Douluo Continent: Thunder Roar

As soon as Zhou Yi stepped out of the classroom after the afternoon theory class, the classroom, which had been quiet all afternoon, suddenly erupted like a boiling pot of water that had been punctured, with a burst of suppressed noise that instantly filled every corner.

"Oh my god, get out of class is finally over..." Someone slumped back in their chair, letting out a long sigh of relief, and nudged the classmate next to them with their elbow.

"Don't even mention it. I could keep up with the first half of her explanation of the soul power cycle, but I completely lost it in the second half. My pen was flying across the notebook, but my mind was a complete mess." Another boy scratched his head, looking at the pages of notes with a blank expression.

"Whether you understand or not is secondary! Doesn't anyone think this is outrageous?" A tall boy suddenly sat up straight, his voice filled with disbelief. "That old woman with a wrinkled face and a voice like a broken gong this morning, and this teacher with a cool demeanor and an extraordinary air this afternoon—I still can't connect the two of them. They're completely different!"

"+1! I spent the whole afternoon just staring at the teacher's face; I didn't hear a single word she said, and my notes were just random scribbling..."

You are not alone!

"I also spaced out, staring blankly at her face the whole time..."

Suddenly, a boy lowered his voice, a hint of mystery in his tone, his gaze drifting subtly towards the window like a wisp of smoke, and whispered, "Don't you think the truly outrageous one is someone else?"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding air instantly became subtle, falling silent for a moment.

The previously noisy discussions seemed to have been paused, even the rustling of students packing their books slowed down, and everyone subconsciously softened their breathing.

Immediately afterwards, countless gazes, as if drawn by an invisible thread, all fell in the same direction, whether overt or covert—the seat by the window.

Ling Yu, however, remained unchanged throughout, leaning lazily against the back of his chair with his eyes slightly closed, calming his mind and regulating his breathing. He exuded a faint sense of detachment, as if the exclamations and discussions surrounding him were merely a gentle breeze that brushed past his ears, unable to disturb him in the slightest.

Wang Dong'er sat beside him, her fingers unconsciously picking at the corners of the notebook, almost wrinkling the pages with her fingertips. But her ears were perked up, and she heard every whisper of conversation around her.

Hearing someone whisper praise of Ling Yu's abilities, she subconsciously pursed her lips, a hint of arrogance hidden in her eyes, and thought to herself: See, see, this is my roommate!

I'm the first person you see when you wake up every day, and I'm also the last person you see before you go to sleep.

Spending time together day and night, over time...

The thought had barely crossed her mind when her delicate, fair face suddenly flushed.

She quickly snapped the word out of her head, her fingers digging into the corner of the paper so hard she almost tore the notebook apart.

Humph.

She wasn't thinking about that word at all.

But that blush had already crept up to the tips of her ears, and she couldn't suppress it no matter what she did.

She secretly glanced at Ling Yu out of the corner of her eye.

He was still meditating with his eyes closed, his profile quiet and aloof, completely unaware that someone next to him was in a state of turmoil over a half-finished phrase.

Wang Dong'er pursed her lips, looked away, and stared at the corner of the notebook that she had picked at so badly that it was unbearable to look at.

How many secrets does this taciturn man still hold?

Thinking of this, a faint blush appeared on her delicate, fair face.

He may seem cold and taciturn, but in the morning he would stand up to the fierce Zhou Yi for the sake of the whole class; he would quietly give her guidance when she was at a loss and confused; and he would help heal the weak classmate when he was exhausted.

In the midst of this subtle silence, a golden head suddenly peeked in through the back door of the classroom. Her long, wavy hair shimmered like honey in the setting sun, and then Jiang Nannan appeared in the doorway.

As soon as she entered the room, her gaze seemed to be drawn by something, passing over the people in the classroom and landing precisely on the quiet figure by the window.

I glanced at it once, then quickly looked away.

She stood by the door, her fingertips secretly clenching the hem of her dress.

Today marks the third time I've "passed by" this classroom.

Once at noon, once during afternoon breaks, and now, this is the third time.

She told herself it was just a coincidence. She just happened to have something to do. It was just…

I just really want to see him.

"Dr. Xiaoyu." She finally spoke, her voice filled with barely suppressed joy, as if she had been holding back for a long time.

Ling Yu opened his eyes upon hearing the sound, just as he was planning to go find the other person after dinner.

We need to find a place to open a clinic and move out as soon as possible.

The way Wang Dong'er looked at him more and more often, and it became increasingly strange, with an inexplicable sense of... danger.

"Sister Nan, what are you doing here?"

When Ling Yu asked her that question, Jiang Nannan seemed to have something exposed. A strand of golden hair on her shoulder was gently twirled by her fingertips, circled once, and then slowly circled again. Her movements concealed an undisguised awkwardness and shyness, and even her fingertips were flushed.

I can't exactly say, "Actually, there's nothing else, I just wanted to see you, and I've been thinking about you all day."

"You mentioned before that you wanted to open a clinic in Shrek City... I wonder if you've found one yet." She paused, her eyelashes fluttering slightly as she carefully considered each word, afraid of sounding too deliberate or too vague. "I just heard that there's a place that might be suitable."

"I just wanted to ask."

She quickly added.

It's like a stroke of the pen, subtle and understated, yet also like a cover-up that only makes things worse.

Then I stood there quietly, waiting for him to speak.

Ling Yu shook his head slightly, his tone calm: "Not yet, I was just about to trouble Sister Nan to go with me to take a look."

Hearing this, Jiang Nannan felt as sweet as if she had eaten honey. "No...no trouble at all, Dr. Xiaoyu, you've helped our family so much..."

Wang Dong'er suddenly raised her head.

Two gazes met lightly in the air, without sharpness or hostility, as light as a dragonfly skimming the surface of water, fleeting in an instant.

Jiang Nannan nodded politely, a faint, gentle smile playing on her lips, her gesture perfectly measured.

Wang Dong'er did not smile.

She simply shifted her gaze to Ling Yu's back, lingering for a brief moment, a hint of awkwardness and disappointment hidden in her eyes that she herself was unaware of, before quickly looking away again.

Then she slowly stood up, the chair legs scraping against the smooth floor with a soft creak that broke the silence of the classroom, as if she were venting some inexplicable emotion.

Just then, Ling Yu's voice came: "Let's go."

Jiang Nannan immediately snapped out of her daze and softly responded with an "Mmm," her voice gentle and filled with undisguised joy.

The two walked away side by side, their light footsteps gradually fading into the distance and finally disappearing at the end of the corridor.

Wang Dong'er stood there, staring blankly at the empty corner, her eyes vacant and her face expressionless, but her clenched fingers betrayed her emotions.

Suddenly, she raised her foot and kicked the corner of the wall without any target; it was just a subconscious action, as if she was venting the inexplicable frustration in her heart.

With a stern face, she quickened her pace, her black leather shoes clicking on the floor tiles, making a "tap, tap, tap" sound, each sound louder than the last, as if she were sulking, echoing through the empty corridor.

East Street in Shrek City is not far from the college; it's just a short walk away.

Jiang Nannan walked ahead with light steps, occasionally turning back to tell Ling Yu about the streets and alleys along the way.

"...There's a shop that's vacant on East Street, let me show you." As she spoke, she led Ling Yu to a mottled wooden door and pushed it open.

The setting sun shone through the two large windows facing the street, bathing the entire shop in its light.

The shop was empty, with a thin layer of dust on the floor and a few cobwebs in the corners. It looked a bit deserted, but the layout was square and spacious.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled patterns on the ground, with dust motes slowly floating within the beams of light.

There is a small door behind the shop, half-closed, through which you can vaguely see the scenery inside.

Ling Yu stepped forward and gently pushed open the small door.

Behind the door is a small courtyard, not large, but very quiet, where you can't hear the noise from the street.

Ivy climbs halfway up the courtyard wall, and a small osmanthus tree grows at the base of the wall. Its branches and leaves are very dense, providing a cool shade. When the wind blows, the leaves rustle.

Ling Yu stood in the center of the courtyard, looked around, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

This place, with a shop in the front and a courtyard in the back, could be used for both medical consultations and living quarters, as well as for preparing medicine, which perfectly met his requirements.

Jiang Nannan didn't go into the courtyard. Instead, she stood behind him, holding onto the doorframe, and explained softly, "This place is a little out of the way from the shops facing the street, but it's quieter, so patients can feel at ease when they come for treatment. The backyard is just the right size; it can be used to prepare medicine or for people to live in. If you're too busy to go back to the academy late, you can rest here."

She paused, then added, "I asked the landlord, and the rent is 30% cheaper than outside. The landlord is also very easy to talk to, and we can discuss any needs."

Ling Yu turned around, his gaze falling on Jiang Nannan. He looked at her quietly without saying a word.

Jiang Nannan met his gaze, her heart suddenly racing. She subconsciously gripped the hem of her skirt, repeatedly pinching and kneading it with her fingertips, creating fine wrinkles. Her eyes were filled with nervousness, afraid that he would be dissatisfied, and even more afraid that he would reject her.

"When did you ask?" Ling Yu finally spoke, his tone calm yet gentle.

He could vaguely guess that Jiang Nannan must have secretly put a lot of effort into it.

This thoughtfulness touched him slightly, but he didn't show it and remained calm.

Jiang Nannan quickly lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting two light shadows on her cheeks, desperately concealing the panic in her eyes. Her voice was soft, tinged with shyness and a hint of barely perceptible unease: "Just... a few days ago, when I was passing by, I casually asked the landlord a question."

His question made her heart jump, and a light sweat broke out on her back as she felt a growing sense of unease.

Will he think he's being too deliberate or annoying?

"This is fine." Ling Yu's voice came, and the faint emotion in his eyes was more obvious than before, but he still didn't say anything more.

This confident response is an acknowledgment of all her efforts.

Jiang Nannan suddenly raised her head, her eyes lighting up with unbelievable joy, and her voice became cheerful: "Really? That's great! I'll come first thing tomorrow morning to finalize the deal with the landlord and rent the shop."

She became more and more excited as she spoke, counting the things she needed to do on her fingers: "I know someone who can write the signboard for you. He's a senior from our college, and his calligraphy is excellent. He's written for many shops in the city, and his handwriting is beautiful and inexpensive. As for medicinal herbs, there are several well-established pharmacies in Shrek City. 'Bai Cao Tang' in the south of the city has the best reputation. Their herbs are fresh and the prices are fair. I'll take you there to familiarize yourself with the place later, so it will be easier to get herbs in the future. There's also the consultation table, chairs, and medicine cabinet—by the way, can the old wooden cabinets here still be used?"

As she spoke, she quickly ran into the shop, squatted down to examine the row of old wooden cabinets in the corner, and ran her fingertips across the surface of the cabinets: "They're a bit old, some paint has chipped off, but the wood is fine. A little sanding and some new paint will make them usable. We don't need to buy new ones, which will save us a lot of money. We also need to prepare the bedding in the backyard in advance. If you're busy and don't go back to the academy, it will be more comfortable for you to stay here."

Ling Yu stood by the courtyard, not interrupting her, but watching her busy figure with gentle eyes, listening to her chattering about planning everything, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes.

As Jiang Nannan spoke, her voice gradually lowered, and she stopped moving.

She suddenly realized that he had been watching her the whole time, his gaze gentle and without the slightest impatience.

She looked up abruptly, meeting his gaze. Her cheeks flushed instantly, even her ears burned. She quickly lowered her head again, her voice barely audible, "I... I was just saying. You don't have to listen to everything I say. If you have any other ideas, we can discuss them."

Ling Yu remained silent, still quietly watching her.

A long time passed, so long that Jiang Nannan thought he wouldn't speak again, so long that her cheeks grew increasingly hot—

"Sister Nannan."

Jiang Nannan was slightly taken aback, then suddenly looked up, her eyes full of surprise.

This was the first time he had called her that day. She didn't speak first, nor did she respond passively. His tone was natural, without any distance, and even carried a hint of intimacy. It was a soft sentence, but it made her heart skip a beat.

She stared at him blankly, her lips moved but she didn't say anything, but the joy in her eyes grew stronger and stronger.

"You don't need to handle these things alone," Ling Yu said slowly, his tone serious. "You still have classes; don't waste your time on my affairs."

Jiang Nannan paused for a moment, then chuckled softly.

"It's alright." She shook her head, her tone sincere and light. "I have a lot of free time in the afternoons, so I'm happy to help you out."

She paused, her voice lowering slightly, as if casually adding a sentence, a hint of barely perceptible emotion hidden in her eyes: "Besides, you're new to Shrek and don't know anything yet. If I help you a little more, it'll make things easier for you."

She didn't continue, she didn't say that she just wanted to spend more time with him, wanted to do more for him, and wanted him to remember her kindness.

She simply lowered her head, her fingertips gently smoothing out the folds of her skirt, her movements soft, her eyes filled with shyness and joy.