The Eve of the College Entrance Examination

Seeing the dean of discipline's utterly incredulous expression, Xu Laoba proudly puffed out his chest, smiling.

"That's right, we really were a team. Through the hard work of all of us, we achieved these results!"

"Here, we'd like to thank our teachers for their guidance, our classmates for their care, and my mom..."

Xu Laoba looked exceptionally proud. Though Cao Xiaochun had done most of the work in the dungeon.

But he knew his brother did not like to show off, and Cao Xiaochun had specifically reminded him before they came out. So this chance to brag should be left to him!

"Hahaha, not bad, not bad! Young men, your futures are bright!"

After receiving Xu Laoba's affirmative answer, the dean of discipline froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.

Cao Xiaochun and the others' results would definitely be announced on the Nine Provinces official website. And since they were students of Third High School, he, the dean of discipline, would surely benefit as well.

Perhaps before long, the vice principal's position would be his. Dear heavens, this was absolutely a political achievement!

"Pah! Xu Laoba, you have no shame at all! Everyone knows Li Hanyi awakened as a Demon Contractor. You only got such results by riding someone else's coattails, and you dare say you contributed? Doesn't your conscience hurt?"

"Exactly! You contributed? By standing there and getting slapped? The Yonghe War God, huh?"

"Damn it, even that bastard Hong Jianjun reached Level 8. If I'd known, I would've sold everything I owned to come up with that three hundred thousand!"

"Boss Hanyi, take me with you too!"

"Waaah... Why am I so miserable? If I'd known, I would've rather died in there than come out!"

Although the dean of discipline was extremely excited, the students nearby seemed to have seen through the truth. This had clearly been a one-carrying-three team, and that shameless Xu Laoba had come out just to show off!

The particularly miserable crying voice belonged to Pan Yuanyuan. Though she had been eliminated early, she had still come over today to join in the excitement. This news, like a bolt from the blue, left her deeply regretful.

They were both life-class professions, so why did Hong Jianjun get such an opportunity? Heaven was unfair!

"Fuck you monkeys! You dare question your daddy?"

Hearing the waves of doubt, Xu Laoba glared with tiger-like eyes and immediately snapped back.

What he got in return, however, was even fiercer laughter.

Li Hanyi, standing beside him, felt rather uncomfortable from all the praise. She knew very well that they had achieved such results entirely because of Cao Xiaochun.

In other words, she was also someone who had ridden another's coattails, and Li Hanyi inexplicably felt a little guilty.

She shot Cao Xiaochun, who was watching the spectacle like it had nothing to do with him, an annoyed look. Clearly, getting him to come out and explain anything was completely impossible, making her purse her lips.

Cao Xiaochun merely smiled at the scene before him. He did not care in the slightest about either the flattery or the doubts.

The splendor of one's life lay in pursuing one's own dreams and the journey itself. There was no need to beg for others' approval or disappointment. So-called doubts and praise had not the slightest impact on what he sought.

At its root, so-called glory was merely an illusory halo. Why let such things bind him and create more obstacles in his pursuit of the highest heights?

This farce lasted nearly half an hour. If the dean of discipline had not come to his senses and realized it was delaying the submission of the materials, it might have gone on even longer.

After receiving their report cards, Cao Xiaochun and the other four left the submission area, preparing to go home and rest. After all, the most important time—the college entrance examination—would arrive in half a month.

"Hmph. So what if you lucky bastards are Level 8 now? You should think about which university to apply to instead. Capital University doesn't want professions that are completely useless."

Just as Cao Xiaochun stepped out of the school gates, he ran into Zhou Yuanlong. This rich young master had actually reached Level 6 after the dungeon trial, and his results were not bad either.

Though Zhou Yuanlong felt somewhat jealous of Cao Xiaochun, when he thought about how all those achievements had come from relying on his childhood sweetheart, his mood improved considerably.

After all, Cao Xiaochun's profession was limited by nature. Even if he had reached Level 8 now, he was still destined to have nothing to do with Capital University!

And these top-tier institutions conducted separate tests during the examinations. Zhou Yuanlong believed that unless Cao Xiaochun was an idiot, he would not apply to such schools.

"What the fuck does it have to do with you?"

Cao Xiaochun paid no attention to Zhou Yuanlong's mockery and replied with a disdainful expression.

The two had never been familiar with each other to begin with, and he had no desire to waste more words on Zhou Yuanlong. As long as Zhou Yuanlong did not get in his way, that was enough. Otherwise, Cao Xiaochun would not mind burying him afterward.

Watching Cao Xiaochun's retreating back, Zhou Yuanlong first froze, then flushed red with rage. When had the young master of the Zhou family ever been ignored like this?

At that moment, Zhou Yuanlong decided that no matter what, he would teach that arrogant bastard a lesson!

After returning to the residential complex, Cao Xiaochun swiftly opened his door. After summoning Binuoxiu and her sister to clean the house, he took out his household ledger and began his rent-collecting rounds.

After making the rounds of nearly an entire building, aside from the girl across the hall, who only made up her previous rent, all the other tenants cooperated well. As for the girl's absurd suggestion, Cao Xiaochun ultimately postponed her rent for this month and charged only for utilities.

"Your boyfriend is on a business trip lately, so why don't you come in and hang out for a couple of days?"

What kind of outrageous words were those?!

He summoned the dragon egg and carefully sensed the increasingly vigorous fluctuations within. Cao Xiaochun nodded in satisfaction. At this rate, the ice dragon would surely hatch within three months.

After dealing with all those miscellaneous matters, Cao Xiaochun took a comfortable shower and then buried his head in bed for a deep sleep.

Over the next half month, Cao Xiaochun seemed somewhat idle most days. Aside from going to learn musical instruments with Li Hanyi at her invitation every day, he wandered through dungeons. Still, each day was quite fulfilling.

"Nothing much today. Learned an instrument with Li Hanyi, then explored a dungeon with Xu Laoba."

"Nothing much today. Li Hanyi, learning to play the xiao."

"Nothing much, playing the xiao..."

"Playing the xiao."

Meanwhile, at Hong Jianjun's home, a fierce conflict broke out between father and son!

"What did you say? You want to apply to Capital University? Are you too full of yourself?"

Hong Tao sat on the sofa, his eyes full of disbelief. His bulky body alone took up nearly a third of the couch. Although his son had surprised him at school, what Hong Jianjun said today was simply unbelievable to him.

A Lifestyle-class Chef wanted to apply to the top combat academy? Wasn't that a joke? Dungeons were so dangerous, and he only had one son—how could he let him risk his life?

"That's right. I think my class is worth trying!"

Hong Jianjun appeared exceptionally confident. Over the past few days, he had kept innovating. Not only were the grilled sausages he developed easy to preserve, they also possessed Black Iron-tier healing and mana restoration effects!

And they tasted great too. That was why he felt those shitty potions couldn't hold a candle to his stuff!

"I don't agree. You're a Lifestyle-class professional. Just apply to an ordinary university, graduate, and come back to inherit the family business. Why go through all that trouble?"

Hearing his son's words, Hong Tao let out a heavy breath and immediately refused.

"Dad, this is my dream!"

"Dream my ass. Don't you know how dangerous dungeons are? You're my only child!"

"Then have another one with my stepmoms!"

"That's all bullshit. What I have with them is pure love. This family business was meant for you in the first place. If I have another one, what if they compete with you for it later?"