"Why are you so opposed to it?"
On the way back, Chu Zihang asked in puzzlement.
Lu Chen glanced at Chu Zihang, knowing exactly what he was asking. It was moments like these that affirmed Chu Zihang definitely had a curious mind.
"It's not quite suitable," Lu Chen replied vaguely.
"What about you?" Lu Chen countered, knowing that Chu Zihang had also been approached by girls seeking closer relationships, only to be turned down.
"...Not quite suitable," Chu Zihang echoed with the same answer. At the moment, he really didn't have such thoughts.
If the girls heard their conversation, it would undoubtedly be heartbreaking for them to be rejected with such perfunctory reasons.
Lu Chen and Chu Zihang fell silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter simultaneously. Lu Chen was surprised; he had never seen Chu Zihang laugh before, and Chu Zihang was equally taken aback, perhaps realizing Lu Chen's thoughts were similar to his own.
The two of them finished lunch together and then headed to the Lionheart Society, as had become their routine these days.
Chu Zihang enjoyed the quiet environment of the Lionheart Society's library, while Lu Chen had recently discovered some interesting things there.
He found that some of the Lionheart Society's books were actually of high quality according to the spatial system's assessment!
Generally, after inspection, books and similar items would display as white. However, when Lu Chen flipped through a book on dragon genetics at the Lionheart Society one day, he was surprised to find that it was of green quality.
This was quite intriguing. Coupled with the hints from the principal and the suggestion from his mentor that the Lionheart Society was a good place for his growth, Lu Chen wondered if there were secret documents hidden within the Lionheart Society, perhaps some high-quality items.
Of course, he was currently just an ordinary member of the Lionheart Society and did not have the qualifications to access the society's secret collections. However, that didn't stop him from browsing the regular library, in case of any unexpected discoveries.
As for the Lionheart Society's secret collections, he believed that after completing a mission soon, he would be able to access them.
[Main Quest (Third Stage): Integration]
Mission: Complete a real combat mission in the Execution Department to further engage with the world of dragonkind.
Mission Difficulty: Easy
Mission Reward: Secret Party Reputation +100, unlocking the continuation of the main quest.
Failure Penalty: Secret Party Reputation -200, main quest closed.
[The Reputation System has been activated. Explorers can now check their reputation in the current world, which affects the attitudes of various faction forces towards the explorers. Some side missions are triggered by reaching reputation prerequisites.]
[Current Secret Party Faction Reputation: 50]
...
"Click-click-click."
In the evening, Lu Chen lay with his head resting on his hands, half-leaning on the bed, contemplating the upcoming war practice class, when he suddenly heard the sound of a camera shutter.
"Senior brother?"
He turned his head in confusion, seeing Feng'er holding a camera aimed at him.
"Don't mind me, junior brother. Keep that pose from just now. Yes, and try to look a bit more serious," Feng'er instructed, as if transformed into a professional photographer.
"What are you doing? Why are you taking pictures of me?" Lu Chen furrowed his brow. He wasn't the naive "country bumpkin" he used to be; at least he knew what a camera was for.
"Junior brother, it's all for our late-night snacks!" Feng'er put down the camera, wearing an expression of righteousness.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Lu Chen wondered.
"Junior brother, let me tell you, I used to think I was the ultimate foodie, but ever since I met you, I realized there's always someone better. Your stomach is like a bottomless pit," Feng'er lamented.
Feng'er was at a loss for words as he brought up this topic. Ever since he taught Lu Chen how to order late-night takeout, Lu Chen had been unstoppable. Moreover, Lu Chen's appetite was more than five times larger than his own. Comparatively, the few pig trotters he gnawed on were just appetizers.
While mooching off his junior brother was undoubtedly enjoyable, Feng'er couldn't bring himself to freeload every day, even if his junior brother was S-tier. At this rate, if Lu Chen kept using his credit to pay for everything, his annual scholarship might not even be enough to cover the deficit.
"So, what does that have to do with taking pictures of me?" Lu Chen tilted his head, leaving Feng'er at a loss for words. He wouldn't be getting any late-night snacks from Lu Chen tomorrow.
"Guess what? Your photo album has been selling like hotcakes on the forum," Feng'er casually revealed his newfound source of income.
It was a stroke of luck when one of his paparazzi managed to capture a photo of Lu Chen attentively listening in class. When Feng'er posted it on the forum, many people messaged him asking for the original, edited version.
It sold like wildfire.
That afternoon, Feng'er rushed to edit the video of Lu Chen defeating Master Komoto. With added background music and various editing effects, it received unanimous praise from the Night Watcher forum's fans.
In response to the demands of his numerous fans, he decided to create an S-tier lifestyle special. Currently, he was filming Lu Chen's contemplation before bedtime.
Of course, he had a conscience. Every time he made a profit, he transferred most of it to his junior brother. However, Lu Chen never bothered to check the balance on his student card, so he was none the wiser.
"What? People are buying photos?" Lu Chen couldn't comprehend. What use could photos possibly have? They couldn't be eaten.
"It seems you don't realize your own charm. With your looks and S-tier status, not to mention your recent exploits, you're like a wild little wolf, a flower without an owner. How many senior sisters do you think have their hearts aflutter? I've heard your fan club members fall asleep every night hugging your photos," Feng'er rambled on, spewing out his words.
"I have a fan club?" Lu Chen was dumbfounded. He had never thought he would be associated with a fan club.
"And you, what about that Milanra junior sister from the Lionheart Society? Every time you release new photos, she buys ten times more! Just because I mentioned in a private message that you were almost broke, she decided to support you. If I hadn't persuaded her, she would have gladly paid a thousand times more..." Feng'er recounted with enthusiasm, while Lu Chen's face grew darker.
"Stop it!" Lu Chen couldn't help but interrupt. "Is this how you've been portraying me to others?"
He, the legendary martial arts genius of the East, the current S-tier freshman of Cassell Academy, was already being rumored to be unable to afford meals?
No wonder Milanra had been so eager to treat him to dinner every time she saw him, with a hint of pity and concern in her eyes. He had been puzzled at the time.
What the heck? Why should a girl pity me when I'm perfectly fine? Apart from Milanra, he had noticed similar looks from other girls. Now he knew what was going on. It was all Feng'er's doing!
"Don't be angry, junior brother. It's all about your image. Besides, it's true that you've been using your student card credit to order late-night snacks all the time," Feng'er smirked, knowing that Cassell Academy's cafeteria had a free window during the day, but it closed after dinner, and ordering late-night snacks always required money.