It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

Thinking about it, Bai Lin stepped onto the stairs. It seemed that they should be in the dormitory. Then the question was,

What should I say first when I see Katie later?

Chapter 269 Reunion after Autumn

When it really came to this, Bai Lin's grasp of the words became confused.

Should I act like we've been reunited after a long separation? No, it's only been less than a week. While a casual greeting would be better, since I sent that letter, shouldn't I make it a surprise and show up a little more special?

Bai Lin's thoughts were clearly those of an inexperienced person going out on a date for the first time. Although she wasn't that kind of person, there were always more ambiguous feelings on Katie's side.

Especially after meeting his ex-girlfriend and seeing her promise him something, Bai Lin became even more confused about how to treat Katie.

Before she knew it, Bai Lin was already standing at the door of Room 316. She placed two lunch boxes on one hand, held them between her hands like she was holding a tray, and then mustered up the courage to knock on the door.

"Who is it?" A relatively warm and lovely female voice came from inside the door. Bai Lin could obviously tell that this was not Katie's voice, but Yue Lingluo.

"I'm here to deliver the food." Bai Lin replied.

As soon as she finished speaking, the door opened, and Yue Lingluo was seen wearing the same luxurious clothes as always. She looked up at Bai Lin, a look of surprise flashed in her eyes, and then she said excitedly,

"You're back early, that's great!"

Bai Lin didn't understand what she meant by "great", nor did she feel like trying to understand. She nodded as a response to Yue Lingluo, then poked her head into the room. The door was obviously a bit narrow, so she couldn't see the whole picture inside.

"Is Katie not here?" Bai Lin asked curiously.

Logically speaking, it is unlikely that Katie didn't hear what Bai Lin said to Yue Lingluo. But Yue Luo was indeed puzzled for a moment, then smiled mysteriously and took a lunch box from Bai Lin's hand.

"She's in there, I'll take this first, you can take her share yourself."

Obviously, this little girl is quite thoughtful and sensible despite her young age. Bai Lin thought so with a wry smile and followed Yue Lingluo into the dormitory. The dormitory was not very large, and as soon as Bai Lin stepped into it, he saw Katie Pello sitting at a table in the corner.

The little blonde girl looked like a medical student. There was a pile of books on the table, so high that it seemed to reach the upper bunk, which made people feel uneasy just looking at it.

Katie held a thick book open to her left, covered in long, obscure passages. In her right hand, she held a pen, a notepad resting on top of it, onto which she would occasionally scribble something, presumably notes. On the table lay a large white mat, covered in various sketches and diagrams.

The slightly visible bags under the eyes and the bloodshot in the eyes gave people the feeling of overworking, which made Bai Lin feel a little distressed.

She thought back to her classmates back then. Back then, Bai Lin believed it was wrong for such a young person to study so hard during their youth, so she gave up on herself and enrolled in an art school, ultimately ending up in a tragic situation. Looking back now, she realized belatedly that questioning was futile. Personal strength can only be used to adapt to the times and strive for the future and life.

While many older people understand this truth, parents still feel sorry for their children's hard work. Bai Lin actually felt this way right now. Seeing her so focused, he hesitated for a moment about whether to ask her to rest for a while.

While Bai Lin was still lost in thought, Yue Lingluo spoke first, "Katie, the meal is here, let's eat first."

"Hmm? Okay." Katie put down her pen after scribbling the last character in her notebook. She slowly turned from her seat, her eyes unconsciously glancing upward and backward. Just then, by sheer coincidence, her gaze met Bai Lin's.

When their eyes met, they became inseparable. Katie's eyes became a little confused, as if she was thinking,

"I can't be dreaming."

Bai Lin saw that although Katie was looking at her, her mind was almost lost in thought. This situation was completely unexpected. So she moved her body a little stiffly, waved the hand that didn't hold the lunch box, and said in a somewhat unclear but normal tone,

"Yo, I'm back."

"Well, you're back..." Katie repeated, her eyes looking down, as if she were lost in thought. Then her body trembled, perhaps realizing what had happened, and she raised her head again, her eyes abruptly returning to their normal state.

Katie seemed to be in better spirits after a moment of thinking. She smiled slightly and said to Bai Lin in a spirited manner,

"Welcome back. So, how have you been these past five days?"

Seeing Katie ask this, Bai Lin was just thinking about how much money she had earned, and suddenly remembered that she had also worked very hard. She tilted her mouth proudly, first stuffed the iron box into Katie's hand, and then said,

"Let's eat first, and then we'll talk. You look thinner. You can't skip meals at school."

Why think so much? Given their experiences and tacit understanding, this level of normalcy was enough to explain everything. They were both striving for themselves, for each other, and caring about each other. They both knew this, even without saying it.

Really, why am I so nervous? Bai Lin sighed in relief and thought so.

At this moment, Katie pointed her finger at Bai Lin's head and said,

"You too, take off your helmet first. If you dare to wear a helmet again in a private setting like this next time, I'll be the first to get angry."

Bai Lin smiled awkwardly and removed his helmet. How could he have forgotten about this? He had to teach this little girl a lesson again.

They were all so concerned about each other, yet forgot about their own affairs. It was strangely sweet. Yue Lingluo ate her lunch box with a satisfied smile on her face. As she listened to the conversation behind her, her smile grew even brighter. As for the reason for her smile, it was naturally...

Got it!

Ahem, of course, there's more to it than just that. Ever since Bai Lin left, Katie has been studying hard, with her schedule packed to the brim every day.

Chapter 270 Encounter

Although she had smiled at Yue Lingluo before, after all, she had always been Katie's roommate. But that was almost always Katie's smile of comfort and self-sacrifice after Yue Lingluo's care when Katie was extremely tired.

But this time, his smile was genuine. Thinking of this, Yue Lingluo felt reassured about her roommate, a studious student.

"...All in all, we had a pretty good harvest this time. How about you? Are you doing well in school?"

Although Katie's eyes flashed with a hint of confusion, she nodded without hesitation and replied, "Very good..."

"What's good about that? Well, I've been taking three days off from classes a week to practice close combat and physical training. Starting Monday, I've been borrowing a ton of magic books from the library. Because I don't have enough for myself, I borrowed mine as well. The most outrageous thing is, you've almost finished the last one?"

Yue Lingluo closed her eyes slightly and advised Katie helplessly, also intending to complain to Bai Lin about the situation.

"Although I was able to catch you during my dorm check at first, your illusion magic changed starting Wednesday, fooling me perfectly. And then you started staying up late to study. Please, studying is important, but there's no need to go to this extent."

"Don't say that, Yueluo. I'll relax this weekend," Katie playfully stuck out her tongue. Since her only familiar teacher, Moria, was relatively busy, she usually asked Yueluo to accompany her during close combat training. She acknowledged that she had caused her roommate quite a bit of trouble, so she felt somewhat apologetic.

Yue Lingluo sighed. Although Katie's efforts were somewhat maddening, this learning atmosphere also motivated her somewhat, which wasn't entirely a bad thing. She now followed Katie's schedule, but the amount of work she did was much less.

Obviously, Yue Lingluo would never have the intention to lie to her. Bai Lin could also see that Katie was indeed very tired, so she also advised,

"You, you are a student. Although studying hard is important, you still have to take a break when you need one."

Bai Lin's words revealed her pity for Katie. What she meant was that Katie was no longer living in dire straits like she was in the village, and she didn't need to work so hard.

Katie turned her head towards Bai Lin and smiled.

"You're working so hard, how can I just sit back and relax? Don't worry, I know my limits."

Her tone was gentle and soft, like a soft veil brushing against Bai Lin's ear, but her eyes were filled with concern. It was clear that Katie was simply telling Bai Lin not to worry about her. This expression made Bai Lin feel a little sad, but when she thought about the fact that studying was indeed her way out, Bai Lin refrained from persuading her to rest more.

"Okay, but don't let me catch you getting into trouble from not getting enough rest. If I do, I'll give you a good beating."

Bai Lin deliberately pretended to be stern and spoke in a serious tone. As a modern person, she had experienced some minor physical ailments before, and this was also a disguised way of telling her to pay more attention to rest.

Seeing Bai Lin's expression, Katie didn't show any emotion due to her serious tone. Instead, she burst out laughing. She looked at Bai Lin with a teasing look and said,

"You, we haven't seen each other for just a few days. Is it your turn to be angry with me?"

"Huh? What do you mean? I'm older than you, isn't it right for me to educate you?"

Seeing Katie's laughter getting happier, Bai Lin's mouth couldn't help but twitch. But even if she roared with a hint of anger, her voice couldn't be louder. Unconsciously, a smile appeared on Bai Lin's mouth. At this time, Katie pointed out again,

"What are you so happy about? Have you given up on acting like... an elder?"

Her tone was still cheerful, like a young girl joking with her bestie, teasing Bai Lin unscrupulously. Bai Lin looked at Katie, feeling the youthful vigor.

This is really good. She has walked out of the tragic past and is heading for a better future. Perhaps, when she is with Katie, her mentality will be particularly relaxed. Bai Lin closed his eyes in relief, raised his hands and shrugged.

"Nothing much. By the way, my friends are waiting for us at the school gate. Do you have any classes scheduled for the afternoon?"

"Afternoon?" Yue Lingluo thought for a moment. "We have no classes this afternoon. According to Katie's original plan... we were supposed to practice close combat or something. But now that you're back..."

"Of course, we'll continue with the original plan!" Katie said with a proud wave of her hand. "Since Bai Lin is here, Yueluo, you'll definitely learn a lot. Her martial arts skills are quite high."

"Ah, I thought I could take a break..." Yue Lingluo lay listlessly on the table, while Bai Lin looked at Katie with a wry smile. She was such a person with a strong sense of self-management. Well, let's see if she has made any progress in the past few days.

After some discussion, the goal of going to practice was confirmed. However, since Fei'er couldn't come to school, the venue had to be decided separately.

Although Bai Lin suggested that she could go to the Knight's Temple for training, Yue Lingluo rejected the idea. According to her, if she went to the Knight's Temple, there was a high possibility that she would be captured and sent back home, and her own knight would definitely not agree.

Although the reason wasn't stated explicitly, Bai Lin could guess it. Probably because the young lady didn't allow anyone to enter or leave such a place.

So, Yue Lingluo came up with a perfect occasion that met all the necessary requirements.

"Hey, Fei'er, sorry to have kept you waiting." Bai Lin was the first to greet Fei'er. She was leaning against the wall of the gatehouse, lowering her head, wondering what she was thinking. After hearing Bai Lin's voice, she turned her head and saw two iron barrels and two girls.

"Let me introduce you. This is Katie Pelo. I'm her guardian now. The one next to her is her classmate Yue Lingluo and her knight."

At this point, Bai Lin felt the very dissatisfied eyes of Katie and Fei'er behind him. This feeling of being attacked from both sides was really uncomfortable. Bai Lin withstood the pressure from the two women and continued,

"This is my teammate during the adventure, Fei'er."

Katie took the initiative to stand in front of Fei'er. Their eyes met, but there was no sense of tension.

Chapter 271 Say Hello

When Katie, who was rather aloof towards strangers, and Fei'er, who hardly spoke, met each other, there was naturally a great deal of silence. After the silence lasted for a few seconds, a very plain greeting sounded.

"Hello."

Bai Lin's pupils suddenly contracted. What was going on? Fei'er actually took the initiative to say hello! Katie, who was standing on the opposite side, tilted her head slightly, smiled, and stretched out a hand and said,

"Hello, I always feel like we'll get along very well, Fei'er."

Bai Lin was very confused by the situation, but when he saw the two people holding hands, he stopped thinking about it. As long as the result was good, it would be fine.

Just when Bai Lin thought Fei'er might have changed, the next scene dispelled her thoughts. When Yue Lingluo took the initiative to greet her, Fei'er simply nodded in response. Apparently, she and Katie just got along well.

Soon after leaving the campus, a carriage stopped on the street next to everyone. Yue Lingluo didn't seem to be in a bad mood because of the greeting just now. She was still very cheerful and talked to everyone.

"Come on, get in the car!"

"Hey, this is really new. It's my first time riding in a carriage..." Bai Lin was just saying this as she was about to get on the carriage when a white arm blocked her way. She looked in the direction of the hand and saw Katie looking at her with a mysterious smile on her face.

"This kind of van with an interior can only accommodate three people, so..."

"I'll ask you two knights to run behind for a bit. That shouldn't be difficult, right? Giving up your seat to a lady is chivalrous."

Yue Lingluo looked at her knight and Bai Lin behind her, her smile bright but tinged with a hint of wickedness. The knight, seemingly having anticipated this, shrugged nonchalantly. Bai Lin froze, her thoughts etched in her mind.

Am I not a woman now?

Katie glanced at Bai Lin again, who had a complicated look in her eyes, and said meaningfully, "It's better for you not to get involved in these intimate conversations between girls."

"Tsk." Bai Lin answered casually. Wasn't it obvious that he looked down on her emotional intelligence?

"Just run, and consider it as exercise."

Although chasing a carriage was a first for him, and it felt rather embarrassing, Bai Lin felt somewhat relieved when he saw other knights chasing carriages on the road. The distance wasn't long, and the horses couldn't possibly be faster than Bai Lin's, so they soon arrived at their destination.

Bai Lin didn't stay long after arriving in the city, but even from the scenery, she could sense the remoteness of this area. She naturally removed her helmet; it felt a bit hot to be cooped up inside and exercising. A cool breeze from afar brushed against her cheeks. The air here was fresher than in the city, yet not as humid and hot as in the mountains. From the climate alone, she could sense the aura of a privileged land.

The girls came out of the car one by one. To be honest, Bai Lin was very curious about what they talked about, but he didn't let himself listen. Asking at this time would definitely have a negative effect. Yue Lingluo stretched as soon as she got out of the car and said,

"It's finally here."

Bai Lin walked around the carriage and turned her gaze forward. She saw a lone mansion, like a giant beast, dominating a vast expanse of green land. Even though Bai Lin already knew her destination, she couldn't help but swallow. It was even larger than she'd imagined.

A thoroughly medieval, white-bricked, Sittuja-style building. Its grandeur doesn't detract from its elegant interior. Even the short cobblestone path leading to the main entrance feels like a pilgrimage.

There is no doubt that this must be a place where only rich people can afford to live. Fei'er, who was standing next to Bai Lin, looked at him confusedly and asked even more confusedly,

"Where is this?"

Katie, who was standing on the other side of Bai Lin, popped her head out and explained, "This is Yue Luo's home. Isn't it amazing?"

"Miss Yue is so amazing." Bai Lin exclaimed again.

"Alright, alright, stop bragging." Yue Lingluo didn't blush, but she probably couldn't handle the constant praise. She took the lead and headed towards the mansion. The male knight politely moved to her side, while Bai Lin did the opposite. She was sandwiched between the two remaining women, looking a bit awkward.

As soon as we stepped onto the steps of the gate, two rows of maids were waiting to greet us in the porch. A middle-aged butler, dressed in a very Western style and wearing a monocle, asked,

"Welcome home, Miss Yue Lingluo. Are the guests here your friends?"

His question was very telling, giving off a completely different vibe from the gray-clad man in the previous house. Bai Lin analyzed it this way. But this, I guess, was how a butler should behave.

Yue Lingluo nodded affirmatively. "There's no need to prepare snacks or anything like that. Just prepare some drinks for us. We're going to the training ground to exercise now."

The butler bowed slightly and said, "I understand. Then please follow me..."

Yue Lingluo casually waved her hand in refusal, "I'll still go back to my own home. Everyone, follow me!"

What a vibrant young woman! Bai Lin pondered, looking at Yue Lingluo, who seemed a completely different person from when they first met. Although they had only known each other for a short time, she seemed to have changed somewhat during her time with Katie. Less polite? Perhaps less reserved would be more appropriate.

The training grounds at Yue Lingluo's residence were also quite spacious, though certainly smaller than those at the Knights Templar and the school. The lighting, supported solely by the overhead lights, was a bit dim, but it was perfectly adequate for training. The floor was paved with patterned slate, and the walls were also constructed from a special material.

"So, how do you usually train, and what did you practice today?" Bai Lin tilted his head and asked.

Katie thought about it and gave the answer.

"Aside from physical training, it's basically just actual combat. It's up to you how you train today. After all, I'm definitely not as good as you in this area."

Hearing Katie's reply, Bai Lin couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. She glanced at Yue Lingluo, who only responded with an innocent look. She glanced at the male knight again, and he raised his hands and replied,

"Don't look at me. They never call me during practice."