Teacher Lin called. Here, it's for you," Ye Chen said, handing over the phone.
Zhao Yanyan's smile faded as she answered the call. On the other end, Lin Rouxi scolded her sternly, making it difficult for Zhao Yanyan to get a word in.
Eventually, Zhao Yanyan managed to calm her down with a few clever excuses.
Once the call ended, she turned to Ye Chen with an exaggerated pout.
"Hmph! This is your fault. Because of you, I got scolded."
Ye Chen laughed awkwardly. "What can I say? Do you want me to take you home?"
Zhao Yanyan nodded. "Sister Lin said I should return home since it's already so late."
Ye Chen agreed, and Zhao Yanyan quickly changed into her regular clothes. Ye Chen's eyes followed her without shame, watching every movement.
Strangely, Zhao Yanyan didn't seem embarrassed at all.
In fact, she looked pleased by the attention.
Once she was ready, Ye Chen lifted her into the air and flew toward the girls' dormitory. Flying was far more efficient than walking or driving, especially at night.
They landed at the front gate of the dormitory.
"Husband, you don't need to go any further," Zhao Yanyan said softly.
But as she turned to leave, she suddenly spun around and kissed Ye Chen on the lips, catching him off guard.
"My dear husband, I don't want to be apart from you," she whispered.
Ye Chen gently brushed her cheek. "If you ever miss me, just use your Fairy Gate Key. No matter where we are, we can always meet."
Zhao Yanyan smiled sweetly. "Not tonight. I'm exhausted from all the training. Let's rest and see each other again tomorrow."
With a final wave, she ran toward the entrance of the dormitory.
Once her figure disappeared from sight, Ye Chen turned around and flew back to the hotel, ready for a well-deserved rest.
The next morning, Ye Chen left home and headed to school.
After picking up Zhao Yanyan the night before, the two had returned to his room and peacefully slept the night away.
The day was bright and sunny, with people bustling about, busy with work and chasing the necessities of life.
As Ye Chen neared the school gates, a group of men suddenly blocked his path. They were armed with iron pipes and wooden clubs, clearly up to no good.
"Are you Ye Chen?" one of them asked.
The speaker had his entire head wrapped in bandages like a mummy.
Ye Chen nearly burst out laughing at the sight.
"I don't have any business with you people. Get out of my way," Ye Chen said coldly, attempting to pass.
"I'll ask you one more time—are you Ye Chen or not? Otherwise, I'll smash your face in!" the bandaged man roared.
"Yes, I'm Ye Chen.
What do you want?" Ye Chen had lost his patience and confronted them directly.
"Good. You two—break this guy's legs!" the bandaged man barked at his two henchmen.
Bang!
Before the man could smirk, Ye Chen struck him hard across the head, sending him flying several meters until he slammed against a streetlamp and collapsed.
The two remaining thugs froze in shock, witnessing their boss being effortlessly knocked out.
Regaining their courage, they swung their iron pipes and wooden sticks at Ye Chen.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
They rained blow after blow on Ye Chen, striking with all their strength.
But after several hits, the iron pipe was bent and the wooden club had snapped in two.
To their horror, Ye Chen stood there like an unshakable mountain, completely unharmed.
"Thanks for the massage. It felt quite nice. Now, get lost!" Ye Chen said with a smirk.
He grabbed both thugs by the collar and smashed their heads together. They groaned and slumped to the ground.
Ye Chen then walked over to the unconscious man with the bandages. As he pulled the bandages away, the man's face was revealed.
Even though his face was swollen and battered, Ye Chen immediately recognized him. It was the same blond-haired man who had caused trouble at the antique exhibition.
"Speak. Who sent you?" Ye Chen asked, grabbing the man's hair.
"Brother, please... I'm sorry for earlier. The one who ordered me to attack you was Sen Tu!" the blond man confessed, begging for mercy.
"Sen Tu…" Ye Chen muttered.
He remembered that guy—he had been bothering Zhao Yanyan in class yesterday. Ye Chen had warned him, but apparently, Sen Tu didn't take it seriously.
"Just wait. I'll make sure he regrets it," Ye Chen vowed inwardly.
Zhao Yanyan was his woman now. He wouldn't let anyone lay a hand on her.
"I don't care who you are. But if you dare cross me again, there won't be a next time," Ye Chen warned coldly.
With that, he turned and continued on his way to school.
After he left, the two dazed thugs finally managed to get up and helped the blond man to his feet.
"Boss, what now? Should we just let that guy go?" one of them asked fearfully.
"Let go? After what he did to us? No way! I'll ask Big Brother Wolf to take care of this!" the blond man growled, some of his teeth clearly missing.
The three of them stumbled away, walking unsteadily.
Ye Chen eventually reached his classroom without further incident.
Zhao Yanyan was already there, quietly reading a book as usual.
"Wife~" Ye Chen said playfully as he rushed to her side.
"Ah! Ye Chen, don't call me that in public!" Zhao Yanyan blushed, caught off guard.
"Alright, Yanyan. So, how are you adjusting to being a cultivator?"
"I love it!" Zhao Yanyan beamed. "This morning, I read my book once and remembered everything perfectly. It's amazing!"
"I'm glad to hear that," Ye Chen smiled. "By the way, does Teacher Lin know about us?"
"That's your fault!" Zhao Yanyan pouted. "She scolded me for over half an hour. If I hadn't come up with an excuse, I would've been doomed."
"Oh? What excuse?" Ye Chen asked curiously.
"Ah, forget it. Anyway, Ye Chen, what's going on between you and Teacher Lin? Yesterday she called you to her personal office, didn't she?"
"It's not like that," Ye Chen replied awkwardly. "Our relationship is just student and teacher."
"Then tell me—what did you two do yesterday?" Zhao Yanyan asked slyly.
"