Tang Ya and Beibei

"Making the bed."

An Zhen reached out and lightly tapped the dazed Loli on the forehead.

The intimate gesture didn't provoke any disgust from the Loli. Her fair little face flushed with embarrassment as she lowered her head. "I... I can just use the wooden plank bed."

An Zhen paused.

Then he remembered.

At this point, Huo Yutong hadn't even paid her own tuition—someone else had covered it. The cheat-code Huo, who hadn't yet started selling grilled fish, could be described as utterly penniless.

"By the way, did you eat lunch?"

An Zhen changed the subject.

Maybe Huo Yuhao's later actions in the original story had rubbed him the wrong way—like blowing up Mingdu—but none of that had happened yet. And Huo Yuhao had become Huo Yutong.

An eleven-year-old girl, her mother and herself abused by the Duchess White Tiger, watching her mother die in that harsh environment, suffering for years, even malnourished.

She was truly pitiful.

"Not yet."

Huo Yutong felt a little hungry.

"Come on, I'll take you to the cafeteria."

The cafeteria was behind the dormitory area. After a moment's thought, An Zhen led the little Loli into the purple-colored cafeteria.

"The white one is the freshman cafeteria. But not only does it have no tables or chairs, it's also full of all kinds of annoying rules. The purple one is for fourth and fifth years."

Clean and bright, with luxurious tables and chairs that exuded high-end elegance, their silver metallic sheen brimming with advanced technology. At mealtime, the rich aroma stirred up one's appetite.

"Xiao Yutong?"

"Little Junior... Brother?"

As they entered the cafeteria and An Zhen was heading toward the meal counter, he heard two calls. Turning his head, he saw a boy and a girl walking in their direction.

At the front was a girl who looked about fifteen or sixteen. Her long black hair was tied into a ponytail that reached her waist. The purple school uniform skirt accentuated her youthful aura. She had lively phoenix eyes and a pretty, oval face.

Following behind her was a boy of similar age, tall and straight. His deep blue short hair and handsome face gave off a refined, gentle impression. If he was the mature, steady, big-brother type of male idol, then An Zhen was like a dashing young gentleman straight out of a storybook—the kind that easily won people's favor, exuding charm in every move, making others yearn to be near him.

"Xiao Yutong." The girl hurried forward, pulling the little Loli into her arms with a delighted expression. "What are you doing here?"

"I brought classmate Huo Yutong to eat." An Zhen explained.

"And who are you!"

Pulling the slightly overwhelmed Loli behind her, Tang Ya looked at An Zhen warily, like a mother hen protecting her chick.

"An Zhen, a freshman. An old man asked me to look after a classmate." The young man's face was full of sincerity.

That was the truth.

He just happened to look after her a little extra.

"Teacher Xiao Ya, Brother An Zhen has been very kind to me." The little Loli explained on the good person's behalf.

An Zhen nodded in agreement.

As everyone knew, he was just a kind-hearted kid.

"Is that so?"

Tang Ya was skeptical, her pretty brows furrowing slightly.

"Alright, Xiao Ya. I think this little brother is just being helpful." The refined young man gave An Zhen an apologetic look. "Sorry about that. With a little junior brother out on his own, my Xiao Ya worries too much."

"It's fine. You really do need to be careful when you're out."

An Zhen waved his hand, then walked straight toward the meal counter.

Seeing An Zhen leave, Beibei and Tang Ya pulled Huo Yutong into a corner.

"Xiao Yutong, did that An Zhen figure out you're a girl disguised as a boy?" Tang Ya asked with some concern.

"Probably not."

Huo Yutong wasn't sure. After all, she was underdeveloped. Apart from her somewhat soft voice, her feminine traits weren't obvious.

"I told you we should have disguised Little Junior Sister's appearance," Beibei said helplessly.

"Why can't there be cute boys in this world when there are cute girls?" Tang Ya retorted. Then she pulled a somewhat worn-out book from the big boy beside her. "I just dug this out from the dorm. Practice it a bit, and you'll be able to make your voice sound male. Then say your throat was hoarse from a cold."

"Thank you, Teacher!"

"By the way, shouldn't you be going to the freshman cafeteria?" Tang Ya asked, puzzled.

"Brother An Zhen said there aren't even tables and chairs there, so he dragged me here." New to the place and unclear on many rules, Huo Yutong asked worriedly, "Are we not allowed to be here?"

"It's not that you're not allowed." Tang Ya touched her cheek. "It's just that lower-grade students usually don't come here."

The freshman dorms and cafeteria really were bad. When she first came here, she thought she'd gone to the wrong place.

"Sorry to interrupt. Are you done chatting?"

A voice cut in.

The smiling boy held a tray in one hand, bearing a standard three-dish, two-soup meal. The exquisite dishes were clearly expensive, and the rich aroma was an irresistible temptation.

Setting the tray down, An Zhen pointed to the empty seat across from him. "Huo Yutong, sit down and eat. The energy in this food is mild—anyone who's awakened their martial soul can handle it."

"Huh?"

Huo Yutong hadn't expected there to be a portion for her too.

Tang Ya pressed down on Huo Yutong's shoulder, making her sit. If someone was treating, why not take advantage?

The pretty girl narrowed her eyes slightly, smiling as she sat beside An Zhen. "An Zhen, your type wouldn't happen to be cute little boys, would it?"

She stressed the words "little boys" heavily.

"No, my ideal partner is a mature, sensible, beautiful girl."

That was one standard.

But nothing said a person could only have one standard.

What fault could An Zhen have? An eleven-year-old boy just purely appreciated beautiful things.

Her bright eyes dimmed for a moment, then a blush crept across her fair cheeks as she quickly lowered her head. Huo Yutong, Huo Yutong, you've only just met. Brother An Zhen is just being kind—how could you think like that?

The loli's past held too much misfortune, so she treasured every rare bit of kindness.

"Oh! So that means I fit your type, then."

"Heh."

Looking at the girl with one boot propped on the chair, An Zhen could only answer like that.

"What does 'heh' mean?!" The girl, who'd quickly fallen into easy banter, was a bit embarrassed and angry. She turned fiercely to her boyfriend. "Beibei, am I not mature and sensible?"

"Of course my Xiao Ya is mature and sensible!" The boy replied, fingers running through her hair, his face full of adoration.

"Who's 'your' Xiao Ya?! And call me Teacher!"

"..."

An Zhen didn't want to eat dog food.

He finished his lunch quickly, leaving more than half the dishes untouched. Seeing Huo Yutong still timidly holding her soup bowl without touching her chopsticks, he stood up. "Huo Yutong, later please take these dishes to the return station. Remember, don't waste food."

"Huh? Okay."

An Zhen walked straight out of the cafeteria. If he stayed, that kid would probably chew a hole through the bowl.

"That guy seems decent."

As soon as An Zhen left, Tang Ya stopped her playful scuffling with Beibei and wore a serious expression, pondering their earlier exchange.

Rubbing his chin, recalling that he'd sensed nothing at all just now, Beibei's scholarly face showed a thoughtful look as he spoke. "I heard that this year a new student got into a conflict with his roommate. They went straight to the Battle Soul Arena to fight. One of them had a very mysterious martial soul ability—he just flashed his spirit ring and the other guy collapsed for no reason, with fist and boot prints appearing on him. Scared the other guy into applying for a room change."

"Huh? The school didn't step in?"

Huo Yutong was surprised. Fighting right after enrollment.

"Little Yutong." Tang Ya pinched the loli's soft cheek and explained. "Going to the Battle Soul Arena is voluntary. Besides, a soul master's growth depends on battle. The school supports openly settling personal grudges through fighting in the arena."

"By the way, Beibei, what was that person's martial soul and name?"

"I don't know the name, but the martial soul—I heard it was World."