Volume One, Chapter One Hundred and Four: Departure

“Why are you eating this for lunch?” Wan Kongcheng’s sharp eyes caught sight of several people behind Feng Shichu, each with a cup of instant noodles, enjoying their meal heartily.

“Tianshui really is careless, even the students’ lunches are so sloppy. These kids are still growing—how can they be given...”

“Want more?” Wan Kongcheng’s endless chatter was interrupted by a voice. Mo De, glancing at Ivanoti who had just finished his noodle soup but still seemed eager for more, smiled kindly and asked.

After trying the noodles, young Feng’s appetite clearly increased. Having finished his own cup, his eyes kept drifting toward the bowl of noodles Su Ziwen was eating.

Hearing Mo Xuezhang’s offer, Ivanoti quickly nodded his little head.

The child’s movement made Mo De want to smile. Unexpectedly, this girl who seemed like a flawless, aloof porcelain doll was actually charmingly innocent.

Rising to grab another cup of noodles, Mo De passed by Feng Shichu and Wan Kongcheng, greeting the students of Longting High School with a sunny smile. “Good afternoon, everyone. I’m going to make another bowl for that girl.”

Old Feng looked on with approval at this little rascal, while Wan Kongcheng found himself speechless, feeling as if a fishbone was stuck in his throat. Yet unwilling to match wits with this smiling child, he snorted coldly and sought another point of attack.

Behind Wan Kongcheng, Yan Ruoting raised his hand to greet the companion who was about to join them.

Carrying the noodles back to the bus, Mo De opened the packaging, sprinkled the seasoning, poured in boiling water, and pressed down the bowl’s lid. When he returned to the group’s resting area, he found Feng and Wan still bickering loudly.

“Is Tianshui so poor it’s about to collapse? They sent the winter camp students in a broken-down van?”

“No choice. We have too many students selected from Tianshui this time; a four-seat sedan just couldn’t fit them all...”

The two sparred fiercely with words, and Feng Shichu even ignored the half-eaten noodles in front of him.

Yan Ruoting and Du Haiwei bypassed the two mentors and sat down with Ivanoti and Yu Jiuchuan.

When Mo De returned with the noodles, he saw Yan Ruoting animatedly chatting with young Feng, while Du Haiwei crossed his arms and closed his eyes to rest.

As for their senior Yu Jiuchuan, it was obvious she was busy reciting from her book.

Seeing Mo De approach with the noodles, Ivanoti’s previously calm little face suddenly blossomed into a cheerful smile, his expression full of delight.

***

After chatting beside Ivanoti for a while, Yan Ruoting noticed the quiet girl suddenly smiling brightly. Looking at Mo De walking over from afar, he sighed softly, stood up, and stepped aside to make room.

In truth, what really made young Feng beam was not Mo De himself but the bowl of noodles he held. Still, as the one offering the food, Mo De’s favorability in Ivanoti’s heart rose slightly.

Taking the noodles from Mo De, the girl returned to her seat, resuming her quiet demeanor and naturally radiating an aura that warned strangers to stay away. Inside, she silently counted down the moments until the noodles were ready.

It was fortunate that Yan Ruoting could spend so much time speaking beside Ivanoti in her “porcelain doll” state.

Mo De glanced back to find Du Haiwei still seated in the same spot, while Yan Ruoting had shifted his attention and was now attempting to strike up a conversation with Yu Jiuchuan.

Unfortunately, Yu Jiuchuan paid no heed to the outside world, fully immersed in her studies, ignoring Yan Ruoting’s elaborate chatter without even a blink.

After repeated failed attempts, Yan Ruoting had no choice but to trot over to Mo De.

“Damn, this guy tries to flirt with everyone, male or female?” Mo De suddenly shivered and tightened his jacket.

“Brother Mo, I heard that Tianshui High sent four students, but there are only three here,” Yan Ruoting said.

Seeing that Yan Ruoting didn’t start with the usual pickup lines, Mo De finally relaxed. “The class monitor is already on the bus.”

“Oh, then I’ll go say hello,” Yan Ruoting said upon learning the third girl from Tianshui High had boarded. He quickly headed toward the bus door.

“No need,” Mo De said.

Yan Ruoting felt a weight on his shoulder and turned to find Mo De standing silently behind him, his hand resting lightly on his shoulder.

The pressure wasn’t heavy, but it gave him a sense of inescapability.

In a daze, Yan Ruoting felt as if Mo De’s hand was like the earth beneath his feet—not something that would collapse on him, but not something he could easily resist.

Du Haiwei, who had been resting with closed eyes, suddenly opened them, a sharp gleam flashing in his gaze.

Ivanoti and Yu Jiuchuan, meanwhile, continued with their noodles and studies, paying no attention to the scene.

“The class monitor is tired and has already gone to sleep. It’s better to visit her after she wakes up,” Mo De gently patted Yan Ruoting’s shoulder with a kind smile.

“Oh, I see. I was being rude, haha...” Yan Ruoting accepted the hint, scratched his head, and returned to his seat.

This top scorer in the major assessment really had some genuine qualities.

Seeing the atmosphere return to harmony, Du Haiwei closed his eyes again to rest.

“Do the kids all know each other now?” Feng Shichu and Wan Kongcheng’s quarrel finally ended as they walked toward the young students.

“Are we about to depart?” Yan Ruoting immediately realized, and Wan Kongcheng nodded. Casting an unwilling glance at Feng Shichu, he warned his students again, “Out there is not like being at home. You must restrain your words and actions. Especially you, Ruoting, be steady, and Haiwei, learn to be patient...”

“Got it, got it,” Yan Ruoting assured repeatedly, while Du Haiwei listened quietly.

After Wan Kongcheng’s reminders, Feng Shichu took over, not only lecturing his students.

“I won’t say more. Once you pass through that door, you are students of Qin City. Your words and actions don’t just represent Tianshui and Longting schools, but the entire Anjie City. Don’t be like us old fools, bickering and fighting. If there’s a problem, learn to stand united. Understand?”

“Understood!” Mo De and Yan Ruoting clapped and cheered, and the others nodded in agreement.

“Time’s up,” the convoy leader stepped forward, urging the students from both schools to board the bus.

“Safe travels, and return safely!” For once, Feng Shichu and Wan Kongcheng refrained from arguing and stood side by side, watching their students board the bus one by one.