Chapter Fifty-One: How to Repay

Alyssa burst into laughter. "Luo Chen, since when did you become such a flatterer?"

Joanna curled her lip. "Lily, you heard what he said just now. Don’t tell me you still think this guy is so honest—you’d probably be sold off by him and not even know it!"

A month of after-school tutoring had made the two girls and Luo Chen much more familiar with each other, and Joanna no longer held back in her words.

Luo Chen hurried to explain, "I swear on my honor, I meant every word!"

"Honor? Do you even have any? If you did, you wouldn’t have abandoned Lily in the Forest of Terror!" Joanna’s attitude towards Luo Chen was far less harsh than at the beginning, but she still liked to bring up that embarrassing incident now and then.

Luo Chen coughed awkwardly, pretending not to have heard. "Anyway, Joanna, Alyssa, thank you both for your tutoring. I’ll never forget it for as long as I live!"

To be fair, Alyssa and Joanna had been extremely dedicated—their after-school sessions continued right up to the last monthly exam. If not for them, Luo Chen would never have improved so quickly. Now, his second-level Martial Technique, the Great Hand Seal, was already quite advanced, and being ruthlessly drilled by Joanna had made him adapt to real combat in the shortest time possible.

Shi Feng grumbled, "You beast. We’ve lived together for three years—you’ve eaten so many of my late-night snacks, and I’ve never heard you thank me. Someone tutors you for a month and you’re already ready to pledge your undying devotion. Don’t tell me you’re not putting girls before friends?"

Alyssa and Joanna nearly spoke in unison, "Nonsense, what devotion?"

Realizing he’d offended both girls, Shi Feng quickly backtracked. "Sorry, I’ve got a foul mouth—nothing good ever comes out. With this guy, even if he wanted to pledge devotion, who’d want him? He should be grateful just to serve you both like a beast of burden."

"Alright, Shi Feng, don’t exaggerate," Alyssa interjected with a laugh, cutting off his nonsense. "Luo Chen, there’s no need to thank us. Helping each other is what classmates do."

"See, you brute, look at Alyssa’s character—helping others without expecting anything in return. And you, just a simple thank-you? No sincerity at all!" Shi Feng started complaining again. He was never consistent—just before, he’d thought Luo Chen was too grateful, now he felt it wasn’t enough.

"Well then..." Luo Chen thought for a moment but truly couldn’t come up with a good way to repay them. Alyssa and Joanna lacked for nothing—they were both wealthy girls, while he was so poor he could barely make ends meet. What could he possibly give them?

"Idiot!" Seeing Luo Chen hesitate, Shi Feng couldn’t help but curse. "You could at least treat them to dinner as thanks. That’s the least you can do. Understand?"

"Uh..." Luo Chen did some quick mental math—he’d made a bit from part-time work these past weeks, enough to treat them to dinner. "Alright. I just don’t know if you and Joanna would do me the honor of letting me be your host for dinner tonight?"

Alyssa knew Luo Chen had been working hard, living frugally, and was about to find an excuse to politely decline when Joanna beat her to it. "Of course we’ll go! Why wouldn’t we, if someone’s buying dinner? Right, Alyssa?"

Alyssa was a bit puzzled. If Joanna wanted a free meal, she only had to ask—there were easily hundreds of boys at Winston Academy lining up for the chance. What was Joanna up to now? But Joanna shot her a look, so Alyssa suppressed her curiosity and nodded. "Luo Chen, since we’re free tonight anyway... By the way, have you decided which academy you’ll be applying to?"

Though she said "you", Alyssa was really asking Luo Chen. In her mind, Shi Feng was strong enough that the Blue Emperor Academy was the obvious choice. What she didn’t know was that at that very moment, Shi Feng was still wavering—he found the uninhibited girls and liberal atmosphere of Dallas Academy far too tempting.

Luo Chen smiled. "If I have the chance, of course I’d like to go to Blue Emperor Academy. I just don’t know if I can get in."

Joanna declared loudly, "Listen up, Luo Chen, you have to! Do your best on the graduation exam!"

Luo Chen was surprised—he’d always thought Joanna didn’t like him, but now she wanted him to get into Blue Emperor Academy too. Wouldn’t that mean they’d be classmates again?

Shi Feng, meanwhile, was speculating darkly about Joanna’s motives. Hmph, it’s got to be the fiery rose, Disciplinary Committee Minister Joanna the Queen. Our comrade Luo Chen has gotten addicted to her S&M ways. If she doesn’t whip him or drip wax on him every day, she gets itchy hands. Poor, innocent Luo Chen. Better come with me to Winston Academy, the paradise for men. With Joanna around, Blue Emperor will be your personal hell!

Of course, Luo Chen had no idea what filthy thoughts were running through Shi Feng’s mind. "Alright, Joanna, I’ll do my best. Thanks for the encouragement."

"I’m not encouraging you!" Joanna sniffed. "If you don’t get into Blue Emperor, it’ll mean Alyssa and I weren’t good enough as tutors. That would be a disgrace for us, and I’m not about to be embarrassed like that. Do you—under—stand?"

Joanna drew out the last words for emphasis, making it clear she was quite serious. Luo Chen saluted. "Yes, ma’am! I’ll do everything I can to complete the mission!"

Alyssa burst out laughing. "Alright, enough, Joanna’s just trying to scare you. Just relax and do your best on the exam."

A sudden surge of determination welled up in Luo Chen. He thumped his chest. "Alright, tonight’s dinner will be to celebrate our future admission to Blue Emperor Advanced Martial Academy. We’ll pop a bottle of champagne!"

Joanna poured cold water over his enthusiasm. "Tch, the exam hasn’t even started and you’re already boasting. Don’t let your words come back to bite you! And do you even know how much a bottle of champagne costs?"

Shi Feng clapped Luo Chen on the shoulder, laughing. "Hah! Luo Chen, my pure-hearted friend, after all these years as roommates, this is the first time I’ve seen you act like a real man. For that, the champagne’s on me tonight!"

He was just trying to help Luo Chen with the expenses—he knew champagne was expensive, costing several gold coins per bottle, which Luo Chen couldn’t afford. But he sincerely hoped Luo Chen would get into Blue Emperor Academy.

"I’ve made up my mind too. I’ll apply to Blue Emperor. You’re right, with a bright future, beautiful girls will throw themselves at us! We’ll keep living together, studying together, chasing girls together, fighting together..."

Shi Feng hadn’t even finished the word "fighting" before Luo Chen clamped a hand over his mouth. He knew his carefree roommate would say anything when excited, regardless of Alyssa and Joanna’s presence.