"Who...who is this?"

"You don't recognize him? The genius priest Xiao He, a hero of Flying Dragon City!"

"Huh? Is that the person that the perverted criminal impersonated?"

"If you insist on saying it that way, then so be it."

"That's truly... a genius...!"

Many people look at Xiao He with a mixture of respect and fear when they think of that criminal pastor.

"Come on, you guys! He's not only a priest but also a warrior. If he really wanted to kill you, one stab would have been enough! You're just worrying too much..." someone couldn't help but roll their eyes.

The crowd whispered about the topic until the horse carrying the person who made the topic disappeared at the street corner.

Horry led the horse ahead, whistling, seemingly enjoying the attention.

"Sigh! If only you were my girlfriend!" Horry sighed.

Xiao He was too lazy to answer.

Horry didn't mount the horse, but just led it around like a stroll: "Really! My dream is to have a girlfriend this beautiful! Everyone envies me! Tsk tsk..."

"Go back and take a nap. You can have anything in your dreams."

"That won't do! I am your knight now! I must escort you to the restaurant! It is my duty as a knight!"

"..."

As you walk along Yunduan East Street, the street becomes lively.

Many students immediately noticed Xiao He sitting on a tall horse.

But importantly, Hori was leading the horse.

Everyone remembers how they used to ride together. Has the Thunder General finally given up?

The boys watched with a sigh.

We still lost.

In everyone's mind, the person most likely to defeat the Gun God also lost.

It's hopeless.

The last remaining hope of many boys was extinguished in an instant.

I recognized her at first glance; she's the woman I can't have.

Xiao He and Huo Lei had no idea that their inner monologues had already fast-forwarded to the finale.

Horry was still basking in the spotlight, as if he were a winner in life.

"Hey! Xiao He!" A bold female voice suddenly rang out from the roadside.

Xiao He looked in the direction of the sound and saw Honglian waving to him with a radiant smile.

"Why are you eating at a street food stall?" Xiao He dismounted and walked into the restaurant with Huo Lei.

"Tsk! Of course, it's more enjoyable to eat like this! Come, come! Sit down!" Honglian enthusiastically kicked out two stools for him.

Xiao He twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a "cooperative" smile.

However, the radiance on Honglian's face was genuine: "You guys are amazing!"

"Really! You guys are amazing!" Honglian repeated, then tears welled up in her eyes. "It's been so many years! This is the first time I've ever felt so proud! It feels so good! Please eat as much as you like! This meal is on me!"

"Don't mention it, mentor." Xiao He accepted the tea she offered with both hands.

"Don't worry, I've already transferred your credits to your records. If all goes well, you can consider taking the graduation exam with this year's graduates." Honglian said, almost in disbelief herself.

"Ah! You're the fastest class I've ever taught!"

Xiao He had just taken a sip of tea to moisten his throat when he couldn't help but look at her curiously: "Is this really okay?"

"Yes, you can take the exam once you have enough credits. You're still half a point short. If you work hard on your studies and activities next year, you should be able to meet the requirements by graduation season at the end of summer."

Honglian patted his shoulder with a smile and said, "You know, it's been a very, very long time since the Fifth Branch has had a graduate."

Xiao He smiled and said, "I will do my best."

"Yes! I have high hopes for you two!" Honglian raised her wine cup and clinked it with the two of them in a hearty gesture.

The table was quickly filled with dishes, all of which she had ordered later, and the dishes were arranged according to the two of them's tastes.

"By the way, are you all ready for today's victory celebration banquet?" Honglian suddenly asked.

"Prepare what?" Xiao He asked, looking bewildered.

"A program!" Honglian's eyes widened, and she subconsciously looked at Huo Lei, as if asking Xiao He why he didn't know about it.

"Oh, that's it!" Horry waved his hand confidently. "It's no use telling Box about this! I've already told Xuefeng, and he'll prepare it himself."

"What the heck?" Xiao He looked back and forth between the two.

"Oh, since you said you've handed it over to Xuefeng, then it's fine!" Honglian didn't care about the details; anyone could do it anyway.

"Eat, eat, eat! We'll just be spectators, it's none of your business, don't worry!" Huo Lei graciously invited Xiao He to eat, and then dropped the subject.

"Stop talking nonsense." Xiao He couldn't help but roll his eyes at him.

-

"Hey, Xuefeng, I have a question for you."

On Feilong No. 1, Yang Xing approached Wang Xuefeng with a conflicted expression.

"Ask." The latter moved his wine glass away.

Yang Xing pushed up his glasses: "Do you know what kind of gifts Xiao He likes?"

"You're going to give him a gift?" Wang Xuefeng asked, puzzled.

"Yes, you guys really helped me a lot this time! I'd like to give him something to express my gratitude."

Wang Xuefeng waved his hand: "He doesn't need this." Then he continued to sip his wine.

"It's nothing particularly valuable, just a small token. Sigh, I don't know what else he likes besides cars, so I came to ask you first to see if you have any ideas," Yang Xing said with a worried look.

“Besides cars? If you insist on asking that…” Wang Xuefeng frowned slightly, and after a long pause, he added the second half of the sentence: “He likes things with a sense of rhythm.”

"Rhythm?" Yang Xing was taken aback.

"Yes." Wang Xuefeng nodded.

"Anything is acceptable?" Yang Xing remained skeptical of this answer.

"I can't say for sure, but I can say that most of the time..."

"Okay, I understand!" A glint flashed in Yang Xing's eyes, and he turned and plunged into the manufacturing workshop.

An hour later.

Huo Lei took Xiao He back to Beihu District.

"Holy crap..."

Xiao He placed the packed lunch in front of Wang Xuefeng, then turned around and saw Yang Xing standing solemnly behind him, holding an exquisitely wrapped gift box in his hands.

"What day is it? Why are you being so mushy?"

Yang Xing smiled but didn't say anything.

Xiao He took it with a suspicious look, not even daring to open it.

"Is it going to be another bomb?"

"Again?" Yang Xing frowned. "I haven't sent you any bombs."

"Yes, because it was sent to me!" Horry, standing to the side, couldn't help but raise his fist.

Xiao He pursed his lips and flicked his thumb to untie the ribbon on the gift box.

"..."

"..."

"Tap, tap, tap, tap..."

The cabin was completely silent.

Only this "da da da" sound seemed to be someone chanting scriptures.

"You...?" Xiao He put down the box, looked at Yang Xing with a serious expression, and asked after a long while, "Did the zombie eat your brain?"

"Me??" Yang Xing spread his hands, looking dissatisfied. "Xuefeng told me that you like things with rhythm."

"???" Xiao He spread his arms, his head full of question marks: "This is your reason for sending me a metronome???"

-

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(Thanks to QQ Reading user [5^v^5] for the 100 book coins! Thank you for your support! — Author's note from across platforms.)