Don't move, let me hug you for a while (Seeking follow-up, seeking recommendation tickets)

Gu Yuena smiled and naturally took Lin Chen's hand. "Let's go. It's been a long time since I had those beef skewers."

With the girl's warm palm pressed against his, he led Gu Yuena to the familiar barbecue stall.

The vendor deftly sprinkled on secret spices, and the glistening, reddish skewers were quickly packed into a bag.

Lin Chen took them and handed three to Gu Yuena. The girl held the skewers, taking small bites of the tender beef. Her purple eyes curved into shallow crescents as the savory aroma spread between her lips and teeth. "So good. It tastes just like it used to."

The two walked side by side, and Lin Chen leisurely recounted the details of yesterday's tournament matches.

Gu Yuena walked slowly, tilting her head to listen. Her purple eyes blinked gently, and her pace of eating slowed down a fraction.

The evening breeze carried the faint scent of grass and trees. They sat together on a park bench as the night curtain draped over the horizon, with tiny stars dotting the pitch-black sky.

Gu Yuena looked up at the galaxy, her purple eyes reflecting the starlight, and spoke softly, "Lin Chen."

Lin Chen: "Hmm?"

"Will you like someone else in the future?"

As the words fell, Lin Chen turned to the side, his cyan-glazed eyes resting quietly on the girl's face. His tone was firm: "I will not."

A faint smile curled at the corners of Gu Yuena's lips, and she replied softly, "That's good then."

The evening breeze brushed the strands of hair at her temples, and her high ponytail swayed gently. Lin Chen lifted his gaze to the brilliant galaxy above: "Come to think of it, the night view tonight is truly beautiful."

Gu Yuena followed his gaze to the night sky, taking a sip of her 'QQ Milk Tea that tastes so good it makes you go meep': "It really is beautiful. It's rare to enjoy a starry sky like this."

Lin Chen spoke softly: "It's getting late. Let me take you back to the Spirit Pagoda."

Gu Yuena held her milk tea and nodded gently: "Okay."

The two walked side by side along the stone path toward the exit. The evening breeze was slightly cool. They reached the street and waited for a soul-guided taxi. When it pulled over, Lin Chen shielded the girl as she climbed inside.

The soul-guided taxi stopped in front of the towering Spirit Pagoda, and the two stepped out one after the other.

Gu Yuena turned around, her eyes curving into a lovely arc, and she spoke softly: "So, has your wounded heart recovered?"

Lin Chen smiled and said: "Of course it has."

"That's good. Bye-bye then." No sooner had Gu Yuena finished speaking than she suddenly took half a step forward, her slender arms wrapping gently around Lin Chen's waist. She buried herself in his warm chest, her silky hair brushing against his lapel.

Gu Yuena's soft, muffled voice came through: "I had a lot of fun today."

Lin Chen's body stiffened, and a flush crept onto his handsome face. Gu Yuena's voice came again: "Don't move, let me hug you for a while." After a moment of hesitation, he slowly raised his hands and rested them gently on the girl's back. The night light in front of the Spirit Pagoda merged their shadows into one.

After a long while, Gu Yuena reluctantly released her embrace. Her earlobes and fair cheeks were stained with a crimson blush. She stepped back half a step and looked up at him: "Goodnight, I'm heading in."

Watching the silver figure gradually disappear, Lin Chen remained frozen in place, the pleasant, faint fragrance of Na'er still lingering on his chest.

His cyan-glazed eyes were slightly dazed, and his fingertips subconsciously brushed his chest. After a long moment of distraction, he let out a soft, self-deprecating laugh and shook his head, suppressing the surging palpitations in his heart.

As soon as Gu Yuena stepped into her room, she hadn't yet shed the blush from her face, and the warmth of their embrace still lingered on her fingertips.

Leng Yaozhu leaned lazily on the sofa, her elbows propped on her knees, chin resting on her fingertips, quietly observing her disciple: "Nana, I saw everything that happened downstairs just now. How did it feel?"

The girl lowered her eyes to avoid her teacher's teasing gaze, her ears burning again, and she whispered: "It... it was pretty good."

Leng Yaozhu raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on her lips: "Don't be shy, Nana." She leaned slowly back into the sofa cushions: "Still haven't made it official? You didn't look very shy when you were the one initiating the hug."

Gu Yuena's cheeks burned, her purple eyes drifting to the floor as she defended herself in a small voice: "Teacher, we're still young. We can talk about making it official later... cultivation is what matters."

"Fine, fine, fine, have it your way." Leng Yaozhu looked at her disciple's expression, feeling like she had just witnessed a perfect match: "He's yours anyway, we can talk about it later."

Leng Yaozhu's expression became slightly more reserved, and her tone grew more serious: "Nana, you are my only disciple. You are certain to take my position in the future, and perhaps even become the Spirit Pagoda Master."

"And that boy Lin Chen's talent even surpasses his father Yun Ming. In the future, he will likely take over Yun Ming's position."

She tapped her fingertips on the sofa armrest, her gaze falling on the blushing Gu Yuena: "Perhaps the relationship between the Spirit Pagoda and Shrek Academy, which has been at a stalemate for many years, can be restored to what it was ten thousand years ago through the two of you."

Leng Yaozhu chuckled: "Alright, get some rest early. You still have to learn soul spirit manufacturing tomorrow morning."

Gu Yuena bowed, turned, and walked back to her bedroom. She threw herself onto the bed, savoring the feeling of the embrace, thinking: "What does kissing feel like?"

She rubbed her head: "Talk about that later. Progress has taken a huge leap forward, keep it up."

Pushing open the villa door, the house was quiet. He closed it behind him and lay on the bed, the image of the girl throwing herself into his arms replaying in his mind over and over.

The tip of his nose seemed to still hold the faint, pleasant fragrance of Gu Yuena. His heart pounded, and the lingering heat in his ears refused to fade.

Lin Chen raised a hand to cover his thumping heart, his cyan-glazed eyes staring at the ceiling, silently asking himself: Is what he feels for Na'er love?

From their first meeting, to their daily cultivation, to sitting side by side in the park looking at the galaxy, and finally the warm, unexpected touch of the girl throwing herself into his arms at parting—each fragment of light unfolded slowly with his thoughts.

The involuntary joy in his heart whenever they met, his subconscious concern when she frowned, the extreme comfort and stability when they were together, and the lingering thoughts that repeated after they parted.

In his past life, he had always been alone and had never been in love.

"Perhaps, Dragon Valley might be able to help Na'er."

No longer tangled in doubt, Lin Chen calmed his chaotic thoughts, sat cross-legged, and the pale cyan soul power around him flowed slowly.

Yet, in the gaps of his cultivation, the image of the girl in white smiling would inadvertently surface. Through the night of cultivation, his heart remained wrapped in a faint, sweet warmth.

Morning light spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the bedroom. As his night of meditation ended, Lin Chen slowly gathered the soul power flowing around him and let out a long breath. All his fatigue vanished, and his soul power had made a slight improvement compared to last night.

The phone on the nightstand buzzed. It was a call from Ya Li. He tapped the screen to answer.

Ya Li's gentle voice came through the phone: "Lin Chen, come to Shrek Academy. I have something to discuss with you."

"Alright Mom, I'll pack up and head over." Lin Chen ended the call, took a shower, made some breakfast, and headed toward Shrek Academy.

Upon arriving at the gates of Shrek Academy, the guards, who already recognized him, let him pass without delay.

When he reached the Inner Court, Ya Li was already waiting there. Seeing Lin Chen, she stepped forward and took him flying toward Sea God Island.

On the way, Lin Chen felt curious and asked, "Mom, what is this about?"

Ya Li's eyes crinkled with a smile as she feigned mystery, shaking her head slowly. "Don't be impatient. Once we reach the Sea God Pavilion, you'll understand. Aside from your father, Feng Wuyu and Zhuo Shi are all there too."