After changing and coming out of the bathroom, Zhou Yang had the illusion of being completely renewed. His clothes were not overly flashy, but the fabric was breathable and comfortable-casual wear made for lounging at home.
Zhou Yang rose onto his toes a few times. He could feel that the clothes were a little large, but at his age, when he was still growing, they were comfortably roomy without hindering his movements. Even he had to praise Yali's good eye.
"How are they? Do the clothes fit?"
Yali walked over with a smile, looking Zhou Yang over with eyes full of affection. From time to time, she nodded approvingly, a warm smile blooming on her face.
"Yes."
Seeing this, Zhou Yang nodded. This was probably the compensation for being treated like a child.
Meanwhile, Yali continued studying Zhou Yang, growing ever more certain of the suspicion in her heart.
So alike. Far too alike. They were practically cast from the same mold.
Zhou Yang overlapped more and more with the figure in her memories. Although his build looked somewhat different now, time would prove everything.
"Are you done washing? Then it's my turn. Huh? Who are you?"
Hearing the commotion, Na'er came running over, only to see a sight that left her astonished.
"Dummy, it's me."
"Huh? That voice... you're Zhou Yang?"
Clothes made the man, just as a saddle made the horse. With Zhou Yang's dramatic transformation, his formerly rather forceful bearing had become gentler and more subdued. He actually seemed a little like the boy next door, and Na'er had almost failed to recognize him.
Na'er: Is this the same fucking person?
His original hairstyle and outfit had looked as though he had offended his stylist, but since he had been walking the path of the hegemon at Red Mountain Academy and overseeing the academy's affairs, the look had actually been just right.
After all, jeans and a tank top-those who understood magnetic-field fashion understood. Add a hairstyle that looked incredibly good at playing cards, and it was only because this was the Douluo Continent that it worked. In his previous life, people would probably have thought he was doing some absurdist bit.
He had practically looked just like a certain rocket-headed Kamen Rider.
"Are you really Brother Zhou Yang? Changing clothes practically turned you into a different person."
Thunk!
Did that sound nice? A nice sound meant a good head. The naturally gluttonous Na'er rammed her head into Zhou Yang's hammer fist, producing a crisp sound.
"Waaah, that hurts."
She crouched down with her hands over her head, her eyes brimming with tears. This incident confirmed that he really was Zhou Yang.
After all, he was probably the only one who loved picking on people this much.
"What do you know? That's called magnetic-field attire. It's the mark of the strong."
Zhou Yang rolled his eyes at Na'er.
"What magnetic-field attire? It looked awful. You look more like a person now." Although Zhou Yang's iron fist had left Na'er cowering, she immediately ran behind Yali and stuck out her little pink tongue.
"You fat dragon."
Zhou Yang was furious.
Yali looked helpless as she watched the two children clown around, but the warm smile on her face betrayed her mood.
In the end, Yali pulled the two apart and took Na'er along to bathe with her.
Left alone, Zhou Yang returned to his room. Upon entering, he saw the soul tool on the desk, evidently placed there by Yali.
He checked it. Nothing inside was missing.
He really had been measuring a gentleman's heart with a petty man's yardstick. This also confirmed his suspicions once more.
Meanwhile, the scene in the bathroom was particularly eye-catching, a portrait of exquisite beauties bathing unfolding within.
"Teacher, are we going to stay here?"
The innocent Na'er voiced the question she had been keeping in her heart.
In her memories, although her teacher was gentle, an air of sorrow often surrounded her, as though she were missing someone. Seeing her sorrowful expression made even Na'er's heart ache.
Ever since adopting her, her teacher had treated her very well and taken exceptional care of her, giving her practically all the best things.
Yet this teacher had an inviolable boundary, and it had to do with this house.
She cared deeply about every little detail here, every single thing.
Even Na'er was rarely brought here. Usually, she stayed at the Battle God Hall.
Today, her teacher had unexpectedly broken with her usual behavior and become generous, and the sorrow that had weighed upon her heart had completely dispersed.
"Your teacher once had someone very important to her."
"..."
Yali rubbed Na'er's lovely white hair as she spoke softly.
Amid the murmuring water, Yali told Na'er about the longing that had always dwelled in her heart.
"But now, I seem to have found the answer."
At this, a smile appeared on Yali's face again. It was the most genuine, sweetest smile, one Na'er rarely saw, different from the polite smiles she offered other people.
After bathing, Na'er and Yali changed and came out. Na'er rushed straight to Zhou Yang's room to find him.
However, when she opened the door, she discovered Zhou Yang lying on the bed, having fallen asleep at some point.
Watching Zhou Yang breathe evenly in his sleep, Na'er seemed to think of something. A mischievous smile curled her lips as she slowly approached him, but just as she reached out and was about to touch him...
Yali stopped her and shook her head.
Feeling her teacher's gaze, Na'er abandoned the idea of playing a prank on Zhou Yang. The two left the room and closed the door.
Na'er pouted as she glanced at Zhou Yang's room.
Damn it, Brother Zhou Yang. You got away with a night's sleep.
The next day, morning sunlight shone into the room, driving away the night's chill.
Zhou Yang yawned, quietly waking from his dreams, and stretched languidly.
He felt as though it had been ages since he had slept so refreshingly. After all, someone watched him every day, and if he did not get up, he would be on the receiving end of the Perfect Zecter's ultimate move.
The muddle in his thoughts gradually dispersed, replaced by a will called wakefulness.
He suddenly realized that fellow did not seem to have followed him today.
That's a good thing!
Unfortunately, his body seemed to have already been trained into obedience. Looking at the time, he really had woken up remarkably early.
These years of training had long since given him a perfect biological clock.
"Ah, damn it. I wanted to sleep in."
Sadly, his clear head felt not the slightest trace of drowsiness, and his plan to sleep in had to go down the drain.
Seeing that he could not get back to sleep, Zhou Yang got up and went out to prepare breakfast.
After all, he was staying in someone else's home. He would feel somewhat embarrassed freeloading without doing anything.
Zhou Yang checked the refrigerator. There were plenty of fresh ingredients inside, though he did not know when Yali had prepared them.
If she did not live here regularly, the refrigerator should have been quite bare.
Zhou Yang picked through the contents and selected some ingredients. Looking at the kitchen's layout, he guessed where things would be and, sure enough, found the cookware and seasonings.
Taking enough ingredients to stuff ten people, Zhou Yang rolled up his sleeves and got to work.
He could not be blamed for making so much. Remembering Na'er's appetite yesterday, she had practically been a bottomless pit, swallowing those snacks one after another without leaving a scrap.
If he did not make extra, what would the rest of them eat?
These years of training had practically been aimed at making Zhou Yang perfect. His cooking could even be said to have earned Kabuto's approval.
Although he felt somewhat unwilling to admit it, he had to acknowledge that the strict figure who was practically half a teacher to him had trained all his skills to the highest level. Cooking had long since become something he could do with effortless ease.
Meanwhile, Yali woke from her dreams and blinked. As though remembering something, she grew a little nervous. Wanting to confirm certain things, she immediately ran out of the bedroom.
But as she left the room, she caught the aroma of breakfast steaming through the air.
"Oh, I made some breakfast. I hope you won't mind it, Senior Yali."
The gentle voice by her ears seemed to possess a kind of magic, soothing her agitation.
She secretly pinched her thigh hard. The faint pain confirmed that none of this was a dream.
Watching the figure busy in the kitchen, Yali revealed a satisfied smile.
"All right."