It's time to give out the rings, Admiral!

"Ah, okay, thank you, Yixian." The boy nodded, watching Yixian's considerate figure turn back. Only then did he realize that he had been holding hands with Yixian since they came out, and he couldn't help but blush slightly. He sighed inwardly, realizing that he seemed to have inadvertently become captivated by Yixian's gentle temperament. For some reason, he rubbed his slightly flushed cheeks with a little unease.

Yi Xian quickly returned from the dormitory, carrying a brown cloak. However, this time she did not subtly take the boy's hand as before. The two walked side by side from the dormitory building to the small square, and then from the small square to the tree-lined path not far from the living area.

Under the silvery moonlight, the boy observed the scenery in the garrison, which belonged to him but had never seen before, while he and Yi Xian strolled quietly under the shady trees. The faint fragrance emanating from Yi Xian filled his nostrils, making the boy's heart flutter.

A gentle breeze rustled through the treetops, perhaps to break the tension that was building up. A moment later, the somewhat flustered boy spoke up amidst Yi Xian's unreadable expression, "By the way, Yi Xian, I remember you seem to know our academy's headmistress, right? She seemed quite familiar with me this afternoon. Could it be that I knew her before?"

The boy's abrupt words broke the somewhat ambiguous atmosphere in the night sky, causing Yi Xian, who had been nestled beside him, enjoying the tranquility and beauty of the moment, to raise her head somewhat reluctantly. However, no matter how unwilling she felt, she wouldn't show it on her face. Looking at the boy's slightly puzzled face in the moonlight, she quietly exhaled and tried to calm her previously rapid heartbeat.

"You mean the monarch? The admiral?"

The boy nodded. He still couldn't quite understand why the head of the Naval Academy would recognize him. If it was because of a game, he had only ever played Kantai Collection, so how could he possibly be connected to a ship girl from Azur Lane? And if it was just because he was once the admiral of that legendary naval base, then her tone and attitude towards him that afternoon seemed to go beyond mere acquaintance.

"Your relationship with that Dean is actually a bit complicated. Although she's not a ship girl from our naval base, she's like a sister to us. After all... she's a ship girl you personally created..."

"Huh? Manifestation?"

"Yes, Admiral. Unlike our sisters and other ship girls, Monarch was not either built or 'salvaged' from the depths of the ocean. She was originally just a special shipbuilding project of the Governor's Office. Because the requirements for building her were too demanding, unlike the regular ship girl construction which was uncertain, no one could complete it at the time, so the project was abandoned."

"However, for some reason, the plan was later transferred to the Naval Academy. Since our naval base was right next to the Naval Academy, this coincidentally led to the birth of the monarch."

"The monarch's first requirement for research and development is to gain sufficient combat experience in deep-sea operations using the Royal Navy's battleships and battlecruisers. And looking across the world, perhaps only our naval base... and only you have a sufficient number of British warships..."

Huh? So that's how it works? Isn't this just the research system from Azur Lane? But since she was built by our naval base, why is the monarch the head of the Naval Academy? Logically speaking, the prerequisite for becoming the head of the Naval Academy is not being affiliated with any naval base, right?

The boy was puzzled, but before he could ask any more questions, Yixian had already given her answer.

"Although we completed the first research and development of the monarch, the subsequent construction resources were all provided by the Governor's Office. Moreover, because she is a five-star high-speed battleship, the Governor's Office would not easily assign her to another naval base, so they made her the Dean of the Naval Academy... However, the monarch actually wanted to join our naval base at the time, and the reason she later agreed to become the Dean of the Naval Academy was actually because..."

At this point, Yi Xian's words suddenly stopped. Under the boy's confused gaze, she quietly lowered her sparkling eyes and looked at the boy beside her.

"Admiral, I think you should ask her about these things yourself. Besides, she would definitely want you to do that, after all..." After all, she's a person with a hard life just like me...

As Yi Xian's melodious voice faded, just as the boy was pondering the deeper meaning in Yi Xian's words, they unknowingly reached the end of the tree-lined path. Gazing at the open plain covered with grass, trees, and flowers that suddenly appeared under the night sky, and the clear pond filled with beautiful lotus flowers, the boy's mind was immediately captivated by the exquisite scenery before him.

"Isn't this place beautiful, Admiral? This is where Yingrui and Zhao often play. The lotus flowers in the pond were planted by everyone together. When the weather is nice, let's go sit together in the little pavilion on the back hill. I'll tell you, the pond there is also full of lotus flowers, and egrets often perch there. I wonder if we'll see them next time we go..."

Volume 1, Chapter 103: Memories

Under the starry night sky, guided by Yi Xian, the boy and she sat down on a bench by the pond. Watching the fireflies, each emitting a faint glow, flitting back and forth among the fragrant lotus leaves, the boy, who had never seen such a scene before, was unconsciously captivated by it.

It wasn't until the gentle Yi Xian led him by the hand and sat him down on the cool chair that the young man snapped out of his reverie, looking out of place with the distant city. As if all the weariness had been washed away, his body, which had been somewhat tired from all the events that had happened, relaxed under the beautiful night sky. Leaning against the hard back of the chair, Su Yuchen couldn't help but stretch out in front of Yi Xian.

"It seems that you really like the scenery here, Admiral. I remember when you were still at the naval base, Zhaohe and Yingrui and the other kids would often drag you here to catch fireflies, but you don't remember that now."

The boy's uninhibited actions caught the eye of Yi Xian, who was sitting next to him on the bench. Perhaps because of the boy's childish behavior, her eyes welled up with tears, and she couldn't help but cover her rosy lips and laugh softly.

Looking at the boy's face, which was flushed with embarrassment because of her words, and recalling the interesting things that had happened in the garrison, a hint of nostalgia couldn't help but show in her clear, watery eyes.

"Do you remember that little raft over there? You and Pinghai made it together, saying you wanted to go to the middle of the pond to pick lotus seeds to eat. But it was only the first time it went into the water that the naughty Zhaohe broke it, and you even fell into the pond and caught a cold, and had to stay in bed for several days."

A gentle voice reached the boy's ears, causing him, who had just felt a little embarrassed by his actions, to follow her slender finger and look towards the deep reeds not far away, where a small, barely visible raft lay peacefully in a makeshift harbor.

He gently clenched his fingers, seemingly sensing the deep longing in Yi Xian's words, and the boy's eyes drooped slightly. Although he had indeed fallen into the water while boating to pick lotus pods, it wasn't something worth remembering like Yi Xian described. Their memories were probably limited to their own experiences in that world, and only they possessed them, while he only had that small piece of artwork…

Suddenly feeling a little heavy-hearted, the young man sighed almost imperceptibly. Facing Yi Xian's expectant eyes, he looked away and slowly shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Yixian... But hearing you say that, you must have had a lot of fun together back then. I really hope we can get back to how things were before soon."

"Is that so..." The boy's denial made Yixian withdraw her gaze with some disappointment. She quietly clasped her hands together and, like the boy, gazed silently at the surface of the pool reflecting the moon's shadow.

Indeed, it was a lonely thing to be the only one who remembered those past events. The atmosphere fell silent once again. The cool evening breeze ruffled Yi Xian's hair, revealing a hint of loneliness on her face. As the breeze entered her mouth, she suddenly coughed a few times, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

Yi Xian's cough echoed in the quiet wilderness, sounding so abrupt. Surprised, the boy turned around and looked at Yi Xian, who was clutching his chest and frowning slightly. He immediately became worried.

"What's wrong, Yixian? Have you caught a cold? Why don't we go back first? It's still a bit chilly here."

Hearing the boy's heartfelt concern and glancing at his slightly uneasy face, Yi Xian felt a warmth in her heart. She patted her chest, looked up, and smiled at the boy, as if to tell him not to worry.

"I'm fine, Admiral. I've just been working too hard lately searching for you, and I've been feeling a little uncomfortable in my chest occasionally... But don't worry, I'll be fine after a little rest. It's you, on the other hand, who hasn't had a chance to tell me how you've been doing this past year?"

"Huh? Me?" After hearing Yi Xian's words, the boy breathed a slight sigh of relief. When he heard Yi Xian asking him about his experiences over the past year, he scratched his head in slight distress and then began to organize his thoughts.

"As for me, all I remember is that after I disappeared from the naval base, the first time I opened my eyes was on the beach of a small fishing village far from here. At that time, I don't remember why I was there, or what I was supposed to do. I can't remember anything except that my name is Su Yuchen."

“I wandered aimlessly on the beach for a long time, not knowing where to go or what to do. Just when I was starving and freezing, Uncle Su… who later took me home, found me. He gave me food, and after asking me what I couldn’t remember, he took me back to his home and let me stay there temporarily.”

"Uncle Su and his family are very kind people. They not only did not discriminate against me as an outsider, but also let me live there in peace until I regained my memory."

"Really... It's all thanks to them, Admiral." Listening quietly as the boy reminisced about his past with his head bowed, Yi Xian lowered her own head sadly. Although the Admiral had already said it wasn't their fault, she couldn't help but think that if they hadn't let that deep-sea destroyer escape, he wouldn't have encountered any of this. If it weren't for a kind family taking him in, what would have become of the Admiral, who remembered nothing...? She didn't dare to think about it.

“I learned a lot from Uncle Su and the others. During the day, I went out to sea with Uncle Su to fish and help them supplement their income. At night, I would come back and teach Xiaorou some knowledge. Oh, right, I haven’t had a chance to tell you about Xiaorou yet. She is Uncle Su’s daughter, and I even recognized her as my god-sister. She is a very sensible, capable, and beautiful girl. You could say that she is the one who has helped me the most this past year. If it weren’t for her, I don’t know how I would have survived after Uncle Su passed away.”

“Every morning she would see Uncle Su and me off to sea, and at noon and in the evening she and Aunt Su would prepare meals for us at home. Even when it was very late, she would study the knowledge I taught her very diligently. She never threw tantrums like other girls, although she could be a little clingy at times. For example, she always liked to sneak over and sleep with me at night, and before going to sleep she would always insist that I kiss her forehead or something. But that was probably because she felt insecure after Uncle Su left…”

Wait, wait! A foster sister? Admiral, this doesn't seem like something an ordinary younger sister would do, does it? Even if she lacks security, she wouldn't do something like this, would she? Given what you've said, and your completely oblivious personality, could it be…

Although she had just felt guilty about what had happened to her admiral, as she continued to listen to the boy's words, a somewhat strange expression appeared on Yi Xian's face, which was full of reserved oriental beauty.

As a woman herself, and one who is deeply in love with her admiral, no matter how she tried to put herself in his shoes, she felt that the woman the admiral called Xiaorou was not simply a younger sister. Have you ever seen a younger sister in real life climb into her older brother's bed in the middle of the night? Especially a foster brother with no blood relation?

Even though she found it strange, Yi Xian didn't say it directly. Although she had some doubts, they were just guesses. Moreover, she would definitely have the opportunity to meet the admiral's adopted sister later. She would know whether it was as she guessed or not when the time came.

"Not long after that, Uncle Su and Aunt Su passed away because they encountered a storm while they were at sea. Xiao Rou and I depended on each other for survival. In order to take good care of Xiao Rou, I listened to what others said and wanted to become an admiral because everyone said that the admiral's salary was very high."

“During the day I go out to tutor others to earn money, and at night I study about the Admiral at home. Xiao Rou takes care of my daily life until more than a month ago when she came to participate in the Admiral selection exam.”

Volume 1, Chapter 104: Under the Moon

Under the soft moonlight, filled with the fragrance of lotus blossoms, and listening to the chirping of insects unique to summer nights, Yi Xian sat gracefully on a bench, quietly listening to the young man recount the events of the past year. Her delicate and refined face held a mixture of affection and doting as she gazed at the ordinary yet captivating face of the young man so close to her. She found herself unconsciously drawn into this long-lost, comforting scene.

A cool evening breeze blew gently, and after an unknown amount of time, the boy, who had told Yi Xian all the interesting things he could remember, finally yawned wearily, his mouth dry. He had hardly slept well these past few days, and sitting in this leisurely and comfortable environment for a while, the accumulated fatigue quickly made him feel sleepy.

The boy, rubbing his tired eyelids wearily, slumped onto the bench, feeling Yi Xian gently move closer to him. "Admiral, are you tired? Would you like to rest for a while?"

"Hmm? Then I'll leave it to you, Yixian. I haven't been sleeping well these past few days, so I'm a little tired...!!" Yixian's soft shoulders gently supported his somewhat limp body. Listening to Yixian's gentle words in his ear, the boy, who felt increasingly tired, nodded gently.

However, before he could find a more relaxed position, the somewhat bewildered boy suddenly felt his head being pulled into the arms of the woman beside him, whose slender arms carried a fragrance like that of daffodils. It wasn't until Yi Xian, with a smile on her face that seemed to dote on an adorable child, pressed her onto her pair of long, smooth, and delicate legs that he realized, in a daze, what had happened.

Her body stiffened instantly. Feeling Yi Xian's warm lower abdomen, which was almost a piece of cloth away from the back of her head, and the soft, untouched fragrance of a woman in her nostrils, Su Yuchen's face turned bright red. She immediately arched her back in a panic, trying to sit up.

Even if Yi Xian's legs felt incredibly wonderful, and even if she was nominally his ship girl, this was still the first time he had ever met her. Who in the world would so readily enjoy a lap pillow from someone they had just met? Even Illustrious only dared to do that after spending some time together, right?

The boy struggled helplessly, but before he could straighten up, he was pressed back down by Yi Xian's soft, boneless hands that he couldn't break free from. Unable to understand why the situation had suddenly turned out this way, the extremely embarrassed boy awkwardly waved his hands at Yi Xian.

"Yi...Yi Xian?"

Seeing the boy's panic and confusion, Yi Xian, still wearing a calm smile, gently stroked the boy's short hair and slightly curved her willow-leaf eyebrows. The boy then heard Yi Xian's melodious voice, which seemed to be suppressing something. "What's wrong, Admiral? Didn't you always want to lie on my lap like this before?"

She gently brushed aside the boy's ruffled hair as he fidgeted, and as she spoke, a delicate blush crept onto Yi Xian's exquisite face, as if she were lost in thought. She gently pulled the hem of her cheongsam aside, allowing the boy to rest his head more comfortably on her lap, before turning her face away.

"I remember you once said you really liked my legs, didn't you, Admiral? When you made me your secretary ship, you always liked to call me 'Leg Fairy'..."

Yi Xian's words reached the boy's ears, reminding him of his past actions while playing games. His embarrassing past was mercilessly exposed, and Su Yuchen's already flushed cheeks turned completely red. He did indeed like to call Yi Xian "Leg Fairy" when playing games, but what could he do when, in all the ship girl illustrations, only Yi Xian openly displayed such a pair of beautiful legs? Plus, everyone called her that…

Seemingly recalling his past carefree days playing games, and comparing himself then with Yi Xian now, the boy couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. He awkwardly wiped his face, feeling that his struggle had made the soft touch on Yi Xian's body even more pronounced. The uneasy boy dared not move again.

“Yi…Yi Xian, that…”

However, before the boy could say anything to salvage his lost image as admiral, Yi Xian loosened her arms that were holding his head. For some reason, she looked at the moon's reflection in the pond with a slightly melancholy expression. Seeing her downcast eyes, she mistakenly thought that her behavior had disappointed her, and the boy's heart couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

"Admiral... although you used to call me 'Leg Fairy' and would always make those embarrassing jokes that made everyone blush... in my opinion, you were better that way than you are now... You're not so frivolous now, and you're very polite to me, but I know that's only because you're distant with me..."

Upon hearing Yi Xian's words, which clearly conveyed a sense of unease, the boy fell silent. He understood the meaning behind Yi Xian's words, because he had been deliberately distancing himself from Yi Xian's seemingly intimate behavior.

Even though he knew she was his ship girl, subconsciously he still treated her as a stranger or a newly acquainted friend. But what about her? He was her admiral, arguably the person she trusted and was closest to in the world. How could she not be disappointed that such a person treated him like a stranger?

Feeling guilty for making Yi Xian feel uneasy about his actions, the boy closed his eyes sadly and bit his lip hard. When he opened his eyes again, he placed his head and hands on the seemingly delicate skin of Yi Xian's legs. Since Yi Xian was now his ship girl, it didn't seem like a problem to take advantage of her.

Feeling his admiral's warm hands suddenly becoming restless and groping on his thighs, and seeing the young man in front of him seemingly enjoying his lap pillow with a sense of ease, Yi Xian's heart softened a little amidst surprise and shyness.

Although I don't know if my words had any effect, the situation is undoubtedly developing in a positive direction for me. If I can get the admiral to go all the way to the final step, that would be the best, and then I would have an excuse to ask him for the ring.

Of course, she knew that these were just her own fantasies. Given her admiral's personality, it would be almost impossible for him to do such a thing to her. But even so, it was enough to make her happy.

She gently pursed her thin lips, perhaps feeling that the surrounding environment was too quiet, making it difficult to concentrate. She bent down slightly and whispered in the ear of the boy she used to play games, "The atmosphere has become a bit lonely, even the cicadas have stopped chirping... By the way, Admiral, do you like listening to opera? Although Yixian has only a rudimentary understanding, there is a piece called 'Hongyang Cave' that is a true transmission of the Yu school. Would you like to hear it?"

"Huh? Then sing for me, Yixian." Resting his head on Yixian's lap, the boy nodded. Since things were already like this, it didn't seem like a big deal to be a little more intimate. The boy thought about it with a bit of self-abandonment, but perhaps it was a sudden flash of inspiration, and for some reason the boy thought of Yixian from his game.

I remember not only modifying Yixian, but also leveling her up to the maximum, right? I remember how much affection Yixian had back then? Wait, it seems like I already maxed out Yixian's affection a long time ago?

Yi Xian's melodious voice echoed quietly under the bright night sky. However, as a teenager, Su Yuchen was not particularly interested in these operas. He listened to a few lines and was fine, but after Yi Xian finished singing "Hongyang Cave" and seemed to start singing something else, the already sleepy boy finally fell into a deep sleep to the hypnotic music. He had stayed up until midnight with Guanghui yesterday, and now he finally couldn't stay awake any longer.

Yi Xian softly sang those classical operas, but when she turned around, the boy in her arms had already fallen asleep quietly. Somewhat regretful that she could not do more with the admiral on this precious night, Yi Xian gently picked up the cloak draped over the back of the chair and covered the boy with it.

"Admiral..." Looking down at the boy's unguarded sleeping face, Yi Xian gently called out to her admiral. She tenderly stroked the boy's cheek, which was resting on her lap, her beautiful face filled with almost overflowing doting affection. Afraid that her movements would wake the boy, she bent down little by little and gently kissed the side of the boy's face.

"The spring breeze caresses the peach blossoms again, yet I fear our meeting is but a dream. This closeness truly evokes a faint sense of unreality... If I had known I would meet the Admiral today, I would have dressed up a bit. I haven't even used the cosmetics and socks Missouri sent me yet. It's a real pity I didn't leave the best impression on the Admiral..."

With a soft sigh, Yi Xian gently touched the lips she had just touched the boy, as if savoring the memory. Feeling the lingering warmth of his touch, she hesitated for a moment, then straightened the boy's head and bent down once more.

“Admiral…” Gazing at the boy’s face, so close yet so distant, she murmured his name. She brushed aside a lock of hair that had fallen across her forehead, and in the dim light of the fireflies in the distance, which seemed to have shyly disappeared, she gently lowered her head and kissed the boy’s lips in the moonlight.

After a long while, Yi Xian, her face slightly flushed, slowly raised her head. Although it was only while the admiral was asleep, it was still her first kiss, a kiss she had mustered the courage to give. With this step, even if the future was unknown, there was one thing she was certain of: one day, the admiral would agree to become her eyebrow-drawing man...

Volume 1, Chapter 105: Dawn

The morning sunlight pierced through a thin layer of mist and fell upon the earth. In the shade of the trees along the roadside, on the emerald green lotus leaves, crystal-clear dewdrops shone brightly under the sunlight, as if they were beautiful gems that dazzled the eye.

Golden light bathed every corner of the garrison, dispelling the chill of the night. When the boy opened his eyes again from his dream, the sun, high in the sky, was shining into them. He couldn't help but move his shoulders, which were inexplicably sore, and shield them from the uncomfortable light.

Perhaps because he wasn't fully awake, as his eyes adjusted to the outdoor light and he looked at the shimmering pond in the distance, Su Yuchen, momentarily confused about his situation, began to feel disoriented. "Shouldn't I be nestled in my warm bed, surrounded by fragrant sunshine? How did I end up in a place like this?"

Lying flat on a warm and soft object of unknown origin, the boy scratched his head in confusion. He tried to recall what had happened last night that made him sleep here, but before he could make any sense of it, he suddenly felt his elbows touch two very soft, ball-shaped objects. He instinctively turned his head and heard a very pleasant female voice beside him.

Good morning, Admiral. Did you sleep well last night?

Looking up at Yi Xian's delicate face, slightly flushed in the golden sunlight, the boy couldn't help but widen his eyes. He discovered that his somewhat unruly arm was actually pressing against Yi Xian's soft and rather large breasts. The scenes that had happened last night immediately flooded into his mind like a tide.

"Ah! Sorry! Yixian!" The boy, who had been stunned for a moment and couldn't help but blush, immediately withdrew his arm as if he had been electrocuted. He bowed his back in a panic and then struggled to sit up from Yixian's pair of beautiful, smooth legs.

Although he recalled how he had tried his best to cooperate with Yixian last night because he didn't want to disappoint her, the thought of enjoying a lap pillow from a woman he wasn't even that familiar with made him feel strangely like he was taking advantage of her, even though that woman was his ship girl... However...

However, I don't know when I fell asleep last night, and when I opened my eyes, I found myself sitting here with Yixian. Could it be that I slept with my head on Yixian's lap all night?! Did Yixian let me sleep with my head on her lap all night? Could it be that she didn't sleep at all?

Embarrassed, the boy touched the back of his head, noticing the brown cloak still draped over his shoulders, and the beautiful but slightly tired face of Yi Xian in front of him. Feeling worried, the boy frowned apologetically.

"Yixian, what time did I fall asleep last night?" Slightly embarrassed, the boy bit his lip, looking at Yixian's seemingly unconcerned smile, and asked her in a somewhat sullen tone. He had only wanted to rest for a little while, so how did he end up falling asleep alone? And now, because of him, Yixian hadn't slept a wink all night…

Hearing the boy's question, and feeling a little regretful that she could no longer be intimate with him because of his awakening, Yi Xian slightly curved her delicate eyebrows, then gently pulled at the long hem of her cheongsam to cover her beautiful legs that seemed to radiate an alluring glow in the sunlight.

"Admiral, you fell asleep on my lap not long last night. It seems you've been exhausted lately, as you've been sleeping soundly since last night until now."

It's unclear what Yi Xian's answer reminded the boy of, but he turned his head away slightly, feeling a little guilty. He sighed helplessly, touched his forehead in distress, and said to Yi Xian with great self-reproach, "Then why didn't you wake me up, Yi Xian? Staying here all night must have been very boring and tiring."

The boy's heartfelt concern reached Yixian's ears. Looking at his brows, which were tightly furrowed because he had discovered that she had been sitting all night, she felt warm and at ease and gently reached out to stroke the boy's cheek that she found so captivating.

"Seeing how soundly you slept last night, how could I bear to wake you? But don't worry, Admiral, it's just one night without rest. As a ship girl, I can go for days and nights without sleep without any problems."

The woman's sudden attack and her slightly ambiguous words made the boy standing in front of her blush slightly. He scratched his head awkwardly, but then he noticed that Yi Xian seemed to have discovered something important and was solemnly pinching her chin.

"What's wrong, Yixian?"

She paused almost imperceptibly, a hint of melancholy flashing between her brows. She looked up at the young man beside her, noticing his puzzled expression. Forcing a smile, she said to him, "Admiral, I've informed Lexington that they've found you. They're on their way here now, and you'll be able to see your beloved wife soon."

After whispering to the boy, Yi Xian secretly sighed. Although it was undeniable that Lexington was the Admiral's favorite ship girl, and that she was the Admiral's first wife, saying it still made her feel sad... Such a precious night had ended just like that, sigh... She really regretted it. If only she had been able to make up her mind to do something with the Admiral last night...

Yi Xian pursed her lips bitterly, looking at the boy in front of her who was also somewhat at a loss. It was as if the fatigue that had accumulated overnight had finally surged up. She gently pressed her brow.

"By the way, Admiral... when Lexington arrives later, could you please not tell her that I saw you yesterday? Even if she couldn't come yesterday because of something, she might have a problem with us if she knew I spent the whole night with you alone..."

Volume 1, Chapter 106: Meeting

The summer mornings are not hot; instead, they bring a refreshing tranquility and coolness that makes one feel relaxed and happy.

However, in such a comfortable environment, the boy, who had followed Yixian to the bridge leading to the academy, looked as if he had just been pulled out of the water, covered in sweat.

The refreshing sea breeze blew across his face along the shore, but it did not bring him any comfort. Instead, it made him shiver uncomfortably.

Needless to say, this sweat was definitely not because of the hot weather. The reason it turned out like this was entirely because he was about to see his wife and the others!