Poor Cod and Rich Dog

Noticing the door standing open, the Italian man celebrating the start of the new semester in the bathtub froze as well. He had not expected that after living alone for an entire year, just when he was about to move out of the dorm, Norma would suddenly assign him a roommate.

He looked at Li Lin, standing stiffly in the doorway, then took an unopened bottle of champagne from a plastic crate beside him and offered it to the unfamiliar visitor.

"Welcome to Cassel College. Care for a drink?"

Li Lin had not yet recovered from the shock. Faced with Caesar's invitation, he instinctively muttered, "It's illegal for minors to drink," then silently cursed himself for being infected by Xia Mi.

Caesar froze again at that.

Yet Caesar did not take back the champagne. Instead, he carefully examined Li Lin. Then came the sound of splashing water as the man in swim trunks stood up, his bright gaze fixed on the newly enrolled freshman.

Golden liquor, carrying countless tiny bubbles, ran down his body. He took the bath towel hanging from the edge of a stool and wrapped it around himself as though it were an emperor's cloak.

The Towel King enthusiastically approached Li Lin, still holding the black champagne bottle in his left hand. He dried his right hand against the towel before shaking Li Lin's, his excited smile paired with those haughty eyes making him the very image of a nobleman humbling himself to welcome talent.

If one overlooked the dense body hair that easily called a golden-haired gorilla to mind, along with those shorts that covered more than half his thighs, this senior who radiated aristocratic bearing in every gesture would probably have inspired awe in Li Lin.

"I am Caesar Gattuso. You must be the dashing young hero Li Lin from the preparatory class? I have long admired you. Last year, I wrote thirty thousand words of analysis based on your martial arts combat videos."

"Uh, hello..."

Li Lin was a little dazed, because he recognized the champagne in Caesar's hand. A 1995 Krug Ambonnay Black Diamond, priced at 3,200 dollars a bottle. When he had undergone his bloodline assessment, he had seen the preparatory class instructor open one. It had been the first and last time he had ever seen a drink so expensive it could cover an entire year of his tuition and living expenses.

Yet when Li Lin's gaze passed Caesar and landed on the bathtub filled to the brim with liquor, along with all the empty bottles scattered around it, he immediately felt profound respect.

Li Lin shook Caesar's hand firmly and was about to introduce himself, only to find that Caesar seemed to know everything about him. In a solemn tone, he began reciting achievements that even Li Lin himself had never heard of.

"At fourteen, he passed the preparatory class's comprehensive cold-weapons test. At fifteen, he passed the practical assessment for the preparatory class's seven major mainstream boxing systems. At sixteen, he became the second all-around martial arts master in Cassel College history to complete all physical education credits before even enrolling..."

The more he listened, the more familiar this résumé sounded... Li Lin glanced at the Dragon-Slaying Binding System that had suddenly popped up in the corner of his vision and saw the notification that [Housekeeping Ability] had increased slightly. So behind all those impressive titles that had spread overseas lay Xia Mi's daily, year-after-year grueling training.

Then he saw Caesar laughing as he raised the champagne bottle over his head and heard the young master of the Gattuso family say cheerfully, "According to Chinese custom, I'll punish myself with a bottle first, as an apology for encouraging a minor to drink."

With that, Caesar popped the cork with his thumb, lifted the bottle, and drained the champagne that had originally been meant for his bath. He set down the empty bottle, walked over to the desk, took a dorm key from the corner, and handed it to Li Lin before introducing himself again.

"Caesar Gattuso, second-year student at Cassel College. Bloodline rank A. Currently the president of the Student Union. I am delighted that Dorm 403 has welcomed a new friend this semester."

Li Lin had not yet taken the aptitude exam or joined any clubs. All he could do was awkwardly add to his renewed introduction that he was somewhat skilled with his fists and feet. But to the seniors of Cassel College, such modesty was enough to make them rise and applaud.

Since last year, many Cassel College students had been stirred up by the sparring videos of Li Lin and Xia Mi. Two children whose bloodlines had not even awakened had displayed combat prowess that put even the school's professional-course instructors to shame. Their improvised blending of styles, their masterful ability to move as their intentions dictated, and the visual impact of their fluid yet fierce techniques had directly sparked a surge of enrollment in martial arts electives.

And Caesar truly did just that. The dignified Student Union president clapped vigorously, as if this were no longer a student dormitory but the grand hall of Amber Hall, where the Student Union was announcing a new event. He found a chair for Li Lin to sit in by his seat and carefully arranged the desserts he had had fellow students bring from the cafeteria onto the table, then began setting the dorm room in order.

First, he dragged the champagne-filled bathtub back into the bathroom. Then he cleared away the assorted firearms and cold weapons laid out on the unused bed. Caesar made no attempt to hide his enthusiasm and admiration for Li Lin. He even pulled out an Apple phone on the spot and called one of the Student Union's recently recruited lackeys, telling him to fetch roasted pork knuckles and steaks from the cafeteria, then bring up two bottles of red wine from his collection in Amber Hall.

"Senior Gattuso, what are you doing...?"

"Wait, don't call me 'Gattuso.' And there is no need to add the honorific 'senior' either. Cassel College does not do that. Just call me Caesar from now on. I'll have someone buy new bedding and pillowcases later. Sit over there, eat some dessert, play on your phone for a while. You can use my laptop too. Once I finish bathing, I'll take you around the school."

Caesar was extremely resistant to the surname "Gattuso."

Seeing that, Li Lin could only use this enthusiastic senior's given name and ask again, wondering why Caesar was going to such elaborate lengths.

Caesar was about to continue soaking in his champagne bath.

Hearing Li Lin's question, he turned back, waved, and walked onto the balcony. His sharply defined, massive muscles gleamed against the bright blue sky.

"Of course it's to celebrate your arrival, junior. I heard the principal decided to specially arrange a 3E Exam next Monday for you preparatory-class students admitted through special recruitment. As it happens, I'm planning to hold a dinner at Amber Hall then. If you're interested, feel free to come... Oh, and the White Stockings Ballet Troupe will be performing."

What special reason could there be? Since Norma had assigned Li Lin to Dorm 403, even setting aside bloodline, talent, and personal ability for the moment, Caesar Gattuso's pride would never allow a freshman living so close by to wander around the school like a headless fly.