"Oh, the class monitor asked me out to repay a favor."
Chen Ye tried to put it as lightly as possible.
But no one believed him!
"Repay a favor? In the little woods?" Qian Fugui asked with a grin.
Chen Ye was helpless.
If anyone was to blame, it was Tang Zichen for picking such a perfect meeting spot...
"Fine, if you don't want to say it, don't. We all get it, brothers!"
Qian Fugui shouted, "You're amazing, kid! You actually won over someone as proud and aloof as Class Monitor Tang. Respect, respect!"
Zhao Zheng's face turned a little paler, then he suddenly gave a bitter smile. "Chen Ye, you probably noticed that I kind of like the class monitor, so you didn't find it convenient to say anything, right?"
"It's okay..."
"When it comes to feelings, mutual affection is what matters most. You can't force it. Since you were able to enter the class monitor's heart, that means you're better than me. As your roommate and friend, I'll only wish you two well. Don't feel any psychological pressure. I'm not that narrow-minded."
Chen Ye: "..."
I'm telling the truth, damn it!?
He was genuinely impressed by these people's ability to make things up.
Still, Zhao Zheng's generosity made Chen Ye see him in a new light.
He could tell that Zhao Zheng had spoken very sincerely just now.
It probably wasn't a lie.
Of course, if this guy dared to act nice on the surface while sabotaging him behind his back, Chen Ye could only use the Light Body Technique and let Zhao Zheng have a taste of his "Serious Punch."
Seeing that Zhao Zheng had gotten over it, Lu Yong, who stood nearby, breathed a sigh of relief before looking at Chen Ye enviously.
"Chen Ye, you really kept yourself hidden!"
Lu Yong added, "Since you have that kind of relationship with Class Monitor Tang, you should know who she wants on her team, right? Tell us so we can hear it?"
Chen Ye found that very strange.
"Since you all think I'm Class Monitor Tang's boyfriend, why can't you think that the person she wants to team up with is me?"
Lu Yong froze, then smiled and said nothing.
Qian Fugui immediately chuckled. "Isn't that obvious? Lu Yong must think your talent is so bad that Class Monitor Tang wouldn't team up with you for the sake of her future, even if you were dating her."
His own talent was terrible too. He had even realized that he might not survive this secret realm, so he spoke without restraint and wasn't afraid of offending anyone.
"Fugui, I didn't think that. Don't talk nonsense."
Lu Yong was embarrassed. Deliberately changing the subject, he asked Chen Ye, "Old Chen, are you saying that Class Monitor Tang turned down so many people in class because she really wanted to team up with you?"
Chen Ye nodded honestly.
Everyone was shocked when they saw that.
"Damn!"
Jealousy twisted Qian Fugui's face beyond recognition. "I was still a little doubtful that Class Monitor Tang was really dating you, but now I have no choice but to believe it. She's even willing to take you along when it comes to forming a team?"
"Old Chen, don't blame me for being blunt. With talent like yours, you're the same as me—a burden. For Class Monitor Tang to make up her mind to team up with you, it must be true love. She's making a huge sacrifice, so you'd better cherish her."
Lu Yong and Zhao Zheng both nodded in agreement.
Chen Ye: "..."
Now even someone with a single attribute above two hundred was a burden?
Were their standards really that high?
"Has everyone eaten enough?"
Zhao Zheng suddenly said, "If you have, let's call it a day! I need to hurry up and find teammates too."
Hearing that, the bootlicking Lu Yong immediately looked a little disappointed.
He was standing right beside Zhao Zheng, yet Zhao Zheng still said that, which meant Zhao Zheng had never considered including him.
"Then let's go!"
Qian Fugui said indifferently and was the first to stand up.
After that,
everyone went their separate ways.
Chen Ye returned to the dormitory, intending to take a nap before completing the Saitama Training Method.
As for Tang Zichen asking him to team up, he honestly did not care much.
He could join her or not.
Even alone, he could survive in the secret realm.
Sleeping would just be a little dangerous.
After all, Old Liu had said that the threats in the secret realm were not limited to zombies. There were other humans as well.
For safety's sake, having a teammate to watch each other's backs was indeed not bad. It would be more secure.
That was one reason Chen Ye had not refused Tang Zichen.
There was another reason: Tang Zichen was very beautiful.
Chen Ye had never denied being a lecher. Having a beautiful female teammate who was pleasing to the eye was better than struggling alone.
If it had been a man asking to team up with him, he would definitely rather go alone.
The only trouble was that he had too many secrets. When he was with Tang Zichen, it might be inconvenient to do certain things.
The next day.
Ten in the morning.
All the freshmen gathered on the athletic field.
Everyone was fully equipped, carrying weapons and packs.
Like soldiers about to march into battle, they stood ready to go.
In fifty minutes, they would be transported into the secret realm.
Then,
a group of school leaders arrived at the athletic field accompanied by Teacher Liu.
This alone showed how much importance the school leaders placed on this year's freshmen.
Looking at the prepared freshmen before him, the Vice Principal stepped forward and said solemnly:
"Students! The principal is still at the front lines in Magic City and cannot return for the moment, but he asked me to bring you a message: you must return safely!!"
After saying that, the Vice Principal stepped down.
Chen Ye liked this style of not wasting words.
And although those words had been brief, they carried immense expectations and were far more meaningful than all that empty inspirational drivel.
Old Liu then said loudly, "I know you've all found your teammates. Now, you may hold your teammates' hands."
"The requirements for teaming up in the secret realm aren't complicated. As long as you hold your partner's hand during teleportation, your team will be formed successfully, and you'll be sent to the same location."
This condition
was clearly unknown to quite a few students.
Those who had chosen male-male pairings solely for combat strength turned green upon hearing it.
But after Old Liu finished speaking, he paid no attention to the other students.
At that moment, all his attention was focused on Tang Zichen.
When he saw Tang Zichen turn to look at Chen Ye beside her, and Chen Ye look back at Tang Zichen...
Old Liu's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately had a terrible premonition.
Sure enough.
The next moment, the person with the best talent in the class and the one with the worst talent held hands.
And Tang Zichen appeared to be the one who had taken the initiative...
Immediately!
Other than Zhao Zheng, Lu Yong, and Qian Fugui, everyone who saw this scene exploded.
Chen Ye was now something of a celebrity at the school.
Everyone knew that the martial arts university had set a precedent by admitting, for the first time in history, a student with a C-class hero talent named Chen Ye.
As for Tang Zichen, there was no need to say more. She had been famous even before enrolling.
At the very least, everyone present, including the school leaders, knew these two.
Precisely because of that, seeing these two people so incongruously hold hands left everyone feeling utterly incredulous and shocked!
"Teacher Liu, what's going on?"
The Vice Principal frowned and asked, "If I'm not mistaken, the person Little Tang wants to team up with is Chairman Chen's son, right? That kid who awakened a C-class talent? Isn't this nonsense?"
His voice was somewhat stern.
Facing the Vice Principal's questioning, Old Liu's face turned green.
He cared about Tang Zichen even more than the Vice Principal did.
He had never imagined that Tang Zichen would make such an unexpected choice at the very last moment. It was practically a Royal Flush thrown right in his face.
Before you continue