Dorm Seven!
After Xiao Wu had angrily helped Su Chen make his bed, it was finally time to eat!
Su Chen invited Wang Sheng and the others to come with him to the cafeteria.
He was new here and didn't know his way around, so bringing along these free guides would save him time.
Notting Academy's cafeteria had two floors.
As a transmigrator, Su Chen naturally wasn't about to shortchange himself.
So what if he had to spend some Gold Soul Coins? He'd find a way to earn them back.
Su Chen had just set foot on the stairs leading to the cafeteria's second floor.
But Wang Sheng and the other work-study students stopped, their faces full of unease.
The first floor was where work-study students like them were supposed to eat. They couldn't possibly afford the second floor.
Only Xiao Wu followed Su Chen without a care in the world.
She was busy calculating how many carrots she could eat.
Noticing no one was behind him, Su Chen turned to look at the group, frozen in place. "Why'd you stop?"
Wang Sheng looked troubled. "Boss, the second floor's too expensive. Only the noble students can afford to eat there."
So that was it!
Su Chen waved a hand, brimming with confidence. "No big deal. Come on, my treat!"
Wang Sheng and the others were overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness.
This new boss is the real deal! If there's food, he'll share it with us.
Just as everyone happily prepared to head upstairs, a piercing voice of ridicule rang out from above.
"Well, well, if it isn't Wang Sheng and his gang of paupers?"
"You can't afford second-floor food by sweeping floors. What, you want to come up and smell it today?"
Su Chen looked up.
Several well-dressed upperclassmen were blocking the stairs, sneering down at them.
He gave a quiet laugh to himself.
And here come the NPCs bearing Gold Soul Coins.
Wang Sheng and the others flushed bright red. They clenched their fists and were about to charge upstairs.
Su Chen raised a hand to stop them, shielding them behind him.
"Boss..." Wang Sheng's face was twisted with frustration.
"If I'm your boss, there's no way I'm letting my underlings take the front line."
Su Chen's tone was calm, but his domineering presence was unmistakable.
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. She clenched her little fists, eager to jump in. "Boss, let me handle them!"
Su Chen shot her a disdainful glance. "What's a girl like you doing picking fights? Watch out, or you'll grow up into a violent maniac."
"You..."
Xiao Wu was so angry she was speechless. Why is this brat so irritating?
The young man leading the group saw Wang Sheng calling a little kid his boss and burst out laughing. "Wang Sheng, you're really going downhill. You actually made a little baby your boss!"
The men behind him burst into laughter, joining in the mockery.
Su Chen narrowed his eyes.
Too lazy to waste words, he let a flash of light flicker across his palm. The Heart of Rules transformed into a long sword and appeared out of thin air!
Right after it, a dazzling yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring rose fiercely from beneath his feet!
The young man's laughter caught in his throat. His eyes nearly popped out of his head. "A... a Hundred-Year Soul Ring?!"
He was just about to beg for mercy.
Su Chen lightly swung the sword in his hand.
Wang Sheng, Xiao Wu, and the others instinctively sprang backward, clearing a large space in the blink of an eye.
The young man's knees buckled. With a heavy thud, he slammed down onto the stairs!
The next second.
His entire body slid helplessly down the steps on his knees, smooth as silk, until he came right to a stop at Su Chen's feet!
"Smack!"
The young man pressed his palms together, catching the blade of Su Chen's sword between them with uncanny precision.
[You created an absurd moment and gained 100 Abstract Value]
The young man stared up at Su Chen's smiling face in terror, his mind completely blank.
Devil. That evil little brat has to be a devil.
The followers on the stairs were even more terrified by the sight. They all staggered backward several steps and pressed themselves against the wall.
Xiao Wu clicked her tongue inwardly. No matter how many times she saw this wicked Soul Skill that forced people to kneel, it still seemed absurd.
Su Chen looked down at the man kneeling before him and smiled. "A person ought to know their place. Don't you agree?"
The young man couldn't move a muscle; only his head could respond.
He hurriedly nodded. "Yes, yes, big brother, you're absolutely right."
"If you don't have the strength, but still insist on showing off, it's like water coming to a boil."
Su Chen paused, then enunciated every word. "Once the water boils, it's dancing."
The young man had no idea what that meant, but frantically agreed that he was a useless loser, nodding so hard he nearly broke his neck.
Su Chen was pleased with his apology.
"Since I've taught you how to behave, shouldn't you pay me for the lesson and my trouble?"
The young man seemed to come to his senses. He answered repeatedly, "I'll pay! I'll pay right away!"
"But, with me like this, I can't exactly hand it over."
Su Chen recalled his Martial Soul and released the young man from his control.
The young man was as grateful as if he'd been granted a pardon. He scrambled to his feet, quickly pulled a money pouch from his shirt, and raised it over his head with both hands, respectfully handing it to Su Chen.
Now that's a quick learner!
Su Chen nodded in satisfaction, accepted his lesson fee, and weighed the pouch. It was quite heavy.
"Boss... can we get out of here now?" the young man asked, his voice trembling with tears.
Su Chen snorted. "Remember, from now on, the work-study students are under my protection. Don't go looking for trouble with them."
"Understood! Absolutely!"
The young man called to his stunned followers, and together they fled the cafeteria, scrambling over each other.
The entire cafeteria fell deathly silent.
A moment later, Wang Sheng's face flushed red as he shouted, "Long live the boss! The boss is mighty!"
The other work-study students joined in, cheering wildly!
Inside a private room by a second-floor window.
A table laden with steaming delicacies sat before them as the work-study students devoured the food.
Su Chen ate slowly, but every so often he glanced out the window from the corner of his eye, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips.
Xiao Wu had a carrot stuffed in her mouth, her eyes sparkling.
Calling him boss was worth it. There are carrots galore!
Seeing Su Chen staring out the window, she curiously leaned closer. "Su... Boss, what are you looking at?"
The smile at the corners of Su Chen's mouth grew wider.
He crooked a finger, beckoning Xiao Wu to come closer.
Xiao Wu blushed, growing even more certain of what she'd suspected.
This little brat must have fallen for me!
She stole a glance at Su Chen, and her face turned even redder.
Su Chen was baffled. You're a rabbit, not a monkey.
Why's your face as red as a monkey's butt?
Xiao Wu slowly leaned closer to Su Chen.
Lowering his voice, Su Chen whispered in her ear, "The trump card my family gave me to save my life is warning me that there's a Titled Douluo outside, watching us the whole time."
"Clatter!"
The carrot fell from Xiao Wu's hand and landed on the table.
Her rosy little face turned deathly pale.
A bone-chilling dread shot straight to the crown of her head!
A Titled Douluo?
She stiffly turned her head, her voice trembling. "Y-you're... joking, right?"
Su Chen was secretly thrilled. You were so lively before. Why not try hopping around now?
He shrugged, looking innocent. "What would I gain by lying to you? Though it's strange—the Titled Douluo's aura has been locked onto you the whole time. Why do you think that is?"
Su Chen looked at Xiao Wu with an amused smile.
Xiao Wu felt as if she'd been struck by lightning! Her eyes widened in disbelief.
It's over!
That little brat must have seen through my true form.
I've barely been out of the Star Dou Great Forest, and my identity's already been exposed!
At that moment!
I want to run, but I can't!
Xiao Wu's eyes reddened, and she was so desperate she could hardly keep from crying.
Da Ming, Er Ming... where are you? Xiao Wu's so scared!
Seeing the Rogue Rabbit so scared she'd lost her wits, Su Chen was immensely satisfied with his wicked little prank.
He waved a hand, casually reassuring her. "Don't worry. As long as you stay by my side and behave, I'll keep you safe from one measly Titled Douluo."
Xiao Wu forced her tears back.
Listen to him. One measly Titled Douluo?
Does this little brat even know what he's saying?
Before Xiao Wu could recover from her shock,
Su Chen suddenly turned and shouted to a waiter not far away.
"Waiter, add another dish! Bring us a spicy rabbit head! Extra chili and cumin!"
Xiao Wu's eyes flew wide open, and her rabbit teeth ground together with a grating sound!
You little bastard!
You know who I am, and you still order a spicy rabbit head right in front of me!
"Su Chen! I'm going to bite you to death!"
Xiao Wu lunged at him in a fury, grabbed his arm, and sank her teeth into it with a fierce bite!