Master of Nine Stars

At dinnertime, the students of the Junior Class were finally done with their lessons. Rong Taotao met up with his classmates and let his sister-in-law know he was safe. Afterward, led by Si Huan Nian, he and Gao Lingwei went to Pine Soul First Grade.

The trio of master and apprentices ate with such gusto that the restaurant's owner grew a little fearful watching them, worried she was about to have a problem on her hands—that her customers were going to eat themselves to death right there in her little diner...

After the trio left, the owner was so relieved she almost cried tears of joy. She'd really thought the three of them were there to pull a scam.

Led by Si Huan Nian, they ate dinner and got haircuts. And then... Coach Si actually took the two of them shopping and bought Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei matching outfits?

Rong Taotao had never, ever imagined that one day Si Huan Nian would take him shopping for clothes.

What's more, the color of the clothes made Rong Taotao miserable. Mm... the jacket was actually pink.

'A woman's sense of style really is something else.'

Jeans, a white crew-neck T-shirt, a pink fall jacket, and a pair of white sneakers.

Rong Taotao stared at his reflection in the mirror. No matter how he looked at it, something just seemed off.

If Rong Taotao looked off, then Gao Lingwei looked even more out of place!

'She's not suited for pink clothes at all!'

'She could pull off white, black, or even a vibrant red, but pink...'

However, Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei's protests were futile. In Si Huan Nian's own words, "A change of color for a change of mood."

Rong Taotao wasn't sure if his mood had changed, but when he went to his academic classes the next day, his classmates certainly had a "change of mood."

"Whoa~ what in the world? You're so pink!" The next day, as soon as Rong Taotao walked through the classroom door, he heard Jiao Tengda's astonished voice.

Shi Lan also looked curious, glancing back and forth before asking in confusion, "Juanjuan wasn't this pink when class ended yesterday, was he?"

"Pfft... Hahahaha." Sun Xingyu blinked her big, pretty eyes and covered her mouth with a hand. "Taotao! Taotao! Are you going for a girly-girl look now?"

From the side, Li Ziyi suddenly muttered, "Or a gay-boy look."

Rong Taotao scratched his head, looking miserable. 'Since when is pink a gay color?'

'Aren't they supposed to be purple?'

Rong Taotao ignored the wicked pair and quickly made his way to his seat in the back row by the window. There, he saw Gao Lingwei, who was wearing a white woolen sweater. She was looking down at a book, her entire demeanor elegant and serene.

Sunlight fell upon her, casting a faint golden glow, making the scene incredibly beautiful.

Rong Taotao plopped down into his seat and tilted his head to look at Goddess Wei, his heart already full of grievances.

'It's nice not rooming with Si Huan Nian. She can wear whatever she wants. And then there's me...'

'That damned Evil Boss Si!!!'

Yang Chunxi walked in from the doorway, carrying a stack of books. She habitually glanced toward the two single-person desks in the back row by the window.

Every time she taught the Junior Class, the first thing she did upon entering was look there. And every time, her heart would feel a little empty, and she would say a silent prayer, hoping that Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei were safe and sound in the Snowfield.

Although Yang Chunxi had already seen them last night, entering the classroom today, she couldn't help but worry that Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei might have vanished again.

At this moment, seeing Rong Taotao unwrapping a piece of candy and Gao Lingwei quietly reading her book... a smile couldn't help but grace Yang Chunxi's face.

The two of them were sitting right here, right under her nose. The sense of security this brought was indescribably comforting.

As if sensing his sister-in-law's gaze, Rong Taotao summoned his Cloud Dog while smiling and waving at Yang Chunxi. "Morning, Coach Yang."

"Mm, morning." Yang Chunxi's smile widened. Looking at Rong Taotao's now-tidy natural curls and his eye-catching pink jacket, she chuckled. "Not bad. You look full of spirit."

Hearing this, Gao Lingwei finally lifted her gaze from her book and glanced at Rong Taotao beside her, also finding it hard to stifle a chuckle.

"What are you laughing at?" Rong Taotao lowered his voice, tilting his head slightly as he whispered, "You're not even wearing the clothes Coach Si just bought for you. I'm going to tell on you when we get back."

Gao Lingwei raised an eyebrow. She stuck her left foot into the aisle, rested her elbow on her knee, and leaned over slightly.

Seeing this, Rong Taotao also leaned over, moving his head closer, wondering what she was about to say.

But then, Gao Lingwei suddenly sat up straight and looked at the person who was approaching.

Rong Taotao turned his head and saw Yang Chunxi walking over. She placed two brocade pouches on his desk and said, "Your reward for the Outer League. You have all morning to guess what's inside."

As she spoke, a mischievous smile spread across Yang Chunxi's face, as if she could already picture Rong Taotao agonizing over it all morning, dying of curiosity.

After dropping the two pouches, Yang Chunxi announced, "For the next Outer League, our entire Junior Class will be participating. Whether in pairs or teams of three, you still have plenty of time to prepare.

Gao Lingwei and Rong Taotao have set an example for all of you. Since you enjoy the school's top-tier educational resources, you are expected to achieve results just as they have.

Now, give them a round of applause."

CLAP, CLAP, CLAP...

CLAP, CLAP, CLAP... Enthusiastic applause erupted in the small, ten-person classroom. Though there were few students, the clapping was loud, occasionally punctuated by playful whoops and hollers.

Rong Taotao scratched his head, a little embarrassed. He let out a goofy chuckle, but he was actually enjoying the moment.

The cohesiveness of the Junior Soul Class was the real deal; they were incredibly united. Although they competed with one another, it was healthy competition. Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei were, indeed, the pride of the Junior Class.