Before long, the three of them strolled back to the food stall, laughing and joking.
Chen Shu had expected the owner to have cleared the table already. But lo and behold -- someone was there, happily stuffing their face.
"Fuck! You two seriously don't give a shit if I live or die!"
Xu Xingxing and Xie Sunan had returned to the table long before them.
"Perfect timing -- free funeral feast!"[1]
The two were mid-conversation when they turned around and spotted the trio.
Their gazes only lingered on Chen Shu for a moment before drifting straight to Fang Si.
Almost instinctively, both of them shivered. They stood up immediately.
"Chen Pi, who's this?"
Xu Xingxing spoke cautiously. The overwhelming aura radiating from Fang Si made him a little nervous.
"My big sis."
Chen Shu didn't elaborate. He led the two directly to the table.
"Boss! Another round of all the specials!"
As a second-generation rich kid, Xu Xingxing had sharp eyes. He sized up the situation and ordered a fresh spread.
"Should we move to a different table?"
Fang Si shook her head, completely unbothered. "This one's fine."
The five of them settled in together -- a proper gathering for the first time.
"Old Xie, Xiao Xing -- these are my best friends, Zhang Dali and Fang Si!"
Chen Shu popped snails contentedly while introducing everyone.
"You're Old Xie's son, right?"
Zhang Dali's gaze zeroed in on Xie Sunan immediately. "You and your dad are cut from the same cloth. You both have that faint pork smell..."
"The fuck?!"
The corner of Xie Sunan's mouth twitched. "I AM Xie Sunan, dipshit! And the only reason I smell like pork is because I'm carrying my butcher's cleaver..."
Zhang Dali's eyes bulged. He looked Xie Sunan up and down. "Holy shit, did you get plastic surgery?!"
Chen Shu and Xu Xingxing both burst out laughing. Xie Sunan really did look like a completely different person.
Xie Sunan raised his right fist to his forehead and struck a Thinker pose.
Let the gossip of this mortal world scatter to the wind...
Xiao Xing, meanwhile, shot to his feet and grinned. "Big Sis Fang Si! Big Sis Fang Si!"
That fawning display didn't look anything like a rich second-gen...
"Spineless. Sees someone strong and goes straight to groveling."
Chen Shu shook his head. He was genuinely ashamed to be associated with Xu Xingxing. Not an ounce of backbone.
He let out a sigh. When is Xiao Xing ever going to be like me -- neither servile nor arrogant, the very picture of masculine dignity...
"Chen Pi, order me a plate of braised prawns," Fang Si said casually.
"You got it!"
Chen Shu leapt to his feet. The disdain on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a beaming smile.
...
All five of them had bold, easy-going personalities, so they hit it off almost immediately.
Fang Si looked a bit intense on the surface, but with her own people she was nothing but warm. It was hard not to feel a wave of genuine admiration.
Right as the five of them were eating--
Shen Wushuang rushed over. The moment he saw them all eating and drinking without a care, he couldn't help but bark:
"I knew it. You three tricked me AGAIN, didn't you?! Want to go commune with nature?"
He'd actually believed they were in mortal danger just moments ago.
And of course there was no emergency at all. He'd been had!
Shen Wushuang approached, fully intending to treat the three of them to a rendition of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf."
Then he caught sight of Fang Si, head down, quietly eating.
His body seized. His pupils contracted involuntarily. "Fang Si?!"
"Mr. Shen."
Fang Si raised her head and gave a nod, completely at ease.
Xie Sunan and Xu Xingxing were both filled with admiration. Now THAT's a hardass!
Comparing the two auras side by side, it almost seemed like Shen Wushuang was the student.
"How come you're back? Is Huaxia Academy on break?"
Shen Wushuang plopped down with the comfort of someone who belonged there. "A case of beer," he called out. "Chen Pi's paying!"
"..."
Chen Shu's face went blank. I only meant to treat two people. How the hell does the headcount keep going up?
Across the table, Xu Xingxing and Xie Sunan shot to their feet in unison: "Huaxia Academy?!"
"Calm down!"
Chen Shu pursed his lips. "What's there to freak out about? Once I get into Huaxia Academy, you can brag about it all you want!"
The two ignored Chen Shu entirely, eyes locked on Fang Si.
No wonder her presence was so overwhelming. She was from Huaxia Academy.
"Fang Si from Nanjiang Second High?"
Xu Xingxing seemed to recall something.
He'd only heard the name in passing. He was originally from Nanjiang Fourth High, and three years younger than Fang Si on top of that, so his impression was vague at best.
Xie Sunan wasn't from the school either. Even though Fang Si had been the top scorer in all of Nanjiang City three years ago, neither of them knew much about her.
Only the old students of Nanjiang Second High truly understood how terrifying Fang Si was -- the woman who'd ruled the entire school for three straight years.
"It's New Year's, so I figured I'd come back and visit."
Fang Si smiled faintly, as though something came to mind. She said plainly:
"Old Shen, how much did you pocket this year? I want half."
Instantly, the entire table went silent.
The corner of Shen Wushuang's mouth twitched. This girl is seriously just robbing me in broad daylight!
And furthermore -- as a morally upright and exceptionally talented educator, would I, Shen Wushuang, ever line my own pockets? What an absolutely preposterous suggestion!
"Still as funny as you were three years ago, ha... ha..."
Shen Wushuang forced a dry laugh. In the old days, he could've kept Fang Si in check with raw strength alone.
But now she was Black Iron-rank too, and she had two devastatingly powerful dragon-type contract spirits.
If it actually came to a fight... he should probably start digging his own grave in advance.
Xu Xingxing and Xie Sunan were equally stunned. Then the realization hit, and they nodded knowingly.
No wonder Chen Shu and Fang Si were best friends.
They were both paragons of respecting one's elders and honoring one's teacher!
One spent every day scheming to bury Shen Wushuang. The other opened with a shakedown the moment they met...
The six of them finished their meal in an atmosphere of delicate awkwardness.
Still, the joy of a long-overdue reunion put smiles on all their faces.
"Stop eating. Seriously, stop eating!"
Chen Shu's face was a mask of pain. Two Black Iron-rank Beast Tamers had staggering appetites -- a single meal had already burned through over a thousand yuan.
...
The night was quiet. Six people walked down the streets of Daxing City, and every pedestrian they passed instinctively gave them a wide berth.
Not a single one of them looked like a decent human being...
"Fang Si, what are your plans after graduation?"
Shen Wushuang asked. After years in the profession, Fang Si was the most outstanding student he'd ever taught. Bragging rights for a lifetime.
Fang Si thought for a moment. "I'll probably serve in the Dragon Guard for a year or two."
Her talent was exceptional. Even by Huaxia Academy standards, she ranked among the geniuses. Virtually every organization out there would take her.
"Good choice."
Shen Wushuang nodded. The Dragon Guard served as Huaxia's protectors, operating outside the jurisdiction of local governments.
On top of that, she'd receive state-level training resources. It was absolutely a career with massive potential.
In truth, with Fang Si's talent, she could excel in any field.
As long as she didn't go off and found some bandit organization, Shen Wushuang would support her wholeheartedly.
A once-in-a-lifetime genius student turning into an internationally wanted criminal -- now THAT would really be a loss of face...
"Big Sis Fang Si, forget the Dragon Guard!"
Chen Shu pursed his lips and declared:
"When the time comes, we'll just start our own beast taming squad! I've already got the name picked out -- the Thug Beast Taming Squad!"
"We'll team up and steamroll one Dimensional Rift after another! That's what really matters!"
"Just think about all those Dimensional Rifts... think of all that money..."
Chen Shu's eyes literally glowed. His face was etched with naked greed.
Shen Wushuang couldn't help but shudder. He whipped his head around.
One Chen Shu alone is enough to flip the sky. Add Fang Si to the mix, and every goddamn Dimensional Rift on the continent is getting wrecked!
"Fang Si, do your Dragon Guard work. Properly."
Shen Wushuang said firmly. He genuinely did not want those two forming any kind of squad.
What if they got bored one day and decided to bury a few nuclear warheads under the capital...