Reunion with Bing'er, Yue'er, and Yao Zi

The two lay there a while longer before Yao Yuerou suddenly sat up. "I'm hungry. Let's eat."

She got up and dressed with brisk, efficient movements, quickly returning to her usual cool and capable appearance.

Only the lingering charm at the corners of her eyes and brows, along with her slightly swollen red lips, betrayed what she had just been through.

Xiao Yun also got up and straightened his robes. The two left the apartment and headed toward Skywater Academy's teachers' cafeteria.

However, Yao Yuerou seemed rather nervous along the way.

She kept looking around. Whenever someone passed by, she instinctively hid behind Xiao Yun or pulled him onto another route.

Xiao Yun found it amusing. "What are you hiding from?"

Yao Yuerou blushed and said softly, "It wouldn't be good if people saw me with you and spread rumors..."

Xiao Yun raised a brow. "What, am I that embarrassing to be seen with?"

Yao Yuerou shot him an annoyed look. "That's not what I mean! I'm on the council of Plant Academy, and you're... you're... Anyway, people will gossip if they see us together. Besides, I don't want the others to know you're here. Otherwise, they'll definitely snatch you away."

Xiao Yun laughed but did not expose her little thoughts, allowing her to pull him around as they sneaked about.

After dodging around all the way, the two finally arrived at the teachers' cafeteria.

The cafeteria was not large, but it was clean and elegant. Yao Yuerou requested a small private room and pulled Xiao Yun inside, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

The dishes soon arrived, simple yet refined. The two ate and chatted.

Xiao Yun asked, "How have things been since you returned to the academy?"

Yao Yuerou set down her chopsticks and sighed. "Not bad.