When Chen Xiao and Zi Yan returned to the Inner Academy, the thunderstorm had weakened considerably, though rain still drizzled down.
After parting with Zi Yan, Chen Xiao headed toward the Small Pavilion in the New Student Accommodation Area.
From afar, Chen Xiao could already see a young woman in an azure dress standing gracefully in the second-floor corridor of that Small Pavilion.
She was like a green lotus in a pond amid the rain. Rather than dimming her beauty, the wind and rain had become the perfect backdrop, making her appear all the more lovely.
Raindrops fell into the puddles on the ground, sending ripples spreading in circles. Chen Xiao quickened his pace and arrived below the pavilion.
He looked up, and the two of them smiled at each other.
Without delaying any longer, Chen Xiao hurried upstairs, not even managing to greet the few people chatting idly on the first floor.
"Sister Xun Er, is Young Master back?"
Just as he reached the second floor, Chen Xiao heard Qing Lin's voice coming from inside his room.
Xun Er gave Chen Xiao a graceful smile, then gently nodded toward the little girl inside.
The next moment, a patter of footsteps sounded in the room, and an adorable little head peeked out from beside the door.
"Young Master!"
Qing Lin hopped out of the room and happily waved her small hand.
Though they had not seen each other for several months, there was not the slightest distance between them. She was as close to him as she had been back in Wu Tan City.
Chen Xiao stepped forward and rubbed Qing Lin's head.
"Just now, I heard the Grand Elder send a message saying that guests had arrived in the Inner Academy and asking me to come back earlier. I