On the podium, her aged face still held an indifferent expression.
"Three months have passed since the start of the semester, and you will soon face your first assessment for entering Shrek Academy."
"Only by passing the assessment can you officially become a first-year student and truly become a member of the Shrek Academy. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, you will be able to continue your training at the academy at least until the first-year graduation exam."
"The assessment will begin tomorrow, so today I'll explain the key points of the assessment to you."
Zhou Yi glanced at everyone, then focused her attention on Wang Dong.
Over the past three months, she has been quite satisfied with Wang Dong as class monitor. Although he is far inferior to Cao Yu in terms of leadership and ability, he is still the student she trusts the most.
In contrast, Cao Yu always seemed carefree and irresponsible, but Zhou Yi didn't say much to him because of the school's warning.
Wang Dong.
"Arrive."
Zhou Yi waved to him, led him closer to the podium, and handed him a stack of papers. Wang Dong then turned around and distributed the papers to each student in the audience.
Cao Yu looked at him with pity, seemingly with some sympathy.
Wang Dong is busy with this and that every day; being the class monitor is indeed very hard work for him.
It's so nice to be here now, just sitting here without having to do anything, it's really comfortable.
Zhou Yi continued, "After the freshman assessment, we'll start teaching according to your individual aptitudes. Write down your future cultivation directions and hand them to me later."
Choose your area of expertise from the categories of Soul Master: offense, defense, control, and support.
The new student assessment is also conducted in a team battle mode, similar to the 3v3 mode in King of Glory. Each team consists of three members, with a maximum of one Power Attack System Battle Soul Master (i. e., a warrior) and the other two being randomly selected.
The selection of team members first considers roommates, then allows for free combination, and finally, the remaining members are determined by drawing lots.
"The freshman assessment will be conducted uniformly across all grades. As our college has grown quite a few students in recent years, this year, nearly three hundred groups of students will participate in the freshman assessment."
"But only half of them will be able to stay, that is, the top 150 groups. This ranking is based on your combat competition points."
"The competition will be conducted by drawing lots, and each group of trainees will have to play at least ten battles. The final rankings will be based on the number of wins. The top sixty-four teams will then advance to the knockout stage."
"The top four academies in the knockout stage will each receive different rewards, and the champion team will receive a very rare reward."
After Zhou Yi finished explaining, she divided the 67 students in Class 1 into 22 groups, and assigned the extra student to the Soul Tool Department.
Cao Yu was assigned to a group with Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao.
The three of them stood up from their seats and looked at each other.
Xiao Xiao's gaze remained fixed on Cao Yu, but she completely ignored Wang Dong.
Sigh, being handsome is such a pain!
He had met Xiao Xiao before; she was quite good-looking, but rather shy.
She blushed with embarrassment after only a few glances and lowered her head, unable to look at him any longer.
As if afraid their little secret would be discovered.
If this kind of personality were in a guy, it would be described as "secretly passionate."
That feeling of feigned reluctance is like a pipa player half-veiled, truly irresistible.
So sometimes Cao Yu liked to tease her, and Cao Yu found it very amusing to see her face turn red all at once.
"The second group consists of Yuhao, Ma Qingshuang, and Leng Leng."
"The third group,..."
Zhou Yi continued reading from the podium.
After all the announcements were made, the three of them left the classroom together.
As soon as she stepped outside, Xiao Xiao seemed to have mustered up her courage and said, " Brother Yu, can I talk to you?"
Cao Yu glanced back at her; her earnest gaze made it difficult for him to refuse.
He could only say to Wang Dong, "Good brother, I have things to do, you should go back first."
Wang Dong pointed at him and said, "You!... Fine, I'll leave?"
"Take care, and don't bother seeing me off." Cao Yu waved his hand.
"What a shameless bastard!" Wang Dong glared at him with disdain, then sighed and left alone.
After he left, Cao Yu came up to Xiao Xiao and looked down at her. Cao Yu was a full two heads taller than her, and the obvious height difference seemed to bring a romantic visual impact.
Looking up at the tall figure in front of her, Xiao Xiao felt a strange sense of security, but seeing how close Brother Yu was to her, her face turned even redder and her heart started pounding.
At that moment, her mind was in turmoil.
His breathing became rapid, and his face was burning hot, as if it had been scalded by boiling water.
"Let's go for a walk," Cao Yu said.
Before she could react, her little hand was tightly grasped.
Those hands were thick, warm, and made me feel very safe.
Cao Yu held her hand the whole time, but Xiao Xiao kept her head down and didn't dare to look at him, as if her courage from earlier had long since vanished.
That was perhaps her last act of defiance.
Xiao Xiao is still very young, and her vague feelings for the opposite sex mainly come from their appearance.
However, there's a saying that goes, "Love begins with appearance." If you also share similar values, then why talk about love? You can just get married!
The campus paths seem to have a long way to go.
The sight of the two holding hands was the envy of everyone around them.
Until they arrived at the Sea God Lake.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the pale blue surface of the lake.
It emits a golden light mixed with pale pink hues.
If this moment were captured in a photograph...
It will definitely be beautiful.
"You know, I'm not very good at pursuing girls," Cao Yu said first.
Xiao Xiao seemed to have made a decision in her heart, and she raised her head to look at him firmly.
"It's okay, Brother Yu, I don't object. I... I like... liking you is enough."
Cao Yu reached out and touched her head. Her long, beautiful hair slipped through his fingers, and a gentle breeze carried a pleasant fragrance that soothed his mind and body.
Xiao Xiao felt her heart in turmoil. Her charming eyes were filled with a dazed look, her lips were tightly pursed, and her small hands were clenched tightly, afraid to move.
Yu... Brother Yu is actually touching my hair.
Does he like me too?
" Xiao Xiao, you're a good girl, and very beautiful too."
"But..."
Xiao Xiao suddenly raised her head and asked in a flustered manner, "What?"
Are you going to reject me?
Her heart began to pound with unease, but Cao Yu's next words left her stunned.
"I'm bad at pursuing girls, so... you should pursue me."
"How about it?"
After a moment, Xiao Xiao nodded, somewhat amused and exasperated, and said, "Okay~ then Brother Yu, you have to agree."
"Don't worry, once you win me over, I'll be yours completely."
"Shall we pinky swear?" Xiao Xiao extended her little finger and hooked it around Cao Yu's hand.
"Pinky promise, no lying, or you're a puppy."
(End of this chapter)