Morning sunlight streamed through the window lattices of Shrek Academy's Junior Division, spilling into the classroom. The moment Tang Wulin and Gu Yue walked in side by side, the noisy room fell silent for a second, then erupted into an irrepressible commotion.
"Class monitor!"
Wu Siduo, seated in the back row, was the first to stand. The usually aloof, competitive girl now wore undisguised joy on her face. Forgetting all about maintaining her image, she hurried over to Tang Wulin, her catlike eyes gleaming with excitement. "You're finally back! When we heard you'd disappeared, everyone was worried sick!"
Although she did not grab him the way Xie Xie did, her tightly clenched fists and slightly forward-leaning posture betrayed her excitement and relief. To her, as long as this powerful rival—the boy who had won her admiration and affection—was back, the entire class had its pillar of strength again.
"Sorry for worrying everyone." Tang Wulin scratched his head and flashed a radiant smile, free of yesterday's gloom and self-doubt.
"Class monitor! You're finally back!"
Before Tang Wulin could finish, a dark blur lunged at him. Like a koala, Xie Xie threw out his arms and clamped them around Tang Wulin's neck so hard that he nearly stumbled.
"Cough, cough... Xie Xie, let go! I can't breathe!" Caught between laughter and exasperation, Tang Wulin slapped his back.
"No way! You're so unreliable, disappearing for so long! Do you have any idea how worried we were?" Xie Xie complained stubbornly, though the corners of his eyes were visibly damp. "I thought you didn't want us brothers anymore!"
"All right, all right, let go. Do you want to attend class or not?" Tang Wulin smiled helplessly, but warmth surged through his heart. These were his companions, the Shrek Five Monsters he was willing to