Chapter Sixty-Three: A New Friend

Joanna followed him down the steps. “Yes, but we haven’t seen a trace of you these days! We thought you’d disappeared somewhere.”

“Where else could I have gone? I spend my days training,” Luo Chen shrugged. “Though I’ve been admitted directly into Blue Emperor Academy, I’m still a bottom-tier student there. If I don’t work hard, I’ll fall far behind everyone else.”

Joanna said, “Do you really need to push yourself so hard? The Reunion Festival is almost here—aren’t you going home?”

The Reunion Festival was a traditional holiday from the era of ancient civilizations, celebrated in a mighty dragon-totem nation. On this day, even those dwelling in distant lands would return home for family gatherings, hence its name. After the Great Cataclysm, the festival survived and was embraced by the entire Eternal Alliance. In a continent prowled by monsters and riddled with dangers, family reunions became rare and precious.

“Home?” Luo Chen gazed at the swelling full moon outside the window, a bitter smile curling his lips. “I haven’t had a home for a long time. The little village where I grew up was ravaged by beasts; my parents perished, and I have no other relatives. Since then, I’ve wandered until I arrived at Winston Academy as a special recruit and finally found some stability.”

Ellie and Joanna fell silent at his words. After a while, Joanna whispered, “I’m sorry for bringing up painful memories.”

Luo Chen’s sorrow flickered away, replaced by a gentle smile. “It’s all right. My mother once told me, no matter how terrible the twists and turns on my road of life, I must always walk forward with optimism.”

Joanna looked at Luo Chen’s open, cheerful smile, a sudden sense of compassion welling up within her. No wonder this boy was so poor, no wonder he fished all the dragon pond’s fish to sell in Slo City. It was because he’d lost his father, lacked any family support, and had to survive on his own as a child. It was remarkable that, after enduring so many hardships, he could remain so optimistic and steadfast in his determination to change his fate. Thinking of how she’d mocked his greed before, and spent a fortune merely to retaliate for some petty slight, Joanna felt a pang of guilt.

Ellie now understood why Luo Chen always stressed that his dreams were about money, why he always talked about bread and a house. As a child, he’d endured hunger and longed for a home—a warm roof and walls.

“Enough, don’t look at me with those sympathetic eyes. I feel fine, really. And I must correct you—I’m not without a home. The whole continent is my home. So what if it’s Reunion Festival? The moonlight shines everywhere on the earth, doesn’t it?” Luo Chen paused as if remembering something. “By the way, did you need something from me? Don’t tell me the academy wants to collect extra rent for my dormitory?”

In just a few words, Luo Chen revealed his stingy nature. “Heh, I’ve already applied to Director Bird and received approval. The academy won’t charge me for lodging during this period!”

“Money, money, money! All you ever think about is money!” Joanna snapped. “We just came by to check on you, since Lily and I have to leave early tomorrow.”

“Just passing by?” Luo Chen asked, puzzled. “From the administration building to the girls’ dorm, you don’t have to pass through the back mountain, do you?”

“Enough talk!” Joanna put her hands on her hips. “I said it’s on the way, so it is. Isn’t it allowed for me to take a walk in the back mountain?”

Ellie giggled. “Joanna, you didn’t say you came here for a walk just now!” Clearly, they’d come to see Luo Chen, but Joanna would rather die than admit it.

“Lily, you—” Joanna’s face turned crimson. “I just felt like it, okay? Can’t I act on a whim? Mind your own business! Ugh, I’m so annoyed! All right, let’s go, let’s keep walking!”

Dragging Ellie, Joanna stormed off in a huff, leaving Luo Chen thoroughly baffled. Women’s tempers really were impossible to predict—quicker to change than the weather over the Polora Sea.

Their visit brought some liveliness to Luo Chen’s otherwise dull holiday, but since they said they’d be leaving the next day, he returned to his monotonous training. The following evening, as he was about to leave for Thunderfall, he suddenly heard the doorbell ring.

Odd. Ellie and Joanna had gone home, so who could be visiting? Luo Chen racked his brain but couldn’t guess.

He opened the door in confusion, only to see Ellie and Joanna each dragging several large bags. Luo Chen stared in disbelief. “Weren’t you already home?”

Joanna snapped, “Enough talking, help us carry these!”

The three of them lugged the bags upstairs, opened them, and found heaps of all kinds of food: fruit, cheese, sunflower seeds, and even a box of mooncakes—a must-have for Reunion Festival.

Luo Chen was even more at a loss. “What’s all this?”

“Celebrating the festival,” Ellie smiled. “Joanna said, even though we’re supposed to go home for Reunion Festival, it’d be boring for you to spend it alone. So we decided to celebrate early with you.”

Joanna pouted. “Hmph, don’t blame it all on me, Lily! You suggested it too. Who told him to look so pitiful, and who made me so overly compassionate?”

“You two…” Luo Chen was suddenly moved beyond words. In loneliness, kindness from others always felt especially warm. But he truly couldn’t understand why Joanna and Ellie were so good to him. Even though he hadn’t really abandoned Ellie during their internship task, they shouldn’t know that. Logically, they ought to dislike and avoid him.

Even Joanna herself couldn’t explain it. After spending time with Luo Chen, she felt from the bottom of her heart that he wasn’t such a bad person. In fact, being around him was surprisingly relaxing.

Could it be that fighting and bickering could actually make someone more likable? Was she developing a taste for bullying him? Joanna worried about herself.

“Enough talking, Party begin!” Ellie pulled out a bottle from one of the bags. She popped the cork, and liquid sprayed everywhere—this time Luo Chen got it all over his face.

“Again?” Luo Chen muttered, glancing at Joanna. Hopefully nothing would go wrong this time; the tower wasn’t particularly sturdy, and if Joanna lost her temper, she might bring the whole place down. How would he pay for that?

Yet the taste was different. Luo Chen instinctively stuck out his tongue for a lick—it was sweet, but lacked any trace of alcohol.

“Idiot, it’s just a soft drink!” Joanna remembered her own embarrassing moment that day, her cheeks reddening as she took it out on Luo Chen. But seeing Ellie so excited, so uncharacteristically carefree, Joanna was happy for her friend. Since Lily’s father went missing, it had been ages since she’d seen her this joyful.

“A soft drink? Well then, that’s easy! Ellie, Joanna, looks like you haven’t showered yet!” Luo Chen grinned mischievously, launching his counterattack. The tower erupted into chaos.

Forget training for now; sometimes life demands a little wild abandon!

Who knows how long it lasted—until the tower was a mess, Luo Chen finally lay down. Moonlight streamed through the window, falling softly across his face, gentle and soothing.

Ah, yes, this feeling. He’d sensed it before, but couldn’t name it. Now Luo Chen remembered.

He recalled his first arrival at Winston Academy, the first time he sat with Shi Feng in the tower, eating steaming midnight snacks. He’d felt just as happy then as tonight, because he’d finally made a new friend.

Dad, Mom, can you see? Besides Shi Feng, my life now has two more new friends!

(The volume of Nicole the Wise-Brain concludes)

Another volume finished! Hard to believe this novel has been updated for three weeks already. I’d promised two chapters on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and three on Monday, Wednesday, Friday—but the “thieving author” broke that promise, because I’ve been posting three chapters every day. That’s quite a pace, right? Soon we’ll reach the new volume, new academy, new life, and new battle skills. Please keep supporting me—don’t forget your daily recommendation votes!