"Taking more than twenty days to hunt for a Soul Ring? Could he have run into some kind of danger?"
"Pah, pah, pah! Don't jinx it! Su Chen's so strong. What danger could he possibly be in?"
A girl clasped her hands together, her face devout. "I pray Su Chen returns safe and sound. I'm willing to go vegetarian for a month!"
The girl beside her rolled her eyes. "You were gnawing on chicken legs yesterday, with grease all over your mouth."
"T-that was yesterday! I'll start eating vegetarian today!"
"Yeah, right."
Just then, the classroom door swung open.
Su Chen stepped inside.
At that moment, it was as if someone had pressed pause on the entire classroom.
Every gaze swept toward the blond boy standing in the doorway.
It had been more than twenty days since they'd seen him, but Su Chen didn't look much different. He still had that dazzling golden hair, those deep golden eyes, and a face so handsome it was impossible to look away.
Yet, for some reason, everyone felt something was different.
He seemed... somehow even more extraordinary.
They couldn't put their finger on what had changed. But there was something about the way he stood there, as if a faint halo surrounded him, making people want to look up to him.
"Su Chen?!"
A delighted voice rang out from a desk.
It broke the silence in the classroom.
Xiao Xiao sprang straight up from her seat, her pale-green twin ponytails bouncing as they drew two joyful arcs through the air. She dashed toward him, taking two steps at a time, as fast as a gust of wind.
When she reached Su Chen, Xiao Xiao grabbed his hand and held on tight. Her jade-green eyes brimmed with delight, along with deep concern.
"You're finally