Snacks

The campus was small, and they finished walking around it quickly.

As they exited through the back gate, Lin Qingxue pointed to a street in the distance: "There's a shop over there. I've eaten there a few times, and it's delicious."

Song Chen looked over; it was an ordinary street food alley.

Various stalls lined the roadside, selling fried noodles, skewers, wontons, and the like, brimming with the vibrant atmosphere of daily life.

"Your family lets you eat this stuff?" he asked, somewhat surprised.

Lin Qingxue blinked: "I eat it in secret. If my dad found out, he'd definitely scold me, saying street food isn't clean and affects one's vitality value."

Song Chen laughed.

"Then let's go."

The two walked side by side out of the school gate.

The sun was just right, and the breeze was gentle.

After a few steps, Song Chen suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Lin Qingxue turned back.

Song Chen looked at her face, hesitating for a moment: "You look very beautiful today."

Lin Qingxue's face flushed instantly.

She lowered her head, the tips of her ears turning pink, feeling quite embarrassed: "You... you look pretty good in your battle armor, too."

Then she quickened her pace and walked ahead.

Song Chen stood where he was, watching her back.

Her light pink skirt swayed gently in the breeze, and her long hair fluttered, glowing softly in the sunlight.

He suddenly felt that the sun today was truly wonderful.

He caught up to her.

The two walked one after the other into the bustling food street.

They didn't walk fast.

Lin Qingxue stopped in front of a skewer stall, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the meat skewers sizzling on the grill.

She waved her hand grandly: "Boss, ten skewers!"

Then she turned to Song Chen, "Do you eat spicy food?"

"I do."

"Then make it spicy!" She smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, and pulled a bill from her pocket.

Song Chen pressed his hand over hers: "Let me."

"No way, I said I was treating you." She stubbornly handed the money over, moving so fast it was as if she feared he would snatch the bill.

When the skewers were handed over, she took one first and gave it to him.

Song Chen took it and bit down; the heat of the chili and the aroma of the meat exploded in his mouth.

She watched him nervously from the side.

"Is it good?"

"It's good."

She smiled and took a bite herself, then fanned her mouth because of the spice.

Song Chen bought a cup of plum juice from a nearby stall and handed it to her. She took a big gulp, tears of spice welling up in the corners of her eyes, yet she was still smiling.

The two walked and ate their way along the street.

Skewers, fried noodles, candied haws, fried rice cakes... they bought only one portion of each and shared them.

Passing by a ring-toss stall, Lin Qingxue stopped and stared at a plush toy in the furthest row on the ground.

It was a white rabbit, round and chubby, hugging a carrot, looking incredibly adorable.

"Want it?" Song Chen asked.

"Yeah..." she said, feeling a bit shy.

"I always wanted one when I was little, but my family wouldn't let me buy it, saying it was a distraction from my studies."

Song Chen walked up to the stall and exchanged some change for five rings.

He weighed them in his hand, tossed one casually, and the ring landed securely around the rabbit.

Lin Qingxue cheered, ran over, picked up the rabbit, and hugged it to her chest.

Song Chen watched her looking so happy with the rabbit and said nothing.

She hugged the rabbit, tugged on his sleeve to keep moving, and pointed to a men's clothing store in the distance: "Let's go, it's time to buy your clothes."

Before long, the two walked into the shop.

Lin Qingxue seemed like a different person, weaving through the clothing racks and quickly gathering a stack of garments in her arms.

Shirts, jackets, casual trousers, and several items she couldn't name but insisted looked "good."

She pushed him toward the fitting room: "Try this one, and this one too."

Song Chen walked out wearing a dark blue shirt, and she tilted her head, studying him for a long time: "It's okay, but not quite right."

He changed into a light gray one, and she shook her head.

"Too formal."

The third outfit was a simple white T-shirt paired with a black casual jacket.

Her eyes lit up, and she circled him: "Perfect!"

She stepped back, tilted her head to appraise him, then stepped forward to straighten his collar: "This is the one."

She was standing very close, close enough for him to catch the faint scent of cherry blossoms in her hair.

When her fingertips brushed his neck, they felt slightly cool.

Song Chen stood where he was, motionless.

Just then, a voice came from the shop entrance.

"Qingxue?"

Lin Qingxue's hand froze, and both of them turned their heads at the same time.

A young man stood at the entrance, around twenty years old, wearing a meticulously tailored white combat suit with a silver badge pinned to his chest.

It was the emblem of a well-known martial hall in Shangjing.

Lin Qingxue was stunned: "Zhang Hao? When did you get back?"

Zhang Hao walked in, his gaze sweeping between her and Song Chen: "Just arrived yesterday."

His smile remained, but there was a hint of scrutiny in his eyes as he pointed at Song Chen: "And this is?"

"My classmate, Song Chen." Lin Qingxue's tone cooled slightly.

Zhang Hao's gaze landed on Song Chen, traveling from top to bottom, then back up again.

The look was light, as light as a feather, but Song Chen could feel the weight behind it.

He saw the new jacket Song Chen had just put on, saw the old windbreaker hanging in the fitting room, and caught a glimpse of the dark cyan battle armor peeking out from beneath the windbreaker.

"Song Chen?" He repeated the name, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

"I've heard so much about you."

Though he said it, there was no sincerity in his tone.

Lin Qingxue clearly heard it too, and her brows furrowed slightly: "Zhang Hao, we're busy."

Zhang Hao smiled: "What's the rush? It's been a long time, let's chat."

His eyes swept over Song Chen again: "Are you preparing for the college entrance exam, classmate Song? Which university are you planning to apply to?"

"Haven't decided yet," Song Chen said.

Zhang Hao nodded, looking thoughtful: "True, the college entrance exam is all about strength."

He raised his hand, casually flexing his fingers: "You should think carefully. Like me, for instance—getting into the Martial Arts University in Shangjing put me miles ahead of certain people from the bottom rungs of society."

When he said "bottom rungs of society," his tone was nonchalant, as if he were commenting on the weather.

Lin Qingxue's expression darkened. Just as she was about to speak, a shop assistant walked over: "Sir, would you like us to wrap up the outfit you tried on?"

Lin Qingxue spoke first, pulling out her phone to pay: "Wrap it up."

Zhang Hao glanced at the price tag and laughed: "Qingxue, you're treating him? Can't this classmate Song afford it himself?"

The air went quiet for a moment, and Lin Qingxue's face sank: "Zhang Hao, that's enough."

Zhang Hao spread his hands: "I was just asking. After all, your family is well-off, Qingxue, not everyone can..."

Just then, another shop assistant walked over, interrupting him: "Sir."

Her gaze landed on the dark gold badge on Song Chen's chest, her expression respectful: "May I ask if you are a core member of the Divine Dragon Martial Hall?"

Song Chen nodded.

The assistant's attitude became even more deferential: "Our manager is also a martial artist from the Divine Dragon Martial Hall. He recognized your badge just now and said that all your purchases in our store will be on the house."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Zhang Hao, and continued: "The manager also said that there are only a handful of core members of the Divine Dragon Martial Hall in all of Anning City, and it is our honor to serve you."

Zhang Hao's smile stiffened.

The assistant didn't look at him, continuing to address Song Chen: "The battle armor you're wearing, that's B-Grade, isn't it?"

"Our manager says this armor is worth at least thirty million. There aren't many people in all of Anning City who can afford to wear one."

Every word felt like a slap to Zhang Hao's face.

Zhang Hao's face turned a shade of pale green. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

B-Grade Battle Armor.

Thirty million.

Core member of the Divine Dragon Martial Hall.

He looked down at the white combat suit he was wearing—it was a brand name, sure, but...