Chapter 1780: The Eastern Exchange Student at the Magic Academy 11

"Aliya, what's wrong?" Delian held his shoulder, his tone suddenly turning tense.

"I... I'm fine, maybe I overdid it helping the Dean repair the Light Magic Mirror the day before yesterday."

Aliya casually found an excuse, his pure aura and appearance making it easy for people to believe what he said.

Delian frowned with concern, helped him sit down, then immediately got up and walked to the front row.

"Laisuo, make a restorative magic potion for Aliya by noon."

Laisuo said nothing, his doubtful gaze slowly turning toward Aliya behind him.

He didn't really want to help.

No, he simply didn't want to at all.

Laisuo couldn't even explain why, he always felt an inexplicable rejection toward Aliya.

All along, Laisuo had attributed the cause to the opposing order of darkness and light.

Laisuo lowered his eyes, thinking that even if he were to be disliked by his classmates again, he shouldn't agree to help Aliya make a magic potion.

But Jin Chen spoke up before him, saying, "No."

Jin Chen also stood up, seemingly regretful but with reason and evidence: "Aliya is a precious light mage; it's better to use the potion from the Goblin Shop, otherwise if something goes wrong we can't take responsibility."

Jin Chen glanced at Aliya behind him, then subtly shifted his gaze away.

It hurts, whatever.

"Yeah, Jin Chen is right, Aliya's situation is too special." Someone agreed.

Delian's face looked somewhat grim; the potions from the Goblin Shop are utterly impure, not as good as Laisuo's.

He could only call the Magic Express Delivery, having the fastest-flying sprite purchase a more expensive restorative magic potion.

The crow at the classroom door chirped a few times; class was about to start.

Laisuo let out a long breath, then excitedly flipped the scroll back and forth repeatedly, unable to contain himself.

He never imagined there was another way to earn more money!

"Thank you." Laisuo earnestly told Jin Chen, "I'll share half of the money I earn with you."

These days making money isn't easy; Laisuo really wanted to properly thank Jin Chen, but could only think of this method.

Jin Chen chuckled, finding Laisuo's overly serious expression cute: "I actually don't need that much money; exchange students don't have to pay tuition."

Laisuo nodded half-understanding, then soon grew wistful: "But I have nothing else to thank you with."

After all, Jin Chen's help was huge—big enough that Laisuo could go three months without visiting the black market!

"Then as repayment..." Jin Chen had an idea, proposing: "How about keeping me company for meals every day? I mean eating the normal food at the Magic Cafeteria."

"Poisonous snakes and other little demons can only be used as side dishes, okay?"

Laisuo blankly lifted his eyes, not really understanding why this would be considered repayment for Jin Chen.

But he quickly realized that here everything was unfamiliar to Jin Chen, just like him often feeling lonely; perhaps he just wanted a friend.

Laisuo's heart softened for a moment, and he solemnly promised, "Okay."

【Villain Heartthrob Value detected +5, total 17!】

Jin Chen had been happy because he solved his wife's problem of not liking to eat well, but his wife's next words left him somewhat puzzled.

"I'm Laisuo, magic... you know, I was born this way, my likes and habits differ from ordinary people."

Laisuo lowered his gaze to his fingers, muttering without pause, "But I still have a younger brother; he's cute and cheerful, unlike me."

Jin Chen thought it over, still unclear how the topic jumped to this self-analysis segment.

But he didn't interrupt Laisuo's muttering, patiently listening.

"I've never had friends before, but you're different from them... so I'm very willing to be friends with you."

As Laisuo said these words, he didn't even notice his heart faintly rippling, like bubbles that rise when brewing a magic potion in its later stage.

He only felt warm inside, genuinely happy at the prospect of having a good friend in the future, his red eyes brimming with tiny lights.

Being somewhat excited, Laisuo looked up at Jin Chen with his eyelashes trembling fiercely; Jin Chen couldn't resist reaching out to touch him, the motion very gentle.

Laisuo blinked blankly, the corner of his eye feeling slightly itchy from the touch, and when he tilted his head his skin brushed against Jin Chen's fingertip.

"I'm also happy to be friends with you." Jin Chen smiled, saying, "As good friends, may I have the privilege to pinch your cheeks and hug you?"

Laisuo replied slowly: "... Maybe."

He actually no longer objected to doing this; it was just that his strange inner reaction needed to be suppressed.

Then Laisuo was pinched, and pinched again.

A warm feeling spread from his cheeks; Laisuo soon felt something off, and slapped his face with a pop to try to cool down.

"How strange, I'm running a fever." Laisuo murmured, blankly looking up at Jin Chen, his red eyes inexplicably a little moist, "Do you get like this too?"

Jin Chen stared at him for a while, then laughed, saying, "Me too."

"But only under specific circumstances does it appear."

As for exactly when, Jin Chen didn't elaborate, and Laisuo didn't press further, focusing on cooling himself down.

After most of the class passed, the temperature on his face finally dropped, only to heat up again from Jin Chen's cheek-pinching.

Laisuo: "……"

Having done something wrong, Jin Chen responded with a gentle smile, his cheek-pinching motion not stopping at all.

Laisuo gave up, closed his eyes, let out a muffled hum, and allowed the bubbles in his heart to burst wildly.

【Villain Heartthrob Value detected +3, total 20!】

——

After half a day of classes ended, Laisuo agreed to accompany Jin Chen to the plaza to spend the afternoon.

But he still wanted to make a trip to the Back Forest tonight, so he told Jin Chen in advance.

Laisuo found a deserted place, solemnly spoke up: "But Jin Chen, don't go tonight; it's very dangerous."

I and White Cloak...... are enemies with that very strange mage; he is a thief, I want to catch him.

Last night, Jin Chen suddenly arrived; Laisuo was frightened, so he let Jin Chen drive away the White Cloak.

Otherwise, Laisuo would surely fight him to the death last night.

This is exactly what Jin Chen was worried about.

But tonight, Aliya probably won't go to the rear forest to eat the little witch again.

【Zero Egg, how far has the plot line progressed?】

【Hehe, Host, you guessed right, the next unlucky one is in the academy, that is today!】

Jin Chen thought for a moment, 'Alright, but before that, can Laisuo accompany me to the goblin's shop to go shopping?'

Laisuo stared at Jin Chen for a while, and only after confirming there was no disappointed expression did he relax and nod lightly.

'Sure, let's go.'