Lightning-type E-rank? My Space-time-type S-rank can't be hidden anymore!

The woman looked to be in her mid-twenties, wearing a loose, dark red sweatshirt with two drawstrings of different lengths at the back of the hood.

Her hair was casually tied into a ponytail, with a few strands falling loosely on either side of her face.

She was slumped in the chair, her legs propped up on the table, ankles crossed, and her shoelaces loose.

There was a cup of milk tea in front of me, and I had already drunk half of it.

When she met Lin Yuan's gaze, she was poking at the pearls in her cup with a straw.

"Oh." She took the straw out of her mouth and looked Lin Yuan up and down.

"It looks better from a distance than yesterday. Sit down."

Lin Yuan glanced at the other three teachers, all of whom looked at the woman in red with an expression that said, "This person is hopeless."

Then he sat down at the table at the university in Shanghai.

"Hello, I am Lin Yuan."

"I know." The woman put down the milk tea and sat up a little straighter—but only from "completely slumped" to "half-slumped".

"Shen Man, Admissions Office of Shanghai University. Lightning element, 5th tier, 3rd level."

Lin Yuan's gaze shifted. Fifth-tier lightning element!

"Don't look at me like that." Shen Man waved her hand.

"I'm a rather lazy person and don't like fighting, so I do student recruitment. I get a bonus for each student I recruit, which is much more worthwhile than risking my life in the den of demons."

"..."

Qin Ruolan drifted over coldly from the side: "She was one of the best in our year of the Lei Department. When she graduated, all four universities were vying to have her stay on as a teacher, but she chose Shanghai because the cafeterias there had a variety of options, including milk tea shops."

Shen Manchong gave her a thumbs up, her face showing an expression that said, "You're right."

Lin Yuan remained silent for a second.

This woman is something else.

"Alright, enough chit-chat." Shen Man pulled a form from the drawer and slammed it on the table.

"I'm too lazy to explain the advantages of Shanghai's universities. Anyway, someone like you who has spent ten days killing monsters in the wasteland is definitely not concerned about whether the cafeteria food is good or not."

She held up one finger.

"First, the lightning-related major at the Magic City Academy is the strongest in the entire Dragon Kingdom. Not just one of the strongest, but the absolute strongest. Kyoto's ice-related major, the National Martial Arts Academy's physical skills, and Shenzhen's practical combat major, but lightning-related majors—Magic City is the best."

She gave a thumbs up.

"Second." She held up another finger.

"The Demon Capital is located by the sea, and the Abyss Sea lies just outside the city. The density of monsters there is ten times that of the Wasteland, and the variety is fifty times greater. What is dangerous to others is the best training ground for someone like you who improves through actual combat."

"third."

Shen Man extended her third finger and suddenly smiled.

That smile was completely different from her lazy demeanor; it carried a hint of sharpness.

"I watched your match yesterday. There's something else hidden in your marksmanship."

Lin Yuan's pupils contracted slightly.

She didn't say anything.

In yesterday's competition, Lin Yuan's gun trajectory changed unexpectedly at the last moment.

Ordinary people can't tell, but those with superpowers at level three or higher might sense something is wrong but can't explain why.

Only those who have truly experienced countless life-or-death battles can capture that fleeting "abnormality".

Shen Man caught it.

"Everyone has secrets." She withdrew her finger, nestled back into her chair, and took a sip of her milk tea.

"Shanghai's universities don't concern themselves with students' secrets. We only teach students how to become stronger. Everything else is none of our business."

Lin Yuan looked at her.

Shen Man looked at him, her cheeks puffing out as she sucked on the pearls.

"Okay," Lin Yuan said.

"Okay?" Shen Man blinked.

"I choose Shanghai."

Lei Meng, who was standing nearby, let out a wail.

Qin Ruolan frowned, but in the end she just sighed.

Ye Lin nodded expressionlessly, which was taken as acknowledgment of her opponent's choice.

Shen Man grinned.

"You have good taste." She pushed the form in front of Lin Yuan.

"Fill out the form. The semester starts in two months, but you can come to Shanghai earlier. Your dorm room will be reserved for you anytime. Oh, and when you get to Shanghai, mention my name and you'll get a 20% discount at bubble tea shops."

"...That's not your name, that's your face."

"almost."

Lin Yuan finished filling out the form and stood up. Shen Man put the form away and suddenly called out to him.

"Lin Yuan".

He turned around.

Shen Man's expression turned serious for once. She put the milk tea in her hand on the table and put both feet off the table.

"Things have been a bit unsettled in Donghai City these past few days. Be careful."

Lin Yuan stared at her for two seconds, then nodded and pushed open the door to leave.

......

The Su residence.

This was the second time Lin Yuan had entered this house.

The last time was ten days ago, when Su Zhen summoned him and made him stand in the center of the hall.

Listening to the elders of the Su family announcing his "crimes" one after another, he was labeled an F-grade, a piece of trash, and unworthy of the eldest daughter of the Su family.

This time, no one stopped him.

The gatekeeper recognized him at first glance, his expression changing several times before he finally bowed respectfully, called out "Young Master Lin," and then jogged inside to report.

As Lin Yuan walked through the corridor in the front yard, he saw Su Qingyue.

She sat on a stone bench in the garden, her right hand still wrapped in bandages.

Yesterday's injury wasn't serious, but a ligament strain will take a few days to recover.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up.

Their eyes met.

After about three seconds of silence, Su Qingyue spoke first.

"You've come to annul the engagement."

It's not a question, it's a statement.

Lin Yuan did not deny it.

He sat down opposite her, the two of them less than an arm's length apart.

The osmanthus flowers in the garden have bloomed. When the wind blows, the delicate petals fall onto the stone table and onto Su Qingyue's white dress.

"The engagement was arranged by your parents and my parents," Lin Yuan said.

"Now that your mother and my parents are gone, and your father has done these things..."

This agreement was supposed to be upheld by us, but I don't want to use it to bind you.

Su Qingyue lowered her head, her fingers gently tracing the spine of the icy sword.

"Did my father send you to return it?"

"No. It was my own idea." Lin Yuan's voice was calm.

"Qingyue, you know very well that your father is using this marriage as a bargaining chip. Ten days ago, he wanted to use it to get rid of me, and yesterday he wanted to use it to secure the attention of the four major universities. From beginning to end, you are the one he has pushed to the forefront."

Su Qingyue's eyelashes trembled slightly.

Lin Yuan continued speaking, his tone neither accusatory nor sympathetic, but simply stating a fact.

"S-rank ice-type, Ice Phoenix form, eighteen years old. Your talent is not your shackle, but your family has turned it into a card."

Your father isn't a bad person; he's just too eager to control you. Once he has you, he's afraid of anything that might deviate from his predetermined path.

"Including me."

The garden had been quiet for a long time.

The osmanthus blossoms are still falling.

Su Qingyue suddenly smiled.

"Lin Yuan, do you know what I envy most about you?"