Chapter 132: Sweet Reunion
Chapter 132: Sweet Reunion
"Sorry, I'm late!"
When Zhao Ling saw Song Chi's face, all her previous resentment vanished, replaced by a sweet smile.
"Hi, Song Chi, right? I'm Zhao Ling."
After greeting each other, Zhao Ling led Song Chi into the Jiangyuan First Flame Academy.
The management of advanced flame academies was extremely strict, especially with a third-rank flame captain in charge. That's why Song Chi didn't dare to barge in and instead had his uncle make a call.
His uncle's ship had been promoted to third-rank for nearly two months, and the upper echelons of the White Tower Floating Land were well aware of it. Even in front of the old third-rank flame captain, the principal of Jiangyuan Academy, his uncle still had some influence.
Walking along the academy's paths with Zhao Ling, Song Chi felt a sense of nostalgia.
Although he had only graduated nine months ago, the events he had experienced in that short time were numerous and varied, more colorful than he could have imagined.
Trading with various star sea races in the Heavenly Ruins Market, exploring the ruins of ancient civilizations, battling pirate fleets, and even witnessing the projections of fourth-rank and fifth-rank combat units...
All of this was filled with curiosity, danger, excitement, and awe, making it a truly remarkable experience.
But, it couldn't be denied that his time as a student was just as memorable, a vivid and essential part of his past. Reflecting on it now, it still brought a unique flavor.
Perhaps hearing his soft sigh, Zhao Ling asked gently,
"What's wrong?"
Song Chi shook his head, putting aside the hint of melancholy. While memories were sweet, they were in the past, and one must look forward.
"Nothing, just thinking about some things from my school days..."
Before Zhao Ling could respond in a big sisterly tone, Song Chi asked,
"By the way, Zhao, how do I get to Class 10-1?"
Zhao Ling pursed her red lips, trying to maintain her smile, and then pointed to the building to the side.
"The room on the left on the first floor."
Song Chi nodded lightly.
"Thanks!"
...
In Class 10-1, in the second row of the innermost column, a girl wore a cute cartoon T-shirt and white seven-eighths pants, the cuffs cut in a trendy corn tassel style. Her long hair was slightly curled, a few strands casually pinned behind her ears. Her eyes were bright and clear, and her skin was as smooth as jade, making her look like a fairy descended from the heavens.
Suddenly, a soft voice came from beside her.
"Ranran, there's a guy outside, a really hot one, nine out of ten!"
Shen Youran rolled her eyes at her equally beautiful best friend, glancing out the window indifferently.
But that casual glance seemed to freeze time for her.
Outside the classroom, the familiar figure she had been longing for stood smiling in the drizzling rain, holding a dark green umbrella. He was looking through the window, his gaze fixed on her.
Shen Youran didn't know how long Song Chi had been standing there, but she was sure that he had been watching her silently for the entire time he had been there.
In that moment, her eyes saw no one else. The usual calm and composed demeanor seemed to dissipate like a cloud in the sky, drifting away.
At the same time, the other students in Class 10-1 had also noticed Song Chi standing quietly outside the window. Dozens of eyes flicked between Song Chi and the teacher, Mr. Zhou Huaili, speculating about his identity and whom he had come to see.
Beside Shen Youran, Zhou Chun quickly noticed her sister's unusual behavior and called out softly,
"Ranran..."
Before she could finish, a bold guess formed in her mind.
Could he be here for Ranran?
Is this the Mr. Chi who has been missing for ten years?
In her memory, Shen Youran was always known for her calm and gentle nature. This kind of behavior was unprecedented.
The only possibility she could think of was Song Chi.
Before she could think further, Shen Youran had already stood up from her seat. Amidst the surprised gazes of her classmates, she walked to the teacher's desk and whispered a few words to Mr. Zhou Huaili.
Mr. Zhou Huaili looked surprised, turned to glance outside, paused on Song Chi, and then nodded to Shen Youran.
With Mr. Zhou Huaili's permission, Shen Youran's face lit up with a smile, and she ran out of the classroom.
In the classroom, the other students were captivated by the radiant smile on Shen Youran's face, the blush on her cheeks, and the joy that radiated from her.
Outside, Song Chi's heart raced as he watched her.
Without the usual reserve, the girl rushed into the rain, her eyes fixed only on the boy standing in front of her.
Song Chi's astral energy flowed through his body, gathering around his legs. In the next moment, he darted out, moving so fast that he appeared as a blur to the students inside. In a few flashes, he was by Shen Youran's side.
He raised his right hand to shield them from the drizzle, the dark green umbrella covering them both. With his left hand, he gently pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Foolish girl, it's still raining!"
"Oh no..."
In front of them, the students in Class 10-1, both boys and girls, burst into cheers.
The girls were envious!
The boys were jealous!
Blushing, Shen Youran buried her face in Song Chi's chest, too embarrassed to turn around.
Song Chi, meanwhile, inhaled the faint scent from her, and then glanced at the classroom, nodding lightly at Mr. Zhou Huaili with a smile.
At the same time, a shimmering light appeared between his brows, and the Skyvault was summoned from his Flame Ancestral Aperture.
The ship quickly expanded, transforming into a twenty-meter-long astral energy cruiser that hovered above the academy.
A beam of light shot down from above, enveloping Song Chi and Shen Youran. They slowly rose into the air.
A few seconds later, with a roar, the Skyvault disappeared from the sky above Jiangyuan First Flame Academy.
In Class 10-1, the class was almost over, and Mr. Zhou Huaili had no intention of continuing the lesson. He sighed softly to himself.
"Song Chi of the Dingshai Song Clan, that girl has quite an eye!"
As a teacher at an advanced academy, Zhou Huali was no simple figure. Although he was only a First-Rank Ember Captain, his father was a Second-Rank captain, placing him in the upper echelons of the White Tower Floating Land. This gave him a fair understanding of the Dingshai Song Clan.
...
On the Celestial Dome, Song Chi had long put down his umbrella, but he showed no sign of letting go of the girl in his arms.
Shen Youran didn't resist. She raised her gaze, meeting Song Chi's eyes, and said softly, "Why did you suddenly come? You didn't tell me at all!"
Song Chi lifted his hands from her waist and cupped her pale cheeks, saying, "I missed you, so I came."
Hearing these gentle words, the girl's bright, clear eyes curved into crescent moons, and the blush on her face grew deeper, making her even more alluring.
Before she could reply, Song Chi, already eager, leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
...
The Maple Park in White Tower City, the most popular park on the White Tower Floating Land, was a beloved place for all White Tower residents, whether they were ordinary people or Ember Captains.
Watching Shen Youran, who had broken from her usual calmness, laughing and chasing the red leaves in the maple forest, Song Chi's feelings of loneliness and anxiety about leaving were momentarily forgotten. His eyes were fixed solely on her.
After touring the Maple Park, Song Chi and Shen Youran visited the White Tower Lake and Baiyun Mountain in the eastern suburbs of the city.
However, such happy times always passed quickly, and before they knew it, it was evening.
At a street stall in Jiangyuan City, Shen Youran took small bites of the skewers in her hand. Only in front of Song Chi could she let herself go, playing and eating as she pleased.
But just then, she asked a question that made Song Chi silent for a long time.
"Are you leaving?"
Shen Youran wasn't foolish; she was very smart. She could see that Song Chi was acting differently today, a mix of genuine happiness and hidden sadness.
The happiness was heartfelt.
The sadness was also heartfelt.
After a long silence, Song Chi nodded.
"Yes, not just me, but my father, mother, grandfather, and grandmother—everyone has to leave."
Shen Youran gently put down her skewer, wiping her hands and mouth with a napkin. Although she tried to hide it, how could she conceal her emotions from Song Chi, who had already broken through to First-Rank in the Guiding Technique?
However, Song Chi didn't know how to comfort her. His departure wasn't like a short trip on Earth; it was a journey of thousands of light-years from the White Tower Floating Land to the Dingshai Star Domain.
He stood up and sat beside her, pulling her into his arms again.
This action acted like a catalyst, and the girl, who had been trying to control her emotions, instantly leaned into his chest and sobbed softly.
Song Chi stroked her back, saying nothing, allowing her to cry it out.
After a while, he lifted her face, wiping away her tears and whispered, "That's enough, you won't be pretty if you keep crying!"
After a good cry, Shen Youran seemed to have adjusted. She took several deep breaths and asked again, "Where exactly are you going?"
Hearing her voice crack, Song Chi gathered a strand of mystic energy in his hand and gently massaged her pale neck until she was fully recovered. He then said, "To the Dingshai Star Domain. My grandfather is a descendant of the Dingshai Song Clan, and now we must return to the family."
Hearing the words "Dingshai Song Clan," Shen Youran nodded lightly, repeating them to herself several times in her heart.
After a long talk and much comfort from Song Chi, Shen Youran finally calmed down, a smile returning to her face.
...
The next day, at the entrance of the First Ember Academy in Jiangyuan, Song Chi handed a wooden box to Shen Youran.
"Here are forty bottles of Essence of Body Tempering, which will aid in your practice of the Guiding Technique. Keep this for now and use it after you awaken. Remember, don't use it in front of anyone, not even your closest friends."
Shen Youran nodded gently, indicating that she understood.
Seeing this, Song Chi took out a second box, this time a jade box.
"Open this jade box when you get back to your dorm."
After his many instructions, Shen Youran reluctantly walked toward the academy gates.
Once her figure disappeared behind the school gates, Song Chi, feeling just as heavy-hearted, immediately summoned the Celestial Dome and sped away.
He didn't know that after entering the school, Shen Youran's clear eyes turned red again, and a hint of determination flashed in her gaze, something others would find hard to notice.
...
In White Tower City, at the Roaring Lion Compound, Song Chi met his father, Song Chao, who had just returned.
With all the family's affairs settled, everyone in the Song family had gathered in White Tower City.
"Back already, how did it go? Did that little girl get upset?"
Like Chen Lixia, Song Chao had long considered Shen Youran his future daughter-in-law, so he was quite concerned.
Song Chi nodded, indicating that everything was fine.
"That's good. Also, try to get a move on and bring her into the family soon."
Song Chi was speechless. He hadn't even graduated yet, and in this era where Ember Captains typically married in their sixties or seventies, wasn't it a bit early to be pressured to marry?
Seeing that he had given enough advice, Song Chao didn't dwell on the topic and instead said, "Alright, go rest. Tomorrow we need to go to Baihe City. It's time to deal with the Tros Family. I wonder if they really have control over a hidden realm."
"Understood."
Back in his room, Song Chi fell asleep immediately. He had spent a long time with Shen Youran the night before, barely sleeping at all.
Although they hadn't taken the final step, he had done everything else, and in the end, it was the girl who had helped him finish.
PS: Well, whether it's good or not, the romantic parts are over for now (I did my best, this chapter took me four hours, it was really hard to write). A new chapter is about to begin, and I hope you all continue to support this book and Xiao Fei. I'm deeply grateful!
(End of Chapter)
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