"Little sister, don't worry, we haven't left yet. Take a breath first."
Looking at the panting young girl before her, Shui Bing'er couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity. How could such a beautiful girl come all this way to report for enrollment all by herself? The world was chaotic; what if she had run into danger?
"Rongrong! You're here too!" Wu Ling exclaimed in surprise as she recognized the newcomer.
"Huh? Wu Ling! You really are here!"
The two young girls, who had met briefly two years ago, hugged each other tightly, clearly delighted to reunite. After the initial excitement, Ning Rongrong introduced herself to the older girls.
"Hello, sisters. My name is Ning Rongrong. My spirit is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. I'm twelve years old, a Rank 27 Support-system Tool Spirit Master."
(Omitted details...)
"Brother Fu Ye, is this where I'll be living?" Ning Rongrong looked curiously at the elegant, blue-toned apartment. It wasn't massive—a two-story building covering about a hundred square meters—a luxury double room at Tianshui Academy.
"Mhm. This will be your dormitory from now on. Wu Ling lives here too, so you two can keep each other company."
Just then, Wu Ling emerged from the building, having finished tidying up. "Hehe, Sister Rongrong, come quick! The beds are ready. We're sleeping together tonight!" With that, Wu Ling pulled Ning Rongrong inside to catch up. Though they had only known each other for a day back then, they were each other's first true friends.
"They are such lovely children," Han Ruyan remarked, standing beside Fu Ye.
"Yes. Though Little Wu Ling's childhood wasn't very pleasant. Her father was a selfish noble, and her mother was merely a servant in his house."
Interested, Han Ruyan began chatting with Fu Ye as they walked. "Then how did you meet her?"
"By chance. At six years old, she was being hunted by a group of noble students. I just happened to be passing by." Fu Ye shook his head. He truly couldn't understand the rotten state of the Douluo Continent.
"And how did you meet Sister Erlong? Before you arrived, she talked about you every single day." Han Ruyan was like a curious child, wondering how her sister had managed to land a perfect man like Fu Ye.
"Take a guess."
"Huh?" (д)
Soon, they arrived at Han Ruyan's residence—a detached villa near the western teaching area, secluded by trees and bamboo. The environment was quiet and elegant. As her fair, jade-like feet stepped onto the stairs, she called out to him.
"Brother Fu Ye... would you like to hear my story?" Her ice-blue eyes flickered with a hint of avoidance before becoming firm.
"I'm all ears."
Han Ruyan nodded. "Then come inside and sit for a while."
Entering the villa, Fu Ye was met with an atmosphere of grandeur and elegance, mixed with simplicity and comfort. Crystal chandeliers hung like brilliant stars, casting a soft glow. A fine-patterned blue carpet covered the floor, providing a refreshing feel.
Fu Ye sat unceremoniously on the soft sofa while Han Ruyan brewed a pot of fine tea.
"Brother Fu Ye, do you know? I truly envy Sister Erlong." Back in her own "nest," the solemn aura of a Dean completely faded away.
"In truth, I was the strongest genius in my clan. But when I was ten, my father chose a fiancé for me—one I didn't like. I hoped he would treat me well, but reality proved otherwise." She paused, gazing into Fu Ye's eyes.
"He was a degenerate. Not only did he have an inappropriate relationship with his cousin, but he was also caught in public with a prostitute, with whom he had fathered a child." She gave a self-mocking laugh. "I hate my clan. I saw them kill my six-year-old cousin simply because she awakened with zero spirit power. To those elders, she had no value. But I was seven, and she was my only friend..."
Han Ruyan shared many things: how she fled the clan, founded Tianshui Academy, and took in girls like Shui Bing'er.
Later, they moved upstairs. In the bedroom, a wide, comfortable bed sat in the center with sky-blue bedding. Fu Ye placed the now-asleep Han Ruyan gently onto her bed. As a "gentleman" (veteran connoisseur), he wouldn't take advantage of someone in such a state. To force himself on someone crying so bitterly wouldn't just be "scummy"—it would be monstrous.
However, as he laid her down, he noticed her expression was off. Her slender fingers were gripping his wrist with surprising strength.
Wait... something is wrong.
Fu Ye usually had perfect control over his desires, but right now, he felt his own condition was becoming... unusual.