"No."
"We still have matters to attend to back home."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yue shook her head lightly.
As she spoke, she gently wrapped her arm around Tang Luochuan's. Though her expression wasn't particularly cold, it still carried an air of aloofness that kept others at a distance.
"Alright..."
Yuanen Yehui could only respond with a resigned acknowledgment.
Yet when her gaze lingered on Gu Yue's arm entwined with his, it paused for a moment.
At that instant, she felt something stir within her heart—those two looked so perfectly matched.
"Are you two lov—"
"Well, you two should head back then. Next time there's a chance, we can gather together again."
She pressed her lips together, about to ask something, but ultimately held back. Instead, she offered a faint smile.
The question of whether they were lovers...
Did it even matter anymore?
All she needed to know was that even if they weren't together now, it was practically inevitable in the future. With Gu Yue's peerless beauty and status as the disciple of the Deputy Master of the Spirit Transfer Pagoda...
Who could possibly refuse her?
"Let's go, Ye Hui."
Tang Luochuan responded softly, casting a glance at her before following Gu Yue as they slowly walked away.
"Mmm..."
Yuanen Yehui stood rooted in place for a long while, watching their retreating figures. Her mind swirled with thoughts—could her relationship with Luo Chuan ever progress further?
Luo Chuan and Gu Yue clearly complemented each other well and shared a close bond, while she and Luo Chuan seemed to belong to different worlds...
"Enough of this. Time to head back..."
"And focus on training."
Yuanen Yehui took a deep breath, shook her head, and clenched her fists. She didn't ask for much—only that...
She could attain greater strength, strong enough to protect her Second Soul from scorn and ridicule. After all, she couldn't always hide behind Luo Chuan, could she?
She couldn't rely on his protection forever, and he wouldn't always be there to shield her!
"I'll just keep striving."
"As for the rest..."
"I'll leave it to fate."
Yuanen Yehui glanced up at the sky, silently pumping her fist in encouragement before turning toward the Work-Study Dormitory.
She had already lost everything—everything from now on, she would earn with her own two hands!
Wait a minute...
Was she completely broke now?
"Hmm... even the mightiest hero can be brought low by a single coin."
"Guess I'll take on a part-time job today."
Yuanen Yehui instantly pursed her lips, though the fire in her eyes never dimmed. She steeled herself with determination.
"..."
"Luo Chuan, were you not planning to tell me before that Yuanen is actually a girl?"
Meanwhile, on their way back, Gu Yue walked side by side with Tang Luochuan and asked softly.
"Of course I was."
"But her situation is different, and I promised to keep her identity a secret..."
Tang Luochuan shook his head, leaving the rest unsaid.
He couldn't very well tell her that he and Ye Hui had once seen each other naked, could he? If he really said that...
While Gu Yue wouldn't tie him up with a rope or anything, it still wouldn't end well.
"That special, huh."
Gu Yue's expression remained calm, but she clearly latched onto the keyword.
"Not as special as you."
Tang Luochuan shook his head lightly and spoke bluntly.
"Oh?"
"Who cares what you say..."
Hearing these words, Gu Yue was momentarily stunned. Her gaze drifted forward, though the slight upturn of her lips betrayed her current good mood.
Luo Chuan's habit of speaking blunt truths...
Was oddly endearing!
"Luo Chuan."
In the next moment, Gu Yue ultimately couldn't maintain her composure and softly called his name.
"What is it?"
Tang Luochuan asked curiously, even as her slender fingers already brushed against his palm.
"Hold hands."
"..."
Looking at the girl beside him, Tang Luochuan simply smiled gently, feeling the softness in his palm as he tightly clasped her hand.
"..."
Not long after, when they returned to the dormitory building, the figures of Na'er and Ye Xinglan appeared before them, both standing downstairs.
"Na'er, Xinglan..."
Tang Luochuan immediately greeted them.
"Ah, Brother Luo Chuan!"
"I just came here with Xinglan to find you guys. Did you go out?"
Na'er wore a bright smile, clearly not expecting to run into them here.
"We went out to take care of some business."
Gu Yue smiled faintly and replied softly.
"But why are you two looking for me...?"
Tang Luochuan asked curiously.
"As for me, I just came to play with you and Sister Gu Yue. After all, even though the teacher won't let me study at the outer academy, they haven't forbidden me from leaving the inner academy yet."
Na'er said earnestly, her gaze already drifting toward Gu Yue. Had they just come back from a date...?
She wanted one too!
It was rare for her to sneak out of the inner academy. Hehe, surely Sister Gu Yue wouldn't want to see her return disappointed!
Then she'd just have to borrow Brother Luo Chuan for herself!
"And Xinglan...?"
Tang Luochuan then turned his attention to Ye Xinglan.
"Luo Chuan, didn't I mention this to you before?"
"My family elders really want to meet you. You've already met Your Majesty, the Heavenly Phoenix, and the Cloud Abyss Pavilion Master, Yun Ming. So now..."
Ye Xinglan smiled, her tone resolute. Luo Chuan had promised her this—had he...
Forgotten about it?
Even as she spoke, her heart was slightly uneasy. Though she harbored feelings for him, she wasn't sure how he truly felt about her...
"Hmm..."
Tang Luochuan paused in thought.
"Ah."
"That really did happen, didn't it?"
He mused aloud.
But his delayed reaction made Ye Xinglan freeze, her expression instantly falling.
"Luo Chuan."
"You didn't forget, did you?"
She couldn't help but sound dejected.
"No, no."
"I just haven't had the time until now. Today, I'll go with you to visit your elders."
Tang Luochuan shook his head and replied calmly.
As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward Gu Yue, who simply smiled serenely, showing no particular reaction—she had heard about this from Ye Xinglan before.
"Great!"
Ye Xinglan's eyes instantly brightened with joy.
As expected, Luo Chuan would never go back on his word!
"I'll head upstairs first. Since Xinglan is taking Luo Chuan to the inner academy, Na'er can come with me."
Gu Yue said, turning to Na'er.
"Alright."
"I was planning to go shopping with Brother Luo Chuan today, but since I'm going to the inner academy with Xinglan now, I'll go with him tomorrow instead."
Na'er pouted slightly, looking as if she'd suffered a loss, but soon smiled again, murmuring softly.
"..."
Beside her, Gu Yue hesitated to speak. In truth, she was also supposed to go out with Luo Chuan tomorrow.
"Never mind."
"Let the little girl have her way."
Gu Yue quickly composed herself, thinking to herself. After all, Na'er was her little sister—missing one day wouldn't hurt. Besides...
She had Luo Chuan's company every day.
"Luo Chuan, let's go."
Nearby, Ye Xinglan wore a slightly unsettled expression as she glanced in Tang Luochuan's direction and spoke softly.
"Let's go."
Tang Luochuan responded with a nod.
As they passed by the drink bar, a short-haired girl in uniform turned her gaze toward the two, lost in thought.
"That person..."
"Is that Luo Chuan?"
A contemplative look crossed the girl's face—it was Yuanen Yehui, who had come to work part-time for living expenses. Watching the scene before her, she wasn't sure what to think.
"Luo Chuan is still single, right...?"
"Whether I succeed or fail..."
"I'll do my best."
Yuanen Yehui smiled again, as if a weight had lifted from her heart, then turned toward the drink bar and murmured softly.