Zhang Xindan and Qian Min looked extremely displeased. They concluded the meeting with Class B trainees with grim expressions.
Not a single student dared to speak.
Finally, Zhang Xindan said in a softer tone, "Rest well this week. We'll begin intensive training next week."
All the students breathed a sigh of relief and began to whisper and joke amongst themselves.
Gu Ya found Ye Ying and asked, "Want to grab a late-night snack?"
Ye Ying softly inquired, "Are you hungry again right after dinner?"
"Ahem!" Liu Feng reminded them from the side, "There's a living person here, show some consideration, will you?"
Gu Ya smiled without speaking, narrowing his eyes and signaling with his gaze for Liu Feng not to be a third wheel.
Liu Feng was determined, his lips pursed in a smug smile, thinking, "I'm going to be a third wheel!"
"Where are we going for a snack? Can I come along?" Hua Huijing asked with a smile from nearby.
Gu Ya had wanted to spend some time alone with Ye Ying, but now there were two extra people.
On the way back, Gu Ya pulled Liu Feng aside and whispered, "What's up with that girl?"
Liu Feng shrugged and said, "I don't know. She just asked for my contact information. We're classmates, so I gave it to her."
Gu Ya cautioned, "Behave yourself. Fu Yafang just left not long ago."
Liu Feng said incredulously, "What kind of person do you think I am!"
"No offense! Just a friendly reminder!" Gu Ya said with a smile, patting Liu Feng on the shoulder.
Liu Feng showed a rare serious expression and said, "No girl can compare to Fu Yafang. Saying that is an insult to me."
Gu Ya slung an arm around Liu Feng's shoulder and said softly, "Alright, alright, I'll treat you to this meal. Order whatever you want!"
"Gu Ya!" a familiar voice called from behind.
Gu Ya and the others turned around simultaneously. It was Xing Bin, standing alone behind them, looking at Gu Ya.
Xing Bin quickly walked up to Gu Ya and lowered his head, saying, "I'm sorry!"
Xing Bin's reaction was so sincere and so different from his previous behavior that Gu Ya felt a bit unsettled.
"I made many mistakes in the past and caused you a lot of trouble," Xing Bin said, his tone a little nervous.
"I apologize to you, and I hope you can forgive me. I... I want to..."
"No, you don't," Gu Ya, too lazy to talk to him, cut him off ruthlessly and turned to leave.
Xing Bin moved in front of Gu Ya again and said, "I want to be your friend, can I?"
Liu Feng was displeased upon hearing this and stepped forward, saying, "Xing Bin, what do you take us for? I didn't see you being so humble when you were causing trouble!"
After speaking, Liu Feng roughly pulled Xing Bin aside and walked away with Gu Ya.
"I'm completely convinced, Gu Ya, I truly admire you now!" Xing Bin shouted from behind.
No matter how much Xing Bin called out, Gu Ya didn't even glance back.
The four of them arrived at the hangar. Liu Feng's private hovercar was parked on the trainee's landing pad.
"I'll drive!" Liu Feng ran to the driver's seat with a smile.
Gu Ya and Ye Ying sat in the back, while Hua Huijing took the front passenger seat.
With others present, Gu Ya felt very constrained. In reality, Gu Ya wanted to use this opportunity to chat with Ye Ying
and let her know not to dwell on the defeat in today's match.
That was all.
But this was fine too, with two more people, the atmosphere was livelier.
In the early hours of the morning, the commercial street in the lower district of Wuhe City was still bustling.
People came and went on both sides of the street. Some entered and exited shops, while others lingered by food stalls.
They arrived at Wuhe City's most famous late-night snack street, packed with diners seeking food.
Even in this异世界 (yì shìjiè - otherworld), humanity's craving for delicious food remained undiminished.
Gu Ya looked at the crowded and lively street, and his heart suddenly grew quiet.
He reluctantly recalled his original world.
This feeling was as if all the things and people happening now were pushed infinitely far away,
as if none of it were real.
"What are you thinking about?" Ye Ying's gentle and delicate voice reached him,
like a lifeline, pulling Gu Ya out of the abyss of his thoughts and back to the surface.
Only Ye Ying remained beside him. Liu Feng and Hua Huijing had tactfully moved away.
Gu Ya smiled and said, "Just some past events, triggered by the scene. It's best not to mention them. Let's go check out that stall."
"Okay." Ye Ying followed Gu Ya obediently.
The two ordered a plate of flavorful snacks and sat side-by-side on a bench to taste them.
The snacks in this world tasted almost the same as in his original world,
with sweet, sour, and spicy flavors in abundance.
Gu Ya popped a piece into his mouth, chewing heartily. His eating posture made Ye Ying laugh, and she covered her mouth, giggling.
Looking at Ye Ying's adorable smiling face, the rotating blue and purple holographic neon lights behind her, and everything around them,
Gu Ya suddenly felt as if he were in a sweet dream, unable to take his eyes off Ye Ying.
Ye Ying noticed Gu Ya staring at her blankly and shyly lowered her head.
Gu Ya realized and awkwardly scratched his head, "Sorry, what's wrong with me today? I keep thinking about things."
Ye Ying softly said, "You've never told me about your past."
Faced with Ye Ying's question, Gu Ya was momentarily speechless.
Ye Ying looked at Gu Ya expectantly, her eyes clear, her quiet waters reflecting hazy, dreamlike light, incredibly beautiful.
Indeed, Gu Ya didn't want to deceive Ye Ying about anything, but his own past made it difficult for him to speak.
"What's wrong?" Ye Ying softly pressed.
Gu Ya lowered his head, made a difficult decision, and slowly, gently began to speak, "Ye Ying, please believe every word I say. I don't want to deceive you, and I won't in the future, ever."
Ye Ying smiled softly and said, "I've always believed you."
Gu Ya lowered his head and whispered, "Actually, I'm a穿越者 (chuānyuè zhě - traverser/transmigrator)."
As he uttered those three words, his mind felt like a muffled thunderclap.
A sense of nervousness and unease immediately surged.
He wasn't sure if Ye Ying understood the meaning of those three words.
If she understood, what would her reaction be?
Would it be surprise, anger, regret, or something else?
Gu Ya waited quietly.
This feeling was like checking college entrance exam results, a mixture of anxiety and eager anticipation.
"Pfft!" To Gu Ya's surprise, Ye Ying let out a laugh, tears welling up.
Gu Ya looked up at Ye Ying. Her endearing face revealed a heartfelt smile.
"What's so funny..." Gu Ya smiled shyly, as if Ye Ying had seen through his lie, covering his embarrassment.
Ye Ying composed herself, sat up straight, and faced forward, but soon couldn't help but chuckle again.
"Is it that funny?" Gu Ya asked, puzzled.
Ye Ying took a breath, trying to calm herself, and said, "I thought you had some sigh-worthy past."
"You're not surprised or..."
Ye Ying shook her head and said seriously, "A little bit, but the thought of my future boyfriend being a traverser is quite unbelievable."
"I truly feel fortunate to have met you."
"You always surprise me."
Gu Ya couldn't hear anything Ye Ying said afterward.
His mind was filled with the words "future boyfriend."
The future.
In her heart, I've already been affirmed!
Even if it's not now, the future is promising!
Gu Ya wished he could jump up right now and announce it to the whole world.
Ye Ying noticed Gu Ya's thoughts and shyly lowered her head, "What was your original world like?"
Gu Ya thought for a moment, organized his words, and said, "I..."
"Gu Ya!" Liu Feng shouted from a distance, "Come quickly! The food at this stall is delicious!"
Gu Ya felt like killing Liu Feng at that moment. He always caused a stir at critical junctures!
Ye Ying smiled and said, "No rush, we can chat more later. Shall we go take a look?"
"Okay." Gu Ya naturally took Ye Ying's hand and helped her up.
Both of them froze for a moment.
For ordinary couples, this would be a perfectly normal gesture.
But now, at this moment, this was their first time holding hands.
Ye Ying's smooth and slender hand was gently held in Gu Ya's palm,
as if holding a rare treasure,
something he couldn't wait to cherish and protect.
Gu Ya slowly released Ye Ying's hand, and both of them burst into laughter.
"Your hand is very warm," Ye Ying said, her face flushed.
Gu Ya said softly, "Yeah, I want to hold your hand forever."
Ye Ying, her face blushing, lowered her head and quickly walked towards Liu Feng. Liu Feng pointed to Hua Huijing, and she sat beside her.
Gu Ya's smile disappeared, and his face darkened as he walked towards Liu Feng, saying, "When Ye Ying and I are together, you make less noise, got it!"
Liu Feng playfully nudged Gu Ya's stomach and said, "I saw everything, hee hee, so sweet."
"Get lost, get lost, get lost! You're treating this meal!" Gu Ya said, pretending to be angry.
"You're cheating, brother! We agreed you'd treat!"
"Do you still want to modify your mech motorcycle?"
"Heh heh, modify, modify! I'll treat this meal, hee hee!"