Seeing Wu Zhangkong's flawless face, Long Hengxu's anger vanished in an instant, and he felt like he was floating on air:
Did I hear that right? She apologized to me! She really apologized to me!
So, should I forgive her, or should I forgive her?
Long Hengxu, overjoyed, waved his hands at once. "It's all right, Teacher Wu. You don't have to be so polite!"
"You're right." Wu Zhangkong set the recommendation letter on the desk and said matter-of-factly, "Then please help this student complete her enrollment paperwork and assign her to our class."
"I didn't mean you had to be that polite!!"
Over on the academy's sports field, Xie Xie had once again been planted in the ground by Gu Yue.
It wasn't that he couldn't outrun Gu Yue. He'd laughed so hard while running away that he'd lost his breath, stumbled, and been caught by her. Then came the tragedy.
By the time Wu Zhangkong returned from the Academic Affairs Office, the running task she'd assigned was nearly complete.
The first thing she saw was Xie Xie, the biggest attention-seeker of them all.
Xie Xie still sported his eye-catching explosion of hair. His face was mottled with bruises, and he looked utterly miserable.
The moment he saw Wu Zhangkong return, Xie Xie shot over and latched onto her thigh, bawling:
"Teacher Wu, save me! Gu Yue planted me in the ground eight hundred times!"
"Sniff~ (sniffling)"
"My back! My Soul Power! If you'd come a moment later, you would've lost your most handsome student!"
As he wailed, he shamelessly wiped his tears and snot all over Wu Zhangkong's pant leg.
Wu Zhangkong noticed the patches of grime smeared across her pant leg. Her cool brows drew together almost imperceptibly, and she lifted her leg slightly, trying to shake Xie Xie off.
But Xie Xie clung to her like an octopus, arms and legs wrapped tightly around her leg as he wailed:
"Waaah, waaah, waaah!"
"Teacher Wu, you can't abandon your most handsome student!"
Wu Zhangkong tried several times, but couldn't get Xie Xie off her.
Even she, usually so cool and taciturn, was at a loss. The chill around her weakened, leaving her helpless and resigned as she let him cling to her leg and throw his tantrum.
Gu Yue's face had gone black as the bottom of a cooking pot.
The fireball in her palm crackled. "Xie Xie, say one more word of nonsense, and I'll plant you in the ground right now so you can never be pulled out!"
Strangely enough, Gu Yue seemed to be Xie Xie's natural nemesis. One sentence from her was enough to make him shut up.
In the end, Tang Wulin had to step in and forcibly pull Xie Xie away.
"Fall in," Wu Zhangkong finally said.
The Class Five students, who'd been watching the show from the sidelines, dragged their exhausted bodies to the center of the field and lined up.
"That's enough for this morning. Dismissed."
"Gu Yue, stay behind."
The moment he heard the word "dismissed," Xie Xie stopped fussing and happily sprinted toward the dormitory.
Class is over! Class is over!
But halfway there, Tang Wulin caught up and grabbed him.
"Hm?" Xie Xie turned around, puzzled. "What's up?"
Tang Wulin gripped the hem of Xie Xie's shirt and hesitated for a long moment before speaking softly. "She's treating you like this. You should stop hanging around her so much."
"Huh?" Xie Xie tilted his head, bewildered.
In his eyes, this didn't count as bullying at all. It was just horseplay between classmates.
Even though Gu Yue had just beaten him into a sorry state, he was actually completely fine.
Soul Masters' bodies were far tougher than ordinary people's. With the slightest circulation of Soul Power, any minor bumps and bruises healed right away.
Xie Xie was about to explain, but then he saw Tang Wulin's uneasy expression, and suddenly understood.
Oh~ He's jealous!
Don't worry, bro. I'm not going to steal Gu Yue from you. She wouldn't look twice at me anyway. When you two end up in the Eternal Frozen Wasteland, I'll take Yuan En to the Far North to set off firecrackers for you!
As the thought crossed his mind, Xie Xie solemnly patted Tang Wulin on the shoulder.
Under Tang Wulin's puzzled gaze, Xie Xie suddenly leaned closer, his tone edged with teasing. "You... jealous?"
Tang Wulin's face turned bright red, and the tips of his ears went hot in an instant. He hurriedly waved his hands and stammered, "I-I'm not! I'm just worried about you!"
Xie Xie grinned mischievously and deliberately drew out his words. "All right, all right. You're not. You're not~"
With an expression that said I understand everything, he patted Tang Wulin on the shoulder again and lowered his voice, speaking in a cheeky whisper:
"Don't worry, I get it~"
Tang Wulin was so embarrassed he looked ready to boil over. Steam seemed to pour from the top of his head, as if someone had switched on a steam engine.
After changing into clean clothes, the two went to the cafeteria together.
As usual, Tang Wulin sat behind Bun Mountain, burying his head in a huge meal and eating to his heart's content.
Xie Xie sat right across from Tang Wulin, shoveling rice from his bowl with one hand while gnawing on a giant drumstick with the other. His mouth was slick with grease.
He couldn't help it. Compared to the cafeteria at his high school, the food at Eastsea Academy was practically a state banquet!
Just then, a voice sounded beside the two of them:
"I can't finish this. You can have it."
As soon as the words left her mouth, a plump, snowy-white bun was gently placed on Tang Wulin's tray.
The two looked up at the same time. Gu Yue had changed into Eastsea Academy's uniform, and she looked no different from any of the ordinary students around her.
"Thanks," Tang Wulin said, nodding to Gu Yue.
The easiest, most straightforward way to win Tang Wulin's favor was to feed him. This glutton was quick to warm to anyone who brought him food.
Xie Xie, still chewing on a chicken bone, curled his lip.
Tch, they've only just met, and they're already showing off their affection. Why don't you two just show off until you die!
Oh, right. They actually do die in the end.
Literally.
Xie Xie crossed his arms and stuck out his lower lip. Gu Yue couldn't miss it even if she wanted to.
Thinking about what had happened earlier, Gu Yue, almost without thinking, picked up a drumstick from her tray and waved it in front of Xie Xie.
Xie Xie was instantly captivated. His eyes followed the drumstick back and forth.
"Want some?"
"I do!"
This was a premium meal. No point letting it go to waste!
Seeing Xie Xie's eyes light up as he stared fixedly at the drumstick, Gu Yue's lips curled up almost imperceptibly. But she deliberately drew it back.
"You can have it. First, say a few nice things about me."
Xie Xie immediately put on a fawning smile, his words as sweet as honey. "Lady Gu Yue is the strongest and prettiest! Beautiful, kindhearted, and generous! She's simply the prettiest girl at Eastsea Academy!"
Gu Yue raised an eyebrow, apparently satisfied, and tossed the glistening drumstick toward Xie Xie.
"Nom!"
Xie Xie stretched out his neck and caught the drumstick in his teeth.
As he gnawed at it, he continued his flattery, words muffled around his mouthful. "Thank you, Lady Gu Yue! You're the best, Lady Gu Yue!"
The moment he finished speaking, Xie Xie suddenly sneezed hard—
"Achoo!"
He frowned and rubbed his nose, looking baffled. "That's weird. Why did it suddenly get so chilly behind me?"
Meanwhile, Wu Zhangkong had finished handling the follow-up arrangements and was now standing at the cafeteria entrance. Her dark-green eyes were still cool, but for some reason, the faint chill around her seemed to have grown stronger.
Before you continue