A Friend's Gift

The next morning, at the Academy Restaurant.

As usual, in the northern corner of the restaurant, the Let's Eat Trio gathered.

"Slurp~!"

Taking a sip of porridge, Feng Qi looked up at Mu Qing and Lin Ran. Thinking of their tragic fates in the future, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

"Brother Qi, why do I feel like you're looking at me strangely? Is something up?" Lin Ran, his mouth full of food, also eating heartily, looked up at Feng Qi with a puzzled expression.

"Yesterday, I asked a Master to read your fortune. Guess what?"

Lin Ran: ???

"The fortune teller said you have a tribulation in your destiny, and this tribulation will cause you to live the rest of your life in pain. But there's a way to resolve it."

"How do I resolve it?" Lin Ran asked curiously.

"Give up the stubborn dream in your heart and accept your innate talent."

"Brother Qi, I don't understand. Can you tell me what that means in a way a carbon-based life form can understand?"

"What is your strongest talent, and what is the reason you were admitted early by the Tiger Soul Research Institute?" Feng Qi continued to coax him.

"Naturally, it's my achievements in spell research."

"Right, that's your talent choice. Then let me ask you again, what is your dream?"

"My dream is to make significant contributions in the field of cultivation method research, to become a Master in Cultivation Method Studies, and to be remembered by future generations... Hmm?" Saying this, Lin Ran suddenly understood what Feng Qi was trying to say and immediately whispered:

"Brother Qi, I never believe in fate. I only believe that my destiny is in my own hands, not in the heavens."

Feng Qi: ...

"You'll be killed by your own dream sooner or later!" Realizing that Lin Ran still wouldn't listen to advice, Feng Qi couldn't help but glare.

"To die for a dream, I have no regrets. A true man should burn himself in the pursuit of his dream, pouring out his passion until death."

And then regret it immensely amidst the world's scorn, even turning white-haired overnight, washing his face with tears all day, spending the rest of his life in repentance, and finally dying of depression.

Doesn't he have any self-awareness?

Looking at the confident Lin Ran, he couldn't help but complain in his heart.

"Oh, right, I have something to tell you guys. I'll be leaving Star City Academy for a while recently."

"Where are you going?" Lin Ran stopped eating.

Mu Qing, sitting opposite him, also looked up at this moment, her puffed-up cheeks stopping their chewing, and looked at Feng Qi curiously.

"I forgot to tell you, I'm actually only 17. My mission for coming to Star City Academy this time was to visit and study, so I have to go back to my school in three days to handle some graduation matters."

Hearing this, Lin Ran's eyes widened. He had always thought Feng Qi was a Senior at Star City Academy, but he never expected his age to be even younger than his own by a year. Thinking of this, he immediately asked:

"Are you coming back? You're not going to apply to other academies, are you? I still want to learn Cultivation Method Studies knowledge from you, you can't leave."

Although Mu Qing didn't speak, she also turned her gaze towards Feng Qi, waiting for his answer.

Feng Qi was her first friend, and the only person who brought her warmth. Hearing that Feng Qi was leaving, she suddenly felt a bit reluctant, but she didn't show this on her face.

"Aren't you a transfer student from Winter Academy? Whether I'm at Star City Academy or not, you'll have to go back sooner or later," Feng Qi said, looking at the slightly speechless Lin Ran in response to his question.

"I'm a genius, and geniuses have privileges. Besides, I've already been admitted early by the Tiger Soul Research Institute, and there's nothing much for me to learn at Winter Academy, so I can stay wherever I want. I'll just graduate as a Winter Academy graduate after graduation."

"What about you? You still haven't answered my question. Are you coming back or not? If you're not coming back, please tell me which academy you went to, and I'll go find you as a transfer student then."

"You can go wherever you want, that casually?" Feng Qi was stunned.

"Of course. Before coming to Star City Academy, I originally wanted to study at Galaxy Academy. Their Cultivation Method Studies is more professional compared to Star City Academy. But my teacher asked me to come to Star City Academy first to show off in front of his old friend, so I came."

"I originally planned to stay here for a month and then go to Galaxy Academy, but now I think it's unnecessary. I think I've found my goal for learning and catching up." Saying this, Lin Ran gave Feng Qi a look that said 'you know what I mean'.

"You have indeed found your goal to save you. I will guide you to grow strong," Feng Qi said with emotion upon hearing this.

Before, he was worried that since Lin Ran was a transfer student from Winter Academy, he would return to school sooner or later. Without his supervision, Lin Ran would probably go back to his old ways.

Now that he knew Lin Ran could stay here, his worries disappeared.

Thinking of this, he smiled and said:

"Don't worry, I'll only be gone for a few days. I'll be back after handling the graduation matters. Actually, I've already been recommended to Star City Academy without needing to take the entrance exam. The admission letter will probably be sent to my school around graduation time."

After saying this, he added in his heart: Who told me I couldn't rest assured about you two troublemakers.

"Hehe, we'll wait for you." Hearing Feng Qi say he would be back, a smile immediately appeared on Lin Ran's face.

Mu Qing, who was beside him, also lowered her head again and began to eat heartily. For some reason, she suddenly felt a great appetite.

After breakfast, before leaving, Feng Qi took out a silver-white harmonica from his pocket and handed it to Mu Qing:

"Senior, this is for you."

Seeing the harmonica in Feng Qi's hand, Mu Qing's expression was startled, and she seemed a bit at a loss.

Having been used to being isolated and excluded, she was already very happy that Feng Qi could become her friend. She never expected that he would still remember the incident of her harmonica breaking and buy her a new one.

"I can't accept it." Mu Qing shook her head.

"I bought it for you. It's just a gift between friends, take it." Saying this, Feng Qi handed the silver-white harmonica to Mu Qing. Seeing that she was still hesitating, he simply placed it in her hand.

Looking at the somewhat flustered Mu Qing, he didn't say much. He then pulled Lin Ran and turned to leave, not giving Mu Qing a chance to return it.

Holding the silver harmonica and watching Feng Qi and Lin Ran's retreating figures, Mu Qing's eyes welled up. She then suddenly lowered her head, seemingly afraid of her vulnerable side being seen.

On the way from the restaurant to the library, Lin Ran looked at Feng Qi with a playful expression and said:

"Brother Qi, since it's a gift between friends, why didn't I get one?"

After speaking, Lin Ran, embodying a drama king, suddenly put on a look of disappointment and said:

"I understand. As expected, friendship is no match for love."

"Who says you didn't? I've already prepared it for you. I'll give it to you later."

Hearing this, Lin Ran was briefly stunned, then asked with a curious expression:

"Brother Qi, can you give me a hint of what it is?"

"The latest release from the Galaxy Research Institute, the Advanced Spell Theory 9 Revised Edition Complete Collection. There are three volumes, each as thick as a brick, divided into upper, middle, and lower volumes. How about it, happy?"

Lin Ran: