The matter of Xiao Ruo pursuing him seemed to have caused no significant ripple; Liu Yunqi showed little reaction, which in turn made Zhong Yun feel slightly uneasy.

What did her lack of reaction prove? Did it prove she was magnanimous, unbothered by sharing a man with another woman? Anyone who thought that way surely had their head kicked in by a donkey. No reaction meant she didn't care, and not caring meant his standing in her heart wasn't very high. For instance, if some other man brazenly pursued Liu Yunqi, he might not show it outwardly, but behind the scenes, he would absolutely crush that man until he was utterly disgraced and afraid to show his face. Love had never been fair. If another man tried to take his girlfriend, and he foolishly competed with the rival on equal footing, he deserved to die single. But asking Zhong Yun to say harsh words to make Xiao Ruo give up hope was impossible. Love was inherently a war; if he did that, wouldn't he be explicitly telling her, I care about you deeply; I only love you; see, for you, I reject other women? If he did that, he’d be finished. Even if they eventually got together, he wouldn't have an easy time; she would hold his weak card, and the initiative would completely be in her hands. As long as they didn't break up, she could manipulate him however she pleased.

Now, Zhong Yun and Liu Yunqi were at a critical juncture; whoever surrendered first handed the initiative to the other. It was deeply ironic: whoever loved more deeply risked becoming the captive of the other's affection and being more likely to get hurt.

Of course, everyone’s view on love differed, just as everyone had their own way of living. Zhong Yun’s view, however, was: you don't have to love me, but you cannot reject me. He absolutely had to make the other person surrender first and seize the initiative. Therefore, no matter how much he liked a woman, he would never reveal it. Nor would he foolishly confess; instead, he would slowly make the other person fall in love with him first. The intimate sweet talk, the meticulous care, and the doting affection—those came only after the relationship had stabilized.

However, Zhong Yun was not in a hurry. Emotions steeped slowly over low heat yield the best flavor. When the heat was just right, things would naturally unfold.

Seven days later. It was a bright, sunny morning. Clouds resembling layers of cotton candy floated in the sky. The golden sunlight slanted across his body, feeling delightfully warm.

Mingzhu School was situated beside a lake on the north side of the city, built right alongside the water. A small hill stood nearby. Green mountains and clear waters, the scenery of the lake and mountains was exceptionally beautiful.

Zhong Yun had once watched Mingzhu School’s promotional video and was deeply impressed by the scenery inside the school, which looked like a paradise on earth. But today, he wasn't there to sightsee. Following a large crowd of peers, he walked toward the examination hall under the guidance of a Mingzhu School staff member.

Today was the day of Mingzhu School's entrance examination. Zhong Yun was scheduled for this day as well. He wasn't worried about the test at all; his demeanor was relaxed, like that of a tourist, making him particularly conspicuous among the group of tense young people.

The first session was the most crucial: the intelligence test. Zhong Yun was determined to give it his all. His previous aptitude test scores were too poor; even with the leap in progress over the last few months, he couldn't fully bridge the gap with others. Unless he could score an unimpeachable, high mark on this exam, admission was hopeless.

Glancing around as if window-shopping, Zhong Yun suddenly glimpsed a familiar figure flash past the building on his left. He froze, startled. Why would he be here? Before he could ponder further, the crowd pushed him forward, and he soon entered the examination room. He had no choice but to focus his mind and push the recent sighting aside.

The exams went smoothly. Over the next few days, he took seven tests, all of which went well; he estimated admission would not be an issue. However, during the later days, he never saw that familiar person again.

Because so many people had applied, Mingzhu School’s entrance exams were staggered. Tianhai and Chenwen were scheduled for the next batch.

The next day at school, Zhong Yun once again sat beside Liu Yunqi. The class monitor turned a blind eye to his behavior; the semester was nearing its end, and as long as he didn't go too far, this female monitor didn't want to bother with trivial matters.

“Right, how many people are there in your Yang family in total?” Zhong Yun asked, spurred by the familiar figure at Mingzhu School, bringing up a question that had been buried deep in his heart for a long time.

“Why ask about that?” Liu Yunqi looked at him strangely. Zhong Yun had never asked about her family before; any mention of it usually came from her initiative. She was just a little curious, not actually expecting a detailed answer, so she said, “The Yang family is vast and powerful; passing down through so many years, the clan members number in the tens of thousands, maybe more. However, only a few hundred hold positions at the core.”

“Have any clan members ever separated from the Yang family?” Zhong Yun followed up, then paused before adding, “In the last few decades?”

“Separated from the Yang family?” Liu Yunqi rested her chin in her hand and thought for a moment, shaking her head. “Probably not… hmm.” As she spoke, she seemed to recall something and said with a hint of confusion, “Maybe there was, I’m not entirely sure. I rarely pay attention to clan matters.”

Zhong Yun hummed an acknowledgment, thinking that perhaps Chenwen might know.

“Why are you asking about this?” Liu Yunqi asked curiously.

“A while ago, I met someone who claimed to be from the Yang family. I ran into him again a few days ago, which is why I wanted to ask you,” Zhong Yun explained.

“Never mind that,” Zhong Yun said, looking at her with a serious expression. “Yunqi, are you really not taking the Mingzhu School exam?”

“Why must I take the Mingzhu School exam?” Liu Yunqi tilted her head, countering, her bright eyes twinkling.

“Because of me,” Zhong Yun blurted out without thinking. He looked into her eyes. “Can you really bear to be separated from me?”

A smile bloomed from her deep eyes, yet she said, “It’s better if I don't see you; you’re always talking nonsense, driving me crazy.”

“If one day I stop bothering you, you’ll be the one who can’t sleep,” in a verbal sparring match, Liu Yunqi couldn't match Zhong Yun. His ambiguous remark made her face flush crimson.

Zhong Yun didn't intend to let her off. He continued, “If you don't go to Mingzhu School, you won't see me every day. What will you do when you miss me…”

“Stop it!” Liu Yunqi bit her lip in annoyance, utterly helpless against him. How had she never noticed how thick-skinned he was before? He clearly couldn't bear to be separated from her, yet he made it sound as if she were the one obsessively infatuated. She clenched her fist and hammered his arm a few times, seemingly trying to retaliate all at once for the 'bullying' she'd endured from him.

The other students in the class were dumbfounded watching the ethereal goddess transform into a savage girlfriend.

Zhong Yun’s face twisted exaggeratedly. “Hit me again, and I’ll shout.”

“Go ahead and shout. No one will hear you even if you scream your throat raw,” Liu Yunqi indulged herself for once, feeling a thrill of excitement, completely unaware that the classroom had fallen utterly silent.

Though her voice wasn't loud, everyone in the room heard it clearly.

Clatter.

Someone, too shocked, dropped the portable computer in their hand onto the floor.

P: The major push is almost over; asking for votes again. Finally, recommending a friend’s new book, Tentacle, Book ID 1278823. Wei Suo has transmigrated with his tentacle superpower—it's a story about a sleazy person showing off in another world. This book is very lewd and violent!