Holy Orchid Institute, Fighter Apprentice Class
One by one, the students entered the classroom, their chatter filling the room as they greeted one another.
Many of the noble students were dressed in fine clothes and expensive jewelry. They carried themselves with an unmistakable air of superiority, their disdainful eyes scanning the room as they sized up their classmates.
Although they were unwilling to share a class with commoner students, there was nothing they could do about it.
Holy Orchid Institute had strict rules regarding the equal treatment of students, regardless of their background.
Fortunately, most of the students had no such reservations as they eagerly approached one another, striking up conversations and making new friends.
The girls naturally gravitated toward their fellow female students, forming small groups that conveniently kept them away from the boys.
The boys, meanwhile, were far less subtle. They openly admired the girls while excitedly discussing them and other matters that caught their interest.
Overall, the Fighter Apprentice Class was bustling with youthful energy.
That changed when the classroom door slid open, immediately capturing everyone's attention.
At first, silence descended over the room.
Then came a series of gasps and whispers as everyone recognized the newcomer.
She had a slim, elegant figure, a fair complexion, and long orange hair tied into twin ponytails. There was a distinct coldness in her expression, but despite that, no one could deny her breathtaking beauty.
Everyone recognized her as Xiao Ning'er, the daughter of the Wind Dragon Family's Patriarch.
Xiao Ning'er's beauty and exceptional innate talent had earned her the title of one of the three goddesses of the younger generation.
She was the envy of many girls and the dream of every countless boy.
Before anyone could recover from the shock of seeing her, another person entered the room.
She possessed an elegant appearance, long purple hair, a slender figure, and porcelain-like skin. Her bright, gentle eyes were complemented by a soft smile capable of melting the hearts of countless young men.
This person was none other than Ye Ziyun, the daughter of City Lord Ye Zong and granddaughter of the Legend Rank Demon Spiritualist, Lord Ye Mo.
Many students' jaws dropped upon seeing the two goddesses together.
Although they had heard rumors that the two would be attending the class, actually seeing them standing before them was still a startling sight.
One was an icy beauty, while the other was a graceful fairy.
Two of the three goddesses of the younger generation were attending the same class as them.
The boys couldn't hide their excitement. It wasn't every day they had the opportunity to see such famous beauties up close.
This included Nie Li, who was sitting toward the back of the classroom. His gaze shifted between Xiao Ning'er and Ye Ziyun.
Although Nie Li knew how enormous the gap between their social statuses was, he couldn't help but feel a sense of longing as he imagined how wonderful it would be to date either of them.
Before the students could settle down, another girl entered the classroom.
With a radiant smile and a noticeable bounce in her step, she practically skipped into the room.
Her lively demeanor made her resemble a blooming flower, young, vibrant, and full of life, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
She turned around with a cheeky grin and spoke to the person behind her.
"I told you it was going to be fun. See? We haven't even started the class yet, and we've already stumbled into some interesting stuff."
Her melodious voice echoed through the room, making several boys straighten in their seats.
Her demeanor was completely different from that of Ye Ziyun and Xiao Ning'er. Unlike the two of them, she was like a burst of spring, lifting everyone's spirits simply through her presence.
This person was the Divine Family's princess, Chen Linlin.
"They're a bunch of idiots."
Walking behind her with a deadpan expression was Xue Hui. Judging by his expression, he already seemed tired of everything, despite the class not having even started yet.
As he entered, almost every girl in the room stared at him with bated breath, captivated by his appearance.
Xue Hui's features could only be described as strikingly handsome. Even the disinterest on his face seemed to add to his appeal, causing several girls to blush.
"It's romance," Chen Linlin argued. "Two men fighting for the love and attention of the same girl they both adore."
She clasped her hands in front of her chest and giggled, remembering the incident that had occurred earlier during their journey.
"They're a nuisance," Xue Hui replied flatly. "They were fighting in the middle of the road and blocking our way."
Chen Linlin laughed. She found it amusing that their first day was already proving to be quite eventful.
Seeing the two eye-catching figures casually conversing, some of the students couldn't help but grow curious about their identities.
The more well-informed students, however, had already guessed who the girl was.
How could they not?
She was one of the three goddesses alongside Xiao Ning'er and Ye Ziyun. Her innate talent was even rumored to surpass theirs.
The Withered Princess.
Chen Linlin.
Although many people had heard of her, only a select few had actually seen her.
Even her title as one of the three goddesses had been given by those fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of her.
But now that everyone could see her for themselves, the title of goddess certainly seemed fitting. Some might even argue that Chen Linlin was the most beautiful of the three. Unlike Xiao Ning'er, she didn't have an intimidating presence, nor did she carry Ye Ziyun's reserved elegance.
Her cheerful personality only made her more approachable.
This was evident from the admiring looks she received from the boys.
Chen Linlin, however, remained oblivious to the attention. She turned around and searched for a place to sit.
Her eyes lit up when she noticed a group of girls with an empty chair beside them.
"Oh! I'll sit over there!" she exclaimed before darting toward the vacant seat, leaving Xue Hui on his own.
Seeing that he was the only one without a seat, Xue Hui glanced around the room.
He was about to head toward one of the vacant chairs when something caught his peripheral vision.
Turning his head, Xue Hui's eyes flashed with recognition when he saw Ye Ziyun sitting not far away. Her arm was raised awkwardly as she called out to him.
Surprised by her own actions, Ye Ziyun had no idea what had compelled her to be so direct with someone she hadn't seen in such a long time.
It only dawned on her what she had done when everyone's eyes landed on her.
Caught in an awkward situation, Ye Ziyun realized it was too late to pretend she hadn't just gone out of her way to call a boy over. She decided to go along with it and act as naturally as possible.
"H-here. No one is sitting beside me. Y-you can take this spot."
Unfortunately for Ye Ziyun, the shakiness in her voice betrayed her attempt at composure.
Her face reddened as she slowly lowered her arm and looked away, mentally cursing herself for acting so strangely in front of Xue Hui.
She didn't even notice when he accepted her invitation.
"It's been a while, Lady Ye Ziyun. I'm glad we're classmates."
Surprised by the sudden greeting, Ye Ziyun's body jerked before she quickly turned toward the source of the voice.
She was greeted by the sight of Xue Hui sitting beside her, smiling warmly.
"S-same… How are you? It's been a while indeed…"
With another stutter, Ye Ziyun replied. Her cheeks reddened as she bit her lower lip, mentally scolding herself for yet another slip-up.
"I'm doing great, thanks for asking," Xue Hui answered nonchalantly.
His gaze lingered on Ye Ziyun's face for a moment, noting how beautifully the little girl he had once seen had grown.
Xue Hui had never met Ye Ziyun in his previous life, but the men of the Divine Family had often spoken about her. The most frequent topic of discussion had been how beautiful and talented she was.
Back then, Xue Hui hadn't understood what all the fuss was about, as he had been too occupied taking care of Chen Linlin.
But looking at Ye Ziyun now, he finally understood why those men couldn't stop praising her.
"I was told that you visited the mansion a few times, but I wasn't there to accompany you."
Looking slightly guilty, Xue Hui lowered his head apologetically in her direction.
"I apologize for my absence, Lady Ye Ziyun."
Ye Ziyun was quick to wave her hands, dismissing his apology.
"You don't have to apologize. I was only visiting with my father back then," she replied, her face heating up.
"I never expected you to accompany me anyway… I mean, it was fine. I didn't expect anything at all."
Seeing her flustered state, Xue Hui couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.
His laughter made Ye Ziyun pause as she looked at him curiously.
"Well, I just thought it would've been nice to show you around our Divine Family Mansion. I'm kind of bummed that we didn't meet when you visited," Xue Hui said, a hint of disappointment appearing on his face.
Ye Ziyun nodded and lowered her head in embarrassment, realizing that she had misunderstood his words.
Fortunately for her, Xue Hui changed the subject, asking about her mother and little brother. The shift in topic helped ease her nerves.
The two continued talking, occasionally laughing and looking completely at ease, earning the jealousy of many.
Not far away, Chen Linlin watched the pair with narrowed eyes.
Of course, she knew who Ye Ziyun was.
The two had met a couple of times in the past, but none of those encounters had been enough for them to become acquainted.
They didn't dislike each other. At least, that was what Chen Linlin believed.
It was simply that talking to Ye Ziyun always felt strangely awkward for some reason.
Shaking the thought from her mind, Chen Linlin turned her attention back to the girls around her and continued chatting.
Meanwhile, Xiao Ning'er quietly watched Xue Hui and Ye Ziyun.
Her gaze remained fixed on Xue Hui as she tried to recall where she had seen him before.
'He looks somewhat familiar. I feel like I've seen him somewhere, but I've never met him before… have I?' she thought.
While Ye Ziyun and Xue Hui caught up, the boys in the class began looking at Xue Hui with unmistakable hostility.
"Not only was he acquainted with their goddess, Chen Linlin, but he was also sitting beside Goddess Ziyun, making her blush and smile." One whispered.
Bitterness filled their hearts as they unanimously decided that Xue Hui was their sworn enemy for stealing two of the three goddesses with nothing but his ridiculously handsome face.
Some of them nearly spat on the ground in resentment as they wondered why that guy had to be so unfairly good-looking.
They even felt as though they must have committed some heinous crime in their past lives for Heaven to produce someone like Xue Hui.
How could they possibly compete with that kind of appearance?
They were destined to watch helplessly from the sidelines while Xue Hui stole the hearts of their goddesses.
The excitement the boys had felt earlier upon learning that all three goddesses would be in the same class had instantly soured the moment Xue Hui showed up.
While the boys were busy seething in silence, the classroom door slid open once again as another student entered.
He had pitch-black hair tied into a ponytail and wore fine clothes made from expensive materials. An interspatial ring adorned his finger, making it obvious that he was a noble.
Many students recognized him as Shen Yue of the Sacred Family, the youngest son of Shen Hong.
Looking around, Shen Yue stopped and scanned the room with an arrogant gaze, his expression filled with pride as he dismissively glanced at everyone.
To him, aside from Ye Ziyun, everyone in the class was trash.
'If it weren't for the fact that Ye Ziyun was attending the Fighter Apprentice Class, I wouldn't have bothered stepping into this garbage class.' he thought.
Shen Yue's arrogant gaze eventually landed on Ye Ziyun.
His lips curved upward as he admired her beauty.
But just like the other boys, his expression turned ugly the moment he noticed Xue Hui sitting beside her.
It didn't help that Shen Yue immediately felt a sense of inferiority when he looked at Xue Hui.
Seeing the two continue their conversation without acknowledging his existence made a wave of anger rise in Shen Yue's heart.
With an irritated huff, he walked straight toward them.
His actions immediately caught everyone's attention, and the room fell silent as Shen Yue stopped directly in front of Xue Hui.
With a haughty expression, Shen Yue crossed his arms over his chest and sent Xue Hui a nasty glare.
"You're in my seat. Get lost," he exclaimed arrogantly.
The longer Shen Yue looked at Xue Hui, the more his hatred grew.
Everyone could tell that Shen Yue was trying to intimidate Xue Hui into submission. He wanted Xue Hui's spot so he could sit beside Goddess Ziyun.
Although most of the students thought his behavior was unreasonable, no one dared to say anything.
After all, that person was Shen Yue.
As the son of one of the three major families, no one was willing to go against him unless they wanted to invite retaliation from the Sacred Family.
Ye Ziyun, however, frowned as she looked at Shen Yue with displeasure.
'Isn't it rude to simply claim someone else's chair? Shen Yue just arrived, yet he's claiming that this is his seat. How is that even possible?' she complained inwardly.
Unaware of her disapproving gaze, Shen Yue continued.
"Why are you still in my chair? Scram! Or do you want me to throw you outside!?"
Naturally, Shen Yue wouldn't usually dare to act so presumptuously in front of Ye Ziyun.
His family was trying to arrange a marriage between the two of them, and it was his task to court Ye Ziyun and win her affection.
But seeing Xue Hui with Ye Ziyun stirred panic and jealousy in Shen Yue's heart.
Unfortunately for Shen Yue, he had failed to recognize exactly whom he was trying to pick a fight with.
Xue Hui gave him a quick glance before losing interest.
Returning his attention to Ye Ziyun, Xue Hui spoke in a dismissive tone.
"I'm pretty sure the school doesn't sell its chairs, so you can't claim this one as yours. Just find a vacant seat and buzz off."
Not only Shen Yue, but almost everyone in the class who heard Xue Hui's words stared at him in dumbfounded disbelief.
'To openly offend Young Master Shen Yue… Some people really don't know how to live peacefully, they thought, snickering in anticipation.' everyone thought.
Not expecting such a response, Shen Yue's anger flared.
Unconsciously, he unleashed his soul force, startling the students nearby.
"Can you repeat that?" he said coldly, his expression hidden beneath the shadows cast by his hair, his eyes gleaming ominously. "You seem to have no idea who I am."
The atmosphere in the room grew tense as Shen Yue's oppressive aura burst forth.
"I'm Shen Yue, a member of the Sacred Family!"
End of Chapter 37