Sunlight filtered through layer upon layer of tree crowns, leaving specks of light scattered across the forest,
The damp air mingled with the scents of soil and fresh grass, unique and refreshing.
The group made its way along a shaded forest path.
There had been no path through the forest, but where many people walked, a path formed. That saying simply didn't apply to the Star Dou Great Forest,
Starting from the outer regions, no matter how much you walked, you still wouldn't carve out a path. After all, even ten-year Plant-type Soul Beasts were Soul Beasts. Their vitality and ability to reproduce far surpassed those of ordinary plants,
But this forest lay even farther out than the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest,
And a path really had been carved through it,
A shaded forest path.
Lu Ran walked at the very back of the group,
A meter to his left, Jiang Nannan trailed one place behind, following close.
He turned his head slightly,
Even though she had lowered her head a little, her smooth golden hair obscuring most of her face,
He could still clearly feel Jiang Nannan's body tense up, her steps growing awkward,
He turned back to look at the path winding through the forest,
Its end nowhere in sight.
Jiang Nannan's stiff body relaxed without her meaning to, and her rapidly beating heart calmed somewhat,
Her long eyelashes fluttered unconsciously,
The figure in her view occupied every inch of it,
She couldn't look away.
Roots tangled beneath her feet as she stepped over them, one step at a time,
Her mind was a mess,
She didn't know what to do next,
It seemed the composure and resolve she'd once had were gone for good.
As they continued onward,
Lu Ran turned his head again, and her body stiffened once more,
Even her breathing became cautious.
"..."
Lu Ran turned his head back,
All along the way, he'd been turning it over in his mind:
Jiang Nannan wasn't like this, was she?
How had she become like this?
He remembered her not being particularly aloof, but she hadn't been this soft and timid either,
Soft and timid little... Nannan?
Curious, he wondered how long they'd stay awkward if he didn't speak first,
So he could only bring up a topic himself,
"Is your mother feeling better?"
His tone was gentle, full of concern.
"Huh?"
Jiang Nannan instinctively looked up, and her pale violet eyes met Lu Ran's,
She immediately looked away as if she felt guilty, turning her face aside just a little,
Her gaze darted about, afraid to look at Lu Ran,
Her voice was soft and sweet:
"Much... much better,"
She drew a small breath and paused,
"Other than still being a little weak, she's healthy in every other way. Her complexion is rosy, and she can walk around normally. She can even..."
When she started talking about her mother's condition, she couldn't help saying more,
Her voice grew louder, too,
At the end, she even excitedly looked up at Lu Ran,
After a moment of blankness, this time she didn't look away,
She took a deep breath, her beautiful eyes full of sincerity,
Her voice was gentle but firm:
"Thank you."
If it hadn't been for Lu Ran and Zhang Lexuan, she didn't know if she would have stayed in the Star Dou Great Forest forever, or how worried her mother would have been,
If it hadn't been for those two medicinal ingredients, her mother's illness would probably have worsened long ago...
It was Lu Ran's appearance
That had let her see a light breaking through the darkness of despair, a glimmer of hope.
"I'm glad I could help,"
Lu Ran said easily:
"You don't have to go running off to the Star Dou Great Forest anymore, either. You'll only make your mother worry."
Jiang Nannan gazed at his familiar profile and listened to his concerned words,
The corners of her lips lifted slightly without her realizing it,
Warmth spread through her heart.
Without meaning to, she edged closer to Lu Ran, narrowing the distance between them,
The sunlight that had fallen between the leaves seemed to land between the two of them,
Even the atmosphere grew more relaxed.
Gathering her courage, Jiang Nannan voiced the question on her mind:
"Are you a Shrek student too?"
She couldn't figure it out. If Lu Ran could be with the group, he had to be a Shrek student, and at his age, he could only be in the Outer Academy. But she'd never seen him in the Outer Academy. It wasn't that she hadn't paid attention—she even dreamed about Lu Ran,
There was no way she wouldn't notice him if he really appeared before her.
So he wasn't an Outer Academy student,
But he couldn't be an Inner Academy student either, given his age,
If he was neither, then he wasn't a Shrek student.
And yet he was with the group...
He was a Shrek student... and also not a Shrek student,
Jiang Nannan was thoroughly confused.
"Ah, well..."
Lu Ran scratched his hair. "If you mean a student, then I'm not one yet,"
He paused,
"But I am indeed with Shrek."
"..."
Jiang Nannan blinked her beautiful eyes, perplexed,
What did that mean?
Lu Ran said:
"I can't really explain. Anyway, I'll enroll in a couple of years."
Jiang Nannan nodded obediently,
She could tell
There was definitely something she didn't know about, but if Lu Ran didn't want to talk about it, she wouldn't ask,
And she certainly wouldn't tell anyone else.
"Then... what about that especially beautiful big sister? Is she from Shrek too?"
I've never seen her either.
Lu Ran explained, "She's the Inner Academy's senior sister,"
Going by the timing, Jiang Nannan should have enrolled before Zhang Lexuan's accident. Zhang Lexuan had always been quiet and didn't like making public appearances much. After lying unconscious for over half a year following the accident, she'd started carrying out Inspector Group missions and handling academy affairs,
So she'd be out of sight even more often,
It was only natural Jiang Nannan had never seen her.
Jiang Nannan nodded in sudden understanding. "So that's how it is..."
No wonder she was so young and powerful.
"Then which Soul Ring are you absorbing this time?"
Jiang Nannan had countless questions piled up, waiting for answers. It seemed they would never run out,
She was practically pressed against Lu Ran now.
Looking at her earnest, curious expression, Lu Ran suddenly felt playful, and the words at the tip of his tongue changed to, "Well..."
"I can't tell you."
"Huh?"
Jiang Nannan's mouth fell open slightly in surprise, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief,
What was so secret about that?
Why couldn't he tell her?
Was it something impressive?
Could he be absorbing... a Fifth Soul Ring?!
Or a Sixth Soul Ring?!
Could it be... a Seventh Soul Ring?!
The thought startled Jiang Nannan herself. How could that be possible?
But then she thought about it: Lu Ran had a close relationship with Yan Shaozhe, and he'd appeared alongside the mysterious senior sister of the Inner Academy,
All sorts of things...
He certainly wasn't an ordinary person. If he wouldn't tell her, then he must have his reasons,
Jiang Nannan couldn't help looking toward Yan Shaozhe at the front of the group, then turned to look at Lu Ran beside her,
For a moment,
Lu Ran's five-foot-nine frame seemed to shoot up to six-foot-six in her eyes,
He became tall and mysterious,
And yet she wanted to know more about him.
So,
Jiang Nannan nodded vigorously, her expression earnest:
"Mm-hmm!!"
A small hope stirred in her heart,
Her little hands clutched the hem of her clothes. She hesitated, then gathered her courage, shyly, a blush spreading across her delicate face,
"...My name is Jiang Nannan... but I still don't know your name..."
"Lu Ran,"
Lu Ran said seriously. "My name is Lu Ran."
Jiang Nannan's eyes brightened at once, the corners of her mouth lifting uncontrollably as happiness spread through her heart: "Lu Ran..."
"Lu Ran... Lu Ran!"
Like a little squirrel who'd found a treasure all her own, her soft voice was filled with undisguised delight.
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