Deskmate Eric Sullivan also stood up, but as he packed his textbooks, he looked at Brian Carter with a face full of shock. From morning self-study until now, he had been with Brian Carter the whole time, so he naturally knew exactly what Brian Carter had been doing all day—he had been completely immersed in a mountain of books and sea of exercises, listening attentively in class, studying diligently during self-study periods, and hardly ever losing focus from start to finish.

That attitude really surprised him. In fact, he was even occasionally influenced in the middle and picked up his own book to study seriously for a while, but after a bit, he got bored and gave up, simply unable to keep it up.

The guy beside him really did have a bit of that striving spirit.

“Not bad, let’s go.”

Brian Carter smiled, patted Eric Sullivan on the shoulder, and spoke.

He had studied all day, but the gains were still meager. His physical strength had increased more than tenfold, and after a whole day of serious study, his body didn’t feel the slightest bit tired. But this kind of purely mental labor really didn’t benefit Brian Carter much. After all, once you reach the mid-stage of spirit gathering, the spiritual energy you absorb into your body will only then begin to catalyze your brain and stimulate your spiritual sea. Before that, it only changes your limbs and physique.

After a whole day of studying, not only was he not tired, he was even ready to keep studying through the night. But for now, he wanted to go out for a walk to relax a bit. His body wasn’t tired, but his mind was, and he did need to unwind.

Walking out of the classroom with Eric Sullivan, the two of them chatted and laughed along the way. Even though most of the time it was Eric Sullivan doing the talking and joking, and Brian Carter spoke less, Eric Sullivan didn’t mind. When they left the teaching building and reached the restroom, Brian Carter’s next move left Eric Sullivan utterly stunned. He watched in disbelief as Brian Carter pulled out a cigarette in the corner of the restroom and lit it up, leaving Eric Sullivan almost speechless.

“When you’re done, head back to the dorm. I’m not sleepy yet, I’ll go back to the classroom and read for a while.” In his previous life, Brian Carter had a heavy smoking habit, and an even heavier drinking habit. Later, as his physical fitness kept improving, smoking and drinking gradually lost all appeal—smoking felt like inhaling paper, drinking was like plain water. He ended up quitting both without even trying.

Living life over again, suddenly tasting that once-familiar flavor did make him feel nostalgic. He had bought this pack of cigarettes when he got the Fenghua Pill and went to the hotel to take it. Before taking the pill, Brian Carter had smoked half a pack in a row, savoring it for a long, long time.

But unfortunately, now that his body had grown much stronger, after just two days, smoking again, the taste of the cigarette had already faded a lot. Compared to the familiar flavor from two or three days ago, it was so faint that he shook his head slightly. Still, he was glad that the lingering taste was enough to invigorate him.

Standing in the restroom, he smoked two cigarettes. Under Eric Sullivan’s shocked gaze, Brian Carter finally returned to the teaching building.

At this moment, the teaching building was still brightly lit. Most of the lights in the first and second-year classrooms were off, but in the senior year “battlefield,” almost all the lights were still on.

When he reached the classroom door, Brian Carter glanced around. There were still seven or eight scattered figures buried in their books, which struck him as odd. Shaking his head, he quietly walked back to his seat and picked up his book to continue reading.

Brian Carter was deeply focused. Right now, he was mainly studying English, because it was a bit easier—he just needed to read aloud and memorize more. If it were math, he couldn’t even study it if he wanted to, since he had forgotten everything from junior high. He had to listen carefully and ponder during the teacher’s lectures to have any hope of understanding.

During self-study, if he picked up a math textbook, he was just as clueless about ninety-nine percent of the content.

He chose the easier subjects, and before he knew it, several hours had passed.

So absorbed was he that he didn’t notice any sounds from the outside world.

It wasn’t until a soft cough suddenly sounded in front of him that Brian Carter jerked his head up, only to see David Miller quietly watching him, with a very strange look in his eyes.

It was as if he had discovered a new continent.

After glancing at David Miller, Brian Carter looked elsewhere, and then noticed that only the lights in the back row were still on in the classroom. Besides him and David Miller, there was no one else left.

“It’s late, go back and sleep.”

As Brian Carter watched, David Miller finally spoke softly. Although he tried to suppress it, there was still a clear note of strangeness in his tone.

Brian Carter took out his phone to check the time, only to realize it was already past one in the morning.

At Yanhe County No. 1 High School, evening self-study ended at 9:30, and lights out was at 10:00.

Brian Carter was stunned for a moment, then replied calmly, “It’s fine, I’m not tired yet.”

“Studying isn’t something you can do in just a day or two. Go back and sleep, you have to get up early tomorrow.” David Miller spoke again, his voice still very calm.

Brian Carter glanced at this homeroom teacher again. “I know.”

His tone was equally calm. Facing David Miller, he didn’t show any of the nervousness or anxiety that other students might have—just a faint, emotionless response.

This made David Miller frown slightly, but in the end, he just shook his head and turned to leave.

But just as David Miller took two steps out, Brian Carter spoke again, “Mr. Wang, I’m sorry.”