112: Chapter 112 The Unfortunate Star Shin Yeon

"...Finally, we, including the youths of the Yao Race from those other three schools, will be studying abroad at our respective schools for a period of time. Please look after us."

On the stage, the young girl leaned forward slightly once more and nodded in greeting, completing what could be called a perfect speech.

"Now, finally, we invite Qian Mo to represent humanity and shake hands with you, the Saintess of the Demon Race, as a gesture of peace."

Huh?

Xing Yaoyan was stunned.

Wait, this wasn't in the notice she received!

But it didn't seem like a problem; the final result was a draw, so he was qualified to represent humanity and shake hands with her. However...

If it were anyone else, she wouldn't have any psychological burden at all. But to have Qian Mo shake hands with her, this...

"Holy crap! Why does he get to touch my goddess's hand?"

"Stop the impotent rage, person above. If you could fight her to a draw like that, you'd have a chance too."

"You humans are overthinking it. It's just a handshake to show goodwill. Some tribes of our Yao Race even... (use your imagination ⌓‿⌓)"

"You Yao Race people really know how to live it up..."

...

While everyone was still discussing heatedly, Qian Mo had already walked up to Xing Yaoyan and extended his hand expressionlessly.

Those who knew him well were aware that he was always like this; no matter who the opponent was, he was always like a machine executing orders, devoid of emotional fluctuations.

Xing Yaoyan's body trembled almost imperceptibly.

She first glanced at the youth's long, slender, well-defined hand, then slightly raised her head to look at his face.

And at the moment she looked up, Qian Mo revealed the sunny smile she was familiar with.

Actually, he didn't know why he was smiling, but an indescribable feeling in his heart told him that he should do so.

In this instant, time seemed to stand still. Xing Yaoyan felt as if she had returned to the scene where she first made a promise with him.

The youth's extended hand seemed to want to pull her back to those beautiful times.

Her heart raced, and she subconsciously reached out her hand slowly.

Suddenly, scenes of her most influential memories since coming to this world flashed through her mind: the struggle of a trapped beast, the Kingdom of Myriad Demons, the 'Blood Refining'...

All her experiences converged into the wish buried deep in her heart that had always supported her forward—going home...

Yes, this is not my home. The starry sky is my home. No, the starry sky isn't entirely my true home either... I cannot indulge in the current beauty; I must keep moving forward...

No one noticed that the young girl's extended hand, which had been trembling slightly at first, gradually became steady, finally showing no emotional fluctuation at all.

Their hands finally clasped together, but they separated the moment they touched.

She smiled and nodded to Qian Mo, but Qian Mo could vaguely sense that her smile was filled with an indescribable decisiveness.

This decisiveness actually made his heart tighten painfully for some reason.

While he was still reminiscing about the details of shaking hands with the girl...

"Qian Mo, what's wrong?"

The youth was startled, only then realizing that he had somehow walked off the stage and arrived beside Xiao Meng and Yun Lan.

Meanwhile, Hu Wang was staring solemnly at his lost expression with a look of "suspicion."

"What, do you think that because you touched her hand, she'll fall in love with you? Then date, have a flash marriage, and finally have a bunch of kids..."

"Wait! Little White, don't talk nonsense. How could I be such a frivolous person?"

I believe she isn't either...

This sentence was said in his heart.

(In front of outsiders, he and Hu Wang had agreed to call him "Little White.")

"Yeah, Xiao Mo, you've been unusual so many times today; it couldn't be because of her, could it? What, taken an interest in her? Didn't she say she'd be studying at our school for a while? Do you want me to help you get her Spirit Chat? Don't worry, with my..."

"Go away, go away. No one will take you for a mute if you don't speak."

Pushing the cheeky yellow-haired youth aside, Qian Mo patted his face with both hands.

Senior Hu Wang and his best friend were both right; his heart had indeed become a bit chaotic from the moment he saw the girl.

But to be honest, he had a similar experience before, seemingly when he was completing Yu Linger's commission...

"Hey! I say, Qian Mo, there's a saying in my family's ancient books: 'A fair maiden is a good match for a gentleman.' It means it's normal for a man to be infatuated with an outstanding woman. You don't need to be embarrassed."

Yun Lan suddenly threw an arm around his neck, directly interrupting his thoughts.

"I used to look at your dead-fish eyes every day, and for a while, I even thought you were 'gay.' Now I'm quite relieved..."

"Yun Lan..."

The youth's low voice carried an extremely dangerous aura.

"Brother Mo, I was wrong! Yamero!"

Xiao Meng, who hadn't been able to get a word in, looked on blankly as Master Qian Mo suddenly pinned Yun Lan down and started pummeling him. Given her personality, she had no idea why these two were fighting.

She subconsciously glanced at Little White, who in her heart knew everything, only to see him staring at her blankly with a strange look.

In that gaze, there was tenderness, concern, regret, and some things she completely couldn't understand yet...

The moment he saw her looking over, Hu Wang hurriedly turned his head away and coughed a few times guiltily.

"Everyone is so strange..."

She thought to herself.

Her gaze also unconsciously drifted to the distance, toward the girl who was teasing a cat demon and thanking viewers for gifts in her livestream.

Behind Xiao Meng, Qian Mo, who was suppressing his best friend, also looked at the Yao Race girl out of the corner of his eye, the corners of his mouth curling up unconsciously.

Suddenly, he bent down abruptly and whispered something into the ear of Yun Lan, who was repeatedly begging for mercy.

After receiving a satisfactory answer, his eyes instantly lit up...

...

The arena competition came to a temporary close.

Led by the principal, Xing Yaoyan and the others headed to the office to fill out the complicated information for this exchange.

To be precise, she was the only one filling it out.

After signing countless names and looking through countless stacks of documents, Xing Yaoyan, having finished everything, finally stood up from her chair.

Since she was the Yao Race representative for this exchange, these tedious tasks had to be done by her.

She casually stored the important documents from the table into her Storage Space and then walked with somewhat unsteady steps toward her companions waiting in the lounge.

"Meow! Hurry, hurry!"

"Don't die yet, I'm about to clear it!"

"Agh! Meow! I can't hold on... Eh? Why did you die too? It's over, we have to start again!"

...

Just as she reached the lounge door, Xing Yaoyan heard the voices of Ying Linglong and Leng Xiaoyue coming from inside.

Opening the door abruptly, she saw her good companions each holding a controller, playing a two-player stage-clearing game, looking quite excited.

Her fists tightened; they were hard now...

Thinking of her miserable state just now from being worked to death, compared to their joyful appearance, Xing Yaoyan immediately clenched her fists tightly, and a terrifying aura instantly filled the entire room.

"You guys..."

"Meow! Sister Yan! I missed you so much!"

"Ahem, Sister Yan, you've worked hard."

Looking at the humble Leng Xiaoyue and the cat-eared loli clinging to her and acting spoiled, Xing Yaoyan finally sighed helplessly and dissipated her intimidating aura.

"Alright, the principal just told me he invited someone to be our guide to introduce the general situation of the school. Let's hurry out; don't make them wait too long..."