Love, Exams, and Undercurrents

“What a pity,” Xi Xue sighed, her face etched with regret. “I thought we could revel until dusk, watching the fountain flow all day.”

Lan Ruobing remained silent.

‘I’m the one making the fountain, not you, am I not?’

‘If you’re so bold, let me try it from up there!’ she thought.

‘I’d surely make your valves burst open, sending a torrent three thousand feet down, like the Milky Way falling from the heavens!’

“Alright, enough of that,” Xi Xue said, her tone shifting. “You’ve worked hard all morning. Come, taste the food I’ve prepared to replenish your strength!”

With tender care, Xi Xue helped Ruobing to the dining table, setting out a bowl, serving rice, and arranging chopsticks and cutlery.

Even though Ruobing had mentioned her water healing ability, Xi Xue remained meticulously attentive.

For her beloved, after such strenuous effort, proper care was paramount.

Ruobing sat before the table, watching Xi Xue arrange everything for her, even piling a small mountain of food into her bowl.

A sudden wave of pleasant surprise washed over her.

She never imagined she would experience a day where a wealthy young lady would care for her so thoughtfully.

And this young lady was exceptionally considerate.

‘It’s wonderful, though a bit taxing on the body,’ she mused.

‘If this happens before every meal, I doubt my constitution could handle it.’

She lifted her gaze, observing the large villa.

There wasn’t a single servant in sight, yet the long dining table was laden with seven or eight stir-fried dishes and two or three soups.

All of them were steaming, clearly fresh from the wok, and their appearance suggested excellent quality.

‘This is astounding,’ Ruobing thought.

‘She only spent enough time to let me heal my injuries, and Xi Xue managed to cook seven or eight dishes and three or four soups?’

‘Has her culinary skill been maxed out?’

Noticing Ruobing’s questioning gaze, Xi Xue explained, “Do you remember the Bloodflame from our liquid-burning orb back at the clothing store? I used that to cook.”

As Xi Xue spoke, a wisp of flame flickered in her hand.

It was blood-red, as if blood itself were burning, incredibly vibrant and dynamic.

“This is my unique ability, unlike ordinary Bloodkin.”

“The Bloodflame has a very high temperature, can flow like blood, devouring everything it touches, and it lingers endlessly.”

“That is indeed very unique,” Lan Ruobing nodded, acknowledging the power.

She could sense the destructive aura contained within the Bloodflame—a desperate and ominous energy that sent a shiver of unease through her very soul.

Xi Xue smiled, a hint of pride in her voice.

“Because of the Bloodflame’s fluidity, as long as I control its temperature, I can infuse it into the dishes, achieving the most precise heat for cooking.”

“So, preparing a delicious meal in a short amount of time is incredibly simple for me.”

“Come on, quickly try it! How does it taste?”

Without waiting, Xi Xue immediately picked up a piece of meat and placed it into Ruobing’s mouth.

“Mmm, mmm-hmm, it tastes good,” Ruobing mumbled, her cheeks bulging adorably as she ate.

“Really? Then eat more!” Xi Xue’s eyes lit up with excitement.

She didn’t need to say more; Ruobing was already devouring the food.

After missing several meals, the dragon was starving!

After several rounds of ravenous eating, Ruobing began to notice something unusual.

The food was simply too delicious!

It far surpassed ordinary ingredients!

The meals served at the school cafeterias, specifically for ability users, couldn’t even compare.

The subtle threads of magic contained within were comforting and gentle.

Not only was the meat tender and the vegetables crisp and sweet, but the food also subtly enhanced her physique, replenishing and refining her magic.

Moreover, some dishes looked like jelly but tasted crisp and not greasy, much like an apple, though less sweet—as if mountain spring water had been transformed into a soft, crunchy jelly.

As soon as a dish entered her mouth, it felt like an electric current, a delicate tingle spreading through her entire body, leaving her utterly delighted.

“What is this?!” Ruobing managed to ask, swallowing a mouthful of food.

“Beast meat and beast cores,” Xi Xue explained. “Eating them greatly benefits your body and enhances your abilities.”

Although Ruobing had only asked a simple question, Xi Xue understood her underlying meaning.

“So, you must eat more,” Xi Xue said with a wink and a smile.

“Then, during the exam, you’ll easily be able to unleash your maximum strength.”

She brushed a hand across Ruobing’s face, her eyes filled with anticipation.

“Then we can both get into Huaxia Guard University, and have a passionate romance amidst a vibrant university life.”

“We’ll live together, get married, grow old together. Holding hands, sitting side by side, watching the sunset.”

Ruobing’s eyes widened, her heart deeply touched.

This young lady had truly planned out their entire future.

‘Does she really like me that much?’

She fell into a silent contemplation, suddenly finding the food in her mouth even more delicious and heartwarming.

She was suddenly reminded of those countless nights she had turned off the lights, sat alone on her bed, silently weeping in the moonlight, a photo of her family of three holding hands on her bedside table.

She simply wanted a home.

She still remembered the warmth of a home.

She still longed to embrace that feeling.

It was the most comfortable sensation in the world, devoid of weariness, filled only with trust, care, and protection—the warm embrace of love, much like a cat basking in the sun, utterly content in its lazy afternoon nap.

“Mmm,” she hummed, her nose suddenly tingling and tears welling up, which she promptly swallowed with a mouthful of food.

At that moment, she recalled the dream she had that morning, those fragmented memories of her parents talking by her bedside.

What was the true relationship between her parents and that company?

What exactly were the so-called experimental results?

What purpose did they serve? And what had those fraudsters done?

Was that tragedy truly as simple as it seemed?

She resolved to become a member of the Guard Squad, using her position to investigate the events of that year.

Perhaps Xi Xue, with her background, could help her.

Having made up her mind, she ate with even greater vigor, simultaneously absorbing magic and nourishing her body and mind.

She must place in the top three in this ability exam!

“Burp~”

After the meal, Xi Xue helped Ruobing change into more practical attire for combat.

Once everything was ready, they headed to the garage, and Xi Xue drove Ruobing toward the school.

Currently, the school grounds were teeming with people.

In the expanded examination hall, the host worked diligently to energize the atmosphere, repeatedly emphasizing the exam rules.

In the stands surrounding the examination hall, the crowd roared with excitement.

On the main stage, the distinguished leaders calmly observed the examination, occasionally exchanging a few words.

Their gazes, when directed at the exam hall, were profound, lost in unknown contemplation.

Meanwhile, in a shadowy corner, a figure wearing a mask watched the live ability exam with shadowed, sinister eyes.

Their gaze, like that of a venomous snake, was cold and dangerous, silently sweeping across the scene as if searching for prey.

After parking the car, Xi Xue took Ruobing’s hand and led the way, much like an older sister guiding her shy younger sibling.

The spotlight effect created by the campus belle, Xi Xue, made Lan Ruobing uncomfortably lower her head.

She silently followed, wishing only to pass through the absurd crowd as quickly as possible.

Xi Xue noticed Ruobing’s discomfort, slowing her pace.

She pressed close to Ruobing, shielding her slightly, and they walked toward the examination hall rooftop.

Along the way, people automatically parted for them, and several individuals even darted out to offer flowers, all of which Xi Xue gracefully declined.

If she accepted even one bouquet in such a situation, she would immediately be inundated with a deluge, making it impossible to walk.

There was a designated resting area for ability exam candidates to prepare and socialize, but Xi Xue and Ruobing bypassed it, heading straight for the rooftop.

For them, the rooftop held a special significance.

It was a witness to their innocent youth, the beauty of their first encounter, and the blossoming of their tender love.