Mo Lini nervously glanced at the elven classmate sitting at the back of the classroom.
The tall and beautiful elf suddenly stood up and called out the name of Mo Lini’s ancestor.
Who was she? If she was an elf… she could indeed live for thousands of years.
Did she know Mo Lini’s ancestor?
Almost instinctively, Mo Lini feigned ignorance. She had no intention of getting tangled up in whatever mess her ancestor had left behind.
But if this elf knew her ancestor and had already recognized her, could she really fool her way out of it?
Mo Lini’s heart wavered with doubt.
At that moment, Liyana strode confidently toward Mo Lini.
Mo Lini had always been insecure about her height—petite and lacking authority in front of her students. Liyana towered over her by nearly half a head, and even standing on the small step of the podium, Mo Lini was still just a tad shorter.
“Oh~” Liyana marveled as she studied Mo Lini, then turned to Xia Lun. “Xia Lun! Look, it’s a female version of Moke!”
This girl!
Xia Lun rubbed his temples in exasperation. Liyana never thought before she spoke. If Mo Lini knew about her ancestor’s past, wouldn’t she easily connect the dots?
Especially since he was using his real name.
“Don’t worry, Xia Lun,” Aina whispered, poking his side. “I know a memory-erasing spell.”
Xia Lun nodded.
Back at the podium, Liyana scrutinized Mo Lini again, lingering particularly on her chest. “I always said that guy would look good in a dress!”
“Um, classmate…” Mo Lini’s voice trembled nervously. “It’s… time for class. Please return to your seat. If you have something to discuss, you can come find me after class.”
“Yes, Professor Mo Lini!” Liyana replied loudly before obediently returning to her seat beside Xia Lun.
Before class, Liyana had overheard some students in the front rows discussing Professor Mo Lini—timid, shy, adorable, like a little squirrel. Surprisingly, she was quite popular.
If Mo Lini knew how her students saw her, she might burst into tears from frustration.
Mo Lini cleared her throat and began the lecture.
Though her voice was soft, the classroom was quiet—even the sleeping students weren’t snoring—so Xia Lun, sitting in the very back, could hear her clearly.
At first, Xia Lun tried to pay attention, but halfway through, he realized he understood nothing.
After all, he wasn’t omniscient. This was a field he’d never studied before.
Music theory had only flourished in the last thousand years. During the Chaos Era, when the Demon Race and Human Race were locked in endless war, no one had the leisure to appreciate melodies. Bards were even dismissed as mere beggars.
The students who had chosen this class all had some foundation in music. For example, the girls in the front rows listened attentively—their elegant, ornate dresses suggested they were noble ladies, likely studying music to refine their tastes.
But then, Xia Lun spotted an unexpected face.
Mian.
He sat in the second row, tucked away in an inconspicuous corner, listening intently.
Since when was he interested in this kind of thing?
Beside him, Liyana lazily yawned. She clearly didn’t understand the jargon either.
“I’m gonna nap. Wake me up when class ends, Xia Lun.”
“Didn’t sleep last night?” Xia Lun asked casually.
“Heh… I was busy taming my little lion. That kid’s got way too much energy, always trying to take control…”
Xia Lun feigned surprise. “Really? I always thought you’d be the submissive one.”
“Shut it!”
Liyana flopped onto the desk and didn’t lift her head again.
Suddenly, Xia Lun felt something soft and smooth brush against his leg.
He glanced at Aina, who sat perfectly straight, eyes fixed ahead as if engrossed in the lecture.
“Another one of your arrangements?”
Xia Lun raised a brow, gesturing subtly toward Mo Lini.
He knew many of the surprises along the way had been orchestrated by Aina.
“Not this time,” Aina murmured, shaking her head. “Pure coincidence. I didn’t expect to meet Moke’s descendant here.”
Under the desk, a bare, porcelain-white foot stealthily pinched the flesh of Xia Lun’s calf with its toes.
Xia Lun tensed his muscles, instantly flicking Aina’s toes away.
Aina’s cheeks puffed up like she’d stuffed a dumpling in her mouth.
“Never thought Moke’s descendant would become a music teacher,” Xia Lun mused.
Aina nodded. “Well, he was a terrible singer.”
Her toes, finding the hardened muscle unyielding, began creeping upward instead.
Aina shifted her posture, crossing her legs and inching closer to Xia Lun.
But then, her expression froze.
“Xia Lun, this is unsanitary.”
Aina sighed as Xia Lun’s left hand, hidden beneath his robe, clamped around her ankle.
“Really? I think it’s quite clean,” Xia Lun replied with a warm smile.
From the podium, Mo Lini glanced at the pair. They sat upright, seemingly engrossed in the lesson—just sitting unusually close. Nothing else seemed amiss.
“Keh… kehaha… What’s this, Hero? Holding my foot hostage—planning to kiss it and pledge your loyalty?” Aina teased, her voice dripping with mockery. “Are humans really so lacking in pride? As the Hero, you represent your entire race’s dignity…”
Xia Lun ignored her, studying the sculpted masterpiece in his grasp.
“Eek—Hero, you… what are you doing?” Aina’s tone suddenly wavered.
Xia Lun’s thumb and forefinger still gripped her ankle, but his pinky had strayed to her sole, lightly tracing circles.
“L-Let go! Xia Lun, let go! We’re in class!”
Aina hadn’t anticipated this move.
“I can’t hold it in… I’ll make noise!” Her face flushed crimson.
“Stop it…”
“Please… I’m begging you, Xia Lun.”
Her pleas finally made Xia Lun relent, though he kept her ankle pinned to his thigh, as if not done playing.
Liyana drowsily opened her eyes and yawned.
Then, spotting the scene beside her, she blinked in shock. “Xia Lun, why are you holding Aina’s foot?”
Xia Lun straightened with solemnity. “Like I said earlier—her toes cramped. I’m just helping her massage it.”