Chapter 16: Each with Their Own Intentions

Ruan Nan rubbed his aching foot, cursing inwardly. It was all that Hua Susu’s fault for taking away the hovercar, forcing him to walk such a long distance. The communal dormitory was built at the southernmost end of the Federation School, while the laboratory was located at the northernmost edge. Walking from the south to the north meant he had to traverse more than half of the Federation Academy. Previously, the journey by hovercar took only about forty minutes. Now, just walking from the dormitory to the lab took him three hours. Starting at nine in the morning, his feet were nearly worn raw by the time he arrived. Hua Susu, just you wait—every humiliation you’ve caused me, I will make you pay back in full.

But what was going on at the lab today? Why was there such a crowd gathered at the entrance? It used to be a desolate place. Underachievers never lingered here, impoverished students couldn’t afford to come, and pampered females certainly wouldn’t bother. Yet now, one after another, people gathered as if watching some spectacle. Could they be here for him?

He looked straight ahead and then glanced sideways at the crowd. Noticing many females present, he became even more convinced. Of course—it was only natural for so many to be watching him, the campus heartthrob. With that thought, he straightened up, lifted his chin slightly to show off his sharp jawline, which gave him a distinct, almost primal allure. Satisfied he was presenting his best angle, he strode forward.

Seeing the gate outside blocked, his brow furrowed. What was wrong with Fan Tong? Hadn’t he been informed that Ruan Nan would be coming to the lab today? Why wasn’t he here yet? The golden chip key to the laboratory wasn’t something just anyone could use. Only those close to Fan Tong were given access, which was why the chip had been given to Ruan Nan. Usually, the card was handed over promptly, but today, there was no sign of anyone. He looked around, about to use his light brain to make a call.

From the crowd, someone called out, “Campus heartthrob Ruan Nan, Fan Tong is inside.” Ruan Nan retracted his device and turned to offer a silent, confident smile of thanks to the informant. Then he shouted toward those inside the lab, “Fan junior, where are you?”

Among the crowd, a rabbit-eared beastman nudged the sheep-horned beastman who had just spoken, muttering in disbelief, “Did you tell him what Fan Tong is doing in there?”

The sheep-horned beastman grinned, “Don’t you want to see the fun?” The rabbit-eared one quickly caught on, “You mean Hua Susu’s new and old flames?”

“This is way more interesting. I checked the forums—apparently, Hua Susu and Ruan Nan have been at odds lately. She even took back everything she had given him, not sparing even his underwear!” The sheep-horned beastman raised his eyebrows.

“What? Even the underwear?” The rabbit-eared beastman shrieked. “No way—that’s ruthless!”

His sharp voice attracted the attention of those nearby. The sheep-horned beastman quickly covered his mouth and glanced sideways at him. “Dude, don’t shout so loud, keep it down! We don’t want the main players to hear.”

If Hua Susu found out, he’d be doomed. Everyone in the academy knew she was not to be trifled with.

The rabbit-eared beastman nodded, pulling the sheep-horned beastman’s hand down gently. “Got it. I got a little carried away.” He whispered, “But seriously, how poor is Ruan Nan that even his underwear has to be gifted by Hua Susu?”

The sheep-horned beastman shrugged. “Who knows? Anyway, they’re in a feud. I heard Hua Susu’s been cozying up to several beastmen these days. Not sure if she’s trying to win back Ruan Nan or just to spite him.”

“I see. So you want Ruan Nan to get into the lab to see how Hua Susu reacts?”

The sheep-horned beastman gave a knowing look. The rabbit-eared beastman’s ears perked up in anticipation. “Can’t wait to see what happens next. Too bad we can’t hear what’s being said inside.”

“Don’t worry. There’s a viper beastman with x-ray vision who can see through walls and watch live. He’ll definitely post an animated commentary on the forum later.”

“True, with Brother Viper around, we won’t miss a thing.”

Meanwhile, Fan Tong heard Ruan Nan’s voice and felt both troubled and pleased. Troubled because Hua Susu had taken back the golden chip and given it to Su Yu, making it difficult to get Ruan Nan inside. Pleased because with Ruan Nan here, Hua Susu would soon have to back down. Then the humiliation Fan Tong suffered earlier in front of Su Yu could be avenged.

However, Hua Susu had changed somewhat from before, and he wasn’t sure if her attitude toward Ruan Nan remained the same. Getting Ruan Nan into the lab was still a headache, especially since he was the one Hua Susu wanted to kick out.

Just as he was pondering what to do, a gentle voice came from outside. “Ah Nan, sorry I’m late.”

Ruan Nan, growing impatient while waiting outside, heard Su Leyao’s voice. He was at the lab today because Su Leyao had invited him to conduct an experiment together. She said there was an experiment she didn’t quite understand and wanted his guidance.

As a fellow female, Su Leyao was much easier to get along with than Hua Susu. Like him, she had risen from humble beginnings and understood his struggles. She listened patiently to everything he said and kindly offered advice. He enjoyed spending time with her.

When she mentioned needing to use the advanced lab for her experiment, he agreed without hesitation. Unlike that foolish female Hua Susu, Su Leyao was ambitious and eager to learn. Why not help her study more?

Su Leyao smiled sweetly at Ruan Nan. Although his background wasn’t impressive, being connected to Hua Susu brought her valuable resources. For instance, this lab that so many were desperate to enter was easily accessible to her simply by tagging along with him. Besides, his strength and intelligence helped her a lot in her studies, so she cared quite a bit about their relationship.

The experiment she wanted to do today wasn’t difficult; she could have figured it out with some effort, but she pretended not to understand. That way, Ruan Nan would feel a sense of accomplishment and pay more attention to her. Besides, in a few days, there would be a supernatural creature assessment outside the planet. She wanted to be in the same group as him, so before the exam, they needed to build a good rapport. That would make it more natural when the time came.