Dong Yan Cuo turned his head and gave her a resentful look before disappearing out the window. In his heart, he was determined—he would never give up!

  At that moment, Jiang Huairou knocked on her door, "Nan Gong, are you up? It’s almost time for class. Don’t be late for the first one."

  Coincidentally, Nan Gong Huan opened the door just as Jiang Huairou was pressing her ear against it. She smiled and said, "Let’s go."

  Jiang Huairou hesitated for a moment, peeking into her room. She thought she had heard a man’s voice earlier... maybe she was mistaken.

  The two of them headed to the Alchemy class, while Dong Yan Cuo also arrived at the Magic class, looking distracted.

  As soon as Xie Zhishang entered the classroom, he saw Dong Yan Cuo and quickly sat down next to him, whispering, "Where did you go last night? I didn’t see you come back at all."

  Although he was afraid of Dong Yan Cuo, they were roommates after all, so he felt he should at least show some concern. He had even considered reporting Dong Yan Cuo as missing if he didn’t show up for class.

  "I went to accompany her," Dong Yan Cuo’s voice was soft and distant. He stared at the chicken bone in his hand, lost in thought.

  Xie Zhishang’s eyes widened. After a moment of mental turmoil, he exclaimed in surprise, "You didn’t go to the girls’ dormitory, did you?"

  This guy was really reckless! How could he be so bold and not get caught by the dormitory mentors?

  "What does that action really mean?" Dong Yan Cuo muttered to himself, his frown deepening as he pondered Nan Gong Huan’s earlier words.

  Could there be some special meaning behind it?

  "What action? Tell me," Xie Zhishang’s eyes suddenly lit up. In the face of gossip, he mustered the courage to ask.

  Could it be what he was imagining?

  Dong Yan Cuo gave him a strange sidelong glance and stumbled through his explanation, "It’s... her lips are sweet. I want to taste them again."

  "Whoa!" Xie Zhishang immediately got excited and, throwing caution to the wind, slung an arm around Dong Yan Cuo’s shoulders. "I’ve got experience with this!"

  "Then tell me, what does this action mean?" Dong Yan Cuo relaxed his frown slightly, looking at him curiously.

  "It means you like her! You want to become her cultivation partner! It’s something only couples do," Xie Zhishang said with a smug smile. His roommate was way too innocent and completely inexperienced in this area, but he was lucky—he had met him!

  Xie Zhishang instantly transformed into a love guru, leaving Dong Yan Cuo utterly bewildered.

  "I like her? Become her cultivation partner?" Dong Yan Cuo chewed over these words. "I still don’t quite understand."

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  Xie Zhishang rolled up his sleeves and patiently asked, "Do you want to be with her all the time?"

  "Yes," Dong Yan Cuo nodded without hesitation.

  "Are you happy whenever you’re with her?"

  "Yes," he answered just as decisively.

  "Do you want her to be happy every day and never suffer any grievances?"

  "Yes."

  "Do you want to give her the best and protect her forever?"

  "Yes."

  "Case closed!" Xie Zhishang clapped his hands, excitedly saying, "You like her, you just haven’t realized it yet. Let me teach you how to pursue a girl. After the first kiss, there will definitely be a second and a third..."

  Then, Xie Zhishang rambled on for a while, leaving Dong Yan Cuo feeling fired up and his eyes gleaming like a wolf’s.

  "Will this really work?" Dong Yan Cuo looked at him with a slightly friendlier expression.

  "Absolutely! Girls love this stuff! The more you practice, the better you’ll get. Here, take this book. It’s my treasure! You’ll definitely need it later when things heat up!" Xie Zhishang chuckled and handed him an old, yellowed book.

  Dong Yan Cuo flipped through a few pages and found that it was filled with positions that required two people. Although he still didn’t fully understand what was going on, it did make him feel a bit heated.

  "Keep it safe, don’t let anyone see it, especially the girl you like. Give her a surprise later," Xie Zhishang pressed the book into his hands, winking suggestively with a very ambiguous smile.

  Dong Yan Cuo obediently put it away. Hmm, he’d take a closer look when no one was around.

  "Hey, don’t sell me out, okay? Don’t tell anyone I taught you this," Xie Zhishang said, oddly modest.

  "Okay," Dong Yan Cuo agreed, his mind still mulling over what he had just been told.

  The first class wasn’t a formal lesson. The mentor just handed out some textbooks, said a few encouraging words, and went over the academy’s rules, special course arrangements, and other important details.

  The mentor gave everyone two days to familiarize themselves with the academy before classes officially started.

  As soon as class ended, Dong Yan Cuo naturally stuck close to Nan Gong Huan, following her like a shadow. Nan Gong Huan, on the other hand, inquired about the location of the Moon Sovereign’s study and headed straight there.

  The entire walk was torturous for Nan Gong Huan. She could feel the intense gaze from behind her, completely unabashed and so blatant that it made her feel uneasy.

  "Cuo Cuo, is there something on your mind?" Nan Gong Huan finally couldn’t take it anymore. Was this guy starving or something?

  "Yes, I want to taste Huan Huan," Dong Yan Cuo said bluntly, seemingly incapable of lying.

  He remembered the five-step kissing technique Xie Zhishang had taught him.

  First, wrap your arm around her waist when she’s not paying attention.

  Second, gaze into her eyes with deep affection.

  Third, lean in close.

  Fourth, if she doesn’t resist, go straight for the kiss. If she resists, kiss her forehead first. Take it slow, and you’ll eventually get to her lips.

  Fifth, tell her you like her.

  "Huh?" Nan Gong Huan didn’t immediately process his words, but before she could react, Dong Yan Cuo launched into the five-step kiss.

  He stepped forward, his large hand wrapping around her slender waist, and looked down at her with a gaze so tender it could melt ice.

  Nan Gong Huan couldn’t help but blush. The next second, she saw him lean in, his handsome face magnifying before her eyes.

  A cool breeze, unique to him, brushed against her, but it carried a cautious warmth. Nan Gong Huan’s eyes widened, and her heart skipped a beat.

  Dong Yan Cuo’s eyes flickered with nervousness. He was also carefully observing Nan Gong Huan’s expression. Her flushed face was even more delicate and beautiful than usual, making him want to cherish her even more.

  Outwardly calm, his heart was pounding wildly inside.

  Their breaths mingled, and an ambiguous atmosphere instantly enveloped them.

  Dong Yan Cuo leaned in again, intending to proceed to the fourth step, but Nan Gong Huan raised her hand, blocking his path—his lips landed on her palm.

  "Where did you learn this?" Nan Gong Huan narrowed her eyes, a dangerous glint in her gaze. This innocent foodie definitely wouldn’t know these tricks on his own. There had to be a mastermind behind this!

  Although Dong Yan Cuo was nervous, he still wanted to complete the fourth step. So he quickly moved upward and pecked her forehead like a chick pecking at grain.

  Nan Gong Huan’s face instantly turned crimson, and her breathing momentarily faltered.

  "Huan Huan, I..."