Feng Na and Cheng Cheng shared a laugh, then Feng Na managed to compose herself and said, "We got so caught up talking, we forgot to eat. Shall we grab lunch first?"

She then looked at Jiang Xiuxiu and smiled, "Why don't you join us?"

Jiang Xiuxiu, eager to ingratiate herself with the senior who held some sway at school, readily agreed, "That sounds wonderful!"

The group left the campus gates and headed straight for a restaurant. However, when they arrived, they realized that by dawdling and chatting under the lecture building, they had wasted too much time. The place was already packed wall-to-wall, with a queue of students waiting for tables stretching out the door.

Jiang Xiuxiu couldn't help but gasp, "Wow, that’s a lot of people!"

Feng Na offered a wry smile. "This place is getting more popular by the day! Is Sichuan food really that good?"

Cheng Cheng teased, "Duh. Even someone from Jiangsu-Zhejiang like you is eating here, what do you think?"

Li Yundong suggested, "Let’s just eat at the cafeteria. No matter how crowded it is, we’re guaranteed to get food there."

Feng Na hesitated. "I'm treating you to lunch, and we’re eating at the cafeteria? That doesn't seem right, does it?"

Li Yundong chuckled warmly. "What’s wrong with that? It’s not like you’ve never eaten there before."

Li Yundong was recalling the time he dined at the cafeteria with President Cao, Zhou Qin, and their group. Feng Na and Cheng Cheng immediately remembered the scene where Li Yundong had sung his heart out, and they both broke into soft smiles.

Feng Na conceded, "Alright then, the cafeteria it is. Let’s just hope they still have some dishes left."

Jiang Xiuxiu had been secretly hoping for a nice meal treat. The turn back to the cafeteria left her feeling a bit let down, though she made sure not to show it. Instead, she chirped, "Great, great! This will be my first time eating in the school cafeteria; I wonder how the food is."

Seeing that she didn't object, Feng Na said cheerfully, "Then let’s head back."

With that, the four turned around and walked back towards the school cafeteria.

At that moment, the school cafeteria was still a sea of people, a teeming mass of students.

As Li Yundong, Feng Na, and the others stepped inside, several older students recognized Li Yundong. Involuntarily, they parted to create a path for him, and even the volume of their chatter dropped noticeably.

Jiang Xiuxiu watched as their group entered and the surrounding crowd looked upon them with expressions of reverence. Even with her self-importance, she knew those gazes weren't directed at her. Yet, she found it impossible that they were looking at this conceited boy. Therefore, she naturally concluded that everyone must be looking at Feng Na.

Jiang Xiuxiu couldn't help but exclaim, "Senior Feng Na, I never realized how many people know you here!"

Feng Na hadn't quite processed the full implication of Jiang Xiuxiu's words and replied casually, "It’s alright. After all, I’ve been here three years; I’ve just become a familiar face."

Jiang Xiuxiu observed how a path cleared wherever their group walked, how the voices near them lowered significantly—it was like a lord inspecting his domain, or a gang leader parading through his turf. It was utterly imposing!

She gasped, "Senior Feng Na, I never knew you commanded such high prestige! People clear the way for you wherever you go—that is truly amazing!"

Feng Na paused, knowing full well whom the deference was actually aimed at. She opened her mouth to explain, but Cheng Cheng gave her a discreet pinch on the waist.

Feng Na turned to look at Cheng Cheng, only to find her eyes sparkling with mischief, shaking her head.

Feng Na stifled her laugh and held back what she was about to say.

After the four bought their food and sat down, Jiang Xiuxiu continued her accolades. "Incredible, absolutely awesome! Today, I finally witnessed what a 'Big Sister' truly is. So imposing! I wonder when I’ll reach a status like that."

Feng Na glanced at Li Yundong. Seeing his expression remain calm and unrevealing of his true stature, she decided to play along, suppressing a laugh. "It’s nothing much, really. Li Yundong is the one who is truly imposing; he’s the real local kingpin here."

Saying this, Feng Na tapped Li Yundong’s plate lightly with her chopsticks. "Hey, isn't that right?"

Li Yundong looked at Feng Na with a sense of resignation. "Yes, yes, it is!"

Jiang Xiuxiu’s jaw dropped, her eyes wide with longing. "No way! Senior, you’re already so magnetic; what must Li Yundong be like? Is it like an Emperor making a royal tour, demanding obeisance from all his officials?"

Cheng Cheng couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing, nearly spitting out the rice she was chewing. She coughed hard, waving her hand at Jiang Xiuxiu. "Sorry, I choked."

Seeing her reaction, Jiang Xiuxiu wondered internally, Was what I said really that funny? These people are getting stranger and stranger!

Feng Na patted Cheng Cheng’s back while playfully teasing Li Yundong, "Hey, Li Yundong, is the tour really that exaggerated?"

Li Yundong offered a wry smile. "It's not that exaggerated at all."

Jiang Xiuxiu bristled. "Why is it exaggerated? Are you jealous that he’s more imposing than you? Can’t stand him stealing the spotlight from you?"

Li Yundong was at a loss for words, chuckling wryly. "I didn't say that! I just think, ahem, you’re praising him too highly!"

Jiang Xiuxiu pressed on. "Is he not more imposing than you? Does he not steal more of the spotlight? What can you do that he can't?"

Li Yundong sighed with a faint smile. "Yes, yes, more imposing, steals more attention."

Jiang Xiuxiu huffed, about to press further, when a surprised voice called out from nearby, "Li Yundong?"

As the voice spoke, Li Yundong, Feng Na, and Cheng Cheng all turned to look. Jiang Xiuxiu, however, shot to her feet, her heart hammering wildly. "Li Yundong? Where is Li Yundong?"

Li Yundong saw two girls standing before him. One was dressed in designer brands, looking very fashionable. The other, though also attractive, possessed a slender figure and delicate features that exuded a unique allure.

Li Yundong recognized the second girl. He paused, momentarily stunned. Wasn't this the girl who danced at the party last time? He managed, "You, you’re Zhuang Hui?"

Zhuang Hui smiled, holding her food tray. "May I sit down?"

Feng Na, who was Zhuang Hui's rival, couldn't resist chiming in immediately. "Don't you think it's awfully crowded here?"

Ke Lu, standing beside Zhuang Hui, was haughty and couldn't help but snort. "Huihui, let’s go. What’s there to talk to them about!" With that, she turned and walked away with her tray.

Zhuang Hui glanced at her friend, let out a soft sigh, and seeing Ke Lu leave decisively, could only turn back to Li Yundong with a look of regret. "Can I treat you to a meal next time?"

Before Li Yundong could reply, Feng Na sneered, "The line of people wanting to treat him to meals stretches all the way to Beijing!"

A flash of annoyance crossed Zhuang Hui’s eyes. She glared fiercely at Feng Na and left resentfully.

Li Yundong looked at Feng Na with some surprise. "Do you two have history?"

Feng Na offered Li Yundong an apologetic glance, managing a strained smile. "Sorry, my emotions got a little out of control."

Their close friend Cheng Cheng laughed beside them. "They’re sworn enemies. Women, you know, always have one or two mortal rivals they can't stand. You get it!"

Li Yundong had no real connection with Zhuang Hui anyway, so he didn't dwell on it, smiling without commenting further.

But Jiang Xiuxiu, watching all this, widened her eyes. She blurted out, "Hey, hey, hold on, hold on." She then pointed at Li Yundong, saying, "You’re Li Yundong? Impossible! How can you be Li Yundong?"

Li Yundong laughed. "Why can't I be Li Yundong?"

Jiang Xiuxiu suddenly felt frantic. She looked exasperatedly at Feng Na and Cheng Cheng, hoping they would confirm it for her, only to see the two of them trying to stifle giggles, their bodies shaking with suppressed mirth. Her mind went completely blank: It’s over, I’ve made a complete fool of myself this time!

Jiang Xiuxiu was now certain the young man before her was indeed Li Yundong, yet out of sheer reflex and disbelief, she pressed one last time, "You are Li Yundong?"

Before Li Yundong could answer, they suddenly heard a boy’s voice call out excitedly from not far behind them: "Hong Ling, what’s so great about this school? The faculty is mediocre, it has no reputation, none of the good majors, and no decent advisors. Look, even the cafeteria food is bad—ugh, what is this stir-fry? Tastes disgusting!"

Li Yundong’s heart skipped a beat. Hong Ling? He immediately turned to look at the boy who had spoken.

And there she was, sitting opposite the boy: a girl of breathtaking beauty, her ponytail tied high, her forehead smooth and bright, and her eyes sharp and radiant, projecting an air of confidence and pride. It could only be Ruan Hong Ling.

"Why is she at this university?" Li Yundong’s eyes widened in shock.

Ruan Hong Ling, hearing the boy complaining, couldn't help but slam her hand on the table and shout angrily, "Yan Hua, are you ever going to shut up? I didn't force you to study here with me! Tsinghua and Peking are great, go study there if you want! Why are you dragging your feet here, talking so much nonsense!"

Some students nearby who had overheard Yan Hua's earlier slight against Tiannan University cheered loudly, shouting, "Well said!"

Others mocked sarcastically, "I doubt he could even get into those places!"

Yan Hua turned and glared at them, stating proudly and arrogantly, "You haven't even heard my name? Don't you know who the top scorer in the Tiannan City Gaokao was this year? Do you think I care about this lousy school? I turned down offers from Tsinghua and Peking! I’m following Hong Ling, got a problem with that?"

Having vented, he turned back to her, adopting the subdued expression of a slighted husband, and spoke quietly with a placating smile, "I didn't mean it like that, seriously. Don't take it to heart, don't be angry, okay? I just can't figure out why, with your scores, you could easily get into Peking or Tsinghua, but you chose to attend this school."

Ruan Hong Ling was furious. This boy had been pestering her since middle school right through high school, and now into university—it was like a persistent ghost clinging to her!

Ruan Hong Ling was about to launch into a full-blown tirade when she suddenly felt a sharp, bright gaze fixed upon her. Her heart gave a lurch. Following the direction of the look, she instantly saw Li Yundong.

Ruan Hong Ling had several reasons for choosing this university: not only was it in the city where she practiced, but the campus was relatively quiet. Furthermore, she could keep a closer eye on Li Yundong’s cultivation. Most importantly, Sister Ziyuan’s "sweetheart" was here, and this guy looked like a notorious womanizer—she needed to keep a close watch on him for her senior sister.

Ruan Hong Ling’s face lit up when she spotted Li Yundong, but the joy quickly faded when she noticed Feng Na, Cheng Cheng, and Jiang Xiuxiu beside him. A surge of anger rose in her chest. I knew this guy was a lecher! He’s already managed to charm three beauties on his first day! How detestable, truly detestable!

Ruan Hong Ling gave Yan Hua a cold smile and said, "You want to know why I came to this school?"

Yan Hua nodded eagerly. "I do!"

Ruan Hong Ling pointed directly at Li Yundong without a second thought and declared, "I came to this school for him!"

Though technically true, saying it at this particular moment was bound to cause wild speculation. Li Yundong started in shock and couldn't help but shout, "Hey, Hong Ling, what nonsense are you spouting!"

Yan Hua heard this and thought, Huh? He calls her Hong Ling? The audacity! That's the name I should be allowed to use. Who does he think he is?

Yan Hua immediately became consumed by jealousy. He turned, tilted his head, looked down his nose at Li Yundong, and sneered disdainfully, "So, you are Li Yundong?"

========================================== Highly recommend fellow student Hai Chen’s new book, Blood Fiend Heavenly Demon. Welcome fellow students to check it out~D