Volume 4: Hidden Struggles, Chapter 215: The Agreement Again

After finishing handling these two documents, Chu Tianyu leaned back against the soft chair, relaxing his entire body. Instantly, a faint glow that was barely visible to the naked eye shone down through the roof.
Since absorbing the energy of the Illusion Flame and with Xue Feifei’s assistance, the energy within Chu Tianyu’s body had gradually become purer, and his vital energy had slowly recovered. Moreover, as his vital energy returned to his dantian, an even more unexpected effect occurred: he could now control the absorption of lunar energy effortlessly. Unaffected by any obstacles, the efficiency of his absorption improved significantly—changing from the original pale yellow light to a nearly transparent state, indicating he could now directly control the purity of the absorbed energy.
If accompanied by Xue Feifei’s “Voice of Heaven and Earth,” this already faint glow would completely turn into an invisible light, making the lunar energy even purer for Chu Tianyu to absorb!
Even without Xue Feifei’s help, Chu Tianyu had reached such a level. Advancing further was only a matter of time. With his current skills, he could truly be called someone who cultivated both internally and externally. The result of this dual cultivation was a power that was almost terrifying, beyond human imagination.
After a long while, Chu Tianyu slowly relaxed his focus and stopped absorbing lunar energy. With his current strength and absorption rate, he no longer needed to spend the entire night to achieve the desired results.
Opening his eyes, Chu Tianyu’s gaze was focused. Suddenly, a spark appeared in his eyes as if he had realized something. He murmured to himself, “Sigh, if it were the old me, the one who kept a low profile, would I still make such a decision?”
As he spoke, Chu Tianyu fell into deep thought again. Clearly, he hadn’t fully come to terms with his decision to continue pursuing the Chu family and investigating his elder brother…
However, this question didn’t trouble Chu Tianyu for long. He stretched lazily, looking at the two documents in his hands and the opinions he had just signed. With a relaxed expression, as if answering his own question, he spoke to himself once more, “I’m not sure if I would make such a decision, but one thing is certain—I’m no longer the Chu Tianyu from back then…”

The next morning, Chu Tianyu strolled around Peking University’s campus. The late-autumn sun shone on the golden leaves, creating a picturesque scene. Coupled with the pleasant, crisp autumn weather, it brought a sense of relaxation and comfort deep within him. As he walked, he took deep breaths, seemingly enjoying both the scenery and this sense of ease. He felt no trace of fatigue from last night’s disturbance by Bai Lei or from reviewing documents earlier.

Chu Tianyu was puzzled by his own mood. He had come here to confront Qin Nianran, and although he wasn’t particularly anxious, he should have felt something at least. Yet now, his mind was completely calm, as if he were just meeting an old friend—without any emotional fluctuations. Could it be the result of his enhanced skills after this trial, or perhaps his attitude toward Qin Nianran had changed? He no longer harbored fears or expectations regarding the outcome.

Whatever the reason, it was a happy thing for Chu Tianyu. If he could maintain this mindset when facing Qin Nianran, even if she rejected him emotionally, there might still be a chance for success in the project they were working on. And as long as they cooperated, contact would be inevitable, and with contact came the possibility of developing feelings. Eventually, things might just fall into place naturally! Perhaps it was precisely this unshakable confidence that gave Chu Tianyu such a relaxed attitude.

Meanwhile, his current attitude toward Qin Nianran was greatly influenced by what had happened last night with Bai Lei. With so much chaos, it was best to follow his own heart. Bai Lei, for instance, openly expressed his preferences and determination—so why not Chu Tianyu, who had such strong advantages? Perhaps, as he himself said, he was no longer the same Chu Tianyu as before!

……

The moment Qin Nianran saw Chu Tianyu, she could hardly believe it. Her heart pounded like a deer in panic. Although she had already heard that he was safe, seeing him in person brought about a completely different set of emotions. Was this still the same Chu Tianyu, who seemed gentle and weak in speech, though secretly highly skilled?

That resolute, sharply defined, and charming face seemed to emit an endless allure, compelling one to look at it yet making it hard to meet its gaze—a paradox in itself. Coupled with Chu Tianyu’s tall and muscular figure, even covered by clothes, it was hard to conceal its strong visual impact.

So, at that moment, although Qin Nianran wasn’t completely overwhelmed, her composure was lost, far from her usual wisdom and calmness. Even when faced with Chu Tianyu’s greeting, she seemed at a loss, taking a while to react. After stammering a response, she turned her head away, forcing herself to calm down.

“Can we find a place to talk?” Chu Tianyu asked with a friendly smile.

Chu Tianyu’s expression surprised Qin Nianran, who had somewhat regained her calm. It seemed this time Chu Tianyu had not only changed in appearance but also undergone a dramatic transformation in his inner demeanor. Though his question wasn’t long and his voice wasn’t loud, the calmness, naturalness, and serenity he displayed were truly impressive. Qin Nianran was now convinced that this guy, whom fate had always favored, must have encountered some extraordinary experience—turning misfortune into fortune and elevating his skills to a new level!

Although she had her thoughts, Qin Nianran pretended to remain calm and said, “Hmm, that tea house again?”

“No, with such beautiful scenery on campus and the lovely autumn atmosphere, why not just walk around and talk as we go? Otherwise, we’d be wasting such a wonderful view. To be honest, I spent almost four months in the mountains since summer. I’m ashamed to admit it, haha. That’s why I really appreciate the atmosphere here on campus and the student vibe—it’s great!” Chu Tianyu replied with a smile.

He then went on at length, delivering a speech that sounded like both an excuse and a reflection. Before Qin Nianran could respond further, he shifted the topic to his adventures and experiences after encountering a flood. Nonchalantly, he started walking, prompting Qin Nianran to listen intently as he recounted his adventures, walking alongside him as if they were a couple strolling hand in hand through the beautiful campus…

Chu Tianyu didn’t hide at all this miraculous journey that even he found incredible, especially when describing the most exciting parts. Even someone as calm as Qin Nianran couldn’t help but be moved by Chu Tianyu’s vivid words, his emotions fluctuating, his expression changing—sometimes tense, sometimes surprised, or sighing in relief that things had turned out well for them. Unnoticed, the two of them grew closer, especially as Chu Tianyu, full of enthusiasm, spoke so animatedly that he didn’t notice their proximity. Qin Nianran, completely immersed in the magical world around them, also paid no attention to their increasingly intimate behavior. They were utterly absorbed, unaware of what was happening around them, but the other students were in an uproar. Not to mention the many admirers, followers, and secret lovers of Qin Nianran, even ordinary people were shocked—could the legendary aloof angel, who never talked to or interacted with anyone, actually be in a relationship? And judging by the way they walked together, smiling softly and closely, it was clear that Qin Nianran, this famous beauty, now had a boyfriend! Some curious onlookers followed them, eager to see who this lucky guy was and what made him special. A few bold admirers also closely followed, looking determined—clearly planning to confront him once the two parted, to teach him a lesson and remind him not to dream too big. But soon, both groups found their answers and gave up on following them. The reason was simple: upon seeing Chu Tianyu’s appearance, physique, and the explosive strength emanating from his well-defined muscles, their first impression was, “Don’t mess with him—stay away!” So, in no time, several groups of followers replaced the previous ones behind Chu Tianyu and Qin Nianran, but the two remained oblivious, continuing their conversation. “Thank you, Nianran. If it weren’t for your help at the last moment, the consequences would have been unimaginable!” At the end, Chu Tianyu brought the topic back to the scene when they fought together against the flood. “It’s nothing. Actually, we should be thanking you instead!” Qin Nianran said softly.

Upon hearing this, Chu Tianyu suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Qin Nianran. His gaze lingered on her face for a long time, leaving her utterly confused. Just as she was about to ask, Chu Tianyu abruptly changed the subject and said, “Nianran, I think you can guess about seven or eight out of ten what my purpose for coming here is, right?”
“What do you mean?” Qin Nianran showed signs of understanding but still pretended to be clueless.
Chu Tianyu smiled at this and didn’t rush to answer. Instead, he took out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to her.
Curious, Qin Nianran took it and saw the four big characters at the top: “Love Agreement~”
But before she could read further, she heard a furious voice approaching from afar: “Which fool dares to have his eyes on my Nianran? Doesn’t he want to survive?”