On the way home with Gu Yuena, Huo Yuhao's eyes carried a hint of contemplation.
"What's on your mind?"
"The girl we met today reminded me of someone."
Hearing the ethereal voice next to his ear, Huo Yuhao explained.
"If I remember correctly, Shrek Academy should be on break by now. Sister Xiaoya should be back, right?"
He still remembered that in his previous life, Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan were roommates. Since Jiang Nannan had returned, Tang Ya was probably coming home soon too.
"Is she the girl your mother mentioned that you picked up?"
In fact, my mom sees you in the same way. Huo Yuhao's mouth twitched as he nodded, but in his mind, he recalled the last time he sent Tang Ya to school. That final hug...
Just thinking about it gave Huo Yuhao a bit of a headache.
How did things suddenly end up like this?
He felt like he hadn't done anything out of the ordinary...
Although it was a bit difficult to handle, if he had to choose again, he would still make the same decision.
Some things, even if struck by lightning, had to be done. He wouldn't regret it.
Whatever, one step at a time.
With his spiritual energy overexerted, Huo Yuhao couldn't think about these things anymore. As they continued on their way home, the sky gradually darkened, and the streets became busy with people coming and going. Many shops were closing for the day, and vendors were heading home.
After a while, a vendor pushing a cart approached them. It was the same one who sold them popsicles in the afternoon. Apparently, their striking appearance had left a deep impression on him, as he recognized them right away and teased with a smile.
"Hey, young man, want to buy a popsicle for your girlfriend again?"
"Uh…"
Huo Yuhao's mind involuntarily flashed back to the popsicle that was shoved into his mouth earlier. Subconsciously, he glanced to the side, only to find Gu Yuena looking right back at him.
Meeting those amethyst-like eyes, he hesitated before asking.
"Do you want one?"
"Yes."
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao turned to the vendor and nodded. "One, please."
"Got it."
The vendor immediately stopped his cart, and after taking the money from Huo Yuhao with a smile, he opened the lid of his cooler and took out a popsicle wrapped in wax paper, handing it to him.
"Here you go, young man."
Gu Yuena accepted the popsicle from Huo Yuhao, then tilted her head slightly. "Aren't you going to have one?"
Huo Yuhao glanced at the popsicle in her hand, then smiled and shook his head.
"No, you enjoy it."
"Really?"
Gu Yuena unwrapped the wax paper, and just like in the afternoon, she stuck out her pink tongue to lick the popsicle before continuing.
"This afternoon, you seemed to be enjoying it. I thought you liked them."
Huo Yuhao's expression twitched slightly.
"Let's hurry home."
With that, he instinctively quickened his pace, while Gu Yuena blinked twice but said nothing as she quietly followed him.
As soon as they opened the door, the sound of cooking came from the kitchen. Hearing the noise, a head with a ponytail peeked out from behind the door.
"Yuhao, you're back."
"Sister Xiaoya, when did you get back? Oh right, this is…"
"Gu Yuena, right?"
Before he could finish, Tang Ya came out carrying a dish, placed it on the table, and smiled at Gu Yuena.
"Auntie has already told me about you. Hello, nice to meet you. We're family now."
For some reason, Huo Yuhao felt that Tang Ya's smile was a bit stiff when she looked at Gu Yuena, while the latter simply nodded in response, her face calm.
"Hello."
Tang Ya then turned her attention back to Huo Yuhao. "I got back this afternoon. But what about you, Yuhao? Why are you home so late? Did something happen?"
"I met a patient while buying medicine at the clinic, so I stayed to help. Everything's taken care of."
After thinking for a moment, Huo Yuhao decided not to mention Jiang Nannan's mother. After all, in his past life, she had never brought it up with them, so there was probably a reason for it. Looking at Tang Ya, who seemed a bit different from before, he asked softly.
"How has your year at the academy been?"
"Humph, not long after I started, I reached level 20. With the help of the teachers, I obtained my second soul ring and became a Soul Grandmaster."
Hearing Huo Yuhao ask, Tang Ya's lips curved into a smile, and she proudly shook her head.
"Plus, I teamed up with my roommate to win first place in the freshman assessment. I was named one of the core disciples of the outer court. I'm a bit famous in the outer court now."
"Is that so?"
Huo Yuhao raised his eyebrows but wasn't too surprised. Without suppressing her devouring ability, Tang Ya's talent was indeed top-tier at Shrek Academy, so it was reasonable for her to be chosen as a core disciple.
As a core disciple, she would receive more resources, allowing her cultivation to advance even faster.
Thinking of this, he looked at Tang Ya. "Sister Xiaoya, what's your soul power level now?"
"Level 25."
It was as if she had been waiting for him to ask. Tang Ya proudly lifted her head, her little nose almost pointing to the sky.
"What? Do you think I'll get carried away by a little success and slack off in my cultivation?"
He actually did think that.
Huo Yuhao awkwardly coughed twice but felt quite relieved.
At this rate, Tang Ya would likely reach the Soul Elder level by the second year. Compared to her previous life, when she only reached that level by the end of her third year, this time she could compete with people like Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi.
If she used the devouring ability of the Dark Blue Silver Grass, her cultivation speed would likely increase even further.
It might be time to start some serious training.
While he was lost in thought, he suddenly noticed Tang Ya making a move. Instinctively looking up, he saw Tang Ya raising her arms, gazing at him with expectation.
"Hurry up, it's been a year since I've had a hug."
Huo Yuhao's expression twisted. After hesitating for a moment, he gently embraced her.
The softness of her body, carrying a faint fragrance, helped ease his tired mind a little. Before Tang Ya went to school, she loved hugging him from behind, pretending to read a book while holding him.
But after an entire afternoon, she barely turned two pages...
Girls usually developed earlier than boys, and Tang Ya was three years older than him. Right now, she was a full half a head taller than him.
But that wasn't the worst part. Remembering how Zhang Lexuan had treated him like a doll in the Star Dou Forest, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but feel a bit of sorrow.
Thankfully, no one saw that.
As Tang Ya hugged Huo Yuhao, she casually glanced at Gu Yuena. Seeing her sitting expressionlessly at the side, Tang Ya's beautiful eyes flickered slightly before resting her head on Huo Yuhao's shoulder, quietly sniffing his scent. Her hands roamed across his body, feeling how much he had grown over the past year.
"Yuhao, how come you seem to have gotten fairer?"
At first, Tang Ya thought it was just her imagination, but upon closer inspection, she realized it was true.
"After absorbing a soul ring in the Star Dou Forest, this is what happened."
Huo Yuhao explained softly. Then, as if remembering something, he hesitated for a moment before asking.
"Sister Xiaoya, since you're somewhat famous in the outer court now, haven't any classmates or seniors tried to hit on you?"
"Of course! In the beginning, people came to me every day. But—"
Huo Yuhao felt the arms around him tighten slightly. Then, Tang Ya's voice, tinged with laughter, whispered into his ear.
"But most of them gave up after I scolded them."
"I have little Yuhao. That's enough for me."
(End of Chapter)