Part 2
Luo Shizhen felt a bit embarrassed hearing this: “Is that so? People in our hometown all said it was because my mom had a difficult labor when she gave birth to me, and I stayed in my mom’s belly for too long.”
“Of course it is. Look, now that you’re well-fed, your learning ability has become stronger, hasn’t it?”
“I heard from Captain Sui that the team listens to you now. If Team One wasn’t a temporary team, you would already be the captain. I’ve seen what you all have accomplished recently. If Team One were to hold an election for a captain, I would cast a vote for you.”
His teacher’s affirmation made Luo Shizhen incredibly happy.
He looked at Chen He’an with trust and couldn’t help but lean closer to him, just like a young sub-adult leaning against a fully grown beast.
“Teacher, the principal said he’s going to hold a graduation ceremony for us. You’ll come back to attend it, right?”
Chen He’an’s hand stroking his hair paused, and he sighed slightly: “I might not be able to. I still have missions on my hands.”
Luo Shizhen was visibly disappointed, but he quickly adjusted. After all, he had always been someone who took things in stride.
“Then I’ll send you the photos and videos when the time comes. Watching them online is the same!”
Chen He’an smiled and nodded: “Okay, Teacher will give you likes.”
Because he had been praised, Luo Shizhen’s spirits remained high. Upon arriving at the cafeteria, he was once again met with a feast.
When Chef Wang saw him come in, he welcomed him warmly, looking as if he wanted to stuff all the late-night snacks directly into Luo Shizhen’s mouth.
There were still some Guardians in the cafeteria who had returned late, sitting in twos and threes eating.
Seeing Luo Shizhen enter, the atmosphere in the cafeteria shifted. Almost everyone’s gaze landed on this young Purifier who had practically purified every single one of them.
Some remained impassive, some were itching to make a move.
There were also some who slowly released a portion of their Qi, letting it quietly fall behind its main body.
Sure enough, when Luo Shizhen passed by, the white Qi on his body naturally greeted the Qi he had previously purified.
This so-called greeting was just a light touch, like saying hello, followed immediately by an unhesitating departure without any intention of lingering.
It was just like Luo Shizhen himself.
Obviously kind and enthusiastic, holding goodwill toward everyone, and revealing a smile when encountering people. Yet, he completely wouldn’t linger, his eyes solely locked onto the pile of buffet food laid out in the cafeteria.
In those bright black eyes, fish meat, pork, shrimp, beef, and mutton were reflected—everything except the figures of the other older Guardians.
No, that wasn’t entirely true either.
For instance, at this moment, Luo Shizhen was earnestly telling Chen He’an:
“Later, I’ll bring some food for Lin Ke too. He might wake up hungry in the middle of the night.”
Chen He’an observed Luo Shizhen’s expression.
Even for him, it was the first time seeing Luo Shizhen taking care of another person so completely.
It was truly unusual.
But he didn’t dare to point it out, afraid that if Luo Shizhen didn’t have that sort of intention originally, saying it might instead make him realize something.
“Lin Ke… isn’t his strength a bit too low?”
Luo Shizhen’s eyes were fixed on a lamb leg: “Not at all. He just advanced in Sequence, so he definitely needs an adaptation period. He’ll be fine once he gets used to it.”
Thinking of what he had seen—Lin Ke hugging Luo Shizhen’s thigh and crying about how hard the journey was—Chen He’an smiled.
“That’s true, people always need to grow. I’ll have my classmate look after him more so he can grow up as quickly as possible.”
Luo Shizhen was very happy for Lin Ke: “Thank you, Teacher!”
Chen He’an smiled, putting on the perfect image of a gentle teacher. But after sitting down, he immediately sent a training schedule to Wen Shu.
[Wen Shu: ?]
[Wen Shu: Although this training schedule is very common, I think using it to train Lin Ke will make him cry himself to death.]
[Chen He’an: Which Guardian didn’t come up this way? The situation everywhere is getting more chaotic. Lin Ke having Tier 4 without the strength to back it up will be very dangerous. I’ll trouble you to help him improve.]
[Wen Shu: What a hypocritically righteous speech.]
[Wen Shu: I bet your real goal is to train him half to death.]
[Wen Shu: Young people’s feelings are unsettled, it’s normal for them to like many people. Eternal Day doesn’t mind, so what do you mind?]
[Chen He’an: I can tell the whole world about how much you love watching palace intrigue dramas.]
[Wen Shu: …You investigated me?]
[Chen He’an: We’re old classmates, after all. I still have some basic understanding of my classmates.]
[Wen Shu: Fine, I’ll do this favor.]
Perhaps out of anger, Wen Shu stopped talking. Chen He’an didn’t mind. He put away his phone and gently watched Luo Shizhen, who was buried in his food.
Luo Shizhen ate very earnestly, so earnestly that when several Guardians passed by him one after another, he didn’t notice them at all. His eyes only stared at the rice and various meats and vegetables in his bowl.
Chen He’an’s feelings grew complicated.
From the looks of it, his romantic senses truly hadn’t awakened yet. But even without having awakened, to have so many covetous people around him was truly unsettling.
He even suspected that right now, if someone used a whole roast sheep to coax Luo Shizhen into sleeping at their camp, Luo Shizhen would agree without hesitation.
“Speaking of which, where is Captain Sui? I haven’t seen him around.”
Luo Shizhen was earnestly gnawing on a pork chop. Hearing his teacher ask, he freed up a hand, raised it, and waved it.
“Right here.”
Chen He’an looked at the empty wrist.
He closed his eyes to sense it, and only then could he faintly feel something vaguely wrapped around the wrist.
This power had been lying dormant and concealed. If Luo Shizhen hadn’t pointed it out, he wouldn’t have been able to detect it at all.
Chen He’an closed his eyes again:
“Is it Sui An’s spiritual power?”
Luo Shizhen nodded ‘mhm’.
Chen He’an spoke warmly: “Why did you let him hang onto you? Won’t you find it inconvenient?”
How was this any different from Sui An following close to Luo Shizhen at all times?
Luo Shizhen: “Teacher Sui went to find the Anomaly that pulled up the domain. He was afraid I would be in danger, so he left this wisp of spiritual power.”
“Originally, it was just following by my side, but I could never find it. So I asked for Teacher Sui’s opinion and wore it as a bracelet, that way I don’t have to worry about not being able to find it.”
Chen He’an pinched the bridge of his nose.
To think it was actually this child who actively invited it.
Only then did he notice that the fish meat in Luo Shizhen’s bowl was being deboned at a hidden and rapid pace.
To be able to do this kind of thing right under his nose without being discovered, only the manipulation inspector Sui An could do it.
Using spiritual power to pick out fish bones—he really had some nerve.
Yet the young Purifier didn’t notice a thing. Eating the boneless fish meat, he carefully pressed it inside his mouth, checked around with his tongue, and swallowed only after confirming there were no bones.
This child probably still thought he had good luck, having almost finished an entire fish without encountering a single bone.
Luo Shizhen looked at him in confusion: “What’s wrong, Teacher?”
“Nothing.”
Chen He’an pinched his cheek again: “Teacher thinks you’re very cute.”
Luo Shizhen grinned at that.
He affectionately leaned closer to Chen He’an while holding his bowl, as if doing so would make him happier.
Chen He’an lowered his gaze, staring at the seemingly empty wrist:
“Shizhen, sleep with Teacher tonight, okay?”
Luo Shizhen hesitated: “But I already agreed to sleep with Lin Ke. Today was his first time undergoing such heavy training, and he might dream he’s still training and fall out of bed tonight.”
Chen He’an ruffled his hair: “That doesn’t matter.”
He glanced toward the door: “Your friends also just happened to come back.”
Chu Xiao and the others walked into the cafeteria yawning. As soon as they saw Luo Shizhen, they all perked up.
“Shizhen!”
“Quick, help me clear the pollution, it’s killing me.”
Luo Shizhen was also happy: “You’re back! Come eat here!”
“Come, sit here. While you eat, I’ll help you purify. It’ll be very quick.”
The originally quiet cafeteria became exceptionally lively due to the addition of a group of young Awakeners.
Some Guardians who had finished eating didn’t leave either. They just sat in their places, holding a glass of water and sipping slowly, watching Luo Shizhen naturally and skillfully purify his teammates. The envy in their eyes was practically spilling out.
Chen He’an watched them with a smile, silently adding food to Luo Shizhen’s plate.
He only said seemingly very naturally:
“Shizhen, after you finish purifying your classmates, go back to sleep early. Aren’t you supposed to sleep with Lin Ke tonight?”
The members of Team One, who were originally stretching their bodies, eating to replenish energy, or massaging their shoulders and necks, all paused their movements.
“Lin Ke?”
—Lin Ke did not sleep soundly that night.
He dreamed he was training, his two legs pumping furiously, yet he couldn’t run fast in the dream. And he always felt cramped, as if there was an Anomaly clinging to his back using its ultimate move, along with a group of Anomalies following beside him sneering.
But he was too exhausted and needed sleep to replenish his energy, so this sleep actually lasted until morning.
The moment he opened his eyes, Lin Ke saw Luo Shizhen.
“You’re awake.”
He instantly relaxed: “Let me tell you, Shizhen, I was dreaming all night last night. I dreamt about so many…”
As Lin Ke spoke, he sat up, and then his voice abruptly stopped.
Why was Teacher Chen also beside him?
Looking at the floor next to the bed, Chu Xiao, Xiao Shan, Cheng Yunshao, Wen Hu, Lu Qiujin, and Rong Nian—every single member of Team One was present.
The small room was packed full of people.
Lin Ke: “…”
Ah? Ah?? Ah???
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