Ancient Temple Part 1

In the midst of Xiong Hui's ghostly wails and wolf howls, Tan Xiao helped Kong Xuan fill out an application form to borrow the Chariot card for their studies. Since this was related to Kong Xuan's studies, the Bureau 404 opened a green channel to approve it for Kong Xuan.

However, due to Kong Xuan's current identity, it was actually registered under Tan Xiao's name.

Before leaving, Xiong Hui said to the Chariot card, "Just you wait, those who commit many unrighteous acts will surely bring about their own ruin."

Chariot: "..."

Is this snake crazy or what?

"When will this cycle of revenge end?" Tan Xiao said leisurely.

With this card that could solve any problem anywhere, Kong Xuan's review went even more swimmingly, and he safely passed the final exam of this semester.

On the day after the exam, everyone returned to their classroom to restore the desks and chairs, and the teacher habitually talked about precautions for the vacation.

"You're all grown up now, so I won't say too much about not swimming in the river and such." Ji Huiming said, as every year there were always incidents of people getting into trouble while swimming in the wild, and their school was considered pretty good. "You're all about to be high school seniors, I think you all understand... but don't be too greedy either, just focus on the key points."

It was mostly the same old things.

Ji Huiming also specifically talked to Kong Xuan alone, "I heard that your target university... is the same as Tan Xiao's?"

Tan Xiao had always had a clear goal in mind early on, hoping to get into Quedong University, a renowned institution for science and engineering. And Kong Xuan, because he had recently been inquiring about knowledge in this area, made no secret that he also wanted to get into Quedong.

Someone must have told Ji Huiming, as when the seats were arranged, the people around Kong Xuan were all class representatives, any of whom could have.

Kong Xuan lifted his chin, "That's right. It seems like we're the only two in the class with the same goal."

There was even a hint of pride in his tone, as if to say, hey, they're the same.

Ji Huiming: "..."

Ji Huiming felt there was a lot to unpack here. Do you know why only you two have the same target?

He admitted that Kong Xuan's progress could be considered quite significant, but compared to the steadily progressing and increasingly dominant Tan Xiao, there was still a score gap. It was precisely because he saw Kong Xuan's efforts that he hoped to remind Kong Xuan not to try to bite off more than he could chew all at once.

"How many points did you two differ by in the last exam? It must have been around a hundred..." Ji Huiming didn't remember very specifically, "I know many examples show that scores can still improve quite a bit in the senior year of high school, but you don't need to set your target too, too high from the start, you have to eat your meal one bite at a time."

"It wasn't that much of a difference, I can still get extra points when the time comes." Kong Xuan recalled, and smiled emotionally again.

"Why can you get extra points?" Ji Huiming thought for a long time, but couldn't think of any policy that could give Kong Xuan special consideration. What was he getting all moved about?

"I can't tell you right now." Kong Xuan also really wanted to say, but the Bureau 404 hadn't caught the sniper yet so the case wasn't closed, and this matter wasn't settled, so how could he tell Ji Huiming?

Ji Huiming: "..."

Ji Huiming: "Didn't you want to be a magician? That goal..."

It was fine not mentioning this, who wanted to be a magician! Kong Xuan interrupted him, "Teacher, didn't you say to find a spiritual pillar? Why are you trying to dissuade me?"

Ji Huiming was stunned.

So the reason Kong Xuan had been working so hard recently was because he wanted to attend the same university as his good friend? Seeing Kong Xuan's expression, the words of dissuasion couldn't be spoken.

Everyone's situation is different, perhaps for Kong Xuan, he doesn't need to improve step by step, only by looking at the farthest point will he have the most motivation.

"Then work hard!" After some thought, Ji Huiming said, "I'll get you some information about Quedong University when the time comes."

Hearing this, Kong Xuan also solemnly said, "Many thanks, Master."

Ji Huiming: "..."

You... Ji Huiming looked at him with amusement, amused by his words. But, he really felt an unprecedented respect from Kong Xuan's chuunibyou joke, which seemed to work better than giving Kong Xuan magic props. It seemed that Kong Xuan did have ideals.

After Kong Xuan returned, Tan Xiao was still talking with Lin Yang, and the two stopped to look at him, "What did the teacher want to talk to you about?"

Kong Xuan said easily, "He knows I want to get into Quedong, so he encouraged me and said he would send me information."

Lin Yang: "...Really?"

Kong Xuan said unhappily, "What do you mean by doubting? You think I can't get in?"

"No, no." Lin Yang protested, "I thought the teacher was going to talk to you about how you've been sitting next to Tan Xiao a lot lately, look how you've squeezed our Tan Xiao, it's enough that I've turned into a paper person alone!" He had suffered this!

Kong Xuan: "...!"

Kong Xuan stole a glance at Tan Xiao, slightly startled in his heart.

After the Dragon Boat Festival, he had originally felt embarrassed for a while, and would even bounce away when he encountered Tan Xiao, but knowing that Tan Xiao was also helping him think of ways to get extra points, he especially, especially couldn't suppress it, and just really wanted to stick close to Tan Xiao, taking the opportunity to flip through books and grab pens.

But he thought he had done it very covertly, how could even Lin Yang, an ordinary person, see through it!

"We were just discussing questions together." Tan Xiao coughed and said, glancing at Lin Yang.

Although Tan Xiao's gaze was very kind, Lin Yang inexplicably felt a bit of a chill, feeling like he shouldn't have said that...

"Well," Lin Yang hurriedly changed the subject, "do you have any plans for the summer vacation?"

In the past, Tan Xiao would still go out and play with Tan Chunying during the summer vacation, or hang out with classmates, especially since his birthday was during the summer vacation. This year the situation was different, and Tan Xiao estimated that he wouldn't be going far, "Not going out, probably just relax a bit on my birthday."

"I'm only going out to play for three days, having a farewell meal and coming right back." Lin Yang checked the dates, "Remember to invite me for your birthday!"

......

Tan Xiao's birthday was during the hottest time in Nanchu.

In the self-built small courtyard, the doors and windows on the second floor were tightly closed, and the cool air from the air conditioner seeped out through the cracks in the door. Kong Xuan and Tan Xiao sat side by side at the desk writing their summer homework, with a card placed in front of Kong Xuan, on which one sphinx was on duty while the other was resting with its four legs in the air.

This was originally a single-person desk, made quite large, so when two people sat together, it felt a little crowded, but neither of them said anything.

In fact, because Kong Xuan's body was ice-cold, Tan Xiao even felt it was very heat-relieving. It was unclear whether the arms extending out from under his short sleeves were a bit cold from the air conditioning or from being pressed against Kong Xuan.

Two neat sets of homework were placed on the desk, and when Tan Xiao finished a test paper, he would put it in the middle. When Kong Xuan finished, he also put it next to Tan Xiao's, tightly pressed together in symmetry, feeling like he had taken another step towards him.

"Want to take a break?" Tan Xiao finished writing a test paper and put down his pen to stretch his wrist.

Kong Xuan originally wanted to say that he wasn't tired and would continue writing, but upon second thought, he stopped and said seemingly unintentionally, "Didn't the teacher say last time that after writing for a long time, we should look at something green?"

"That's right." Tan Xiao said, "Then let's stand up and take a look."

Look at the plants in the distance outside.

Kong Xuan stretched out his foot to block him.

This...

Tan Xiao felt his leg being hooked and touched. Before he could become too suspicious, Kong Xuan had already transformed back into a green peacock, with one claw still raised.

Tan Xiao: "...Hahahahaha!!"

Kong Xuan was puzzled. What was he laughing at? Wasn't he supposed to look at something green? Wasn't he green enough to be pleasing to the eye?

Tan Xiao couldn't help but also touch with his foot, pressing his claw back down to the ground. He then stroked his tail. It had to be said, this green color was indeed beautiful and very smooth.

Kong Xuan's head rose up following the motion of his stroking. A thought arose in his mind. He hesitated whether to say it or not. Seeing Tan Xiao's fingers running through his feathers, he still couldn't hold back and said seemingly unintentionally, "Do you like it?"

He deliberately left the subject ambiguous, as if mixing in his own little thoughts, hoping to get an answer that would make him secretly happy.

Tan Xiao paused, his fingers slowly sliding over the tips of the feathers. He glanced at the tutoring cards on the desk. "It's beautiful, I..."

"Tan Xiao?" Tan Chunying brought up half a chilled watermelon and knocked on the door outside.

Tan Xiao and Kong Xuan exchanged a glance. Kong Xuan immediately swept his homework away with his wings and disappeared into thin air together with it.

The next second, Tan Chunying had already pushed the door open. "Take a break and eat some fruit." She didn't even cut it, directly sticking a spoon into this half watermelon, believing her son could finish this much.

"Okay, thanks Mom."

Tan Xiao had just taken the fruit when he heard Tan Chunying say, "I always feel like I just heard the voice of your classmate Kong Xuan."

"..." Tan Xiao looked up and saw Tan Chunying's suspicious face. He was a little nervous. Kong Xuan had just disappeared a few seconds ago. Would Tan Chunying find it strange?

"I was chatting with him on voice call." Tan Xiao said calmly.

"Then you two have a good relationship. Invite him over for your birthday?" Tan Chunying's body was a bit weak. She couldn't stay in the air conditioning for too long, so this season was a bit uncomfortable for her.

"It's been too hot and dry recently. Why don't we stay at the farm for a while? And your birthday is coming up soon too. You can call your classmates and friends over for those two days. Everyone can enjoy the natural breeze together, cool off, and also protect your eyes."

"That works." Tan Xiao thought that wouldn't be bad either.

"Then you send a voice message to your classmates now." Tan Chunying said, "That Kong Xuan, weren't you two just chatting?"

She rarely saw her son getting along so well with any classmate.

"Okay." Tan Xiao awkwardly raised his phone and sent a voice message to Kong Xuan's WeChat, not very proficiently, "Kong Xuan, I plan to go to a vacation farm for my birthday. Do you have time to come over and hang out?"

Hearing his tone while sending the voice message, Tan Chunying said, "It sounds like you two aren't that close."

Tan Xiao: "..."

Of course, when had he ever sent Kong Xuan a WeChat message? If Tan Chunying came over to check his phone, she would find that this was even the first message he had sent to Kong Xuan on WeChat!

"Buzz."

A vibrating sound rang out.