Gu Yue couldn't help laughing:
"Don't worry, I haven't told anyone about it. All that matters is that I know you're the one behind it."
"Once I get back, I'll talk to my teacher, and then we can deepen our cooperation with your company."
Yu Longyue froze, then spread his arms to hug Gu Yue.
When Gu Yue saw this, her heart suddenly raced and her pretty face flushed scarlet. A little flustered, she stepped back and dodged the hug.
"What are you doing?"
"Rich lady, please give me a hug. I'm broke and want a rich lady to keep me. Spare me a bite to eat?"
"Stop with the wisecracks." Gu Yue wrinkled her nose. "You, broke? Even a pig wouldn't believe that."
Yu Longyue looked thoughtful:
"I get it. Since even a pig wouldn't believe it, and you don't believe it either, that means you're a pig. Makes sense."
"You..."
Tang San was tempted.
He didn't have many Federation Coins to begin with, much less contribution points.
He could earn contribution points, but he had just visited the place where missions were posted.
The contribution points he could earn were pitifully few.
But if he really took out a loan from Yu Longyue, he could start with a substantial number of contribution points. With more points, he would have more options for what he could do.
That way, he could reach the point where money made money.
An interest-free loan was a sure profit with no chance of loss.
With that thought, Tang San immediately headed to the cafeteria to find Yu Longyue and discuss the loan.
The moment he entered the cafeteria, Tang San knew he had come to the right place.
Yu Longyue was hard to miss.
That mountain of rice bowls was easily the most eye-catching sight in the room.
"How can he eat so much... Is he a rice bucket?"
"What is he, a starved ghost reincarnated? He's eaten enough for twenty people all by himself, and he's still not full?"
The men were all talking about him, while the women...
Perhaps it was because Yu Longyue was so handsome, and because, although he wolfed down his food, he wasn't messy. He still ate elegantly, with an elegance that came from his bones, all thanks to the upbringing he had received since childhood.
As a result, he didn't look affected at all. His movements were pleasing to the eye, and he hadn't gotten a speck of food on himself.
Some people even went over to greet him or take photos with him, and Yu Longyue never refused. Instead, he greeted them amicably with his signature polite smile, a sight that put people at ease.
Thus, most of the girls had a favorable impression of Yu Longyue, unlike the many men in the cafeteria who looked down on him.
"Wow, he even looks so good when he eats..."
"I heard he's Yu Longyue from first grade, class one, number one on the Young Genius Ranking. As soon as he entered the academy, he challenged the dean for his girlfriend's sake... and won."
"Really?"
"Of course it's true. It caused a huge stir. I heard even the pavilion master showed up. Ask around and you'll find out."
"Doesn't that mean he's handsome, devoted and deeply in love, rich and down-to-earth? What an impossibly perfect man! Wait, I'm going to take a picture and post it on QQ first, hehe..."
"Send me a copy of the picture. Ten contribution points!"
"One hundred!"
Tang San was speechless. He quietly got himself a meal and sat down across from Yu Longyue.
Yu Longyue was still chowing down. Seeing Tang San sit across from him, he looked a little puzzled.
"Hello, classmate. Can I help you with something?"
Tang San ate as he replied, "My name is Tang San. I'm also a student in first grade, class one. I heard what you said earlier about the benefit of exchanging Federation Coins for contribution points. You can also take out a loan?"
"Oh, a pleasure to meet you." Realization dawned on Yu Longyue, and he stopped eating. "Are you here to ask about that? I remember putting up a QR code after class. Scan it, and you'll find all the information there."
Tang San was a little embarrassed. "But I... don't have a phone. Do I have to have one?"
"No phone? That's all right. Our company has also established a branch in Shrek City, just recently," Yu Longyue explained patiently. He then took out a pen and a piece of paper, wrote down the address, and handed it to Tang San.
"Whenever you have time, just go to our company's front desk, submit an application and fill in your information. Once it passes review, you can get a loan."
Tang San slowly took it and glanced at Yu Longyue. Even he couldn't find fault with that smile.
It made Tang San feel rather comfortable, and he no longer felt much ill will or prejudice toward him.
A good person who put others at ease.
That was Tang San's silent assessment. He asked cautiously:
"That works too?"
"Yes, we offer two ways. One is by phone, which is naturally a little more convenient. Technology makes life more convenient for humanity and helps it progress, after all. The other is the way you'd be doing it. That works too."
Yu Longyue continued:
"If there's anything else you don't understand, feel free to come find me. Since we're classmates, we should naturally look out for each other."
"Mm, you're right." Tang San nodded, then instinctively asked, "Then... was the benefit the girl beside you mentioned in front of the dean earlier real?"
Tang San glanced at Gu Yue, who had been quietly eating beside Yu Longyue the whole time.
"What benefit?"
"The one where you cooperate with the Spirit Pagoda to sponsor Soul Masters who have talent but no Federation Coins to buy a Soul Spirit, giving them their first Soul Spirit for free."
Yu Longyue nodded to show he understood.
"Of course it's real. It's a benefit that's been rolled out across the board in recent years. It benefits poor Soul Masters and helps more commoner Soul Masters grow stronger."
"But I'm a poor Soul Master too, so how come I never received this benefit?" Tang San frowned, a little displeased with Yu Longyue.
Yu Longyue paused, then asked:
"When did you reach rank ten as a Soul Master?"
"Three years ago," Tang San answered honestly.
"Brother Tang, you're impressive. You went from rank ten to a Soul Elder above rank thirty-five in just three years. Impressive, impressive. No wonder you got into Shrek Academy," Yu Longyue said, unable to help praising him. "However, this benefit was only introduced a year ago, so unfortunately, three years ago, we hadn't actually put it into effect yet. I'm deeply sorry for the inconvenience."
Tang San froze where he sat, the chopsticks in his hand slipping from his grasp.
It was only introduced a year ago?
I...
Tang San wanted to curse, but he didn't know what to say.
The main thing was that Yu Longyue's attitude was simply too good. It felt as though he were there to serve him.
He couldn't very well curse at such a kindhearted Yu Longyue, could he?
Wouldn't that be mistaking kindness for a donkey's liver and lungs?
The key was that he had no grounds to complain, either. Since it had only been put into effect a year ago, there really was nothing to be done.
He could only blame himself for being born too early.
His dissatisfaction vanished like smoke in the wind.
He was so tired.
The thought of his life, snatching something here and stealing something there like a rat, nearly made Tang San explode with anger.
Since when had he been reduced to such humiliation, using Tang Sect skills to steal?!
"Brother Tang?"
Tang San came back to his senses and saw Yu Longyue looking at him with concern. His heart was a jumble of emotions.
"What's wrong? Are you all right?"
"I'm fine." Tang San took a deep breath. He couldn't come up with a single word to refute him.
"Are you sick? Should I take you to get checked out?" Yu Longyue asked, seeing that he didn't look well.
"Thank you for your concern. I'm fine." Tang San sighed. "I've eaten my fill, Brother Yu. I'll go take care of the loan paperwork. Thank you. See you later."
"Ah, see you." Yu Longyue nodded and went back to eating.
After finishing his meal, Yu Longyue looked at Gu Yue, who had been waiting beside him for a long time:
"Sorry to have kept you waiting."
Gu Yue shook her head, unconcerned, and walked shoulder to shoulder with him as they left the cafeteria together.
"Next, I have to report to the Spirit Pagoda. What about you?"
"I'm going to check on the company branch. It's on the way, so shall we go together?"
"Sure. Walk me to the entrance."
"Mm."
After walking Gu Yue to the Spirit Pagoda's main entrance, Yu Longyue glanced at the camera there, then suddenly took her little hand and walked with her into a spot the camera could capture.
Gu Yue's delicate body trembled, seemingly startled. She had originally wanted to pull her hand away, but Yu Longyue held it tightly. In terms of strength, even a hundred Gu Yues couldn't match him.
"What is it?" Gu Yue asked softly.
"Nothing. I'm just a little worried." Yu Longyue shook his head and released her hand, looking straight into her beautiful eyes. "If anything happens, tell me. I'll help you deal with it."
"What is there to worry about?" Gu Yue rolled her eyes at him. "My teacher is protecting me. I'll be fine. See you tomorrow."
"Mm, see you tomorrow."
Yu Longyue glanced discreetly at the camera, then turned and left in front of her.
He then took out his phone and made a call.
"Uncle Song, mm, it's me. A Shrek student named Tang San should be coming to the Shrek City branch today to apply for a loan of contribution points."
"Find me a professional lawyer to draw up a contract that is fully compliant, doesn't violate Shrek City's regulations, and can also make the other party reasonably pay ten times the amount in compensation."