Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

”Let’s go, and check out the school that almost became my alma mater.”

Xu Xingguang once wavered between Kyoto University and Yujiang Normal University, but she ultimately chose Yujiang Normal University. If you ask her if she felt any regret at the time, she definitely did.

Xu Xingguang is not yet 23 years old, and her age is not much different from these college students, but she has experienced much, gaining a deeply profound and unfathomable aura.

Kyoto is beautiful, and after wandering around without seeing anyone particularly attractive, Xu Xingguang immediately felt relieved.

She concluded, ”The beauties at Kyoto University are not as numerous as those at Yujiang Normal.”

As a self-proclaimed beauty addict, Xu Xingguang loves being at schools with many attractive men and women. Finding mostly nerds at Kyoto University, with handsome men and beautiful women as rare as pieces of meat in a spicy stir-fry, she suddenly felt her heart balanced.

Upon hearing Xu Xingguang’s remark, Ye Mingluo said, ”If you’re talking about handsome men and beautiful women, then the Film Academy is the place to go. Seventy percent of the good-looking people in Huaxia are in the Art College.”

There’s such a college in Kyoto.

But Xu Xingguang was no longer interested.

When Ye Mingluo mentioned the Film Academy, Xu Xingguang remembered something. ”I forgot something.”

She looked up at the sky and asked, ”What day is it in September today?”

”Lunar calendar?” Cheng Yue answered without hesitation, ”September 24th.”

”Oh.” The day after tomorrow was Huo Wen’an’s birthday.

”Let’s eat first, then I’ll head back to Huo Family Village.” Xu Xingguang glanced at Ye Mingluo and Cheng Yue beside her and said, ”Ye Mingluo, it’s Cheng Yue’s first time in Kyoto, why don’t you take her shopping?”

Ye Mingluo instinctively turned back to ask Cheng Yue, ”Is this your first time in Kyoto?”

Cheng Yue had been several times, always to handle matters for Huo Wen’an.

Cheng Yue looked up at Xu Xingguang and met Miss Xu’s eyes, which seemed to be smiling yet not, giving her a sense of bashful embarrassment as if her mind had been seen through. She curled her fingertips and softly replied, ”Yes, it’s my first time.”

Ye Minglou pursed his lips and said, ”Kyoto is lively, a great place for shopping. Alright, I don’t have anything else to do, so I’ll take you shopping.”

After a pause, Ye Mingluo added, ”I have a few good friends in Kyoto. After shopping, I’ll introduce you to them, and we’ll all go to a farmer’s house for some pork dishes.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Xingguang briefly paused, ”Pork dishes? Where do we eat?”

Ye Mingluo quickly named a place, his eyes lighting up as he asked Xu Xingguang, ”Do you and A Zui want to come too?”

”If I have the time.”

There were many eateries along the long street outside the university. The three of them entered a local private kitchen. During the meal, Cheng Yue seemed absent-minded, as if she had something weighing on her mind.

Taking advantage of the moment when Ye Mingluo got up to grab drinks at the counter, Xu Xingguang asked Cheng Yue, ”Cheng Yue, what’s on your mind?”

Cheng Yue instinctively looked down, gazing at what she was wearing.

Knowing today was a day to assist Xu Xingguang at the botanical garden, she wore roomy cargo pants and a casual black tank top.

Her short hair was neatly trimmed, and the skin exposed under her tank top had a honey-brown tone. Unadorned, anyone could tell she was a woman, but also that she lacked femininity.

”Miss Xu,” Cheng Yue said bashfully, ”My outfit today isn’t really suitable for shopping. I think I’ll just go back with you.”

Nodding, Xu Xingguang said, ”It’s your first date with someone you like, you should dress up a bit.”

Cheng Yue’s face flushed instantly.

She wanted to retort, but as the words reached her lips, she found them somewhat pointless.

Miss Xu had already seen through her thoughts, so there was no need to hide anymore.

Cheng Yue twiddled her fingers and said, ”He likes them well-endowed with tiny waists and long legs. Besides my long legs, none of my features fit his aesthetic. Plus, my long legs are muscular.”

Cheng Yue felt somewhat melancholic, ”Apart from biological structure, there’s not a single hint of femininity on me.”

Cheng Yue had never worried about this before.

But with a secret in her heart, she couldn’t help but become conscious of her appearance.

”Like you said, this is my first date with someone I like. No matter what he thinks of me, this date might be my only chance to get close to him. I... I want to have a nice memory when looking back in the future.”

Gathering the courage to confess her feelings, Cheng Yue felt both awkward and shy, her honey-colored face blushing red beneath the tan.

She laughed self-deprecatingly, saying, ”Am I worrying too much?”

”How could that be?” Xu Xingguang said, ”Do you know how I won over your pilot?”