"Zhou Li, please co up to the stage to receive your award."
"Why aren’t you going up to receive the award yet?" Brother Nan urged Zhou Li. "It’s obvious you’re here; you’ve already scanned the code. If you don’t go up, it’ll be very awkward for them."
"Oh."
Only then did Zhou Li stand up and walk towards the stage.
His appearance was outstanding, and many people turned their gaze towards him, their eyes lingering for a long ti.
The overly long stares seed to continuously focus on him, giving him so psychological pressure. He worried that people would soon expose him as soone from another institute who had co to freeload a performance. Freeloading a performance wasn’t a big deal, but scooping up an award too seed sowhat excessive.
Indeed, he was overthinking it; not many people were that petty.
"So handso..."
He heard a soft exclamation from a female classmate nearby.
As he got closer, Zhou Li saw more clearly the embarrassnt and panic on Xiao Hua’s face.
This was because a consensus had existed since the ti of the ancient Heavenly Masters: they would not easily display their extraordinary abilities in front of ordinary people unless the latter had already encountered such things. Although the proportion of people in ancient tis who believed that demons existed in the world was much higher than it is now, ancient Heavenly Masters did indeed generally adhere to this consensus. At the sa ti, the current governnt’s attitude towards Heavenly Masters and demons was to neither intentionally hide nor flaunt their existence. They wanted the public to discover these things gradually, allowing public opinion to slowly cultivate acceptance before confirming it at an appropriate ti.
Xiao Hua was naturally aware of all this. She also knew that among the many acts of ignoring this consensus, street performing and pandering to the public were undoubtedly at the very bottom of the pecking order.
Ironically, Zhou Li was sowhat considered her half-ntor, and perhaps, stretching it a bit further, could even be seen as a sort of leader.
What would her teacher think of her?
"HMM..."
Thus, both of them saw the awkwardness on each other’s face, which only made them feel more awkward, trapping them in a vicious cycle.
"Wow, so handso!"
The female host’s eyes widened as she looked at Zhou Li. "How have I never noticed such a handso guy in our college? Classmate, which year are you in?"
"I’m a ’19."
"Sa year as ! I can’t believe I didn’t know we had such a handso guy in our year!"
"HEH HEH HEH..."
Just then, Xiao Hua ca over with the award, very tily interrupting their conversation. "Hello, Senior Brother Zhou..."
"Hello."
Zhou Li looked at her gratefully. His eyes then fell upon the tray, where he saw the little demon standing, blankly staring at him.
So Zhou Li smiled.
The female host also gave up on asking which class Zhou Li was from, continuing with a smile, "It seems like Xie Minqing knows Zhou Li; they must be acquaintances. So, without further ado, let’s proceed to the award presentation! Xie Minqing will use her magical power to make our award ’float’ to Zhou Li. Are you all excited? I wonder if Zhou Li has ever witnessed Xie Minqing’s ’magical power’ before?"
Zhou Li was dumbfounded.
Xiao Hua looked utterly mortified.
Especially after the host’s last remark, Xiao Hua desperately wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
At the crucial mont, it was still Doudou who didn’t drop the ball—
He picked up a Milk Tea Voucher from the tray, tiptoed towards Zhou Li, and during this process, for dramatic effect, he even fluttered the voucher slowly in the air a few tis, creating an illusion of it drifting.
Accompanied by the female host’s comntary, "The Milk Tea Voucher has now taken flight! Isn’t it magical?"
Zhou Li blankly took the Milk Tea Voucher from Doudou’s hands.
The female host said, "Please, Zhou Li, check the Milk Tea Voucher. It hasn’t been tampered with, has it?"
Zhou Li stiffly shook his head.
The female host exclaid, "Truly spectacular!"
Xiao Hua’s face had turned crimson. Her face was already a bit round, and now she looked just like a red apple.
But there were a total of ten Milk Tea Vouchers.
Nine more to go.
The female host, very adept at reading the room, observed, "Now we can see that due to continuous exertion, Xie Minqing’s face has turned red!"
Xiao Hua’s mind went nearly blank, with only one thought reverberating: *Please, I’m begging you, stop talking!*
Finally, all ten Milk Tea Vouchers were handed over.
After being thanked by the female host, Xiao Hua, who had been barely holding it together, fled the stage as if escaping. But just as she stepped into the shadows, she heard the voice of the female host again—
"Zhou Li, what are your thoughts?"
"Ut-utterly shocking."
"BOO HOO HOO..."
Xiao Hua instantly covered her face and quickened her pace to escape.
Zhou Li, holding the Milk Tea Vouchers, returned to his seat.
Until he sat down, many girls still frequently looked back, sneaking peeks at him, then retracting their gazes to whisper with their companions. Brother Nan, however, wasn’t as accommodating as Zhou Li. She glared back fiercely at each one, her intimidating expression making it clear she wasn’t to be trifled with. Only when no one dared to look back did she retract her gaze, reverting to her usual composed, authoritative deanor.
"Which milk tea shop is it from?" Brother Nan asked.
"Mixue Ice Cream & Tea."
"I knew it was theirs," Brother Nan nodded. "They’re the cheapest."
"You take them. I don’t really like their drinks." Zhou Li stuffed the Milk Tea Vouchers into Brother Nan’s hand. Knowing she also wasn’t fond of that shop, he added, "You can give them to Baozi; she likes their stuff."
"Got it!"
Brother Nan pocketed the Milk Tea Vouchers, then added slowly, "It’s not that she *loves* Mixue Ice Cream & Tea; it’s just that they’re the cheapest."
Zhou Li pursed his lips, feeling a bit stung.
The next act had started.
It was a classical dance, perford quite well. Unfortunately, just two days ago, Zhou Li and Brother Nan had been holding hands while strolling across the athletic field, where there were so many young won dancing that he’d experienced so aesthetic fatigue.
Yet Brother Nan was enjoying it intently. "How co others are so talented, and we can’t do anything?"
"Because I’m a salted fish, and you’re a use—" Zhou Li paused. "An extraordinary, inconceivable Child of Destiny. Your nobility exempts you from learning these things. For example, how many ancient Emperors were good at singing and dancing? Brother Nan, just sitting and appreciating it is enough for you."
"Well said." Brother Nan deeply agreed.
"PHEW..."
"Watch this fist!"
"?"
"What are you looking at?" Brother Nan adopted a ’what’s your problem?’ expression. She withdrew her fist and blew on it. "Were you about to say ’an undeserved calamity’?"
"Brother Nan, you’re brilliant."
"PSH!"
Brother Nan shook her head, stopped looking at him, and continued watching the performance.
One of the dancing ladies had a remarkably voluptuous figure. As she moved, her chest undulated impressively, a truly noteworthy sight. Brother Nan watched with keen interest, even pulling out her phone, opening the cara, and using the 60x zoom to appreciate the details up close.
She even hid it so Zhou Li couldn’t see.
All the performances ended.
Xiao Hua indeed won first place.
Zhou Li and Brother Nan left early. By the ti they were out, it was already completely dark. They walked hand-in-hand, discussing things like when their own college’s welco party would start, what performances were prepared, which classmates from their two classes had talents and were performing, and which of the attractive new female underclassn were good-looking.
「Back ho.」
Huai Xu was fiddling with sothing in front of the bowl lotus tub.
Tuanzi stood beside the water tub, bolt upright, craning her neck to peer into it. But even then, she was nowhere near as tall as the tub.
Yet she maintained this pose, her little face full of curiosity.
Zhou Li calmly walked over, picked her up, and looked into the tub with her.
There were several beautiful new goldfish in the tub.
Huai Xu was feeding the goldfish.
"OW!!"
Tuanzi’s eyes widened.
Zhou Li blinked too and turned to ask, "Where did you steal these from this ti?"
"Bought them!"
"The park?"
"Bought them from the supermarket! Does your park sell goldfish?"
"I don’t believe it." Zhou Li looked back at Tuanzi, asking softly, "Are the goldfish pretty?"
"Pretty!"
"Are they cute?"
"Cute!"
"How about we make them into fish soup and try it?"
"Okay!!"
Just then, Zhou Li’s phone vibrated. He temporarily let Tuanzi cling to the edge of the tub by herself and took out his phone to check. It turned out to be a ssage from Xiao Hua, explaining what had happened that evening.
Zhou Li smiled and quickly told her it was no big deal.
Then he exited the ssage and saw there was also one from Yin Le. Perhaps the noise in the auditorium had been too loud earlier, and he hadn’t noticed it.
Yin Le: Treat!
Yin Le: You!
Zhou Li smiled again. This guy was clearly quite disgruntled; it seed Zhou Li would have to treat him to a al to smooth things over.
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