"W-Why are you asking this?" Dong Chengling, who was always serene, suddenly paled.
Facing Dong Chengling, Bai Ji scratched his head awkwardly. "I just... wanted to learn more about Ren Suo, and Chengling, you have a good relationship with him... I don’t mean anything else by it..."
Dong Chengling gave Bai Ji a deep look. His expression didn’t seem fake, unlike his usual face, which often bore a melancholic expression and a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Now, Bai Ji appeared shy, with a touch of hope, and his whole demeanor seemed to light up.
Their eyes met, and Dong Chengling understood.
"...Why are you interested in Ren Suo?"
Bai Ji covered his mouth, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Initially, it was because you, Chengling, often mentioned him."
"Back then, I felt that Ren Suo must be a fascinating person. Today was our first meeting, but he made a huge impact on me. I never expected someone could be so interesting."
Bai Ji looked at Dong Chengling and said, "You’ve probably noticed that within the teacher group, I don’t really have a high opinion of others. Although I treat everyone equally on the surface, you’re the only one I truly respect."
Dong Chengling nodded slightly; she had indeed sensed this. Bai Ji was affable to everyone in the teacher group. Although his attitude was cordial, an underlying, subtle alienation was always present. The only exception was when he interacted with her; only then would Bai Ji show a different demeanor.
So Dong Chengling had misunderstood just now.
But looking at it now, Dong Chengling would have preferred her misunderstanding to be true; that would have been much easier to deal with!
"Because you, Chengling, deserve my respect," Bai Ji said. "You have your own goals, principles, and a character to match, allowing you to endure any kind of lifestyle for them. People like you are like the sun, consistently emitting Radiance. I believe that in the near future, you will undoubtedly bloom with a dazzling brilliance in the world."
"Thank you for your praise... So, do you think Ren Suo is also like the sun?" Dong Chengling asked.
"Ren Suo is not," Bai Ji shook his head. "Compared to people like you, Ren Suo is like a firefly to the sun."
"However, fireflies don’t glow during the day; they only emit their warm light in the darkness. Although a firefly’s light is weak, small, and insignificant compared to the sun, with its light, I can treat the night as day."
Dong Chengling tried to understand his logic. "Then... why are you interested in Ren Suo, who is like a firefly? According to what you said, aren’t you also like the sun?"
"You are the sun; I am not."
Dong Chengling’s expression darkened. Why does that feel like an insult?
Bai Ji, seemingly unaware, continued, "I know what kind of person I am. In my world, there has never been a sun, or rather, all suns eventually fall... That’s why I respect people like you, who uphold the light."
"And I am a lone Walker in the darkness. I thought Ren Suo was the same as me... but he isn’t. When the sun shines, he remains unnoticed; when the sun is gone, he is the firefly whose warmth touches people’s hearts."
Recalling Ren Suo’s selfless and daring act from a few hours earlier, Bai Ji smiled faintly. "I respect the sun, but I know I can never become the sun. I only want to get close to the firefly, to rely on the firefly..."
Listening to Bai Ji praise him , Dong Chengling was almost moved... so moved she felt her arteries might burst!
When it came to praising Ren Suo, Dong Chengling realized she was no match for Bai Ji at all!
However, Dong Chengling quickly calmed down. Although she also thought Ren Suo was very, very good, it was undeniable that he also had a few flaws. She could tolerate those flaws, but Bai Ji might not be able to. Especially during meals, Ren Suo easily revealed his shortcomings.
"Actually, I’m not too sure either. Why don’t we go ask him directly?" Dong Chengling suggested.
"That might not be such a good idea..." Bai Ji said, a little embarrassed.
"Let’s observe him while we eat," Dong Chengling said, not letting Bai Ji hesitate any longer, and led him back to the banquet hall.
At this point, Dong Chengling had a thought and asked, "By the way, Bai Ji, apart from ’firefly-like’ traits, what other kinds of people do you like?"
If you don’t cut the weeds by the roots, they’ll grow again in the spring. Dong Chengling had no interest in matchmaking, but to stop Bai Ji from being interested in Ren Suo, she was willing to try and find a match for Bai Ji.
"Let me think..." Bai Ji pondered, then said, "My personality isn’t really suited for getting close to people; I even get agitated when others try to get close to me... So, I quite like people who can easily get along with others."
"When I’m not practicing Cultivation, I like listening to music, so I’m also quite interested in people who like music."
"However, people who remain calm, unflustered even when Mount Tai is collapsing on them, and can continue doing their own thing regardless of external circumstances—they also have a certain charm."
Dong Chengling noted down this information, secretly pondering who might be a good match for Bai Ji.
「Bai Ji, Level 1 Bond. Bond Ability ’Ice Age’: Can manipulate frost using Spiritual Energy.」
After hearing about his new Bond from the Listening Headphones, Ren Suo paid no attention to Zhao Huo and the others chatting. Instead, he secretly tried out this new Bond Ability under the table, condensing ice in his palm, then melting it, then condensing it again, making his hands all wet.
He didn’t know why Bai Ji had suddenly formed a Bond with him. Maybe it was because Bai Ji felt he couldn’t repay the life-saving favor? He hadn’t expected that kid to be so perceptive!
"Aren’t you really worried?"
Hearing Zhao Huo’s question, Ren Suo didn’t lift his head. He kept his eyes on the bowl and chopsticks in front of him, but his hands under the table were experiencing both ice and fire—one hand conjuring ice, the other fire. This is super fun!
Bond Abilities are different from Spells. If using a Spell is still a process of ’using a tool,’ then using a Bond Ability is almost equivalent to ’instinct.’ It requires no thought and brings one back to the purest form of happiness, just like playing with mud as a child.
"Worried about what?" he replied casually.
Zhao Huo faltered. Is this a case of the eunuch worrying more than the Emperor?
"What are you doing?" Ren Suo said, turning away from Zhao Huo’s hand in disgust. However, another hand landed on his head. "Bro, cheer up! You’re not bad either!"
"Yeah, yeah!" Yet another hand. "Big Brother Ren gave me Healing for my acne! Big Brother Ren, just say who you want me to take down, and I’ll do it!"
"At worst, I’ll do the dishes from now on." Still another hand.
Ren Suo was startled. He turned to see his sister, Lin Xianyu, and Gu Yueyan all patting his head. Du Liwei and Huang Xuehui, who were sitting opposite him, also looked eager to join in. If they weren’t unfamiliar with Ren Suo, they probably would have come over to get in on the action too.
He just remembered that after changing his clothes, he hadn’t put on his hat. Without his hat, he couldn’t equip the Seeker of the Dao Correction Hat, which was why Ren Suo always wore a hat when he went out. Not being able to equip it wasn’t a big deal. However, after obtaining the Evolution of the Cat, besides gaining Free Sleep and enhanced Agility, he also got a debuff that made him ’easy to pet.’ He usually relied on his hat to cover the hairiest part of his body—his head. Now, without his hat, this debuff had activated directly, leading to a head-patting spree from all his acquaintances!
Ren Suo’s lips twitched. He sternly tried to shoo them away, but Ren Xingmei directly hugged his neck and pleaded in a low voice, "Let me pat you for a little while longer, just a little while! For the sake of how I used to help you rank up!"
Ren Suo was instantly helpless. Ren Xingmei had previously helped him rank up from Bronze to Diamond, which gave Ren Suo a lot of face when playing ranked games with his classmates. He couldn’t not repay this favor, so he had to let her continue. Since Ren Xingmei had opened this path, the others naturally didn’t hold back: If your sister can pat you, why can’t we?
Ren Suo silently put on his headphones, just wanting to finish eating quickly and leave. Once he got back and put on his hat, everything would be fine.
"Is there still room here?"
When Dong Chengling arrived at this banquet table with Bai Ji and sat down, she saw this scene:
Zhao Huo, Lin Xianyu, Ren Xingmei, and Gu Yueyan were gathered around Ren Suo with smiles, patting his head. Meanwhile, Ren Suo, wearing headphones, looked perfectly natural, picking up food and eating as if nothing was happening...
Getting along easily with friends, liking music, and eating calmly as if Mount Tai itself were collapsing!
What in the world? Why are you all patting Ren Suo’s head?
Although when Dong Chengling saw Ren Suo, an uncontrollable Desire also rose in her heart—his hair looked so soft, it must feel very comfortable to touch... But this timing is all wrong!
Dong Chengling glanced at Bai Ji and saw him looking at Ren Suo with infinite tenderness.
「Negative emotions from Dong Chengling, +999.」
Hearing this message, Ren Suo looked up and saw Dong Chengling, who was sitting opposite him, looking at him with a complicated expression.
Did I offend you just by eating?