Meanwhile, Tian Chen had barely returned to class before a crowd of girls surrounded him.
Xiao Xiao and the others even threw themselves straight into his arms, breathing in his scent again and again.
Tian Chen paused in surprise, then gave them an indulgent smile. He gently patted Xiao Xiao and the others on their shoulders and said softly, "All right, all right, stop fooling around. I just got back, and I'm still a little tired."
But Xiao Xiao was like a kitten begging for affection. She lifted her head, her eyes curving into crescents, and pouted. "Tian Chen, you were gone for five whole days! We missed you so much."
The other girls chimed in, talking over one another as they expressed how much they had missed him. Some tugged lightly at his sleeves, their eyes brimming with anticipation.
Just then, their homeroom teacher, Mu Jin, spoke up. "Ahem! All right, children, we're in class right now. Everyone, back to your seats!"
Only then did Xiao Xiao and the others let him go.
Mu Jin cleared his throat and said, "Everyone, the holidays are almost here. I know you all want to relax during the break, but don't forget about your cultivation."
"As your teacher, I should remind you that you'll have a Promotion Assessment when you advance to your second year. I don't know the exact contents of the assessment myself."
His gaze grew stern as he swept his eyes over the class and continued, "So make sure you keep cultivating during the holidays. Don't let your cultivation go to waste."
"Also, wherever you go and whatever you do, put your own safety first. Don't act alone, and don't try to be a hero. Understood?"
"Understood!" the students answered in unison, their voices loud and firm.
"Good. Then