CHAPTER 634: CHAPTER 37: THE ROAD HOG (PART 2)

Xiao Xian was resting with his eyes closed, whereas Zhang Yiyi... Wang Shuai was taken aback, their gazes meeting in the rearview mirror.

Baozi face? Wang Shuai saw a special meaning in her eyes, feeling as if his heart was pricked by a needle. He averted his gaze, while in the back seat, Zhang Yiyi silently bit her lips and lowered her head.

Under Xuerou’s steady driving at two hundred kilometers per hour, it didn’t take long for the three to reach the city. After getting out of the car, Xuerou still followed the rules and thanked Wang Shuai.

"Yiyi, you haven’t bought your train ticket yet, why don’t you come to my house tonight?" Xuerou also noticed the exchange of looks between Wang and Zhang a moment ago and wanted to properly advise Yiyi. She had thought that Yiyi’s feelings were just typical youthful admiration, but now it seemed that wasn’t the case.

"The train tickets are hard to come by now. If needed, I can help you get one," Wang Shuai had already returned to the driver’s seat. Yiyi’s decision to return home was too late; the nation was already in the midst of the Spring Festival travel rush, and even short-distance train tickets were hard to find.

"No need," Yiyi’s voice carried a hint of a sob as she hastily dragged Xuerou to bid farewell to Xiao Xian.

With Xiao Xian carrying many herbs and the day already late, she had no choice but to trouble Wang Shuai to first take her to "Plum Rice Ball" to deliver the herbs.

"Senior Brother Wang," on their way to "Plum Rice Ball", Xiao Xian, recalling Yiyi’s earlier demeanor, couldn’t help but intervene, "If you don’t like Yiyi, please don’t treat her so kindly in the future."

Xuerou and Wang Shuai didn’t interact much, so she wasn’t aware that ever since Yiyi had arrived at the school and even during her initial introduction, Wang Shuai had treated her very well. That kind of treatment, even without any romantic experience, Xiao Xian could tell, was not just a senior’s care for a junior.

"Do you think my kindness towards her has an ulterior motive?" Wang Shuai impatiently honked the horn, his hands turning the steering wheel erratically. It was evident that Yiyi’s tearful voice had also made him quite uncomfortable.

"I’ve heard that in this world, aside from one’s parents, any kindness shown by others might have a motive. Are you approaching us for some special reason, Camp Commander Wang?" Xiao Xian’s remark was met with a moment of silence from Wang Shuai.

Being one of only two advanced students at Huake Institute and also the eldest son of the Wang Family from a military and political lineage, Wang Shuai became a camp commander of the army at a young age. Xiao Xian had found out about his identity a few months ago through Mei Nian.

"Since you’ve started this topic, let me also be clear," Wang Shuai stopped the car next to a park in the city center, "Zhu Xiaoxian, let’s be straightforward now, no need to beat around the bush. I admit I approached you with a purpose, but until a month ago, it wasn’t truly significant. Regarding my matters with Zhang Yiyi, it’s between the two of us, even as her friends, you should not intervene. You passed me a message, now I’ll pass you one too; matters between a man and a woman are only for the two of them to resolve."

Wang Shuai had lived for more than twenty years. As a Cultivator, emotions aren’t considered essential, but that doesn’t mean he was immune to them. Before knowing her identity, he only saw her as a fun new student with a Baozi face, a love for snacks, and she chattered like the typical woman. Her arrival brought some enjoyment to Wang Shuai’s otherwise dull cultivation life.

And further on, her resilience during learning and her efforts beyond innate talent, even her optimism had infected Wang Shuai. Bit by bit, the fun had morphed, and everything changed completely the moment Zhang Yiyi started avoiding him.

"Alright, I’ll remember that," Xiao Xian didn’t want to prolong things. After all, Yiyi will make her own decisions.

"Besides, I’d like to make a deal with you." Wang Shuai could smell the rich fragrance of herbs in the back seat. It seems the secret message among robots isn’t false, "The greening project in Area C was indeed completed by this new student who entered the campus half a year ago."

"What deal?" Xiao Xian already knew about Wang Shuai’s identity. From a Cultivator’s perspective, both his cultivation and background surpassed hers significantly, as she lacked both a family legacy and extraordinary talent as a primary student.

"My deal is simple, you must advance to become an advanced student in two and a half years," Wang Shuai stated, causing Xiao Xian to be startled momentarily.

"What benefits do you get by my becoming an advanced student?" Xiao Xian didn’t understand why Wang Shuai would propose such a self-disadvantageous condition.

"Mei Nian should have mentioned to you about the Cangqiong Palace elections. There are many institutions like Huake Institute around the world, including in Europe, the United States, Africa, Central and South America, and other Asian countries. Each year, these institutions select a few individuals from their fields to be candidates for participating in the Cangqiong Palace. Eventually, ten people will succeed in entering. Being an advanced student at Huake Institute would make you one of China’s candidates," Wang Shuai explained slowly and carefully.

"I don’t see how this relates to you supporting me to become an advanced student," Xiao Xian still couldn’t grasp why there was a necessary connection between this and Wang Shuai supporting her to become an advanced student.

"Because I want to come back alive, I need companions. Now you should understand clearly enough," Wang Shuai said with a wry smile, opening the car window. The snow had stopped, and a cold northern wind blew in, thinning the fresh layer of snow underneath the wide tires into water, appearing so fragile.

(To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)