Girl, There's Something Wrong With You - Chapter 24

What does it mean to reach the fifth grade before the age of 20?

According to the natural growth model, which shows a tenfold increase every decade, one could potentially reach the fourth grade by the age of 30 and the third grade by the age of 40.

This is commonly referred to as “guaranteed third grade.”

As for the possibility of “competing for the second grade,” it requires a series of numerical calculations and fitting to make a final estimate. Therefore, members of the Chu family were quickly summoned by the clan leader through a phone call.

The process involved drawing blood from Chu Qingqing to measure detailed bloodline concentration indicators and fitting them against past data records.

Chu Jiye paced anxiously outside, his face alternately displaying disbelief and ecstatic joy, until the test results finally came out: “Retest.”

“What do you mean, retest?” The clan leader, who had been on edge for so long, could no longer contain himself and questioned the staff angrily.

“It means… the fitting curve doesn’t align with the normal trend, so we need to take additional samples to calibrate,” the staff explained helplessly.

They had worked in this field for over ten years and had encountered similar unusual cases, but never one as extreme as Miss Qingqing.

Chu Qingqing herself was well aware of the situation. Normally, the bloodline concentration of an ability user follows a “double plateau” trend.

From ages 0-20, it shows a gradually increasing trend, known as the low plateau. From 20-40, it exhibits a steep and rapid rise, known as the explosion period. After 40, it returns to a gradually increasing trend, corresponding to the high plateau. Around age 50, it starts to slowly decline.

These age markers—20, 40, and 50—were based on early testing data from when abilities first emerged.

Over the past few centuries, these markers have shifted: the explosion period now starts around seventeen or eighteen, the high plateau around thirty-eight or thirty-nine, and the peak occurs around forty-seven or forty-eight before beginning to decline.

Chu Qingqing’s data curve did not deviate much from the normal trend, except that the onset of the explosion period was exceptionally steep—like a crouching cheetah suddenly soaring into the sky as an eagle. The slope was so extreme that it even led the staff to think of “blood explosion.”

“Blood explosion” was widely regarded as an urban legend, a benevolent lie created by noble families to ease the tension between geniuses and ordinary members, similar to the concept of reincarnation in Hinduism.

The idea was that if one’s talent was lacking, with diligent practice, one might suddenly experience a “blood explosion,” rise to the top of the family, marry the eldest daughter, and achieve greatness. Despite most knowing it was false, the alluring vision of “what if” made it hard to resist.

In reality, historical data from the lineage identification centers revealed no true cases of blood explosion over the past few centuries.

There might be errors in lineage identification—initially predicting someone would be guaranteed fifth grade with a high chance of competing for the fourth, only to find later that it was actually the fourth grade. But this wasn’t a true “blood explosion,” just a correction of data fitting errors.

Chu Qingqing’s curve was so extreme that it couldn’t be corrected easily. If not for issues with the instruments or samples, the entire human fitting trend model might need to be overhauled.

After three full rounds of testing, even Chu Jiye’s patience was wearing thin.

“How are the results?” he impatiently pounded on the window, shouting at the staff.

“Please wait a moment, Clan Leader,” the staff, looking tense, stared at the screen. “Currently, if there are no errors in the instruments, samples, or procedures, it seems she will be guaranteed third grade and can compete for the second grade.”

Chu Jiye’s eyes widened in astonishment.

“Hold on, guaranteed third grade and competing for the second? My daughter is set to secure the third grade? Ha! The Yangdi Chu family is about to join the Five Great Families!”

A few minutes later, her uncle, Chu Mouyuan, hurriedly arrived, his long robe revealing part of his nightclothes, indicating he had been dragged out of bed by Chu Jiye’s urgent phone call.

“Guaranteed third grade and can compete for the second? This is too outrageous!” Chu Mouyuan repeatedly examined the report, his reaction mirroring that of the staff at the lineage identification center. “Jiye, shouldn’t we check a few more times? You know the significance of this result; it’s better to be absolutely sure.”

“No need for further confirmation,” Chu Jiye said joyfully. “We’ve already tested four times!”

“Uncle, I’ve had four vials of blood drawn!” Miss Qingqing added, feigning distress. “If you draw more, my arm will turn into a pincushion!”

“Well, what I meant was…” Chu Mouyuan still wasn’t reassured. “Should we use a different machine for the tests?”

“We used four different machines for the four tests,” the staff interjected accurately.

“Brother, stop nitpicking,” Chu Jiye laughed heartily. “Even if it wasn’t guaranteed third grade and competing for the second, it would still be close to the third grade, right? Our Yangdi Chu family will soon be in the Five Great Families!”

“Hmph! You’re just lucky, don’t get too proud,” Chu Mouyuan said with a smile, though he had ceased to be obsessed with the details (to avoid being seen as disapproving of Miss Qingqing’s rise).

“I have good taste!”

“Good taste, my foot!” Chu Mouyuan laughed and scolded before turning to Chu Qingqing. “Niece, if Jiye ever wrongs you, come to me. I’ll take care of things for you!”

“Go on, go on!” Chu Jiye impatiently pushed Chu Mouyuan away from Miss Qingqing. “Since her talent is exceptional, we need to revise our plans.”

“Indeed,” Chu Mouyuan agreed. “We should also consider the children of the Five Great Families.”

Miss Qingqing, overhearing the conversation, felt something was off and promptly told Chu Jiye, “Father, actually, I already have someone I like.”

“Who?” Both Chu Jiye and Chu Mouyuan’s expressions shifted slightly.

“Well…” Miss Qingqing pretended to be shy. “It’s Cheng Jinyang.”

“The head of the Cheng clan,” Chu Jiye frowned. Although he hadn’t paid much attention initially, he had noticed his daughter frequently visiting the Cheng clan under the guise of accompanying Miss Wang for ability training.

Chu Jiye had grown suspicious, especially when Miss Qingqing reported a rise to the seventh grade and then hurried back the next day. He had privately investigated the relationship between the Cheng clan and Miss Wang, as well as his own daughter’s involvement.

Not long after, there were proposals from the Xie family to woo Miss Wang, leading to the Cheng clan’s head causing a commotion.

Although it was suppressed by the Taiyuan Wang family, the Yangdi Chu family, keeping an eye on Cheng Jinyang, was among the first to notice the situation.

What was more intriguing was the attitude displayed by Wang Maohong and Xie Anshi in this incident.

“Qingqing,” Chu Jiye decided to be indirect, subtly hinting, “I’m not saying that the head of the Cheng clan is not a good match for you. It’s just that his situation is quite special, and some people… we really can’t compete with them.”

Miss Qingqing, sharp as ever, immediately understood her father’s underlying message.

Precisely because of this, I must seize control of the Yangdi Chu family!
She thought fiercely in her heart.