Qin Kan and Huang Bo

According to the usual rules,

the top scorer on each provincial trial ranking received a generous reward personally presented by King Yama Zhou.

King Yama Zhou gave Ling Zhan an A-rank skill book with no job restrictions.

As for his alma mater, First High School, Principal Zhong Wenshan announced that he would reward Ling Zhan with one million in cash, as well as a set of Level 15 purple-grade defensive gear.

There was no helping it. His alma mater, First High School, was simply too poor.

The Dragon Kingdom had always strongly supported combat professions.

The top combat talents in the Entrance Assessment

deserved even more attention.

These rewards were certainly extremely generous.

But the thing that left everyone most amused and exasperated was...

Several well-known tycoons had even declared that they wanted Ling Zhan as their son-in-law.

They were hoping to use their daughters to curry favor with the top scorer of the provincial trial.

But Ling Zhan had still rejected them outright.

He had also turned down every form of assistance and every reward offered by any other stranger or unfamiliar organization.

He refused them all.

The reason was simple.

Taking someone's food left you indebted; accepting their gifts put you in their power.

Ling Zhan didn't want to owe anyone anything.

Nanzhou Province.

Xiangyun City.

The Zhu Family villa.

Night fell, and the city lights began to glow.

Several young men and women gathered in the villa's courtyard for a barbecue.

They still had a youthful air about them. They were around eighteen or nineteen, all trial candidates who had just completed their Entrance Assessment.

Among them, two young men and two young women stood out for their looks.

One was Guo Tianjiu, who was cute and lively, with a playful personality.

The other was named Guo Fuliu. She had a gentle, gracious air, and her smiling eyes made her seem exceptionally warm.

As for the two handsome young men, one was Huang Bo. Today, he wore a white shirt and black trousers. His handsome face bore a proud expression, making him look like a prince from a fairy tale.

The other was named Qin Kan. He was refined and well-dressed, with eyes as deep as a still lake. People could easily lose themselves when they met his gaze.

The other young men and women clustered around these four, chatting and showering them with flattery and sweet words.

"Huang Bo, is that Ling Zhan really a Jobless Freelancer?" Guo Fuliu asked softly, sipping her red wine.

"Mm, he really is a Jobless Freelancer."

Huang Bo nodded, but he still looked unconvinced. "He'll definitely choose a job transfer eventually. Besides, this time he only won because of the low-level perks Jobless Freelancers get."

Guo Tianjiu looped her arm through her older sister Guo Fuliu's and said with a mischievous grin, "Sis, don't listen to Huang Bo. Ling Zhan's really impressive. Even Sister Yaoguang was impressed by him!"

As soon as the little schemer said that,

Qin Kan, who had been looking down as he grilled, raised his head slightly.

Huang Bo snorted. "Yaoguang just thinks Ling Zhan is a bit of an oddball. You know what she's like. She's always curious about things she hasn't seen before. Once she gets to know Ling Zhan, she won't be interested in him anymore."

Qin Kan lowered his head again and continued grilling for his classmates, who were also his friends.

"I wouldn't be so sure," Guo Tianjiu said with a grin, fanning the flames. "What if Sister Yaoguang really falls for Ling Zhan? Then you'll be heartbroken, Huang Bo."

"Tianjiu, you don't have to provoke me. Do you really think the young lady of the Zhu Family would fall for Ling Zhan, who only came first through luck? Don't be ridiculous!" Huang Bo rolled his eyes, unfazed.

The other young men and women chimed in.

"Exactly. Of all the prodigies, I think only Huang Bo and Qin Kan are a match for Miss Zhu."

"I heard Young Master Qin has been visiting the Key Combat Academy lately. He's even gone on Level 20 secret-realm training trips with the university seniors. What does Ling Zhan have on him?"

"Right? If Young Master Qin had taken the Job Transfer Trial Entrance Examination, Ling Zhan wouldn't have stood a chance."

"A Jobless Freelancer? Heh! He's just someone who exploits low-level advantages and relies on tricks."

Qin Kan was also a prominent figure among these young men and women...

No, he was a prominent figure among the graduates of Nanzhou Province as a whole.

In terms of fame, he could already rival Zhu Yaoguang.

Like Zhu Yaoguang, Qin Kan had already received an offer of guaranteed admission to a prestigious university. It was said that even Tianyan Academy, one of the Dragon Kingdom's top ten academies, had reached out to him.

Qin Kan had said he wanted to spend this time experiencing the teaching at several prestigious combat academies before making his choice.

That was why he hadn't taken part in this year's Entrance Assessment.

Huang Bo listened to everyone praising Qin Kan and let out an unhappy snort, but said nothing.

He admitted Qin Kan was a little better than he was.

But he still thought he had a good chance of winning Zhu Yaoguang's heart.

"What are you all talking about?"

Suddenly,

a clear, melodious voice rang out.

Everyone turned to look.

In an instant,

they all froze.

There stood Zhu Yaoguang, wearing a white princess dress and a princess's crown.

Her brows were like distant hills, her eyes like stars.

Her breathtaking features made everyone present marvel inwardly: A woman like her could only belong in heaven.

She had only to stand there to become the most dazzling presence.

Even the brilliant lights seemed to fade into the background.

"Wow! Sister Yaoguang, why are you wearing a princess dress? You really look like a princess!"

Guo Tianjiu's eyes lit up, and she skipped over to affectionately loop her arm through Zhu Yaoguang's.

Qin Kan and Huang Bo both thought how wonderful it would be if they could be as close to Zhu Yaoguang as Guo Tianjiu was.

"My mom made me wear it," Zhu Yaoguang said helplessly.

Her mother had a very lively personality, almost like a child, which often left Zhu Yaoguang at a loss.

Hearing that, the young men and women couldn't help laughing.

Everyone knew that the usually aloof Zhu Yaoguang had an eccentric mother with a lively personality.

Many people thought that someone as admired as Zhu Yaoguang would surely have a dignified, regal mother, like a queen.

No one had expected such a contrast.

"Yaoguang, I grilled your favorite potatoes. Come try them," Qin Kan said with a smile, handing her a freshly grilled skewer.

"Thank you," Zhu Yaoguang replied politely.

"Yaoguang, have some juice first," Huang Bo said, offering her a glass.

Zhu Yaoguang thanked him just as politely.

Qin Kan and Huang Bo exchanged a glance.

They could both see the hostility in each other's eyes.

Guo Tianjiu's eyes darted about before she suddenly asked, "Sister Yaoguang, the stressful Entrance Assessment is over, and now we've got the summer vacation ahead. Where are you planning to go?"