Chapter 57: Never a Gigolo

Even after the combat class ended in the afternoon, Luo Chen still couldn’t believe that he had already secured his ticket to Blue Emperor Academy ahead of time. Just over a month ago, he was still struggling for an admission letter from an ordinary higher institution, never imagining that happiness would arrive so suddenly.

He bit his tongue hard—pain, intense pain. Luo Chen sucked in a cold breath. This wasn’t a dream! According to Nicole’s reverse psychology principles, at moments like this he ought to act very dejected.

“Luo Chen, what’s the matter?” Ellie appeared behind him at some point, her tone full of surprise. “Why that expression? You’ve received a direct invitation from Blue Emperor Academy, you should be happy, shouldn’t you? Why do you look as though you’ve lost a fortune?”

Perhaps influenced by Luo Chen, Ellie found herself occasionally cracking jokes now.

Luo Chen didn’t mention Nicole’s reverse psychology technique. “Yes, I’m very happy, but also in agony. Both academies have offered direct admission—it’s a tough choice!”

“Tough, my foot! Is that even something to think about?” Joanna rushed over from the side, throwing her ladylike demeanor to the wind. “Don’t tell me you’d choose Dallas Academy, unless your head’s been pinched flat by a door!”

Luo Chen felt a little gloomy, not expecting the words he’d used to insult Shi Feng to be turned on himself by Joanna. Joanna muttered again, “I really don’t get what’s so special about this guy, getting invitations from both academies at once! Lily, even we didn’t get that treatment!”

In truth, Joanna hadn’t received an invitation because Blue Emperor Academy moved quickly; the other schools backed off, knowing it would be tough to poach from Blue Emperor. It was easier to focus on Shi Feng: even he received direct admissions from six higher institutions, but apart from Blue Emperor and Dallas, the rest were completely ignored.

Even those female instructors recruiting were so enthusiastic and flirtatious—no wonder Dallas Academy was rumored to be the way it was. Shi Feng’s resolve wavered in the face of such overwhelming temptation; he pondered whether to change his mind and join Dallas, or rather, embrace the beauties of Dallas Academy.

“Beauty, future, beauty, future…” Shi Feng muttered as he walked out of the Class One combat trial arena, completing their group of four. All had received invitations to Blue Emperor Academy; a simple nod and they’d remain classmates. Tonight, they could truly pop champagne in celebration.

Joanna flashed a sly smile. “Luo Chen, you promised to treat us—none of us forced you, right?”

Seeing Joanna’s lascivious—no, actually, mischievous—smile, Luo Chen felt uneasy. Was this disciplinary committee president plotting something? Still, he braced himself and said, “Of course. There’s a nice little stir-fry place by the academy gate…”

Before he finished, Joanna jumped in, “How can we celebrate such a momentous occasion at a street stall? Let me decide. I’ve wanted to visit the Rare Delicacies Hall in Silo City for ages, but never had the chance. Now that you’re treating, oh, it’s perfect!”

At the mention of “Rare Delicacies Hall,” Luo Chen’s face wrinkled up tighter than a bitter melon. That restaurant was famous in Silo City, known for dishes made from rare monster meat—beasts from the Forest of Terror, sea monsters from Boro Sea, all featured on their menu.

Truth be told, these monster meats weren’t necessarily delicious, but people craved novelty, especially the dangerous ones. Like tigers and lions in ancient civilizations, they always sparked human curiosity. The prices were steep; only the wealthy could afford it. For someone as poor as Luo Chen—who, if hung upside down and shaken, wouldn’t drop a single copper coin—it was painful to even imagine spending money there. Even if he had some cash, one meal would leave him wanting to throw himself off a building.

“Miss Joanna, Joanna the beauty, gentle and kind, attentive comrade Joanna…” Luo Chen racked his brains for every adjective of praise. “Please, spare me! If we eat at Rare Delicacies Hall, even if I offer my underwear to the owner as a rag, I still couldn’t pay the bill!”

Ellie couldn’t help but laugh. “If the owner actually took it as a rag, nobody would dare go there anymore!”

Joanna went even further: “Exactly! You think it’d smell nice? Just imagine what it’s been used for!”

Luo Chen thought to himself that Joanna was truly formidable—saying such blunt things without hesitation. No wonder she was feared as the head of the disciplinary committee; “strong” was the word.

He put on a miserable face. “Fine, after dinner I’ll just stay and work off the debt for the restaurant.”

Joanna’s eyes gleamed. “Actually, you don’t need to work that hard. I heard Rare Delicacies Hall is run by a powerful woman, still unmarried, and she’s said to have a fondness for young, robust male students. You might not have to do any hard labor—if you please her, she might even reward you.”

Luo Chen was left speechless. Damn, in that case, how would he be any different from a gigolo? There were many things he could do, but being a gigolo was absolutely not one of them.

Shi Feng leaned in, whispering, “You’re in luck, I hear the owner is one meter eighty tall, weighs one hundred eighty kilos, and her measurements are all about the same. There’s no woman in Silo City more voluptuous than her.”

Luo Chen immediately pictured a wriggling water tank in his mind and shivered. Damn, Joanna was ruthless—trying to push him into the fire pit, making him the plaything of a water tank. Did he dig up her ancestors’ graves or owe her thousands of gold coins? He was truly puzzled. During their tutoring sessions, Joanna had mostly bullied him; by rights, she should be satisfied, even without awarding him “Punching Bag of the Century.” Yet she was still bent on revenge. Earlier, she’d hoped he’d get into Blue Emperor Academy—so which of her words were sincere?