Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan

By the time Beibei brought Tang Wulin to the school gate, Tang Ya had just finished handling Huo Yutong's enrollment procedures.

Seeing Beibei and Tang Wulin approach, Tang Ya excitedly waved at them.

"Beibei, over here!"

Only when Beibei and Tang Wulin drew closer did they notice that there were two other people beside them.

One was a youthful girl with breathtaking beauty, warmly chatting with Huo Yutong. The other was a roguishly handsome young man, standing nearby with a fawning expression, his eyes fixed intently on the girl speaking with Huo Yutong.

Seeing Beibei, the girl greeted him gently.

"Hello, Beibei. I saw Xiaoya and came over to say hello. Is this cute child the other new Tang Sect disciple Xiaoya just mentioned?"

"Mm, he's my proud little junior brother. His name is Tang Wulin."

Beibei patted Tang Wulin on the shoulder and introduced them.

"Wulin, this beautiful young lady is Jiang Nannan, the number one beauty of Shrek Academy's Outer Court. And that guy over there who looks like some street punk is Xu Sanshi. He's also your senior."

Xu Sanshi immediately became displeased when he heard Beibei's words.

"Hey, Beibei, who are you calling a street punk?! I'm a proper Young Master!"

Hearing that, Jiang Nannan sneered.

"You are a Young Master, that's true. Unfortunately, there's nothing proper about you. A mere spoiled rich brat shouldn't pretend to be so high-minded."

"Uh, Nannan, I..."

The moment Jiang Nannan spoke, Xu Sanshi, who had been furious just moments ago, immediately wilted. He opened his mouth to explain, but Jiang Nannan had no interest in listening. Turning to Beibei, she said, "That's it then, Beibei. I'll be leaving first. We can talk later."

With that, she headed toward the girls' dormitory without looking back.

Xu Sanshi could only stare blankly at her retreating figure, his face full of disappointment.

Seeing the two of them like this, Tang Wulin was rather confused. He asked Beibei curiously, "Senior Brother, what's going on with those two seniors?"

Beibei let out a helpless sigh.

"As you can see, Sanshi has deep feelings for Nannan. Unfortunately, for some reason, Nannan detests him greatly. He's been clinging to her with the idea that a fierce woman fears a persistent man, hoping she'll change her mind."

Tang Wulin was greatly startled.

"Ah? Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

Xu Sanshi immediately reacted, abruptly raising his head to look at Tang Wulin.

"Why is it inappropriate? Do you have a better method?"

"I don't," Tang Wulin shook his head. "But I still think what you're doing now is wrong. You won't get the result you want this way."

Beibei asked curiously, "Why do you say that?"

"I don't know the full situation either, so please correct me if I'm wrong." Facing Xu Sanshi, Tang Wulin said seriously, "Senior Sanshi, you said you're a Young Master, and that you intend to keep pursuing Senior Sister until she agrees to be with you. Is that right?"

"Mm, that's right."

Xu Sanshi nodded firmly.

Anyone even slightly well-informed knew about this. He had never intended to hide it.

Tang Wulin frowned and asked, "Have you never considered that you might be putting a great deal of psychological pressure on her?"

Xu Sanshi was baffled.

"How so?"

How could his good intentions possibly bring pressure to Jiang Nannan?

Tang Wulin explained, "Look, your family is very wealthy, so most people probably wouldn't dare provoke you. Yet you keep pestering Senior Sister like this. Doesn't that indirectly ruin her social circle?"

Xu Sanshi waved his hand dismissively.

"I thought you were going to say something important. I know where to draw the line. I won't disrupt her life."

Tang Wulin was speechless. He asked, "Then let's say—just hypothetically—that there's a Male Student you don't know who's very close to Senior Sister. What would you do?"

"Of course I'd warn him to stay away from Nannan."

Xu Sanshi answered instinctively.

"Ah."

The instant he finished speaking, he realized what he had said.

Tang Wulin had never said that the Male Student liked Jiang Nannan, yet he had been so eager to warn him off. If that wasn't ruining Jiang Nannan's social relationships, what was?

He could not help but begin doubting his life.

"Did I really put that much mental pressure on Nan Nan?"

All at once, Beibei, Tang Ya, Huo Yutong, and Tang Wulin looked at him speechlessly.

No, so this guy really had absolutely no self-awareness.

Tang Wulin sighed and said, "Senior, I've never been in a relationship, so I don't know what it feels like to like someone. But my mom once told me that in love, neither person should think only of themselves. They should consider the other person more, care for each other, cherish each other, support each other, and rely on each other. That's what love should be like. If things keep going this way, even if you do win Senior Sister over, she'll definitely still hold resentment toward you."

"So... that's how it is..."

Xu Sanshi was deeply shaken.

Propping up his chin with one hand, he murmured, "Care for each other, cherish each other, support each other, rely on each other... So I'd been going about this all wrong..."

Then, he suddenly raised his head and leaned toward Tang Wulin, grabbing his hand as golden light seemed to shine from his eyes.

"Thank you, little brother, I understand now! I'm going back to make a new plan right away! If anyone at the academy dares bully you in the future, just tell them Xu Sanshi has your back. Brother Xu will beat them up for you!"

"Get away, get away." Beibei slapped Xu Sanshi's hand away in disgust. "Don't forget that Wulin already has me looking after him. Do you really think your name carries more weight than mine? Totally unnecessary."

"Heh, Beibei, don't get cocky. How about we spar again later?"

"You..."

Just as Beibei was about to say something, a bell rang.

Tang Ya's expression abruptly froze upon hearing it.

"Oh no! We forgot we need to register too! Beibei, let's go!"

"Ah, Xiaoya, wait for me!" Seeing Tang Ya break into a run, Beibei called out after her. He then pulled a map from his pocket and stuffed it into Tang Wulin's hands, saying helplessly, "Sorry, Wulin, Yutong, we can't stay with you two for now. This is a map of the academy. Follow the markings to find your dormitories."

Then, he stretched his long legs and chased after Tang Ya.

Watching their backs, Xu Sanshi curled his lips sourly.

"Tch, always showing off your Dog Food."

Then, he gave Tang Wulin's shoulder a firm pat.

"Wulin, I wasn't joking earlier. I'm a member of Fifth Grade Class Three. If you ever need anything in the future, come find me anytime. I'll stand up for you."

With that, he too walked off in the direction Beibei and Tang Ya had gone, humming a tune.

In the blink of an eye, the once lively group of five was left with only Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong.

The two studied the map for a moment before heading toward the New Student Dormitory.

As they walked, Huo Yutong spoke in a light tone.

"Wulin, did you really mean what you said earlier?"

"Hm? What did I mean?"

"The part about your views on love, those four 'each others' and all that."

Tang Wulin found the question somewhat baffling.

"Of course I meant it."

"That's good."

Since Huo Yutong was walking ahead of him, Tang Wulin could not see her expression. Yet from her voice, he could tell that she was in a very good mood.

Tang Wulin hesitated before asking, "Sister Yutong, do you know some scumbag or something?"

Huo Yutong abruptly stopped walking.

Tang Wulin hurriedly said, "Ah, no, I just thought your tone made it seem that way. If I said something wrong, I apologize."

"No, you don't need to apologize." Huo Yutong gently shook her head, her voice sounding somewhat strange. "You guessed right. I do know a scumbag. I hate people like him. Just thinking about him makes me want to throw up."

"Uh..."

The disgust in Huo Yutong's words startled Tang Wulin.

Over the past few days, although Huo Yutong had not spoken much, she had always paid attention to those around her and put herself in their shoes. In his eyes, she was an exceptionally gentle person.

Even someone like her could feel such emotions...

Fortunately, Huo Yutong's intense disgust vanished in her next sentence.

"But I'm very happy."

She turned around to look at Tang Wulin, revealing a gratified smile with the Setting Sun behind her.

"Because I believe that you, Wulin, are a good child. You will never become like him. You will become a good husband."

The twilight sunlight fell softly over them, and through Huo Yutong's warm gaze, it felt tender, warm, and enchanting.

Tang Wulin felt his cheeks flush, a tremor unlike anything he had ever experienced rising from the depths of his heart.

He did not know what this emotion truly was, but he did not dislike it.

His intuition told him that what happened today would completely change both his and her fate in the near future.

As Tang Wulin verbally tore into Xu Sanshi, Huo Yutong's favorability went up, up, up.

It was hard to say how Huo Yuhao felt, but as a girl, Huo Yutong absolutely loathed scumbags.