Class Assignments

"Ugh~"

Chu Mo opened his mouth, hesitating as he wondered how to phrase things and whether he needed to help keep it a secret.

After all, Jiang Ruowan had just said she didn't tell Jiang Nannan because she was afraid of worrying her; should he help cover for her?

"Is it that Mother didn't want you to tell me?"

Jiang Nannan wasn't stupid; she could tell from his hesitation.

"Mm, that's true to an extent, but I will take full responsibility. I definitely won't let your mother come to any harm."

Since she had already guessed it, Chu Mo simply followed her lead, telling her half the truth while concealing the rest.

"Fine, that's just how Mother is. She keeps things to herself and never says anything, only speaking up when she can't hold on any longer."

Chu Mo's nod didn't surprise Jiang Nannan; she was very clear about Jiang Ruowan's personality.

Although she knew her mother didn't tell her because she didn't want her to worry, why would she tell Chu Mo? Was he really her own son?

"Is it really okay?"

"Mm, don't overthink it. If your mother really had something serious going on, she would definitely tell you. After all, a daughter is a parent's little padded jacket."

Listening to Chu Mo's sweet talk, Jiang Nannan looked at him with disbelief.

"Heh, I think you're the little padded jacket, not me."

"Alright, alright."

Chu Mo could only offer comfort from the side.

After finishing lunch, the three of them sat on the bed chatting.

Time flew by until the afternoon. Seeing the sky outside, Chu Mo took the initiative to stand up.

"It's getting late, I won't disturb you any further."

Hearing that he was leaving now, Jiang Ruowan hurriedly stood up and walked over, trying to persuade him to stay with a hint of reluctance: "Ah, are you leaving already, Xiao Mo? Won't you stay for dinner?"

"No, Auntie, I'll come again next time. As for the illness, I've left a few pills to suppress it for now. Tonight, I'll go buy the necessary medicinal herbs with Xiao Lv to refine more, and I'll have Nannan bring them tomorrow."

"Ah, you aren't coming back."

Jiang Ruowan's gentle expression froze instantly. Her tone betrayed a desire to keep him, but after a moment, she realized she was just wishing for the impossible.

Her face fell, showing vulnerability and a sense of grievance.

"Shrek Academy starts tomorrow, so I need to adapt. I'll come to see you again next time, Auntie."

Chu Mo nodded and replied very calmly.

After he finished speaking, seeing there were no other instructions, he turned to leave. He had only taken two steps when a sound came from behind him.

Tap, tap!

Slap.

He was grabbed by two thin, bony, yet cold hands.

"Mm, see you next time. Auntie will miss you too."

"Mom!"

That single handshake had exhausted all of Jiang Ruowan's courage. At her daughter's shout, she trembled and pulled her hand back.

Chu Mo turned his head to look, meeting Jiang Ruowan's gentle smile and Jiang Nannan's somewhat resentful gaze.

"Mm."

After recovering, he turned and left, fearing that something else might happen.

Only after he had completely left the house belonging to Jiang Nannan and her mother did he turn around. Confirming there were no further complications, he let out a sigh of relief, feeling that the whole situation was strange.

Why did Auntie keep asking what type of girl I like? Or if I have a girl I like?

Could it be that she wants to set me up with Jiang Nannan?

He recalled Jiang Nannan's beautiful face, perfect waist, and skin as white as snow. Her reputation as the number one beauty of the outer courtyard was well-deserved.

Before he could think any further, the notification sound from the Chat Group interrupted him.

Ding, ding, ding~

He opened the chat interface, and the first thing he saw was a question from Meng Hongchen.

[Ice Frog is Stronger than Poison Frog: @Chu Mo, Group Leader, why are you so cold today? You haven't even sent a message?]

[Ice Frog is Stronger than Poison Frog: @Chu Mo, @Chu Mo, @Chu Mo!]

The other party kept tagging him, which made Chu Mo chuckle. Did this count as spamming?

[Dong'er is Not a Girl: Heh, how could he have time? He's already gone on a date with the number one beauty of the outer courtyard. Maybe he won't even have time tonight.]

[Revenge Girl: ? A date? Didn't Chu Mo say he was going to see a former patient?]

[Tang Ya: Not coming back tonight?]

[Chu Mo: No, I've finished checking. It seems Nannan's mother's illness has had a bit of a relapse. I helped examine her, and I'm already on my way back now.]

[Tang Ya: Ah, then why don't you just stay at Nannan's place? Take care of things, and come back once she's better.]

Tang Ya wasn't trying to drive Chu Mo away, of course; she was just worried—her best friend's mother was in trouble, and she was afraid something might go wrong.

She sat on the bed looking at the medicinal pills Chu Mo had left for her. There were still quite a few left, and they could speed up her cultivation; after all, with innate rank 9 soul power, a single night's progress was not insignificant.

Yet, there was a touch of loneliness on her face. She had finally found someone to rely on, someone who shared her new secrets and didn't care about her status.

Just then, the bedroom door opened with a "click."

Hearing the movement, Tang Ya hurriedly wiped the corners of her eyes to regain her composure.

Holding a grilled fish, Huo Yu'er walked in with a beaming smile.

"Sister Tang Ya, I'm back!"

"Here is your grilled fish."

"Thank you, Xiao Yu."

Tang Ya curled her lips into a smile and reached out to take the grilled fish.

"Xiao Yu is so happy, is there something good that happened?"

Seeing Huo Yu'er shed her usual fragility and pessimism, she noticed the girl was smiling to herself from time to time today.

Caught off guard, Huo Yu'er's face turned red instantly as she stammered.

"Um, I... I saw the class assignments on the way back. Wang Dong, Chu Mo, and I are all in the same class."

Tang Ya sat on the edge of the bed, gently swinging her legs and returning to the appearance of a lively young girl, listening to the other girl chat while she ate the grilled fish.

"Hehe, that is quite a coincidence. He'll be able to look after you. Which class were you assigned to?"

Huo Yu'er nodded. Being in the same class meant she wouldn't be too lonely. Now that she had friends and people who valued and helped her, all she had to do was maintain those relationships.

"Class One."

"Ah?"

Hearing it was Class One, Tang Ya was stunned. It turned out to be the class of that expulsion-happy maniac, Zhou Yi.

Huo Yu'er tilted her head, not quite understanding why Tang Ya made such a face upon hearing her class.

"Haha, that class of yours isn't exactly great. The head teacher is named Zhou Yi, an old hag with a terrible temper who loves to expel students. If it weren't for Bei Bei back then, I might have been expelled already."

Tang Ya chuckled as she recounted her memories of that head teacher.

"Ah, someone like that can actually be a head teacher?"

Huo Yu'er's little head was completely bewildered by the question.

"Sigh, there's no helping it. I heard she has a good husband. Anyway, it's best not to provoke her if you can help it. We can't afford to offend her, so we'll just stay out of her way to avoid her abusing her power to kick us out of the academy."

Tang Ya finished the grilled fish and said earnestly.

"I understand, Sister Tang Ya. Since she has a bad temper, I naturally won't go out of my way to cross her."

Huo Yu'er shrank her neck. Her personality wasn't the type to resist unless she was pushed to the edge.

She knew the woman had a bad temper and naturally wouldn't go out of her way to provoke her, but just after saying that, she suddenly thought of something.

"Right, right, I should tell Chu Mo about this. Boys are usually more hot-headed."

"Hehe, you really care about him."

Tang Ya rested her chin on her hand and watched Huo Yu'er.

"Mm, after all, Brother Chu Mo gave me medicinal pills that can increase my cultivation speed."

Huo Yu'er replied nonchalantly, as if she were talking about something perfectly ordinary.