Chapter 6: Wang Dong

The next day came quickly; Tang Wulin got out of bed and stretched widely.

"Right, I still need to practice the Purple Extreme Magic Eyes as my senior brother said."

Recalling Bei Bei's reminder, he hurriedly got out of bed, went to the window, and began cultivating the Purple Extreme Magic Eyes.

This cultivation method, like forging, emphasizes gradual accumulation; Tang Wulin's greatest strength is perseverance.

After finishing cultivating the Purple Extreme Magic Eyes, Tang Wulin prepared to go out to the cafeteria for a meal, but unexpectedly the door opened just then, and a boy with blue-pink hair walked in toward him.

Seeing each other, both froze.

"How beautiful……"

Tang Wulin couldn't help thinking to himself.

Although he had been praised as cute since childhood, compared to the boy before him he was undoubtedly a novice facing an expert.

After all, although Tang Wulin is still young, he is still a boy, and he possesses the vigor a boy should have.

However, this boy before him is different; he looks no different from a top-tier beauty, and if not for his Adam's apple and his casual stride into Tang Wulin's dorm, Tang Wulin would surely suspect he was a girl.

Tang Wulin raised his hand and greeted him.

"Hello, I'm a student living in this dormitory; my name is Tang Wulin. What's your name?"

"Wang Dong." Wang Dong answered briefly, then asked somewhat puzzled: "Tang Wulin, right? Have we met before?"

"You feel that too?"

Tang Wulin's eyes lit up.

As soon as he saw Wang Dong, he subconsciously felt a sense of familiarity and closeness, as if they had met before and were quite acquainted.

Of course, he knew that was impossible, after all he came from ten thousand years later, and this era had no one he knew.

Wang Dong sized him up from head to toe, then suddenly asked a strange question.

"Do you know the Clear Sky Sect?"

Tang Wulin found his abrupt question somewhat bewildering.

"I've heard of it; what's up?"

"I've heard of it……" Wang Dong murmured thoughtfully, shook his head, "Then forget it, nothing."

After saying that, he looked at Tang Wulin with some puzzlement.

"You look so young; how old are you this year?"

Although Shrek Academy's regulations do not specify an age lower limit for enrollment, since the rule states the upper limit is twelve years old, everyone generally assumes enrollment at eleven or twelve.

But looking at Tang Wulin, he might not even be ten; sure enough, Tang Wulin cheerfully said: "I'm nine this year. How about you?"

"Nine……" Wang Dong twitched the corner of his mouth, "I'm eleven this year; by age, you should call me brother."

"Fine, then should I call you Dong-ge or Wang-ge?"

For some reason, Tang Wulin felt no resistance to calling this boy brother.

"Never mind, that sounds weird."

Wang Dong made a strange face, shook his head, and put the luggage on his back onto the bed.

Then he turned to Tang Wulin and said:

"Although you're young, you still have to do what needs to be done. From now on, we'll split the dorm chores evenly; you must not bring outsiders into the dorm without my permission, nor may you go around naked, understood?"

"No problem."

Tang Wulin agreed.

As a dorm member, cleaning the room is naturally expected; besides, Wang Dong didn't say he had to do it alone, and Tang Wulin had no objection to sharing the work.

Moreover, some people are neat freaks; it's normal for them to dislike him bringing outsiders back and being naked. Although Tang Wulin doesn't have that habit, he also respects others' privacy.

Seeing him agree without hesitation, Wang Dong put on a smile and curiously asked:

"When I came in, were you planning to go out? What are you preparing to do?"

"To have breakfast."

"That's perfect; I'm a bit hungry too." Wang Dong stretched widely, smiled at Tang Wulin, and said, "I'll tidy my things later; let's go together, how about that?"

"Sure."

Tang Wulin nodded happily.

Having just arrived, it's nice to have someone to keep him company.

Furthermore, he felt an inexplicable affinity toward Wang Dong and was glad to become friends.

They hit it off immediately, and soon they arrived at Shrek's cafeteria.

Upon seeing the sign at the cafeteria entrance, Wang Dong's expression fell instantly.

"What? No tables or chairs—you have to stand while eating, and you can't take the food out of the cafeteria? What a broken system!"

Tang Wulin curiously asked:

"Is this rare?"

To him, the era ten thousand years ago was completely unknown, like city folks going to the countryside; no matter how backward the scene, he wouldn't find it strange. However, Wang Dong misunderstood.

He looked at Tang Wulin with an expression mixing astonishment and pity.

"Of course it's rare! What kind of life have you lived before?!"

"Well, it's not too bad."

His previous life was far more comfortable than now.

Although Tang Wulin's family isn't very wealthy, it's not to the point where he has to borrow meal money from Bei Bei as he does now.

He still needs to quickly find a way to earn money to repay Bei Bei; he doesn't know whether there were forging orders ten thousand years ago.

Speaking of which, Huo Yutong is also an orphan; how does she plan to earn money to support herself? Tang Wulin unconsciously glanced around the cafeteria, but didn't see Huo Yutong's figure.

For some reason, he felt a bit empty inside.

He had a good impression of Huo Yutong; when she first saw him in the forest, she was willing to lead him out and even specially made grilled fish to fill his stomach, and these past few days she has shown a near‑crazy effort, leaving Tang Wulin utterly ashamed.

Hardworking, kind people ought to be rewarded; if Huo Yutong can't earn money, Tang Wulin doesn't mind sharing part of his earnings with her.

However, given Huo Yutong's personality, she probably wouldn't accept it anyway.

Wang Dong sighed.

"Forget it; although I don't know what kind of life you used to have, since you're now my roommate, you're under my protection. I'll treat this meal, so eat to your heart's content."

"Really?!"

Tang Wulin snapped his gaze toward Wang Dong.

Wang Dong was first slightly startled, then seeing Tang Wulin's excited expression, he also felt a bit pleased.

"Mm, really. You can eat anything in this restaurant; there's nothing I, Young Master Wang, can't afford."

"Thank you, Wang Dong, thank you so much."

Tang Wulin said this most sincerely.

The money he currently has is all borrowed from Bei Bei; although it's not too little, given his appetite, it won't last long.

Now that Wang Dong is willing to treat him, he wants to seize the opportunity to eat more.

Wang Dong felt a bit embarrassed by his earnest attitude.

"All right, it's no trouble; what do you want to eat? Hurry up and choose."

"Okay."

Tang Wulin nodded, then headed toward the cheapest stall.

Wang Dong quickly grabbed him.

"Hey, wait a moment."

"?"

Facing Tang Wulin's puzzled gaze, Wang Dong said discontentedly:

"Wulin, what do you mean? I said you could choose anything, why are you still picking the cheapest food? Don't you know that's looking down on me?"

Tang Wulin was momentarily at a loss between laughter and tears.

"Wang Dong, I have a big appetite; I'm afraid I'll bankrupt you."

"Just you?" Wang Dong gave Tang Wulin's slender frame a once‑over, shook his head contemptuously, "You're underestimating me too much; with your appetite, eat as much as you like."

Tang Wulin isn't even as tall as him yet—how much could he possibly eat?

"I..."

"All right, anyway, since I'm treating you, just come eat this."

Wang Dong didn't give Tang Wulin a chance to explain, pulled him to the most expensive stall, hands on hips, and said proudly:

"Since I promised to treat you, I won't go back on my word—just eat to your heart's content."

Tang Wulin felt somewhat helpless; he asked Wang Dong for confirmation: "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure!"

Wang Dong nodded heavily.

"Well, okay then—this is what you said."

Tang Wulin sighed, approached the stall, and said:

"Give me ten sets of meal one first."

No one knows exactly how much Tang Wulin ate that day, but many saw that when he left the restaurant, Wang Dong's expression was extremely stiff.

By the way, Dong actually intended to say those few requirements when he entered, but upon hearing that Tang Wulin was only nine, he gave up.

She still cared about her dignity, couldn't bring herself to bully a child, and with her natural kindness, she wisely avoided courting disaster.

(End of chapter)