He Came Riding a Bamboo Horse, Circling the Bed to Play with Green Plums

"Mm~ These are so much better than Mom's!" Li Xuanya took a big bite and let out a satisfied sigh. The hot broth inside the soup dumpling splashed out, and she hurriedly licked the corner of her lips, unwilling to waste even a drop of the deliciousness.

She must have suffered some kind of abuse at home.

Watching his sister's blissful expression, Li Mingxuan could not help but laugh. "Yeah, the cafeteria auntie's cooking is indeed pretty good, but if Mom heard you praising them like that, she'd be sad."

"Mom wouldn't. She doesn't even eat the food she cooks herself." Li Xuanya mercilessly complained as she puffed and blew on the meat bun before biting into it.

"I'm really sorry. My sister is... a little too lively." Li Mingxuan awkwardly explained to Chen Yan and Gu Yuena, lightly tapping Li Xuanya on the forehead to remind her to watch her words.

Li Xuanya stuck out her tongue and flashed a mischievous smile before turning seriously to Chen Yan and Gu Yuena. "Don't mind me. I was just joking. My mom's cooking is actually pretty good, but sometimes... well, she gets a little too innovative."

To be honest, the earnest way she said it made her especially unconvincing.

"Haha, it sounds like your mother is a very creative woman!" Chen Yan said with a laugh, clearly amused by Li Xuanya's description.

Li Mingxuan laughed as well. He patted Li Xuanya on the shoulder, and the two exchanged a look. "That's right. Our mom really is creative. Sometimes, her experimental dishes open our whole family's eyes."

Li Mingxuan's Memories

One quiet weekend evening, Mom had been busy in the kitchen for ages before finally bringing out a dish she had spent a long time devising herself. It looked rather strange, an eerie purple color, sprinkled with unknown spices and giving off an indescribable smell.

Dad was the first to pick up his chopsticks. Carefully, he picked up a small piece and put it into his mouth. An instant later, a complicated expression appeared on his face, as though he were both savoring it and enduring it. After swallowing, he cleared his throat, turned to Mom, and smiled. "Dear, this dish... is certainly unique. But I don't think it quite suits our tastes."

Then his sister took a bite too. Her brows furrowed tightly, and she looked as though she were drinking medicine. Turning to her brother, she looked at him pleadingly. "Brother, you try it. I think this dish might suit you better."

Hearing that, he stared at the dish and hesitated for a moment. In the end, he still picked up a small piece and put it into his mouth. Then his expression became just as complicated as Dad's and his sister's. Forcing a smile, he said, "Mom, your creativity is truly unmatched. But this dish... I think it might be a little too innovative."

The atmosphere around the dining table suddenly became awkward. Everyone tried to conceal their true feelings with smiles. Mom looked at her family, disappointment flashing through her eyes, but she quickly recovered her optimistic smile. Casually, she said, "Oh dear, it seems I went a little overboard with this experiment. It's fine. We can order takeout, or I can make another traditional dish."

Li Mingxuan snapped out of his memories, but he was afraid he would never forget that sensation in his mouth for the rest of his life.

Gu Yuena still maintained her usual calm whenever she was with other people. Although she had been listening to their conversation, her focus was elsewhere.

They sat facing each other in pairs, the boys on one side and the girls on the other, so she could see Chen Yan's facial expressions very clearly.

So Xiaoyan had just been looking at Li Xuanya, hadn't he? He definitely had, right?

Li Xuanya, sitting to the side, was completely unaware. Seeing everyone's reactions, she nodded in satisfaction. "See? I told you my brother would understand. But seriously, the cafeteria auntie's soup dumplings are really delicious. You have to try one."

As she spoke, she picked up a dumpling and brought it toward Li Mingxuan's mouth.

"Come on, open up. Ah!"

"I've already had one." As he spoke, he hurriedly turned his head away.

"Huh? Brother, you're so boring!" Li Xuanya puffed up her cheeks and bit into her meat bun as if she were biting into her brother's flesh.

"Honestly, what's wrong with letting me feed you once?"

Chen Yan also took a bite of a soup dumpling, and its fragrant broth immediately filled his mouth. Then he noticed Gu Yuena's gaze. Well, how should he put this?

He secretly glanced to the side and frantically signaled at Gu Yuena with his eyes.

Don't!

But Gu Yuena pretended not to see. With the faintest smile, she picked up a dumpling.

"Come on, open up!"

Sure enough... in the end, he shamefully ate that dumpling in front of everyone.

He had no choice. Gu Yuena really dared to hold her chopsticks at his lips without moving at all!

"Are Gu Yuena and Chen Yan siblings?"

"No, we're childhood sweethearts." Gu Yuena withdrew her chopsticks and replied calmly.

"Childhood sweethearts? You mean the kind who grew up together?" Li Xuanya asked curiously.

"Mm."

"That sounds so romantic. I want a childhood sweetheart too, instead of a brother who doesn't understand a younger sister's feelings at all." She turned to Li Mingxuan and complained.

"Why are you dragging me into this too?" Li Mingxuan protested helplessly, though there was no real reproach in his eyes. He had long since gotten used to his sister's daily complaints.

But his gaze had already shifted to Chen Yan. He did not dare look at Gu Yuena.

Childhood sweethearts... was that the kind of relationship they had? Thinking of the descriptions of such relationships in books, he could not help feeling a little dejected.

The four continued enjoying breakfast, light laughter ringing out from time to time. Sunlight streamed through the window and fell over them, lending the morning a touch of warmth.

After breakfast, they headed toward the Teaching Building together. Sunlight filtered through the thin clouds, casting mottled patches of light and shadow across the paths of the campus. The four walked side by side, chatting occasionally as they enjoyed the morning's tranquility.

Finally, they were there. Why wasn't there even an elevator for a six-story building?

Chen Yan and the others entered the classroom. It was quiet. Since the Class One students all lived in private dorm rooms, there was almost no interaction between them.

The teacher arrived soon afterward. This time, he had not shown up right as the bell rang, only because Qin Man was following beside him.

He stepped onto the podium and said, "This will be a combat test. We're going to the Training Field. Homeroom teacher Qin Man and Teacher Bai Ling will also be accompanying us to ensure your safety. Everyone, follow me!"

The Training Field was located behind the school's Sports Field, a venue specifically used for various combat tests.

"This combat test is mainly to assess everyone's individual abilities, so that tactics can be arranged more effectively. Therefore, make sure you demonstrate the appropriate level of strength. Understood?" Zhang Yu asked as he looked at the class.

"Understood!"

"Then this time, your opponent will be me. Battle Soul Masters, come at me one by one!"

"If you're an auxiliary-type Soul Master, don't worry. You can find a Battle Soul Master to fight alongside you."