After Lu Li changed her clothes, the two of them left for Piaomiao Residence.
When they reached the door, the five people inside already sensed their presence.
At once the atmosphere in the room shifted; the faint chill the group had been giving off vanished, replaced by gentle smiles.
Click.
The door turned, and Gu Xiao and Lu Li stepped in.
"Xiao Xiao, Xiao Li, come have some spirit fruit."
Seeing them enter, Yan Lin plucked two spirit fruits from the platter and tossed them over.
"Thanks."
After staying here for a while, Lu Li no longer felt as reserved as at first, yet seeing spirit fruits—each worth several months of her father's salary—casually arranged on a tray still felt unreal.
Truly enviable capitalists.
Knock knock.
Not long after they arrived, another knock sounded outside.
"Young master, dinner is ready."
A maid's voice came from beyond the room.
"Come in."
The door opened; a maid wheeled in the dining cart, followed by another maid and two male attendants.
"Young master, please enjoy."
Once the dishes were laid out, the servants bowed slightly and prepared to leave.
"Wait—those few dishes weren't ordered."
Jing Yuan swept his gaze; several items hadn't been requested from the kitchen.
"The Second Miss told the kitchen to prepare those."
The head maid glanced at the dishes Jing Yuan pointed to and replied.
"Second Sister?"
"You kids gather for dinner without inviting your big sister—how rude."
Right then, Jing Hanshuang's voice drifted in from outside.
"Didn't Second Sister go shopping with Sister Ye and the others? I thought you'd eat out."
The upper-grade semester started earlier; in two days Jing Hanshuang would head back, so she'd wanted to stock up beforehand.
Though the academy sold almost everything, shopping was just an excuse.
"Hah, hanging out with them can't compare to being with my little brother."
Jing Hanshuang waved a hand, pulled a chair between Gu Xiao and Jing Yuan, and sat.
"Sister Hanshuang, my sister's going to be heartbroken."
Ye Tianying teased; Jing Hanshuang's best friends were their older sisters.
"So, Little Ye, you'll keep this secret for me, right?"
Jing Hanshuang winked; after all, she was Ye Tianying's cousin.
"Relax, Sister Hanshuang, we're definitely on your side."
Yan Lin instantly declared allegiance; though he had no elder sister, his cousins had walloped him plenty.
"Sigh, if only my sister treated me half as well as you treat Xiao Yuan."
Recalling his life so far, Yan Lin sighed to the ceiling.
Hmm, why does that sound familiar?
Oh right—his cousin used the exact same line on him.
"If only my little brother were half as obedient as yours."
"Xiao Lin-zi, maybe your sister's the real victim here?"
Remembering her best friend's exasperated face, Jing Hanshuang offered a grounded theory.
"I'm the one getting beaten—how's she the victim?"
Yan Lin refused; clearly he was the one suffering.
"You should reflect on why you keep getting beaten."
"Xiao Bai, you jerk!"
Sniff sniff.
While Xiao Bai and Yan Lin tussled, Jing Hanshuang suddenly leaned toward Gu Xiao and sniffed.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing her sister acting like a puppy, nose twitching, Gu Xiao leaned back.
"It's not you—it's Xiao Li."
Jing Hanshuang spun around, rushed to Lu Li, and hugged her tight.
"Xiao Li, you smell so good."
Clutching Lu Li, Jing Hanshuang took an epic lungful.
"Sister Hanshuang?"
Feeling the pressure against her chest, Lu Li flushed.
"Xiao Li, what perfume is that?"
"I don't use perfume."
Lu Li had just graduated high school and hadn't touched perfume or cosmetics yet.
"Really? But you smell amazing—natural body scent?"
Jing Hanshuang doubted it; body scent only worked up close.
Just now Gu Xiao had stood between them, so a natural scent shouldn't travel that far.
It had to be perfume—yet hugging Lu Li now, the fragrance didn't intensify.
The strength was the same whether near or far?
"Xiao Li received the ancient tree's essence as a gift in the ruin."
Hearing her confusion, Gu Xiao explained.
"So it's the life essence of the Spirit Race—no wonder," Jing Hanshuang said enviously, letting go.
When plants gain awareness and cultivate, they're called the Spirit Race.
Forcibly seizing Spirit Race essence yields the same effect, but the user gives off a unique aura.
Only Spirit Race members can sense it—and they despise it.
The Spirit Race holds considerable power in the universe; offending them over essence isn't worth it.
That's why life essence is priceless: only voluntarily gifted essence can be sold.
"Sister Hanshuang, we're heading to the academy soon—any tips?"
Before term started, the group wanted advice from their senior.
"If I had to give advice, only two things matter."
At Ye Tianying's question, Jing Hanshuang turned serious and raised two fingers.
"First: credits are everything."
"Once inside the academy, every expense needs credits—credit points won't do."
"Without enough credits, you might literally starve."
The Professional Academy is basically a military school; letting money solve everything defeats the purpose of tempering.
"Second: always obey the instructors."
"If your instructor gives advice, listen—you don't want to learn what happens if you don't."
To drive the point home for Jing Yuan, she added,
"Er, Sister Shuang, what exactly are we talking about?"
Yan Lin asked; why keep them guessing?
"It's not that I won't tell you—I don't know. Every cohort's training differs; it depends on your instructor's plan."
Jing Hanshuang shrugged; she couldn't help there.
The only certainty: these rookies' first year would be anything but easy.
Freshman instructors are all devils.