118: School starts, Jiang Ruolai: "No need!"

The night before the Imperial Capital Academy's term began.

"See you tomorrow morning."

With a look of regret on her face, Ruan Qingshu bid a reluctant farewell to Shen Pan.

Although she really wanted to stay and continue Dual Cultivation with Shen Pan.

But her father back home was already on the verge of exploding.

The entire Ruan Clan had recently suspended its external operations, leading to a massive backlog of orders.

If she didn't return soon, he might just charge over in a mecha to beat someone up!

Shen Pan would be at a disadvantage if he had to face her Rank 125 father this early!

"Honestly.

I'm clearly an adult, yet he's still so strict..."

A hint of helplessness flashed across Ruan Qingshu's cold face.

It was a good thing she hadn't taken Shen Pan home for dinner yet; otherwise, her father would have definitely made things difficult and found fault with everything.

Once she reached the Epic Rank, she would definitely suppress her father herself.

So he could no longer interfere in her life!

"Yeah, see you tomorrow.

Get some rest when you get back, and also, stop teasing Ruolai!"

Shen Pan urged her uneasily.

During these past three days together, she had taken every opportunity to chat and call Jiang Ruolai.

Especially when he activated the [Sword of Secrecy]!

Whenever his backstab hit the target with its power increased by 200%.

Qingshu would intentionally let out a moan that wouldn't pass censorship.

Then she'd make up some excuse, leaving the slow-reacting Jiang Ruolai on the other end completely dazed and confused.

But truth be told.

That heart-pounding sensation, the constant risk of being discovered, and the sheer tension—it really was thrilling!

Qingshu had also given him a very direct and unique experience.

She even claimed she leveled up faster this way... Seeing Shen Pan remind her once again not to bully Ruolai.

Ruan Qingshu curled her lips and nodded reluctantly.

Even after all this, he's still thinking about another woman; it seems Shen Pan still prefers the Great Leiyin Temple in his heart... Why is her other self so useless?

She's already Your Majesty, yet she doesn't even have a way to perform cosmetic surgery or body shaping!

Is she going to have to be a loli for several more years?

Ruan Qingshu thought somewhat gloomily.

"I won't, I won't. After all, once school starts, everyone needs to study hard.

There are all sorts of dungeons, classes, and competitions waiting."

She was actually getting tired of it herself.

She couldn't be bothered to think of ways to expose it to Ruolai anymore.

To have her hide under the covers crying while watching videos of her and Shen Pan, unable to stop her fingers... After all, Ruolai was just too dense!

All those Materials she read before were completely wasted on her!

As Ruan Qingshu's thoughts settled, she completely gave up hope on her best friend's IQ.

Perhaps it really was as Shen Pan said.

Ruolai was at her strongest only when she was alone.

As long as she or Shen Pan was around, she would lose her brain and turn into a mascot to liven up the mood!

She even suspected that if it weren't for Shen Pan.

Given Ruolai's personality, she might never find a partner in her life.

She'd end up as a veteran miner.

Or... drag her along to play in QQ Space?

Shuddering suddenly, Ruan Qingshu began to seriously consider the possibility of letting her best friend have a taste of the sweetness.

"Maybe... I should find an opportunity to let Ruolai experience Shen Pan's automatic transmission?"

Manual transmission is just too miserable.

Looking at her mother waving to her in the distance, Ruan Qingshu subconsciously had this thought... Shen Pan returned to the room where he was now alone.

He stared blankly for a moment at the results of his three days of hard work.

【Name: Shen Pan】【Rank: 69】

By giving Loli Ruan intensive "tutoring" sessions, he had barely managed to raise his Rank to 66.

Finally, using the three experience crystals she gave him, he jumped three levels instantly.

Successfully reaching the Peak of the Sixth Tier!

"Tomorrow is the opening ceremony. With such a big event, it should be able to refresh a quest, right?"

Shen Pan thought uncertainly.

He just wanted to achieve a Breakthrough to the Seventh Tier as soon as possible.

And then naturally go and challenge the Imperial Capital Academy's elite ranking list. What did he do wrong!

...June 19th.

Shen Pan arrived at the Imperial Capital Academy early, waiting for his two teammates to arrive.

He watched the outstanding students arriving from all over Great Xia.

A trace of trance flashed in his eyes.

It had clearly only been eleven days since the College Entrance Examination ended!

But the monster riot in Tianhai City felt like it happened a long time ago... and he had gone from an ordinary third-tier youth.

To, uh, a Peak Sixth Tier freshman?

Shen Pan's mouth twitched.

His leveling speed seemed, maybe, perhaps, actually a bit fast.

"Classmate Shen Pan, long time no see!"

Jiang Ruolai's highly recognizable brisk and energetic voice came from behind.

He didn't know if it was an illusion,

But Shen Pan felt that Ruolai seemed much more spirited than before!

"Morning, Ruolai. Congratulations on being released from your cage."

"Hehe! That's right, I'm free~"

Without any self-awareness, Jiang Ruolai stepped forward and hugged Shen Pan's arm in public.

Even though her plump softness was squeezed out of shape, she didn't care at all.

"But speaking of which, the people from the Special Affairs Bureau are so hateful!

Obviously, besides that idiot Jiang You, the Jiang Clan has nothing to do with the alien race trade!"

"Yet they actually used protective observation as an excuse to ban the direct descendants of the Jiang Clan from going out!"

"...Yeah, that is pretty hateful."

Shen Pan nodded in agreement.

It had to be said, Ruolai's figure was truly great; it was a completely different experience from Qingshu.

"Mnh~"

Jiang Ruolai, whose face was inexplicably flushed, peeked at Shen Pan's expression.

Seeing that he didn't show any unusual looks, she refused to believe it and tightened her hold on his arm even more.

Attempting to smother Shen Pan's left arm.

Strange, didn't all those online comments say...

That as long as you press up against them, favorability would soar?

Why did it feel like Shen Pan had no reaction?

This was the ultimate killing move she spent three days learning!

"It must be because there hasn't been enough time. I'll hold on a bit longer..."

After finding an excuse for herself, Jiang Ruolai continued with what she was saying before:

"Normally, an illegitimate daughter like me who hardly stays with the Jiang Clan wouldn't even be among the subjects of observation.

So I suspect someone is intentionally targeting the Jiang Clan!"

"Yeah, I'm listening."

Shen Pan, knowing it was Loli Ruan's handiwork, suppressed a smile.

Indeed, someone was being targeted, just not the Jiang Clan.

Jiang Ruolai, wanting to stay pressed against Shen Pan a bit longer, pouted and cursed in dissatisfaction:

"So the person behind the scenes is just too hateful!

If I ever find out who it is, I'll definitely—"

"Ruolai, why are you up so early today?"

Ruan Qingshu, who had also arrived early, appeared just then.

She first glanced at where the two were pressed tightly together.

Especially after lingering for a second on that mass of burden that was squeezed out of shape.

She looked calmly at her best friend, who wore a guilty expression and had wandering eyes.

But who simply wouldn't let go.

The corner of Ruan Qingshu's mouth lifted by a single pixel.

Heh!

Ruolai has really grown capable.

She even knew to come to school early, planning to get a head start?

But just a simple hug... this is too low-level!!!

Are you some kind of innocent young girl?

Just go straight for the Tyrannosaurus clamp!

Thought Ruan Qingshu, who had "sneaked ahead" many times and had sent Shen Pan a red envelope in passing.

Being stared at by both Shen Pan and Qingshu at the same time was a bit hard for Jiang Ruolai to handle.

But she was reluctant to let go.

She had to throw out a topic!

At this moment, Jiang Ruolai remembered the conversation she had with her best friend before going to bed the night before last.

"Right, Qingshu, you said you bought a new body pillow. Is it very comfortable?"

Just then, a green leaf happened to drift down onto Ruolai's shoulder.

But she herself was completely unaware.

"..."

Unable to bear watching any longer, Shen Pan sighed silently.

He gently pinched the green leaf and, with a flick of the Power of Death, turned it into fine powder that dispersed.

Even Ruan Qingshu was stunned for a beat, not expecting her best friend to bring this up on her own.

After giving Shen Pan a discreet glance, she decided to tell the truth!

"It's very comfortable."

"Not only can it heat up automatically, it can be hard or soft.

In the morning, it even says good morning and comes with banana milk. It's very user-friendly."

She never lies!

"That advanced?" Jiang Ruolai, who hadn't seen much of the world, marveled.

"How much is this body pillow? I want one too!"

Ruan Qingshu said expressionlessly:

"It requires a custom order, and the Materials are extremely rare. Don't even think about it, Ruolai.

But if there's a chance, I can let you experience it once."

"Sigh~ Alright then... No need for the experience.

My need for body pillows is just so-so~"

Good! You said it!

Ruan Qingshu secretly felt her pocket and turned off the recording pen.

If there were issues with time distribution in the future.

She would throw the recording pen in Ruolai's face!