically.

Finally, it stabilized at a level just slightly above the preschool average.

It's neither too outstanding nor too bad.

During the interview, facing the gentle-smiling early childhood educator, Lingdang perfectly switched to "Li Xiaoling" mode.

She sat on a small chair with her hands on her knees, answering questions in a soft voice, with just the right amount of shyness and obedience.

"What does Xiaoling like to eat?"

"I love my dad's cooking... and pudding." (Honest and consistent with the character)

"What do you usually like to do?"

"Look at picture books...play with the chubby orange cat." (Quiet and introverted)

"Do you know why you came here to study?"

"Dad said that here I can learn how to make good use of... well, spiritual power, and also make new friends." (Clear goals, positive outlook)

What should I do if I have a conflict with a child?

"...Tell the teacher, or...tell Dad." (Follow the rules, seek help)

After a series of questions and answers, the preschool teacher's smile grew increasingly satisfied, and she put several checkmarks on the evaluation form.

Clearly, she categorized "Li Xiaoling" as a promising young talent with "decent talent, obedient personality, and good adaptability."

Li Xian stood not far away, using his almost omnipresent senses to observe the bell's performance.

Silently commenting to myself: Hmm, the shy expression could be a little more natural, and the eyes could be a little more eager when mentioning pudding.

While observing the other children and parents, they also kept track of the other children and parents.

The vast majority of the children who signed up had a self-perceived ranking outside the top 2000.

A few are in the thousand-plus, like 1314 disguised as a bell, which is quite good for this age group.

The children's abilities are diverse; some can produce tiny flames from their fingertips, some can make small pieces of paper flutter slightly, and some can change the color of their eyes.

There was also a chubby little boy who could soften the clay in his hands by just a little bit...

These are all very basic, and even unreliable, performance indicators.

Occasionally, one or two students who rank around 700 or 800 and demonstrate slightly stronger abilities will immediately attract envious or inquisitive glances from the surrounding parents.

Just then, a small commotion arose at the entrance of the registration point.

A little boy, dressed in an expensive custom-made suit and with his hair slicked back, walked in accompanied by a well-dressed and reserved couple.

The little boy raised his chin, his expression carrying an arrogance beyond his years.

Beside him, a woman who looked like a nanny or assistant was carefully holding a delicate energy detector.

"Teacher Wang, this is Xiaoyu's latest test data. His self-awareness sequence is 822, and his ability is 'micro-current manipulation.' He can now stably light up this little light bulb."

The boy's father handed a printed report to the early childhood educator in charge of registration.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for people nearby to hear clearly.

Sequence number 822! It can even light a light bulb!

A low gasp and murmurs immediately rose from the surrounding area.

This data is absolutely top-notch for a preschool class.

The boy, called Xiaoyu, seemed to enjoy the attention and puffed out his chest even more.

Teacher Wang, who was in charge of registration, took the report and looked at it. Her face showed surprise and attention.

"Oh? 822, you can actually control electricity now? That's an outstanding talent! Welcome, Xiaoyu!"

Xiaoyu's parents nodded reservedly, while the little boy looked around smugly.

His gaze swept over Lingdang, who was waiting in line for her interview, paused for a moment, and seemed to look at her overly "ordinary" performance (and Li Xian's overly casual attire next to her) with some disdain, before quickly looking away.

Lingdang naturally noticed the commotion over there and the boy's gaze.

She instinctively wanted to purse her lips, but immediately remembered her public persona.

She quickly lowered her head, pretending to be shy and uneasy, but her little hands secretly tugged at Li Xian's clothes.

Li Xian sensed her movement, gently patted the back of her hand, and sent her a comforting message.

He also sensed the boy named Xiaoyu; sequence 822 was indeed real.

His microcurrent manipulation skills were indeed far superior to those of the other children.

But in his eyes, it was nothing special.

His mental strength is weak and his control is crude. It is obvious that he has developed it by piling up resources and forcibly guiding it. There is no trace of training, and his foundation is unstable.

"It seems that no matter where you are, there are always these 'other people's children' and their parents."

Li Xian felt nothing; he even felt a little amused.

This level of boasting is nothing compared to the storms (and higher sequences) he has weathered.

Soon, it was Lingdang's turn to officially register and collect her items.

Teacher Wang handed Li Xian an official student card (with his photo, class, and student ID), a uniform with the school badge, several basic textbooks, and a course schedule, and gave him some instructions.

"Mr. Li, Xiaoling has been assigned to the 'Qiming Class,' one of the key classes in the preschool program. Her homeroom teacher is Ms. Li, who is very responsible. Classes officially begin tomorrow. Students should arrive at school before 8:00 AM and be dismissed at 4:30 PM. The school provides lunch and a nap. This is the parent-teacher communication booklet and some important notes; please read them carefully."

"The Enlightenment Class? The Elite Class?"

Li Xian took the item, somewhat surprised.

He thought that the level he "performed" by ringing the bell was enough to get him into a regular class.

"Yes, although Xiaoling's basic mental strength test scores fluctuate greatly, the peak value is quite good. Moreover, her personality assessment is excellent, and her learning attitude is positive, so she was assigned to the Enlightenment Class."

Teacher Wang explained with a smile.

"There are also a few talented children in the class, such as Zhang Yu, who was in the Qiming class earlier with sequence number 822. I believe that the children can help each other grow together."

Li Xian: "..."

Well, it seems that keeping a completely low profile isn't easy.

But let's just say it's an honors class; at least the teachers and environment should be better.

Lingdang was quite happy and whispered to Li Xian, "The top class! Old Deng, aren't I amazing! That guy from 822 is in our class too. Humph, looking at him, I... I'll definitely be better than him in the future!"

"Okay, good luck."

Li Xian gave a perfunctory reply, but what he was really thinking was: You're already better than him now. I just hope you don't lose control at school and turn "mental amplification" into "mental explosion."

After completing all the formalities, Li Xian took Lingdang for a short stroll around the school.

The preschool has its own independent teaching building and a small playground, and the environment is indeed quite nice.

They saw a bright and clean classroom, furnished with small tables, chairs, and toys.

I saw the cafeteria that supposedly provides "nutritional balanced lunches" (Lingdang peered through the glass window for a long time).

I also saw a cushioned activity room and a small courtyard planted with flowers and plants.

"It seems... to be actually pretty good."

Bell's evaluation shifted slightly from "inspecting the territory" to "somewhat looking forward to it".

It was noon when I got home.

As usual, Li Xian prepared a sumptuous lunch to celebrate Lingdang's official enrollment.

The quality of the ingredients has been downgraded, since the "sprint period" is over and high-level exotic beasts in the vicinity are almost extinct.

At the dinner table, Lingdang chattered excitedly about what she had seen and heard that morning.

"That kid in the suit, the way he looks at people is so annoying!"

"The cafeteria windows are so bright, I wonder if they have pudding inside..."

"My classroom is on the second floor, and I can see the small playground from the window!"

"Old Deng, do you think my new uniform looks good? I'm wearing it to school tomorrow!"

Li Xian listened while eating slowly and deliberately, occasionally humming in response.

He put down his chopsticks after Lingdang had finished speaking, looking at the little guy who was still excited.

"The school rules are set, and I'll repeat them again. At school, control your curiosity, manage your strength, and especially stay away from that kid from 822, unless he provokes you first. Study hard, eat well, and make good friends. If you encounter anything you can't handle, talk to a teacher, or come back and tell me. Got it?"

"I've got it! I've got it!"

The bell nodded vigorously, then its eyes darted around.

"Well... I behaved so well today, and now I'm officially a primary school student, shouldn't I... get a reward? Like, dessert this afternoon...?"

"Desserts as usual."

Li Xian interrupted her reverie.

"However, to celebrate your enrollment, we can add your favorite fish dish to dinner."

"Really? What kind of fish?"

"Let's see how you perform in your 'cultivation' this afternoon."

Li Xian revealed a familiar smile that made Lingdang's heart tighten.

"Use your mental power to make those ten mung beans that danced yesterday line up in a straight line today. If they can walk ten meters without falling behind, there will be fish for dinner."

Bell's little face instantly fell: "Not again?! Old Deng, are you a devil?!"

"I am your father."

Li Xian corrected him and got up to clear the dishes.

"Hurry up, Fat Orange Supervisor. If we don't finish, there won't be any fish left."

"Bad old man! Tyrant! Ha—!"

The bell was so angry that it stood there breathing heavily.

But in the end, he succumbed to the temptation of delicious food (and tyranny), and went to find mung beans and chubby oranges with a long face.

Li Xian watched her back as she "fought" with the mung beans, shook his head, but there was a hint of relief in his eyes.

School life is finally about to begin. This little troublemaker will be taken care of most of the daytime, so I should be able to have some peace and quiet, right?

He walked to the window and looked towards the Jiangcheng New Area in the distance.

A school for people with superpowers, the Enlightenment Class, and a "genius" classmate with a sequence number of 822... It seems that Lingdang's school life will not be too mundane.

However, as long as she doesn't reveal her true sequence or cause any major trouble, let her be.

After all, he is the parent of Sequence 001, so he has the ability to provide a safety net.

At worst... we can use the new ability to pave a "smoother" path in advance for some potential troubles?

Thinking about this, Li Xian stroked his chin and began to seriously consider whether he should use the "Limited Causal Preview" of [Causal Replacement] tonight to take a quick look at the approximate fortune of Lingdang's first day of school tomorrow...

Alright, let's leave it as a mystery. Even a salted fish needs a little bit of unknown "fun" in its life.

He yawned and decided to go back to his room for a nap.

Raising a child (especially a cat-eared loli with sequence 004) is very mentally taxing, isn't it?

Outside the window, the sun is shining brightly.

Inside the house, Green Bean continued its arduous struggle with its spiritual power, interspersed with Bell's exasperated grumbling and Fat Orange's lazy meows.

The ordinary yet bustling daily life continues.