A mermaid who can only transform halfway is still a mermaid.
Huang Xiu and the others gazed with profound curiosity, eager to witness Chen Molian’s mermaid form.
Yet, no matter how much they pleaded.
Chen Molian merely clutched the corner of her clothes, shaking her head vigorously, as if transforming into a mermaid would fill her with unbearable shame.
In the end, they could only reluctantly abandon the idea of her transformation.
“Does anyone else have something they’d like to share?”
Teacher Nanmen Xiu spoke, his gaze sweeping over the group, pausing deliberately on Huang Xiu for a moment longer than the rest.
It was as if he was asking, ‘As the leader, shouldn’t you step forward and share something as well?’
‘No, I don’t want to.’
Having already decided to simply observe without contributing, Huang Xiu quietly averted her gaze.
Nanmen Xiu sighed inwardly.
Although tonight’s session seemed remarkably effective, with Chen Molian actively stepping forward to share, the psychological defenses of the other three remained impenetrable.
‘Slowly, then… there’s still plenty of time.’
Nanmen Xiu rubbed his stomach and announced the conclusion of the day’s psychological counseling session.
Just like the previous class, Nanmen Xiu departed alone, while Huang Xiu and her three companions walked together.
However, this time, the atmosphere among the four was considerably lighter, filled with laughter and lively chatter throughout their journey.
Most of their conversation revolved around Huang Xiu and the other two eagerly questioning Chen Molian about her mermaid transformation.
Upon reaching the dorms, Huang Xiu parted ways with everyone in front of Building Three, her steps quickening as she returned to her room alone.
It was already approaching half-past nine.
Time waited for no one. She skipped washing up and didn’t review the Void Art structures she’d learned in her Void Art class. The Tempering Method had already been practiced that morning, so she wouldn’t need to dedicate time to it tonight.
Huang Xiu was keenly aware of her own learning capabilities.
In a school where all her classmates were academic prodigies, she knew that if she wanted her theoretical scores to keep pace, she had to exert herself even more than others.
Thursday’s classes were no less demanding than Wednesday’s.
Just the Combat class alone was enough to elicit endless complaints from the students.
Fortunately, tomorrow was Friday, with only a half-day of classes, promising a delightful weekend ahead.
Huang Xiu was equally eager for the weekend.
On one hand, she was utterly exhausted from a week of classes and yearned for some proper relaxation.
On the other hand, she was scheduled to visit the Tiangong Group headquarters over the weekend to discuss the customized order of specialized items with the person in charge.
The prospect of owning expensive yet powerful Void Tools had long made Huang Xiu drool with anticipation.
There was little to say about Thursday’s classes; these two sessions were predominantly dedicated to independent training.
Mornings were spent practicing with firearms, while afternoons were committed to cultivating the Tempering Method.
Naturally, the teachers remained present to address students’ questions.
Teacher Yuan even patrolled the training room, promptly correcting anyone whose movements deviated from the standard.
His dedication was evident.
Though he might have tattoos, a penchant for cursing, and a fierce, unlikable demeanor, every student in the class regarded him as an exceptionally rare and excellent teacher.
This stood in stark contrast to Yuan Fei, who had already embraced a more lackadaisical approach.
Indeed, during Friday’s class, Yuan Fei, in his pursuit of laziness, actually brought in two teaching assistants to cover for him.
He, meanwhile, sat casually to the side, sipping coffee with his legs crossed.
He grandly claimed that his personal experience alone might not benefit all students equally, hence the need for two experts in ability development to impart diverse experiences.
His reasoning was sound, and the students, including Huang Xiu, raised no objections.
After all, compared to other subjects, the ability development class had become their designated time for relaxation.
What could be more delightful than sitting and listening to the teacher boast, all without needing to think or exert themselves?
However, Huang Xiu was utterly stunned when she saw who Yuan Fei’s two teaching assistants were.
Both of them were, in fact, her acquaintances.
Yun Ning and Yue Zhengyang.
“Teacher Yuan Fei, if you’re going to be lazy, you shouldn’t at least call your own people to substitute!” Huang Xiu covered her face.
She didn’t want anyone to see the speechless expression on her face.
Throughout the entire class, Huang Xiu made every effort to avoid excessive interaction with Yun Ning and Yue Zhengyang.
She didn’t want anyone to discover her connection to Yuan Fei.
Even when their gazes fell upon her, she would secretly pray they wouldn’t linger.
Her reason for doing so wasn’t out of disdain for Yuan Fei.
Rather, it was due to the fear of unfairness. Why should Huang Xiu be taught by a teacher, while other students still had to attend large group classes?
Huang Xiu worried that her classmates might harbor such thoughts, leading to her being ostracized or envied.
However, Yun Ning and Yue Zhengyang, acting as teaching assistants, made their roles perfectly clear.
They were teaching assistants to all the students, not Huang Xiu’s senior disciples. They would not give Huang Xiu special treatment due to their relationship, nor would they deliberately avoid her.
By the midpoint of the class, she had relaxed and no longer felt apprehensive.
She interacted freely with Yun Ning and the others.
In this particular class, Yun Ning and Yue Zhengyang weren’t discussing theoretical topics like ability development.
Instead, they focused on the more practical aspect of post-battle analysis.
They taught how to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of one’s abilities by reviewing the gains and losses in combat, which would be incredibly helpful for their Void Art choices after freshman year.
Everyone listened attentively, expressing their approval.
Perhaps it was because Yun Ning was handsome and youthful, making him more relatable to the students than the slightly more mature and steady Yue Zhengyang.
Or perhaps it was because he had already made an appearance at the freshman ceremony, establishing his identity as an outstanding senior.
Yun Ning and Yue Zhengyang were more popular and sought after, especially by the female students.
This wasn’t to say that Yue Zhengyang received no adoration; it was simply that his admirers were predominantly male.
As the class neared its end, numerous girls swarmed around Yun Ning, eager to obtain his contact information.
This brought a hint of amusement to Huang Xiu.
After class, she sent a message to Yun Ning, asking if he had taken a liking to any of the cute junior female students.
She offered to play wingwoman, scout out their preferences, and even assist in setting them up.
‘Helping a senior who’s been single for so long settle down is also one of the important duties of a junior!’
That was Huang Xiu’s thought.
Perhaps Yun Ning was checking his phone, as his reply came back swiftly.
No sooner had she sent her message than he immediately responded with an emoji of a speechless kitten.
Then, a flurry of words followed.
Huang Xiu mentally translated it.
The gist was that there were no girls in her class he liked, and he had no immediate plans to pursue a relationship during university. He prioritized academic credits and strength over dating.
“Alright, alright, Yun Ning isn’t just a workaholic, he’s also a monk who’s cultivated celibacy!”
Huang Xiu tilted her head, feeling a touch of regret.
After all, the female students in their class were of no small caliber. Even if one considered the mature women, there was a diverse array of types, a veritable garden of blossoms.
There were many other types of adorable girls…
Just recalling how those girls had fawned over Yun Yu earlier, Huang Xiu believed that Yun Yu’s chances of success were definitely not low.
‘Alas, I’m already out of the running; otherwise, I would have shed my lifelong single status.’
As Huang Xiu thought this, she suddenly missed the ‘Great Dragon’ that had accompanied her for seventeen years, yet had never tasted the thrill of a canyon hero.
“Great Dragon, I’m so sorry!”
Huang Xiu wept silently, tearfully taking two more bites of braised yellow eel.
It was as if this could alleviate the phantom pain of not having her ‘Great Dragon’.
Chewing and swallowing the yellow eel in her mouth, she looked up at the person opposite her. “Xiao Yu, are you really not coming with me this weekend?”
Ying Zhiyu was delicately eating her meal. Hearing Huang Xiu’s words, she immediately replied with an apologetic expression, “Sister Xiu, I have plans this weekend. I really can’t go.”
“Alright, then.”
Jia Qianrou smiled. “Sister Xiu, if you want to… it’s not impossible.”
“Farewell!” Huang Xiu immediately clasped her hands in salute. Her funds were limited; she still needed them to buy a car and a house. How could she afford such extravagance?
She then asked Liu Lu and Chi Xue.
However, one of them had to practice combat skills to catch up over the weekend, while the other needed to work a part-time job at school to earn Void Art credits. Neither was free.
Seeing this, Huang Xiu sighed softly.
“I really don’t want to go to an unfamiliar place alone!”
She had already asked Fang Miaoging, but the latter was busy tending to her mutated plants and also unavailable.
With all her female friends occupied, it seemed her only remaining option was her male friends.
However, Yun Ning, her best choice, said he had to go on a mission over the weekend.
As for her other male friends, Huang Xiu felt that a lone man and woman traveling together in the city might lead to misunderstandings.
Moreover, this trip was to the Tiangong Group to customize Void Tools, and letting others know wasn’t ideal.
Huang Xiu ultimately abandoned her plan of asking someone to accompany her.
She boarded the school’s shuttle bus alone, bound for Xidu City.
The vehicle sped along the straight asphalt road, the green mountains and clear waters outside the window continuously flowing backward.
In the back corner, Huang Xiu gazed out the window, lost in thought.
Since starting university, she hadn’t ventured far alone, feeling isolated. Each time, either Ying Zhiyu, Jia Qianrou, or Senior Male Student Yun Ning had been by her side.
This time, traveling alone to the Tiangong Group headquarters in Xidu City, the journey was only a few dozen kilometers, easily manageable in an afternoon, with ample time to catch the evening bus back to school.
Yet, Huang Xiu inexplicably felt an unnamable sense of loneliness, tightly enveloping her, making her quite uncomfortable.
‘What’s wrong, Huang Xiu? You’ve only just started university, and you’ve become so sentimental? You weren’t like this before!’
Huang Xiu silently mocked herself in her mind.
She then pulled out her earphones from her pocket, put them on, connected via Bluetooth, and played a random song.
Amidst the restless or soothing melodies, the feeling of loneliness was somewhat masked, and Xidu City drew ever closer.
Students disembarked intermittently along the way.
Huang Xiu simply remained seated, riding all the way to the final stop.
This was the Tiandu University’s downtown office, which also served as the address for student mail and parcels.
As a university located in the city center, it was quite affluent, so its office was never shabby, even boasting a relatively spacious courtyard.
At that moment, a black car was parked in the courtyard.
Huang Xiu stepped off the bus, glanced at the license plate, and then got in.
This was a dedicated vehicle dispatched by the Tiangong Group for her.
When she had contacted the Tiangong Group that day, upon learning she didn’t have a car, they had immediately arranged a special car.
It was to be responsible for all her movements within Xidu City that day.
Huang Xiu wasn’t naive enough to believe it was solely due to her own influence. Although she was a Mercury Rank Awakened individual, such a status was insignificant before a behemoth like the Tiangong Group.
‘So, Teacher Yuan Fei really does have some clout!’
Although Huang Xiu often called him an ‘old geezer’ or ‘old scoundrel’ in her daily life, beyond his unconventional teacher persona, he was also a professor at Tiandu University, ranked among the top of the Hundred Sages list, and one of the most powerful individuals in the entire country.
Otherwise, how could the Tiangong Group possibly agree to Yuan Fei’s request, provided Huang Xiu was willing to pay an advance fee? She might be a Gold Rank, but she was also a freshman who had just entered university!
The ride was very comfortable, and the driver’s skills were excellent. The journey, with its stops and starts, never made Huang Xiu feel unwell.
Before long, the vehicle slowed, pulling towards a skyscraper that soared five or six dozen stories high.
It seemed they had reached their destination.
Huang Xiu looked out the window.
The four large characters, “Tiangong Group,” hung on the glass curtain wall, glowing with a halo under the afternoon sun.
The security guards flanking the building’s entrance were impeccably dressed in suits, and most people entering and exiting were also in formal attire.
She quietly glanced down at her own outfit.
A plain white short-sleeved shirt, black capri pants with no patterns, and a pair of ordinary white sneakers. Excluding underwear, her entire ensemble cost no more than three hundred.
It epitomized extreme cost-effectiveness.
She then opened her phone’s front camera to look at herself.
Her face was youthful and rosy, looking like a quintessential naive college student, completely out of place with the sophisticated atmosphere here.
Fortunately, the driver’s destination wasn’t the building’s main entrance, but the underground parking garage beside it, which eased Huang Xiu’s mind somewhat.
The underground parking garage had elevators that led directly into the building, and by the elevators, a elegantly dressed woman was already waiting.
She smiled as Huang Xiu stepped out of the car and approached. “You must be Huang Xiu from Tiandu University, right? I’m Xiao He, and our department head has been waiting for you for quite some time.” She stepped aside, and the elevator doors smoothly opened. With a gesture, she invited, “This way, please.”
“Thank you, thank you.”
Ever polite, Huang Xiu immediately clasped her hands and bowed repeatedly in thanks before stepping into the elevator.
The elevator doors slowly closed.
The professional woman, who introduced herself as Xiao He, swiped an access card and pressed the button for the fifteenth floor.
She then stood upright beside Huang Xiu, looking straight ahead.
‘How professional!’
The elevator ascended slowly. Huang Xiu secretly glanced at Xiao He. This was her first time visiting such a large company. Seeing such an imposing setup, she couldn’t help but feel a little nervous, unconsciously straightening her back and puffing out her chest.
However, Huang Xiu, engrossed in her nervousness, was unaware that Xiao He was secretly observing her from the corner of her eye.
‘Is this the Gold Rank genius? Aside from being pretty, there’s nothing particularly striking about her,’ she murmured to herself.
Noticing Huang Xiu’s slight nervousness, Xiao He smiled inwardly and took the initiative to speak. “Classmate Huang, are you familiar with our Tiangong Group?”