Gu Yuena: Xie Xie! Are you itching for a beating?

"The exam will be held tomorrow." After dropping this sentence, Wu Changkong walked out of the classroom.

With Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi confirmed to be transferring, the atmosphere in the classroom turned exceptionally heavy. After returning to their dorms to pack, Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi bid farewell to everyone and left Eastsea Academy.

"Let's go, we should go comfort Tang Wulin." Xie Xie nudged Lin Chen, who was chatting with Gu Yuena nearby.

The three of them went looking for Tang Wulin; the good news was that they found him, but the bad news was that he had been whisked away by Ouyang Zixin.

Xie Xie scratched the back of his head, looking stunned. "Good grief, we were still planning how to comfort Wulin, and he's already been snatched away by Senior Ouyang to go have fun."

Watching their figures drift further and further away, Lin Chen said calmly, "Na'er, Xie Xie, let's follow them and take a look."

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuena turned her cold, elegant face, her purple eyes sweeping over the path ahead, and followed quietly by Lin Chen's side.

Xie Xie's eyes lit up instantly, his interest piqued. "Follow them? That's a solid plan. Let's see where they're going to blow off steam; maybe we'll even stumble upon something interesting."

Gu Yuena spoke up, "All you think about is playing. If you don't pass the second exam tomorrow, you'll have to face the music."

Xie Xie immediately stiffened his neck and argued, "It's just a quick stroll, it won't delay the exam. One day won't make a difference."

As the two bickered back and forth, Lin Chen watched them, his mouth twitching slightly. He reached out and gently took hold of Gu Yuena's wrist, saying, "Let's go, stop arguing. Watching the drama is more important."

Gu Yuena's purple eyes flickered slightly. The warm sensation spread from her wrist, and a faint blush crept onto her ears. "O... okay."

Lin Chen didn't think anything of it, while Xie Xie rolled his eyes and followed behind.

As she was led along by Lin Chen, Gu Yuena muttered to herself, "All those tutorials I watched shouldn't go to waste. I should be the one taking the initiative."

Thinking this, she exerted a little force, gently breaking free from Lin Chen's grip on her wrist, and nimbly interlaced her fingers with his, holding his hand tightly.

The moment their palms met, Lin Chen's footsteps came to an abrupt halt, and he stood frozen in place. He instinctively turned his head to look at the girl beside him, only to see a faint crimson spreading from the roots of Gu Yuena's ears. Her violet eyes were averted, not daring to meet his gaze.

He looked down at their firmly clasped hands, feeling the soft, delicate touch of the girl's palm. His face flushed, and he muttered to himself, "No, as a man, how can I let the girl take the initiative?"

His palm, which had been slightly relaxed, quietly tightened, gripping Gu Yuena's hand even more firmly. Gu Yuena's shoulders trembled slightly, and she dared not turn her averted gaze back, the redness on her ears deepening.

Up ahead, Xie Xie was busy tracking Tang Wulin and Ouyang Zixin's figures while muttering to himself, his mind filled with wild guesses about where they were headed.

Suddenly, he felt the atmosphere behind him shift in a strange way and instinctively looked back.

At a glance, he saw Lin Chen and Gu Yuena walking with their fingers tightly interlaced. The two were extremely close; the girl's cheeks were flushed as she looked down, and the boy had turned his head, not daring to look at the person beside him.

Xie Xie's eyes widened, his mouth hanging slightly open as he exclaimed, "No way, guys! We've only been walking for a bit, how did you two progress to holding hands? Am I the only one here just to watch the drama?"

Caught in the act by Xie Xie's sudden turn, Gu Yuena's face burned even hotter. She glared fiercely at the bristling Xie Xie with her purple eyes. "Mind your own business."

Lin Chen didn't let go, his face red as he said, "Exactly, stop worrying about so much. The mission is what matters."

Xie Xie was left speechless by their synchronized retort, looking aggrieved. "Good grief, I shouldn't have looked back. Now I've got a mouthful of dog food."

The three followed them all the way, witnessing Wulin and the senior enter a barbecue restaurant. After observing for a while, they saw Ouyang Zixin looking surprised inside.

Lin Chen turned his head to Gu Yuena and stammered, "Na'er, let's... go in and eat something too. We can't just keep watching them."

Gu Yuena replied softly, "Okay."

Lin Chen suddenly remembered Xie Xie, who had been left on the sidelines. He turned to see the boy squatting in a corner drawing circles and called out, "Let's go, come in and eat with us."

Xie Xie, who had been looking depressed, instantly seemed to be fully recharged, jumping to his feet. "You got it, Captain!"

The three walked into the barbecue restaurant together, the aroma of grilled meat hitting them. Pretending they didn't know Tang Wulin was there, they all turned their heads in unison, and Lin Chen said, "What a coincidence, Wulin! You're here too?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xie Xie and Gu Yuena spoke almost simultaneously: "You guys continue, we'll head back to the academy together after you're done eating."

Their voices overlapped, making the scene inexplicably funny.

Lin Chen, still holding Gu Yuena's hand, casually picked an empty table nearby. Xie Xie sat down brazenly and called for the waiter to bring the menu.

Just as they were eating with gusto, a voice came from not far away.

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw Ouyang Zixin stand up quickly and walk over. "Senior, are you here to eat too?"

Tang Wulin's view was blocked, but the three at the next table saw it clearly. Xie Xie tapped the table, and Gu Yuena, interrupted while eating, glared at him with resentment. Xie Xie whispered, "Lin Chen, Gu Yuena, look—is that the ice-staff guy from the Riot Spirit Ascension Platform the other day?"

As luck would have it, he was overheard. The person turned back, saw Lin Chen and the others, and swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. Xu Xiaoyan, who was following behind, also noticed them and tugged on Xu Xiaoyu's clothes. "Brother, they look like the people from the Spirit Ascension Platform the other day."

Ouyang Zixin extended an invitation to the Xu siblings: "Senior, Xiaoyan, why don't you just sit down and eat with us? It's livelier with more people."

Seeing this, Lin Chen gestured with his chin toward Tang Wulin, who was sitting alone. "Wulin, come over here. Let's chat about tomorrow's final exam."

Tang Wulin, who had been feeling a bit awkward, felt much more relaxed upon hearing Lin Chen's call. After greeting the senior, he stood up and walked over to the table with Lin Chen, Gu Yuena, and Xie Xie.

Xu Xiaoyan's bright, lively eyes curiously sized up the members of Zero Class.

After the group had their fill, they stood up and headed toward Eastsea Academy.

Tang Wulin walked to the side with his head bowed, an aura of dejection radiating from him.

Seeing this, Lin Chen's tone carried a hint of teasing: "What's wrong, Wulin? Looking at your expression, you look like you've just been dumped."

Teased by Lin Chen, Tang Wulin hurriedly waved his hands in defense: "Don't talk nonsense, I didn't. I'm just feeling a bit down after seeing Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi off."

Lin Chen turned his head to exchange a look with Gu Yuena, quietly released her hand, and reached out to drape his arm over Tang Wulin's shoulder. "Alright, stop being so gloomy."

His tone softened: "We have an exam tomorrow. If you keep holding onto this depressed and dejected mindset, there's no way you'll be able to perform well."

Held by his sturdy arm, Tang Wulin's tense, slumped body relaxed a little. He slowly lifted his drooping head, though his eyes were still clouded with lingering melancholy.

Xie Xie also chimed in from the side: "Exactly, Wulin. Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi are just transferring schools, it's not like you'll never see them again. If it really comes down to it, Lin Chen and I will help you find a girlfriend."

As soon as those words left his mouth, Tang Wulin's face flushed a deep, vibrant red. He hurriedly waved his hands in a frantic refusal, stammering, "No, no, no! I don't want that at all! Don't you guys go worrying about things that aren't your business!"

Gu Yuena's cold, clear voice carried a hint of disdain: "You're the only one who would stir up trouble like this; you even managed to derail a perfectly good attempt at comforting someone."

Lin Chen patted the back of Xie Xie's head: "Stop adding to the chaos. Wulin is just sad about a classmate transferring away, not lacking a girlfriend. Besides, with Wulin's looks, do you really think he'd have trouble finding one?"

Xie Xie clutched the back of his head, muttering with a pitiful expression: "Yes, yes, Captain. It's just that Wulin and I are so pathetic, all alone, unlike you and Gu Yuena, who are always shoving dog food down our throats."

As soon as those words fell, a crimson blush instantly stained Gu Yuena's face. She glared at Xie Xie in embarrassed annoyance: "Xie Xie! Are you itching for a beating? All you know how to do is wag your tongue!"

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