Someone who couldn't be expelled, a well-matched pair

When he returned from class at noon, Huo Yuhao repeated everything Zhou Yi had taught that morning to Wang Dong'er, worried that she had missed something important.

Of course, Wang Dong'er already knew all of it, but she didn't interrupt Huo Yuhao and listened with relish as he explained.

"Anything else, Teacher Huo?"

Being called Teacher Huo by Wang Dong'er made Huo Yuhao blush.

"That was everything we covered in class."

"Oh, right. After class, Teacher Zhou took me to the Soul Tool Research Institute. I'll be learning how to make Soul Tools from now on."

"Won't that be too tiring?"

Huo Yuhao shook his head. "No. I want to learn more and become stronger, too."

"Keep at it. I think you'll definitely become a powerful Soul Master and Soul Engineer someday," Wang Dong'er encouraged him.

"Really?"

"Of course. I believe you can do it."

Wang Dong'er's trust made Huo Yuhao extremely happy.

That afternoon, Wang Dong'er didn't go to class with Huo Yuhao.

Still, she came to the Training Grounds where the class was being held and watched Huo Yuhao run with weights.

Running in the morning and again in the afternoon—did Zhou Yi have nothing else to teach?

Wang Dong'er's gaze remained fixed on Huo Yuhao.

Watching that small body forge ahead under its burden made her heart ache.

He was so strong-willed. Though his soul power was the weakest of them all, he still persevered to the very end.

The other students who had already given up were moved by Huo Yuhao's unwavering persistence and began running behind him.

When the bell rang to end class, Huo Yuhao collapsed onto the ground, his vision going dark.

Just then, a beautiful face suddenly appeared in his field of vision.

"Wang Dong."

Huo Yuhao tried to sit up, but he no longer had the strength.

He simply lay there looking at Wang Dong'er, smiling foolishly.

"You're such an idiot. If you couldn't run anymore, you should've stopped."

"I wanted to see how long I could hold on."

Huo Yuhao was very glad he had persevered.

"What are you doing here?"

Zhou Yi suddenly walked over and asked.

Wang Dong'er looked at Zhou Yi and said, "I still haven't received an expulsion notice from the academy, so naturally, I'm still a Shrek student."

Zhou Yi glanced at Huo Yuhao and nodded in satisfaction before walking away.

Zhou Yi had invited a Soul Saint-level healing-type Soul Master to treat the students.

Huo Yuhao felt his exhaustion vanish all at once.

"What an amazing power."

"Everyone, gather here." Zhou Yi summoned the other students.

Wang Dong'er walked over as well and took her place beside Huo Yuhao.

Zhou Yi shot Wang Dong'er a resentful look. Now that the running's over, you decide to show up.

The other students found it strange to see Wang Dong'er come over.

Wasn't she supposed to have been expelled?

"Teacher, why is Wang Dong'er still allowed to attend class?" one student asked.

"Mind your own business."

Of course, Zhou Yi wanted to expel Wang Dong'er. Unfortunately, she couldn't.

At noon, Zhou Yi had submitted her list of expulsions. The academy approved every other application, but Wang Dong'er's alone was rejected.

The academy's reason was that Wang Dong'er was a special student and could not be expelled.

Zhou Yi couldn't understand it. Even if someone belonged to a royal family, Shrek Academy could still expel them without giving them any face.

So why couldn't Wang Dong'er be expelled?

She then proposed transferring Wang Dong'er to another class, but that was rejected as well.

In all her years of teaching, Zhou Yi had never encountered anything like this.

So, when it came to Wang Dong'er, Zhou Yi chose an out-of-sight, out-of-mind approach. It was best if she didn't attend class; if she did, Zhou Yi would pretend not to see her.

Zhou Yi addressed the other students. "No one will be eliminated today. You should all thank Huo Yuhao. He was the one who spurred you on. Since you still have a little fire in your veins, there will be no punishment."

"Hooray!" The students were all delighted.

"Huo Yuhao, step forward!"

Huo Yuhao walked to the front.

"Because of Huo Yuhao's outstanding performance, he will be our Class Monitor from now on."

The other students froze in surprise. Huo Yuhao was clearly the weakest, so what qualified him to be Class Monitor?

"Class Monitor should be Huo Yuhao. He's the one everyone can rally behind!" Wang Dong'er applauded.

The others followed with a scattering of applause.

With Wang Dong'er supporting him like that, Huo Yuhao smiled bashfully.

And just like that, Huo Yuhao became Class Monitor despite being the weakest in the class.

After class, Wang Dong'er and Huo Yuhao went to the dining hall together.

Huo Yuhao was just as frugal as before.

Wang Dong'er shared her food with him.

Huo Yuhao seemed to have grown accustomed to it and simply accepted.

"Yuhao, there you are! I was just about to look for you in your dorm."

Two people appeared before them: a boy with dark blue hair and a girl whose black hair was tied in a high ponytail.

They were slightly older than Wang Dong'er and Huo Yuhao, senior students in higher years.

"Is this your classmate? Introduce us," the girl said.

"Her name is Wang Dong. She's my roommate."

"Wang Dong, let me introduce you. This is Senior Brother Bei Bei, and this is Teacher Xiao Ya. It's thanks to Teacher Xiao Ya that I could come study here."

Naturally, Wang Dong'er recognized them. She smiled. "Hello."

These two were no ordinary people. One was the great-grandson of the Sea God Pavilion Master, and the other was the sect master of the Tang Sect.

Although the Tang Sect had declined, it was still a sect with a legacy spanning ten thousand years. The two of them made a well-matched pair.

"Wow, what a pretty junior! Anyone who didn't know better would think you were a girl."

Tang Ya studied Wang Dong'er, feeling something strange that she couldn't quite put her finger on. For a boy, Wang Dong'er was simply too beautiful.

"Yuhao, don't forget what we agreed on," Tang Ya said, turning to Huo Yuhao.

"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten. I'll go after we finish eating."

"Where are you going?" Wang Dong'er asked.

"Sister Xiao Ya helped me get a set of tools. I want to sell Grilled Fish outside the academy gate."

"I want to come too."

"Sure."

After finishing their meal, the four of them headed outside the academy's East Gate together.

Stalls lined both sides of the East Gate, selling all sorts of things.

Huo Yuhao hadn't expected it to be so lively outside the academy.

Tang Ya explained, "Our academy has so many students, so naturally, there's plenty of demand. But stalls aren't allowed inside, which is why so many vendors gather along this street outside the gate. Come on, the spot I saved for you is over here."

Tang Ya led them to a stall. Plenty of grilling equipment had already been laid out, and all the ingredients and seasonings were ready.

"I've prepared everything you need. Don't forget, two of the fish you sell today are mine. I'll go buy a few other things first and come find you later."

Bei Bei silently followed Tang Ya away.

"Do you need any help?" Wang Dong'er asked.

"No, I can handle it myself."

Wang Dong'er stood to one side and watched Huo Yuhao prepare the Grilled Fish.

Huo Yuhao lit the charcoal first, then began preparing the small black carp.

After washing the fish clean, he worked in the seasonings.

Once the heat rose, he placed the small black carp over the charcoal to grill.

Soon, a delicious aroma wafted over.

Watching Huo Yuhao grill the fish, Wang Dong'er noticed the happy smile on his face.

He truly loved Grilled Fish.

As she watched Huo Yuhao grill the fish with such concentration, Wang Dong'er thought he looked incredibly handsome. A boy focused on his work really was so handsome.