"Lingling, the academy hasn't changed much while I've been away."
Dugu Yan walked into Heaven Dou Royal Academy with Ye Lingling, her eyes constantly taking in their surroundings.
She looked as though she were revisiting an old haunt.
Ye Lingling was rather speechless at Dugu Yan's words.
"Yanyan, you haven't been away from the academy that long. How much could it have changed?"
"It's just gone from summer to autumn, and the leaves have turned a little yellow."
Ye Lingling pointed at the yellowing plants on either side of the path as she spoke.
"Hey, if you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't even have noticed that."
As she spoke, Dugu Yan suddenly laughed.
"Yanzi, you're finally back!"
While the two were chatting, Dugu Yan suddenly heard a delighted shout from behind her.
She didn't turn around. Instead, she immediately frowned.
She knew who it was from his voice alone, without even looking.
Beside her, however, Ye Lingling turned around and saw a tall young man striding toward them.
As he drew closer, his features gradually came into view.
He had an ordinary face, but he was tall, dressed in purple, and carried an air of brooding gravity.
"Captain," Ye Lingling called.
Without a doubt, this was Yu Tianheng, captain of the Heaven Dou Royal Team.
"Yanzi, Lingling, you're back."
After coming to a stop, Yu Tianheng forced a stiff smile onto his face.
But Dugu Yan still had her back to him.
Instinctively, he reached out to touch Dugu Yan, wanting her to turn around.
But...
He had barely raised his hand when Dugu Yan spoke. "Yu Tianheng, I told you we should keep some distance between us."
At her words, Yu Tianheng's smile froze, as though it had been pinned to his face.
His eyes went blank.
His raised