The argument in the dormitory seemed to be escalating.
He could vaguely hear them arguing about rules, who had arrived first, and things like, "Why should I listen to you?"
The two proud young men clearly refused to back down.
In the end, Wang Dong seemed to propose a simple, direct solution. Lin Yan snorted coldly, which counted as agreement.
They decided to go outside and "settle things," using their strength to determine who would have more say in the dormitory.
As long as I can beat Wang Dong in what comes next and show off my strength and talent, I should be able to earn her initial approval and goodwill, right?
Lin Yan gazed at Wang Dong's profile, captivating even in anger, and a barely concealed fervor and certainty of success flashed in his eyes.
According to the fragmentary memories he had, Wang Dong'er's beauty was peerless.
And the special eye technique the Hundred Treasure Pearl had rewarded him with earlier—Eagle Eye—not only enhanced his vision and ability to track movement, but also granted him a degree of insight into illusions.
During their argument just now, he had secretly activated Eagle Eye. Sure enough, he had seen through the simple disguise Wang Dong wore and glimpsed the breathtaking beauty beneath it, a face so stunning that it could outshine the sun and moon!
The shock of that moment had made Lin Yan's heart skip several beats. An intense possessiveness and a feeling of "love at first sight" had surged into his heart.
He became even more determined to "steal" Huo Yuhao's opportunities, seize his fortune, and win the heart of this goddess!
Wang Dong, however, felt deeply uncomfortable.
Though she was confident in her disguise, this was her first time away from home, and she lacked experience.
She could clearly feel Lin Yan's gaze burning into her back, almost as if he meant to see right through her.
This guy... Could he have some kind of unusual preference? Like... a thing for men?
A notion that was absurd yet seemed to explain the situation struck Wang Dong like lightning.
The thought startled her. A wave of revulsion and physical discomfort shot from her spine through her entire body, raising goosebumps all over.
She had grown up in the Clear Sky Sect, pampered and protected by Big Uncle and Second Uncle. Though she had heard unsavory rumors about the nobility, this was the first time she had personally encountered what seemed like "harassment."
I can't stay here any longer!
Alarm bells rang in Wang Dong's mind. She no longer wanted to share a room with this strange-eyed creep.
Suppressing the urge to turn and glare at him, she gave a cold snort, hiding her alarm and irritation beneath a haughty facade. Then she hurried toward the dormitory door, her steps a little too quick.
So distracted was she that she failed to notice the other person standing silently in the shadow of the hallway just outside—the Huo Yuhao who had just come out of Dormitory 110.
Seeing her leave, Lin Yan immediately followed.
As he stepped out of Dormitory 108 and glanced down the hallway, his eyes met Huo Yuhao's, who was standing not far away!
"!"
Lin Yan's pupils abruptly contracted! It felt as though an invisible hand had clenched around his heart!
That face! Though younger and thinner than the image in his fragmented memories, the familiar features, the calm eyes, and especially the composure beyond his years... There was no mistaking it!
This was the child of destiny from his memories, the future God of Emotions—Huo Yuhao!
A flash of instinctive panic and nervousness slithered into Lin Yan's heart.
Faced with the one who should have been the "protagonist of the world," even though he looked weak now, the impression of his "protagonist's halo," etched deep into Lin Yan's memories, still made him hesitate and feel wary for a moment.
But only for a moment.
That hesitation was quickly replaced by an even stronger sense of confidence, bestowed by the Hundred Treasure Pearl, and his swelling ambition!
Huo Yuhao, you're here... Too bad you're a step too late. Lin Yan spoke silently in his heart. Looking at Huo Yuhao's placid face, his initial shock gave way to an indescribable sense of superiority and almost distorted satisfaction that rapidly filled his chest.
Nervous? Uneasy? What a joke!
So what if you're here? Lin Yan sneered inwardly, the corner of his mouth lifting in a barely perceptible arc of contempt. I'm the one standing here with "memories" that let me see what's coming and a heaven-defying opportunity like the Hundred Treasure Pearl—me, Lin Yan!
You, Huo Yuhao, are nothing but a poor wretch who followed the script halfway before suddenly getting kicked out of the story! Your future glory, your opportunities, your fortune... even...
Lin Yan's gaze drifted involuntarily to Wang Dong, who had reached the entrance of the dormitory building, glowing brilliantly in the sunlight. The fervor and possessiveness in his eyes nearly spilled over.
...your future "wife"—I'll be the one to "meet" her, "get close to her," and ultimately "conquer" her first!
At the thought of gradually taking Huo Yuhao's opportunities, stealing his partner, and eventually replacing him as the new child of destiny and embarking on the path to godhood, Lin Yan was overcome by an indescribable sense of pleasure and swelling confidence.
He could practically see himself standing at the peak of the Divine Realm, looking down on all creation, while Huo Yuhao could only gaze up at him from the dust.
The fantasy of trampling the "original protagonist" beneath his feet quickly brought his expression and composure back under control.
The surprise and faint nervousness on his face receded like the tide, replaced by the handsome figure of a proud young man who seemed to have everything under control.
He deliberately stopped looking at Huo Yuhao, as if the other boy were no more than an irrelevant passerby. Head held high, he hurried after Wang Dong and out of the dormitory building.
Yet how could Huo Yuhao's keen observation miss the brief contraction of Lin Yan's pupils and the subtle changes in his expression?
He knows who I am. Huo Yuhao reached his conclusion in an instant, his gaze growing colder. And it's not an ordinary acquaintance.
He knows my identity and background, perhaps even parts of my future.
The way he reacted to seeing me wasn't the curious look of a stranger. It was the confirmation that his target had appeared.
Another... "one who knows the plot"? Or perhaps a "transmigrator" like Wang Teng?
The alarm bells in Huo Yuhao's mind rang again. The ambition and scheming in Lin Yan's eyes, along with the overly fervent gaze he had directed at Wang Dong, made Huo Yuhao raise his threat assessment of the boy once more.
Well, Shrek Academy really is a "gathering of heroes." Huo Yuhao's thoughts dripped with sarcasm.
He didn't leave immediately. Instead, he followed them.
Since their paths had crossed, he might as well observe Lin Yan's strength, Martial Soul, and fighting style, and prepare for any possible conflict in the future.
Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated.
Before you continue