Chapter 42

Someone remembered that among the six academies of the Green Vine, there was still the National Teaching Academy, which seemed to be not far from the imperial palace. It seemed to have been very prestigious in the past, but it had been many years since any news had come from it. It seemed that at the Green Vine Banquet in recent years, there was no seat for this academy, as if it had never existed at all.

An academy that had been abandoned for many years and was almost forgotten by the world, actually still had the right to be listed among the six academies of the Green Vine, and this year it had a seat at the Green Vine Banquet? Why? Just because, according to rumors, the National Teaching Academy finally recruited new students this year?

Yes, the reason was that simple. This year, the National Teaching Academy had students, so it had the right to register for the Green Vine Banquet. The Great Zhou Dynasty always respected tradition, and the Green Vine Banquet was a tradition. Even if the Dean of the Heavenly Dao Academy, who was actually in charge of the Green Vine Banquet, wished that the National Teaching Academy would be burned to the ground and thus exit the historical stage, he had no right to refuse the National Teaching Academy's participation in the Green Vine Banquet, even if the National Teaching Academy only had two students.

The curtains swayed gently with the night breeze as Chen Changsheng and Luo Luo entered the building. Following the guidance of a Heavenly Dao Academy student, they walked towards the front.

Voices of discussion echoed within the building. The hundreds of young students scattered around the seats did not recognize them, nor did the people in the areas separated by the huanghuali grilles. Seeing the direction they were heading, some guessed that this young couple must be students of the National Teaching Academy.

All eyes fell on them, some in surprise, but more out of curiosity.

According to rumors, the new student at the National Teaching Academy was a young man, so most of the gazes were on Chen Changsheng. Some also noticed Luo Luo, who was following him step by step, and realized that this little girl was extremely beautiful, like crystal, making their eyes light up instantly.

A young man with a handsome face and a cold expression sat at the Heavenly Dao Academy's seat. Although he was at the Green Vine Banquet, his mind was elsewhere, seemingly indifferent to the upcoming competition. He did not deliberately show pride, but he was naturally proud.

More than ten outstanding Heavenly Dao Academy students who were preparing to participate in the next year's Grand Examination sat around this young man, clearly centered around him, like a picture of stars circling a constellation. The fact that the proud Heavenly Dao Academy students naturally assumed this posture further highlighted this person's extraordinary nature.

The young man was thinking about the matter the Dean had reminded him of the day before. If the Longevity Sect really sent someone, how should he, as the representative of the Heavenly Dao Academy students, respond? This year's Green Vine Banquet was hosted by the Heavenly Dao Academy, and he could not allow those southerners to steal the glory of the Great Zhou.

Suddenly, his peripheral vision caught sight of Chen Changsheng and Luo Luo.

His eyes brightened slightly, and his expression changed.

The more than ten Heavenly Dao Academy students sitting beside him, who seemed silent, were actually paying close attention to him. Seeing his expression change, they were greatly surprised—many young students in the building were stunned by Luo Luo's appearance, but they could not accept that this would happen to their senior brother.

Yes, this young Heavenly Dao Academy student was none other than the legendary Zhuang Huan Yu, ranked tenth on the Qingyun List!

How could such a person be moved by a little girl's beauty?

Who is this little girl? The Heavenly Dao Academy students looked at Chen Changsheng and Luo Luo, and several students who shared the same master as Zhuang Huan Yu, looking at Luo Luo's face, suddenly remembered something and whispered in surprise, "Isn't this that junior sister? Why is she here?"

...

...

The Heavenly Dao Academy has a long history, and there are countless ancient legends on its campus. Many excellent young men and women live and study here, so there are also countless innocent stories. Among these stories, there is one that has only been circulating in the past two years.

In that story, in the forest behind the Heavenly Dao Academy, there is a beauty of incomparable charm, a fairy who occasionally appears before people, looking like a cute little girl, visible only to the most sincere people.

The story is not real, but it has a basis in reality. This beautiful fairy is none other than Luo Luo, who occasionally goes to the Heavenly Dao Academy with her clan to seek knowledge.

Zhuang Huan Yu's position in the Heavenly Dao Academy is special, and he naturally did not believe this story. Until one day, when his teacher was giving him and a few junior brothers a private lesson, he saw a little girl sitting by the window, the sunlight shining on her face, making her beautiful like crystal.

He was devoted to the Dao and did not care about matters of love, and he always held himself high in the campus, not even deigning to look down on the admiring gazes of the female students. But at that moment, he could not take his eyes off her.

Later, he met her a few more times at his teacher's place.

His teacher was the Dean of the Heavenly Dao Academy. He listened to the little girl discuss matters of cultivation with the teacher and was surprised to find that she could keep up with the teacher's thinking. Then he discovered that her bodyguards were all experts, proving that she had an extraordinary background.

He was somewhat moved and felt that this little girl was worth his affection.

However, after that day, he never saw her again.

She never appeared again, as if she had never been there before.

He did not tell anyone about this matter, but because of her sudden disappearance, he was silent for a long time. He wondered if what one cannot obtain is the best, or if what one misses is what leaves the deepest impression. Otherwise, why did he often think of her?

He hoped she would reappear before his eyes.

For this, he was willing to set aside his pride and take the initiative to speak to her first.

At this moment, he felt as if heaven had heard his heart's desire.

At the Green Vine Banquet, she actually appeared!

And under the gaze of countless people, she was walking towards him!

...

...

Zhuang Huan Yu straightened his school uniform, stood up, and quietly watched Luo Luo as she approached.

The surrounding Heavenly Dao Academy students did not understand why their senior brother stood up. Only a few who had seen Luo Luo before vaguely guessed something, while the rest thought he was representing the Heavenly Dao Academy to welcome this young couple, and were surprised, wondering when their senior brother had ever dealt with such trivial matters.

Chen Changsheng and Luo Luo walked to the front of the Heavenly Dao Academy's seat, preparing to follow the guidance of the Heavenly Dao Academy student to the corner area. Unexpectedly, a dozen people in the Heavenly Dao Academy's seat stood up in unison, making him somewhat at a loss, and he subconsciously stopped.

Zhuang Huan Yu's lips slowly curled up, ready to speak with a smile.

He was preparing to say "long time no see" to Luo Luo.

However, the next moment, his smile disappeared before it even formed, and his eyes became as cold as ever, even colder.

Because Luo Luo did not see him.

Luo Luo was looking at Chen Changsheng.

Since the night she climbed over the wall into the National Teaching Academy, as long as Chen Changsheng was there, her gaze was either on books or on Chen Changsheng, at all times, every moment, and this was no exception.

She looked at Chen Changsheng with admiration in her eyes.

Admiration and infatuation are only one character apart and can easily be mistaken.

Zhuang Huan Yu did not know if he had made a mistake, but his mood became very bad.

In my eyes, there is only you, but in your eyes, there is only someone else. This is the most infuriating thing in the world.

When his peripheral vision saw that Luo Luo's hand was holding Chen Changsheng's sleeve, this anger reached its peak.

Zhuang Huan Yu did nothing.

He was the tenth on the Qingyun List, the senior brother of the Heavenly Dao Academy, representing much and bearing much.

So he could not easily become angry, and he could not lose his composure over such a matter.

He looked at Chen Changsheng and greeted him calmly.

The height at which his arm was raised, the distance between the sleeve and the wrist, were all perfect.

Chen Changsheng was slightly stunned and returned the greeting calmly.

The height at which his arm was raised, the distance between the sleeve and the wrist, were all perfect.

His eyes showed some confusion and incomprehension.

The scene was extremely quiet.

Zhuang Huan Yu released his hands.

Chen Changsheng followed suit.

A voice came from somewhere, as if someone had held their breath for a long time and finally let it out.

It was all the most standard etiquette, but in the eyes of the crowd, Zhuang Huan Yu's perfect elegance and Chen Changsheng's拘谨木讷 (reserved and awkward) demeanor were immediately contrasted.

Actually, this was only because he was Zhuang Huan Yu, and Chen Changsheng was an unknown.

Zhuang Huan Yu looked at Luo Luo and said, "Junior sister, long time no see."

He said it casually, but it was actually very solemn, even more so than when he first met his biological father.

Luo Luo opened her eyes wide, looked at him for a while, and suddenly remembered something, smiling, "Ah, it's you, long time no see."

The little girl's smile was very cute.

But Zhuang Huan Yu felt it was very hateful.

He would rather she did not remember who he was than to have to think for a while to remember who he was.

Who am I? I am Zhuang Huan Yu.

Anyone who has seen me will never forget me.

How could you forget me?

Why do you pretend not to remember me?

Is this a joke, or a mockery?

A huge wave of emotion surged in Zhuang Huan Yu's heart, but his expression remained calm.

Just as he was about to say something else, like "If it weren't for this, I would almost forget what Junior Sister looks like," Luo Luo, holding Chen Changsheng's sleeve, left the Heavenly Dao Academy's seat and headed towards the corner, happily discussing something with Chen Changsheng.

Leaving only a back view for Zhuang Huan Yu.

Zhuang Huan Yu looked at the backs of Chen Changsheng and Luo Luo, silent.

He had not noticed the discussion in the room, wondering why, if she was a student of the Heavenly Dao Academy, she would leave.

When he saw Chen Changsheng and Luo Luo walk into the empty area in the corner, he realized that they were actually representing the National Teaching Academy.

He asked, "Is that young man Chen Changsheng?"

The Heavenly Dao Academy student who had been responsible for guiding them arrived at some point and quietly responded, "Yes."

"Indeed, he is quite interesting."

Zhuang Huan Yu said no more, lightly lifted the front of his robe, and sat back down.

His expression was still calm, but his true emotions were not.