Let Me Tell You a Story

"Boss, you were so impressive just now." As they followed Cao Yan up to the second-floor dining hall, Wang Sheng spoke with an admiring expression.

He had seen it clearly—Cao Yan had defeated Xiao Chenyu with ease. What made Wang Sheng even happier was that Xiao Chenyu had made his position clear: he would no longer target the Work-Study Students in the future.

All the credit for this went to Cao Yan.

Wang Sheng also felt fortunate. If Cao Yan had not been there as their boss, they might have been bullied forever.

But that would no longer be the case.

"It's nothing. Since I'm your boss, your business is my business." Cao Yan waved a hand and spoke boldly.

"Cao Yan, did you attack him just now to stand up for me?" Xiao Wu blinked, her beautiful eyes fixed on Cao Yan, carrying a few indescribable emotions.

For some reason, whenever she was with Cao Yan, she always felt a warmth she could not put into words.

She had only felt that way around her mother, Da Ming, and Er Ming.

"Yes. You're part of the Seventh Dorm too. As your boss, I'll protect you and make sure no one bullies you." Cao Yan's voice was gentle. In his eyes, Xiao Wu was his wife.

She was not yet, but she would be one day.

Only he deserved to have such a kind and beautiful girl. Tang San was not worthy of her!

"Hmph, I'm not going to thank you. Even if you hadn't stepped in, he wouldn't have been a match for me." Xiao Wu's cheeks flushed briefly, but she quickly came to her senses and replied in a delicate voice.

"Alright, I believe you. For now, let's eat first. Everyone should be hungry." Cao Yan could not help smiling at Xiao Wu's adorable appearance.

Xiao Wu was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who had taken human form and possessed Innate Full Soul Power. Defeating Xiao Chenyu naturally would not have been difficult for her.

"Hmph, I want the best food." Xiao Wu gave a soft snort. She had already caught the scent of the dining hall's food, stirring up her appetite until her mouth watered.

"Don't worry. I'm the boss—I won't treat you poorly." With that, Cao Yan led everyone to an empty table on the second floor and sat down.

The second floor was for ordering individual dishes, and the prices were steep. If a big shot like Cao Yan were not treating them, Work-Study Students like Wang Sheng could never afford to eat there.

The second-floor dining hall mostly offered high-end ingredients. Such ingredients often did not need elaborate cooking methods; after all, rarity commanded value.

A meal here cost at least five Gold Soul Coins. Usually, only a few teachers came by occasionally. For that reason, most of those who ate on the second floor were children from wealthy families—only people like them could afford it without concern.

After sitting down, Cao Yan immediately asked for a menu. It had a wide variety of dishes, including Soul Beast meat, though none of them came cheap.

During preparation, the freshness and flavor of the Soul Beast meat had been preserved to the greatest extent. It was highly beneficial after eating it and even had subtle benefits for Soul Power cultivation.

Unfortunately, ordinary Work-Study Students could not afford such delicacies.

"Order whatever you want. I'll pay for everything." Cao Yan casually ordered several dishes, then handed the menu to Wang Sheng and the others with great generosity.

"Boss is the best! Then we won't hold back." The Work-Study Students immediately became excited upon hearing Cao Yan's words.

However, Wang Sheng and the others only ordered some inexpensive dishes. The prices on the menu truly shocked them. They were simple, honest children with few demands; as long as they could eat their fill, that was enough.

Xiao Wu was the only exception. She was naturally a carefree girl, and the moment she saw food, she could not restrain herself. Her eyes sparkled, and unlike Wang Sheng and the others, she had no such reservations. In one go, she ordered many dishes, none of them cheap.

Before long, all the dishes arrived. The table was filled with delicious food, its fragrance wafting through the air. There were meat and vegetable dishes alike, enough to make anyone's appetite soar.

"Xiao Wu, try this Heavenly Silkworm Potato. It's delicious. Want a piece?" Cao Yan suggested as he looked at the dishes before them.

This was Heavenly Silkworm Potato. It was shaped like silkworms and cut into thin strands, a rare delicacy.

Cao Yan had often eaten this delicacy before his transmigration. What he had never expected was that this food could also be found on the Douluo Continent.

"Sure, I'll try it." Xiao Wu did not stand on ceremony. She picked some up with her chopsticks and began eating it in small bites.

"It's so good! What is this? How can it be this delicious?" After a few bites, excitement appeared on Xiao Wu's face as though she had discovered a new continent. She hurriedly asked.

"This is Heavenly Silkworm Potato, a delicacy with quite a history. In fact, there's a long story behind this dish. Do you want to hear it?"

"Yes, yes!" Xiao Wu nodded, still enjoying the food on the table without stopping.

Wang Sheng and the others nodded as well. No matter what, they had to give their boss some face.

"Legend has it that long ago, there was a young man with a tranquil nature who loved reciting poetry and enjoying himself. But his family was poor. Whenever he raised a cup to invite the moon, poetic inspiration would surge within him. That was how this dish got its name." Cao Yan spoke eloquently, his manner refined and carrying an air of nobility.

"Boss, you're truly talented." Wang Sheng gave a silly grin. Though he did not understand any of it, it sounded impressive.

"As expected of Boss. You know so much." The Work-Study Students also praised him one after another. After all, they had completely accepted this new boss.

"Cao Yan, you know so much. I never thought even such an ordinary dish would have a story like that." Xiao Wu spoke in surprise, her pink little face filled with longing. To her, these things were all very novel.

"Come on, Wang Sheng. Have a drink with your boss. We won't go home until we're drunk." Cao Yan looked at Wang Sheng, raised his cup, and drained it in one gulp.

They had ordered ale. Its alcohol content was not particularly high, making it an affordable drink for commoners, and it was not easy to get drunk from it.

"Boss, I should be the one to toast you. Thank you for helping us Work-Study Students win back our dignity." Wang Sheng said, flattered and surprised. He hurriedly raised his cup and laughed heartily.

"Boss, I'll toast you too."

"Boss, thank you for not looking down on us Work-Study Students. I should toast you too."

After Wang Sheng, the other Work-Study Students spoke up as well, their eyes full of respect as they looked at Cao Yan.

They were merely lowly Work-Study Students, yet Boss Cao Yan was willing to treat them as friends. They treasured that friendship from the bottom of their hearts.

Cao Yan did not stand on ceremony either, drinking cup after cup with great abandon.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Wang Sheng and the others were somewhat drunk, unsteady even as they walked. With night already fallen, they supported one another back to the dormitory.

A few Work-Study Students had originally planned to drag the drunken Cao Yan back with them, but Wang Sheng stopped them in time.

He was not as foolish as those underlings. It had not been easy to create a chance for his boss and Xiao Wu to be alone together—how could he dare stay behind and get in the way?

He had seen clearly what Boss Cao Yan felt for Xiao Wu. As the saying went, a gentleman helped bring about the happiness of others. Wang Sheng was a clever fellow, so of course he knew what to do at a time like this.

As the members of the Seventh Dorm gradually departed, only Cao Yan and Xiao Wu remained in the dining hall.

"Give me your hand. I'll pull you back to the dormitory." Xiao Wu looked at the drunken Cao Yan and sighed helplessly.

Cao Yan's face was flushed, and anyone could tell at a glance that he was drunk. If she returned to the dormitory alone, would he fall while walking in this state?

"Xiao Wu, do you know? From the very first moment I saw you, I liked you. Hehehe." Cao Yan spoke incoherently, taking the chance to grab Xiao Wu's soft little hand as his body leaned against her delicate figure.

"You!" Xiao Wu glared fiercely at Cao Yan and was about to lose her temper, but when she saw how drunk he was, her heart softened again.

She could tell that Cao Yan was drunk beyond measure. How could she possibly bear to leave him here alone at a time like this?

Shaking her head helplessly, Xiao Wu pulled Cao Yan back to the Seventh Dorm.

By then, Wang Sheng and the others were already asleep. Xiao Wu moved very quietly, afraid of waking them.

When they reached the bed, Xiao Wu gently laid Cao Yan down and covered him with a blanket. Looking at the exquisite pink bedding, she revealed a sweet smile.

As a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who had taken human form, she found things like this exceptionally appealing.

The bedding was clean and carried a faint fragrance. Xiao Wu drew a line across the bed with her hand before finally feeling at ease.

But her body soon stiffened. Turning her head, she saw that Cao Yan's arms had wrapped around her from behind. His eyes remained closed, and he appeared to be sleeping soundly.

"Can I hold you while I sleep? I'm so cold." Cao Yan murmured, his eyes hazy with sleep as his body trembled slightly. His little face was pale—he had drunk too much.

Seeing Cao Yan like this, Xiao Wu hesitated with her raised hand before slowly lowering it.

"Hmph, you're getting off easy. If you hadn't stood up for me today, I would never let you hold me." Xiao Wu pouted and spoke in a coquettish voice.

And so, they held each other throughout the night, like a beautiful painting.