Night Xin Xia Knocks on the Door

Having Dongfang Chen take Ding Yumian under his wing was actually a plan that Dean Xiao and Dean Fu had discussed for a long time.

Ding Yumian's talent was, to put it bluntly, an unstable bomb.

Although keeping her at the school was safer than leaving her elsewhere—after all, the school had many experts, and if her magic spiraled out of control, they had countermeasures in place—there were still plenty of ordinary students on campus. If they couldn't stop her in time, those students could be in mortal danger, just like what happened today.

So the best solution was to have Dongfang Chen, who had the ability to control Ding Yumian, keep her by his side.

If Ding Yumian's magic suddenly went haywire, Dongfang Chen could subdue her on the spot.

"So, Dongfang Chen, what do you think?" Dean Xiao asked, looking at him.

"I don't mind, but this still depends on Ding Yumian's own thoughts."

Dongfang Chen truly didn't care—it was just having one more person around, after all.

Especially since it was a pretty little beauty like Ding Yumian.

Sure, she was on the thin side now, a bit malnourished, but that was because of the environment she'd been in before.

She'd grown up relying on her grandmother, and their living conditions couldn't have been great.

On top of that, her grandmother had passed away not long ago, hitting her hard, so it was normal for her to have become gaunt.

But Ding Yumian's foundation as the campus goddess was still there. With some proper care, she'd definitely become a beauty that could stir up trouble.

Seeing Dongfang Chen agree, Dean Xiao turned to look at Dean Fu.

Dean Fu twitched the corner of his mouth, then asked Ding Yumian, "Yumian, what do you think? Don't worry, we fully respect your decision on this matter. If you disagree, you can stay at the school. I brought you back in the first place, so I won't just abandon you."

Ding Yumian's face flushed slightly.

If she agreed, did that mean she'd have to stay by Dongfang Chen's side from now on?

She stole a glance at him, then quickly looked away.

"I don't have any objections..." Ding Yumian said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"Then it's settled." Dean Fu glanced at Dongfang Chen and said, "Kid Dongfang, I'm entrusting Yumian to you because I trust you. Don't you dare bully her. If I find out, even if I have to risk these old bones, I won't let you off easy!"

Dongfang Chen was caught between laughter and tears. "Dean Fu, rest assured. Leave Ding Yumian to me—I'll make sure she's well-fed and plump."

Hearing that, Ding Yumian's face turned as red as a ripe apple.

What does he mean, 'well-fed and plump'? How shameless—I'm not a pig!

And so, Ding Yumian's matter was settled.

Dongfang Chen's one-year holiday was also approved.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the Jia Nan Academy Enrollment Exam and obtaining a one-year holiday.]

[Reward: Eighth-grade Alchemist Master Experience.]

In an instant, a sharp pain shot through Dongfang Chen's mind as a flood of techniques, knowledge, and details about being an Eighth-grade Alchemist poured into his head.

Fortunately, Dongfang Chen's soul realm had long since reached the Spirit Realm required for an Eighth-grade Alchemist.

Otherwise, if his soul realm were insufficient, even with the experience of an Eighth-grade Alchemist, he wouldn't be able to refine an Eighth-grade Pill.

That said, given the current situation, Dongfang Chen couldn't actually refine an Eighth-grade Pill anytime soon.

He had the skill, but he lacked the materials.

After the Seventh-grade, every pill was exorbitantly expensive, and even the medicinal materials needed for Pill Refining were extremely rare.

Dongfang Chen usually didn't lack medicinal materials, but that was only for low-grade ones.

Most of the rewards from the Sign-in Spot were Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures below the Fourth-grade.

Those above the Fourth-grade were rare, and as for Sixth-grade, Seventh-grade, or even Eighth-grade materials, Dongfang Chen had yet to sign in for any.

So right now, Dongfang Chen had the hardware to refine Eighth-grade Pills, but he was missing the software—the materials themselves.

Still, Dongfang Chen wasn't in a hurry.

Low-grade pills were still sufficient for his needs for now. As for the high-grade materials he lacked, If It Really Doesn't Work, he could look for substitutes in the Full-Time Magician World.

After walking out of Mingzhu Academy, Dongfang Chen asked Ding Yumian, "Ding Yumian, I bought a house near the school. I'm going to check it out now. Do you want to live with me, or would you rather live alone? If you want your own place, I'll find another house for you."

Ding Yumian answered without a second thought.

"I'll stay with you, then. It'll be more convenient, and... you don't have to call me by my full name. You can call me Yumian or Mianmian."

As she said this, Ding Yumian's cheeks flushed slightly.

"My grandmother used to call me that too."

Dongfang Chen smiled.

"Then I'll call you Mianmian. That nickname sounds pretty cute."

The more Dongfang Chen said that, the deeper the blush on Ding Yumian's face grew.

"Mm..."

After the two left the school, Dongfang Chen took Ding Yumian to find Xin Xia.

"Brother Chen, you said you'd be back by noon, but it's almost afternoon now."

Ye Xin Xia said with a hint of reproach.

Dongfang Chen smiled and gently stroked her smooth Black Hair.

"Sorry, something happened at school and it delayed me a bit."

Under Dongfang Chen's soothing touch, the faint trace of Xin Xia's displeasure quickly faded.

"Oh, let me introduce you. This is Ding Yumian..."

Dongfang Chen had no intention of hiding Ding Yumian's situation. After getting her consent, he told Xin Xia everything that had happened to Ding Yumian.

Soon, the kind-hearted Xin Xia was moved by Ding Yumian's tragic story.

Ye Xin Xia was also a girl with a hard life. Since she was little, her legs hadn't worked properly, and later on, her mother had abandoned her and disappeared without a trace.

If she hadn't met Dongfang Chen, Ye Xin Xia couldn't imagine what her fate would have been.

So she deeply sympathized with Ding Yumian, another girl with a similarly miserable background.

Without much intervention from Dongfang Chen, Ye Xin Xia quickly grew close to Ding Yumian.

Then the three of them went to look at a house.

It was a standalone villa right next to Mingzhu Academy.

The environment and interior decoration were both excellent. The only downside was that it was too expensive.

But that wasn't Dongfang Chen's problem.

Ever since he had the Dongfang Family start running the pill business, Dongfang Chen lacked strength, lacked treasures, and lacked time—but he never lacked money.

After paying up without hesitation, Ye Xin Xia dragged a reluctant Ding Yumian along to go shopping at the mall.

Dongfang Chen, as the only man there, naturally became the porter for the two Girls.

Thankfully, there were convenient things like the Storage Ring and Storage Magic Tool.

Otherwise, Dongfang Chen figured he wouldn't have been able to carry it all by himself.

Night.

As Dongfang Chen slept soundly, he heard a click from his Room Door.

A figure quietly crept to the edge of his bed and then slipped into his covers.

"Xin Xia?"