Haizhou Academy, Class 2 classroom.
During the break after the first period, Lu Chen, seated by the window, glanced at Zhang Zikai's seat—it was still empty.
Strange. Was he really that badly hurt?
Last night, Lu Chen had taken him to the beach to fight Slimes, but Zhang Zikai, who had underestimated them, got a harsh reality check. First, he was launched sky-high by a two-meter-wide Slime. After Lu Chen helped him up, he was immediately swarmed and beaten down by a bunch of smaller ones.
It's not like Lu Chen didn't want to help—he was tied up dealing with the big Slime and didn't have the time to look after Zhang Zikai. By the time he turned around, the guy was already a bruised mess.
Totally hopeless.
(Somewhere in a private hospital, a patient sneezed in bed.)
Lu Chen had even made an exception and used a Traveling Doctor artifact set on him to slightly boost his healing.
At worst, it was just a fracture. From that height? Eh, nothing serious...
A gust of wind swept in from the window, carrying the sea's damp scent and rustling the pages on the empty desk beside him.
Lu Chen quickly pressed down Raiden Ei's tutorial book and got up to close the window. This season often brought strong ocean winds.
Because of her training, she rarely attended class—only showing up for Chinese, math, and English.
She called it training, but really, she would retreat to some hidden corner to meditate. That was one of her ways to refine her martial skills.
The other method was combat. Back when Lu Chen was stronger, he'd been her unlucky sparring partner, forced to fight her daily...
Now that his strength had declined, he was finally spared from that torment.
But once he got stronger again... who knew?
"Lu Chen..."
Just as he drifted into his memories, a sweet, gentle voice pulled him back.
Lu Chen looked up to see Zhao Xiaohan leaning toward him.
Her jet-black bobbed hair fell just right, and today she wore a pale pink hairclip that, combined with her soft, oval-shaped face, made her look even cuter than usual.
He gave her a glance and asked, "What is it? Something wrong?"
"Congrats on being first in the class for the monthly exam!" she blinked those big eyes, starting with a compliment, then gave a troubled look. "There's a question on the humanities section I don't quite understand. Could you help me out?"
Lu Chen glanced at the test sheet—it was clearly well beyond the standard curriculum. No doubt she dug it up just to have something to talk about.
"I'm choosing the science track," he said flatly.
"Science?" Her cute face showed a hint of surprise. "But I remember you were going to…"
Lu Chen shrugged without replying.
He hadn't expected her to know that the original Lu Chen had planned on choosing liberal arts. So she hadn't been as indifferent to "Lu Chen" as she'd seemed.
His current choice of science was entirely because of Raiden Ei. She wanted to study engineering, so naturally she'd choose science—and this way, they'd stay in the same class.
"I see…" Seeing how indifferent he was, Zhao Xiaohan's expression darkened slightly.
She glanced at Raiden Ei's empty seat, her grip on the test paper tightening. It looked like she was hesitating about whether to sit down and ask Lu Chen her "question."
Behind them, the gossip mill was already roaring. Zhou Yang and his deskmate were practically glowing with secondhand drama.
They kept sneaking glances at Lu Chen and Zhao Xiaohan, exchanging looks but not daring to say anything out loud.
Zhou Yang was thinking: Zhao Xiaohan's got guts, making a move while "fencing senior" isn't around! That one-versus-five legend has already gone viral. She's got a death wish…
Even though Lu Chen had originally introduced her as a "distant cousin," after a few days of observation, anyone with eyes could tell something was going on.
Raiden Ei never talked to anyone. Sure, she was beautiful and caused a stir when she transferred in, but her frosty demeanor kept everyone at bay—no one dared get close, like they'd get frozen solid.
Except when she looked at Lu Chen.
Then, she'd actually smile. A real, heartfelt smile. One moment she was this untouchable flower on a mountain peak; the next, she bloomed like a spring garden.
So Zhou Yang had silently stamped "defeated" on Zhao Xiaohan's forehead. Give it up. You don't stand a chance.
Meanwhile, his female deskmate was focusing on Lu Chen.
Sunlight spilled through the window, illuminating the sharp lines of his profile—it practically glowed. When had Lu Chen become so hard to look away from?
Not just the face. Even through his uniform shirt, his build was clearly well-toned. He definitely worked out. His long, defined fingers tapped the desk, showing just the slightest hint of impatience…
She caught herself fangirling a little too hard and quickly pulled herself back. After all, she was the president of the class's unofficial CP fan club—she couldn't let her own fantasy be ruined.
Lu Chen and Raiden Ei were just too perfect together. Handsome and beautiful, and so naturally sweet when they interacted! They weren't that old, yet they had this aura like a couple who'd been together forever. A match made in heaven!
No one noticed the pink, bubbly delusions forming above her head. Both she and Zhou Yang kept their faces under control like pros.
In reality, only a short moment had passed. Zhao Xiaohan still clutched her test paper, lips pursed, those big eyes and long lashes giving her a pitiful, heart-tugging look.
But that trick didn't work on Lu Chen. He frowned slightly, ready to be blunt and shut her down.
Before he could speak, another voice cut in.
"Are you lost? Or do you have trouble seeing and can't find your own seat?"
Raiden Ei's calm, cold voice came from right behind Zhao Xiaohan.
The entire mood shifted.
"Ah!" Zhao Xiaohan spun around and froze under the weight of Raiden Ei's frosty gaze. She didn't even dare to greet her.
"I... I just wanted to ask a question…"
Raiden Ei's expression didn't change. She didn't even bother hiding her disinterest—just stared at her flatly.
"Sorry. I'll go back now." Zhao Xiaohan immediately looked away, lowered her head, and hurried back to her seat without a word.
Every eye was watching, but when Raiden Ei turned and casually swept a glance across the room, the silence was instant.
Lu Chen quietly thought to himself—so this is what they call Conqueror's Haki, huh?
Raiden Ei withdrew her killing intent, returned to her usual emotionless expression, and sat down.
Seeing that Lu Chen was still pressing down a physics book, she gave him a curious look.
"Almost got blown away by the wind. Good thing I was fast."
"Oh... right."
The heat of the gazes behind them was almost palpable. Lu Chen glanced back at Zhou Yang and his oddly-excited deskmate with suspicion.
Those two looked like their eyes were about to sparkle.
If Lu Chen could hear their thoughts, he'd probably scoff in disbelief.
This is what they think a battlefield looks like...? Amateurs.
If even a few more from the other side of the Gate of Teyvat came through, then they'd know what a real battlefield looked like...