Chapter 41: Zhuang Huanyu
Someone suddenly remembered that among the Six Ivies, there was also the National Academy. It seemed to be not far from the imperial palace, seemed to have once been glorious, seemed to have had no news for many years, seemed that in the Ivy Banquets of previous years, this academy didn't even have a seat. It was as if it had never existed at all.
An academy abandoned for years, nearly forgotten by the world—how could it still be qualified to be listed among the Six Ivies, and this year regain a place at the Ivy Banquet? Why? Just because of the rumor that this year, the National Academy had finally recruited new students?
Yes, the reason was that simple. This year, the National Academy had students, so it was qualified to register for the Ivy Banquet. The Great Zhou Dynasty had always respected tradition, and the Ivy Banquet was tradition. Even though the instructor from the Heavenly Dao Academy who was specifically responsible for hosting the Ivy Banquet actually wished the National Academy would burn to ashes and withdraw from the stage of history, he had no right to refuse the National Academy's participation in the Ivy Banquet, even if the National Academy only had two students.
The curtain cloth swayed gently in the night breeze. Chen Changsheng and Luoluo walked into the building and, following the directions of that Heavenly Dao Academy student, headed toward the front.
Murmurs of discussion arose inside the building. The hundreds of young students scattered among the seats didn't recognize them, nor did the people in the areas separated by rosewood railings. Watching their direction, some guessed that this young boy and girl were the students of the National Academy.
Everyone's eyes fell on them, some surprised, but mostly curious.
In the rumors, the new student of the National Academy was a young boy, so most eyes were on Chen Changsheng. But some also noticed Luoluo following closely behind him and realized that this little girl was extraordinarily beautiful, like crystal, and their eyes immediately lit up.
On the Heavenly Dao Academy's seating area sat a young man. His face was handsome, his expression indifferent. Although he was sitting at the Ivy Banquet, his mind was not there. He seemed completely unconcerned about the upcoming competition. He didn't deliberately show arrogance, but he was naturally proud.
More than ten outstanding students from the Heavenly Dao Academy who were preparing for next year's Grand Examination sat casually around this young man, but it was obvious that he was the center. It was like a scene of stars surrounding the moon. The fact that proud Heavenly Dao Academy students would naturally adopt such a posture only highlighted this person's extraordinary nature.
The young man was thinking about what the dean had told him yesterday: if the Longevity Sect really sent someone, how should he, as the representative of the Heavenly Dao Academy students, respond? This year's Ivy Banquet was hosted by the Heavenly Dao Academy, and he couldn't allow those southerners to steal the glory of the Great Zhou.
Suddenly, his peripheral vision caught sight of Chen Changsheng and Luoluo.
His eyes brightened slightly, and his expression shifted subtly.
The more than ten Heavenly Dao Academy students sitting around him appeared silent but were actually always watching him. Seeing his expression change, they were greatly shocked. Many young students in the building were dazzled by Luoluo's beauty, but they still couldn't accept this happening to their senior brother.
Yes, this young Heavenly Dao Academy student was the legendary Zhuang Huanyu, tenth on the Azure Cloud Ranking!
How could someone like that be moved just because a little girl was beautiful?
Who was this little girl? The Heavenly Dao Academy members looked at Chen Changsheng and Luoluo. Among them, a few students who shared the same master as Zhuang Huanyu looked at Luoluo's face and suddenly remembered something. They exclaimed in low voices, "Isn't that the junior sister apprentice? How did she come here?"
...
...
The Heavenly Dao Academy had a long history, and the campus was filled with countless ancient legends. Many outstanding young men and women lived and studied there together, so the campus also had countless budding stories. Among those stories, one had only started circulating in the last two years.
In that story, in the forest behind the Heavenly Dao Academy, there was an indescribably beautiful spirit, like a fleeting glimpse that occasionally appeared before people. That spirit looked like an adorable little girl, and only the most sincere people could see her.
The story wasn't real, of course, but it had a basis in reality. That beautiful little spirit was none other than Luoluo, who occasionally went to the Heavenly Dao Academy with her clan to seek knowledge and ask questions.
Zhuang Huanyu held a special position in the Heavenly Dao Academy and naturally didn't believe the story. Until one day, when his teacher was giving a private lesson to him and a few junior brothers, he saw a little girl sitting by the window. Sunlight shone on her face, and she was as beautiful as crystal.
He was devoted to cultivation and paid no attention to matters of romance. On campus, he had always been above everyone else, not even deigning to look down upon the admiring glances of the female students. But at that moment, he could no longer look away.
Later, he encountered her a few more times at his teacher's place.
His teacher was the dean of the Heavenly Dao Academy. He listened as the little girl discussed cultivation issues with the teacher, and she could actually keep up with the teacher's train of thought. This surprised him. Then he discovered that the bodyguards close to this little girl were all experts, proving that she came from an extraordinary background.
He was somewhat moved. He felt that this little girl was worth his affection.
However, from that day on, he never saw her again.
She never reappeared, as if she had never been there before.
He never told anyone about this, but because of her sudden disappearance, he was silent for a long time. He wondered: is it that what you can't get is always the best? Or is it that what you miss leaves the deepest impression? Otherwise, why did he often think of her?
He hoped she would appear before him again.
For that, he was willing to set aside his pride and speak the first words to her.
At this moment, he felt as if the heavens had heard his heart's desire.
At the Ivy Banquet, she had actually appeared!
And under the gaze of countless eyes, she was walking toward him!
...
...
Zhuang Huanyu straightened his academy uniform, stood up, and quietly watched Luoluo as she drew nearer.
The Heavenly Dao Academy students around him didn't understand why their senior brother had stood up. Except for the few who had seen Luoluo before and vaguely guessed something, everyone thought he was representing the Heavenly Dao Academy to welcome this young pair. They were surprised, thinking, when had their senior brother ever bothered with such mundane matters?
Chen Changsheng and Luoluo reached the Heavenly Dao Academy's seating area. They were about to follow the earlier student's directions to the corner area when, unexpectedly, more than ten people from the Heavenly Dao Academy's seats suddenly stood up in unison. This left Chen Changsheng a bit flustered, and he instinctively stopped.
Zhuang Huanyu's lips slowly curved into a smile. He was about to speak.
He was ready to say "long time no see" to Luoluo.
But in the next moment, his smile vanished before it could fully form. His gaze became as indifferent as before, even more so.
Because Luoluo didn't see him.
Luoluo was looking at Chen Changsheng.
Since the night she climbed over the wall into the National Academy, as long as Chen Changsheng was present, her gaze was either on books or on Chen Changsheng. Every moment, every second, and this time was no exception.
She looked at Chen Changsheng, her eyes full of admiration.
Admiration and adoration differ by only one word, and they are easily mistaken.
Zhuang Huanyu didn't know if he had misread it, but his mood turned extremely sour.
My eyes see only you, but your eyes see only someone else—this is one of the most infuriating things in the world.
When his peripheral vision caught sight of Luoluo's hand holding Chen Changsheng's sleeve, this anger reached its peak.
Zhuang Huanyu did nothing.
He was the tenth-ranked genius on the Azure Cloud Ranking, the senior brother of the Heavenly Dao Academy. He represented many things and bore many responsibilities.
So he couldn't be easily angered, and certainly couldn't lose his composure over something like this.
He looked at Chen Changsheng and calmly greeted him with a bow.
The height at which he raised his arm, the distance between his sleeve and wrist—everything was perfect.
But his gaze was too calm, too indifferent.
Chen Changsheng was momentarily startled, then calmly returned the bow.
The height at which he raised his arm, the distance between his sleeve and wrist—everything was perfect.
But his eyes showed a hint of confusion, a trace of bewilderment.
The room was extremely quiet.
Zhuang Huanyu lowered his hands.
Chen Changsheng followed suit.
From somewhere came a sound, like someone who had been holding their breath for a long time finally letting it out.
Both had performed the most standard etiquette, but in everyone's eyes, Zhuang Huanyu's was perfectly elegant, while Chen Changsheng's was stiff and awkward. The difference was clear.
In truth, this was only because he was Zhuang Huanyu, and Chen Changsheng was a nobody.
Zhuang Huanyu looked at Luoluo and said, "Junior sister apprentice, long time no see."
He said it casually, but it was actually very solemn—even more solemn than when he first met his biological father.
Luoluo widened her eyes and looked at him for a while. Suddenly remembering something, she smiled and said, "Ah, it's you! Long time no see."
The little girl's smile was very cute.
But Zhuang Huanyu found it infuriating.
He would rather she didn't remember who he was than have her need to think for a while before recalling him.
Who am I? I am Zhuang Huanyu.
Anyone who has seen me could never forget me.
How could you forget me?
Why are you pretending not to remember me?
Was this a joke, or was she toying with him?
A storm raged in Zhuang Huanyu's heart, but his expression remained calm as usual.
Just as he was about to say something else—like "If not for this, I might have almost forgotten what you look like too, junior sister apprentice"—Luoluo took Chen Changsheng's sleeve and left the Heavenly Dao Academy's seats, heading toward the corner. She was happily discussing something with Chen Changsheng.
She only left Zhuang Huanyu with a back view.
Zhuang Huanyu watched the backs of Chen Changsheng and Luoluo, silent.
He hadn't noticed the murmurs earlier and wondered: since junior sister apprentice was a student of the Heavenly Dao Academy, why was she leaving?
When he saw Chen Changsheng and Luoluo walk into the empty area in the corner, he realized that they were actually representing the National Academy.
He asked, "Is that young man Chen Changsheng?"
The Heavenly Dao Academy student who had earlier guided them had somehow arrived and quietly replied, "Yes."
"Interesting indeed."
Zhuang Huanyu said no more. He lightly lifted the front of his robe and sat back down.
His expression was still calm, but his true feelings were not.