"Na'er, what are you looking at?" Tang Wulin noticed his sister's absent-mindedness.
"Nothing." Na'er quickly averted her gaze and burst into a radiant smile. "Brother, tell me about your stories these past few years! I've missed you so much!"
As the siblings were immersed in the joy of their reunion, two figures walked side by side through the academy gates.
Gu Yue was dressed in pristine white, her black hair flowing like a waterfall; Gu La wore sleek combat attire, his golden hair gleaming like light. They had just returned from the Star Dou Great Forest, still carrying the faint freshness of nature.
"Training ended early today," Gu La squinted toward the playground. "Why is everyone gathered over there…?"
His words trailed off abruptly. Gu Yue also froze mid-step, her amethyst-like eyes narrowing slightly—she saw the familiar yet distant silver-haired figure, intimately linked with Tang Wulin's arm, her smile as bright as the spring sun.
Gu La's expression instantly grew complex, and he teased, "I heard Tang Wulin has a missing sister. Is that her? Why is she here at Shrek Academy?"
Gu Yue didn't answer immediately. Her gaze shifted between Tang Wulin and Na'er, her expression gradually smoothing out, but within her deep eyes brewed a storm no one could comprehend.
Without a word, Gu Yue turned and headed toward the dormitories, but her fingers unconsciously clenched tightly inside her sleeves.
Gu La thoughtfully glanced at the joyous scene of the siblings on the field, then at Gu Yue's retreating back. A flicker of complex emotion passed through his eyes.
Meanwhile, Na'er suddenly felt an inexplicable pang of unease. She instinctively looked toward the direction of the academy gates but only saw an empty corridor and a fleeting unfamiliar figure.
She didn't know that the gears of fate had already begun to turn, and her entanglement with Gu Yue and Tang Wulin would be far more complicated than she imagined.
"Tang Wulin, introduce us to this beauty!"
Yang Nianxia widened his copper bell-like eyes, shamelessly pushing forward with a fawning grin. His burly frame almost blocked half the sunlight, yet it couldn't conceal the awe sparkling in his eyes.
Even the usually haughty Luo Guixing unusually dropped his pride, subconsciously adjusting his collar as he followed suit. Other male students in the class stirred with excitement, gathering in small groups around the silver-haired, violet-eyed beauty, their gazes burning intensely.
Tang Wulin knew exactly what they were thinking. His brows furrowed slightly, and in one swift step, he stood in front of Na'er, arms spread wide like a protective mother hen.
Seeing this, Na'er's lips unconsciously curled upward, her amethyst eyes brimming with sweet affection. She gently tugged at Tang Wulin's hem, savoring the long-lost feeling of being protected.
"Don't come any closer!" Tang Wulin's voice was lower than usual. "Training isn't over yet. Let's continue."
With that, he clamped down on Yang Nianxia and Luo Guixing's wrists like iron pincers, dragging them both back onto the field without hesitation.
Na'er gazed at her brother's back, bathed in sunlight that outlined him in gold.
In a daze, she felt as if she had returned to that humble yet warm little house. The morning sunlight filtered through the windowpanes, and her brother always shielded her from the blinding rays. Those simple, pure days now seemed as beautiful as a dream.
"You miss those days, don't you?"
A calm voice suddenly sounded beside her ear.
Na'er's heart skipped a beat as she turned to meet a pair of emerald-green eyes. Unbeknownst to her, the youth with shimmering golden hair had quietly appeared by her side, standing casually with his hands behind his back, his gaze following Tang Wulin in the distance.
Na'er's pupils contracted slightly. "Golden hair… Are you… Gu La?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them—it exposed her teacher. Panicking, she quickly lowered her eyes. "What are you talking about? I… I don't understand."
Gu La's lips curved into a playful smile, lingering for a moment on her faintly trembling lashes. "I'm Gu Yue's collaborator."
He paused, his voice suddenly dropping. "Cherish this time. The news coming next… might be cruel for you."
A gentle breeze swept by, causing Na'er's silvery hair to flutter lightly. Gu La inwardly sighed. No wonder those old folks loved being riddle-makers—watching others fret over the unknown was indeed quite amusing.
As he made to leave, his sleeve was suddenly yanked.
"Wait!" Na'er's fingers tightened unconsciously, her violet eyes flashing with sharpness unlike when she was with Tang Wulin. "Explain yourself before you go!"
Hearing the commotion, Tang Wulin immediately released Yang Nianxia and Luo Guixing, rushing back like a gust of wind.
Yang Nianxia rubbed his reddened wrist, grumbling sourly, "Hmph! He didn't introduce her to me, so now Gu La's taken notice. Tang Wulin's no match for him."
Luo Guixing, however, remained silent, staring dreamily at the silver silhouette bathed in sunlight. When the girl turned her head, he seemed to see countless stars swirling in her violet eyes, etching themselves into his heart.
"Gu La, let go of Na'er!" Tang Wulin shouted angrily, his Golden Dragon King aura uncontrollably spilling out, causing the surrounding air to stagnate.
Gu La raised his shoulders innocently, lifting the sleeve Na'er had crumpled. "Look carefully—it's her who's holding onto me."
Tang Wulin's face stiffened momentarily but quickly regained composure. He pulled Na'er behind him, standing guard like a dragon protecting its treasure. "You already have Gu Yue. Don't meddle with Na'er."
These words struck Na'er like thunder.
She abruptly looked up, meeting Gu La's unfathomable eyes, which seemed to hold the secrets of time and space, starry and endlessly deep.
The girl hastily lowered her head, her silvery hair hiding her flushed cheeks—it must be a misunderstanding. That cold-blooded monster… how could…
How could he possibly be with a human?
Na'er's fingertips trembled slightly, but she quickly forced a smile, her bell-like laughter breaking the tension. "Brother, you've got it all wrong!"
She gracefully released her grip and spun around, her silver hair tracing a graceful arc in the sunlight. "My teacher mentioned this classmate to me. I was just curious and asked him a question."
Tang Wulin eyed Gu La suspiciously. "What question? And who's your teacher…?"
"Oh!" Na'er playfully hooked her arm around Tang Wulin's, a mischievous glint in her violet eyes. "Don't pry! It's my secret."
"As for my teacher, I'll tell you later."
Her eyelashes fluttered rapidly, signaling Gu La to cooperate.
Gu La flashed a harmless smile. "Sorry to disturb."
He gave a slight nod and turned, his long hair flickering with a cold gleam. "We'll talk another time."
Watching the tall figure disappear, Tang Wulin's tense shoulders finally relaxed.
He turned to grasp Na'er's hand, his eyes filled with worry. "Stay away from him in the future. That guy… is strong. If he bullies you, even your brother won't stand a chance."
As he spoke, Tang Wulin forced a bitter smile. He didn't want to show weakness in front of Na'er, but truthfully, he had no hope of defeating Gu La right now.
Even Old Tang had said he needed to unlock six layers of seals and obtain the divine artifact Golden Dragon Spear before he could guarantee victory over Gu La.
"I know~" Na'er playfully blinked, suddenly tiptoeing to ruffle Tang Wulin's hair. "Brother, you're still such a worrywart."
Amidst the jeers of the surrounding students, she ran off with a blush. "I'm going to tour the campus!"
But the moment she turned the corner of the teaching building, Na'er's smile vanished instantly.
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