Mu En could hardly believe what he'd just heard.
"Young man, have some shame! You want me, a hunched old man, to give up my chair for you? Don't you feel embarrassed?"
Huo Yuhao looked serious. "If you're willing to give it up, I wouldn't mind resting here for a bit!"
"Look how nice your spot is, right where the sunlight is neither too strong nor too weak."
"And most importantly..." Huo Yuhao gestured with his hand, indicating that Mu En should look at the several new students approaching them.
Among the new students was a girl in a short skirt, showing off a pair of smooth, shapely legs.
"The view from your spot is fantastic. It's a great place to admire the scenery!" Huo Yuhao said.
Mu En choked on Huo Yuhao's words and started coughing violently. This little brat was slandering him!
Ever since his back had given out, he, Mu En, had turned over a new leaf. He sat here only to watch the young students' energetic youth.
This little punk was quite the slanderer!
Mu En shakily opened his eyes and sized up Huo Yuhao. The boy's appearance didn't match his personality at all. Who would've thought he'd be so shameless!
As expected, you couldn't judge a book by its cover!
Mu En was old, and he wanted to live a few more years, so he spoke up.
"Young man, jokes are only funny up to a point. Show me your New Student Badge and I'll point you in the right direction. Hurry along to your dormitory!"
Huo Yuhao said, "Old-timer, that was just my own interpretation. I wasn't joking with you!"
"Did you take what I said the wrong way?" Huo Yuhao's expression was utterly righteous, as though he'd said something perfectly proper.
Mu En... This kid's skin was probably only a little thinner than his own had been when he was young.
Oh no, he'd finally met his match!
If he'd met Huo Yuhao in his youth, Mu En would have definitely competed with him to see who came out on top. But he was old now, and he no longer had the same fire he'd once had!
Time spared no one, Mu En thought with a sigh.
"Hey, you, grown man! Are you bullying this old man?"
A sharp, indignant voice reached both Mu En and Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao turned to look. A petite, pretty girl with a sweet face was staring intently at him.
Huo Yuhao hadn't expected to run into a heroine coming to a hero's rescue here. "Who are you? Why are you interfering in our business?"
The girl's expression was rather cool. "Shouldn't you introduce yourself before asking who I am?"
"And you're such a big guy. Are you really proud of bullying an old man?"
Huo Yuhao chuckled softly. "Oh, you've got quite a straightforward personality!"
"My name is Huo Yuhao. Could you tell me yours?"
The girl was an honest person. "My name is Xiao Xiao!"
Xiao Xiao! A flicker of surprise crossed Huo Yuhao's face. Wasn't she one of his fated future teammates? What a coincidence, running into her here.
Xiao Xiao stared coldly at Huo Yuhao. "May I ask, are you bullying this old man?"
Mu En was quite the sly old fellow too. He put on a mournful expression.
"Young freshman takes advantage of an old man, weak and frail, And leaves me here to suffer, without a care!"
"My lips are parched, I cannot call for help, So I lie alone in this chair, grieving!"
Now it was Huo Yuhao's turn to marvel. He admired Mu En's acting. The old man was just a hair away from matching him.
It seemed he'd met his match.
"You... You!" Huo Yuhao glared at Mu En, his face full of indignation.
"Oh, heavens! Is there no justice in this world? I only asked this old man for directions!"
"He tried to charge me ten thousand Gold Soul Coins for directions, so I scolded him a few times. People really have changed!"
Mu En glanced at Huo Yuhao from the corner of his eye. Not bad, you brat. Your acting's so good I can't find a single flaw. Full marks!
Xiao Xiao was dumbfounded. Her gaze shifted between the sorrow on Mu En's face and the fury on Huo Yuhao's.
This... The inexperienced girl was completely bewildered by the two old hands' acting.
For a moment, Xiao Xiao didn't know who to believe. Neither of them seemed to be acting, and she was afraid of wrongly accusing an innocent person.
In the end, Mu En and Huo Yuhao still had some shame. The old man and the young man explained what had happened to Xiao Xiao and sincerely apologized to her.
Xiao Xiao's little head was full of question marks. Had she really come to Shrek Academy?
Compared to the two people in front of her, Xiao Xiao felt... How should she put it?
"It's okay. I'm partly to blame too. I shouldn't have come over and interfered without finding out what happened first!"
Huo Yuhao smiled faintly. "What did you do wrong?"
"You did jump to conclusions a little, but I can tell you have a kind heart."
"Ultimately, this was my fault. Though, of course, the biggest share of the blame belongs to this old geezer. He's the one who started putting on an act!"
Mu En comforted her. "That's right, young lady. You don't need to blame yourself!"
"If anyone's to blame, it's this young punk. Who told him to come over and tease me?"
"Neither of us is even slightly to blame. It's all this young punk's fault."
"Wow, old grandpa, you can't act like that. Doesn't your conscience hurt? I took at least a little responsibility, and you're saying you aren't to blame at all!"
"So what? Let me ask you: who spoke first when we met?"
"Fine, then let me ask you this: when Xiao Xiao misunderstood me, why didn't you explain right away?"
"Thanks for showing me the way, old geezer!"
"Don't mention it, young punk!"
Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao waved to Mu En, then turned and walked into the teaching building.
Mu En lounged in his chair, feeling quite pleased. Bickering with Huo Yuhao had reminded him of his own dashing youth. Those were the days!
Inside the teaching building, Xiao Xiao walked beside Huo Yuhao, a little shy.
Her cheeks were pink, and every so often she stole a sidelong glance at Huo Yuhao.
Earlier, she'd thought Huo Yuhao was bullying an old man, so she hadn't taken a good look at his face.
Now that she did, she saw his handsome, charming features and the cool, otherworldly air about him.
His gorgeous heterochromatic eyes were captivating, and his proportions were nearly perfect, his figure sleek and graceful.
Xiao Xiao couldn't help wondering what lay beneath Huo Yuhao's slightly oversized white clothes.
Ah, no! Xiao Xiao, what are you thinking? You've only just met him!
Huo Yuhao looked at the shy, bashful girl. With the experience of his past life, he could tell at a glance what she was thinking.
After walking Xiao Xiao to the third floor, Huo Yuhao waved goodbye. "Xiao Xiao, sorry about what happened today. I got you caught up in such a big misunderstanding."
Xiao Xiao's already bashful face turned even redder. "It's okay. I was partly responsible for what happened today too."
"And you already apologized to me!"
Xiao Xiao gathered her courage. "Um... Huo Yuhao, could I treat you to dinner tonight?"
"Don't get the wrong idea. I just want to apologize properly. Are you free?"
Huo Yuhao nodded. "Then I'll see you tonight!"
Xiao Xiao tamped down her excitement. "Then I'll see you by the cafeteria tonight!"
After watching Xiao Xiao leave, Huo Yuhao headed for his dormitory. The third room on the left on the first floor!
Before you continue