Chu Li's careful thoughts

"Chu Li actually contracted a Fire Phoenix! That's amazing!"

"Heaven-tier quality, truly worthy of the Chu family!"

"With a Fire Phoenix, I think Chu Li will definitely be the top scholar this year!"

"Whether he's the top scholar or not, with his talent, he can go wherever he wants, picking any university he likes!"

The students were discussing animatedly, but they hadn't noticed Gu Xiaoyue's Qingluan yet.

She looked at Chu Li's Fire Phoenix, its feathers a fiery red. Although it was still in the form of a chick, its body seemed vaguely enveloped in flames.

[Name]: Fire Phoenix

[Grade]: Heaven-tier, top-grade

[Attributes]: Fire attribute, Space attribute

[Skills]: Fireball Spell (low-level), Fire Sea (low-level), Summon Qingluan Master (low-level)

[Level]: Young life stage 1

Gu Xiaoyue now understood many things.

At first, Chu Li said he would talk to the Principal about letting her transfer classes, but she refused.

So, the subsequent competition, and even the reward for first place in that competition—were all arranged by Chu Li!

And now, he's even openly tying himself to her as a CP!

Could it be that Chu Li wasn't trying to kill her for favor, but had always wanted to pursue her?

No wonder Principal Liu said he wasn't against dating; it turns out he was waiting for her here!

If only they knew Gu Xiaoyue's thoughts, all the students would complain, 'Big sis, we all saw it, you're the only one who didn't realize!'

Gu Xiaoyue didn't want to expose Qingluan. Before she could put Qingluan back into her Yu Beast Space, Qingluan seemed to sense the Fire Phoenix nearby and chirped as if wanting to sing.

The students erupted again, "Qingluan! Gu Xiaoyue contracted a Qingluan!"

"Qingluan Fire Phoenix, this Qingluan must have been given to Gu Xiaoyue by Chu Li!"

"Chu Li is so generous! Giving away Heaven-tier pet beasts so casually! I envy Gu Xiaoyue!"

"Envy +1!"

"+1!"

Chu Li blushed a little, but the smile on the corner of his mouth was harder to suppress than an AK.

Gu Xiaoyue was speechless. She wanted to say that Qingluan was the reward for the competition, but the competition, including the reward, was all Chu Li's arrangement. What was the difference then from Chu Li giving it to her?

"Quiet—" Teacher Han had no choice but to maintain order in the classroom.

Actually, he could understand the students' feelings. Heaven-tier pet beasts were not common, and he couldn't help but take a few extra glances, but class still had to go on.

Although the students started to pay attention in class, there were still occasional discussions, and the volume was just right for Gu Xiaoyue to hear.

She finally endured until class ended and immediately sought out Chu Li for a talk.

Chu Li wore a smile, not without a hint of a successful scheme.

"Student Chu, there are some things I want to ask you." Gu Xiaoyue said with a serious expression, though inwardly she had to admit that Chu Li's face was very handsome.

With sword-like brows and star-like eyes, his facial features were sharp, a bit aggressive, a bit roguish. His temperament seemed cold yet somewhat arrogant, but when he smiled, he became much gentler.

"Yes, ask away."

"The class transfer competition, and this Qingluan, were all your arrangements?"

"Yes." Chu Li didn't deny it, and under Gu Xiaoyue's questioning gaze, he continued, "I wanted to help you transfer classes before, but you refused. So I talked to the Principal about holding a competition.

But it worked out perfectly, with your personality, even if you accepted the class transfer, you wouldn't have accepted me giving you Qingluan.

This outcome is better."

Chu Li stood with his hands in his pockets, looking a bit cynical, but he spoke to Gu Xiaoyue very seriously.

"Aren't you afraid the reward would fall into someone else's hands?" That was a pet egg of a Heaven-tier pet beast!

"You've thought this far, why are you being foolish again?"

Chu Li affectionately patted Gu Xiaoyue's head, "Since I arranged it, then I decide the reward, don't I?"

Gu Xiaoyue's face reddened a little. Chu Li was right; with his strength, a class transfer spot would definitely be available.

Even if Gu Xiaoyue didn't get first place, he could give her a special prize, and she would gladly accept it without knowing anything.

It wouldn't be like her first place, where he just had to give something symbolic.

Anyway, Chu Li's goal was for her to contract Qingluan.

What a well-played game!

"Is Huanan Middle School run by your family? You can arrange everything?"

Gu Xiaoyue was a bit angry, not for anything else, but she didn't like this feeling of being trapped!

At this moment, Chu Li looked a little wronged, "Xiao Yue, do you really not know? My family does have a lot of shares in Huanan Middle School."

Gu Xiaoyue was infuriated and thought deeper.

No, Principal Liu said he hoped she could get into a good university with Qingluan, could it be—

"You wouldn't have even arranged which Beast Taming university I'm going to, would you?"

Chu Li's expression changed slightly, and he said, "No, I know you want to go to Chongbei Military Academy, but I won't let you. As for other universities, any of them are fine."

In his previous life, although he and Gu Xiaoyue were middle school classmates, they didn't have much interaction.

Even after they both went to Chongbei Military Academy, he only knew her and hadn't exchanged many words.

It wasn't until their third year of university, during a wilderness internship, that they encountered a seventh-tier fierce beast.

Some teachers sacrificed themselves to protect the students, and several students died.

The hundreds of remaining injured and even dying students quickly recovered under the treatment team led by Gu Xiaoyue.

Chu Li still remembered Gu Xiaoyue smiling at him then. Her delicate face was a bit dirty, her eyes showed undeniable fatigue, yet she still smiled gently.

Because of that smile, Chu Li fell. He felt as if he had finally found something to protect in his life.

After graduation, he used his connections to arrange for himself and Gu Xiaoyue to be in the same military unit.

With his extraordinary abilities, he steadily rose through the ranks. He wanted to protect Gu Xiaoyue well.

Chu Li knew that Gu Xiaoyue had a fiancé at the time, so he never confessed.

Until that massive beast tide, with thousands of ninth and tenth-tier fierce beasts, hundreds of Commander-level fierce beasts, and even twelve Monarch-level fierce beasts.

Chu Li was on the front line, having just withstood an attack from the fierce beasts, when news came that reinforcements would arrive soon.

He thought he could finally relax, but then news arrived that Gu Xiaoyue had collapsed from exhaustion while saving the wounded.

With reddened eyes, Chu Li again withstood the fierce beasts' first counterattack. After the reinforcements arrived, he rushed back to the rear defense impatiently.

But what awaited him was only Gu Xiaoyue's corpse, and her smile was gone forever.

Chu Li's body could no longer hold up; the physical exhaustion combined with the mental blow—he also collapsed.

That smile became the cinnabar mole in Chu Li's heart.

When he woke up again, it was the day of his coming-of-age ceremony, and his Gu Xiaoyue was still alive!

This time, he would make his move first. Chen Yixuan, Chongbei Military Academy, all of them could get lost far away!

She didn't have Heaven-tier talent, and her companion beast wasn't a Bai Ze.

He didn't know why things were different from his previous life, but that wasn't important; he just wanted her to live.

It would be best if she never took the path of a healer!

He didn't want Gu Xiaoyue to sacrifice herself again and again to save others.

He wanted to be strong, to protect Gu Xiaoyue well, to protect that smile in his heart!

If battle was unavoidable, then he would keep Gu Xiaoyue by his side. To harm her, they would have to step over his body first!

Gu Xiaoyue didn't know Chu Li's innermost thoughts, only seeing his expression grow increasingly solemn.

"Who told you I wanted to go to Chongbei Military Academy? Who wants to go to a military academy with such strict rules?"

Gu Xiaoyue didn't know where Chu Li got that idea. Although she indeed had no concept of which university to attend, a military academy was definitely out of the question.

Chu Li gazed at her intently, then smiled as if relieved, "Okay, whichever university you want to go to, I'll listen to you."

"Wait, I didn't say I wanted to go to the same university as you. And I don't want Qingluan either!"

"You don't like Qingluan?" Chu Li hadn't expected that; Qingluan's appearance was something most girls liked.

Gu Xiaoyue didn't say anything. To be honest, she was very satisfied with Qingluan—its attributes, grade, and appearance—except for that skill that summons the Fire Phoenix's master!

But Qingluan was given by Chu Li in a roundabout way, and she didn't have those kinds of feelings for Chu Li, so how could she accept it for no reason?

Chu Li saw her inner struggle and wasn't in a hurry. "It's already contracted. If you feel uncomfortable, just consider it a loan from me, with one point of interest."

After some deliberation, Gu Xiaoyue agreed, but after she found out Qingluan's price, she really wished she could slap herself a few times.