Unexpected Hidden Mission

The more she looked at Shen Nian's score, the more astounded she became; Su Kexi was practically going crazy with joy.

"Just do it for my sake, get a top score in the college entrance examination, okay? The teacher will get a lot of bonuses!"

"Teacher, I'll head back first."

"Mm, keep it up."

"Consider it done."

Shen Nian strolled leisurely back to the classroom in a great mood, feeling that even Lan Fukai in the classroom looked quite handsome.

His seat was right next to the grade sheet. Out of curiosity, Shen Nian glanced at Lan Fukai's score.

Hmm, almost touching six hundred points, neither good nor bad.

Classmate Little Lan still wasn't working hard enough.

At the same time, the system panel popped up.

[Main Quest: Descent of the Demon Son (Completed)]

[Legendary Adventurer] replaced [Advanced Adventurer]. Charm, Stamina, and Agility—all three attributes increased by one point on top of their original base.

Although Shen Nian didn't actually feel any different.

[Unlocked Main Quest: The Source of All Calamities

With the Demon Son defeated, the Demon King's true body descends upon the world. A darker calamity ravages the world, slaughtering thousands of living beings with agony.

Subjugate the Demon King.

Reward: 100,000 Gold Coins, Title: Hero (Charm +5, Stamina +5, Agility +5)]

Great, it was finally the Demon King's turn.

As for the quest reward, Shen Nian could actually guess it; it was just bumping up the stats of the previous adventurer title.

Expected.

...

It was almost time for the lunch break bell, and all the classmates had returned to the dorms.

Shen Nian was still wondering why Xia Yanchun hadn't come up yet when the fragrant and soft little figure walked in through the back door.

"So late today?"

"Xiaoxin eats slowly, we were waiting for her to finish."

Xia Yanchun pulled out her chair and sat down. They couldn't turn on the air conditioning during lunch break. Under the scorching sun, the classroom was stiflingly hot, making her uncomfortable. She could only pull at her collar to let some air in.

The weather could affect one's mood, and she sounded a bit unhappy, "It's so hot today."

"A calm mind naturally cools you down. I feel very cool right now."

"There's PE class this afternoon, I don't even want to go just thinking about it, and there's a physical test... We tested the 1,000 meters last semester, this time it should be the long jump and sit-ups, right?"

"Seems like it."

Girls doing sit-ups, boys doing pull-ups, and having to complete the physical test under the gaze of all the opposite sex—it was quite socially dying just thinking about it.

Shen Nian couldn't do many pull-ups before, but now he could do them all day long.

Almost forgot the main business.

Shen Nian closed the front and back doors, drew the curtains, sat in Li Shiyan's seat, and naturally pulled Xia Yanchun's soft little hands onto his lap.

"You know what I'm going to say," Shen Nian couldn't help but smile.

"What, are you really proud of beating me once?"

"Yup." Shen Nian looked a bit goofy. "I asked the teacher for all the schools that participated in the grand unified exam. Out of so many provinces, I have the highest score. Am I badass or what?"

"I'll admit you're good." Xia Yanchun ignored Shen Nian's dirty joke and praised him.

"Is that it? This is the first time I've beaten your score, shouldn't there be some kind of reward?"

Fun fact: The exam room is like a battlefield.

As a fated rival, Shen Nian felt that if one side was defeated, there should at least be a defeat CG triggered.

"Reward my foot. I'm in a very bad mood right now. If you dare annoy me, I'll curse you to score one point lower than me on the college entrance exam."

"As my childhood friend, you actually can't stand to see me do well. I can see deep jealousy on your face. Sure enough, jealousy changes a person's appearance."

"..."

Does he always like to add so much drama for others?

"Pighead." Thousands of words merged into one sentence. Xia Yanchun felt these two words were truly fitting to describe Shen Nian.

Ignoring Shen Nian's chattering, Xia Yanchun took two wet wipes from her desk drawer, wiped her face, folded it, and wiped her neck. She sat blankly for a while, then turned her back to Shen Nian, reached inside her clothes to wipe the unseen places, cleaning off all the fine sweat accumulated from the stifling day.

"Is it funny? I only see a boy who isn't trusted by Chunbao."

"Talking to yourself, mumbling about what? Come closer."

When Shen Nian leaned in, Xia Yanchun took a fresh wet wipe and wiped his face, cleaning off the grease on his nose and the stickiness on his forehead. She raised her hand to touch it—sure enough, smooth was the best.

Seeing Shen Nian's comfortable expression, Xia Yanchun couldn't help but smile a little. "Enjoying it?"

"I am."

"Then keep working hard. When we become the absolute best, I'll wipe it for you every day."

"Come on, you just know how to string me along with this."

"Nonsense."

"Sigh, this grade's first place won't bother the grade's second place from sleeping anymore. Rest well, Chunbao."

"..."

A giant "Grade's Second Place" sign instantly pierced Xia Yanchun's heart, chilling her to the bone while making her heart flutter wildly.

Being gentle to Shen Nian was indeed a huge mistake.

Xia Yanchun originally wanted to quickly pinch the soft flesh on Shen Nian's waist, but just as she reached out, Shen Nian caught her hand.

"What are you doing? Trying to sneak attack me?"

"No."

"Haji-Chun, you're not being honest."

Good thing my agility +4 gave me fast reflexes, otherwise I would have been assaulted by Haji-Chun.

Shen Nian let her go, and just as he expected, Xia Yanchun still pinched his waist.

After thinking about it, Shen Nian decided to act a bit.

"Ah, damn!" Shen Nian clutched his waist, baring his teeth.

"Stop pretending."

"It really hurts."

"I don't believe you."

She had watched Shen Nian zone out for a second before clutching his waist and crying out in pain. What, did Shen Nian have delayed pain reception?

"It really hurts, Chunbao. It must be red and purple."

"Then let me rub it."

So Shen Nian lifted his shirt a little.

Xia Yanchun rubbed his waist, soothing his flesh.

"It doesn't hurt anymore."

"You were faking it to begin with."

"You rubbed it even though you knew. Gotta love my Chunbao."

"I was just indulging you for a bit. Alright, no more bothering me, I'm going to sleep. If you disturb my sleep, I'll curse you to score lower than me on the college entrance exam."

"Chunbao, can't you give me a blessing instead?"

"Those things are useless anyway."

"Then why did you curse me?"

"I cursed you precisely because I know it's useless, don't you get it?"

"Chunbao, seriously, I'm going to love you to death."

Xia Yanchun's little face turned pink from his words. Whether he loved her to death or not, it was enough to just know it in his heart; he didn't have to say it out loud and make her blush.

He was definitely doing it on purpose. She hated Shen Nian.

Shen Nian stroked the fine hair by her ear, fondly twirling the strands around his fingertips, and chuckled softly.

"But I still want to hear Chunbao say some nice blessings."

Xia Yanchun puffed out her cheeks and sat up straight again.

She really couldn't do anything about Shen Nian.

She pondered for a moment, organized her words, and slightly parted her pink lips,

"Three years of hard study to sharpen a single sword, to test its edge in the exam room a month from now. May you write with composure, find the solution to every question, and I wish you a great victory in the college entrance exam!"

"Just a great victory, no topping the charts?"

"No, because I'm going to top the charts too."

"Alright, alright, alright."

Shen Nian couldn't resist leaning in and planting a kiss on the young girl's little face.

He loved her shy little expression.

"Go to sleep."

Shen Nian stopped bothering Xia Yanchun, giving her plenty of time to sleep.

He stepped out into the corridor, leaning against the railing to cool off as his gaze focused on the system panel.

The exact moment Xia Yanchun's words of blessing faded, the system interface had popped up abruptly, though he was only just now getting the chance to look at it.

[Hidden Quest Triggered: Heart's Desire

The great battle is imminent. The Demon King's power is beyond the imagination of any adventurer. To acquire greater strength, please collect blessings.]

[Quest Progress:

Obtain a childhood friend's blessing (1/1); Obtain the Goddess of Fate's blessing (0/1); Obtain the God of Protection's blessing (0/1); Obtain the Holy Maiden's blessing (0/1); Obtain the Village Chief's blessing (0/1)]

[Reward: Passive Skill: Inner Focus (Consumes stamina to boost all attributes)]

"..."

An unexpected hidden quest.